Legend of Apocalypse

Disclaimer: Trueangel does not own Beyblade or Leon.

This chapter makes use of Christian religious symbols. If you are offended by such material, please do not read further. You have been warned.

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Alright, this time round I'm giving out Max action figures... but these action figures are those kind of old plastic stuff where the parts easily fall apart, so be careful you don't lose an arm. Lose an arm, get it? (Tyson: That's not funny, Trueangel.) Erm... gomen nasai, Max-kun... *hands out Max action figures*

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Rumi-Chan: Xalenix! Hahaha! Go Phoenix/Xaleon! Eh, wait... I'm the author here... get lost, butcher knife. *Butcher knife disappears* Heh, special powers of the writer...

Just-some-girl1: Alright, here's the next chappie, then! Enjoy!

LoneWolfStar7: *random rant on ff.net's NC17 ban* Gah... but this fic is gonna be 100% lemon-free! There can be such a thing as a Vitamin C overdose, you know... so we'll all stay off that stuff for a while, yah?

SoulSister: You flatter me... heh, hope you enjoy this chapter just as much! *grins*

Shaka Dragomir Nocturnus: Ooh, another nice review... not that I'm complaining, but I'm wondering what's it like to get a flame... hopefully, I'll never know. ^__^

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Trueangel: Oh boy, we're in the seventh chapter, and this story isn't even half done...

Leon: Um... am I supposed to complain?

V.K.: Just leave Trueangel alone... you're going mad over the amount of work, right?

Leon: You should have anticipated this long ago, A-chan...

Trueangel: Gee, what a great help the two of you have been.

V.K.: Thank you.

Trueangel and Leon: -_-"

Leon: Um... let the chapter begin?

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Chapter 7 The Two Phoenixes

Kai, Tyson, and Max opened their eyes to find themselves standing in front of a cave.

"Kai, where are we?" asked Tyson.

"We're in Israel, 300 years after the death and rebirth of Christ."

"Christ? Oh, I get it... Christ the lamb."

Kai smiled.

"Yeah. This is about the only legend involving a lamb that I could find."

"And... this is the tomb of Christ?"

"Yes. And I think you'd better follow Max, he's already entered the cave."

Tyson turned around to find Max missing. He quickly ran into the cave.

"I'll just keep guard outside here, in case someone- or something- comes," Kai shouted after Tyson.

+++

After a bit of running, Tyson caught up with Max. The path within the cave was fairly simple in that there weren't any junctions, but it was a long and winding path. After a period of silence, Tyson decided to start a conversation with Max.

"So, Max... how have you been all these years?"

"You saw me the other day at the playground. What do you think?"

"Look, Max, I really don't blame you for-"

"No, it's ok. I don't... I... just don't talk about it, okay?"

"Well, alright... so you've been living with Hui for the past few years?"

"Yeah."

"So... how's life with him?"

"Ok, I guess. Though he can't help with what I was facing, he still tries, and I thank him for that."

"I've noticed that Hui is pretty caring towards you."

"Hui blames himself for not stopping what happened years ago. He's just trying to appease his guilt by helping me."

"But now that I'm back, his blame is lifted, right?"

"it's not that easy, Tyson. The fact is, what happened years ago still happened. Though I'm feeling better now, what I felt then cannot be changed, and Hui's guilt arises not only out of how I'm feeling now, but also from what I had felt."

"It's all so confusing..."

"Then don't try to understand it. I like you the way you were, Tyson, simple and uncomplicated."

"Weren't you once like that too?"

"What has happened has happened, and I cannot pretend to be as innocent as I once was. But you still have a chance. You have not experienced the horrors of life that is only seen with years of experience. Cherish your innocence, Tyson."

"Gee, you sound like some kind of authority or philosopher talking to me..."

"Perhaps it's because I've been marred by life, whereas you, however, has remained pure in death."

"There you go again..."

"If you don't understand, it's okay. When you can understand what I said, then you should weep, for your childhood is over."

The two of them stopped as they reached the end of the cave. At one corner was a simple wooden coffin, but it was open. There was a lamb walking about in the cave, it's fleece giving off a faint white light.

"So you have come, Tyson and Max," said the lamb.

"Who are you?" asked Tyson, slightly taken aback by the fact that the lamb could speak.

"You need not know who i am. All you should know is that I possess Aries. But the time has come for a new guardian of Aries to be chosen. So which of you shall be that one?"

"It doesn't matter. One of us will get Aries, and the other Capricorn," replied Tyson.

"You are wrong, it matters. The lamb is a symbol of sacrifice, sacrifice for the ones you love, for what you believe in, and for the greater good. For it is said that it is more blessed to give than to receive, thus whoever gives shall be blessed with Aries."

"But in the end, won't we still use it for the same purpose? Aries, Capricorn, what's the difference?"

"Oh, the difference is great, as you shall see when you grasp the characters of the beyblades. But meanwhile, why don't we have a beyblade battle to see who is worthy of Aries?"

"Now you're talking my language," replied Tyson, smiling. "So who do you want to battle first, me or Max?"

"Oh no, you don't quite understand. I mean that the two of you battle, such that I can see which amongst you is more worthy."

Tyson turned to look at Max.

"No, I can't battle Max... give Aries to Max, then."

"It's alright, Tyson. We'll just battle. After all, it doesn't matter who gets Aries, so we'll just take this as practice."

"You mistake me. This is not just practice. This is a battle for your lives. Either you leave this cave with Aries, or you don't leave at all."

"What?! Then give the bit beast to Max, and we'll both go."

"No, I insist. You must battle. If you don't battle, then both of you shall perish."

"You!"

"Tyson... we'll just battle. Let's just battle first, and talk later, okay?"

"Max, we promised never to leave each other..."

"Yas, But we have no other choice. Battle with all your might, Tyson, such that when one of us wins, we can seek solace in the fact that we both put in our best."

"Enough talking, let's get moving. Prepare your blades, the two of you."

"Max..." Tyson called out as me put his Dragoon on his launcher.

"Just concentrate on the game," replied Max.

"3, 2, 1, LET IT RIP!"

+++

Kai sat down on the grass beside the cave and looked up into the clear blue sky. White fluffy clouds floated past, their cheerfulness not at all close to what Kai felt in his mind. He watched as a bird flew by, and for a moment he wished that he were a real phoenix, such that he could just fly away and not have to face what he was facing. Instantly Kai caught himself dreaming an old and impossible dream. Countless humans had wished the same thing before. Countless poets and writers had used that expression, to the point that it was cliched. But they all went on living their dull, dreary lives. Kai was already lucky that he was embroiled in such a battle. Many people would have given anything to be in his situation. Kai smiled wistfully as he thought of yet another cliched expression. The grass on the other side was always greener. What Kai wouldn't give to just live normally...

Unconsciously, Kai's mind wandered to his relationship with Rei. He couldn't say that their relationship was in ruins, at least they were still friends fighting side by side. But it wasn't what Kai expected. Kai laughed a bittersweet laugh as he realised the absurdity of his thoughts. What did he expect, then? That Rei would just welcome him back as though nothing had happened? In Heaven, Kai didn't realise how much time had actually passed. To him, it seemed like a month at most. But seeing the tired and weary expression on Rei's face, Kai realised that he had been gone for two decades. Of course Rei would have grown up and lived his own life. What right did Kai have to expect Rei to need him forever? He should have been thankful that Rei still felt something for him, and was still willing to love him. Kai could not demand that Rei instantly start loving him. Just like it took time for them to build up their relationship the first time, Kai had to give Rei time to build up their relationship again.

Kai looked up as he noticed a white wisp floating in the air. He stood up. Was it Volten? Slowly, the wisp grew, gradually adopting a humanoid form. It started to solidify, and Kai thought it looked vaguely similar. He was right. The wisp turned into Xan.

"Xan?" Kai asked incredulously.

"Kai? What happened?"

"I should be the one asking you that question."

"I don't know... after I died, I felt my soul wander though time and space. I don't know how long it was, but finally I was drawn to this place. I lingered here for a long while, but when you came, I felt myself become more real... more alive. Then I saw you."

"Perhaps my arrival might have triggered something..."

"I'm not sure..."

"Xan, what's that in your hand?"

Xan looked in his right hand. In there was a bit chip.

"I don't know. It just materialised with me."

"It's the bit beast Gemini."

"But... I don't have the mark..."

"Do you think someone, or something, might have used you to give it to me?"

"Because we are twins..."

"But, we're not a legend... right?"

"Unless we will be... or already are... but I guess I'll just give it to you, if that's what I'm supposed to do."

Xan placed the bit chip in Kai's hand. Instantly, Kai felt a searing pain. But it wasn't a pain that was concentrated on his arm or anywhere that the mark might appear; it was a pain that shot through his entire body and wrecked his every nerve. Kai screamed as he felt his body being torn apart.

+++

Tyson's white beyblade and Max's green one both flew into the center of the room. Dragoon made a feeble attempt to attack Draciel, but it was far less than enough to break through Max's defences.

"Please, Tyson, fight harder!"

"No, Max... I can't let you die."

"I'm old and a much weaker beyblader than you, whereas you are still young and still have your life ahead of you. If I were forced to choose, I'd rather you live. Having seen you alive, I can die with no regrets."

"No, Max, don't say that! Nobody's going to die!"

"It's the only way, Tyson. If we are going to save Val, this is the only way."

"But Max..."

"Tyson, if you're not willing to attack me, then I'll do it for you. Draciel, attack Dragoon!"

The green beyblade headed for Dragoon and knocked into it. However, being a defensive beyblade, Draciel did not inflict much damage on Tyson. Instead, it came out weaker due to Dragoon's powerful attack ring, strong enough even when it was not on the offensive.

"Max, what are you doing?"

"I'm forcing you to win, if you're not going to do it yourself. Draciel, attack again!"

"Max, stop it! I don't want you to die... Dragoon, absorb Max's attacks!"

Dragoon moved backwards as Draciel headed towards it. When the two beyblades collided, Dragoon's movement lessened the damage on Draciel. This time, it was Dragoon that was knocked back from the attack.

"Fine, I have other ways. Draciel, attack the wall!"

"The green beyblade flew at the wall at a tremendous speed. The impact was so hard that it left a crack on the stone. Draciel was clearly weakened from the attack.

"Max, don't..." Tyson cried, almost pleading.

"I'm sorry, Tyson. It's the only way. I don't ever want to leave you, and I know I promised you that... I'm sorry."

Tyson watched, a tear rolling down his cheek, as Draciel slammed into the wall again. The green beyblade wobbled for a while before coming to a complete stop. As though mourning with his master, Dragoon too gradually stopped spinning.

"So, Tyson wins," said the lamb.

"Some kind of win that was! How could you-"

"Please, Tyson, let me explain. That was a test to see which of you is more willing to sacrifice for the other. This is important as Aries and Capricorn work as a pair, there Aries sacrifices itself for Capricorn and Capricorn protects Aries. I'm sure that you love Max just as much, but Max has shown his willingness to sacrifice himself for you, and he is worthy of the Aries bit beast."

Max felt a burn on his arm as the Aries bit chip appeared before him, glowing. He took hold of it in his palm.

"On the other hand, Tyson, you are now charged with the task of protecting Max and Aries. You shall receive Capricorn."

Tyson too felt a burn on his arm as he snatched the bit chip out of mid-air, like Max had done.

'Now, the two of you, go and save the world from Volten. But I think Kai might need your help first."

"Kai? What happened to him? Is it Volten?" asked Tyson.

"You'll see soon enough. Now, go."

Max and Tyson both put their beyblades and newly-gained bit chips into their pockets, before running out of the cave.

+++

The first thing Tyson noticed when he got out of the tomb was Xan.

"Xan? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"No time to explain... there's something wrong with Kai."

Tyson and Max noticed Kai. Or rather, the two Kais. The both of them looked scaringly identical, and both were lying on the ground, twitching occasionally.

"What happened?" asked Tyson.

"I don't know... right after I gave him the Gemini bit beast, he split into two."

"Erm, Tyson..." said Max, "how are we supposed to get home?"

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Trueangel: Ah, this chapter seems a bit shorter than the last few.

V.K.: Skiving, huh?

Trueangel: No... I just thought... the readers would like a break...

Leon: *grins* Admit it, A-chan.

Trueangel: I'm saying nothing.

V.K.: How stubborn...

Trueangel: *glares at V.K.*

Leon: Oh well, in that case... review, people!