"Kris what are you..."

"What were you doing in there with Theodore?!"

"He was telling me how to defeat Phi, look I know he's dangerous but he's been helping me train and..."

"I'm just glad you're okay, he didn't do anything to you did he?"

"No I'm fine." Valt lied.

Kris let out a relieved sigh and her shoulders relaxed.

"You're lucky Fubuki was around to tell me where you went otherwise I don't know what I would've done."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah."

As Valt followed Kris down the hallway he couldn't help but feel guilty. Theodore was going to take him away just like all the other bladers. Everyone would've been worried and his parents.. Just thinking about it made him uneasy. But what still left him wondering was how Theodore knew he was lying.

Thinking back to it now he remembered everything including being under Theodore's control. He was forced to watch the whole thing without being in control of the situation and instead Theodore had bent his mind to what he wanted.

"Valt are you okay? You seem a little quiet today."

"I'm fine, I'm just thinking of my strategy for the battle that's all."

After a moment of silence they finally made it to their destination: backstage.

As Valt was about to walk on Kris stopped him.

"Do you have my present for Free?"

Valt pulled it out of his pocket and showed her.

"Good now here's what it is...."

******

The crowd cheered as both bladers walked onstage but Valt wasn't feeling the hype. Instead there was only dread.

Looking at Free his skin had lost its color, his once dark brown eyes were now pools of black inky darkness. Free looked drained and frail. Something sinister was changing him and that something was Phi.

"Free..is it you?"

Looking at Valt, Free smilied and his eyes started glowing, taking off his mask Valt's heart dropped.

Free's eyes weren't glowing golden but instead a deep purple.

"Free..."

Free held out his launcher and Valt did the same letting his power take over. Phi saw what Valt was doing and let Free's envelope him too.

"3...2...1...Let it Rip!"

"I'll give you one more chance Valt, surrender now or say goodbye to Valtryek."

"Never! Your reign ends here Phi."

"So be it. I gave you one last chance. And now I'm going to destroy you!"

Fafnir dove for the center but Valtryek came out of nowhere and started attacking.

They fought over the center and with each attack Fafnir was knocked back a bit further while Valtryek got closer to the center

"Nice try Valt."

Fafnir came in and pushed Valtryek out of the center draining some of its power.

"Even with all that power and you still don't know how to use it."

Valtryek began slowing down.

"Valtryek! Hang in there!"

With his eyes glowing golden Valt once again lost control and let his power take over.

Valtryek started glowing golden but it was slowly fading.

"This is too easy."

Fafnir came out of nowhere and knocked Valtryek out of the stadium.

"I know you're holding back Valt, you're afraid of your own power but I wonder why..."

Valt was silent, gripping his bey.

"Are you afraid of me?"

Valt looked up at Free but with a fearful expression. He said nothing but his eyes told Phi everything.

"You're afraid of being corrupted again..."

"No! I beat you yesterday and I can do it again today!" Valt smiled and just like that is fear was gone and he was back in the game.

Free only smiled holding out his launcher and Valt did the same.

"3...2...1... Let it Rip!"

Fafnir went for the center while Valtryek came in flying at full speed attacking.

"Valtryek now!"

The golden power emerged again flickering on and off

Free/Phi only smiled at the sight of Valt struggling.

He still has a long way to go but I'll teach him a lesson

"Fafnir!"

They collided in the center and time seemed to slow down. They rebonded again and again but each time they both grew tired and began wobbling.

Valtryek hit Fafnir, Fafnir absorbed the last bit of the energy and Valtryek slowed down.

Picking up his bey Valt closed his eyes and Frees laughter seemed far away.

Opening his eyes everything went on a grayscale and everyone around him disappeared except for Free.

His image kept shifting between Phi and Free. Purple and golden fighting to occupy the same space.

Looking around little balls of golden energy were in the air.

He remembered Free talking about this a long time ago but he was never able to touch the energy.

Reaching out into the sky Valt touched one.

Valt's golden power came back and so did Phi's power overwhelming Free. His eyes were glowing purple and again and he cried out.

"Free?"

"You're wrong, he's gone..."

"No he's not!"

Phi only cackled laughing like a maniac through Free.

Holding out his launcher Valt was more determined than ever now to get his friend back.

"3...2...1...Let it Rip!"

This time both bladers launched at full power with Valt not holding back now. The situation was now serious and getting back Free only mattered.

Phi was laughing like a maniac and all trace of his golden power was now gone

Fafnir was along the outer edge chasing Valtryek pushing him to the center.

"Fight him Free I know you're still in there!"

The purple aura flickered from gold to purple and Free had his hands over his face.

Using this opportunity Valtryek broke free and pushed Fafnir to the center.

As Phoenix and Free were fighting for control Valt powered up feeling the golden power all around him.

"Valtryek!"

Colliding with Fafnir, it bursted with the pieces landing by Frees feet.

"Enough! I am your god and I will not let some kid ruin all our hard work!"

Holding out his launcher Valt felt energized and ready. It was almost over. It was hard to believe he had come so far but it was time, time for the fall of Phi.

"3...2...1...Let it Rip!"

They immediately flew into the center colliding over and over. With each rebound Fafnir absorbed some of Valtryek's energy.

Valtryek started wobbling and Phi only laughed.

"It's not over yet! Valtryek!"

"You dare challenge your God? You're nothing but a nuisance."

Fafnir came out of nowhere trapping Valtryek against the wall.

"No it can't end like this."

A small crack emerged and started to grow.

Phi only laughed more.

I have to go but when the time comes and Phi becomes too powerful you'll know what to do you'll know how to bring me back. You can do it Valt and you already have everything you need

"Free!"

Looking up from the battle a flicker of doubt ran across his face.

"I have something for you.." fishing the box out of his pocket he took a deep breath and opened the box.

Inside was a small red flower, Fafnir wasn't pushing as hard on Valtryek.

"A flower? That's your desperate attempt to get your friend back by giving him a flower?"

"It's not just any flower, it's a poppy. A long time ago when it was the First World War, when the battles were over poppy's grew in the old battlefields. To Americans your birthday is also known as Veterans Day. But to us it's known as Remembrance Day."

Valt paused and could see Free starting to come back

"Remembering those who have fallen in battle. You didn't know this but every year they would throw a huge parade for those who had fallen in battle. When you went missing they added you onto the parade. We didn't know this but Kris went to that parade by herself."

"She told me that every year for your present you always wanted a poppy. Nothing more nothing less. You could've asked for a new launcher or anything. But you always wanted a poppy. Kris never told anyone this but now I know why, your dad was in that battle wasn't he?"

A golden aura surrounded him and like Phi he let his power go over to Free. And through Phi's control he could see his friend again.

"Free?"

He nodded his head very discreetly and smiled. His eyes relaxed and so did his shoulders.

"I never left."

"But how? I thought..."

"It's okay Valt I'm here now and we can fight Phi together but I have to go now and I don't know if I'll come back this time. If something happens...."

"Don't say that."

"I have to go but when the time comes and Phi becomes too powerful you'll know how to bring me back."

"But.."

"You can do it Valt, you already have everything you need."

The purple power faded and the golden power came back in full force. Energy surged all around the room causing everyone's hair to stand up and the lights go out.

The broken glass and the wind swirled around the stadium.

Looking up from the battle Free's aura was going back and forth between purple and golden.

"You can do it Free I believe in you!"

With those words the purple aura vanished and the golden energy returned.

Fafnir turned golden and Valtryek was free.

"What is that?"

"Hyper Flux!"

Colliding with Valtryek it was sent into the air and bursted.

A dead silence fell over the crowd until everyone started cheering. Picking up Valtryek, Valt ran over to Free giving him a big hug.

"Free!"

Valt buried his face into his side and despite everything he started crying.

"It wasn't your fault Valt, I knew what Phi and Theodore were up to which is why I had to leave. I had to let them think they had me. But the truth is I never truly left."

"But why did you go to the Snake Pit?"

"Because Theodore's next target was you, Valt and I knew if there was anyone who was going to beat Phi, it was you. So in order to save you guys I had to leave you. But when you were escaping the snake pit that night I transferred a little bit of my power so you could unlock your own."

"Free!"

Just then BC Sol came running onstage and hugging them both. Kris was the first one to get to Free hugging him as tight as she could.

"I...can't...breathe."

As Valt watched everyone hug and congratulate Free all the happiness from before was gone as an angry Phi stepped onstage.

He held Red Eyes mask and gauntlet.

"You little... you've been stealing all my power."

"And you..." Phi pointed a long shaking finger straight at Valt.

"You may have defeated me before but your friends are vastly weaker than you are..."

Holding out his hand every blader dropped to their knees in pain. Some were on their backs while others were struggling to breathe.

Looking at each one of them Valt's pained gaze stopped on Free. He only sat there pretending to be in pain.

"Stall Phi." He mouthed.

Valt nodded his head and stood up slowly.

What had Hyde said? He wasn't always bad.

Valt took a step forward towards Phi.

Looking at Valt with mad eyes he raised his hand. But Valt stopped and Phi froze.

"One step further and say goodbye to your friend Shu."

"I'm not here to fight."

"Then what are you here to do Valt?"

"I'm here to say I'm sorry."

Phi paused with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

"So then that's your play? To psych me out, to feel bad for me. No there's no getting out of this one, you and your friends have escaped my wrath too many times. Time to choose. Them or you."

"What about your choice? You don't have to be the bad guy, Phi. Your parents, they've caused a lot of pain..."

"Don't you dare speak about them!"

Phi's power sent out a shockwave causing Valt to yell out in pain but he got back up trying to brush it off.

"But I know what you're feeling Phi, I know what it's like to not have your parents around. But what's worse is that when they're around they choose not to be with you.."

His power died down and his demonic voice quieted.

"Then what's wrong with not feeling this, to get rid of the pain?"

"There's nothing wrong with feeling the pain it's what makes us human. You need to understand it's okay to feel this way. Each of us have been there and we all know what it's like. Even when you had bladers under your control they still felt bad for what they did."

Valt took a step foreward.

"What are you doing?"

"Being a friend."

Valt reached out his hand with Phi looking up at him fearfully. Grabbing his hand Valt pulled him up.

But out of the corner of his eye something moved.

Turning his head Theodore was in the hallway heading for the exit.

"Theodore's getting away!"

Fubuki and Kris took off, leaving the stage. Shu tried to follow them but Phi stopped him and slowly brought him back to the stage.

"So, all that talk about friends, and feelings was just a trick? So Theodore could get away from it all, so he can go scuttling down his rat hole?"

"No that's not what..."

"I was a fool to trust you, to think there was someone who understood. You all don't even know what or who I am. All of you act like I'm some FREAK! Like a disease that no one wants to catch..."

"You can trust me, I meant everything..."

"No, not again.."

Holding out his hand he took the closest blader next to him which was Shu and started turning him. His once red resonance was now turning black being infected.

There was nothing he could do. Phi had everyone pinned down

Everyone except for Free, Free was whispering to each blader.

Making eye contact with Valt he mouthed: "Stall him I'm almost done."

Resisting the urge to stay down he managed to get into his knees facing the floor.

Glancing at BC Sol most of the bladers were now infected standing behind Phi.

Letting out a deep breath Valt knew what he had to do.

His heart pounded as he managed to get up. Once he caught his balance he looked straight at Phi.

"Let them go."

Phi only smiled, turning his attention to Valt.

"Or you'll what Valt? You're powerless."

"Just let my friends go and take me."

Phi considered this for a moment before making up his mind.

"Don't you get it Valt, I'm not like Theodore. I don't just want you I want everyone. "

Valt grimaced for the pain but nothing happened. Instead he could feel Phi's power leaving him.

Phi widened his eyes, dropping Valt.

Free De La Hoya stood with his eyes glowing, absorbing every once of Phi's power from everyone including his own.

"No!"

Taking out Red Eyes mask and gauntlet he countered Free laughing. His resonance was back but this time it was purple and red.

"What's so special about Red Eyes mask and gauntlet?"

As Phi looked at him, his power was overwhelming causing Valt to fall onto his knees again. The rest of BC Sol grimaced.

"There's a rumor that when Red Eye was defeated not every last bit of corrupted resonate was destroyed. Instead some of it resided into his gauntlet and mask."

Holding out his hand Phi tapped into the same resonance prison Valerie did before and a portal appeared a swirling vortex of energy.

"I have had just about enough with you.." he pointed straight at Free walking over.

"You will fall."

Going over to Free, Valt stood with him holding his hand.

"You're wrong Phi you're the one who'll fall today." Valt said.

Time slowed down and Phi desperately tried to reach out and grab anything just to escape but the energy from the prison was too strong. As Phi started to disappear into the portal together Valt and Free called onto their golden power pushing Phi inside the portal.

But when the portal was gone Free and Valt were thrown back. Valt tried to stay awake but closing his eyes the world turned black.

Opening his eyes Valt was back in the grayscale realm but this time there was no stadium just him and Valtryek.

"Valtryek....Where are we? Is this the dark realm?"

"No,The reason we have dark resonance is the same reason why we have normal resonance. One cannot exist without the other while Phi can destroy beys you can bring their power together. When resonance was first created an opposite force equally as strong was created. Normally they are balanced but not always..."

"But now that Phi has been defeated you must help out your friend before it's too late."

Valtryeks voice started echoing and Valt sat up sprinting over to Free.

His resonance was black but it kept glitching.

"It's...too...much."

"We need to put it somewhere..." Sasha said.

Looking around Frees mask was gone but Red Eye's mask remained while the gauntlet was gone.

Sprinting over to the mask Valt gave it to Free

"Use this!"

Taking the mask, Free poured Phi's power into it until his resonance lightened. Once the last bit of power was in the mask he dropped it and fell over.

"Free?"

He gave a small thumbs up smiling.

"Not bad Valt."

As Free got his strength back everyone rejoiced and started celebrating. Confetti was in the air as everyone was either hugging or talking. But once everyone was distracted Valt followed Shu who was running to where Theodore was

******

Taking his last box Theodore closed the door locking it and walking away.

But before he could get far Fubuki Sumiye stood in his way along with Kris and Shu who was now joining the party.

"Theodore Glass you're under arrest." said Kris.

Behind them a bunch of police officers emerged grabbing Theodore.

"Let go of me! Phi's the real villain! He's the one who's corrupted everyone!"

"Theodore Glass you are hereby under arrested for kidnapping, child abuse, abduction, blackmail, illegal drug possession, stalking, corruption and various other crimes I can't say in front of these children."

"What's your proof." He said with his eyes glowing.

"Let me elaborate for you Theodore: The Requiem Project, kidnapping various bladers across the world, torturing these kids, the Snake Pit, project and chemical..."

"We get it Kristina." Theodore said with an annoyed tone.

"Wait what do you mean project and chemical..." Valt asked out of breath

"It's not important now that Theodore's going to jail." Kris said with a smile.

"But how did you.." Theodore asked

"Trad never did leave everything behind when he left BC Sol, in fact he left me some old files all about Requiem, the Snake Pit and everything in case anything ever happened to him because of you."

"But that's not all.." Shu added.

"While you were distracted trying to corrupt me the other day I managed to steal your key out of your pocket when you weren't looking."

"But you couldn't possibly have the time to..."

"And that's where I came in." Fubuki said.

"When Shu realized he didn't have the time to stop you he told me to sneak into your office and get as much information as I could when he was battling Phi. Then when everyone was celebrating and distracted I managed to slip away to make the call."

"Are you hearing all this officers they're the ones who stole from me and broke into my private office!"

"Tell it to the judge."

Theodore's eyes started glowing as he managed to get free. More police officers surrounded him holding him down.

Kris stood over the madman crossing her arms looking pleased.

"It's over Theodore you won't get away this time."

Theodore hung his head laughing almost a little bit like Phi.

Valt took a step back startled as Theodore looked straight at him with his eyes glowing a mad teal color.

"Fine then, you win Kristina and Valt but just know I'll be back one day. You think you've won? Ha! This is only the beginning for you all. No one will be safe from the consumed because of the Eclipse. Brown Eye, I will return for you one day and until then now that Phi's gone the real battle begins. Not even Taiga Akabane can help you now..."

The officers dragged Theodore away as he was laughing like a maniac. Valt watched not taking his eyes off of him and he could've sworn he saw Theodore's eyes change to purple for a minute.

"Wait who's Brown Eye?" Shu asked.

"Beats me I don't remember any bladers with that name." Fubuki said.

"Never mind Brown Eye I wonder what he meant by an Eclipse." Valt said, changing the subject.

"Now then, why don't we all get cleaned up, I heard that Sasha is throwing her party for real this time."

As everyone started walking off Valt mumbled something about going to the bathroom.

As he slipped away from the crowd he took Theodore's box without anyone noticing.