Author's Note: All right, here's the chapter that will hopefully answer a lot of your questions. Why does Boris want Pyrix so badly? I only had one reviewer, Ms. Controversy, take a guess. I hope everyone likes the explanation and isn't too confused. My goal this weekend was to get two chapters up, and I have succeeded! Yay! Enjoy!

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

Chapter 7: Questions Answered

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Bit beast mind-chatting with its master

The Bladebreakers were currently gathered in a hotel room to celebrate Kai's return to the team. Kai had just explained everything he knew about Biovolt, and now the rest of the gang was just trying to digest all this new information.

"I…had no idea all this was going on at the Abbey," Rei remarked.

"Man-made bit beasts are a scientific dream-come-true, but using them to take over the world is terrible," Kenny added.

"But there is something else that's been on my mind for a while," Michelle said. Kai looked over at her. "Eri said that Boris killed her parents and tracked her down for two years just so he could get his hands on her bit beast Pyrix. If he can just create his own bit beasts, why does he need hers?"

"Yeah, that is a good question," Max added. "Do you know anything about that, Kai?"

Kai sighed heavily before replying. "Actually, I do know why Boris wants that bit beast. Ancient writings tell of a bit beast known as the Legendary Fire Wolf. This particular sacred spirit has a unique power that Boris desperately wants to harness in order to expedite his plan to take over the world."

"What power is that?" Tyson asked.

"The power over the mind." The rest of the team gasped and stood at rapt attention, waiting for Kai to continue. "Pyrix has the ability to sense the emotions of humans and bit beasts and look into the deepest parts of their hearts. She can even influence their thoughts and minds."

"A bit beast with the power to use mind control?" Tyson asked incredulously. "That's wild!"

"And dangerous," Rei said.

Kai explained, "These ancient writings tell about how Pyrix used her abilities. She never used her powers for evil or to control anyone. Instead, she wandered the world freely, using her influence over people's hearts and minds to resolve conflicts peacefully. If a bit beast lost its emotions or succumbed to darkness, she could touch its heart and recall its most cherished memories to bring it back to its original self. She could also dispel emotions of anger or hatred in humans. Apparently, she could take a physical form and disguise herself so no one would recognize her as a sacred spirit. However, soon people began to fear the Fire Wolf, thinking she would try to control their minds and enslave them. A tribe of nomads who commanded their own bit beasts sealed her away in a stone temple so she would never have the chance to use her powers for evil. Eri's parents must have discovered the temple and released Pyrix, sealing her inside a beyblade for further study."

Tyson decided to take this opportunity to interrupt: "This stuff about bit beasts using mind control is all neat and stuff, but what does it have to do with Boris?"

Michelle smacked him upside the head. "If you would just shut up for two minutes and pay attention, maybe Kai would actually tell us! And it's not exactly mind control, you baka!" (A/N: Baka is Japanese for idiot.)

Kai cleared his throat. "As I was saying, this has everything to do with Boris. While I was still training at the Abbey as a child, I would often see Boris pouring over some old manuscripts and hear him talking about capturing the Fire Wolf. He can use his technology to block out all the emotions and memories of bit beasts, leaving only the will to dominate. He could then reprogram the bit beasts to bend to his will. If he got his hands on Pyrix and wiped out her memories, he could easily harness her power to control people's minds. It would make it easier for him to brainwash beybladers into serving him and to corrupt more bit beasts. He could even influence entire cities into subjugation."

"I wonder why Boris hasn't done this already," Kenny mused.

"He probably tried as soon as he found Eri," Kai said. "But Pyrix is incredible powerful and had already bonded with Eri, so he could not erase her memories so easily. Pyrix probably also helped strengthen Eri's resolve against Boris' attempts to brainwash her into becoming just another soldier like the Demolition Boys. And he can't risk killing Eri, because then Pyrix would most likely go out of control and raze the entire Abbey."

Michelle's thoughts were interrupted when Dramikun contacted her: I have just received a message from Pyrix. Eri wishes to speak with us tonight in the park at midnight.

I understand. Tell Pyrix that we'll be there, Michelle replied. Dramikun's presence faded from her mind after he relayed the message.

"Uh…Michelle? Hello…" Tyson said, waving his hand in front of her face. "Earth to Michelle. Are you there?"

Michelle snapped back to reality and replied, "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking."

Later that night…

Michelle snuck out of her room and crept down the hallway to the elevator. She figured the rest of the team was asleep, but she still wasn't taking any chances. For all she knew, Tyson could be making a trip to the kitchen for a midnight snack. A voice behind her made her jump as she stepped out of the elevator. "Where do you think you're going?"

She whirled around to face Kai, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Geez, don't surprise me like that. I was just going out for a walk. Is that okay with you, captain?" she replied, adding a teasing note to the last sentence.

"Whatever. Just don't get lost," Kai replied. As Michelle started walking toward the door, he added, "And tell Eri I said hi." She tensed slightly but just kept going.

He knows, Dramikun said once they were outside.

That's a big, painful duh, Michelle replied sarcastically. At least he's not trying to stop us. She looked up at the face of the clock set at the top of a nearby cathedral. Snikes, (A/N: My best friend uses that word all the time.) it's almost midnight. I'd better hurry. She started running toward the park.

At the park…

Michelle approaches, Pyrix informed her master.

I know. I see her, Eri replied. She waited until Michelle entered the park before revealing herself. "So, you showed up." Michelle turned around to see Eri step out of the shadows of the cathedral and into the moonlight that illuminated the park. "It's good to see you again, Michelle."

"Likewise," Michelle replied. "Dramikun said you wanted to talk to me. What's up?"

Eri sighed heavily. "Maybe we should sit down." She led Michelle to the same bench they had used at their first meeting and sat down. "Your team is in grave danger. Boris isn't going to wait until the tournament to make his move. Kai's betrayal of Biovolt was the final straw. He will try to attack you guys tomorrow on your way to the beystadium."

Michelle's eyes widened. "How did you find this out?"

"Let's just say a little wolf told me," Eri replied. (A/N: Sorry. Bad joke.)

Flashback

Eri wandered the endless labyrinth of the Abbey, lost in thought. Boris had summoned the Demolition Boys to the underground training center early that morning, and they hadn't come out all day. It was already mid-afternoon. She immediately became concerned when Pyrix's bit chip lit up. Something had disturbed her bit beast. She pulled her beyblade out of her pocket, but the angry red glow of the bit chip did not diminish. Pyrix, what's wrong?

I hear the cries of the bit beasts enslaved by Black Dranzer. The Demolition Boys are drawing them out and absorbing them into their own beyblades, Pyrix replied in obvious distress. With the power of those captured bit beasts, the Demolition Boys will be unstoppable.

Eri clutched her beyblade tighter and clenched her fist. We can't think like that. The Bladebreakers have to defeat them if we want any chance of bringing down Biovolt.

A guard approaches. We should turn back.

All right. Eri knew she was taking a huge risk by wandering around like this. She would be in for a harsh punishment if caught. She returned to her room and was more than a little surprised to see Tala leaning against the wall outside her door, as if waiting for her. "Tala? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Boris isn't going to idly wait until the tournament to make his move," Tala replied emotionlessly. Eri was caught off guard at his words.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Bladebreakers should be on their guard tomorrow on their way to the stadium." Tala pushed himself off the wall and started walking away. "That's all I wanted to say."

Eri called after him. "Tala, wait." He stopped but did not turn around. "Answer me this one question: Whose side are you on?"

"I'm not on anyone's side. I'm acting on my own this time." With those final words, he continued down the hall and melted into the shadows.

End flashback

"I couldn't find out what exactly is going to happen, but I do know that Boris will make his first move tomorrow," Eri said.

"But for Tala to actually tell you something that significant…" Michelle mused. "That proves that Boris doesn't have complete control over him. He took a huge risk to come tell you."

"I know, and I shudder to think what Boris will do if he finds out. Tala will be labeled as a traitor," Eri said with concern. "And I…care too much for him to let that happen."

The two girls sat in silence for a few moments, deep in thought over how to deal with the impending events that would take place tomorrow. Finally Michelle broke the silence. "Eri, do you know why Boris wants your bit beast? Kai said it was because of her powers of influence over people's hearts and thoughts."

Eri nodded. "Yeah, I've always known, partly from what Pyrix told me and the rest from Boris' ranting. If it weren't for her, I would have given in to despair a long time ago."

Just then Pyrix's bit chip lit up again. Eri pulled out her beyblade as a shaft of red light shot out from the center. Pyrix materialized in a physical form before the two girls. "Are you Pyrix?" Michelle asked.

Pyrix nodded. "It's good to finally meet you in person, Michelle." The sacred spirit turned to Eri. "Something is happening at the Abbey. Boris is summoning the Demolition Boys and some of the other trainees to the landing platform. We should return immediately."

Eri stood up. "Thanks for the info, Pyrix. Let's go." Pyrix turned back into light and returned to her beyblade. "I'm sorry, but I need to go. I don't know if I can do anything to stop Boris from attacking your team, but I'll do whatever I can."

Michelle stood as well. "I understand. Thanks for everything. We'll do our best to win the World Championships." She stuck out her hand, and Eri shook it. She waved goodbye to her friend and sprinted back to the Abbey.

Eri was out of breath by the time she reached the landing platform. She hid behind the corner of a building and looked around to see a pilot beginning the pre-flight check on Boris' helicopter. The bottom of the helicopter was designed so it could carry a cargo box the size of a small railroad car. Pyrix broke into her thoughts: Boris is raising the underground platform. He is planning to transport the Demolition Boys and the trainees in the helicopter's cargo box.

Hmmm…interesting, Eri mused. Why don't we go along and see just what they're up to?

Pyrix recoiled slightly. What are you planning, Eri? she asked suspiciously.

Eri smirked. You'll see. She snuck out from behind the corner and kept low to the ground as she approached the helicopter from behind. She picked up a rock and tossed it into the pilot's line of sight. It skidded across the pavement and hit the side of the building with a loud thunk.

The pilot gave a start and called out, "Who's there? Show yourself!" When no one answered, he got out of the cockpit and walked toward the building to investigate. Eri crept noiselessly onto the helicopter and hid herself in back behind some crates before the pilot could turn around and see what was going on.

Eri, are you out of your mind? Pyrix protested. Boris will have your head for stowing away!

I'm not going to wait around in this stupid Abbey for something to happen, Eri replied. Pyrix went silent. Confused, the pilot returned to the cockpit. He started up the helicopter and hovered over where the cargo box was supposed to emerge. When it did, the helicopter picked it up and took off into the fading night. Now all Eri could do was watch and wait.

End chapter 7

Author's Note: I hope the beginning wasn't too cheesy. It was hard for me to get my thoughts down on the computer screen. I'll probably be really busy this week, but I'll try to update this weekend. Okay, readers, please review! I'll give everyone who reviews a Tala or Kai plushie! (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)