Silvan Arrow: Well, this is the chapter everyone's been waiting for! Will Tala regain his humanity? Keep reading to find out!
Michelle: Okay, you've done enough commentary! Now let's get on with the chapter!
Silvan Arrow: But I can't do that yet! Someone still has to do the disclaimer!
Michelle/sigh/ Oh fine. Silvan Arrow does not own Beyblade or any of its characters.
Silvan Arrow: Thank you! Oh, and I also don't own "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence. And the title of the chapter comes directly from the lyrics. Yeah, I decided to include a song in this chapter. I think it fits the mood of this chapter quite well. Okay, on with the chapter!
Chapter 12: Wake Me Up Inside
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Bit beast mind-chatting
Tala and Wolborg's memories
Time had stopped at the Abbey ever since Eri and the Demolition Boys returned three days ago. They hadn't heard from the Bladebreakers, so they didn't know if Mr. Dickinson even remembered their plight. Boris was gone as well, which was a welcome change. The only problem: the Abbey was in chaos. Without Boris' iron-clad dictatorship, the guards had difficulty controlling the beybladers. While they could still keep a grip on the younger trainees, the older boys started to question the reason why they were even here. Some of them even revolted during training and destroyed parts of the training facilities. Eri, Bryan, Spencer, and Ian stuck together and stayed out of the way. The guards had too much on their hands to bother with them. Tala, however, had become even more distant since the World Championships. He wandered the halls of the Abbey aimlessly and spent most of his time in the underground training chambers. He hardly ate or slept; he just practiced night and day. That was all he knew now.
On the morning of the fourth day, Eri was heading to the kitchen to sneak some food for herself and the guys when she saw Tala heading in her direction. His eyes were blood-shot from lack of sleep. Eri stepped in front of him and tried to reason with him one more time: "Tala…Boris is gone. You don't have to kill yourself practicing. He's not coming back." Tala simply stepped around her and kept walking. She reached around and grabbed his arm. "Hey! I'm talking to you! You're free from his control!" He removed her hand in one quick jerk of his wrist and still kept walking. "If that's the way it's gotta be…then I challenge you to a beybattle!"
Tala stopped in his tracks but kept his back to Eri. "What…did you say?" he asked numbly.
"I said I challenge you, Tala Ivanov," Eri repeated. "What's wrong? Are you too afraid to fight a girl?"
He finally turned to face her. The deadness in his eyes was replaced by a burning desire to win. "Challenge accepted."
The two competitors found a beydish outside in a secluded corner of the Abbey and stood across from each other. As Eri prepared to launch, Pyrix asked, Do you know what you're doing, Eri?
I do, Eri replied grimly. This is the only way to get through to him. Maybe if you can at least reach Wolborg, Tala will come around as well.
I will do my best.
Eri assumed her launch position and asked, "Are you ready, Tala?"
Tala glared across the dish at her as he readied himself. "I hope you're ready to lose."
As if by wordless consent, both bladers shouted "Let it Rip!" in unison and launched their beyblades. The battle was on.
How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb without a soul
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
Tala immediately started attacking fiercely. "Wolborg, tear her beyblade to pieces!" His beyblade slammed Pyrix mercilessly and pushed it to the edge of the dish.
"I'm not down yet! Go, Pyrix!" Eri shouted. Pyrix increased her torque and pushed Wolborg back.
"I've had enough of this! Wolborg, attack!" Tala ordered. The wolf spirit emerged from his beyblade with a mighty roar. He charged for the attack and sent Pyrix teetering dangerously on the edge of the dish.
"Pyrix, come to my aid!" Eri countered. The fire wolf materialized amidst a wall of fire and howled a challenge to her opponent. Both bit beasts clashed and fought fiercely with tooth and claw, battling for dominance as their beyblades were dead-locked. Both beyblades repelled each other and circled the dish as the bit beasts stared each other down.
Wolborg, do you not remember your true self? Pyrix asked. You were not always this heartless.
I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't care! Wolborg snarled. All that matters to me is eliminating you! He charged for Pyrix, but she easily sidestepped.
Then I will make you remember. Eri, now!
You got it, Pyrix, Eri replied. "Ethereal flames!" Pyrix released a ring of fire that trapped Wolborg and slowly began draining his energy as it burned.
W-what is this? What have you done? Wolborg cried as he struggled to get free but failed. But, as the flames continued to burn, he felt a lock come undone in the back of his mind.
A memory. Five-year-old Tala carefully regarded the gray beyblade he cradled in his hands. "What is this?" he asked.
A red-headed woman smiled kindly at her son and replied, "That is a beyblade. Inside is a sacred spirit named Wolborg. He will always be there for you, even if you feel alone. I know the two of you will get along very well." She ruffled his hair and left the room, leaving the two alone to get acquainted.
Tala noticed the bit chip in the center of the beyblade, which held the picture of a blue and gray wolf. He decided to try and strike up a conversation. "Um…Wolborg? Can you hear me?"
He felt a tingling in his mind. I can hear you just fine.
Tala gave a start. He had heard a voice inside his head! "My name's Tala. It's nice to meet you."
It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I guess this makes us partners.
Tala smiled. "Yeah! We'll be friends forever, right?"
Wolborg chuckled. Of course. Maybe this kid wasn't so bad after all…
Tala shook his head to get rid of those images. He had seen everything Wolborg had seen. "What scheme are you trying to pull?" he asked angrily. Wolborg dispelled the ring of fire and slammed Pyrix. Eri remained silent and continued to fight back.
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to rise before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Wolborg snarled viciously at Pyrix. Why did you show me that? It just proves that emotions make you weak!
That is where you are wrong, Pyrix replied calmly. I can fight my hardest because of the bond I share with Eri. Please, Wolborg, you must remember your true nature. She slammed into his side and pried into the deepest recesses of his mind, trying to recall all those long-lost memories.
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life
Another memory. Seven-year old Tala sat huddled in a corner of his room, crying miserably. Boris had beaten him mercilessly when he tied his match against Bryan. To Boris, anything less than a win was failure, and failure must be punished. He hugged his knees to his chest and tried to block out the pain. He pulled out his beyblade and asked Wolborg, "Why did Boris beat me? We tried our best in that match."
I know, Tala, but I cannot understand his actions, Wolborg replied sadly. It pains me greatly to see you like this. If I had battled harder, then you wouldn't be in this condition.
"It's not your fault, Wolborg!" Tala exclaimed. "You fought really hard for me. I just wish I didn't have to be here."
So do I, Tala. So do I…
Tala gripped his head in his hands and clenched his teeth. "Stop showing me these things!" he yelled. Wolborg roared in defiance and slammed Pyrix again. This time Eri felt the full impact of the impact and gripped her side as she shared in her bit beast's pain.
Tears welled up in Wolborg's eyes. All his memories came rushing back and threatened to overwhelm him. I…remember now. What have I become? He roared again in anguish as the tears trickled down his muzzle. His beyblade kicked up a blizzard.
That's it, Wolborg. Fight from your heart, Pyrix encouraged. Wolborg now felt a reason to fight and charged once again. Pyrix met him head-on, and the two beyblade collided in a flash of light. Now Pyrix tried to recall Tala's memories. Wolborg silently joined his mind with hers and tried to help his master remember.
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to rise before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
Tala whirled around and shoved someone against the wall, keeping both hands on the person's shoulders. His face was only inches away as he hissed, "And where would I go? I've lived here my whole life. So maybe I do hate Boris. So what? I hate everything about this stupid Abbey!"
"So why don't you just leave? As the best blader in this place, you could break out easily," the figure suggested.
Tala sighed and shook his head as he let go and turned away. "You just don't get it, do you? I would have thought you, of all people, would understand. I have no family or place to go outside of this Abbey. Boris had both of your parents killed just so he could get his hands on your bit beast."
"You think I don't know that already?" the person asked. "Boris destroyed my entire life, just like he's destroying the lives of every blader in this wretched place. That's why we need to stop him."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore. Hurry up, or we'll be late," Tala interrupted, once again assuming his emotionless wall.
Tala felt like his head was going to explode. He felt as if he knew the person from that vision, but he couldn't see the face. There was only darkness.
Frozen inside without your touch without your love
Darling only you are the life among the dead
Tala walked across a dark, stone room and looked at the figure lying in a bloody, bruised heap at his feet. He could see that it was girl, but he still couldn't see her face. Tala knelt down and gently touched her cheek. The girl jerked her head away instinctively, but Tala could see that the motion caused her a lot of pain. She moaned softly. "Lie still. Don't try to move."
The girl's eyes flew open at the sound of that voice. She looked up and met his gaze. "…Tala?" she croaked. "What are you doing here?"
"Making sure you don't die," Tala replied emotionlessly. "Now stay still." She obeyed because it hurt too much to move. Tala opened a first aid kit and applied antiseptic to all her cuts. She winced slightly, as the medicine stung. "Sorry. It will hurt a bit." He then pulled out a roll of bandages and bound her wounds. "Try to eat something," Tala said, indicating a small plate of food sitting on the floor. "Boris will be back tomorrow morning, so don't except much mercy from him."
The girlforced herself into a sitting position and managed a small smile. "Thank you, Tala." Tala could tell that she was completely exhausted and didn't move as her head dropped down against his chest. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs.
Tala wrapped her in a strong embrace and waited in silence until she stopped shaking. "You have been a good friend. Don't make the same mistakes I did," he whispered in her ear. He pulled away and stood up. "I have to go. Until this is all over…make sure you stay alive." Tala left quietly and closed the door behind him, leaving the girl alone with her thoughts.
Tala had had enough. He wasn't going to sit back and let this girl mess with his head. "Get outta my head! Now perish! Wolborg, Blizzalog!" Wolborg roared as he called up a powerful blizzard.
"Pyrix, Oblivion Inferno!" Eri commanded, putting all her remaining strength into this last attack. The two beyblades collided in a massive explosion as fire and ice battled for dominance. Tala and Eri raised their arms to shield themselves from the force of the attacks. When the smoke and snow cleared, both beyblades had stopping spinning, and the bit beasts had retreated. Eri stepped down into the dish and picked up her beyblade. She smiled at Tala and said, "That was a great match, wasn't it?"
"The match ended in a tie. A tie is…failure and is unacceptable," Tala replied shakily. He stepped down into the dish as well and retrieved his beyblade. He looked up and locked eyes with Eri. "I…feel like I know you from somewhere, but I don't know why."
Eri stepped closer to Tala and said, "Then let me help you remember." She placed a hand behind his head and gently pressed her lips against his.
All this time I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don't let me die here there must be something more
Bring me to life
Tala felt like his legs were glued to the ground. His head screamed at him to run, but something kept him from moving. Pyrix once again surrounded Eri with a red aura that spread to cover Tala. As the warm fire penetrated every muscle of his body, Tala's memories came rushing back. He could see the face of the girl from his memories. It was Eri. She started to pull away, but Tala surprised her by kissing her back. The need for air finally drove them apart, but their foreheads were still touching. Tala wrapped his arms around Eri's waist, drawing her close,and whispered against her lips, "I remember you now…Eri. I love you."
"I love you too," Eri whispered back. Tala leaned in and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Eri wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into his embrace, never wanting to leave the circle of his arms. She didn't care what dangers the next day held. Right now her life was perfect.
End chapter 12
Author's Note: Yay! Tala's finally back! I really got into writing this chapter last night, and I was able to finish it today. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I hope I didn't confuse anyone with all the flashbacks. Anyway, I want to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I'm still looking for staff to join my C2 community "Loving a Wolf," but I think you need an account on before you can join. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Oh, and there will probably only be a couple more chapters after this, unless I get some really good ideas. I have a new story in the planning stages, so I'll see where that leads in the next few days. Okay, that's enough outta me. Please review!