Fire Fox: Hello everyone. Yes, I know. You had thought that I died or something. Nope just been busy.
Factoid: Well someone wouldn't have been so busy if they didn't wait to read Grapes of Wrath the week before school and write the two reports on it the night before school.
Fire Fox: Hey I got it done. And that's all that counts, right? Need I mention A Tale of Two Cities?
Factoid (falls to her knees and covers her ears): Noooooo!! Please don't Madame DeFarge.
Fire Fox: Umph. Besides summer assignments where created by bitter teachers. Blahh. Hmmm, I wonder who came up with the idea of summer assignments. Perhaps I should do some research on that.
Factoid: Why?
Fire Fox: No reason. Ohhh Raavviinnn, come here…(wonders off in search of Ravin).
Factoid: Okay…Double F told me that this chapter is set during the time period of G.F. Since only summaries of the last three episodes exist, and Double F is too lazy to go and read them, it is far from the truth.
Disclaimer: If aliens are smart enough to travel through space, then why do they abduct the dumbest people on earth ??
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NOW
THE FIRE FOX FINALLY PRESENTS:
THE PROPHECY OF THE ZOIDS
Chapter Six: Ravin's Shadow
People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always
be alone.
A cold, arid wind blew, but he didn't notice it. A pair of stagnant eyes stared into the desert fire, not caring, not thinking, not anything. It was pain to care, to think, and it just wasn't worth the effort. He couldn't…didn't care. He ate, drank, and destroyed. Nothing mattered any more. Why even bother? The small droplet of thought created a wave of memories to rush over the dam he had built. Painful memories causing him to shudder. It could be blamed on the piercing wind. No more thoughts flowed.
A metallic night stared down at his master uncomprehendingly from small cliff. He would stay by him no matter what, but…he could find no words to describe the change that had ensued his master. It was wrong was all his brain could grapple. Master had always had Revenge before. But not now, it was different.
A horned head perked up in endless hope at the sight of movement from Master. His cobalt eyes stared long and hard at the moribund figure by the dying fire. Nothing. At times, the organoid thought, it would be easier to subsist Master's way. But no, she had told him not to give way. That master's way was a weakness; the dark creature figured she would know. She had told him many things, things she hadn't told to master or anyone. Things he didn't understand or expect too, yet he remember all of them. Of course at the time, all she had known was he and Master. Yes, she told me many things: that I must look well after my master. Of course she needn't worry.
"Rgggg," the solid night entity voiced his worry to the nothingness. Master never responded. Something akin to commiserate arose in the distinct obscurity. She had said someday Master would regret. But it did no good thinking of her, she had caused all this. Yet, he didn't blame her.
His head swung to back to the fire. Master had stood up and was slowly walking away. The black creature shook his thoughts away and made ready to follow him. No, she needn't worry. I would follow Master to the ends of the earth. He could not get rid of me.
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"Vaaannn!" yelled the boy. He had been so close, so very close. Of course, this was not the first time Van had escaped him, the boy thought bitterly. It seemed his life now: to hunt down and destroy Van and all he stood for. How he hated him. God! What he wouldn't give to kill Van.
People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always
be alone.
Yet the dry desert wind whispered it wasn't Van at all. NO! I mustn't think like that, the boy's mind screamed. For such thinking lead to remembering, remembering to memories that lie dormant, those memories to pain. Van, he thought, hoping to bring his mind back from the breezes of the heart.
He hated the twilight more than any other time of day. He hadn't always hated it, but now he hated it, in a way. He couldn't name the reason he hated it, or wouldn't. It was no matter any way. Just that he hated the rhythm of the sounds and the mentioning of its beginning.
People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always
be alone.
The wind only laughed at the futility of his tries. The air snakes seemed to be talkative that twilight. They could poison his heart with memories, coil his soul with musing, and hiss the music of his future into his mind. They had wait centuries for the coming games; they could wait a few more years. After all, time is but a plaything to them.
The huge crimson jewel pulsed in sympathy of his master's troubles as his master loyally laid down beside the evolving zoid.
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It is ironic, is it not?
"What?" the dreamer roared.
You're naming me.
A black mist formed around the voice. Cold eyes appeared. He had seen those eyes somewhere before, but he couldn't remember. The rest of the creature materialized from the haze, but he only saw the eyes. An artic inferno burned within their depths, a man could lose himself for eternity in them if he was careless. They leafed through the pages of his soul, easily. Those eyes had seen the likes of him before and sunned him. For in the opinion of the eyes, he was weak. Fury arose in the sleeper at the thought of being considered weak. Yet…he had seen those eyes before.
Or won't remember.
A laughter arose from the shapeless creature, except the eyes showed no hint of humor within their blaze. Just bitter disdain for what he was. It had picked the thoughts from his mind as easily as a child could pick blackberries from a summer thicket.
"What do you mean 'won't remember'?" the dozer demanded.
The human mind is a funny thing, is it not? Some memories are too painful to be remembered that if they were remember it would lead to the destruction of the person. So the human mind pushes them back. Refuses to admit their existence. Represses them. Forgets them. And forgetting is a bad thing.
"I haven't forgotten about Van!" he yelled, not knowing what he was trying to prove to those dark fire eyes.
The voice laughed a pitying laugh, Yes, you remember Van. Of course, you remember your hatred of Van. But why do you hate him? What do you plan to do? The eyes laughed to, but not with pity. No, they laughed a mocking laugh. Mocking him.
"I hate Van because he is weak in his love. Weak in his love for all things zoids and beauty," the slumber-er retorted with wild storm building. "I will kill Van."
'Weak in his love.' Yes, I see, 'Weak in his love.' Do you then, think love is a weakness?
"Yes! It leads to weakness! But I am done answering your questions! Tell me who you are, NOW!"
What will you be left with? After you kill Van?
The sleeper didn't answer. He let the silence fall like death. Inanition was all there was save him and the dream creature. Emptiness was all that stayed in his abandoned soul, save the dank fire of revenge. His essence had become addicted on the drug. He needed blood, death, and revenge. That was all that separated him from oblivion. The dank fire had burned its abyss deep in his deserted soul. The sleeper didn't answer.
You are correct. That is all revenge leaves.
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He stared into his cup thinking of his dreams long after his unwanted visitor had left. Why was he having those dreams now? His eyebrows furrowed with the questions of the unfathomable. 'What will you have left after you kill Van?' he ran its question through his mind again. What purpose would his life hold after all his fighting was done. All his life he had fought or trained to fight. Long had his soul been addicted to the ecstasy of revenge. He tried to imagine what it would be like once all his fighting was done, revenge extinguished, and blood thirst satisfied. All he got was a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. At first he had just wanted to rid Zi of all the stupid Zoids. For they where weak, they were the reason he was on this godforsaken planet in the first place. It would have been ironic, he thought sadistically, I would have proved the undoing of that which had brought me here in the first place.
However, his ambition was cut short when he met up with Van and Fiona on accident. Van! his mind snarled. It would be enough just to kill Van and his stupid love of all things Zoids. Never mind about the rest of the Zoids, just Van. Van was the weakest pilot he had encountered. The only thing that had made him stand out was his organoid, Zeke. Even with Zeke's help, Van was still weak. Van was weak in his love.
'Weak in his love?' the dream creature said mulling over his words as if he had said something revolutionary. 'Do you consider love a weakness?' it had asked. He had never thought about it. Perhaps there had been a time when the answer would have been no, but that time had long past. Funny how life is. Once he would have laughed at the idea of beginning a world-feared assassin, he would have to the person's face if they told him his future. He had never dreamed of turning out the way he did. But then no one ever does. Now: another day, another body.
Suddenly the gem of endless blood fell from the zoid revealing a bittersweet zoid. The adumbrate creator appeared in front of its lord. Looking eye to eye with his master, hoping to find approval there.
He stood staring at his organoid; its sapphire eyes staring unflinchingly back at him. He could see his reflection in those wintry eyes. He could see the hatred, rancor, and his phantoms mirroring back to him. In fact in the shadow of the mind, his organoid and himself where the same. A shiver passed through the organoid's master.
Turning his thoughts back to his new zoid his partisan had given him. Even with Zeke, he was no match for me. Now with the GenoBreaker…
A sound in the bushes behind him caught his attention, the crepuscule sagittary jumped in front of its Master, prepared to fight to the death for its Master. It spread its bat-like wings in an effort to protect his master.
He pulled out his knife ready to kill anything or one who would appear from the bushes. Nothing…he turned back to the fire.
A pair of rainbow swirled eyes stood watching him from the other side of the fire. The pyre's light turned the owner of the eyes an angry golden blood red. The color of an ocean of blood at sunset he thought warily.
It was an organoid unlike any he had ever seen. It stood on all fours. It was draconic in appearance with a long swan-like neck. Ridges grew down its graceful neck. Huge bat-like wings were folded against its back.
Its face was what caught his attention, though. It was triangular in shape. Its eyes were held every color, depending on its mood. Right now, its eyes were a curious shade of purple. Five rows of ridges with each ridge ending in sharp points decorated its head. The creature was powerful. (A/n: the organoid looks like the dragon on the book cover of Barbara Hambly's DragonsBane except gold, which probably helps none. Since I doubt neone has read it)
It walked through the fire till it stood eye to eye with him. The amethyst eyes held his, searching them. Than as if it had found he wanting in some way, it stood on its back legs, raising it well above his height.
"Rggggg?" (If Van was no match for you even with Zeke, than why are you here?) It asked mockingly.
"Whose are you?" he asked in icy tones.
"Ragggggddd." (People change, beauty fades, love dies, but you will always be alone.)
"I repeat who do you belong to, creature?"
"Raarrrggg." (That is not my purpose to tell you whose I am. My purpose here is to repay you for services once rendered. I have found you lacking. As you have deemed Van weak in his love, I deem you weak. But still I must do as my mistress commands. Like your own shadow must do what you do, given no choice of its own.)
The orchoid organoid lowered itself to all fours. It spread its mammoth wings and roared its challenge to all that may hear it. Its eyes glowed a fiery damask. It opened its jagged beak to reveal a row of thin, salient teeth. In the middle of the mouth, lay a solferino gem burning. It seemed to be soldering in the gilded creature's mouth.
He was hesitant to take the gem from the organoid's mouth but finally he reached in and grabbed it. Surprisingly he still had his hand, he looked at the many faceted gem. Each stratum showing his face, yet each was only a distorted umbra of him.
"Rooaarrr." (It is something to think about.) The organoid turned its head to the other organoid almost veiled in its master's shadows. "Rooaarrr." (Live up to your name, my dearest. For your master will need you more than ever.)
With that, the golden tatzlwurm turned and jumped into the air. Once it was high enough, it folded its wings to plunge downwards at an amazing speed only to spread its gilded wings and soar up back into the clouds. Finally after several displays, it disappeared.
"Rooaarrr," his own organoid responded to his thought. (Her name is Free Fall. She wasn't always called that, but she is now.)
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The only things that existed were he and the blood-red stone. The gem seemed to pulsate with power. Something about the gem unnerved him.
As well it should.
The same voice as before.
True it will severe you well and do only what you wish. But a price must be paid, a very heavy price if you invoke it.
Anything you want can be yours, but every reckless action has its consequence. Every dream its nightmare.
The price for such things is heavy. 'You never know what you want till it is gone.' That is the price that must be paid. Your heart's desire, your hearts most treasured dream or possession. You can never reach that dream or own it once the gem has rendered the service you ask of it.
"What good is it then?"
Most people don't know their hearts desire, so they wish for one thing thinking it will bring happiness. After that…something caught its attention. She gave one final glance goodbye to the dreamer and vanished.
All he was left with was many questions, the gem, and the air snakes' song.
People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always
be alone.
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He had tried to protect master. Honestly, he had given all he had to Master, but it hadn't been enough. He was all that Master had left, he was all that protected Master from desolation, he had been master's shadow, yet it hadn't been enough. He had failed her. She said…he could already sense Master's downward spiral.
An idea struck the organoid. Her. She would help. After all, she was what Zoids Eve fed off of. He knew Master would whether anything than ask her for help, but she had said live up to his namesake.
After all he was Ravin's Shadow.
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Ravin…Ravin…Ravin…RAVIN!!!!
The voice kept trying, however, she was getting mad. He was going to listen to her.
Ravin, you must awake. There are those who are waiting for you.
Silence.
What would Shadow do without his Ravin? Yes, Shadow awaits you, among others. I promised you once that as long as I am you will never be alone. It is time to quit grieving. There are those who need you and your Shadow waits for you. It is not going to be easy, but you must.
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Ravin awakened. He looked at the girl next to him. She had obviously meant for him to take care of Ryss. Well, she had said it wasn't going to be easy. And she did say I wouldn't be alone. He felt the ruby gem pulsate in his pocket. All he was left with was many questions, the gem, and Ryss.
People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always
be alone.
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Fire Fox- This seemed like a good place to end part one. Don't you agree? Don't worry I already know what I am going to do for the next chapter, so it shouldn't be as long as a wait, if you care. I will be adding Hiltz in later chapters, hopefully, or at least I know I WILL be adding Ambient. *Starry eyes* Ambient is sooo cool.
Shadow- GRRRRR!!!
Fire Fox- *laughing nervously* You're cool, also! But that thing Ambient does to the zoid, you know evolving them instantly, so cool.
Shadow- AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!
Fire Fox- *eyes wide in terror* But you are my all time favorite, Shadow! I promise! I love you more than life itself! I know not the words to sing my devotion to you. You ARE the reason why I love Ravin!!!!!!!
Shadow- rrrrrr….
Fire Fox- Fine! You will be the star in the next chapter. Now you got to help me…Oh thanks to all those who read this far! Sorry about taking so long to post chapters but I have been busy, honestly.
Thanks to Hell Fire, Biowolf, and all the others who reviewed!
Please Review! I love Raven. See ya.
