Silvan Arrow: I am so sorry for lack of updates lately! School has been torture. I had to write a 7-10 page review of literature in one week! And I was busy all day Friday and Saturday, so I'm desperately trying to make up for lost time! I about lost my sanity with all this school work!

Tala: Yeah, it wasn't a pretty sight. She was practically brain-dead by Friday.

Silvan Arrow/glares/ You didn't need to say that. Do I need to sic the fan girls on you again?

Tala/gulp/ I know! I'll do the disclaimer! Silvan Arrow does not own Beyblade or any of its characters. And since she doesn't own me, then she can't torture me!

Silvan Arrow: We'll see about that. While I go read How to Torture Beyblade Characters for Dummies, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 11: The Ice Cracks

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Bit beast mind-chatting with master

Eri awoke just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. She thought to herself, 'What a strange dream. Boris genetically reprogrammed Tala's mind and erased his humanity.' She shook her head in disbelief.

It was no dream, Pyrix interrupted. Tala does not remember you.

Memories from yesterday's events came rushing back. Tears welled up in Eri's eyes. You're right. I was just hoping it was nothing more than a bad dream. She threw off the covers and sat up. Today is the day Tala and Tyson have their battle to decide the World Championships. I wonder when Boris plans to leave.

Don't worry about that. When Boris wants something, he makes sure everyone knows, Pyrix replied. Eri could just see her bit beast rolling her eyes.

Eri quickly dressed and was just about to leave for the dining hall when a knock came at her door. Not waiting for an invitation, Boris burst in. Eri turned around to face him and sent him a death glare. "What do you want?" she asked irritably.

"I will choose to ignore your insolence this time," Boris retorted. "I came to inform you that you will not be coming to the stadium today." Eri's eyes widened. "The Demolition Boys do not need any unnecessary distractions, especially Tala."

Eri smirked. "So you're afraid that my presence will affect your ultimate warrior's ability to battle? You must have done a really crappy job of reprogramming him."

"I've heard enough!" Boris yelled, backhanding Eri. She managed to stay upright. "If I catch you leaving this Abbey, I will make your life a living nightmare! If that means death, then so be it!" With that, he turned sharply on his heel and stormed out of her room, slamming the door behind him.

Well, he certainly is pleasant in the mornings, Eri mused sarcastically.

I have just received a message from Falborg, Pyrix interjected. Boris is calling the Demolition Boys to the landing pad. They will be leaving in ten minutes.

Then I guess we'd better hurry, Eri replied, ending the conversation. She snuck through the halls of the Abbey and made her way to the landing pad, where the helicopter was sitting. She peeked cautiously around the corner to see if the coast was clear. But something didn't feel right. That's weird. There's no pilot in the cockpit.

Looks can be deceiving, Pyrix warned. The pilot is standing under an awning to our left, watching for intruders.

Eri peered around the corner to her left. Sure enough, she could see the pilot standing in the shadows of a stone awning, watching in case someone tried to stowaway again. Boris isn't taking any chances today. We'll have to be a little more creative.

Pyrix sighed. I suppose it wouldn't do any good to try and talk you out of this, would it?

Eri grinned. You know me too well. She ducked back into a hallway of the Abbey that took her behind the pilot. She jumped out from an open door and landed a punch to his head from behind, knocking him out. She took this opportunity to stowaway on the helicopter again.

Are you crazy? Pyrix asked in disbelief. You can't just go knocking out Boris' pilots like that! They'll search the helicopter when he wakes up.

Relax; he'll wake up in a minute. Just then the pilot groaned as he regained consciousness. He got to his feet, rubbing his sore head, and looked around for intruders. Minutes passed, but he didn't move from his spot. See? Nothing to worry about. And he won't dare tell Boris, lest he risk getting fired.

Pyrix sighed in defeat. Just don't do that again without telling me first.

A few minutes later Boris appeared on the landing platform with the Demolition Boys. They all took their seats on the helicopter while Eri hid behind the same crates from the other day. While Boris lectured his team on the importance of winning today's match, Eri just sat quietly and waited anxiously for the boring ride to end.

At the stadium…

Eri waited until Boris and the Demolition Boys had gotten off the helicopter and were well on their way into the stadium before she slipped off and entered through a back way. She quickly navigated the dark labyrinth of halls until she found the doorway leading out to the Demolition Boys' team bench. She decided to hide in the doorway and watch the match from a distance. Pyrix, tell Bryan that we're here in the hallway behind their team bench.

Understood. She quickly relayed the message. Bryan will warn us if there's any danger from Boris. Now what should we do?

Now we wait, Eri replied. Something told her that it was going to be a long wait.

With the Bladebreakers… (A/N: This segment won't exactly follow the episode.)

Tyson approached the beydish and stood across from Tala. Both competitors locked eyes in silence as the dish rose up from the ground. It was shaped like the Siberian wilderness, complete with ice, snow, and miniature trees. DJ Jazzman announced, "Let's begin the final match to decide the new World Champion!" Both bladers assumed their launch positions. "3…2…1…Let it Rip!"

"Go get him, Dragoon!" Tyson shouted. Dragoon immediately charged Wolborg for the attack.

"Compute," Tala muttered as his mind analyzed the situation. Wolborg dodged Dragoon at the very last second and counterattacked for heavy damage. He then had Wolborg bring down a tree, but Dragoon managed to dodge that as well. "Now it's time to show you the true meaning of fear!" Tala said to Tyson. Just then Dranzer appeared from Tala's beyblade and attacked with Fire Arrow. Then Draciel came out and called up a wave of water.

"How dare you use other people's bit beasts as if they were your own?" Tyson asked incredulously. It was bad enough that he had to fight such a strong opponent, but it was even worse knowing that he was fighting his own team mates' bit beasts.

"Tyson, snap out of it!" Tyson looked back and locked eyes with Kai. "You know our bit beasts's moves better than he does! Now focus on the match!"

Tyson nodded and turned back to the match. "You haven't beaten me yet, Tala! Dragoon, Phantom Hurricane!" Dragoon emerged and whipped up a powerful hurricane that knocked Wolborg out of the dish.

DJ Jazzman was stunned. "I don't believe it! Round one goes to Tyson!"

"Wow…I beat him," Tyson muttered in disbelief. "Oh yeah! Now I only have to win one more match!"

Tala started laughing. "I feel so sorry for you!" Tyson gave him a questioning look. "I chose not to win that round so I could analyze your beyblade!"

Now Tala was getting under Tyson's skin. "W-what was that? Oh forget it! All I know is that I have to win one more match! Just you wait until the next round!" Tala smirked as he and Tyson assumed their launch positions for the next round.

"Let's get going with the next round!" DJ Jazzman announced. "3…2…1…Let it Rip!"

Tyson once again came out swinging. "Dragoon, attack!" But this time Tala wasn't holding back.

"Wolborg, Blizzalog!" Tala commanded. The massive wolf spirit emerged, full of malice and hatred. He only knew how to dominate and instill fear in his opponents. Kenny couldn't believe how big and powerful Wolborg was. The wind around the beydish churned as Wolborg created a massive blizzard that blinded everyone in the stadium. Tyson desperately ordered for Dragoon to attack, and the two beyblades collided in a mix of light and snow. When the snow cleared, the area around the beydish was covered by a towering iceberg that reached to the ceiling of the stadium. Tala and Tyson were nowhere to be seen.

Inside the iceberg…

Tyson looked across the dark, stormy expanse at Tala. Freezing snow and wind whipped about mercilessly, stinging any part of his skin that was exposed. Tala, on the other hand, wasn't phased in the least. "Tala, what's going on?" Tyson asked.

"When our beyblades collided, it created a rift in the space-time continuum," Tala explained emotionlessly. "We have been sent to another dimension to finish our battle." (A/N: Don't ask me. This was actually in the episode.)

"Another dimension?" Tyson looked down at Dragoon. He had stopped spinning, but Wolborg was still raring for more.

"We still have to finish the match," Tala stated as he recalled his blade and set up for the final round. Tyson prepared to launch as well as they heard the DJ start up the countdown. As the final match began, Tala wasted no time in putting Tyson on defense. "Wolborg, attack!" Wolborg slammed Dragoon ruthlessly.

"Come on, Dragoon! Fight back!" Tyson encouraged.

"It's time to finish this! Now my army of bit beasts! It's time for our ultimate attack!" Tala ordered. Wolborg emerged along with all of the other captured bit beasts. He devoured the other sacred spirits and turned into a ball of fire resembling the sun that hovered over Tala's head. Tala laughed evilly. "This is my ultimate weapon, and there is no known defense against it! Now, Wolborg, attack!" The mini-sun shot out multiple beams of energy directed straight at Tyson. He raised his arms to shield himself, but the impact never came. He heard the explosion, but he was unharmed.

When Tyson opened his eyes, he was standing in an invisible shield created by his beyblade. "Dragoon…" His bit beast had shielded him, but at what cost? Could he even contend with Tala's incredible power? He could barely stay on his feet, it was so cold.

Tyson gave a start as he felt an unfamiliar consciousness invade his mind. Tyson, you mustn't give up.

Who…are you? Tyson asked mentally. Normally he would have been creeped out, but this presence was warm and comforting, which was especially welcome in this giant block of ice.

I am Pyrix, the Fire Wolf bound to Eri. Listen to me: Boris has genetically altered Tala's mind so that he no longer feels any emotions other than the will to dominate. He's lost his humanity and even his memories of Eri. If you cannot defeat him today, then Tala will he lost for good.

That's wild! Don't worry, I promise that I'll defeat Tala, Tyson replied confidently. Suddenly he felt new strength well up in his body as warmth seeped through all his limbs. His courage burned stronger than ever, and he sent this newfound strength given from Pyrix to Dragoon. Thank you, Pyrix, Tyson said as her presence faded from his mind. He returned to the matter at hand and said to Tala, "You've put up a good fight, but it's time to end this. Let's go, Dragoon!" His bit beast appeared, glowing more brightly than ever.

"No! How does his bit beast keep coming back?" Tala asked in disbelief.

I have returned because you have never given up on me, Dragoon said to Tyson.

"You can talk?" Tyson asked in amazement.

As long as you continue to believe in me, I will never abandon you, Dragoon promised.

Tyson chuckled. "Then let's do it, partner. Go, Dragoon!" Dragoon roared viciously and charged for Tala's glowing mass of bit beasts. Tyson's beyblade turned into light, which Dragoon gripped in his mouth to fuel his attack. Tala's army of bit beasts shot out from the mini-sun and tried to attack, but Dragoon held them all back and continued advancing. In one last-ditch effort, he pierced the glowing mass, and it exploded violently as Tala cried out in agony and disbelief. The iceberg that had trapped the two bladers shattered, leaving Tala and Tyson still standing across from each other. Different colored streaks of light hovered above the stadium. They were the bit beasts that had been captured, and each one returned to its own beyblade.

"Draciel!" Max exclaimed happily as he looked at his bit chip, with Draciel safely nestled inside.

Dranzer, you're back! Kai exclaimed as the phoenix returned to her beyblade.

I would never abandon you, Kai, Dranzer replied reassuringly.

"But who won the match?" Michelle asked.

DJ Jazzman surveyed the scene below him. Dragoon was still spinning furiously, but Wolborg was still. "We have a new World Champion! Tyson has defeated Tala!" The crowd erupted in applause as Tyson stooped down to pick up his beyblade.

Tala was in shock as he retrieved his beyblade. "How could this happen? I was supposed to be invincible!"

Tyson chuckled as he walked over to Tala. "That was a great match! Put 'er there!" He held out his hand. Tala looked at it for a moment, smiled, and shook Tyson's hand.

While Mr. Dickinson confronted Voltaire about turning him in to the police, Boris was furious with the Demolition Boys over losing. Boris confronted Tala as he walked back to the team bench. "And WHAT do you call that? That was pathetic! You have brought about the downfall of all my years of hard work and research!" When Tala didn't reply, Boris backhanded him and knocked him to the ground. "When we get back to the Abbey, I will make sure you wish you were never born!"

"Sorry, Boris, but that's not going to happen." Boris turned around to face Bryan, who had just spoken. He, Spencer, and Ian stood up and confronted him. "We're tired of being your puppets, so just take a hike."

"You dare defy me!" Boris yelled. "Then I'll just drag you back by force!" But then a red beyblade shot out of nowhere and spun in front of Boris' feet, glowing an angry red. He turned to face Eri, who was standing in the entrance to the stadium. "Eri! This is all your doing!"

"No, you brought about your own downfall by enslaving beybladers and using them as puppets," Eri said as she approached. "Your plan was doomed to fail from the beginning."

"You insolent wretch!" Boris yelled. He tried to grab Eri, but suddenly her body was surrounded by a red aura. He tried to touch her but immediately withdrew his hand. The aura burned like fire, and he knew that Pyrix was shielding her. "This isn't over. I'll be back!" Boris turned on his heel and stormed out of the stadium.

"So…is it over? Are we free?" Spencer asked.

"We must return to the Abbey." Eri, Bryan, Spencer, and Ian turned to look at Tala as he got to his feet. His eyes were just as dead as before, void of any emotion. He turned and exited the stadium without another word.

Eri sighed. "We may be free, but Tala isn't." The rest of the Demolition Boys nodded. Until they found a way to help Tala regain his humanity, they wouldn't leave him.

End chapter 11

Author's Note: Once again, I'm really sorry it took so long to update. School pretty much ruled my life this past week. Too much homework. And then I've been really busy this weekend. Now to more important news: I have started a C2 community called "Loving a Wolf." It's for fics pairing Talawith an OC. I would really like some staff, so if you're interested send me a message! I'm also planning another fic after I finish this one. Okay, I've said enough. Now it's your turn to say stuff! Please review!