HEY EVERYONE! SORRY THAT THIS TOOK SO LONG! WELL, ANYWAYS,

IM SICK, SO YOU SEE, THAT'S THE REAL REASON! YEAH, IT'S SO GROSS! THERES

BARF AND EVERYTHING…IT'S SO DISGUSTING! WELL, ENOUGH ABOUT ME,

ON WITH THE BEST STORY! THIS IS AN IRVINE SEEN…. OH NO! I GAVE IT AWAY!

WELL, JUST PRETEND YOU DIDN'T READ THAT! WELL, HERE WE GO!

Eternal Moon Shire

Chapter 6:    The Captain and the Mission

Hidden in the forest, three Zoids, along with a mysterious black lighting saix, hide in the trees, secretly plotting their plan.

Man1: So, captain, what's our plan again?

Captain:    It's simple. You five go in, raid the colony, and take all the goods you can find. While—

Man2: While you go in for the kill!

Captain:        Exactly. While you guys are raiding the colonies, all their guards will focus on trying to stop you. Now, they are not high on guards, so this shouldn't pose as a problem. While you distract them, I will go and capture the empress.

Zen:    The empress? I hear she is the most beautiful Empress in all the Imperial Empires.  By the looks of things, I think its true. Captain, you sure have a good taste for women!

Captain:        That is not the reason! This is strictly my own business. Anyone who fails to cooperate will be kicked out of the Mur Bandits, is that clear?

Zen:    Yes Captain.

Captain:        Zen(Man 1), James(Man 2), you two will take the Moon colony, and the rest will take the Shire colony.

Zen:    Shire colony, Moon colony, I don't follow. Isn't this the Moon Shire Empire.

A sly smirk came over the face of their captain.

Captain;        Yes, of course it is. But you see, inside the Empire are colonies. The empire is split into two colonies, which were originally empires themselves.

James: So, you're saying the Moon colony and the Shire colony were originally empires, then they merged to become under on name?

Captain:        Precisely.

Zen:    Well, I'll go check up ahead. I haven't heard news yet from the others. I'll go and check out what's going on.

Captain:        Hurry men, we don't have much time to be fooling around. Our operation will take place in exactly five minutes.

Zen:    Yes sir. I will go and find them immediately.

The man named Zen left the Captain and James by themselves, in search for the other members of the team.

James: So, it's been a while hasn't it?

The captain turned to look at the Empire. He knew exactly what he was talking about.

Captain:        Yeah, it's been a while.

James: So, they kick you out, and now you want revenge, is that it?

Captain:        No, that's not it.

James: Then why capture the Empress? Lets just leave things, as they are Irvine.

The captain quickly jerked his head forward. No one had called him by his name in a while, because anyone who knew him wasn't suppose to.

Captain:        What did you say? Keep your mouth down you idiot! Didn't I tell you not to call me that anymore?

James: I'm sorry, but people are bound to find out sooner or later. Especially the way you keep occupying yourself with the moon shire, and fussing over the "Empress".

Irvine           ………

James: And besides, wouldn't you prefer it better than always hearing "captain"? You know the men have been asking what your name is. If they ask me, what do I say then?

Irvine:          You say you don't know and walk away. Is that clear? And besides, I like being called captain. It gives me a sense of nobility. Something that was taken away a while ago.

James: You need to stop dwelling in the past you know.

Irvine:          Do you think it's so easy?! Don't you think I want to stop, to move on with my life? I can't! And you, out of all people, should know that.

James: ……..Yes, its been a while for me too…..why did you take me with you?

Irvine, the captain, looked to the boy. His name was James Edin. He was now a boy of 14. He was the son of one of the Shire Lieutenants. Irvine had grown to be good friends with this particular Lieutenant. Then, on the day of the attack, the lieutenant tried to protect the Empress, but was killed himself. He was seen as a hero, but his unfortunate demise took a toll on Irvine. Irvine then took James, since no one would take care of him themselves. James was orphaned, but Irvine treated him as his own son. James was the only other person, besides Irvine, who knew the whole truth behind the incident, but neither would talk about it, neither would bring it up.

James: You don't need to answer, I just, want to know. Was it because you were good friends with my father, or was it because you pitied me?

Irvine: ….Your father was a great man…..

James: ……..

Irvine: And his son wasn't such a bad person either. Besides, he sure can pilot a zoid.

James turned to Irvine and smiled. Sometimes Irvine could be a jerk, but he could also be very understanding. Just then, the sound of Zen's zoid was heard coming towards them. But he was alone, none of the others were with them. This, made Irvine really upset.

Irvine: Where are the others?!

Zen:    Captain! You wont believe this!

Irvine: I don't care! Where are the others?

Zen:    But captain, I think you will care! The empress! Or at least I think, I think I see the empress! This could be so easy!

Irvine: Where?! Where is she?!

Zen:    Hurry! This way!

Irvine: Let's go James.

James: Yes.

They quietly rummaged through the forest, following Zen, who had claimed to see the empress. Irvine was suddenly lost in his thoughts.

Irvine: Could it be?……Moonbay, is it really you? Is it really you? It's been so long…….

James: Don't you agree captain? Captain? Captain!

Irvine quickly snatched out of his trance. But James knew what he was thinking about and shrugged it out of his mind, a bit distressed. He hated it whenever Irvine would recall past events of the Moon Shire.

Zen:    James, what was that all about?

James: It's nothing Zen, nothing at all.

Zen:    Well, here we are. Keep quiet, she's at the top of the balcony. Now tell me, for I am not well informed. Is that the Empress   or not? If so, the rumors are more than true! She is most beautiful!

James: Keep your voice down! Where is the captain?

Zen:    There he is! Captain, this way!

Irvine and his zoid slowly moved towards the others.

Irvine: Well, where is she?

Zen:    Look above Captain! She's on the balcony, just watching. I scanned the whole area, no one is with her! It would be so easy!

Irvine: First let me see if this is her.

Irvine slowly backed away, then he saw  the balcony, then a woman's figure slowly appeared. She was leaning against the balcony wall, but he could only see her back. She had dark brown black hair, which was let down. She had tan skin, so far, this was what he knew about his "Empress". His stomach continued to turn as he slowly backed away. He wanted, so much, just to see her again. He had soon forgot his mission, the reason he came there, and old memories swarmed inside his head with each step he took. For it is true, that old memories seldom fade. For him, it was all too true. He slowly backed away until a face slowly appeared. It was her, his Empress, his friend, and his secret love, Moonbay. He watched in awe as she looked out to the sky at the balcony. How he wanted to so much reach out and touch her. He was soon overwhelmed with old feelings.

Irvine: Moonbay…..why?….

As he remembered the incident, the mission at hand took control of his feelings at that moment. He soon turned his eyes away from her personage, and focused at the mission at hand.

Zen:    So, is it her Captain?

Irvine looked to the ground with a saddened gaze on his face.

Irvine: Yes, its her….the Empress, Moonbay.

He looked up once again, and he saw a sparkle fall from her face. "What was this?" he thought. He focused with his eyepatch. She was crying, and he watched with great pain as the tears continued to flow down her face. What could she be thinking? Why was she crying? Irvine never saw her cry, but a couple of times, but it was really rare. He again felt his old feelings come back to him, as he wanted so much to go and comfort her. What had gone on with these two, we'll know sooner or later. But sometimes, its' much harder to be friends when you feel that you are loving someone. And that is what had happened. Friends, sometimes, find feelings that they have for each other, but when it happens, it starts to become so hard, and it was.

James: Irvine, come on, don't do this now. Snap out of it.

Irvine gripped his hands, he couldn't control his feelings any longer. He knew that it was him she was thinking of. He wanted so much to see her, to hold her again in his arms. He felt a surge of emotion, and was soon about to go and meet her, no matter what the consequences were.

James: No Irvine!

Just then, a loud explosion was heard. Irvine, Zen, and James all turned their heads to the sound of the explosion. Irvine then looked up at Moonbay, and saw that she was startled. He then watched as she slowly escaped back into the Empire.

Irvine: No! Those fools!

James: It's the others!

Zen:    They can't be battling now! Who else is there? Unless the empire knew we were coming!

Irvine: No! They couldn't have! What is going on here?

They all rushed to where the explosions were being heard. There was obviously a battle going on somewhere. When they got to the sight of the battle, James was the first, followed bye Zen.

James: A blade Liger?

Van:    Fiona! Grab my hand!

Van quickly opened his cockpit and pulled Fiona into the blade Liger. She threw her arms around him.

Fiona:  Thanks Van.

Van:    No problem, but it looks like we have more company.

Irvine then arrived at the scene.

Irvine: What is going on here?

James: A blade Liger!

Irvine: What?

Irvine quickly scanned the battlefield, and there he saw it, a blue Blade Liger.

Irvine: It can't be….Men! Get out of there now!

Zen:    But captain—

Irvine: Retreat! Now! They are the protectors!

Zen:    They hired protectors! Better Retreat!

Irvine: James! Plan B!

James: Yes.

The zoids quickly retreated, and after doing so, revealed the lightning saix hidden behind them.

Van:    A lightning saix? It can't be….

Irvine: Hurry!

James: Yes!

James and Irvine suddenly turned on each other and headed into a head on battle.

James: So I take it you know these guys….

Irvine: Yeah, well, just make it look good okay?

James: No problem.

James attacked with his zoid. Van, along with the Blade Liger, stood there looking at the scene.

Van:    It can't be…Irvine?

Van was just about to bring up his screen, but Irvine quickly noticing that it was on, turned it off before Van could get on.

Irvine: James, common, lets finish this!

James: Yeah.

James let himself open to an attack, and Irvine struck. Everything went according to the plan.

Irvine: Now run!

James quickly escaped, and Van tried to go after him. But before he could, Irvine got in front of him, blocking an exit.

Van:    Could it be? Is that you Irvine?!

No answer, instead, Irvine took off, leaving Van still in his tracks.

Van:    This is odd….Fiona, did that look like Irvine to you?

Fiona:  I don't know. But didn't you bring up your screen to check?

Van:    Yeah, but, that person, who ever it was, didn't answer. I wonder who it was….

Fiona:  Well, at least he got rid of the bandits.

Van:    Yeah, lets get going Fiona. The Empress wont be too pleased since we are already late!

Fiona:  Well, I'm sure she would understand Van.

Van:    Yeah, hey, is that it over there?

Fiona:  Where? I cant see anything in this thick forest.

Van:    Over there! Look up, it looks like a wall.

Fiona:  Huh…..Yes! That's it! Van, were here!

Van:    Finally! Come on Fiona! Let's go find the Empress of this mysterious Moon Shire.

Fiona:  Yes, lets go Van.

******************

In the other side of the forest, the bandits and their captain run back to their hideout.

Irvine: Could they be working together? Van? Will I have to betray you too? Urrr…..

James: Captain? Is something wrong?

Irvine: No James, lets go. It seems our plan isn't exactly going to work now. Lets get back to the hideout and figure out this new plan.

James: Yes sir. Now that there are protectors guarding the empire, who knows what we will be up against.

Irvine: I guess, we'll just hope for the best is all.

James: ……….I guess so…..

Irvine looked back to the empire.

Irvine: Moonbay……..

**************TO BE CONTINUED*************