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"So," the figure spoke with a sadistic sneer on his lips. "we meet again,"

"Hey," Max calls out to everyone, pointing at the brunette. As the dust settles he was able to get a better look at the newcomer. "It's that guy from the charity event in Spain."

Matilda nods her head, her hands folded under her chin. She turns to the others, slightly questioning. "What was his name again?" she asks quietly.

Tyson frowns in thought as he crosses his arms over his chest. "It started with an 'S', I'm pretty sure."

"Was it Simmons?" Hilary asks.

"That sounds right," Ray mutters with a look of disgust on his face.

The guy instantly bristles. "It's Simon, you idiots!" he tells at them.

"Calm down there, Sparky," Ray said, his voice disinterested and tiresome. "It's been a while, ok?"

Simon huffs and crosses his arms over his chest, looking away. "Whatever! Anyway, where's the BBA angel?"

Tyson blinks. "Kai? He's busy somewhere else."

"What do you mean he's not here?!" Simon yells in disbelief.

"Listen, jackass," Aaron stresses, talking as if he would to a child.. "We mean he's not here in the vicinity."

"I gathered that!" Simon snaps. "Where the hell is he is what I meant lardo!"

Aaron instantly bristles. He points an accusing finger at him. "Lardo!? Come down here and say that!" Max and Tyson had to grab on both his arms to hold the enrage blader back.

Tala watches the scene in silence and he twitches. "Who the hell is that?" he grounds out.

"Oh," Claude says when he remembers that Tala wasn't there at the Spanish competition where Simon had made his first appearance. "that's some guy working for Bio-volt. He trashed the charity event that we held a few months ago. He wanted the money for himself." he explains, trying to make it short as possible without leaving out any valuable information.

Tala twitches violently and growls, looking to the world like a snarling wolf. "Bio-volt, huh?"

Claude nods. "He got his butt kicked by Kai, though," he adds with a smile.

Simon overheard the exchange and bristles like the rat he is. "He was lucky, that's all!"

Ray snorts and waves his hand mockingly. "Yeah, whatever you say man."

Simon growls something incoherent under his breath and clenches his fists. He looks as if he's seething in his own skin. "Right!" he yells, "Get out your blades. There's going to be a battle!"

"His ass is mine," Tala growls out before anyone could pull out there blades. "Watch the kids," he says to Claude. "I don't want them involved."

Claude nods and walks over to the crying and shivering group of children. He kneels down to there level. "Everything is going to be alright," he tells them.

"I'm scared," A little boy whimpers and Claude hugs him, hushing him.

"Be careful Tala!" the others called out. "He doesn't play fair."

Simon smirks as Tala steps up to the beydish. "So, you're Tala. Interesting. Do you know what they call you at Bio-volt?"

"Surprise me," Tala says, his voice emotionless.

"The Smartass of Beyblade."

Tala loads his launcher with a smirk. "Nice to know that I haven't lost my reputation." His lips suddenly pull into a thin line and his eyes narrow dangerously. "Enough, get out your blade."

Simon pulls out his gun-like launcher and steadies it over the dish. Tala does the same thing. They glare at each other over the dish, wanting for the other to make the first move.

"3. 2. 1. Let it rip!" They cry out at the same time, ripping out their ripcords and sending their blades with tremendous power into the dish. However, their blades meet in mid air over the dish. They clash and a series of sparks is seen, before both blades fling back, balancing perilously on the edge of the dish.

"Ah, guys!" Kenny yells from over his laptop. "They're evenly matched! This battle could go either way."

"Lets not forget that killer attack he has," Ray says. "Samson here nearly knocked Kai out, remember?"

"That's Simon!" Simon yells over the dish. He suddenly reels back, turning his attention back to the battle. "Hey!"

Tala smirks. "You need to keep your mind focus on the battle, kid." Simon growls.

Claude is trying his best to keep the kids calm and watch the battle at the same time. In his mind he is constantly replaying the last time Simon battled. He almost succeeded in knocking Kai out in battle with his damaging attack, "Soul Crusher". Although, Kai did manage to defeat him, revealing an amazing new attack at the same time, he did faint after the battle and was out for the better half of a day. Claude can only hope that Tala can defeat him before he faces the Soul Crusher.

"You make me sick," Simon growls, his body shaking with suppress rage. "You, Kai and the rest of your team. You have all the power, the skills. You were the best in the Abbey. You could have been the most powerful blader Bio-volt, but no, you had to turn on them. You had to retaliate. You threw the world championships in Russia!"

The Japanese team and Spanish team gasp in shock. "Is that true, Tala?" Max asks.

Tala bows his head. "Yes. We knew what Boris and Voltaire was planning. We couldn't let them go through with it, not matter the cost."

"But…"

"We were ordered to win at any cost," Tala continues, his eyes hidden in shadows as if remembering. "The battle between Spencer and Kai was just for show, really. Kai proving to his grandfather that he's a free spirit and that he has no control over him anymore. He never did."

The younger bladers turn their awestruck gazes to the overly tall blond who refuses to look at them. He knows that they are looking at him so he nods, letting them know it was all true.

"And that battle between Ray and Bryan," Tala clenches his fists by his side. "Bryan was ordered to kill and maim Ray. Use him as an example so everyone will cower at our power."

Bryan winces and stares at the ground. He keeps his eyes there even when Ray places a hand on his shoulder. "Bryan…"

"But he couldn't," Tala continues again. "He isn't a murderer. None of us are."

Claude covers his mouth in shock. He gazes at Tala, tears forming in his eyes. He has heard stories about the horrors of the Abbey, and the horrifying events that followed after the Russian tournament. But now that he has heard it from someone who has actually lived through it, it makes it seem all to surreal. He never thought that that type of evil actually exists in this world.

"Tala…" he whispers. His heart hurts. He wants to say something to the redhead, something that will make him forget everything that has happened, but he knows it won't be that easy. I wish there was something I can do…

"Useless…" Simon suddenly growls. "You're all useless!"

Tala snaps his eyes to the battle again, his lips turn up in a snarl, ready to continue this battle.

"You're weak! All of you!" He scream again. "Now, I'm going to show you true power."

"Bring it on, asshole," Tala taunts. Simon smirks. His blade suddenly launches itself out of the dish and Tala reels back in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to win this battle. The way Bio-volt taught me," Simon's smirk widens and he turns his attention to the group of children. "Soul Crusher!"

Tala's eyes widen in horror. He's going after the kids! "Claude!" he yells. "Get out of the way!"

Claude freezes in terror and disbelief. He is torn from his stupor when he feels a frighten child clutch his pant leg. He turns to the kids and points at the nearby locker room. "Run!"

The kids begin brying and ran where they are told to. Except for two. Two of the smallest kids huddle together, crying. Acting instinctively, Claude ran over to them and picks them up in his arms. He glances over his shoulder and sees a thick black fog hurtling directly at him.

"Claude!"

…(is hiding from a ranting and raving redhead)

Tala: Where the hell is she?! I'll kill her!

Claude: O.o?

(Sneaks back and whispers) Review?

Tala: Ah hah!

Wha! (Runs) Don't kill me!