Disclaimer: I don't own Zoids, so don't sue me, 'cause you won't get anything from me! It'll all come from Thomas!

Thomas: Hey, I heard that! How do you expect me to pay if I don't have any money either?

Shelly: I guess you'll just have to sell your Dibison.

Thomas: NOOOO!

Dragonflame by Shelly

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN


"Van!" she called. "He's here!"

She heard his footsteps approach and it sounded like he was running as he slid to a stop beside her. "Where?" he asked, and he spotted him when he saw the moon's reflection off the zoid. "All right then, let's go," he said, preparing to climb into the zoid.

"Van, wait!" she said, stopping him with a hand on his arm. He turned around to face her. "You can't pilot it. It won't let you."

"How do you know?" he asked.

"Van, please don't argue with me," she argued softly. "Not when I have so little time left here."

She felt his surprise. "What do you mean?" he questioned, his voice holding a hint of fear.

"The only way to defeat the Death Dragon may lie in the destruction of both of us," she replied, reaching in her pocket and pulling out a folded sheet of paper to press it into his hand. "If I don't survive, give this to Karl."

"Give it to him yourself!" he growled. "As a matter of fact, it won't be needed as I know you'll make it," he added, ripping the sheet into shreds and throwing them to the ground. Then he cupped her face in both his hands, his thumbs brushing her cheeks. "You have to, Tania. For Karl's sake and mine as well as neither of us would be able to live without you."

Tears filled her eyes, and she embraced him tightly. "Van," she breathed, pulling away and kissing his cheek. "Don't ever forget that I love you."

"I won't," he replied, watching as she disappeared inside Dragonflame and seeing the panels close in front of her before the zoid leaped into the air with a defiant cry which brought everyone else running towards Van.

"Van! Where's Tania?" Karl asked breathlessly.

"She's gone to fight Raven," he replied.

"Dammit! Why did you let her go?" he demanded.

"Because she's the only one who can pilot it, Colonel. And if you expect her to just sit by and do nothing after Raven attacks then it's obvious you don't understand who she truly is."

Angered, he lashed out at Van with a punch to his face which sent him sprawling onto the ground. "Don't you dare tell me I don't understand her!" he fumed.

"Whoa, there, big brother," Thomas said as he restrained Karl from doing anymore harm to Van. "It's tough letting her go like this, but if she doesn't fight him then everything will be destroyed in the end, including us. Both of you will be destroyed together."

All the fight went out of Karl as he went limp in his brother's arms, and Thomas slowly lowered him to the ground onto his hands and knees. "Better to die together than to have to live life without her."

"And would you have everyone else die as well, all because of your selfish behavior?" Van taunted as he rose to his feet, brushing the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. "That's not the Colonel Shubaltz I know. He would be willing to do whatever it takes to see an enemy defeated instead of surrendering."

"But never was there the life of someone I love at stake," he replied.

Van crouched down in front of him. "Colonel, she has to do this or else everything you love about her will be destroyed as well. She wouldn't be the person you know and love anymore, and she will blame you for holding her back. Do you want that?"

"No," he whispered.

"Then don't worry. I'm sure she will win because she loves you with everything she is. Have faith in that as I am sure she does."

Karl looked into Van's eyes and drew support from them, enough to rise to his feet. "Thank you, Van. I'm sorry for punching you."

Van grinned. "Don't worry about it! We all love Tania just as much and don't want anything to happen to her, but we do support her decision as it is who she is. And you've got a killer hook! My jaw will be swollen for a week!"

"Good!" Moonbay shouted. "Maybe it will keep you from eating all the food in the village! These poor people are exhausted from fixing so much food!"

That helped to lighten the mood as everyone enjoyed a laugh at Van's embarrassment, all except Karl who saw the glint of moonlight on the two zoids preparing to fight one another. And he sent a prayer to the gods to keep her safe and return her to him.



Tania flew until she saw the Death Dragon just ahead of her, her mouth going dry as her heart pounded wildly within her chest. The time for bravery was over, and now it was time to test her abilities against an enemy that could destroy everything if she didn't win. Karl, Van, Thomas...they would all be gone if she failed, and the thought gave her a renewed strength to fight.

Even though it was dark, somehow she could see the Death Dragon as clear as day; apparently Dragonflame knew about the other's capabilities from their fight before. Speeding up towards her opponent, she passed close enough for them to almost touch, giving him a little greeting in the form of a wing blow with her own. If it was one thing she knew about Raven, it was best not to show fear around him as he fed off of it and became stronger.

"Hello, Raven," she called to him, seeing his image pop up on the screen in front of her.

He smiled. "That's an impressive zoid, but it won't help you defeat me. You would've been better off accepting my offer."

"What, and let everyone else die? You should know me better than that by now, Raven," she said. "I'll die myself before letting that happen."

"If that is your wish, then I guess I can help you there. Although I had hoped that you would have chosen to be with me instead. I know you remember how much we both loved each other in our past life." His voice was smooth as silk and very tempting to get lost in. "Just think. We could have it all again. Start over and have things be the way they were supposed to be."

Her memories threatened to consume her once again, but she fought against them by remembering the last night she had spent wrapped in Karl's loving embrace. "I will never surrender to you, Raven," she growled. "You don't know how to love. All you know how to do is fight and destroy everything just for fun."

He laughed. "Well, I'm glad you know me so well. All right, I've given you one last chance, and you have chosen not to accept it. Now you must face the consequences of your actions."

She smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she said as she turned her zoid so that it veered away from him and up into the sky.

Raven gritted his teeth as he prepared for battle, having a little difficulty controlling his own emotions where she was concerned as he wished he didn't have to fight her. And that was a surprising thought coming from him as he had always loved to fight and win, but this was one battle that he felt he would draw no joy from if it meant she would die in the end.



On a nearby cliff overlooking the ocean, Hiltz and Riese waited for the battle to unfold before them to see once and for all who was the better fighter. He had known that by resurrecting the Death Dragon, Dragonflame would emerge as well, and that was why he had called in Raven as he knew if anyone could defeat the legendary zoid it was him.

But just in case the Death Dragon was destroyed, he had a back up plan devised in order to fulfill his plans of the destruction of everyone and everything.

"How is he doing?" he asked the blue-haired woman.

"Cocky as ever," she replied with a smile. "But it appears that he has a weakness which could affect his fighting skills."

"Tania," he stated flatly.

Riese nodded. "His memories of her keep intruding upon him. Eventually he may not want to fight her anymore. Imagine that, Raven giving up for love of someone he only knew in a past life."

"It should make things interesting," he pointed out. "Tania is unsure of her skills as a zoid pilot, and Raven's emotions are interfering with his judgment. If I recall, that's what happened the last time they faced each other."

"It did," Riese agreed. "The Death Dragon backed down from Dragonflame and went into hiding. But I have a feeling that this time will end differently. They will both be destroyed."

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The battle begins next chapter! I just hope I can come up with a good one! Where's Thomas when you need him? *looks over to see he has taken over my husband's Playstation2* Oh, brother! Now, I'll never get any help outta him!