Authors Notes: Damn I am having a hard time writing this story. Lots of weird and unexpected stuff is going to happen in this chap and the darkness is slowly coming back, didn't last to long.
Van looked out at the lake as he quickly passed it in the Blade Liger, remembering the times he had with Fiona.
"Sir." Kelly asked as she trailed behind the speeding Blade Liger. "Where exactly are we going?"
Van ignored her, lost in his memory and his sorrow.
"Commander."
"Atlas Territory." Van said quickly, a little anger circled in the words.
Kelly could see he didn't want to be disturbed so she slowed down a little, creating a bigger gap between the two liger's, and not talking with him anymore.
Silence filled between the two warriors, a word not being spoken for hours until Van finally broke the long silence.
"There's the Imperial border." Van said softly, looking at a few patrol units.
"Hopefully those things won't attack us." Kelly said watching as the Rev Raptors slowly faced them.
"Relax, the last thing anyone needs is a war." The two Zoids ran past the Rev Raptors, moving to their destination as fast as possible.
"So whom exactly are we meeting up with?"
"Colonel Schubaltz and two others, I don't know their names though."
Kelly smiled. "How long until we reach them?"
"Day and a half at the most." Van reached over and switched off the comm. tired of answering all of Kelly's questions. He didn't hate, actually he was starting to grow fond of her. In looks she resembled Fiona a little, mainly the eyes and body. Kelly though had long, red hair and the face of a very young girl, even though she was a little older then Van at 21. Attitude wise though she was nothing like Fiona, in a way she was actually like Van. Hardheaded, stubborn, and had a passion for piloting Zoids. But also like Van, she had a good heart and wouldn't think twice about helping her friends.
Moonbay looked down at her child, his soft dirty blond hair sprouting slightly out of his small, tender scalp. Dominick was a beautiful child, small and helpless as he slept against his mother's breast. Moonbay kissed his small forehead gently, humming a lullaby softly and slowly into his ear doing her best to keep him asleep. She loved her baby, she loved him because it was her child, and she loved him because besides her memories, he was the last thing she could remember Irvine by.
McMahon walked up to her, rubbing his hand against Dominick's cheek and watching him stretch a little, remaining in a deep slumber. "We need to get going."
Moonbay kissed Dominick again and slowly stood up. "What am I going to do with Dominick, we can't bring him with us."
"Leave him with Fred, he'll take good care of him." Fred was McMahon's new servant, a good man who enjoyed working for him.
Moonbay hated the idea of leaving her child for any length of time, but she wanted to see Van again and figured this was the best time to do it. She nodded and gently put Dominick on the bed, putting a blanket over him. Moonbay looked down at him, for some reason she had a bad feeling. Weather it was the fact something bad was actually going to happen or if it was just sorrow and grief she didn't know. Moonbay felt McMahon put his warm hands on her shoulders, slowly leading her to the hanger. She heard Dominick start to cry, and she wanted to run over to him but McMahon wouldn't let her.
"Don't worry Moonbay, he'll be all right." McMahon said trying to cheer her up a bit. He knew this was tearing her up inside.
They both got in the green and orange Gustav that Moonbay had had for years. Though the Tiger had basically destroyed it, McMahon had gotten it repaired. The Gustav took off out of the hanger quickly. Moonbay had mixed emotions on this adventure. She wanted it over quickly so she could get back to hey child, but she also didn't want it to end so she could be with probably her closet friend ever, Van.
"Run!" Fiona heard a man shout. She was fast asleep, a dream passing by in her mind. "Don't stop Alisi, keep running!" Fiona looked around at the images in her dream. A tropical landscape slowly burning to the ground in firey flames, turning to black ashes as the vague image of a Zoid walked on the outside on the fire. It was a dream but it seemed real, she could feel herself choking on the intense smoke, she could hear the screams of people slowly dying around her. She could see the Death Sauer on the horizon; ravaging the land it crossed killing all it was told to kill. "But what's the other Zoid?" Fiona looked back at the Zoid in the fire, glowing red eyes stared back at her, piercing her soul. The entire Zoid could be seen, yet all she could make out were the glowing red eyes. She gave a shriek of terror as a Blade Liger, Dark Horn, and the Berserk Fury quickly ran past her. "Van and Raven?" The Zoid with the glowing red eyes quickly annihilated the Fury and Dark Horn with its massive claws, which shredded through the Zoids cockpits. Then the Zoid turned to the Blade Liger charging at it with its shield drawn. A charged particle cannon flew out of the mysterious Zoids mouth and shattered the Blade Liger's shield, the Zoid ripping apart slowly as the beam passed through it. Fiona began to cry, for some reason knowing it was Van. The scenery had changed from a tropical landscape to a distorted battlefield deep within a familiar valley. Zoids everywhere, lying destroyed on the ground. Zoids like the Ultra Sauer and a GenoSauer, even the Death Sauer lied motionless on the ground as a black cloud blocked out the sun. Soon though she could see rays of light coming out, and for some reasons her emotions changed as the black, debris filled ground began to turn green as soft grass and flowers quickly rose from the ground. The black clouds went away and the blue sky returned, white clouds dotting the vast and infinite sky. For some reason she didn't care Van was dead, actually she was thrilled at the thought. "What am I saying, I don't want to lose Van again." Fiona looked up and saw people slowly begin to rise from the ground all smiling and laughing. Talking with each other, becoming friends. "This is a dream, it's not real. These people aren't real and Van is still alive." But it seemed so real; she could smell the green grass and hear the laughter, feel the gentle breeze filling the air. "Please wake up." But she didn't, and these thoughts kept digging into her mind deeper and deeper. "Van, Van is dead and everything is peaceful. No! It's a dream; Van's death can't bring any happiness to anyone. Especially not to me."
Fiona woke up and sat high in her bed, breathing hard and at a quick pace feeling her cool sweat running down her face, neck, and hair. Her heart was racing is her chest; feeling like it was about to burst out of her body and run off. She sat there trying to piece that dream together but it wasn't simple. It seemed real, but how could something that dark be true. Fiona got out of bed and put the dull orange dress she wore on over her white tank top and walked out of the tent, the camp set up and they would leave in the morning. Fiona looked up into the clear night sky, feeling the sweat still coming out of her pores, giving her golden blond hair a glow when the light of the moons shone on it. She watched as a few shooting stars streaked across the sky, moving quickly and then disappearing, never to be seen again. For some reason she felt cold, but didn't think it was because of the air or wind. Fiona turned her attention to the moons. Silver, huge, and beautiful they gave the night a relaxing and haunting glow. The night sky was amazing and Fiona could only help but wonder what else was out there, she wished she could escape the torment and chaos of her life and fly amongst the stars, free and peaceful. Fiona thought about Van, she always thought about him and still wondered why she left him. Fiona never understood how love worked, she knew what it was but didn't understand it and that made her afraid, afraid she may get hurt. She had seen Moonbay, and she remembered how she felt when the Fury walked up to the Blade liger and obliterated the cockpit. That had to be love at its worse. But at its best, she remembered the time she and Van spent by the lake when they had been assigned to deal with the Slasher Bandits, and how she felt when he walked up to her a month after his death. Those thoughts threw out the fear she had before, all she wanted to do was be with Van and to love him, weather it hurt her or not. But there was one thing that did keep her from him, and that was her past. Fiona had to know it, she had to get her memory back otherwise senseless dreams like the one she just had would haunt her for the rest of her life. It was a decision that had no clear answer. Van was important to her, but so was her past.
Fiona didn't go back to sleep anymore, the two reason were she didn't want the dream to come back and she wanted to think about her life. She thought about everyone. Van, Irvine, Moonbay, Rudolph, Dr. D, and everyone else weather dead or alive. In the end Fiona decided she would never return to Van, she knew how much trouble she was to him and how if either died the pain would be much smaller. It was hard on her, she loved Van, and has loved probably since the day he found her, of course she didn't even know her own name so she wouldn't know what love was. Fiona also knew Van loved her, and she knew it would hurt him. But he had a very strong will and heart and she knew he would come out all right. Maybe they would meet again, she hoped they did but it would not be intentional. Fiona watched as the sun rose slowly over the horizon, men and woman coming out of there tents and packing them up.
"Are you ready Fiona?" O'Connell asked as he got in the jeep.
Fiona smiled, glad that she had finally set aside the turmoil in her emotions. She knew she couldn't have both, and knew it would be better for both of them. "I'm ready." Fiona said drowsy and soft, getting in the jeep with O'Connell. Smiling for the first time in a year.
Raven looked at the vendor and shook his head; he looked around for Alice who had gone to get something to eat.
"50 kid, that's my last offer." The old vendor said, holding a small ring.
"I don't have 50." Raven said furiously.
"Then no deal."
"Is there another way?" Raven was desperate.
The vendor rubbed his beard and smiled. "I like you, how much do you have."
Raven went deep into his pocket and put down a few coins. "28." Raven said disappointed.
The vendor smiled again. "Can you pilot a Zoid any good?"
Raven stared at him, he hadn't piloted a Zoid in over a year and wasn't sure if he wanted to go back on his promise to Alice. But he looked at the ring and smiled.
"Good, there are a few bandits who keep giving me a hard time. Take care of them and Ill give you this right here." The man pulled out a dark purple velvet-covered box and opened it, revealing a much larger ring then and a perfectly cut diamond in the center. "Plus your 28."
"All I need is a Zoid."
"Behind the building over there is a useless Hellcat. They are small, only three of them and they each have a Saber Fang.
Raven hoped his skills hadn't diminished any, and he knew Shadow would be thrilled at a chance to fight again. Raven handed the vendor the money and in return he received the ring.
"Don't go back on your deal kid, if you do Ill make sure your dead."
"Ill take them out tonight, just tell me where they are."
"The Gold Dunes, about twenty miles east of here." The vendor smiled as Raven walked away.
Raven put the small box in his pocket, hiding it from Alice as she came into view.
"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" Alice said, watching as Shadow crept up behind her.
"I'm not that hungry." Raven felt his stomach tighten and his palms turn sweaty as he stared at the girl he loved, trying to find the right words.
Alice shook her head and laughed. "What happened, it looks like someone pointed a gun at you and barley missed."
Raven walked up to Alice and kissed her gently on her lips, putting his hands on her face. He rested his head on her forehead when he finished and slipped his hand down in his pocket. "You love me right?"
Alice looked at his calm, black eyes. "Course I do, why."
Raven took her hand and slid the ring slowly onto her ring finger and moved it to her eyes. "That's why."
Alice was more surprised then anything. She couldn't find any words, she couldn't find any reaction, and she could find nothing except a small giggle that sounded like a four year olds laugh.
Raven waited, wanting to know what that giggle meant. "Well?" He was growing impatient quickly.
Alice rested her arms on his shoulders and holding them there on his neck and kissed him with a passion. "Did I answer your question?"
Raven returned her smile and kiss as he picked her up. "I just have to do one thing, then we can get out of here."
"What's that?" Alice said still smiling.
Raven didn't want to tell her he was going to fight again. "Don't worry, its nothing important."
Authors Notes: Where the Hell did that come from. Oh well, not a bad chap considering I got nasty case writers block going on. R/R or start the flames, and before you all jump on me the story has just begun and you all know I never finish the way I started.