Disclaimer: I don't own Zoids or any of their respective characters. I am, however, absolutely in love with the anime and wish that it was still on the air!

Summary: On the day of Van and Fiona's wedding, everything seems like it'll go off without a hitch. However, when things begin to go wrong, confessions will be made, battles fought, and one day will end very differently compared to how it began…

A/N: This is my first attempt at a Zoids fanfic., but considering that I haven't seen the show in years since they stopped showing it and I currently own no episodes (although I am looking…) some of the character's personalities may not be totally canon. I am going to try and do my best to stay in character for them. Oh, and this takes place a year after the series (Chaotic Century/Guardian Force) ended. Enjoy!

"…"- conversation

'…'- thoughts

"…" – Zoids and Organoids talking

Wedding Day Rhythm

Chapter 1: Doubts

Flyheight Residence, Wind Colony, Central Continent of Delpoi, Planet Zi– September 13, 9:00 AM

The blazing sun shone on the desert, highlighting the numerous sand dunes interspersed with oases on the central continent of Delpoi on Planet Zi. Make no mistake – Delpoi, like most of Zi, was not known as an easy place to live, but where it was habitable, the scenery and landscape were enough to make the struggles of life worth it.

The sun's rays soon revealed the Wind Colony, known for not only its plethora of aquifers – making life possible for its residents, but also as the home of Republican war hero Dan Flyheight and his family, including up and coming Guardian Force officer Van Flyheight. Said hero was currently stressing out, hands covering his eyes as he muttered curses under his breath intermixed with mumblings of how he wasn't worthy of what was going to happen; hell, he didn't deserve what he was going to receive.

As Van berated himself, his friends looked on in worry from the open doorway, all of them noting that Van didn't even know that they were there. Looking at each other, they all sighed, wondering what to do.

After a few minutes, one of them snapped and, marching into the room he grabbed Van by the arm, yanking him to his feet. Van found himself staring into the cool gray eyes of the ex-mercenary Irvine, who had been forced to take off his eye patch until after the reception by an irate Moonbay.

"Van, snap out of this depression! You know that you and Fiona belong together; hell, I saw it years ago, and now that you're going to marry her you want to back out?! What are you, a wimp?" Irvine said, his voice sending an unsaid threat to Van's brain, causing the Blade Liger pilot to glare back at his friend.

"I am not a wimp!" Van yelled back, wrenching his arm out of Irvine's grasp.

"Really? 'Cause that's what it looks like from where I'm standing," Irvine commented dryly, crossing his arms.

Van glared at his friend then moved over to the window, his black eyes alighting on his Blade Liger, its blue armor gleaming in the morning sun. Zeke, Van's loyal organoid and best friend, was curled up on one of the Blade Liger's front paws, both protecting the Zoid and keeping watch on the actions of those around him. Van didn't say anything, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself.

Irvine's scowl deepened; damn it, how in the hell could someone who, on the battlefield, was a born leader, not realize that he deserved every bit of happiness available to him, especially if it meant marrying Fiona Elisi Linette? Prior to contrary belief, Irvine wasn't heartless; those who knew him well enough would tell you that. Irvine also wasn't blind to the concept of love; he merely didn't like to involve himself in such matters. He had told Van the truth earlier; when he had first met the then-Shield Liger pilot and Fiona, he had seen a bond there not unlike the one he had seen with numerous couples from his travels. As he had journeyed with them, and later fought beside them, he had seen that bond grow, and saw how no matter what forces tried to tear them apart they stayed together.

Irvine opened his mouth to berate Van again when a hand fell on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. He turned and met the emerald eyes of Thomas Shubaltz, who, like Irvine, was a good friend of Van's. Irvine inclined his head, and then stepped back to lean in the doorway, watching the upcoming interaction with curious eyes.

"Van, listen to me," Thomas said, walking so that he stood beside Van at the window. "Van, I've known you for close to two years now, and, granted, all that time wasn't spent on the best of terms. I have come to respect you as not only a fellow Zoid pilot and friend, but as the man whom Fiona truly loves."

Van's eyes snapped to stare at Thomas, as did Irvine's, the latter in shock. Did Thomas just say what Irvine thought he had said?! Van was thinking along the same lines as Irvine, and Thomas obviously caught on to their thought patterns as he turned to face Van, and, cracking a grin, said, "What, did you actually think that I wouldn't give up on getting Fiona away from you even after you two were married?"

Van didn't reply; he just continued to stare at Thomas. Raising an eyebrow, Thomas commented, "Okay, so obviously you did. That really hurts that you would think that I would even try to take Fiona away from you, even after I've seen how happy you make her. She and I will be no more than good friends; I've come to accept that fact. However, what I can't accept is that she loves you, and yet you are doubting that she loves you, and you her. If you hurt her, Van, then there will be hell to pay, and not only from me. I have a feeling that many of your friends wouldn't be too happy with you, Moonbay included."

Thomas paused a minute to allow the image of a pissed-off Moonbay to sink into Van's head, and smiled when he saw Van close his eyes and shiver, obviously seeing Thomas's point. Irvine, watching from his post at the door, had to agree with Thomas, knowing that Moonbay considered Fiona to be her little sister, and if anyone hurt her, Moonbay would be out for blood. Hell, if Irvine remembered correctly, when one of Fiona's now ex-suitors had called her a bitch for refusing to allow him to go further than a good-night kiss on a date, Moonbay had gone on a midnight-rendezvous to said suitor's house. Let's just say that the man would never misbehave around women again, and whenever he saw Moonbay or Fiona he ran for his life; literally.

Van opened his eyes, and both Irvine and Thomas could see that the doubt and insecurity that had once clouded their depths had disappeared, leaving a man who was excited about his upcoming marriage. Van got to his feet and, breathing deeply, said, "Thanks, Thomas. I really appreciate you helping me see what a complete and idiotic fool I was being." He noticed Irvine's miffed expression out of the corner of his eye and, smiling, added, "And of course I have to thank you, Irvine. Thanks for not pounding me to a pulp, but using that mind of yours."

Irvine mock glared at his friend for a minute. He then shrugged and commented, "Sure, no prob. Didn't feel like beating you up anyway, at least not right now. However, might do it later, if I feel up to it."

Van smiled and looked out the window once more; noting that the sun was still shining brightly, as if to say that he had nothing to worry about and that everything would turn out alright. His gaze then shifted to a large cloud of sand approaching the colony, and his eyes narrowed. However, he saw Zeke's head lift from its previous position, and watched as the silver organoid climbed to the top of the Blade Liger so that he could get a better view on the cause of the incoming sand. A few minutes later, the sand began to settle, allowing Van and the other occupants of the room a view of the source of the sand, leading to sighs of relief that an enemy hadn't arrived to wreck the ceremony. No, no one with evil intentions had arrived to destroy Van and Fiona's wedding; in fact, the recent arrival could now be seen to be a blood-red GenoBreaker, accompanied by two organoids, one black and one blue.

Irvine and Thomas had looked out the window as well, and, like Van both had smiles on their faces, though not as big as Van's. Irvine summed up the recent arrivals with one sentence: "Looks like Raven's here."

Outskirts of the Wind Colony, Central Continent of Delpoi, Planet Zi – September 13, 9:15 AM

"Why are we doing this again?" an irate Raven questioned the GenoBreaker's other occupant, who was currently perched behind him, her head on his shoulder.

"Why not? Isn't Van your friend?" the other occupant questioned, her voice hitting the source of Raven's irritation.

"Flyheight's not my friend," Raven said, his amethyst eyes glaring straight ahead, where he could see the Wind Colony coming into view.

"Of course he's not; that's why you agreed to attend his and Fiona's wedding," came the sarcastic reply, causing Raven to turn his glare on his passenger.

"You're pushing your luck, Ryss," Raven hissed, not at all in the mood to deal with the blue-haired Zoidian who was behind him. Ryss merely smiled back, thoroughly enjoying being able to piss Raven off.

The conversation ceased as Raven entered the limits of the Wind Colony, and both he and Ryss became nervous; they knew that the Wind Colony was Flyheight's home, and considering that at one time both of them had been sworn enemies with Flyheight they were wondering about how they were going to be received. Above the GenoBreaker, the organoids Shadow and Specula were wondering the same thing; actually, Specula really didn't care how she and Shadow were received while the black organoid was a tad more concerned. After all, Shadow was loyal to Raven and if he felt Raven was going to be threatened in any way then there would be hell to pay.

As the GenoBreaker coasted to a stop next to the Blade Liger, Raven and Ryss could see the silver organoid that belonged to Flyheight coming to greet them. Shadow and Specula, feeling a tad more welcome now that a familiar face had come to meet them, landed in front of the GenoBreaker, and they and the silver organoid began talking. The GenoBreaker lowered its head, along with its chest cockpit, allowing Raven and Ryss to exit.

"Guys! Glad to see that you could make it," Van called out, and Raven and Ryss turned their eyes towards the approaching Guardian Force officer, who was flanked on either side by his sidekicks – as Raven had dubbed them – Irvine and Thomas.

Knowing that Raven wouldn't make the first move, Ryss stepped forward and, offering her hand to Van said, "Well, Flyheight, it was good of you and Fiona to invite us." Raven watched Ryss greet his once-hated enemy with apprehension; just what was she getting at, greeting Flyheight like they'd never tried to kill each other at one time?

Van winced when he heard Ryss use his last name, but, pushing down a twinge of fear that Raven and Ryss hadn't really changed and were playing him for a fool, took Ryss' hand and shook it warmly, secretly pleased when he saw Raven tense a bit when Ryss smiled at Van. 'Not jealous my ass; you definitely have a thing for Ryss, no matter how much you try to deny it.'

"Please, guys. It's Van; it's not like we're enemies, or anything; right?" Van said, a smile spreading to encompass his face. Irvine smirked, knowing that Ryss had probably called Van by his last name on purpose, while Thomas scowled, still not completely happy that Van had invited two of their former enemies to his and Fiona's wedding.

Raven stepped forward then and said, "Whatever. So, what do you want us to do?"

Thomas scowled, and was about to retort, but Van stepped in and said, "Well, Raven, unless you and Ryss want to stay here by yourselves, then follow us."

Raven opened his mouth to say that he would prefer to stay with the GenoBreaker when Ryss grabbed him by the arm and dragged him towards Van. "Of course we'll follow you, Van." Van smiled and turned around, with Irvine and Thomas following.

"What are you doing woman?!" Raven hissed at Ryss, yanking his arm from her grasp.

"Trying to make some friends, Raven," Ryss responded, her voice icy. Her sea-green eyes darted over to Specula, who was still talking with Shadow and Zeke, the latter two seemingly trying to win her over to their side in some kind of argument. "You don't know how lonely it is to not have anyone around with whom you can hold an intelligent conversation."

"You're wrong, Ryss. I know what it's like to be alone," Raven replied, his amethyst eyes glancing over to Van and his posse, who had stopped and were watching the two bicker.

"No, Raven, you don't," Ryss replied, closing her eyes as if she was in pain. "You may have not had another soul besides Shadow with you, but you never minded the loneliness; you reveled in it. I didn't. The loneliness was unbearable; it felt like there was a weight on my chest that, no matter how hard I tried, couldn't be lifted. So, don't you dare tell me that you know how I feel." Ryss opened her eyes and glared at Raven, then walked off towards Van, Irvine, and Thomas, leaving a stupefied and speechless Raven.

"Damn woman…" Raven hissed, not at all pleased that a woman had outwitted him, and said woman was one who not too long ago he had hated with a passion. Barking out an order to Shadow and Specula (the latter ignoring said order) to stay with the GenoBreaker, he took off after Ryss, who by now had spilt from the main group and was walking with Irvine.

Wind Colony, Central Continent of Delpoi, Planet Zi – September 13, 9:25 AM

"So, where are you taking me?" Ryss asked her escort, whom she noticed looked odd without the eye patch that she was used to seeing him wear.

"To Moonbay and Fiona," Irvine replied, his eyes sweeping around in an attempt to identify any of the residents who might threaten Ryss. He noted Ryss' eyes taking in the colony around her, and he couldn't help but notice that she didn't have Specula. "So, where's your organoid?"

Ryss started; she hadn't been paying attention to the man beside her, and so the question caught her off guard. "Oh, Specula's with Shadow and Van's organoid, arguing."

Irvine nodded, and before another word could be said he stopped and, opening a door, motioned with his head for Ryss to follow. Once they were inside, Ryss noticed that they were in a church, and she closed her eyes in an attempt to forget the memories that the building had dredged up, concerning where she had almost killed Fiona and Van in their first encounter. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Irvine was watching her with a mixed expression, not sure what to think of her actions. Ignoring the look, she walked forward, taking in the decorations that covered the church. "So, where is everyone?"

Irvine walked beside Ryss, and rather than responding vocally to Ryss' question led her to a hallway, which took them to a set of doors. Irvine led Ryss past all of the doors, finally stopping in front of the last one, and raised a hand to knock on the door. However, before he could even knock, the door was flung open and Ryss found herself staring into the chocolate orbs of Moonbay.

"Hey there! 'Bout time you got here; Fiona and I were startin' to wonder if you'd ever get here," Moonbay greeted Ryss, ignoring Irvine completely, the latter looking a bit miffed. Ryss covered her amusement at Irvine's expression by focusing on Moonbay, whom she noticed wasn't completely ready for the ceremony, still dressed in what she assumed was her daily outfit.

"Don't just stand there; come in!" Moonbay grabbed Ryss' hand and pulled her inside, causing the blue-haired Zoidian to almost fall inside the room, her balance leaving her for a moment due to Moonbay's action. Once she was sure that Ryss was in the room, Moonbay turned to go back inside, but Irvine reached out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"What's up with ignoring me, Moonbay?" Irvine questioned calmly, his eyes betraying anger and frustration.

Moonbay looked up at Irvine and, noting his eyes grinned and responded, "Oh, Irvine; didn't see you there." Moonbay's amusement was short-lived as a voice came down the hallway, calling Irvine's name.

Irvine glanced behind him, giving Moonbay a chance to do something radical. Grinning, she leaned up on her toes and gave Irvine a peck on his cheek, causing the ex-mercenary to swing his head back around to stare at Moonbay incredulously. Taking her chance, Moonbay snatched her wrist out of Irvine's hand and, shooting him a sly smile, went back into the room behind her, closing the door silently.

Irvine blinked; what in the hell had just happened?! He had turned his head for one minute to see who was calling him, and then he felt something touch his cheek. Realizing what it was, he had turned back around to face Moonbay, who had merely grinned and went back into the room. Had she… kissed him?! If so, why? It wasn't like they were romantically involved; hell, they were only friends. That's right, good friends.

Irvine snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Karl Shubaltz heading his way. The Imperial soldier, now a Major General, made his way towards Irvine, a confused expression on his face. "If I may ask, what is going on?" Karl was clothed in his dress uniform, complete with all the markings that belayed his military ranking.

Irvine shook his head and, walking towards Karl replied, "Nothing at all. Let's get back to Van before he has another nervous breakdown." As Irvine walked, or rather stalked, towards the back of the church, Karl looked at the door that Irvine had stood in front of a minute before. A small smile came to his face at the story he knew he could tell Rob Hermann – Irvine, the usually stoic mercenary, had been caught with his guard down.

"Well, Moonbay, if you like him that much, why not take a bigger leap than that?" Karl murmured in the direction of the door before turning on his heel and making his way towards the back of the church.