The Battle, Part 1

Dah dum, dah dum! The battle to the finish! {} = Raven talking to Shadow/Liger ( ) = Liger/ Shadow talking to Raven. DS= Death Stinger **************************************************************************

"Fiona? Can you sense Raven?" Van was depending on Fiona to find Raven, seeing as he could be anywhere on Zi. " No, I can't. Wait," She brightened. " I feel him, about 20 miles to the northwest." Following Fiona's directions, the Guardian Force set off.

"Raven, you know as much as I do on the subject of battling." Astarael is telling me that I've learned as much as she can teach me. "I can battle Hiltz?" She smiles. "Yes, Raven." I whoop happily. " Let me go contact him to set a place to battle. Wait here." I sit, waiting. She comes back. You will battle in one hour, at a canyon. The battle is set for 10:00 P.M."I get up to go talk to Liger and Shadow. She watches me leave.

"I don't get it, he should be right here." They were on the edge of a canyon, waiting for Raven. A storm rumbles in the distance. "Uh, guys? Has anyone else got a sense of déjà vu?" Van asked. Thomas and Irvine nodded wordlessly.

I strap myself in and whistle for Shadow. He merges and I sink my mind into Liger. Shadow', Liger's, and my minds meld together, sharing all experience and intelligence, a whole. Astarael climbs up behind me. We wait and slash through the lightning beam.

"Oh. My. God." Gasped Moonbay. "It's the Death Stinger!" The GF looked down. There it was, in all of it's deadly power. A black lightning beam slashed to earth. The smoke cleared and the Liger Zero stood there.

I tremble with rage, seeing Hiltz and Ambient there in the Death Stinger. "Raven. Raven." Astarael's calling me. I wrench my mind away from the scene and turn to face her. "Um, Raven.. " She begins. I wait, listening for those three small words. " Raven, I love you. Don't you dare die." I smile back. " I love you too, Astarael." She leans forward and kisses me before clambering down from the Liger.

Irvine was using his eye thingy to zero in on the Liger. Van tuned to a one- way com-link. He could see and hear everything that was going on inside the cockpit of the Liger, but they couldn't see him. When he heard Raven say those words, he choked. The Dark One had found love? That was insane! More than that, it was impossible! He recorded it and then showed it to the rest, leaving them equally flabbergasted. They turned their heads toward where a battle supreme was beginning.

"Raven." "Hiltz. Are you ready to die?" He laughs. " I think it is you, who will die tonight." I snarl, feeling Liger and Shadow join me. I crouch low, and spring! The Death Stinger spins away, sending it's tail into me. I leap over it and activate the boosters. We race toward the wall, and then we run vertically! I leap from side to side, and then drop, claws outstretched, onto Hiltz. I tear away a piece of armor and spring back. Hiltz scuttles forward and grabs Liger in his claws. {Shadow! Divert all energy into getting free!} (Working on it!) Liger snarls and wrenches free. I prowl warily, waiting for his move. The Death Stinger shoots with it's guns. I dodge most, but a conduit that lets me use the ion boosters severs. I curse silently, and leap onto the DS's head, carving away the armor. He shakes his head, sending me flying. I hear Astarael's voice, saying she loves me. I know I'm evil and I will probably die in this battle, but for Astarael and Shadow, I'm going to try anyway. I flip down the stabilizers and race toward the DS. 50..40..30..20.. I flick up the stabilizers and soar, over the DS, onto it's back. I rip off the main gun, and hear Hiltz curse. I smile inwardly. I race up to a cliff and hide. Raven.. Raven.. Astarael? Raven, remember what I told you. You can predict his next move fairly accurately. I love you, and that should be enough. Do you remember the prophecy? It says I will die to save you, and I will. Go forth and win, get revenge for your real parents, and the life you lost. Fight to the last, Dark One! I listen to her words, but what does she mean, my real parents? I crouch and spread my consciousness, letting it flow into the Liger. The broken conduit sparks, sending volts of electricity down my leg. I can use this to my advantage. I spread it out farther, and listen to Hiltz. Ambient is with him. The GF is on the other side of the canyon, unsure who to root for. My beloved is behind some rocks, encouraging me. I leap down with my claws blazing, ripping through wire and steel and battery, hearing Hiltz's cry of surprise. I back off, seeing a large hole through the DS. He slams the DS's tail into me, sending my head into the console. I taste the blood running down my face, and know that maybe I deserved that. Suddenly, his claw shoots out, snapping the wires that let me move to bits. I cry out in pain, knowing that Liger and Shadow are feeling it too. I try to move, but to no avail. Hiltz's smirking face appears on screen. " I must admit, you had me worried for a bit." His face hardens. "And now it's your time to die!" The charged particle cannon warms up, whirring. Visions of Astarael, Blind Seer, my parents, and Liger and Shadow race through my mind. I silently apologize to each, especially Astarael. I wasn't able to keep my promise. And then I let it all go. and said goodbye.

Oooohhh! I'm a evil writer! I left you hanging! Who will survive? Who will die? How will the battle end?