Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Majesty ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

Authoress' Notes: Who here wants the battle?! *raises hand* Well, since my vote's the only one that counts in this case, that's what you're getting! ;p And now, Dryad's Muse Productions presents the long awaited chapter 18 of Majesty… *sweatdrops*

Warnings: Yaoi, language, violence, lemons, dramatic angst, etc. Rated R - NC17.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or anything to do with it. Only this fic and its OCs (if any).

Pairs: TyKa, ReMa, Hilary/Tala, Lee/Mariah, others to be decided.

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Chapter 18

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Kai pulled the hood of his cloak up more, huddling into the woollen material in a vain effort to keep warm. By the time they'd reached the outer walls of Bay City, it had begun to rain - an outright downpour.

"Well, on the bright side, the rain and mist will help make it easier for us to be stealthy." Tyson said quietly, doing his best to be optimistic. "There won't be as many people out and about in this weather."

"True. But we'll still need to be careful, Kinomiya." Tala pointed out. Bryan nodded in agreement, absently petting Wolborg, who was sitting between the two warriors as they all sat under the shelter of a grove of small trees.

"I just wish Max and Rei would hurry." Kai said, shivering. "I don't like being out here in the open like this. It's too easy to be spotted and caught."

"It'll be okay, Kai." Tyson reached out and took one of Kai's hands between his own, rubbing it to warm his cold skin in reassurance. "Oh! Beloved, your hands are like ice cubes."

"I've never done well in storms." Kai admitted. "It's like they leech the heat right out of me."

{This storm is an abnormal one, Takao.} Dragoon's voice put in, a frown in his tone. Tyson sent a questioning thought to him and the Dragon God sighed. {Let me think about it more.} Tyson nodded and looked back down at Kai.

"Well, just hold on a little while longer and you'll be warm and dry soon." Tyson pulled the prince to his chest and wrapped his arms and his own cloak around them both. "There. Any better?"

"Yeah. I'm okay."

Tyson nodded, not saying anything even though he knew his lover was lying. The crimson-eyed prince was still shivering. He looked over at Tala and Bryan. "How about you two?"

"We're fine, Kinomiya. Wolborg's keeping us warm with this nice fur coat of his." Tala scratched the white wolf's ears fondly.

"I just hope my sword doesn't get all rusted from this rain." Bryan muttered, scowling darkly at the weather.

Wolborg raised his head from his paws, ears twitching, and suddenly a rather wet, white-furred tiger cub came through the low underbrush. Tyson let out a breath of relief.

"Hi, Driger." He greeted the cub, who turned golden eyes on the two huddling teens.

{Takao. Max, Rei, and Draciel are right behind me.} The Tiger shook himself, trying to get rid of the moisture in his fur, and sat on the leafy ground to begin grooming himself. He didn't look very pleased with the weather.

Tyson relayed the message, his arms tightening around Kai as the prince continued to shiver.

"Good." Tala nodded, though he was watching his cousin critically. "Kai, you don't look so good."

"I…I'm fine." Kai scowled at him in warning, and Tala shrugged, looking away.

{Dragoon? Something's wrong with Kai.} Tyson ran his fingers through Kai's bangs, pushing them out of Kai's face.

{I know. Dranzer's not feeling very well, either.} Worry laced the Dragon's voice. {In fact, she's moulting.}

Tyson blinked. {Moulting? What's wrong with them?}

{I wish I knew. Just keep an eye on the young phoenix, Takao. I'll worry about Dranzer.}

{Alright. But as soon as you know something…}

{I'll let you know. Oh, and I see Max and Rei. They're just coming through the trees.}

Tyson gave Dragoon a mental thank you and got to his feet, taking off his cloak and wrapping it around his lover as the blonde and neko-jin came through to their hiding spot.

"Hey, guys. Everyone made it?" Max looked around at them all.

"Yeah. Any trouble?" Bryan stood, too, lending Tala a hand up.

"No. The horses are being well taken care of. And with this absolutely shitty weather, we didn't see a soul on the way here." Rei replied, shaking out his cloak and wringing the water out of his hair. He looked even less impressed with the weather than Driger had. "Ugh! I hate rain."

Bryan smirked. "You really are a kitty-cat, aren't you?"

"Bryan, shut up." Tala scolded. "Leave him alone."

"Let's get going then." Tyson helped Kai up and lay a hand to his cheek. "You need to lead us in, love. Okay? I'm right here with you."

"Just go. I'm okay, Tyson." Kai grumbled and stepped forward, stubborn to the end, but stumbled slightly and had to grab onto the bluenette's arm.

"Uh huh. I know. Indulge me, Kai."

The phoenix sighed and gave a small nod, letting Tyson support him as he led the group toward the wall where the secret door they would use to enter the city was located.

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They made their way through the city streets unnoticed. The rain continued to pour down on them in sheets of water. Once they reached the servants' entrance of the inner walls, which separated the rest of Bay City from the Palace, they stopped and took shelter under a low, thatched roof that hung just above the double doors.

Kai leaned against the wall, eyes closed, and tried to catch his breath. He hated feeling so weak - and not knowing why he did. He opened his eyes again as he felt Tyson's hand cover his own, stroking soothingly. He managed to give it a squeeze to let his dragon know he was okay.

Dragoon and Dranzer swooped in from above, landing on the posts of a wooden fence near the doors.

{We checked and the doors are actually unlocked so you can go in. There's no one around in there now.} Dragoon informed Tyson. {But you'd better hurry. There were guards on patrol along the walls and they're coming this way.}

"We have to go on." Tyson said to the others, moving to the doors. "Before the guards come this way."

Tala laid a hand on his shoulder and pulled him back. "Let Bryan and I go in first. Then follow us."

"Tala…" Kai spoke up, pushing himself away from the wall. "Remember what we planned. Get to the gates and close them. We'll go to the barracks and see if we can recruit some help."

"And if not?"

Kai closed his eyes again for a moment, fighting off the urge to fall asleep standing up. When he opened them again, he said in a voice that wavered only slightly. "We lock them into the barracks. I don't want anyone else to lose their lives if it can be prevented."

Tala regarded him steadily for a moment then gave a quick bow. "As Your Highness commands, so shall it be. Leave it to us, cousin." He grabbed Bryan's arm and the two went to the doors, opening one carefully then slipping inside. A moment later Tala poked his head out. "Come on. It's clear."

Tyson, Kai, Max, and Rei slipped inside and Rei closed the door behind them, locking it. Together they blocked the doors as best they could and watched Tala, Bryan, and Wolborg sprint off into the darkened, empty courtyard, heading for the front gates.

Tyson slipped an arm around Kai's waist and the remaining four young men and their accompanying deities-in-disguise went in the direction of the barracks.

"What's wrong with Kai?" Rei asked at a whisper as they slinked from hiding place to hiding place toward the barracks.

"I'm fine, Rei." Kai said before Tyson could. "I'm just…anxious."

Rei raised an eyebrow but let the subject drop when Tyson shook his head at the raven-haired neko-jin.

They reached the barracks and hid behind a pile of hay bales to wait for the signal from Tala and Bryan to let them know the gates were closed.

"When we hear it, we go in, and let me do the talking, alright?" Kai instructed. The others nodded, and Rei put Driger down on the bale of hay next to him. Max put Draciel next to the White Tiger and gave the tortoise a fond pat.

"They'll be okay here, right?" He asked his mate.

"They'll be just fine, Max." Tyson smiled. "They aren't normal animals, after all."

"I know. I just…" The blonde looked down at Draciel. "I'm growing attached to her, I suppose."

Rei squeezed Max's shoulder. "I think we've all gotten attached, sprite."

A sudden, hair-raising howl rose up and echoed on the driving winds, making them all jump.

"There's Wolborg." Kai said, feeling a jolt of adrenaline rush through him and because of it, he felt a little better. "Let's go." He stood up to go to the doors, but was held back by a hand on his arm. "What? Tyson?"

"One thing…" Tyson pulled Kai toward him and drew him down to press their mouths together firmly and a little desperately. Kai muttered something against Tyson's lips and kissed back, reaching up with one hand to thread his fingers through his damp, midnight blue hair. Forcing himself to pull away from the heat radiating so invitingly off of the bluenette, Kai gave him one last kiss and turned away, moving to the doors. He drew his bow and an arrow, looked to either side as Rei and Tyson took up positions on either side of him and Max at his back, and kicked in the doors.

Inside, the Royal Guards were scrambling around trying to get their weapons as the prince led his team in and they took up defensive positions around him.

"Everyone stop." Kai commanded, a blatant threat in his tone that made everyone in freeze in place and stare at him in shock.

"Your Highness?!" One Guard exclaimed.

"You will all put up your weapons and sit down." The prince commanded again, flicking his arrow at the room for emphasis. "Because I can, and will, send this place up into flames if I am not obeyed immediately."

"Do it." A tall, bulky young man ordered, stepping forward. "All it will take is one well-placed arrow."

Kai nodded at the Guard. "Spencer."

"Your Highness. Uh…welcome home?"

"Not just yet, Spencer. But soon. I've returned for my throne and my birthright." The phoenix lowered his arrow, but didn't put it away yet. "Is there anyone here who has a problem with that? Because if so, I will allow you safe passage out of the Palace before the fighting starts."

There was silence among the Guards and many shared looks of scepticism.

"No offence, Prince Kai, but how can you guarantee safe passage to anyone? The Palace is no longer yours." A much smaller Guard stepped forward to stand next to Spencer and stared up at Kai in question.

"The Palace has been secured, Ian." Tala's voice broke the news just before he sauntered into the room like he'd never left. "If you lot don't particularly enjoy having that sadistic bastard as an Emperor, then perhaps you'd care to help us kick is evil, murdering ass off my cousin's throne?"

"Murder?!" Someone gasped in astonishment.

"That's a very serious charge you're making, Tala." Ian warned. "And why should we trust the word of someone like you who has been declared a traitor and exiled?"

Ice-blue eyes flashed and before anyone could move, Tala was suddenly on the little teen, pinning him to the floor with a growl.

"You dare?" He snarled angrily. "I have my faults, but I am no traitor!"

"Tala…cousin, reign in that hot-head of yours." Kai snapped.

"Oh, no, Kai. I want to hear his reasoning behind calling me a traitor - when he, and every last one of you in this room…" The red haired warrior gave a furious glare to all the Guards, making them shrink back. "…are the ones who are supporting that demon's work! Have you all forgotten the tortures we've all been put through at Boris' hands - in the name of `training'? The whippings? The beatings?"

Frowns and ashamed expressions spread among the Guards. Tala's eyes narrowed and he stiffened, a fist raising above Ian when the smaller teen tried to squirm away.

"That's enough, Tala. Back off…now." Kai ordered. Body wound tight, like a spring ready to uncoil, the red-headed teen slowly released Ian and withdrew to Kai's left side, crouching down on one knee and watching the group of soldier's he'd once commanded with an ice-cold stare.

"Boris is the traitor." Tala said. "Not me."

"What were we supposed to do, Tala?" Spencer held out his hands in a pleading gesture for understanding. "If we'd rebelled, we'd all be dead and nothing would have been solved."

"You could have left!"

"Oh yeah." Ian snorted, tears shining in his eyes. "I'm sure he'd have just let us all walk away unharmed."

"They did what they had to do." Kai interrupted, wanting to get back on track. "Now, I'm going to do what I have to so I can avenge my grandfather, and all the innocent people who have died because of one man's evil ambitions. I will get vengeance for the Dragon Clans who have lost everything." The crimson-eyed prince glanced at Tyson, who met his gaze solemnly. "Boris killed Voltaire Hiwatari, he is responsible for the death of the Kinomiya, his son and eldest grandson, and Boris nearly had my life, Tala's life, and Bryan's life on his already blood-soaked hands."

"Decide now." Tala said in a low voice. "Will you follow the true heir to the Empire, or will you follow the sorcerer who made all our lives hell from the minute he came here?"

Ian and Spencer looked around at their fellow Royal Guards briefly then moved toward Kai and went down to their knees before him.

"We will follow the Hiwatari heir until death." Spencer declared, bowing his head. Ian made an agreeing noise and did the same. The rest of the Guards were down on their knees in supplication not long after. Kai looked around the room, a small tingle of relief passing through him. He looked down at Tala and nodded.

"Now that that's settled, take command Tala. Secure the inside of the Palace and confine all the servants, the court, and anyone else who is lurking around in there to their rooms. Max and Rei, help Bryan keep the gates and the fortress walls secured, if you would."

"You bet, Kai." Max nodded and went outside with Rei, taking a squad of Guards with them.

"Kai?" Tyson came up on his lover's right side and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure we won't need them when we confront Boris?"

The prince shook his head. "I don't know, Kinomiya. But right now we need them out there keeping the rest of the world from interfering." He sighed and teetered a little. Tyson quickly wrapped an arm around his waist in support and made worried noises.

"Do you have any idea what's wrong, love?" Tyson asked quietly as group after group of Guards rushed past them, hurrying to follow Tala's orders as he dispatched them right, left, and centre.

Kai closed his eyes for a moment, trying to regain his focus, and leaned into Tyson briefly. "No. I'm cold, and it feels like all my energy is slowly draining away."

A light purr resonated from the feet and they looked down to see Driger and Draciel there.

"When did you two come in? Oh…never mind." Tyson shook his head.

{We'll be coming with you to the throne room, Takao.} Driger informed him. {Dragoon and Dranzer are outside waiting for us.}

"Alright. Let's go, then." Tyson bent and picked up Draciel, grunting at the tortoise's weight. "Good grief, Draciel. How does Max do it?"

{My little water sprite has a great gift of strength. And we tortoises are heavy because of our shells. I apologize for that, Takao.} She replied.

{Oh, no, Draciel. It's fine. I'm just not used to it, that's all. I'm used to Dragoon - and if you think you're heavy, try lifting him sometime.} Tyson winked at her, earning a tinkling laugh.

"Come on, Tyson." Kai began walking, forcing Tyson to move with him or let go of the phoenix.

Tala jogged up beside them on Kai's other side. "I'm going with you, cousin. I want to be there when you take Boris down."

Sighing, Kai shrugged. "Whatever. Are they necessary, though?" He jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the squad of elite Guards Tala had held back and who were following them close behind as they made their way to toward the citadel. Driger padded along at Kai and Tyson's feet.

"Yes. See, they're going to pretend to have `captured' us and bring us before His Majesty for judgment." Tala spat the title Boris had usurped with heavy sarcasm. "It'll get us inside with no trouble and once there, Boris is all yours."

"Fine." Kai agreed, removing one of his cloaks and giving it to Tyson, then pulling off his own cloak and slipping his bow and quiver back on underneath it so they'd be hidden by the heavy, wet woollen garment.

At the doors of the citadel, which led to the Great Hall, Tala handed his sword to the Spencer and clasped his hands behind his back, as if they were bound together. Kai and Tyson mimicked him and the nine other Guards formed up around them with Spencer in the lead. The tall warrior opened the doors and strode inside.

{We're in the Great Hall, Dragoon. Where are you and Dranzer?} Tyson threw the inquiry out in the general direction he could sense his ancestor from.

{We're making our way to the throne room, Takao. We had to come in through the west tower. We'll meet you there. Don't do anything until we get there, though.} Dragoon responded immediately.

{Believe me, we won't. How's Dranzer?}

{Out of sorts, to say the least. It's like she's suddenly exhausted or something.} The Dragon God sounded very worried to Tyson and it sent a chill down his spine. {How is Kai?}

{He's holding up, but he said he feels like how you said Dranzer seems to. What could be doing this to them?}

{I'm not certain. I'll think about it a bit more. For now, just take care.}

{You, too, Dragoon. Oh! We're outside the throne room doors now.}

{And we're just slipping inside from the servants' entrance behind the dais.}

{Be careful.}

"Tyson?" Kai whispered, nudging him in the ribs. "Hey."

"Sorry. Conferring with my ancestor. They're already in there and waiting." Tyson whispered back.

"Good. Let's do this." Kai nodded at Spencer and the tall young man opened the door and spoke briefly to the Royal Guards inside. The other door opened, and Kai, Tyson, and Tala let themselves be herded into the throne room, their heads bowed low and hidden by the hoods of their cloaks so that no one could identify them.

The large room brought back a few bad moments for Tyson he'd have much rather not thought about at the moment - memory of his grandfather's death still loomed large over him. Shoving the memory into the back of his mind, the dragon took an overt look around, noting the position of the Guards and various other people that he had no idea who they might be.

They were brought to a stop and pretended to be forced to their knees in front of the dais, staring down at the floor in front of themselves.

"We caught these three sneaking around the courtyard, my Emperor." They heard Spencer say, his voice sounding loud and hollow in the cavernous room. A quick glance to either side told Kai that the Guards they'd brought with them had fanned out around the room, taking up posts as surreptitiously as they could.

"Is that so? Spies, perhaps? Did you find out who they are?" Boris' voice intoned, a note of bored indifference in his tone.

"No, Majesty. We thought perhaps, if they are spies, then you would like the pleasure of getting that information from them yourself."

"Hmm…remove their cloaks, Spencer. I would look upon these filthy creatures you've dropped on my nice clean floors." Boris commanded.

"There's no need for that." Kai said, rising to his feet and tossing off his cloak. Tyson and Tala stood up and did the same, flanking the prince on either side and preparing to fight if it became necessary. Spencer handed Tala back his sword and motioned to his Guards to keep out of the way.

"You! How did you get here?!" Boris gasped, sitting up completely on the ugly black chair that seemed to have replaced the throne Kai remembered. A chain rattled as he stood, and a tiny yelp was heard from behind the piece of furniture. Kai frowned.

"Please. You don't honestly believe the borders are so secure that we couldn't slip past them, do you? And did you really think I would just go into exile quietly and never come back? Especially after you murdered my grandfather and usurped my throne?" Kai glared back, drawing his bow and notching an arrow, prepared to fire. "Now, I think we need to have a little chat…"

Boris glowered angrily at them, then turned his gaze on Spencer. "You will pay for this betrayal, Spencer!"

The warrior cringed, but bravely stood up to the sorcerer. "Look around, Boris. The throne room has been taken. The Palace is secure, as are the inner fortress walls. There is no escape for you and no help will be able to breach our defences. You're finished."

"Oh no, I don't think so." Boris grinned, a cruel, chilling smile that made Kai begin to worry just a bit. He watched as Boris reached for the chain attached to his throne and yanked on it, pulling out something…no, someone attached at the other end from behind the ugly black monstrosity of a chair. "I have a trump card, you see. I discovered this little creature out in the woods one day and I discovered it has great power. Ever since, I've used it to take what I wish…and right now, I wish for the death of the last remaining Hiwatari!" Boris laughed evilly and began to chant something under his breath, holding up a hand toward Kai. A murky, hazy greenish-yellow light formed around his palm and around the figure on the ground at his feet, and flashed once.

Kai suddenly felt very light headed and dropped his weapon with a choked cry. A sharp pain pierced his head and his vision wavered, suddenly going black. As he collapsed, there was a shrill scream of a phoenix from above, and a shocked, worried cry from Tyson.

"Kai! No!" The dragon caught him, gently lowering him to lie partially in his lap as he fell to his knees to the floor. "Kai! Say something…"

"What did you do?" Tala growled at Boris, drawing his attention away from above and moving in front of Tyson and Kai protectively.

"I noticed that pathetic excuse for a prince was suffering from some sort of energy loss, so I merely accelerated it." Boris replied, his laugh turning cruel. "He never should have returned here. Now he will die just as that old fool Voltaire did! His energy is mine!"

"Not if I kill you first!" Tala charged up the steps, sword held for attack, intending to kill the sorcerer with his bare hands if necessary, but didn't make it far. Boris began to glow a sickly orange colour and the Captain of the Royal Guards found himself suddenly tossed backward over Tyson and Kai's heads like a rag doll. He hit the floor hard and didn't move.

Boris stepped slowly down the dais steps toward the fallen prince and Tyson. "Well, well. If it isn't the insolent grandson of that stupid old man who once ruled the Dragon Clans. What shall I do with you?"

"You, sorcerer, will do absolutely nothing!" A voice thundered through the room from somewhere above. "Because if you even try it, I will use you for a lightning rod in a thunderstorm the likes of which you have never seen." A huge crash of thunder boomed through the room, emphasizing the voice's words.

"Who said that?! Come! Show yourself!" Boris shouted, infuriated that anyone would dare to speak like that to him. Up near the throne, the little person who had been hunched in on his/herself raised their head with a small cry of pain and what sounded to Tyson like relief. He saw it was a girl, with impossibly long, glossy black hair that shone dully like gold that has lost its lustre in the low lighting of the room. Her eyes were a strange amber yellow that were currently dull and glassy, but held a spark of recognition as she looked up toward the vaulted roof of the throne room hopefully.

Tyson, recognizing the voice as Dragoon's, ignored what was going on around him at the moment and tried to bring Kai back to consciousness. "Kai? Oh, please, beloved…wake up! Please…" He begged, tears forming in his eyes as he got no response. A rustling of feathers and a loud screech that made everyone wince drew his attention up again and Dranzer swooped down, landing next to Kai and clicking her beak in worry over him. "Dranzer… can't you do something to help him?"

{It's a spell, Takao, that's affecting the weather this way. It finally occurred to me that neither Kai, nor I, have been exposed to sunlight in several days. As phoenixes, we need the sun to function and live! I can survive without for long periods of time, being a Goddess, though I will be severely weakened. But Kai…he can not survive like this as I can because he is human.} Dranzer explained, her voice heavy with sadness and an unsure-ness that made Tyson feel a tad panicky. {The spell must be broken, for it is draining away what energy has left. Once the evil Boris has unleashed is gone, the rain should stop, the clouds should dissipate, and everything should return to normal again.}

"Dranzer…" A weak, female voice whimpered from the steps above them. "Sister…"

The firebird looked up at the throne and made an angry squawking sound that made Tyson very glad it wasn't directed at him.

"Please, don't be angry with me…" The little girl, who Tyson assumed was Drisana, pleaded, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I didn't help him willingly. He is powerful and I am stupid. He captured me in the forest and has held me prisoner to his wishes…and then he discovered a way to take my magic for his own and he uses it to do these horrible things…" She began to sob, shaking with the force of her tears. "…such terrible things!"

"Shut up, creature!" Boris snarled and yanked viciously on the chain, dragging the poor girl down the steps. She immediately fell silent and curled in on herself again with a whimper. "And who are you talking to anyway? That bird is just an animal. A stupid animal…"

Dranzer apparently had had enough. With a fiery blast of heat and light, she transformed from her phoenix form to her human one, burning with her own powers in the face of the darkness surrounding the evil Boris. Tyson cradled Kai closer and watched anxiously, looking up toward the ceiling and calling for Dragoon. The Dragon God responded, dropping down from the ceiling unceremoniously and curling around both Tyson and Kai protectively.

{It'll be okay, my young descendant.} He reassured Tyson.

"Excuse me? `A stupid animal?'" Dranzer repeated Boris' words furiously, stepping toward him without fear and forcing him back a couple of steps just from the pure heat radiating off of her. His eyes were wide with surprise and confusion as he stared at her. "Let me set the record straight, demon. I am not stupid. And that is my sister you have chained to that really ugly piece of furniture. She may be young, naïve, and a pain in my neck on occasion, but she is of my blood and she is my responsibility. You will release her this instant, or I will release her!"

"You…you are…I…" Boris stuttered, quite comically, actually - although Tyson didn't feel like laughing at the moment. "So it was true! The legend was true! And now I can capture you for my power as well!" The sadistic man laughed maniacally and actually tried to cast a spell on the Phoenix.

Only to discover it wasn't going to work.

There was a huge, thunderous roar that echoed suddenly in the room and from behind a pillar along one side of the room, a fully grown white tiger stalked out, a rumbling growl rolling through the air in a dire threat. A flash of pure green light blinded Tyson's eyes for a moment and then Driger stood there, hands on hips and tail twitching restlessly as he glared hard at Boris.

"That's quite enough of that, sorcerer. You've been messing around with forces beyond your comprehension and control, and I am here to put a stop to it. Too long have my chosen people been persecuted because of your influence on the Imperial family, and that, too, I will stop." He growled.

A sound like an ocean wave crashing on a rocky shore pounded through the room, and in another flash of light, this time purple, Draciel simply appeared right next to Driger. She reached up and slipped her hand into one of his and smiled up at him when he looked down at her with equal fondness. But when the little Water Goddess turned her gaze on Boris, her sapphire blue eyes had gone hard as diamond and she let out a hiss of anger at him.

"Your evil has corrupted the very waters of the world! All life is threatened as long as you continue to exist and I will not stand for it!" Draciel stamped a foot imperiously.

Dranzer eyed Boris, who was looking from one deity to the other with a gleeful expression. "He's mad. He doesn't seem to understand just what sort of trouble he's in. Well, let me be the first to…" Her voice trailed off and she suddenly drooped, seeming to faint. Dragoon flashed into his human form so quickly Tyson didn't even have a chance to blink, and caught the fiery deity in his arms before she could hit the floor.

"Dranzer! Oh no…"

"Dragoon? What happened?" Draciel hurried over to them and reached out to place her hand to Dranzer's forehead. "Oh, my…she's ill."

"We must break the spell…now!" Driger strode toward the dais to reach Drisana and picked up the chain. Boris, in his madness, tried to stop him, but couldn't get near the God of the White Tiger tribe because Draciel had erected a barrier around him, freezing him in place so that he couldn't move.

There was a loud CRACK of sound as the metal of the chain was snapped in two, and a bright, golden light enveloped the black-haired deity. She sat up, blinking, and looked at her hands in astonishment. Then she looked to Boris, who let out an anguished howl of pain and fell to the floor, twitching.

"How did you…?" She asked Driger in awe. He smiled gently and helped her to her feet.

"You're young, yet, little Phoenix. But someday, perhaps, you'll learn that Nature abhors those who mess around with Her designs. The Earth formed this chain, and the Earth can break it." The wise Tiger replied, leading her over to her sister and Dragoon.

"Oh, Dranzer…I'm so sorry! This is all my fault…" Drisana took one of Dranzer's hands in her own and held it. "I'm sorry, Dragoon. I am so sorry…"

"Hush, now, Drisana. We can discuss this later." Dragoon looked at Tyson. "Takao, it's time you show Boris what the true meaning of the legend of the Dragon Clans is all about. To break the spell, Boris must die."

Tyson nodded grimly. "That I can do." He gently lay Kai on the floor and covered him with his cloak. "You'll be okay, soon, Kai. Hang on…"

Tala suddenly appeared at his side, having recovered enough to crawl over to them and sit heavily next to Kai. "Go on, Kinomiya. I'll watch over him. It's up to you now."

Tyson gave him a tiny grin. "I know. Don't you dare die on us, Tala. My cousin is waiting for you, after all, and she'll be very upset if you don't return."

Tala smiled back faintly. Tyson stood, slowly turning to face the sorcerer, who had somehow managed to regain his wits and stand up once more.

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Authoress' Notes: Well, that's part one of the battle! *sweatdrops heavily* Who knew it would get so long I'd have to split it up into two chapters? Heh heh… Just a quick note: when the bit-beasts/deities' dialogue is in bold, I call it their "God-voice", and that's the one that they'd use when they're being all holy and whatnot… yeah, okay. I don't know why I do it, either. It's just a thing I have! Live with it! Please R/R!!