Thanks to NorthernShinigami for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.

Chapter 48: Convincing

Driger managed to pin Phantom Driger, who was still in Ray's body. He stared into the emerald eyes of his counterpart, surrounded by the face of his master.

"Let him go," Driger said.

"Not likely," Phantom Driger snarled back. "I've been waiting for ten years. I am not about to let go of him just because you asked me to."

"Then it looks like we have a problem," Driger said.

"You're not going to hurt me," Phantom Driger said. "We both know that."

He was right. Driger couldn't harm him while he was still in Ray's body. For he couldn't hurt Phantome Driger without hurting Ray.

He just needed to find a way around it.

…..

Dranzer managed to pin down Black Dranzer, and the two phoenixes were glaring at each other.

"What are you going to do now?" Black Dranzer sneered.

"It all depends on what you're going to do now," Dranzer said. "Are you going to help us, or not?"

"Help you with what?"

"Stopping Lucifer's awakening."

…..

Unicolyon and Pegolyon were still at it, trading blows, and appearing to be equally matched. The only difference was, Unicolyon had someone to fight for.

"Was this what you wanted?" Unicolyon demanded. "If you had just left things alone…"

"Oh, sure," Pegolyon said. "Blame me. That boy was meant to become the new Lucifer. He has been since he was born. Surely you must have felt it?"

"Whether or not I felt it means nothing," Unicolyon said. "He is my master, and I will not rest until he is safe by my side again."

"Then you're going to have to wait a long time."

…..

Four shifted. They felt it. The time was fast approaching. The seventh had been found, and it was only a matter of time before he transcended his mortal soul.

And the four shall be called to ride.

…..

Kitsune sighed. She looked over towards the three battling pairs, and was somewhat pleased to see Black Dranzer and Phantom Driger were neutralized. Pegolyon, on the other hand…

"How long are they going to stay at it?" Tyson asked.

"Who knows?" Robert sighed. "Kitsune, can't we interrupt them?"

"If it keeps on for another hour, then perhaps we should," Dragoon replied.

"Come on, let's get Kai," Max said.

Kai hadn't moved from his spot, and he had a close-up view of his two Bitbeasts brawling.

…..

Something was wrong. The sound of horses' hooves, the smell of smoke.

The ash all around.

…..

Oliver opened his eyes, to find that there were six people watching him. Each of them wore black. And each of them had a medallion around their necks.

It was in that moment that Oliver realised that he also wore the medallion around his neck. And for some strange reason, he didn't want to remove it.

…..

"And why should I help?" Black Dranzer retorted.

"In case you've forgotten," Dranzer said, "the only one of the Seven Princes of Hell that was still dormant was Lucifer. Since he is awakening, do you know what that means?"

"He's waking up?"

"No! It means that the Seven Princes of Hell can open the gates to hell, unleashing all the evil locked in there. And, for the record, we are nowhere near as strong as they are."

Black Dranzer was silent for a long time, before he sighed in frustration.

"I hate you."

…..

Phantom Driger growled in annoyance. Perhaps staying in a human's body wasn't the best choice.

He had stopped struggling, since Ray's body was becoming tired. And, to add insult to injury, Driger had decided to do something especially cruel.

He decided to sit on him.

Phantom Driger glared up at the one placing unneeded, and unwanted, weight on his stomach. The other glared right back.

One of them would have to yield eventually, and the Dark Bitbeast did not want to be the one.

…..

Surrounded by the others, Oliver started to feel the effects of the medallion. He was feeling lightheaded, but a sharp pain had also met his skull. At the same time, his chest was starting to ache while feeling numb. The rest of his body also felt extremely uncomfortable, but no other part felt quite like his head and his chest.

He was lying flat on his back while the waves of pain and numbness wracked his body. A figure wiped the sweat from Oliver's brow. He couldn't be sure, but he thought the figure was called Belphegor, whom he discovered was the one that forced Kitsune to become like any other Bitbeast.

"Don't worry," the voice said, though it was unclear, as though Oliver was hearing it while underwater. "We all went through it too. Soon enough, you won't feel a thing. Your consciousness would be completely replaced with that of Lucifer's. After this, you won't ever need to feel pain again."

…..

Kai allowed himself to be dragged away by the others. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his two Bitbeasts were fighting each other, as humans. He didn't know exactly how that had happened, but he wasn't going to hurt his mind trying to figure it out. He would simply allow one of the others to explain things to him.

…..

Oliver was breathing heavily. A certain voice was whispering in his head.

Allow me to take control. It will be painless for you if you would simply submit. Allow me to claim your body as my own.

'No! I won't allow it! I can't let you win! I can't…'

You wouldn't have the strength to deny me forever. You're only causing yourself unnecessary pain.

He couldn't surrender his body to the demon. He didn't know what would happen, but he had a pretty good idea. And he couldn't let his father down because he was weak.

An image of his mother popped up, as Pegolyon had showed him. Bloody, broken. And he thought of what would happen if the figure would be replaced by any one of his friends.

…..

The six figures watched the boy. He was pale, covered in sweat, breathing heavily, and yet he kept fighting.

"Either Lucifer gains control soon," Lilith said, "or we keep the boy under our thumb until a time where either Lucifer can gain control without a problem, or the Horsemen come and find us."

"And how do you suppose we keep him under our thumb?" Beelzebub asked.

"Simple. He has friends."

"Give it another hour," Belphegor stated. "And then, we can get one of his little friends to play with."

They looked at the boy. They couldn't see his eyes, but it was clear that a transformation was taking place. The evidence was in the blond strands that slowly started to replace the green.

…..

"So," Kai said, "let me get this straight. Oliver, as a last resort, released our Bitbeasts into their human forms in order to stop Lucifer from awaking?"

"Something like that," Kitsune sighed. "But, something tells me that it's not to prevent Lucifer from awakening. I think it's more to give us all a chance for when he does awaken. In order to help us fight them."

"Right. And what about those guys?"

They looked over to the fights.

"Let them sort things out on their own," Dea sighed. "We need to find Oliver first. Besides, they wouldn't be able to kill each other. So, let them have at each other for a while."

…..

The two phoenixes glared at each other, one daring the other to agree, and the other challenging his opponent to release him, for he wanted no part of it.

Finally, Black Dranzer sighed, before his golden eyes glowed viciously.

"Fine!" he snarled. "You win. I'll help you."

Dranzer smirked, unpinning the dark phoenix.

"That's what I wanted to hear."

…..

Pegolyon leapt back, not interested in doing this any longer. The boy was out of his grasp. And he needed to find a way to get access to the boy, and Lucifer, again, no matter what.

"I'm done with this," Pegolyon said. "Have fun, brother."

And with that, Pegolyon departed, teleporting to a location unknown. Unicolyon snarled in rage, before he went over towards his teammates, and the teammates of his master.

He would get Oliver back, one way or another. He will have his master safe again, one way or another. Even if he has to forfeit his life.

…..

Phantom Driger snarled, before he did the one thing that he didn't think he would do. He teleported away, and Driger fell the short distance onto the cold floor. He knew he looked undignified, but he had other things to deal with.

He needed to save Ray, and he needed to help Ray's friend.

…..

"It's been an hour," the boy with red hair, Amon, said.

"I know," Lilith said. "He's still fighting Lucifer's influence."

"It's time," Belphegor said. "I'll be back shortly."

…..

Enrique could at least remember the route back, and it worked in his favour. He seriously needed to find a bathroom.

Amphilyon had offered to accompany him, but the blonde Italian refused, saying that they would be too much like girls (and then he had to make sure that neither Emily nor Mariah heard).

So now, he was all alone.

…..

Phantom Driger had teleported not too far away from the original place, but the others wouldn't be able to find him.

A sound caught his attention, and he turned when he saw a door opening. He was just a little disgusted to see that it was a bathroom, but he was also slightly relieved. Natural instinct. Nothing to worry about. He didn't have to deal with someone that was searching for him.

He saw that the one that came out was Enrique, and he was slightly peeved. He could still remember how the blonde interfered with his plans to claim his pet.

The blonde was all alone. Now would be the perfect opportunity to get some revenge. He would finally be able to give the corpses that he had promised Ray.

He froze when another figure teleported behind the boy, clapping a hand on his mouth and grabbing his waist, preventing the other from crying out for help or escaping. The Italian froze as well, and the figure leaned in closer to the other's ear.

Phantom Driger could see something around his neck, and he paled when he saw that the other had a medallion, which one, he was not sure, but he knew what this figure was.

With his acute hearing, Phantom Driger was able to hear what the Prince of Hell was saying.

"You're coming with me," he whispered. "We'll be needing your help in convincing your little friend to cooperate."

They teleported away, and the only one that knew what happened was one that had no intention of helping. After all, he was about to kill the boy. Let the Princes of Hell do what they wanted. He didn't care.

It's summer, in the middle of a heat wave, and I have a cold. And classes begin on Monday. And I have to see the dentist today. I have sneezed so much the last few days, my stomach muscles are actually sore. Also, a fever during a heat wave… not fun.