Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update! I was busy celebrating my birthday, and my best friend was over here for two days. I will try to make my chapters longer in the future, so please bear with me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters.

Chapter 3: The World Championships: Round One

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Bit beast mind-chatting with its master

Eri didn't see much of Tala or the other Demolition Boys for the next few days. Boris kept them in training for most of the day and monitored their actions closely. However, one evening while she was in her room the alarms went off, indicating an intruder. She heard the other trainees scrambling into the hallway to take care of the situation, and she wanted no part of it.

Shouldn't we see what's going on? Pyrix asked.

I really don't care. If someone wants to break in, let them. Maybe the intruders have come to blow this stupid place sky-high. I wouldn't mind that at all, as long as we had enough warning to get out while leaving Boris in here, Eri replied. Pyrix went silent.

The next day after her morning training Eri went walking around the Abbey by herself. She heard the sound of a beyblade spinning in the courtyard, a powerful one at that. 'Hmm, I wonder if that's Tala practicing.' She mentally slapped herself and thought, 'What am I thinking? Tala doesn't care the slightest bit about me.' She peeked around the corner and spotted a teenage boy about her age with two-toned blue hair in front of a beydish.

"Let it Rip!" the boy shouted as he launched a black beyblade. "Show me what you've got, Black Dranzer!"

'No…it can't be,' Eri thought to herself. 'Is that…Kai? But he disappeared nearly six years ago. What is he doing back here?'

Kai called back his blade and turned to leave. A sound behind him made him whirl around. "…Kai?" He turned to face Eri with an emotionless mask on his face.

"Hmph, what do you want?" Kai asked coldly. "In case you didn't notice, I'm kinda busy right now."

"You don't remember me?" Eri asked, taking another couple of steps. "It's me, Eri. We trained together nearly six years ago before you disappeared."

"Wait…I do remember you," Kai said, recognition dawning in his eyes.

"What are doing back at the Abbey?" Eri asked.

"None of your business," Kai said, turning and walking away.

'Hmph. Same ol' Kai,' Eri thought to herself.

But something was different, Pyrix interjected. I sensed a darkness around his heart. I'm afraid the power of Black Dranzer has seduced him and changed him for the worst. Now Boris will have no trouble using him to steal bit beasts.

You're probably right, Pyrix, Eri said. We'll have to keep a close watch on him. With those final thoughts, Eri returned to her room.

The next day was a busy one for the Abbey. Boris and the Demolition Boys left early for the first day of the World Championships. As a result, the daily training sessions were cancelled so the other students could watch the beybattles. Boris wanted to use this as an opportunity to instill a deeper desire to dominate in his trainees.

At the world championships…

Eri watched in growing nausea as Boris opened up the World Championships, putting on a false smile as he pretended to promote beyblading as a wholesome team sport. After his announcement, the All Starz prepared to face the Demolition Boys. Ian stepped into the arena first to face Steve. Once both bladers were ready to launch, DJ Jazzman began the countdown: "3…2…1…Let it Rip!"

Judy coached Steve from the sidelines: "Steve, hold back until we can analyze Ian's data."

"You got it, coach," Steve replied through the microphone in his helmet. "Tryhorn, defense!" Tryhorn began playing a defensive game, consecutively dodging Ian's attacks. After a couple of minutes, when Emily couldn't get any data, Judy ordered Steve to go on offense. "Sheesh, make up your mind already!" Steve exclaimed in frustration. "Tryhorn, attack!" Tryhorn charged Wyborg full-throttle, but, as if from a wordless command, Ian's blade dodged the attack and countered with a reverse slam, easily sending Tryhorn out of the dish.

"And Ian is the winner!" DJ Jazzman announced. The crowd erupted in applause.

Eddy stepped up to the dish next to try and avenge Steve's defeat. DJ Jazzman gave Tala a glowing introduction, and the crowd wildly applauded the hometown hero. Once the match actually began, Eddy immediately ordered Trypio to pile-drive Wolborg with Sting Shoot. Tala, however, wasn't fazed by the attack at all. His blade easily deflected the attack and sent Trypio out of the dish.

"And Tala is the winner!" DJ Jazzman announced. "Who would have thought the Demolition Boys would be so dominant over the All Starz?" Once again, the crowd eagerly supported the Demolition Boys in their victory.

"Come on! One more loss and the All Starz out of the tournament!" Mariah remarked to Lee from the stands. The Bladebreakers were just as surprised at the Demolition Boys' raw power.

Back at the Abbey…

Eri expected either Bryan or Spencer to come out next and finish the job. Her heart caught in her throat when she saw Kai step out into the beystadium. Even the announcers didn't know what to make up this surprising new development. Kai was supposed to be a member of the Bladebreakers. Eri was even more surprised to see him challenge the entire All Starz team at once. She watched in horror as he handily defeated all of them with the power of Black Dranzer and stole their bit beasts. She felt Pyrix's pain at seeing her fellow sacred spirits in distress, even as the other trainees cheered for Kai's victory.

This is…horrible, Pyrix voiced. Those bit beasts have hearts and souls of their own. Kai has no right to steal them away from their masters, for they are ones they care for the most.

I can't watch anymore of this. I gotta get out and clear my head, Eri replied as she walked away from the TV and tried to ignore the cheering of the other students.

Eri grabbed her coat from her room and headed outside into the chilly Russian evening. The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, and the temperature steadily dropped with the coming night. However, this cold didn't affect Eri at all, since she had grown up in these harsh conditions. She had spent many evenings and nights outside training under Boris' orders. She stood in front of a beydish and launched Pyrix. Eri carefully inspected all of Pyrix's movements and balance, down to the littlest wobble. This was the only way she could try to forget what she had seen today. After practicing in silence for a few minutes, Pyrix finally decided to break into her master's thoughts. Do you feel any better, Eri?I know you always do this when you're upset.

Not really, Eri replied. I still can't get over what's going on. Why can't beyblading just be a sport played for fun? Boris wants to taint everything good about the sport. It makes me sick to even think about he created Black Dranzer for the sole purpose of stealing bit beasts.

So what should we do? Pyrix asked. Perhaps we should talk to Tala. Yesterday I felt that your words started to have an effect on him. We could convince him to take a stand against Boris.

I don't know. Last time we talked he showed that Boris still holds too much sway over his mind. Eri's conversation was cut short as she heard the pounding of footsteps outside. Judging by the sound, the person was running. But from what? Eri looked out over the wall to see a girl with long blonde hair running down the street like her life depended on it. Eri could just barely make out the girl's pained, tear-stained expression in the dwindling light. I wonder what's wrong with her?

I don't know. I sense that she is grieving over something…or someone, Pyrix said. Why don't we go try to talk to her?

But I don't even know her. And besides, Boris would have my head if he caught me sneaking out, Eri objected.

But Boris isn't here right now. He will be staying at the stadium tonight, so security will not be as tight here, Pyrix remarked.

Eri smirked. Wow. I guess even you like to live on the wild side every now and then. Pyrix just sighed. All right, let's go see what's up. With that said, Eri easily hopped the fence and snuck down the street to find that mystery girl.

End chapter 3

Author's Note: Yay! Another chapter under my belt! Thanks to all who reviewed! You give me the inspiration to keep going! Please keep reviewing! BORIS MUST DIE!