How could he do that to her? How could he just put her in a cell like some sort of criminal when she didn't do anything wrong except protect the lives of her friends? Now she heard word that he was planning on unleashing an Ancient evil and he needed her to do it. Damn, it was suddenly as plain as day why he kidnapped her, Raven, Reese, and Draco. He had kidnapped them to black mail her and he had succeeded.

He also knew some Ancient curses, making it easy for him to make her do whatever he desired. But his intentions were not understood. Xena wondered what she had to do with everything, how could she help awake this Ancient evil? The thing about gossip was you never know if it's true. Knowing Hiltz would definitely confirm her suspicious.

Xena banged her fists against the cold stonewall repeatedly and skin split, she felt the warm red river flow down her wrists and let her angry fists fall to her sides. She turned and pressed her back against the wall and slid down, hot tears forced their out of her eyes. Sobs racketed her chest and she found herself choking on them. She brought her knees to her chest and just sobbed.

She'd never felt so weak, so powerless, so incredibly depressed in her life. It had been a long time since Xena had cried, she didn't even cry when the Deathsaurer attacked her village and murdered everyone she loved.

What would Raven do? She tried to remind herself, those same words she had told herself at least once every ten minutes during her time in the cell. There was only a cot with loose sprains chained up against the wall in the cell, nothing more. Hell, she'd had more room in prison. What would Raven do if he knew he would be scarified for the destruction of planet Zi?

Xena vaguely heard the bar door move aside but still was powerless to stop from crying. She swallowed a sob as she felt something cool go against her tear stained cheeks. Looking up, she saw none other than the silver organiod Zeke.

He growled gently and made a motion with his head to her to stand up. But her legs were like jelly and she could feel more angry sobs on the way. She didn't what else to do, she put her face in her hands and sobbed.

~*~*~*~

Finally, they'd arrived at the Valley of the Rare Hertz, but it wasn't as he remembered it; inside of a mountainous landscape there was something that appeared to be a castle. It's black stonewalls and towers at various heights and angles. Like someone was trying to hide something within those mighty walls. Surely there'd be guards, I mean this is Hiltz's hideout we're talking about here, and these guards would have zoids thus making a zoid battle necessary to get anywhere and therefore causing a lot of noise so they can transport whatever it is their hiding.

No, Van thought, that'd be too risky and he couldn't afford to let any of them go. So he and Zeke would have to infiltrate the lair, no big.

"Okay Zeke," Van said as he jumped out of the cockpit of the Liger that was hidden in a convenient crack in a mountain thanks to Mother Nature. "We're gonna go inside, what I want you to do is try to find Xena maybe we could reason with her. Me? Well I'll just try to find Hiltz even though I sincerely doubt he's here."

The organiod materialized right by his side and nodded, it's red eyes darting around the surrounding area.

"So it's agreed," Van checked the ammunition on his handgun. One could never be too careful.

So they went their separate ways, Zeke took the way on one side of the castle while Van took another. He mentally sighed, thinking about all the things he'd rather be doing right now instead of searching for a madman. Sipping hot coco by a nonexistent fireplace, maybe play a nice little game of checkers and oh let's not forget take a well-deserved nap with Fiona by his side. Or maybe play that really fun game where you draw on a board and someone has to guess what your drawing, the name escaped him, but yeah that sounded great.

"All this thinking about better things to do is making me depressed," Van said out loud.

He crept over the stonewall that surrounded the whole castle, rolled onto the dirt expecting to see dozens of armed soldiers running up to him but they never came. In fact the place looked abandoned, something was definitely not right. He walked over to the door to the guard's tower, kicked it open with his gun in hand ready for action, but just like before no one was there.

"Something's off here."

A fleet of stairs led up to the top and all that was there was a couple of handguns, some shotguns, a map all laying on top of a desk that looked it'd seen better days. From the looks of things, it appeared as though everyone just got up and left. But why?

Upon his return to the outside the sky melted together to produce black, angry clouds and soon it was pouring. It was almost as if Mother Nature was crying in a mix of anger and sadness, not that he blamed her.

Oh no, Van suddenly remembered he had no way of communicating to Zeke. He smacked his forehead at his own stupidity. Hopefully nothing would happen.

Suddenly a blood-curdling scream arose from inside the castle. Van sprinted across the now muddy lot and kicked a door open. He paused and strained his ears for any noise, but only silence met them. He didn't even realize he had held his breath until he looked around what appeared to be another guard's room, like the kind they had at prisons. Just like before, but this time with a full cup of coffee now cold and a brightly colored box of donuts. It looked like everyone just got up and left and it was beginning to drive him crazy.

A moan met his ears, it sounded like it was from upstairs. There was only an open door that led into a dark hall; he cautiously went through, glancing up at the ceiling for any more signs of life.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" he called out.

Another moan came again this time it sounded weaker than before. Still, it came from somewhere up above. Van climbed some more stairs until he reached a closed door. It was locked.

"Hello?! Anybody in there?"

A cry of pain emerged from inside the closed room. He pounded his fist against the door but it refused to budge. His body quivered from adrenaline, he'd got what he wanted, the feel of adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Please hang on! I'm coming as fast as I can."

He rammed his shoulder into the door, still it didn't move. So he tried it again this time the door gave a shrill shriek just before gently opening like some invisible hand had opened it. Van bounded into the musty room.

"Hold it right there!"

Van suddenly realized he must have been a sight, holding his gun in both hands cop, one knee on the ground cop style. Inside was a small bed on the far corner, a desk on the other side of the wall, and an open window. A flicker of movement by the window caught his eye and he fired three consecutive shots. Judging from the scream of anguish one of them hit.

"Please some one.hurry.."

Van jerked to his side and saw lying against the wall was an old woman, her short salt and pepper hair sprinkled with what appeared to be blood.

"Ma'am, are you okay? What happened?"

The woman was bleeding from the side of her head, she looked like an overgrown bloody rag doll with only her head up against the wall, staining it a rich red color. Van brought her up so she was in his arms and so she couldn't hurt herself anymore.

Her one of her blue eyes was wide while the other one was half shut. "Please young man, you have to stop her before it's too late."

"Before what's too late? And who?"

"The Ancient Zoidian girl.. Hurry forget about me and destroy her! She's over in the center of this building locked up in tiny cage so she helpless.." Her voice trailed off.

"Wait, lady. Are you okay?" Van asked, silently wishing he wasn't alone.

She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt with such strength, obviously catching him by surprise. She brought his face close to hers.

"Go, don't worry about me. Have you no ears...? Go now and destroy her before she kills you.."

"Who? Please lady just tell me who."

"The Ancient Zoidian girl, don't let her innocent looks fool you. She is nothing more than his pawn and when he says the word she is at his every command. Destroy her! Destroy her before it's too late.." The old woman's head fell limply onto her shoulder.

Van was at a loss for words, he was numb from shock. He shook the old woman but soon realized she was dead, she had died in his arms. And her eyes were still open and staring right at him. He picked her form up and gently laid it on the bed.

"May God watch over your spirit," he muttered.

Frowning, he gently shut the door behind him. There was no need for arms, the place was empty and whoever it was that attacked a defenseless old woman was obviously long gone. Now all that was left was to reunite with the organiod Zeke and return to the base. The question was where in the sickeningly large castle could he be?

As if an answer to his silent question, Zeke bounded up to him with a young girl over his shoulder, her head resting on the top of his head. But she was no random girl; no she was that Ancient Zoidian girl Xena.

"Gah! Xena!" Van raced up to them and looked her over in alarm.

She was out like a light, the scars on her arms more apparent than usual. Her cheeks tear strained, like she had been crying. Poor thing, Van thought as he took her into his arms, she'd been through a lot lately with reawakening and all then Hiltz had to take her. Her life wasn't very easy, but then again neither was his.

"Good work Zeke," Van stroked the organiod's chin affectionately.

~*~*~*~*~

The mighty roar of the Blade Liger was a sign of relief to everyone at the Seeyalata base; they were almost positive something horrible would happen to the young Van Flyheight. But he return, unharmed, and not in high spirits. Word quickly spread that he had with him Hitlz's mistress, Xena. And more rumors of their love affair blossomed, people muttering "poor Fiona.. her boyfriend is cheating on her.." None of which was true.

Van was mildly amazed at the swiftness the rumors started; although he wasn't THAT surprised, he was, afterall, the Hero of Zi. And that title didn't come without a price. In his heart, he knew Fiona would never believe such garbage and his true friends would stick up for him. But what was he going to do with Xena?

That mystery remained unsolved, she was unconscious and looked awfully sympathy worthy with her tear strained cheeks and torn clothing. She was no devil's mistress, just a prisoner of the world's madness. Van noted that Zeke paid particular attention to her, stopping every so often to get a good look at her. There was obviously going on through the organiods mind that it could understand.

"Van!"

Fiona wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the side of his cheek. "Thank heavens your okay!"

He nodded numbly and stole a glance at Zeke, who had Xena on his back. "Yeah."

Fiona followed his gaze and gasped in delight. Not only had Van returned to her safely he had brought Xena with him as well. Now Hiltz had no leverage over them. The organiods and the fate of Zi were finally in good hands, thank god.

"Perfect!" she clasped her hand on her chest, new found hope swelling deep within the depths of her soul.

"She's unconscious," Van stated in a monotone. "Hasn't changed since I found her. You should thank Zeke, he's the one who found her not me."

The old woman's words echoed through his head, there were two Ancient Zoidians right in front of him.which one was the one she was talking about? He shook his head several times, god what is wrong with him? That woman must have been crazy, she had to have been crazy.or was she? Someone or something had tried to kill her that's for sure, probably to shut her up and in her dieing words she most likely didn't say every last detail. Damn, why did people have to leave such mysterious behind when they die? Honestly, it was damn confusing for the unlucky guy who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Well thank goodness both of you found her, I was beginning to worry about our fate. But now that Xena's out of Hiltz's grasp we can finally defeat him."

Fiona helped Zeke take the body to her bedroom, where Xena would be safe. As soon as they had departed, Van sighed and leaned against the Blade Liger's leg. He suddenly realized how exhausted he was, he hadn't had a good nights rest in weeks and it was beginning to show. Battle had left him drained and with no time to recuperate he must not have been the best person to be around.

"Something tells me things are only gonna get harder," he sighed again and looked up at his zoid. "If I don't figure out who that old hag was talking about, I think I'll go mad."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile elsewhere..

A certain raven-haired maverick slowly made his way across the desert, complaining and cursing every step of the way. Why him? What did he ever do to deserve this? Huh? Oh yeah, he murdered masses. That's why. He always knew the past would come back to haunt him but never imagined it would be this soon.

"Raven," Reese called out again with another sigh.

He narrowed his eyes at the sound of her voice, stupid woman couldn't she leave him alone for once in her life? It seemed wherever he went a herd of idiots followed. Reese being at the head of them. The moment he got his hands on Hiltz, Raven would kill him with his bare hands.

"For crying out loud Raven, would you at least acknowledge the fact I've been trying to talk to you for the past ten minutes," Reese pleaded. For some reason, her voice sounded a lot closer than it did a minute ago.

Raven glanced over his shoulder only to see the blue devil trotting along side him. A small gasp of surprise escaped his lips.

Reese saw this and smirked. "Well, I suppose I can't be too picky. Now, do you have any idea where we're going? The last time I checked Mastique is over that way," she jerked her thumb to her left.

"Then why don't you go that way then? You go your way and I'll go mine, now beat it."

"Oh Raven, you silly boy, do you really think I'd let you wander the desert by yourself like a lost puppy? How pathetic. I will prove to you I'm right, besides I thought you wanted to rescue Xena."

Raven stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned to her with the most threatening look plastered on his face. "What did you say?" his voice was forced calm, he spoke through clenched teeth. "Are you suggesting that I would waste one more minute of my miserable existence babysitting for that good for nothing little bitch?"

He was hopeless, Reese decided, he was so blind to his feelings it was sickening. She knew his emotions better than he did; he was a fool if he didn't realize that. Yup, he was most definitely a fool. How was she ever going to make him open his eyes? Ignorance is not an excuse, it is just plain stupid.

"Oh your hopeless!" she raised her hands up in exhaustion.

If one wants Raven to listen, one must play by Raven's rules. Stupid rules.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The palace in shambles, everything seemed so bleak. And right when things were finally looking up too. Word had just spread that miserable Flyheight had broken in the palace and stolen the key, the last puzzle to unlock the mystery. But everything happens for a reason, maybe Flyheight and his pathetic friends could solve the mystery for him.genius. Get those fools to do all the hard work for him, that way they'd unwittedly just signed every living thing's death warrant.

A smirk folded over his sickly lips, it was genius pure genius. Let them think they won the war, when in reality it was just beginning. His plan was nothing short of genius, he decided.

"Patience Ambient, we wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

//Spoil the surprise.I don't know about this. Your plan in theory is great but you forgot to factor in the fact that every single thing we've thrown at Flyheight, he's hit it with flying colors and grace to spare. He's not stupid, er.THAT stupid.//

"Trust me, the Ancient texts do not lie. My old man did good, followed the directions perfectly. And all to insure the fate of the world in the hands of his son, how generous."

A random solider raced up to his master and saluted quickly. "Hiltz! Sir! It appears that the Ancient Zoidian has gone missing! We have reason to believe that Van Flyheight had broken into our west fortress and took her, what shall I tell the men?"

He simply smiled at this foolishly loyal young man who probably had his whole life ahead of him, that is he did before they meet. He was well aware of all the details but decided it best to just let the solider have feel good about himself for this "current" information.

"Really is that so? I figured he'd do it sooner or later."

"But sir," the solider was confused. "Wasn't she the key to opening the gate to Sacred Realm?"

That smile still was on his lips even though apart of him was agitated. Well no duh that she was the key, wasn't it obvious? Apparently not.

"Yes, solider, she is. I could have sworn it was rather obvious why we kept her. But she's too defiant, if we're ever to unlock her power then we need to understand her and get her to trust us. At the moment, it seems she'll never trust me. But that all will change very soon."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Finally civilization, it seemed like forever but they finally made it and graced it's paved cement floors. What a beautiful thing that civilization was. The desert got old fast and if it wasn't for that cursed sand storm they would have probably gotten here sooner. But no closer where they to achieving their mission, in fact they were exactly 1,000 miles away. Damn.

"We should really stop for food, Raven, or else we won't have the energy to continue," Reese stated logically.

Raven groaned and shot her an exasperated look. He was sore, thirsty, hungry and tired, and not in the mood for this. He was getting sick and tired of her voice, her hair, and the way she walked, everything about her! Why couldn't she take a hint and leave him the hell alone?

"For crying out loud, Reese! Leave me alone! Go and do whatever you want! Ride a pretty pink pony for all I care! Do whatever you want just leave me the hell alone! Did I mention for you to LEAVE ME ALONE?!?!?!"

At her clueless expression, Raven continued.

"In case you haven't noticed I don't like you! I've never liked you! I couldn't care less about what would happen to you! I just want you to leave me alone! You irritate me, you diss me and you make me look like an idiot.."

"Actually, you are an.." Reese started to say before he cut her off.

"I am NOT an idiot! You just make me look like one. I am sick and tired of you following me around everywhere I go! A guy needs at least some time to himself and I want some for me but do I get that? NOO. Stupid dumbass Hiltz whom I'm going to kill had to partner you with me! What the hell was he thinking?! I haven't had good nights sleep in months! With all your planning and scheming, treating me like a damn child who don't know a single damn thing.

"Listen woman I ain't no child! So stop treating me like one! You never give me any peace or of the respect I deserve. I'm a wanted criminal goddammit, in other words stay away from me or your dead! OK?!"

Everyone in the town square was staring at the strange couple in the middle of a fierce argument, the husband was pissed while the wife acted like this was nothing new. A wanted criminal? A wave of murmurs went through the large crowd of onlookers.

Reese put her hand over her eyes, this was embarrassing the whole town must have been watching. This probably was the most exciting thing that had happened to these people in a long time. But no, as usual, Raven was blind to his surroundings and blocked out everything except her. Great just great, how was she going to talk her way out of this one with her dignity still intact?

It wasn't Raven ruining her pride she was worried about, he could rant on for all she cared, but it was the townfolk it was quite disturbing for them to witness this. Who knows, maybe they'd have mental problems after this, not that that would be a bad thing..

"Raven, please lower your voice. The whole town is listening," Reese said quietly, her hand still over her eyes. She did not want to see all these people staring at her.

But he would not be calmed so easily. "No! No, hear me out Reese. I've been keeping this bottled up for a long time now and I want it all out."

"No, Raven, really. The whole town IS listening."

"Does it look like I care?!" he raised his voice just to spite her. "No! Look at me, Reese dammit, look at me. If you won't, I'll make you and you don't need to read my mind to figure it out."

Reese just sighed and looked at him through a gap in between her fingers; Raven was standing with his hands balled into fists. Even the deaf would know he was mad with his angry and threatening body language. She had doubts that Raven would ever really hurt her, he wasn't the type to hit girls, but she knew he would physically force her to do whatever he wanted because he could easily overpower her.

Just as she was about to reply an all too familiar voice filled the air. It was none other than Xena's. Reese jerked up in rapt attention while Raven strained his ears to find the source of the sound. It was coming from the large TV screen on the highest tower in the town square.

There was Xena right on the TV, she was laying on some kind of fluffy white bed comforter it looked like. Locks of her silver hair was messily over her shoulder and she looked relived. Raven could just feel this heavy weight lifting from his shoulders.

"Yo listen, I don't want anything to do with Hiltz. He makes our people look bad I mean, really really bad. He's crazy nothing short of crazy but at the same time he's a genius. It's not right; nothing that evil should have ever been allowed to breathe. Let alone breathe for thousands of years; his father was one of the scientists involved in the Deathsaurer project and one of the first to meet his maker due his creation. I have a feeling that his old man wanted this to happen, he did after all help bring life into that.that..monster."

Her pale blue eyes flashed up to something beside the camera and a pale white arm appeared on the side of the lens. There was no doubt who she was talking to, the other Ancient Zoidian Fiona. So that meant they had no idea there conversation was being taped and shown on live television. But what was the station showing this trying to prove, that Xena's not a bad guy?

"I'm not that surprised that Hiltz's father had a hand with the Deathsaurer, but I doubt that he meant for it to destroy every living thing," Fiona point out.

"I do, Hiltz's dad was nastier if not meaner than Hiltz. They knew what would happen once a creature that powerful was unleashed, they knew. But the bastards didn't do a damn thing about it, what about all those innocent people who never even knew about the Deathsaurer Project before it was too late?" Her eyes were bright with tears as she sat up, her hand in a fist. "What about my granddad? Was he so evil that he needed to be punished by the lightening of the gods?! None of those people deserved that, and don't you dare say otherwise Fiona Alicia Lynette because I wasn't the only affected by this. Your parents were murdered too right in front of your very eyes. Your parents pleaded for their lives but when they saw that didn't work they pleaded for yours instead. Their lives meant nothing to that thing, absolutely nothing. They were just little insects to it.

What about your dog? I know how much you loved that little guy, did the Deathsaurer show him any mercy? I don't think so. What did it do? I'll tell you what it did."

"Please stop, Xena, I beg you no more," Fiona pleaded quietly.

But Xena was undaunted. "I was there, I saw it with my own eyes. He really was a sweet dog. He protected his family valiantly like any proud family pet would do, but his attempts were like that of a fly trying to go through a glass door. Fruitless. He had already been hurt by part of the charged particle cannon but he was lucky, he dodged just in time but some of his side wasn't so lucky. I think the Deathsaurer took extra joy in toying with him, it fired it's spikes at him one got his foot so he was stuck in place."

"Stop! No more! No more Xena! I get it! Just stop!" Fiona's voice was highly emotional.

She was shaking; she loved that brown mutt, he made her life worth living with that warm tongue and his friendly bark and wagging tail. He was a girl's best friend when she didn't have any friends. And she had completely forgotten about his existence until now.

Xena shook her head and sat up straighter, from the looks of things it looked like she was enjoying herself. When in reality she was trying to make a point. It pained her to recall that night's events but she had to. No matter how hard Fiona tried to deny it, the Deathsaurer ever being born was wrong.

"No, I don't think you do. Because if memory serves me, you weren't there. You and that silver organiod of yours.or should I say Van's organiod? Zeke. You guys were running like crazy to get away from it, poor ole' Sparky wasn't as lucky and actually answered the call to arms unlike his owner. As I was saying, his little paw was stuck in the ground due to a spike so he was no moving target. The Deathsaurer raised his tail and whipped the little dog into the air and he landed with a whimper. A defenseless, pathetic, hopeless whimper. Did that monster show him mercy? Hell no, instead it toyed with him, threw him into the lake and fired some more of those spikes having some grand target practice.

I'm pretty amazed the little guy survived that long, but he must have been a world of pain. Needless to say his final moments weren't pretty. With a swipe of those sharp claws, the Deathsaurer stabbed your poor defenseless dog. Those claws went right through him in seconds."

"NNNNOOOOO!!!" Fiona clamped her hands over her ears and attempted to block out Xena's words, but it was too late. They had sunk in and forced angry cries.

Xena's features softened considerably and she gently cupped the other girls chin and looked at her at eyelevel. "Now you see, if only you had believed me I could have spared you the trouble. Hiltz must be stopped at all costs and the evil that is known as the Deathsaurer most be destroyed. Or else once it's revived it will not rest until it's killed you, me, and Reese."

Fiona sniffed and wiped her eyes. She had the urge to strangle that girl but at the same time she wanted to hug her, how does that one work? Of course Hiltz had to be stopped, that was a no brainer.

"Well no duh, Xena. Hiltz is a crazy man who must be destroyed before he ruins everything. But the Deathsaurer's been destroyed, Van destroyed it."

"When?"

"Sometime last year, a couple months before his 18th birthday."

"Impossible, it's alive alright. What he destroyed was nothing more than a clone created by Prozen because he couldn't figure out the puzzle to the lost city where the real Deathsaurer is held."

She gasped. "What?! That's not possible! How do you know?"

Xena rolled her eyes and sighed. "Hello, I wasn't kidnapped by Hiltz for nothing. I overheard him talking to his men, his soldiers. I also recall hearing something about the time the Deathsaurer was put back to rest, I think a gypsy tipped them off so they moved the location without changing the texts. So only few people know it's true location, Hiltz being one of them of course."

Raven's mouth had been open during this whole complex conversation. That slimy bastard, he thought with growing hatred for that man. Although he wasn't particularly touched by the dog story that was more a reason to kill Hiltz, but he'd kill him at any rate.

Those scars on Xena's arms were more apparent than before, Raven bet that that red haired freak Hiltz had something to do with this. That guy always had something to do with everything in the whole damn world.

Ok so, Xena's safe..the question was how could he get to her without Shadow or his zoid? Mastique was just too far away, but it was close to that military base that Van was at before hopefully he was still there. Wherever he was, Raven could rest assured that the Ancient Zoidian girl would be there too. And Xena was with her so.if he found Van, he'd find Xena too. Then she could get Shadow back since he was under some spell or something and he wouldn't listen to his master.

Being so preoccupied with his thoughts, Raven didn't realize Xena was still talking. She was angry now, god she was so mercurial.

"I don't need you or anyone else to take care of me. I can take care of myself thank you very much," she snapped.

Fiona scowled and tried again to reason with her. "No, if you get caught again then I can't guarantee you'll come back safely. Van's not feeling too good and I don't want to make him do anymore than he has to."

"I told you, I don't need you or Van to take care of me. I'm old enough to take care of myself. If I get caught than the heavens will be raining blood, because I will kill my captors is that understood? Whether it be you, Draco, Hiltz or Raven. I will kill my captor. I'm so sick and tired of people telling me what to do. I'm fed up with having different people take me wherever they please, like I'm somesort of prize. I don't belong to you or anyone for that matter. You can't tell me what to do."

A soft laugh emerged from his lips, Raven smiled softly. He could tell Xena what to do and she did it whether she liked it or not she still did it. Now was the time to set things straight and end this madness.

He turned to Reese, who was still aborsbed with the footage, grabbed her wrist and led her through the thick crowd of people.

"Ack, Raven what are you doing? I thought you didn't like me," Reese smirked.

"I don't," came the quick reply. "But your in this too, so we have to work together. This is our mission and once I get Xena back safely you can take the lead again, okay?"

"Sounds good."