Here we go, chapter 27. I hope everyone likes it. Thankyou for the interest so far, it's much appreciated, much love to you all and a special shout out to SchoolBoredom, YingYingTia and Kiscia for the reviews, thankyou. As before, I apologise for any grammatical mistakes and spelling mistakes.
So for old times sake, I present to you…
Chapter 27 - Within The Ice Dome, Part 2
Justin was his target. He only had to slip passed Tala long enough to catch the boy. That's all he had to do. In his mind's eye he had already plotted his swift escape, he had mentally zoned in on any potential weak points to attack. Inwardly he had calculated exactly how he was going to misdirect his enemy. He had one chance, just one chance to get this right. So with his dagger clenched in his left, sweaty fist; Kai propelled forward with all his might. He was going to follow the boy down the side of the tower. He was going to save him…
It was only by chance that Kai heard the cracking, the icy edge slipping ever so slightly, and then as if in slow motion Tala began to fall as well. For a split second Kai could see real fear in those icy depths, followed by a sudden dullness; acceptance. In that horrific second Tala had already accepted his fate, was not prepared to fight it.
...NO...!
Kai's body skidded across the small platform of ice, one arm reaching out as a last ditch attempt while the other plunged the dagger into the ice to keep them from falling. Fingers slid passed fingers as Kai closed in, his hand frantically grappling for Tala's wrist. The dagger in Kai's left hand was all that was holding them in place, trapped beneath his body as he half dangled over the crumbling edge with Tala's body swinging limply in the wind. Wolborg was long gone, but Tala didn't seem to care in the slightest. Justin could no longer be seen either, his screams long fading into nothingness as the small body plunged down into the storm.
"JUSTIN!" Kai's mind was already producing images of a broken body on the icy ground below them. His logical mind already knew that the boy was dead.
…NO, NO, NO…!
"...Oh this is better..." Tala's voice floated up, "...We'll crash down to the ground together..."
With that Tala clenched Kai's hand, like a twisted form of handshake, while his other hand swung up to grab his wrist. He jerked violently, and Kai could feel the dagger slip ever so slightly beneath him.
"I can't hold this!" Kai gasped, desperate to maintain control, "Stop!"
With his body flush against the ice, one arm caught by Tala while the other was twisted awkwardly beneath him, Kai couldn't move. He couldn't do anything except to hang on. Tala pulled his legs up so that they were pressed against the icy surface, then yanked again. It had become a twisted form of 'tug-of-war.'
A game which he was sorely losing.
Kai could already feel his body overbalance and slowly tip over the edge, head first, but he refused to let go of the dagger that jerked under his sudden weight and Tala's combined. Kai's body was stretched far beyond its limit as they dangled precariously; he knew he couldn't keep it up. It was sheer willpower alone that had prevented him from letting go so far, though even that was slowly breaking.
"LET GO!" Tala roared from somewhere beneath him.
Tala was twisting beneath him, rocking their bodies deliberately to shift the dagger; anything to get them to fall. Kai had just about given up hope...
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All Ray could see was the ice before him, Ian's moving silhouette as he clambered higher, and the ever growing storm. Hailstones whip lashed against his battered body and it took every ounce of strength he had left to keep going. Although the howling wind almost numbed his sense of hearing, he was sure he could've just heard…
…Was that screaming…?
Ian suddenly cursed and tucked in towards the tower to avoid the solid object that suddenly plummeted towards them, but it was instinct that made Ray lunge for it. Small arms and legs abruptly twisted around Ray's form, frantically clinging to the neko jinn and at once Ray realised not what, but just who he was…
…Justin…!
The boy was crying hysterically, a jumble of words that Ray couldn't keep up with even if he tried. His grip was almost deadly, but Ray held on just as tight.
"Just hold on to me, okay?" Ray murmured reassuringly. "I've got you."
The boy nodded eagerly, his body almost frozen in place against his own.
"Can you keep going?" Ian yelled down, "We have to make it to the top!"
Ray responded with an affirmative and followed the short beyblader as best he could. They had to make it to the top, they just had to.
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The dagger couldn't maintain its grip in the ice for much longer, and Kai was at the mercy of the elements. He was exhausted both mentally and physically, but more importantly, the self-assured blader didn't know what to do. He couldn't reassert his grip on the dagger and he had no strength to hoist himself and Tala back to the top. He couldn't let go of Tala, for he had become the wildcard; he couldn't do anything. As he hung there swaying in the storm, nothing more than a frozen lump, he felt as if the world had stopped to leave him tortured in that one moment. All he could see in his mind's eye was his failings. Tala, who had become a monster. His teammates, who he had placed in serious danger. The Demolition Boys, who he unknowingly abandoned and Justin…
Heavy lids clenched shut against the sudden ache that weighed him down, though he couldn't escape it. He could almost hear the boy calling out to him…
"…Kai…!"
"…I'm sorry…" It was barely a delusional whisper, clinging to his chapped lips.
…And Dranzer, where was Dranzer…?
"…For the love of-!..."
…And Justin…Where was-?
"KAI!"
A hand, solid in contrast to his own jumbled thoughts, pressed down over the hand fisting the dagger, followed by another hand grabbing his wrist urgently. They tugged on his arm insistently, slowly pulling them up…
"Focus Kai!" The voice commanded, "I can't do this by myself, move your lazy arse!"
"…What…?" Kai glanced up, disbelief marring his features, "…Bry…Bryan..?"
"Don't make me say it again Hiwatari!" Bryan huffed agitatedly, his feet on as solid ground as he could find so he could use his legs as leverage, "MOVE!"
Kai jolted at the unexpected command, urging his body for one last burst of effort. His legs kicked out, using the side of the tower itself to help him climb. The falcon pulled with everything he had, and soon Kai's knees collapsed against the small platform. Bryan swiftly bypassed the puffing bluenette to drag Tala's protesting form up as well.
"Get off of me traitor!" Tala snarled, "I'll kill-!"
A fist abruptly collided with the redheads jaw, and Kai could only watch in a stunned stupor as the falcon tried to wrestle Tala to the ground. They were both cursing and Kai's ear could detect the harsher Russian language but could not keep up with their quarrelling. It was like a dull droning noise, continuous and irritating.
"A little help would be nice!" Bryan suddenly exclaimed wildly, "I can't hold him on my own!"
Kai instinctively jumped at the warning tone, almost flying towards them to help the falcon. His hands pressed down on Tala's left side on Bryan's orders, pinning the redhead as best he could.
"I have to give him this, it'll fix him!" Bryan pulled out a wicked needle with murky liquid sloshing eerily within.
"What is that?" Kai demanded over Tala's deafening fury.
Tala's body buckled wildly beneath their hands, knocking the needle from Bryan's grip before he could answer. The lilac hair teen cursed violently as it slid across the ice, just beyond their reach.
"Dammit Tala!" Bryan growled low in his throat, "I'm trying to help you!"
"I don't need your help!" The redhead hissed just as furiously, "You're just as traitorous as he is!"
With barely controlled rage, Bryan clasped Talas fiery bangs, dragging the teen up so their faces were bare millimetres apart. Kai watched stoically, instinctively knowing that he was best left out of it.
"The only reason I haven't attacked you so far is because I know what they did to you!" Bryan voice trembled with an underlining emotion that was foreign to him, "You are my best friend, and I will save you!"
"I don't need saving you fool!" Tala barked, a crazy glint in his eye, "I am the strongest ever!"
Tala kicked out, forcing Kai and Bryan back with a strength far beyond their own. As Kai fell into a defensive pose, he quickly surmised that they alone might not be enough to take Tala down. Bryan must've been on the same wavelength, for he suddenly shared a stoic glance that reflected a mild glimmer of doubt within.
"…We can do it…" Kai breathed steadily, knowing that Bryan was listening, "…Just like old times…"
"Just like old times!" Tala mocked cruelly, his lithe body prepared for the fight, his Wolborg dagger glinting dangerously, "No, this'll be so much more, fun!"
With that Tala charged, the Wolborg dagger swooshing down with all his might only to collide with Kai's Dranzer dagger that simultaneously slammed up from below. Beyond the grinding of metal, Bryan leaped in from the side, his Falcon dagger wedging between the two, twisting and launching Tala back with a furious pace. The redhead skidded to a halt, his eyes alight with malicious intent even from the crouched position he had taken. In seconds he threw himself back into the fray, barely giving time for thought as fists and Daggers blurred with intense speed. Kai fell back as a dagger landed a malicious blow on his arm guard, silently thanking the heavens he wore them as the fight raged on. However Bryan was not so lucky as he jumped back, crying out as Tala's dagger dragged across his midsection without mercy. From his crouched position Bryan glared up defiantly as Tala towered over him, one arm protectively covering his wounded stomach while the other clenched his dagger with pure determination.
"…This is way too easy…" Tala gloated in a way that was so unlike him, but was unprepared for the solid weight that abruptly rammed into his side, bodily knocking the redhead back.
Tala twisted out of the death grip, forcing Kai's arm behind his back with ease, only to double over as an elbow rammed into his stomach as his prey darted away. A roundhouse kick suddenly smashed against Tala's jaw and should have sent the teen flying; but Tala's face only whipped to the side and came back slowly with a sardonic snarl on his split lips.
The move only distracted Tala for one precious moment, but that was all it took for Bryan to be standing beside Kai, ready for the fight once more. Tala glared as he wiped the bloody mess, his face scornful and unforgiving. There was no mercy as Tala jumped forward, his sights set on a tortuous end.
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That was what faced Ian, followed by Ray and Justin, as they finally made it to the top of the tower.
It was a whirlwind of limbs darting back and forth in a flurried frenzy; a horrific blur that most would barely manage to keep track of. However before Ray lowered Justin to the ground Ian raced forward with a primal roar, easily weaving himself amongst the fight like he naturally belonged.
Suddenly one very familiar teen fell back from the scuffle, his trademark scarf lining his hunched back as his abused body cradled itself, if but for a moment. But it was in that moment that Justin also recognised the teen and cried out to him. Ray watched as crimson irises slowly turned to them in response, genuine surprise softening the usually stoic features. They had distracted the teen if only for a second.
But Kai Hiwatari was not the only person to notice.
A malicious roar was the only warning they got, before Tala threw back Bryan and Ian as he lunged forward, aiming for the boy once more. He was not going to fail twice!
However Ray became quickly offensive and attacked with a speed that caught Tala off guard. Taking advantage of Tala's shock, Kai jumped him from behind, locking his arms around his target. Kai struggled to drag the redhead down, even with Ray aiming some well planted punches into the taut gut. Tala twisted and squirmed with absolute fury, but collapsed with a painful grunt as Bryan and Ian jumped in as well. Under the combined strength of the four teens Tala wasn't going anywhere. Bryan had the teens legs pinned under his body, while Ray and Ian dragged down an arm each, as Kai held Tala down from behind, their bodies almost flush.
Ray watched Kai as his head lined the side of Tala's, whispering reassuring words of muted comfort into a pale ear, desperate to ease the troubled teen despite his automatic need to remain unbreakable.
Justin was hovering mere inches from the teens, a jittery mess; but it was Bryan that had captured Ray's attention. The pale Russian teen suddenly had a needle in his hand, handled it like an expert, and abruptly demanded that Kai hold the teens head back.
"Are you a hundred percent sure, Bryan?" Kai questioned instead, looking for any sign of danger, "Are you sure that's a cure?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Bryan countered scathingly, "I'm going to fix my teammate, and then when this is over you're going to explain to me why a traitor would make a deal with Boris -bloody- Balcov!"
Kai's eyes went wide with barely suppressed fright, almost trembling with the effort to remain nonchalant, "…I don't know what you're talking about…?"
"Don't lie to me!" Bryan snarled, leaning forward like a lethal predator zoning in for the kill, "You turn your back on us, wait for Boris to experiment on Tala and THEN THINK IT'S OK TO DO SOMETHING!"
"And you know that Boris would never hold up to his end of the bargain!" Bryan hissed, overriding Ray insisting that he calm down, that this was not the time or place. "So don't you ever question me. I would never put my team in danger, and I would never allow them to sign an agreement to go into the abbey!"
Ian watched the interaction with horrified awe, while Ray made to protest; but it fell on death ears.
"Now. tilt. Tala's. head. Back!" Bryan hissed through clenched teeth. "And hold him steady, Kai!"
Kai refused to lower his gaze, though he did tilt Tala's head back despite the teen screaming his morbid revenge. Anger blazed within twin furnaces and as Bryan lowered the needle down Kai spoke gravelly.
"You better be right about this Bryan." It was barely a lingering breath, the threat undeniable, "Because if you're wrong about this. I'll kill you myself!"
Bryan's eyes were scorching at that, but did not distract him from the task at hand. He swiftly glided the needle into Tala's neck, unwavering at the redheads twinge of discomfort. The substance entered the unwilling body with ease, taking effect almost instantaneously. Tala fell limp, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as a painful sigh tumbled from pale lips.
"Bryan!"
"Give it a moment!" Bryan responded coldly, still pinning the legs down, "Brace yourselves, and don't let go!"
"What does that mean?" Kai questioned scathingly, "What haven't you told us!"
"Well it wasn't painless to cause this change." Bryan sneered bitterly. "So don't expect a painless fix."
Ray pulled back at that and grabbed a hold of Justin. The boy had been through enough, he didn't need this as well. He forced the boys head into the folds of his tunic and clamped his hands on the boys ears, predicting the worst. Just in time, as at that moment Tala's eyes snapped open. They were wide and wild with fear. Tears raced trails down his pale face as he bellowed and howled, his body buckling in pure agony within the sturdy hands of his friends. It was a horrific sight, one that Ray couldn't tear his eyes from.
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…You will give me back Draciel…
It was the only thought that Tyson had as his blade ground against Wolborg in his desperation to free his friends bitbeast. He didn't know where Tala was or Kai, or Ray, Bryan and Ian. All he knew was that Wolborg fell down from the tower, still spinning. Still a threat; still holding Draciel captive. Dragoon was fighting with everything he had, and Tyson gave him every last bit of strength and spirit he had to offer. However the fight still raged on. Spencer was eager to help, but Tyson refused, knowing that the only way to win this was by himself. Ray's words still reverberated throughout his skull.
…Do what you always do Tyson…
Max was standing to the side with Dracieless blade, looking more vulnerable than ever before.
…Keep the Beyblade spinning…
"You can do it Tyson!" Max cried.
…Do you still think we can win Tyson…? Kai's voice suddenly questioned in the depths of his mind. …Do you think you got what it takes…?
"…Yeah…" Tyson breathed his reply, before yelling. "WE CAN DO IT DRAGOON! PHANTOM HURRICANE ATTACK!"
Dragoon reared up ready to fly, colliding full frontal against the might of Wolborg. The grinding metal was painful to listen to; but it did not stop. Snow kicked up as they barrelled into the side of the tower; but something else abruptly plagued the area. A familiar cry; it echoed furiously within the ice dome, a wounded animal crying out for its only friend. The petrified baritone was crying out for Wolborg.
And then Dragoon slammed into Wolborg one last time, finally ramming the blade into the side of the ice tower; defeated. Tyson sighed with relief and physically sagged as Dragoon flew back to his owner, spinning loyally at his feet, and mentally cheered with relief as Draciel soared back to her rightful owner. It was over.
…It was finally over…
However the moment was short lived as the tower crackled. Thin warning lines raced up within the structure, minuscule, though lethal. Then it occurred to Tyson that most of their friends were still up there. A fall from that height was deadly.
…Dragoon…
"SEABORG!" Spencer roared.
Tyson watched as the mighty whale tried to slow the collapsing tower, but couldn't stop it by itself.
"DRACIEL!" Max yelled, "I KNOW YOU'VE ONLY JUST COME BACK TO ME, BUT PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN!"
Draciel flew up at her masters command, a legendary line of defence once more; but they were no match against the sheer amount of ice that toppled down. It smashed into the side of the ice dome, which shuddered and shattered at the mighty force. Tyson froze at the imminent threat; not knowing what to do. He could no longer see Spencer or Max among the chaos.
All that was left apart from snow, ice and slush was his Beyblade spinning at his feet.
"…DRAGOON…!"
And then it was over.
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