Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only character I own is Marina as she's my OC. Any other references I make are purely coincidental.
Notes: Any sentence in brackets indicates Russian speaking. Any sentences in bold indicate bit beasts talking.
Chapter 18: Connection
A day after and Bryan was out of hospital and he was healthy, but with his arm still bandaged from the stabbing wound he had got in his battle with Tala. Back at Tyson's house, Marina was making plans to find Tala and return him to normal.
"Marina, are you sure you can return Tala to normal?" asked Kai as Marina adjusted her beyblade.
"Kai, I know I can. I won't battle him without a plan so don't worry about me." answered Marina.
Bryan, Ian and Spencer walked over.
"Whatever you decide to do, Marina, you won't be doing it alone." said Spencer.
"Remember to be extra careful. We know you are strong, but if you hold back, Tala might finish you and Zeroth." advised Ian.
"Remember what happened to me. Do not hold back. We know you love him, but he won't be able to return that love until you can remind him of it." said Bryan.
Marina smiled at her team-mates and Kai. They all smiled back.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. I won't let you down. Bryan, Spencer, Ian, I will get our captain back." she said.
They heard a yell from around the corner and ran over, only to find Tyson cornered by Max and Ray's blades.
"Tyson, what are you doing?" asked Marina almost laughing.
"He deleted Kenny's files and we're getting revenge for Kenny." explained Max.
"Tyson, can't you be serious? Wait until we've sorted the problem at hand first." said Kai with his arms crossed, looking at his dopey, younger team-mate.
"Sorry, boss." said Tyson sarcastically.
Max and Ray called their blades back so Tyson could get out the corner.
On his own, at the top of a tree, was Tala, staring at the sky.
"I feel so lost. I want to be with Marina, but when I am, I feel confused and I feel as if something isn't right." he said to himself.
Later on, the Bladebreakers and Blitzkrieg Bladers headed out to find Tala; they started searching the woods near where Bryan had found Tala, but saw no sign.
"There are more places with trees, unless he chose an alley. I can't see Tala hanging around a dirty alley though." said Marina wisely, thinking ahead.
The teams continued searching, Tyson getting bored.
"It's getting late, Marina. Give it up." he almost shouted.
"Tyson, button it now!" said Marina in a commanding tone and Tyson almost flinched in surprise.
"Too late." said a voice and Tala jumped down in front of them.
"Hello, Tala." said Marina surprisingly politely.
"Enough with the sentiments, Marina. I know you are here for a bigger reason than to chat." said Tala.
"Yes I am, Tala. I'm going to end all this messing around and get you back to normal."
"Bring it." he said confidently.
"Gladly." she said readying her launcher.
Tala readied his launcher too.
"Let it rip." said Ian, both Tala and Marina looked at him for a moment then released their blades.
"Wolborg, don't give her a chance." commanded Tala.
The arctic wolf appeared in a flash of bluey white light and growled.
"Zeroth, hold him back." said Marina and the unicorn appeared in a flash of golden light.
"Wolborg, Novae Rog!" said Tala annoyed as Marina's blade avoided his.
"Zeroth, counter with Lightning Flash." and a shot of electricity hit the wolf making it yelp in pain.
"Wolborg, what are you doing? Get back in there." ordered Tala.
"Zeroth, now, while he's distracted." said Marina.
"No, Marina. I have a plan for Wolborg." said Zeroth unexpectedly.
"Zeroth, what do you mean?" asked Marina of her bit beast.
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Tyson.
"Yes, Zeroth just spoke to Marina." said Kai.
"Zeroth, what are you doing? We have to beat Tala." Marina said.
"No, Marina. We will beat him, but not this way. It's time." said Zeroth.
Zeroth neighed as he charged up a ball of electricity and widened it between his front legs.
"What is that creature doing?" Tala asked himself and Wolborg held back from attack.
"Zeroth, what are you doing? I didn't say to do this." said Marina in confusion.
"Zeroth is acting by himself, his own accord." said Kai almost smiling even though he was surprised.
Zeroth released the ball of electricity around Wolborg and closed it around him trapping him in a sort of electric cage.
"What have you done?" asked Tala in anger.
"I didn't do it, Tala. Zeroth has a plan." said Marina.
"Wolborg, stop struggling. You can't get out of there so you might as well listen to me." Zeroth said to the wolf.
"You're looking for trouble, Zeroth. You better release this cage." said Wolborg in anger and frustration.
"No, Wolborg. I won't, because I need to get through to you. Your master has the problem, not you. By using the bond between you and Tala, you can help bring him back to normal." said Zeroth calmly.
"What is going on?" asked Tyson to Kai, trying to figure this out.
"I think Zeroth is trying to get Wolborg back to normal, that way, Wolborg can use the bond between bit beast and blader to return Tala." said Kai and Tyson nodded, still looking confused though.
"Wolborg, ignore the feelings you are getting from Tala and remind him of how happy his emotions make him." said Zeroth, probing deeper into Wolborg's inner psyche.
"Zeroth, I know what you're getting at…and I think you're right." said Wolborg slowly.
Wolborg was released because of finally admitting that and he turned to face Tala.
"Tala, you love Marina, so I have to sort you out." said Wolborg.
When Wolborg pounced at Tala, Marina gasped in shock.
"What is Wolborg doing? That won't help Tala." she said.
"Wolborg, what are you doing? You can't attack me." said Tala annoyed.
Zeroth charged in front of Wolborg and blocked him.
"You can't attack him, Wolborg. You know that won't help anyone." said Zeroth.
"Zeroth, if I do this, it will help in the long run and you know it." said Wolborg and he pushed past Zeroth and knocked Tala to the ground.
Zeroth waited a while and then made his move; he defeated Wolborg while the wolf was distracted.
"Go to him, Marina." said Zeroth as he and Wolborg entered their blades and the blades stopped spinning.
Marina ran over to Tala and cradled his head, he was unconscious.
"Marina, is he okay?" asked Bryan coming over with the others.
Marina started to cry as she held Tala.
"Marina…" started Tyson.
"Don't Tyson. Just don't." advised Kai putting up a hand to stop Tyson from continuing.
"Tala, please wake up." pleaded Marina.
Tala stirred.
"Marina?"
"Tala, you're alive." she said smiling in relief.
He put up a finger to dry her tears when he noticed the others around them.
"Glad to have you back." said Bryan. Spencer and Ian just nodded smiling.
"Your team has missed you, Captain." said Marina.
"(I love you, Marina.)" he said in Russian.
"(I love you too.)" she said back to him in Russian.
They had a long kiss in front of everyone. Tyson and Ian, both being slightly childish, wolf whistled.
"Well, I guess everything is back to normal." said Bryan.
"By the way, sorry Bryan, for your arm." said Tala.
"That's okay. I know you weren't yourself." said Bryan and he shook hands with Tala.
"Tala, when you're recovered, I have an idea." said Marina and she smiled.