Silvan Arrow: Well, it's time for yet another chapter! I'm so glad the last one went over so well! But I still need someone to do the disclaimer. /looks around/ Hey, where did everyone go?

Tyson: Hehe…she'll never find us in here/The Bladebreakers and Tala are in a broom closet/

Tala: Why did you have to drag me into this? I'm not even a member of your team.

Kai: Well, you're in this story, so you have to be a part of these stupid skits as well.

Tala/glares/

Max: Rei, your foot is in my face! Move over!

Rei: I wish I could, but Tyson is sitting on my leg!

Kenny: Agh! I can't find my laptop!

Michelle: Oh, so that's what I was sitting on. /pulls out laptop/

Kenny: Gimme/yanks laptop away/

Tala: Ya know, she can probably hear us.

Silvan Arrow: Huh? What was that noise?

Everyone else: O.O /get real quiet/

Silvan Arrow: Well, since I can't find them, I guess I'll just have to do the disclaimer this time. I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters.

Tyson: Yes!

Everyone else: TYSON!

Tyson: Oops…

Silvan Arrow: Okay, now I know I heard something. While I plot their punishment for running away, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 13: The Fight for Freedom

Eri stood outside in one of the Abbey's courtyards, looking up at the stars in the clear night sky. Her mind swam with a thousand thoughts. Yesterday felt like it should have been a dream. Yesterday she and Pyrix had helped Tala regain his humanity. Since then he had spent his time catching up on much-needed rest and spending time with his teammates. Even though she was ecstatic to have Tala back and know that he loved her, it couldn't erase the feeling of dread at the back of her mind. Boris could return at any time to regain control over the Abbey. The night was the only time this place wasn't steeped in chaos, since the trainees were sleeping. Eri stiffened instinctively when she felt two arms sneak around her waist and pull her back against something warm.

"Relax, it's just me," a familiar voice soothed. Eri relaxed at hearing Tala's voice and leaned back against his chest. Tala rested his chin on her shoulder and sighed in contentment.

"Hey, Tala," she replied wearily. "I thought you were with Bryan, Spencer, and Ian."

"They just turned in for the night," Tala explained. He lightly kissed her neck and remarked, "You sound tired. Haven't you gotten any rest?"

"I'm all right," Eri replied. "I've just had a lot on my mind."

"Like what?" Tala prodded gently. "You can tell me anything."

"It's about Boris," Eri began. Tala tightened his grip slightly upon hearing that name. He would never forgive that tyrant for using him like a puppet. "He could come back at any time to regain control over the Abbey, and, unless Mr. Dickinson can come through and secure an arrest warrant, we're powerless to stop him."

"Then we'll fight him and escape," Tala stated fiercely, lifting his head. "I have no intention of serving that madman again. I would rather die first."

"Even if we did escape, he and Voltaire have unlimited resources at their disposal. They could track us down and drag us back by force, and it would be legal." Eri shivered slightly as a cold breeze blew past.

Tala turned Eri around so she met his gaze. "I don't care if the odds are stacked against us. I promise that I won't let Boris hurt you again." He held her in a tight embrace, and Eri rested her head on his shoulder. "We'll face that bridge when we come to it. And we'll cross it together." Eri lifted her head and smiled gratefully. Tala kissed her softly before walking her back to her room and retiring for the night.

Once Eri was alone in her room, Pyrix materialized in her physical form. "You certainly look happy," Pyrix teased.

"Oh? You can tell?" Eri teased back with a smirk. She crawled under the covers of her bed and turned out the light. "Ugh…I'm beat."

"Eri, I have been sensing the growing presence of darkness in this area. I fear Boris may come back soon," Pyrix said worriedly.

"I've felt it too, and for once I just don't know what to do. At least we know that we're not alone. The Demolition Boys want to get out of here just as badly as we do." With those last thoughts, Eri finally allowed sleep to claim her exhausted body. Pyrix lay down at the foot of her bed to keep watch.

The next morning Eri woke up to a cold snout on her cheek. She opened her eyes to see Pyrix staring at her. "What is it, Pyrix?" she asked groggily. "It's still early." The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon.

"I'm sorry to wake you so early, but I just received a message from Wolborg. Tala wants us to come to his room for a team meeting," Pyrix explained.

"All right, I'm up," Eri replied with a yawn. She threw off the covers and quickly changed. "Let's go see what's up." She called Pyrix back to her bit chip and walked down the hall to Tala's room. She made sure to tread quietly so she wouldn't wake any of the trainees or alert the guards. She reached Tala's door and quietly knocked.

Tala opened the door slightly and stuck his head out. "Oh, good, you made it." He opened the door and quickly ushered her inside before locking it back. Bryan, Spencer, and Ian were already gathered inside. "I wanted to do this early before everyone else woke up."

"I see," Eri replied as she sat down in an empty chair. Tala sat on the edge of his bed. "So what's this all about?"

"I told the rest of the team what we talked about last night," Tala began. "We agree that Boris returning is a very real threat."

"And you can bet if he comes back we won't go quietly!" Ian hissed.

"Yeah," Bryan agreed. "We'll fight him to the bitter end if he thinks he can keep us here."

Eri wanted to say something, but suddenly an explosion rocked the Abbey. "What was that?" Spencer asked in alarm.

"I dunno, but we'd better find out," Tala said as he started for the door. "Whoever did that obviously wants our attention." He, Eri and the rest of the team raced outside. The other trainees ran out of their rooms as well to see what was going on. They reached the main courtyard where they had heard the explosion and saw a small crater in the groundcaused bya bomb. Tala growled. "Who did this?"

They heard a sinister laugh and looked up to see a familiar face. "Why, Tala, is that how you greet your master?"

"Boris," Tala growled. "I never wanted to see your face again." Boris was standing at the open doorway of his helicopter as it hovered above the courtyard.

"It seems that I have to remind you whom you obey," Boris stated, jumping the short distance to the ground. He looked at the rest of the trainees standing a short distance away from the Demolition Boys and Eri. "These five are traitors of Biovolt!" Boris yelled, indicating them with a sweep of his hand. "They are the enemies who want to destroy what we have worked so hard to achieve! Will you just stand there and do nothing?"

The trainees, who numbered at least one hundred, once again fell under the influence of Boris' voice and said in unison, like mindless soldiers, "We will eliminate the enemy." They all fastened their beyblades to their launchers and prepared to fight.

"Oh great. What do we do now?" Spencer asked.

"That's easy. We fight," Tala replied as he and the rest of his team stood back-to-back in a circle and assumed their launch positions. The trainees launched their beyblades in unison, followed quickly by the five beyblades of Eri and the Demolition Boys.

"Wyborg, attack!" Ian ordered. His snake bit beast emerged and began mowing through a row of beyblades.

"Seaborg, show no mercy!" Spencer called. The whale spirit called up a wave of water that washed away a dozen beyblades.

"Get in there, Falborg!" Bryan commanded. Falborg appeared and sliced his opponents' beyblades to pieces with razor-sharp winds.

"Wolborg, Blizzalog!" Tala ordered. The wolf spirit emerged and called up a blizzard, drawing from his power and the frigid air, to blow away a large group of beyblades.

"Let's help them, Pyrix! Oblivion Inferno!" Eri called. Pyrix emerged with a mighty howl, shrouded herself in flames, and charged into the heart of the pack of remaining beyblades. She unleashed a fiery explosion that wiped them all out. The five victorious beyblades returned to their owners' hands.

Tala turned to face Boris. "We're no longer your slaves, Boris. You can't keep us here! Now why don't you just take a hike?"

Boris chuckled. "I must admit, you have put up a brave fight. I must have done a decent job of training you. But I'm afraid I just can't let you go so easily." He pulled out a black beyblade from his pocket and attached it to a launcher. A black aura surrounded the beyblade.

Eri gasped. It can't be…Pyrix said in horror.

"Black Dranzer? That's impossible!" Eri exclaimed.

"Oh, is it?" Boris asked innocently. "Kai was kind enough to return it to me when he rejoined his pitiful excuse for a team. Now I will use it to defeat you and your friends once and for all!"

"We'll see about that," Eri said as she and the Demolition Boys reattached their blades for round two.

"Let it Rip!" she and her team called in unison as they launched. Boris sent Black Dranzer into the fray as well.

"Black Dranzer, destroy them utterly!" Boris ordered. The black phoenix, shrouded in dark fire, rose out of his bit chip with a haunting screech. Eri and the Demolition Boys called out their bit beasts as well. They all charged for the attack at once, but it had no affect. They watched on in horror as the one black beyblade held back all five of theirs. Black Dranzer blasted their bit beasts with dark fire, sending them crashing to the ground. As their bit beasts struggled to their feet, Boris laughed maniacally. "I bet you weren't expecting your dear old teacher to know a few moves as well! Now you will taste defeat! Black Dranzer, finish them!" Black Dranzer screeched and dove at the vulnerable bit beasts to deal the final blow.

"Pyrix, Ethereal Flames!" Eri shouted. Pyrix regained her composure and sent a ring of fire to circle and trap Black Dranzer. The black phoenix cried out as the burning flames slowly began draining his power. She turned to the rest of the team. "We're gonna have to work together if we want any chance of defeating him!"

"I've got an idea," Ian said. "Wyborg, Sand Bind!" The snake bit beast hissed and coiled around Black Dranzer, keeping him from moving. His beyblade wobbled as it Wyborg knocked it off-balance. "Spencer, now!"

"You got it! Seaborg, Voda Impact!" Spencer called. Seaborg charged for the attack and called up a vortex of water. Wyborg leaped out of the way just before Black Dranzer was trapped.

"That won't work," Boris said. "Black Dranzer, neutralize the attack!" Black Dranzer sent out dark fire that dispelled the vortex of water.

Bryan smirked. Boris had played right into his hands. Now Black Dranzer was vulnerable to another attack. "Falborg, Stroblitz!" Before Boris could react, Falborg attacked Black Dranzer with his slicing winds. Boris didn't escape the attack either. The winds left deep gashes on his arms as he tried to shield himself. Black Dranzer was weakening fast.

"Eri, let's finish him off!" Tala exclaimed. Eri nodded. "Wolborg!"

"Pyrix!"

They called together, "Howling Tempest!" Wolborg and Pyrix summoned a storm of fire and ice that combined into a tornado that struck Black Dranzer for full damage. The two beyblades clashed with Black Dranzer in a massive explosion.

When the smoke cleared, Black Dranzer was just barely standing. "That's impossible…" Tala said in horror.

"How could that thing take so much damage and keep going?" Eri asked.

Boris laughed as he struggled to stay on his feet. His breath came in short gasps. "You see…even your best efforts couldn't bring me down." But just then an ear-piercing screech sounded from above. Everyone looked up to see a familiar red phoenix dive straight for Black Dranzer, surrounded in red-hot flames.

'Dranzer!' Eri thought. 'Then that means…' Black Dranzer sent out a stream of dark fire to try and slow Dranzer's descent, but she pierced through the attack like a hot knife through butter. Boris cried out in disbelief as Dranzer flew straight through Black Dranzer, piercing his dark heart. Black Dranzer's eyes widened as he hovered motionless for a brief moment, before exploding in a blast that shook the ground. Boris collapsed in a heap on the ground, barely clinging to consciousness. Dranzer returned to her beyblade and flew back to Kai's waiting hand. He stood at the open door of a BBA helicopter as it descended to hover above the courtyard. Eri could see Michelle and the rest of the Bladebreakers standing behind him.

"Tala, get your team in here now!" Kai ordered.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Tala muttered. "Let's go, everyone!" Tala, Bryan, Spencer, and Ian made a break for the helicopter and clambered aboard. Tala was about to board after his teammates, but he noticed Eri wasn't behind him. He looked back and saw her standing over Boris.

Boris groaned and looked up at Eri. "How…could I…lose?" Boris asked in disbelief. "All my work…for nothing."

"You have no one to blame but yourself," Eri replied angrily. "You're finished." She turned to leave. "If I never see your face again, it'll be too soon." She heard Tala call her name and ran toward the helicopter. She took his hand and let him pull her into the helicopter as Kai closed the door.

"Eri!" She turned to face Michelle, who immediately engulfed her in a bear hug. "I'm sorry we took so long. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks to you guys," Eri replied with a smile as she hugged her friend. She pulled away and wearily leaned against Tala as he put an arm around her shoulders.

Mr. Dickinson walked over to the group. "I'm so glad to see that all of you are well. It took longer than expected to secure an arrest warrant for Boris, and for that I am sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Eri replied reassuringly. "All that matters is that we're out of the Abbey."

"Can we go over the details later?" Ian complained. "I'm beat."

Mr. Dickinson laughed heartily. "Of course, Ian. I'm sure you kids are exhausted after all you've been through. Take some time and rest. We'll be heading back to Japan now."

Everyone took their seats on the helicopter and got comfortable for the long flight ahead. Eri leaned against Tala's shoulder and smiled as he put an arm around her. As she fell asleep, only one thought was on her mind: 'It's finally over. We're free…'

End chapter 13

Author's Note: Yay! They're finally out of the Abbey! There will only be one more chapter after this to tie up loose ends. Sorry, but I'm all out of ideas for how to make it longer. Oh, and I'm still looking for staff members to join my C2. I've had two people ask to join, ZorraVixen10187798 and sapphire dragon, but I don't know if they have an account. I can't invite someone to join my staff if they don't have an account (That's the rule on this website). So, when you review, please sign in first so I know if you have an account. And as for you two who asked to join, I would be more than happy to accept you. Just sign in before you review so I can find your profile and send you an invitation. If you don't have an account, you can always tell me your ideas in your reviews! You both said you had ideas for OCs, and I would love to hear them! And I would like to thank Hiruka-Rei's-Kitty for becoming my first staff member! Okay, enough outta me. Please review!