Tala's Redemption
By Nyassa Kaiba
Notes: Nyassa's team, the tribe, try out in the next fic of the series, Roster; Captain/Nyassa Hiwatari/Manitou
Natari/Quetzal
Carola/Kabakara
Diana/Railion
And no, the last name is not a mistake, you'll find out in the next fic.
***
"Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the songs of angry men.
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart,
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!" - "Do you hear the People Sing?" Les Miserables
Chapter 1
Tala fell, deep, deep into darkness. Memories flashed through his mind. Wolborg had left him. He'd been stupid, Robert had tricked him. He'd said out loud that he didn't care about Wolborg, called him 'a few bits of digital data programmed to look like animals and gods.' When Nyassa had offered him a rematch of the last battle they'd fought, Wolborg had turned on him, returning to his Beyblade and refusing to come out.
He felt numb, cold. It was too much, and he was so tired. It was so easy to just give up. Voltaire controlled him, had complete control over his fate. Even if he did break away, like Kai had, where would he go? What would he do?
//what...what happened? There was pain, I fell... then...black...hurts...// A bubble of black energy formed around him, slowing Tala's fall into a realm of buttes and canyons, but with no sky. Tala landed standing, and faceing... //no way...that's... ME!!// Tala was looking at his mirror image, almost. There were a few differences. This Tala's hair was more orange than red. His eyes were army green, not emerald. His skin was deathly pale. "you're... you're me..." Tala managed to stammer out.
"I'm not you." The other Tala deadpanned.
"But..."
"I OWN YOU!!!" Tala's doppelganger shouted, thrusting his hand forward. Threads of black light lanced out of the darkness, snaring the leader of the demolition boys. Tala screamed in pain. His strength! His doppelganger, for that was only what the other him could be, was leeching his strength!!
~the warren~
Tala's scream echoed through the heads of the three teams assembled. Kabakara/Carola, Salamalyon/Jonny, and Galzzly/Gary crouched in a line across the far narrow end of the courtyard that housed the practice dishes in the warren.
//It's Tala!!// Griffolyon screeched.
//Something has gone wrong!!!// Galeon roared in rage.
//GO GO GO GOGOGOGO!!// Nyassa commanded. A streak of silver, a streak of gold, and a streak of purple followed the three teams into Dreamworld.
Griffolyon, Amphilyon and Unicolyon landed on a different butte each. Galeon, Galux, and Galman managed to slow their descent with silver energy shields. Manitou, Quetzal and Railion landed on Robert's right.
Wolborg waited. //I need your help, he's this way!!// Wolborg took off like a shot, jumping from butte to butte. Galeon, Galux, Galman, Unicolyon, and Railion followed. Manitou, Quetzal, Griffolyon and Amphilyon streaked in a line across the barren landscape.
Tala was on the verge of unconsciousness. His view swam. The black tendrils of energy were choking him!!
With a roar Wolborg pounced on Tala's doppleganger. WHAM WHAM WAHAM! SWOOSH! WHAM! The air and landscape was suddenly filled with bit beasts!
The air was awhirl with familiar faces, framed in light! Gold, purple, silver... Nyassa, Robert, Lee... Tala wasn't sure which he saw, the human or the beast.
//Tala, stay awake!// Lee hauled him to his feet. Unable to stand, Tala couldn't find the strength to answer.
//You must Tala.// Robert said grimly. //That... that thing... almost killed you.//
//so...tired...weak...// Tala gasped. Energy flowed into him.
//Take our energy. We're not drained to the bone like you are.// Enrique offered.
//Stay strong.// Oliver said with a wink. //You can do it!//
//You've gotta keep going no matter what! Kai didn't let Voltaire's tricks deceive him for a minute!// Mariah reminded him.
//That's because...// Kevin moved into view. //He had his friends with him every step of the way!//
//And we're here for you.// Nyassa said with a gentle smile. //Because we're your friends. And we always have been.//
//Voltaire was only using you as a pawn.// Diana agreed.
//Just like he used me.// Natari added. //But we learned to live our own lives, and not take orders from anybody else!//
//Remember, that Doppelganger represents everything evil about your personality.// Robert told him. //That includes the control that Voltaire exercised over you during the tournament.//
//You'll never be able to kill him. But you can seal him away from the rest of your mind.// Lee said encouragingly.
//But... how?// Tala demanded. //I'm ...confused...// Tala was still trembling from the terrible encounter.
//Remember what you stand for!// Mariah exclaimed, spreading her hands wide.
//And never back down!!// Kevin agreed. //Remember! You control your fate!! The battle is up to you!!//
//We'll be standing by to help you.// Nyassa said calmly. //But there's nobody who can win this battle but you!//
//You have to find the power to break away!!// Oliver encouraged. //You have the power!!//
//You have the control!!// Enrique agreed.
//Remember also, that beyblading is an art, an art of empathy, something that they don't teach you at your precious abby.// Lee told him. //You have to learn it on your own!//
//I...control me...?// Tala blinked in surprise.
//Yes Tala.// Robert said with a smile. He was finally starting to get it. The figures of the assembled beybladers melted back into their bit beasts. //You control your fate...// With that, the bit beasts began to fade. //You have the power...//
Tala was left alone with Wolborg. //He speaks the truth.// Wolborg said calmly. //The truth was in front of you, and you were blind to it... come back with me... I will show you what you never saw all along...//
The area around him faded out...
~the warren~
Oliver tumbled into the room, babbling in French. "ROBERT!! TURN ON CNN!! HURRY!!"
Robert cautiously turned on the correct station. It was Kevin's TV, and the last time one of them had used it, the Tiger had shouted at them for about an hour. The announcer said, with the detachment of a trained journalist. "...President of Biovolt company has suffered a stroke and is in critical condition in Moscow Cardiac Hospital. The Doctor says that it is unlikely he'll recover..." Robert froze. An instant later, Griffolyon screamed in rage. Oliver covered his ears in a vain attempt to block out the telepathic 'noise'.
"LOOK AT THAT!!" Lee pointed out the window. Galeon, the other tiger beasts behind him, and Griffolyon, his fellow Majestics bit beasts to his right, had their eyes turned to the sky.
//The dark pheonix has escaped!!!// Galman was practically bouncing off walls, and was NOT responding to Kevin's attempts to calm him down. //HE HAS GONE TO THE ABBEY!!//
"Fuck." Enrique stated. "This is just peachy."
"Dark Dranzer has escaped? How could..." Lee and Robert looked at each other a moment. "KAI!!" Robert snatched at the cell-phone the BBA had given him for contacting other captains. He dialed Kai's number, hand trembling.
"Kai speaking."
"Kai..." Robert's mouth had gone dry in fear. He knew what could happen, he could have warned the blade breakers. Instead he had stayed silent. How could he? He knew better than anybody the price of staying silent! "Do you still have Dark Dranzer? It's an emergency. Something is terribly wrong. I'm at the warren... all our beyblades are going berzerk!!"
"I still have him yes. Just a second, I'll be right back." There was a rustling noise as Kai dug in his pouch for Dark Dranzer's chip. There was a clatter as the pouch was dropped in shock. "R...Robert, you still there?"
"I am."
"Dark Dranzer, his chip...it's blank..."
"Get the other Blade Breakers and get your butts down here!!" Lee shouted, practically panicked.
"Stay calm Lee." Mariah had entered in the interim.
"But... this is terrible! You and Kevin saw the news! It CAN'T be a coincidence!!"
"We're coming." Kai said with a growl. 'Good' Robert thought. 'He knows the situation is serious.'
Fifteen minutes later Galman's panicked screeching alerted the two captains to the Blade Breakers' approach. Because their eyes were untrained, they didn't see the bit beasts that crowded the courtyard. Griffolyon had wisely 'hidden' the other beasts in shade form.
"Is there a problem?" Kai asked, with his usual ice.
Lee turned on CNN. "The doctor says that it's unlikely he'll recover. The damage done to his central nervous system is severe." The screen showed the hospital room where Voltaire was dying. Kai's eyes widened in comprehension.
"Look carefully." Lee's face curled in a snarl, echoing Galeon's mood out in the yard. "Unfocus your eyes."
The blade breakers did. Kai almost fainted. "It's... me!!"
Not quite, this Kai's eyes weren't brown, but black. His hair was midnight blue, not the slate color it usually was. The scarf Kai usually wore was red, not black. Standing next to Kai's all to obvious doppelganger was... "Dark Dranzer..." Ray snarled. As the 5 blade breakers watched, Kai's doppleganger and Dark Dranzer glowed black with negative energy.
"Kai's negative emotions, his hatred and despair, created THAT!" Jonny shook his head. "Kevin spotted it first. The kid's got a hyperactive sixth sense, I'm telling you!"
"Or maybe just hyper." Mariah couldn't resist taking a crack at the youngest Tiger.
Teew! Teew! Teew! Teew! 4 streaks of medium blue light shot from the Breakers' Blades. Dragoon, Dranzer, Driger and Draciel manifest just outside the window.
//Tyson...// Dragoon rumbled. //It is time...//
//We have hidden from you long enough, Kai... We are one...// Dranzer creeled.
//Ray, we are one and the same! The same being! The same soul!// Driger roared in triumph.
//We are connected Max, in our hearts and in our souls...// Draciel hummed.
"What..." Kai sat down hard. "What happened to Grandpa?"
"He suffered a stroke. We think that Dark Dranzer escaped and tried to kill him." Lee said, face grim.
//Dark Dranzer is very old and very violent.// Dragoon rumbled. //There is not much that we can do while his is still in Moscow. Humans can see us in this manifestation, but they cannot see Dark Dranzer in his. We would cause a panic.//
//No...// Driger agreed. //We cannot attack Dark Dranzer until he comes to us.//
//You won't have long to wait!// Griffolyon growled. //He's coming for you once he finishes with the abbey keeper.//
//We called you in for safety's sake.// Galeon agreed. //There are many of us, and only one Dark Dranzer.//
//You underestimate him!// Dranzer crowed, panicking. //Once he comes for Kai, there will be no stopping him! Were we able to unite in body... myself and Kai, Ray and Driger, Tyson and Dragoon and Max and Draciel, we could defeat him easily. But there is not time to teach them the technique!!//
//Where did the All-Stars get to?// Amphilyon asked, irritable. //I'd hate to ask the idiot for help, but Trygle is the most powerful beast on their team, and another flyer would be a valuable ally agains Dark Dranzer.//
//Trypio says that Eddy is bogged down in homework, he's got to get through a stack of books and papers 2 feet high before he and Trypio can get out here. Emily and Trygator are trying their best, but you know how Michael gets sometimes. It's all she and Steve can do to keep him from getting out of control!// Unicolyon replied. //Tryhorn said that Steve said that Michael can't keep his head out of the crack pipe. And he used an adjective that I don't think it wise to repeat.//
//There isn't much we can do. At least Kai's doppelganger cannot manifest outside of Kai's... fuck...// Salamalyon's eyes widened in fear. //He wouldn't try... would he? I mean, at this point, he'd have to kill Kai to use his body.// The bit beast looked at his team mates, //And that would...// he didn't dare finish. For a bit beast's connection to be severed from their chosen keeper, would kill the bit beast. That was what Dark Dranzer had tried to do.
//He'll come and use Kai against us...// Dranzer bowed her head in shame. //It is a dark day. Today, our keepers live, but we must die.//
//I WON'T LET IT END THAT WAY!!// Griffolyon whacked Dranzer with his wing. //What ever happened to Dranzer, the pheonix who rose from the ashes??//
//THE ABBEY KEEPER!!!// Galman let out a screech.
The bit beasts assembled in the yard keened woefully. Unpopular Voltaire may have been, but he was also the only thing standing between Dark Dranzer, and one of the most powerful Blade Warriors in the world.
At the same time, the anchor said, with infuriating detachment, "We have an update on the condition of Biovolt President Voltaire. He passed away from stroke complications..." Kai blocked it out... //Dranzer... Where will we go? What will we do? The only place left is...// Kai fell to his knees, bursting into tears of confusion.
//I'm with you Kai...I'm here...// Dranzer said, sympathetically into his mind. //We are here.//
Ray knelt by Kai's side. "K...kai... are you okay?" The other boy trembled as he pulled Kai into his grip.
"I... I think so..." Kai leaned into Ray's chest, sobbing. "I...I'm all confused."
"I've got you... You're gonna be okay..."
The reaction outside was explosive. //HE'S HERE!!// Dragoon snarled in rage, moving into a position to protect Draciel, the youngest beast in the group and his chosen mate. The turtle bit beast was trembling in fear.
Driger roared challenge. Dranzer screamed defiance.
//Where did he go?!!// Griffolyon demanded, whirling.
//The other Kai, he was with him!!// Galman dove under the gate in panic.
Kai doubled over as the dark beast clawed at his soul, trying to force it's way in, trying to sever Kai's connection with Dranzer. Kai and Dranzer screamed with one voice. "KAI!!" Ray cried. Then the doppelganger attempted entry as well, struggling to push aside Kai's soul. Pain shot through the Blade Breaker Captain like a knife.
Dranzer reeled in pain. Driger steadied her, roaring challenge at his chosen mate's distress. The pheonix's muzzle turned gray with pain. //HOLD ON DRANZER!!//
"Kai you have to fight!" Robert knelt next to the two of them. "Dark Dranzer is trying to break your connection with Dranzer! If he succeeds, Dranzer dies!!"
Kai couldn't think straight. His mind whirled. He would have to return... return to the one place on Earth he didn't want to go... The place where he would be silenced, maybe for all time. His mind slid down into despair. //Kai...// Dranzer called him... //Help... me... you have... to fight him... dying... DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!!!// The final sentence was spoken, roared, keened, from 11 souls and mouths.
A flash of green, gold and white, flashed across Kai's vision. Driger! //Kai... stay with us!! Don't let the evil in your heart win!! If you give up now it will consume you!!!//
//Driger...?// Kai said faintly.
//Feel our strength!!// Driger roared, and the other bit beasts faded back into Kai's vision.
Kai wasn't going to let something like this defeat him. Somebody had once told him that the only enemy is yourself, and the demons you create. //Kwan yin... beautiful goddess of compassion, of mercy... grant...me your ears... If... if I have to stay silent... if I have to keep my heart... my love... locked away all my life... then kill me now... If I am to live free... if I am to feel love... and be loved in safety... then help me... LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!!!!// The world faded back into view.
"You almost died Kai..." Ray's eyes were filled with tears of relief. Kai staggered for a moment, disoriented. Then he gave his head a little shake, vision coming back into focus. He was being held, a soft head, fierce cat-like eyes. "Ray?" Kai asked, confused. "What happened? I was...and then Driger..."
//The time has come to return.// Dragoon announced. Kai turned to see three flashes of light, one medium blue, one purple, and one silver. Then the bit beasts were gone. The world was sane once more. //If you need us Tyson... Don't forget to call.// And the dragon's laughter echoed through their heads...
~tbc~
Next chapter; THE ATTACK OF THE CHIBI TIGERS, MAJESTICS, AND ALL-STARS!! (Evil laughter) How you ask? STAY TUNED!!
By Nyassa Kaiba
Notes: Nyassa's team, the tribe, try out in the next fic of the series, Roster; Captain/Nyassa Hiwatari/Manitou
Natari/Quetzal
Carola/Kabakara
Diana/Railion
And no, the last name is not a mistake, you'll find out in the next fic.
***
"Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the songs of angry men.
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart,
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!" - "Do you hear the People Sing?" Les Miserables
Chapter 1
Tala fell, deep, deep into darkness. Memories flashed through his mind. Wolborg had left him. He'd been stupid, Robert had tricked him. He'd said out loud that he didn't care about Wolborg, called him 'a few bits of digital data programmed to look like animals and gods.' When Nyassa had offered him a rematch of the last battle they'd fought, Wolborg had turned on him, returning to his Beyblade and refusing to come out.
He felt numb, cold. It was too much, and he was so tired. It was so easy to just give up. Voltaire controlled him, had complete control over his fate. Even if he did break away, like Kai had, where would he go? What would he do?
//what...what happened? There was pain, I fell... then...black...hurts...// A bubble of black energy formed around him, slowing Tala's fall into a realm of buttes and canyons, but with no sky. Tala landed standing, and faceing... //no way...that's... ME!!// Tala was looking at his mirror image, almost. There were a few differences. This Tala's hair was more orange than red. His eyes were army green, not emerald. His skin was deathly pale. "you're... you're me..." Tala managed to stammer out.
"I'm not you." The other Tala deadpanned.
"But..."
"I OWN YOU!!!" Tala's doppelganger shouted, thrusting his hand forward. Threads of black light lanced out of the darkness, snaring the leader of the demolition boys. Tala screamed in pain. His strength! His doppelganger, for that was only what the other him could be, was leeching his strength!!
~the warren~
Tala's scream echoed through the heads of the three teams assembled. Kabakara/Carola, Salamalyon/Jonny, and Galzzly/Gary crouched in a line across the far narrow end of the courtyard that housed the practice dishes in the warren.
//It's Tala!!// Griffolyon screeched.
//Something has gone wrong!!!// Galeon roared in rage.
//GO GO GO GOGOGOGO!!// Nyassa commanded. A streak of silver, a streak of gold, and a streak of purple followed the three teams into Dreamworld.
Griffolyon, Amphilyon and Unicolyon landed on a different butte each. Galeon, Galux, and Galman managed to slow their descent with silver energy shields. Manitou, Quetzal and Railion landed on Robert's right.
Wolborg waited. //I need your help, he's this way!!// Wolborg took off like a shot, jumping from butte to butte. Galeon, Galux, Galman, Unicolyon, and Railion followed. Manitou, Quetzal, Griffolyon and Amphilyon streaked in a line across the barren landscape.
Tala was on the verge of unconsciousness. His view swam. The black tendrils of energy were choking him!!
With a roar Wolborg pounced on Tala's doppleganger. WHAM WHAM WAHAM! SWOOSH! WHAM! The air and landscape was suddenly filled with bit beasts!
The air was awhirl with familiar faces, framed in light! Gold, purple, silver... Nyassa, Robert, Lee... Tala wasn't sure which he saw, the human or the beast.
//Tala, stay awake!// Lee hauled him to his feet. Unable to stand, Tala couldn't find the strength to answer.
//You must Tala.// Robert said grimly. //That... that thing... almost killed you.//
//so...tired...weak...// Tala gasped. Energy flowed into him.
//Take our energy. We're not drained to the bone like you are.// Enrique offered.
//Stay strong.// Oliver said with a wink. //You can do it!//
//You've gotta keep going no matter what! Kai didn't let Voltaire's tricks deceive him for a minute!// Mariah reminded him.
//That's because...// Kevin moved into view. //He had his friends with him every step of the way!//
//And we're here for you.// Nyassa said with a gentle smile. //Because we're your friends. And we always have been.//
//Voltaire was only using you as a pawn.// Diana agreed.
//Just like he used me.// Natari added. //But we learned to live our own lives, and not take orders from anybody else!//
//Remember, that Doppelganger represents everything evil about your personality.// Robert told him. //That includes the control that Voltaire exercised over you during the tournament.//
//You'll never be able to kill him. But you can seal him away from the rest of your mind.// Lee said encouragingly.
//But... how?// Tala demanded. //I'm ...confused...// Tala was still trembling from the terrible encounter.
//Remember what you stand for!// Mariah exclaimed, spreading her hands wide.
//And never back down!!// Kevin agreed. //Remember! You control your fate!! The battle is up to you!!//
//We'll be standing by to help you.// Nyassa said calmly. //But there's nobody who can win this battle but you!//
//You have to find the power to break away!!// Oliver encouraged. //You have the power!!//
//You have the control!!// Enrique agreed.
//Remember also, that beyblading is an art, an art of empathy, something that they don't teach you at your precious abby.// Lee told him. //You have to learn it on your own!//
//I...control me...?// Tala blinked in surprise.
//Yes Tala.// Robert said with a smile. He was finally starting to get it. The figures of the assembled beybladers melted back into their bit beasts. //You control your fate...// With that, the bit beasts began to fade. //You have the power...//
Tala was left alone with Wolborg. //He speaks the truth.// Wolborg said calmly. //The truth was in front of you, and you were blind to it... come back with me... I will show you what you never saw all along...//
The area around him faded out...
~the warren~
Oliver tumbled into the room, babbling in French. "ROBERT!! TURN ON CNN!! HURRY!!"
Robert cautiously turned on the correct station. It was Kevin's TV, and the last time one of them had used it, the Tiger had shouted at them for about an hour. The announcer said, with the detachment of a trained journalist. "...President of Biovolt company has suffered a stroke and is in critical condition in Moscow Cardiac Hospital. The Doctor says that it is unlikely he'll recover..." Robert froze. An instant later, Griffolyon screamed in rage. Oliver covered his ears in a vain attempt to block out the telepathic 'noise'.
"LOOK AT THAT!!" Lee pointed out the window. Galeon, the other tiger beasts behind him, and Griffolyon, his fellow Majestics bit beasts to his right, had their eyes turned to the sky.
//The dark pheonix has escaped!!!// Galman was practically bouncing off walls, and was NOT responding to Kevin's attempts to calm him down. //HE HAS GONE TO THE ABBEY!!//
"Fuck." Enrique stated. "This is just peachy."
"Dark Dranzer has escaped? How could..." Lee and Robert looked at each other a moment. "KAI!!" Robert snatched at the cell-phone the BBA had given him for contacting other captains. He dialed Kai's number, hand trembling.
"Kai speaking."
"Kai..." Robert's mouth had gone dry in fear. He knew what could happen, he could have warned the blade breakers. Instead he had stayed silent. How could he? He knew better than anybody the price of staying silent! "Do you still have Dark Dranzer? It's an emergency. Something is terribly wrong. I'm at the warren... all our beyblades are going berzerk!!"
"I still have him yes. Just a second, I'll be right back." There was a rustling noise as Kai dug in his pouch for Dark Dranzer's chip. There was a clatter as the pouch was dropped in shock. "R...Robert, you still there?"
"I am."
"Dark Dranzer, his chip...it's blank..."
"Get the other Blade Breakers and get your butts down here!!" Lee shouted, practically panicked.
"Stay calm Lee." Mariah had entered in the interim.
"But... this is terrible! You and Kevin saw the news! It CAN'T be a coincidence!!"
"We're coming." Kai said with a growl. 'Good' Robert thought. 'He knows the situation is serious.'
Fifteen minutes later Galman's panicked screeching alerted the two captains to the Blade Breakers' approach. Because their eyes were untrained, they didn't see the bit beasts that crowded the courtyard. Griffolyon had wisely 'hidden' the other beasts in shade form.
"Is there a problem?" Kai asked, with his usual ice.
Lee turned on CNN. "The doctor says that it's unlikely he'll recover. The damage done to his central nervous system is severe." The screen showed the hospital room where Voltaire was dying. Kai's eyes widened in comprehension.
"Look carefully." Lee's face curled in a snarl, echoing Galeon's mood out in the yard. "Unfocus your eyes."
The blade breakers did. Kai almost fainted. "It's... me!!"
Not quite, this Kai's eyes weren't brown, but black. His hair was midnight blue, not the slate color it usually was. The scarf Kai usually wore was red, not black. Standing next to Kai's all to obvious doppelganger was... "Dark Dranzer..." Ray snarled. As the 5 blade breakers watched, Kai's doppleganger and Dark Dranzer glowed black with negative energy.
"Kai's negative emotions, his hatred and despair, created THAT!" Jonny shook his head. "Kevin spotted it first. The kid's got a hyperactive sixth sense, I'm telling you!"
"Or maybe just hyper." Mariah couldn't resist taking a crack at the youngest Tiger.
Teew! Teew! Teew! Teew! 4 streaks of medium blue light shot from the Breakers' Blades. Dragoon, Dranzer, Driger and Draciel manifest just outside the window.
//Tyson...// Dragoon rumbled. //It is time...//
//We have hidden from you long enough, Kai... We are one...// Dranzer creeled.
//Ray, we are one and the same! The same being! The same soul!// Driger roared in triumph.
//We are connected Max, in our hearts and in our souls...// Draciel hummed.
"What..." Kai sat down hard. "What happened to Grandpa?"
"He suffered a stroke. We think that Dark Dranzer escaped and tried to kill him." Lee said, face grim.
//Dark Dranzer is very old and very violent.// Dragoon rumbled. //There is not much that we can do while his is still in Moscow. Humans can see us in this manifestation, but they cannot see Dark Dranzer in his. We would cause a panic.//
//No...// Driger agreed. //We cannot attack Dark Dranzer until he comes to us.//
//You won't have long to wait!// Griffolyon growled. //He's coming for you once he finishes with the abbey keeper.//
//We called you in for safety's sake.// Galeon agreed. //There are many of us, and only one Dark Dranzer.//
//You underestimate him!// Dranzer crowed, panicking. //Once he comes for Kai, there will be no stopping him! Were we able to unite in body... myself and Kai, Ray and Driger, Tyson and Dragoon and Max and Draciel, we could defeat him easily. But there is not time to teach them the technique!!//
//Where did the All-Stars get to?// Amphilyon asked, irritable. //I'd hate to ask the idiot for help, but Trygle is the most powerful beast on their team, and another flyer would be a valuable ally agains Dark Dranzer.//
//Trypio says that Eddy is bogged down in homework, he's got to get through a stack of books and papers 2 feet high before he and Trypio can get out here. Emily and Trygator are trying their best, but you know how Michael gets sometimes. It's all she and Steve can do to keep him from getting out of control!// Unicolyon replied. //Tryhorn said that Steve said that Michael can't keep his head out of the crack pipe. And he used an adjective that I don't think it wise to repeat.//
//There isn't much we can do. At least Kai's doppelganger cannot manifest outside of Kai's... fuck...// Salamalyon's eyes widened in fear. //He wouldn't try... would he? I mean, at this point, he'd have to kill Kai to use his body.// The bit beast looked at his team mates, //And that would...// he didn't dare finish. For a bit beast's connection to be severed from their chosen keeper, would kill the bit beast. That was what Dark Dranzer had tried to do.
//He'll come and use Kai against us...// Dranzer bowed her head in shame. //It is a dark day. Today, our keepers live, but we must die.//
//I WON'T LET IT END THAT WAY!!// Griffolyon whacked Dranzer with his wing. //What ever happened to Dranzer, the pheonix who rose from the ashes??//
//THE ABBEY KEEPER!!!// Galman let out a screech.
The bit beasts assembled in the yard keened woefully. Unpopular Voltaire may have been, but he was also the only thing standing between Dark Dranzer, and one of the most powerful Blade Warriors in the world.
At the same time, the anchor said, with infuriating detachment, "We have an update on the condition of Biovolt President Voltaire. He passed away from stroke complications..." Kai blocked it out... //Dranzer... Where will we go? What will we do? The only place left is...// Kai fell to his knees, bursting into tears of confusion.
//I'm with you Kai...I'm here...// Dranzer said, sympathetically into his mind. //We are here.//
Ray knelt by Kai's side. "K...kai... are you okay?" The other boy trembled as he pulled Kai into his grip.
"I... I think so..." Kai leaned into Ray's chest, sobbing. "I...I'm all confused."
"I've got you... You're gonna be okay..."
The reaction outside was explosive. //HE'S HERE!!// Dragoon snarled in rage, moving into a position to protect Draciel, the youngest beast in the group and his chosen mate. The turtle bit beast was trembling in fear.
Driger roared challenge. Dranzer screamed defiance.
//Where did he go?!!// Griffolyon demanded, whirling.
//The other Kai, he was with him!!// Galman dove under the gate in panic.
Kai doubled over as the dark beast clawed at his soul, trying to force it's way in, trying to sever Kai's connection with Dranzer. Kai and Dranzer screamed with one voice. "KAI!!" Ray cried. Then the doppelganger attempted entry as well, struggling to push aside Kai's soul. Pain shot through the Blade Breaker Captain like a knife.
Dranzer reeled in pain. Driger steadied her, roaring challenge at his chosen mate's distress. The pheonix's muzzle turned gray with pain. //HOLD ON DRANZER!!//
"Kai you have to fight!" Robert knelt next to the two of them. "Dark Dranzer is trying to break your connection with Dranzer! If he succeeds, Dranzer dies!!"
Kai couldn't think straight. His mind whirled. He would have to return... return to the one place on Earth he didn't want to go... The place where he would be silenced, maybe for all time. His mind slid down into despair. //Kai...// Dranzer called him... //Help... me... you have... to fight him... dying... DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!!!// The final sentence was spoken, roared, keened, from 11 souls and mouths.
A flash of green, gold and white, flashed across Kai's vision. Driger! //Kai... stay with us!! Don't let the evil in your heart win!! If you give up now it will consume you!!!//
//Driger...?// Kai said faintly.
//Feel our strength!!// Driger roared, and the other bit beasts faded back into Kai's vision.
Kai wasn't going to let something like this defeat him. Somebody had once told him that the only enemy is yourself, and the demons you create. //Kwan yin... beautiful goddess of compassion, of mercy... grant...me your ears... If... if I have to stay silent... if I have to keep my heart... my love... locked away all my life... then kill me now... If I am to live free... if I am to feel love... and be loved in safety... then help me... LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!!!!// The world faded back into view.
"You almost died Kai..." Ray's eyes were filled with tears of relief. Kai staggered for a moment, disoriented. Then he gave his head a little shake, vision coming back into focus. He was being held, a soft head, fierce cat-like eyes. "Ray?" Kai asked, confused. "What happened? I was...and then Driger..."
//The time has come to return.// Dragoon announced. Kai turned to see three flashes of light, one medium blue, one purple, and one silver. Then the bit beasts were gone. The world was sane once more. //If you need us Tyson... Don't forget to call.// And the dragon's laughter echoed through their heads...
~tbc~
Next chapter; THE ATTACK OF THE CHIBI TIGERS, MAJESTICS, AND ALL-STARS!! (Evil laughter) How you ask? STAY TUNED!!