Fire Fox- Well this is going to be an interesting chapter, I can tell you that! ^.^U

Shadow- RRRoooaarrr. (So you have no idea what you are going to do?)

Fire Fox- Notta one.

Shadow- Rooarrr. (So you are just winging it?)

Fire Fox- Shut up! *throws an empty Nyquil bottle at Shadow* That's enough outa you!

Ravin- So you are resorting to violence in order to avert attention from the fact that you still have no idea what you are going to do?

Fire Fox- *hangs head down in defeat* Sigh.

Disclaimer-A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.

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NOW

THE FIRE FOX INANELY PRESENTS:

THE PROPHECY OF THE ZOIDS

Chapter Nine-Griffin's Glory

The GenoBreaker hollered in pain and outrage as the yellow zoid sank its teeth into its back and ripped off the armor protecting its pincers. It slowly, menacingly turned to face the new opponent.

It's not like Van is going anywhere, Ravin thought as he glimpsed at the broken Blade Liger. "No Saber Tiger will be able to stand up to me and the GenoBreaker," droned Ravin with contempt.

"The GenoBreaker and I would be the correct grammar," smirked a voice from inside the cockpit, "But you are half right. No Saber Tiger tends to challenge you."

Ravin squinted his eyes as a blinding gold light exploded from the Saber Tiger revealing a new zoid.

"I just hope your famed skills as a zoid pilot proved to be a better match than your grammatical skills," mocked the voice. "Or the Battle Griffin will be real disappointed in having traveled so far for nothing."

A surged of dark fury aroused in Ravin; he hated to be mocked by some upstart, who didn't know the first thing about zoids. The pilot didn't know anything!

"I came here for a fight, not a grammar lesson!" yelled Ravin.

"I can't be blamed for your ignorance," the voice smiled, dragging up forgotten memories. "You want to fight, fine. But I promise you this though- once I start there is no stopping till I have burnt myself out: till I have satisfied my hunger."

Ravin stopped at the phrase. It seemed so familiar to him, like a dream. The more Ravin tried to remember, the more the memories floated away from his clouded memory. Like the shapes in smoke that he could only glimpse out of the corner of his eye, but when he tried to focus on them they disappeared into the smoke.

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Ravin just stared at the unknown zoid. Sure, it sounded like her, especially the cocky attitude. But she had abandoned him years ago without a word. One spring morning, he had woke up to her empty sleeping bag. Everything then seemed to scream of her, the twilight, wind, stars. It had taken him years to get over her treachery. Why would she be here now?

Shadow growled something from inside the zoid core.

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Andrea had been holding her breath ever since she made her last comment. Hope stared to push its way up pass the doubt and bud within her soul. Perhaps there will be no need to fight, she thought.

"You know, now isn't the best time to correct his grammar," gasped Moonbay.

Andrea only smiled, "I know, but Ravin is always too full of himself for his own good. And if he decides to fight, I won't be able to defeat him."

"WHAT!" screamed Moonbay, "Are you out of your mind? Why are you here, challenging him? Are you trying to get us all killed?"

"No, I am not trying to get anyone killed," Andrea said bleakly, "I just need Ravin to…."

Fiona watched the girl stare out to the red giant. She felt Andrea's hopelessness at the situation. Suddenly Fiona understood why the pilot was here. It didn't have anything to do with saving people or Van, Andrea picking up her and Moonbay had been a coincidence. It was because she cared for Ravin. She wanted to protect him from whatever harm he was in. That was the main reason Andrea was here facing Ravin, she may have other reasons, but Ravin was the reason of her heart.

"No, Moonbay, I think she is right," said Fiona, "She could never defeat Ravin- not because she lacks the skill. But because she cares too much for him. Her and Ravin obviously share a past."

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A red headed man looked down at the paused battle in disgust. He hadn't accounted for golden organoid's master coming. He had thought for sure she would have nothing to do with Ravin.

Hiltz cursed silently under his breath. All his plans called for a decisive battle, for one pilot to be destroyed by the other. It just wouldn't do to have this girl interfering with his plans.

The air shifted enough to alert Hiltz that he was no longer alone.

"What do you want?" asked Hiltz without removing his eyes from the scene below.

"Queen Phiona thought you could use some help. You have proved inadequate in the past," said the stranger in silvery tones. She silently moved to stand by Hiltz; light seemed to follow her like a shadow. Light was her shadow. She looked down at the GenoBreaker and the griffin zoid with cold, wintry eyes.

"It would seem that the game piece needs to be reminded," stated Hiltz.

"Yes."

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"I think Ravin might remember after all," Andrea breathed with a sigh. She honestly didn't know what she was going to do if Ravin had decided to fight. She couldn't let him hurt her passengers. Because like the dark was too much for one person to control so it had split Ravin's mind, the light had split into two forms- Van and Fiona. She didn't understand it, but now that she saw Fiona and Van, it confirmed the thought. If she was ever to end the game, she needed all of them alive.

"Grrowwlll" (I believe there is another reason you fear to fight Ravin and Fiona has the right of it) growled Free Fall from inside the zoid core.

"I think Ravin might stand down!" yelled Moonbay happily.

"I think so too," cried Fiona, "Good, there is no more need for senseless fighting."

Suddenly the winds started to blow. A new power blew in with them too. The same winds but different. Now it sang of the last golden leaf falling before winter, of memories of the summer wood, ballads of the rain falling without end, of sweeping away all of life. It sang of the harvest wind.

"I wish it was true, Fiona, how I wish you were right," sighed Andrea.

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People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always be alone.

Ravin shivered at the wind even though he was safe in the cockpit of the GenoBreaker.

The wind keeping singing with millions of tiny voices laughing. However a new voice joined the winds, singing out above the regular song.

Happiness will be a stranger to you and yours. Sorrow, bitterness, and trouble will hound you ceasingly even after death.

"No," Ravin cried desperately to the emptiness.

How could a voice so beautiful foretell such ugly prophecies?

Yes, no one will speak your name; even your gravestone will stand silent. All is bequeathed to the twilight. And she will take all.

"Who are you?" shrieked Ravin. "You know nothing!"

I am the harvest wind. I sweep away all life. And I know all.
All is bequeathed to the twilight. And she will take all.
Even the children of the air sing your sad song.

People change
Beauty fades
Love dies
But you will always be alone.

Ravin dug deep into himself, like someone before him, calling on his powers- calling on the darkness of his soul. The harvest wind told him that the other zoid was the source of all his suffering. Ravin saw only in terms of light and darkness. He saw a dying light coming from behind his side and a dark light burning where the new zoid waited.

"If I am ever to know peace, Van must die," drudged Ravin. "And if I must kill you, than so be it. You will not take all, after I am done with you."

"What will you be left with, Ravin? After all your fighting is done? If death brings you peace, I will gladly lay down my life for your peace. But answer me, what will you be left with after all your fighting is done?"

Ravin listened to the same questions he had been asked by the dream creature, and the same questions he had asked himself a million times. But still he had no answer to give her, but the emptiness of the wind.

"That's what I thought," Andrea sneered, "You have no answer. As you have deemed Van weak in his love, I deem you weak in petty jealousies. For all your hate and bluster is nothing but envy of what you don't have."

Ravin just let the words whip around him. Anger started to trickle through his soul, soon building up to a flood of cold rage.

What right did she have to say anything to you, Ravin? Especially after what she did to you!

"What right do you have to say such things? Especially after what you did to me?" yelled Ravin, repeating the wind's question. Noting know anything except the wind's bidding.

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"Why is he….why is that voice….?" Fiona asked unfinished questions, not sure of what she heard or saw.

"Why is he, what, Fiona?" Andrea inquired without taking her eyes off the red GenoBreaker.

"Why is he repeating the questions of that voice in the wind?"

"Are you okay, Fiona? I mean, voice in the wind?" asked Moonbay.

"No, she is fine. The wind does sing to some, but you and me can't hear it," commented Andrea absentmindedly. Her eyes furrowed at something Fiona said. "Tell me, did you say 'voice' as in a singular entity?"

"Well, I hear a lot of smaller voices singing a sad, mocking song. But I also hear one predominant voice speaking out above the others. The voice just asked that question after it said, 'All is bequeathed to the twilight and she will take all.' "

"What difference does it make?" screamed Moonbay at the lunacy of the people around her.

Ignoring Moonbay's question, Andrea answered Ravin, "What right do I have? I have all the right in existence. For I am the twilight: all is bequeathed to me and I plan to take all."

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Andrea sat trying to catch her breath as she watched the GenoBreaker from her hiding spot. It had been a lot harder just trying to stay alive, than she had previously thought. She knew she couldn't hurt Ravin, but there had to be away to get him out of his shell of power. The wind blew even harder, threatening to cave in the ravine where she hid. The Battle Griffin shifted quietly in the small space. Andrea had to sacrifice the Battle Griffin's ability to fly when she had been forced to use one of the wings as a blade to cut off the GenoBreaker's claw.

"Fiona," Andrea whispered, to scared to talk any louder even though they were safe inside the cockpit, "Tell me, what is the wind saying?"

"Well," Fiona listened, "the softer voices seem to be singing the same song over and over again."

Fiona strained herself to hear the haunting melody of the air that had webbed itself into Ravin's heart and soul. Fiona knew why the song pledged him, now. It was so depressing.

"They are singing 'People change\Beauty fades\Love dies\But you will always be alone'," Fiona shivered. "However the louder voice is saying different things, this voice seems more cold and ruthless than the other voices,"

"Well, what is the louder voice saying?" Moonbay asked before Andrea could.

"They sound mainly like curses on Ravin. They vary, but they hold the same theme of loneliness- 'happiness will be a stranger to you and yours. Sorrow, bitterness, and trouble will hound you ceasingly even after death', and 'no one will know your name; even your gravestone will stand silent. All is bequeathed to the twilight. And she will take all'," Fiona looked thoughtfully at Moonbay, "for some reason the one about the gravestone seems the worst of them all seeing has even he can't remember his true name."

Andrea's eyes widen at the blonde's statement. She had figured out why Ravin was acting this way. She suddenly knew what had to be done.

The Battle Griffin stretched its one good wing and crept out of the ravine. It barely managed to leap out of the way of another charge particle gun. Andrea charged at Ravin's side, embedding the good wing in the GenoBreaker's right side. She then tangled her zoid up with Ravin's. She had the Battle Griffin stand on its hind legs and its fore claws pushed against the head of the GenoBreaker in attempt to keep the charged particle gun off her.

'Free Fall, leave. Take Fiona and Moonbay and leave. We're out of options. We have nothing left to gamble except my lives. Yours, Fiona's, and Moonbay's aren't mine to gamble. You alone know what needs to be done.'

Free Fall growled a protest from deep within the zoid core has she untangled herself from it. Andrea couldn't be swayed. Free Fall grudgingly assimilated the two girls and left.

"Life is a terrible gamble. The odds are always against it."

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"Do you remember me, Ravin?" Andrea quietly asked. "I remember you."

Ravin sat cold as stone in the GenoBreaker.

"Shadow knows me. You do to, or did. I wish you would acknowledge me, Ravin."

No answer.

"You weren't the only one hurt Ravin. I tried to stay, honestly. But some forces are to strong, even love wasn't enough. I tried to come back, to return, but you would have none. Don't you remember? Or are you to preoccupied with trouble wounds? Have you conveniently forgotten all?"

Still Andrea could detect nothing from the GenoBreaker. Only the wind started to howl louder.

Andrea tried to recall what Fiona had said, "People do change, Ravin. I have changed and so have you. Change is inevitable. Look at you, Ravin, you have come so far. Please don't turn back now. Beauty fades, but I have always hated beauty."

Andrea stilled herself for the next part. She hated admitting that she depended on people for work, help,….and to be happy. But she had come so far. "Perhaps love does dies, only to be reborn as something more splendid and better. And I told you once, as long as I am, you will never be alone."

"You don't know anything!" screamed Ravin from inside the cockpit. The winds bit away at his soul and heart. He never knew he could be so cold and still alive.

Andrea stared up at the GenoBreaker with sad eyes, "I know who you are. It is more than you know."

"Damn you! You have taken all and left me with nothing but sorrow and bitterness!"

"I have taken nothing. Sorrow and bitterness is all you have ever known. You thought you could escape Prozen when he died. You destroyed the Saber Tiger and took Shadow back from him. But you still carry his gifts."

"I have nothing!"

"That's right," screamed Andrea, "NOTHING is all he ever gave you and now you punish those around you! You blame others for the emptiness in your heart!"

Ravin only stared at space as if the words where written in the winds and followed around him, engulfing him.

"I will love you till the heaven rains down to the earth, and I will always be with you till the stars crumbled from the night sky"

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Ravin could barely hear her voice over the wind, but he did hear her. After she had stopped, he just soaked in what she said. Could it be true? Did she come all this way from him?

Or was it lies?

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The Battle Griffin fell to the ground.

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Fire Fox- TADA! There another chapter is complete! I hope everyone is happy!^__^

I hope you enjoyed it. I think it turned out okay. Not great, but well…. Sorry for the longer wait than usual, but well I have been busy.

Please leave a review. I just enjoy getting reviews so much. I love all of them.

I love Raven. See ya.