Author's note: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews! I can't believe how much everyone loves Thomas!

Thomas: Of course they do! I'm that good!

Shelly: Hey! I thought you were busy playing video games instead of helping me with this battle coming up!

Thomas: Oh, did you need my help?

Shelly: Duh! That's what I just said, Thomas! But don't worry, I think I got it okay. If no one likes it, then you'll have to answer for it.

Thomas: Well, then just add it to the list along with everything else! I already have to pay for any lawsuits that come your way!

Shelly: Not if you can persuade Karl to sell his Iron Kong. He's already got a Saber Tiger so why does he need an Iron Kong?

Thomas: Hmmm...that might work. Tell Ryan thanks for me! And tell Aries, Sara, and AnimeQueen thanks for all the support! Although I am a bit concerned at what Aries means by what she said. You don't think she'll stick me with...*gulp*...another man or anything do you?

Shelly: Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Although there was that time when you and Irvine gave each other the eye...( in that episode of Guardian Force before they go fight Hiltz' forces)

Thomas: Shelly!!!! How dare you!!!!

Shelly: Hee-hee! Enough with talking! On with the fic!

Dragonflame by Shelly

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


Tania hovered nearby, wondering why Raven hadn't attacked her yet as he was usually the first one to start a battle, and she took the opportunity to review what weapons she had available to her while it was quiet. "Raven?" she asked when it became too quiet.

If indeed there was a battle being fought, it was inside Raven. He had begun to think of why he was here, wondering why he was fighting her when he had nothing to gain from it personally. The only ones who did were Hiltz and Riese, who were just using him until he defeated Tania and Dragonflame. The one thing he had ever been concerned about in his life was defeating Van, and he knew he still had a chance to do that as he was still in control of his actions. Van was there on that island, had to be if she was here, and he knew that Hiltz and Riese were there as well.

He chuckled softly to himself. It was all so simple now, and never had a better opportunity presented itself than now to rid himself of those he despised in one fell swoop. Tania was no longer his concern as there was more interesting prey waiting for him, and he directed the Death Dragon in the direction of the island. "Goodbye, all you pitiful excuses for human beings. I'll destroy you all!"

Tania saw the direction in which he was going, and her heart lept towards her throat. "Raven, no!" she cried, taking off after him and hoping she could save them in time to keep everyone she loved from being destroyed.



Hiltz frowned as he saw the Death Dragon coming this way. "Riese, what's going on? Why isn't he fighting Dragonflame?"

She swallowed deeply, the faint stirring of fear fluttering within her heart. "He has become tempted by more important prey than Tania," she replied.

His eyes widened. "You don't mean--?"

Riese nodded. "He's after Van. And he will destroy us also."

Hiltz growled. "Damn you, Raven."



Van's eyes widened as he saw the shadow drawing nearer to them, Dragonflame not far behind. They grew even wider when he saw a glittering globe form in the dark sky, shining like a small moon, and he knew then that they were all doomed.

Fiona drew nearer to him, and he held her close against him in a protective gesture. "Van, what is that?" she asked, her voice worried. "Is it what I think it is?"

He sighed. "I'm afraid so. It's a charged particle beam aimed straight for this island."

She turned fear-filled eyes towards his, and he drew her into an embrace, his lips brushing against her temple as he didn't want her to see the tears forming in his eyes. "I love you, Fiona," he whispered.

"Come on, Tania, do something!" Thomas shouted just as the villagers panicked and ran back to their homes, hoping against hope that she would find a way to save them all.



Tania urged Dragonflame forward as fast as the zoid could go, her voice breaking when she saw the Death Dragon preparing a charged particle beam to fire it straight at the island. Memories flashed through her mind, memories of the time spent with those she called friends as well as a lover who loved her very much. "No! Karl! Van! Thomas! NO!"

She heard Raven's maniacal laughter in the background as she joined her own screams with his, refusing to believe that it would end like this. Then she found herself facing the Death Dragon and its terrible weapon head on, and she instinctively drew Dragonflame's wings together in front of her to put up a shield just as the beam burst forth from her enemy to surround her. The light flashed all around her in her cockpit, and she engaged the rear thrusters behind the cannon to keep herself from being pushed back.

Eventually the light faded, and she was unharmed to her amazement.

"What?!" Raven exclaimed. "There's no way you could've withstood the power of my charged particle cannon!"

Her confidence restored, she laughed softly. "Think again, Raven," she said, taking the iniative and launching an all out assault on him which included shots from her cannon as well as missiles from the wingtips. "There's no way I'm going to let my guard down again."

She waited until the smoke cleared, expecting to see a shield up that propelled most of the attack. As soon as the shield was dropped, she blasted towards Raven like she was going to attack him head on, but at the last minute, extended her wing and engaged the blade hidden within the edge of it, ducking down and spinning underneath to deliver a slice to his underside as she pulled up behind him, hearing his exclamation of surprise.

"I'll get you for that, Tania!" he growled, putting the Death Dragon into motion to follow Tania and fire shots at her which she dodged except one that caught her on the backside. Then she felt something jerk her back roughly, and she looked to see that he had fired one of his claws at her which was now fastened onto her back leg. She tried to summon enough speed to break from his grasp, but had no power as she guessed Raven's shot had knocked out her thrusters.

Raven laughed as he drug her towards him. "Not so cocky now, are you? I'm sorry this battle couldn't have lasted longer, but I've got bigger fish to fry."

She breathed deeply to keep her calm about her. If she panicked now, she would lose and be killed along with everyone else. But she wasn't about to allow that to happen, even if it meant sacrificing herself. "I wouldn't celebrate just yet, Raven," she said. "I still have one last trick up my sleeve."

When she drew close enough to him, she summoned Dragonflame's ultimate weapon by snapping up a shield around them both, one that was strong enough to withstand any attack.

"What are you doing?" Raven asked, a note of panic in his voice as he saw the zoid's mouth opening and a bright sphere of electricity forming within it.

She smiled as peace overcame her from knowing that once this was over, the threat of the Death Dragon would be eliminated forever. "Forgive me, Karl," she whispered as two tears fell down her cheeks, glittering in the light from the charged particle beam waiting to consume them both. "I'll always love you."



Van and the others watched anxiously from below as they saw the horrifying scene before them, some of them speechless as others expressed their emotions openly. Fiona and Moonbay were the only ones unable to say or do anything. Van watched with his hands balled into fists at his sides, hating to feel helpless as there was no way he could help her out of this one.

Irvine stood still in shock as his heart beat furiously within his chest, his mind screaming denials at what he was witnessing as he refused to believe that she would be taken so brutally from his life. Even though she had chosen to stay with Karl, he still loved her and hated to imagine what his life would be without her.

But while he was waiting in anguish for the impossible to happen, Karl was having an even harder time of it as he was forced to watch his beloved die before his very eyes, a woman who he was supposed to marry and live happily ever after with. But now he would never get that chance as she was being ripped away from him, and he would have to live the rest of his life without her.

He collapsed to his knees as he screamed her name, fearing he would go mad without her by his side. He felt hands on his shoulders offering support, or maybe it was sympathy, and he looked to see Thomas kneeling beside him with tears in his own eyes. Finally giving into his tears, he bent over his knees as his body shook from his anguished sobs, Thomas rubbing his back futilely to try and ease his pain. But there would be no end to his pain, knew this as the truth even before it had begun to invade his soul.

**********************

Thomas: NOOO!!!!!! She can't die, Shelly! Think of what that would do to Karl!

Shelly: Keep your pants on, Thomas! Can't you see that Ryan already gave it away? (Organoid Ejection System! Only comes with specific zoids! Not available everywhere!)

Thomas: Oh, I get it now! See, I knew I could count on you!

Shelly: But I may change my mind yet. I may just let her die after all.

Thomas: You wouldn't! If you did, then I'm sure Aries and AnimeQueen would come after you in their zoids and demand retribution!

Shelly: *walks up to him and trails finger across his chest, making eyes at him* I'm sure you would be there to protect me, Thomas, won't you?

Thomas: *blushing furiously* Oh...um...well...

Shelly: *pouting* You mean to tell me you wouldn't? *turns back on him* Fine then! Consider yourself without a fanfic from me!

Thomas: Wait! I didn't mean that I wouldn't! I'll protect you! Honestly, I will!

Shelly: Sure, Thomas.

I hope that everyone liked this chapter. Was the battle scene good enough? I apologize if it was too short! Thanks for reading!