Baby Girl

Chapter Six

By:  fairysphinx

fairysphinx:  Howdy!  Ugh, I am absolutely dying to type!  So, this chapter's up close to chapter five.  Well, I've only had one person call-er, review-in for the little contest.  That was Jakob Der Ludner.  And he answered correctly.  So, Jakob, here's your chibi plushie doll of Fiona.  Enjoy!

Disclaimer:  I do not own Zoids.  But I do own the Elemental Children.

Irvine looked at Van blankly.  "Uh, explain that again?"

"Err!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Dr. D walked in, sipping a mug of overly salty coffee.

"And what are you two up to?"

"Oh, I'm just explaining something to Irvine!"

"And that would be?"

"Stop being so nosey, Old Man!" Irvine said coolly to him.

"Well!"  He marched off into another room.

"Now, I will explain this to you again.  There are eight Children, called the Elemental Children.  We- my other partner and I- have to unite these Children, to set the balance on Zi straight.  I haven't a clue why they can't unite themselves.  It was explained, but I couldn't understand it.  Anyhow, we must take up to ten companions with us.  They have to be people we trust.  So, that's why I'm asking you.  Will you come with us?"

"You keep saying 'us.'  Who else are you talking about.  Aside from Zeke?"

"That is confidential information.  He was chosen by a friend of the Child of Light, supposedly the wisest of the Elemental Children.  And I don't think that the wisest Child would choose bad friends.  So I trust him.  I think that you should, too."

"Okay, okay, it was just a question!"  Dr. D poked his head into the room.

"The Elemental Children?!  Irvine, you can't turn this down!"

"Why not, Gramps?….  Hey, have you been listening to our conversation?!"

"Yup!  And, like I said, you have to take the job."

"And why's that?!"

"Because this was brought upon you from the Elemental Children.  It's just a general rule that, if you're asked to do something that has to do with the Elemental Children, you have to take it.  Or, well, in your case, you might not ever see your Lightning Saix again."

"WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Well, the Child of Light could blind you with a flash of light.  The Child of Darkness could surround it with an impenetrable shield of darkness.  The Child of Fire could cast it into a pit of magma.  The Child of Storm could strike it down with lightning, a hail storm could beat it to a pulp, and so forth, the Child of Space could send a meteor shower upon it.  The Child of Wind could suck it up in a tornado.  The Child of Water could sink it in a pit of fire ice (episode sixty-one:  The Great Sea Battle).  Or, finally, the Child of Earth could envelope it in an abyss.  So, you see, they have great power.  I wouldn't anger them."

"Hmph!  Fine!  I'll take the job.  Just get off my back, and leave my Lightning Saix alone!"

"Aww!  I wanted to take it out for a test run!" Dr. D pouted, walking out of the room.

"So, Van, who else are you going to take?"

"Well, I was left up to choosing the companions.  So, who else would I take, aside from you and Zeke?"

"Let me guess.  Moonbay, Fiona, and Thomas."

"You know me too well."

"So, how many are going with us?"

"Well, including Mia, the Child of Fire, there are nine.  Plus, we're being joined by five more on the trip.  So, all together, I'd say fourteen.  That is, unless someone else joins us.  But I doubt that will happen.  Irvine, I'm going to need your help convincing Moonbay.  Fiona, naturally, will go just about anywhere I go.  And Thomas will follow Fiona just about anywhere she goes.  So I only have to worry about Moonbay."

"Just leave her to me!"  Van looked at him suspiciously. 

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Moonbay pouted, as they waited in the rain.  It was agreed that they would meet at New Helic City (well, the ruins, anyhow).  They were all apprehensive about meeting the 'Mystery Man' as he was called.  And he was late.  "Where is he?!" she demanded to know.

"He'll be here, Moonbay.  I know he will," Van reassured her.

A rumbling was heard in the distance.  A Saber tiger was seen, followed closely by a blue Gustav, with one red stripe, and one white stripe.  "Well, it's about time!" Moonbay yelled at the drivers.

"It wasn't my fault.  He was having twouble (trouble) getting weady (ready)!"

"I was not!"

"Was, too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!!!"

"Children, act your age!"

"Van, I am not a child!  I'm the same age as you!"

"But you act like a five year old!  I act eighteen!"

"Well, that must be in dog years."

"Hey!"

"He's right Van!"

"Stay out of this, Fiona!"

"Don't talk to Miss Fiona like that!"

"I don't need you to defend me, Thomas!"

"He's just being protective!  You know how guys are when they love something!"

"MOONBAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"What?"

"Am I the only one that's keeping my cool?"

"Irvine!  Be quiet!"

"Don't tell me what to do!  My Lightning Saix could take your Saber Tiger any day!"

"Oh, you're on!"

"Evewybody (everybody), please stop fighting!  Waven, please make them stop!"  All went silent.  Everyone had caught on by now that Mia pronounced her r's as w's.  So, their mouths dropped open, when they heard her call him 'Waven.'  That meant Raven. 

"Van," Irvine growled, "you never mentioned Raven coming on this trip."

"Yeah, and I did that on purpose.  If you knew, then you wouldn't agree to come on this trip!  I know you all too well!"

"Yeah.  And could you blame us for not wanting to be around him?"

"No.  But everyone deserves a second chance."

"Good for you, Van!" Fiona encouraged him.  "Now, there's no use in backing out now.  Now that you've promised to go through with this!"  Grumbling, they started off.

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The fire crackled.  Mia was asleep in Raven's lap.  Moonbay, Irvine, Van, and Fiona were talking quietly, on and off.  Raven threw his attention at the stars.

"So, how much farther do we have to go?" Irvine asked.

"Well, Mia said that the Child was close, so I'm guessing not very far," answered Fiona.  All was quiet for a while.

"The stars are beautiful tonight."

"Yes, Raven, they are."  Fiona looked over at the boy, who was lightly snoring.  She was surprised.

"What's the matter, Fiona?"

"I just thought I heard Raven say that the stars were beautiful, but that couldn't be!  He's asleep, Van!"  There was some laughter coming from above them.

"What you heard was me!"  In the dim light of the fire, they saw a black figure climb down a small mesa, not far from them.  "Hello!  I'm Saturn Farwood!" A boy, around nine, with blue-black hair and dark blue eyes, said as he stepped near the fire.  "Do not fear me.  I know of your quest.  I know what you seek.  Let me assist you!"

"I don't know," Irvine stated.

"Fine!  If you do not have trust in me by my own words, then perhaps you will trust another's judgment."  Saturn turned to Mia.  "Wake up, small Child of Fire, youngest of the Children!  Open your eyes!"  Mia's eyes snapped open.  She struggled against Raven's arms, which held her, protectively.  As if by instinct, he let loose his hands, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.  "Tell me, Child of Fire, do you trust me?"

"Why do you ask a question, to which you alweady (already) know the answew (answer)?"

"You are so typical.  I should have know that you'd answer a question with a question.  I ask this not for my own sake, but for the sake of the people, all around you.  They trust me not.  Mortals these days have absolutely no faith."

"Do not be quick to judge.  Some day, they will suwpwize (surprise) you.  But, to your question, as I trust the sun to shine, and the wind to blow.  As I trust the rain to fall, I trust you."

"There!  Now that you have an expert's opinion, do you trust me?"

"We-e-e-e-ell…."  Saturn sighed. 

"Well, looks like you have some wowk (work) to do!  But I don't doubt you.  Who about a meteor showew (shower)?"

"Sounds just as good as any!"  He stared into space.

The sky grew bright with many orangish colored specks.  They grew closer, and brighter.  Suddenly, they made out a large pack of meteors, heading straight for them.  At the realization of this, everyone ducked for cover.  Everyone, that is, save for Mia and Saturn, ducked for was cover they could muster.  Mia had a look of amusement on her face, while Saturn was concentrating…hard.  Just as the meteors were about to hit the mesa above them, the meteors took a u-turn, and streaked back into space.  Saturn announced:

"They have gone.  You can come out now."

"You needn't have wowwied (worried), anyhow.  The Child of Space wouldn't have let them hit.  Would you have, Saturn?"

Just about everyone's mouths dropped open.  "That-that's the Child of Space?"  Fiona asked.  Saturn nodded, and blushed. 

"Yeah, that's me.  Why?     Do I not look the part?"  His blue-black hair waved back and forth in the wind.

"Oh, no, you look the part!  It's just…I didn't expect the Child of Space to be so adorable."  Poor Saturn turned beet red.  Mia giggled.  The boys sniggered.  Moonbay stifled hysterical laughter. 

"It's not funny," Saturn mumbled.

"Sowwy (sorry).  Couldn't help it."

"I expect not.  Oh, well."

"I have a question!" Van stated.  "How do you two know each other?  I mean, you act as if you were old friends."

"Well, we've always been close, ever since the beginning.  Before the rules were set in place.  Before the mortals began to try and overtake us.  But, anyhow, Mia, being the only one with the power to sense the other Children, always somehow seemed to manage to 'bump' into me.  And the rules of us are, if we run into each other, and it wasn't a planned run in, then we can visit with the other for twenty-four hours.  That's the only loophole we can be offered." 

"But wight (right) now, I think that we should get some sleep."  Everyone else agreed, and quickly felt to sleep.

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The town loomed up in front of them.  The walls around it were demolished.  Thatched-roof houses were scattered about the valley.  The bustle of people going to and from, one place to another, was just a murmur at the top of the hill, maybe a mile or so from the campsite.  "Well, let me just get some things for the road, and we can get going," Saturn said.  "You can come if you want, but I wouldn't suggest bringing your Zoids.  The villagers are liable to panic."  The others nodded and followed, leaving their Zoids behind. 

As they walked past the rubble of the walls, the villagers looked up, and ran into the nearest door to them.  The slams of doors and windows could be heard all over the town.  "Um, what's with them?" Thomas asked.  Saturn shook his head, and sighed.

"They are EXTREMELY weary of newcomers.  Especially when they're in big groups.  But don't worry.  They don't ask questions, and they don't give answers.  So don't ask."

"Oka-a-a-a-ay." 

"But, that won't do, leaving them suspicious."  Saturn cleared his throat.  "Townspeople!  Hear my voice!  These strangers are nothing to fear.  They are friends, not foes.  Pay no mind to them!"  Doors creaked open slightly, followed by eager faces, which soon turned to annoyance. 

"Oh, it's him again!  Psht!  Always bringing riffraff into our homes!  I don't know why that old lady puts up with him!"

"Jeeze.  You sure are unpopular!" Van pointed out.

"Yeah.  This town consists of people who like to have the same routine every day.  They see me as quite a rebel.  I like to be spontaneous, taking what life gives me, and challenging it.  So, you can probably see my point."  Van nodded.

Not too long after, they came to a house, with a clothes line hanging on two trees.  "Mrs. Baxter!!!!!!!!"  Saturn's call was followed by a sound of shattering glass.  A plump woman in her late forties bustled out of the house in a huff.

"Saturn Farwood!" she yelled.  "How many times do I have to tell you to tell me when you're going to stay out all night, and where!  Then I can lock the doors and windows, and sit in my rocking chair with a rifle all night!"  (everyone, save Mrs. Baxter:  -_-U)

"It's nice to see you, too.  Anyways, these are my friends."  Her mouth dropped open. 

"You have friends?  How many?  Let's see- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.  NINE FRIENDS!!!!!!!  Please tell me that you didn't pay them off!"

"No, I didn't pay them.  They're my friends.  Look, I'm telling you this now-I'm leaving.  I have to go.  Even though I have no choice, if I did, I'd choose to go.  So, please don't try and stop me.  Mrs.  Baxter?"  The old woman had turned her head down.  Her cheeks were stained with tears.

"I always knew this day would come.  I just didn't think that it would be so soon.  I should have know that I wouldn't be able to keep you away from the outside world.  Go, now, and be off with you.  Don't come back, until you've explored the all of Zi!"  Saturn hugged the elderly woman, and quickly packed his suitcase.  They were off.

END OF CHAPTER SIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fairysphinx:  Sorry, but the top part was kind of contradicted.  I started this right after I posted part five, but, because school is back in, I had to wait to finish.  So sorry about that!  And Jakob Der Ludner, I'm still waiting for your request!  Lol!  There's no rush.  Take your time!  Anyways, see everyone later!!!!!!!!!!  Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!