Neko: Hey ya all!!! Here is number 6 of the Trinity project, but first!!!
*Reaches down into a very, large sack and begins to pull something out*
Neko: I just like to thank Fade; again for another beautiful job at betaing, without her my stories would be very confusing to read. So….
*Pulls out Shadow, who looks around in surprise, Neko slaps a fragile sticker on him and packs him away into a box*
Neko: I thought you would like a matching set, Fade, now you have Raven and Shadow. Anyway, I do not own zoids or anything really to do with zoids, so don't sue!
*Pulls on Little Link's Hat!!*
Neko: So enjoy!!!
"Brak."
"Don't call me that."
"Brak."
"Don't call me that."
"BRAK!!"
"I SAID DON"T CALL ME THAT!!"
"Tree."
CRUNCH
"Ouch." Avalon muttered as Brakanan crashed into the tree he wasn't looking at.
Brakanan slowly stood up, clutching his nose with one hand and leaning against the tree with the other. Avalon sighed; he looked so pathetic there, so she walked over to him and gave him some support.
"Thanks." Muttered Brakanan as Avalon helped him back to their camp, where R'shiel sat poking at the campfire. She looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you?"
"Avalon, that's what happened." Growled Brakanan
"Hey, I was calling you but you weren't listening!"
"My name is Brakanan, not Brak."
"Hey you're meant to be Mister I'm-so-cool-keeper-of- the- prophecy so I don't think calling you Brak is going to affect your status."
Brakanan sighed and looked up at her "You're meant to be 18-19 aren't you?"
"Yes."
"WELL THEN ACT YOUR AGE AND NOT YOUR SHOE SIZE!"
Avalon glowed red "ME, HOW ABOUT YOU? YOU SHOULD GIVE ME SOME SLACK, SO WHAT IF I WASN'T THE TYPE OF ROYAL ZOID YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, BRAK!!"
Before Brakanan could answer Avalon stormed off towards the Gustav; he sat watching her retreating back and sighed. R'sheil walked over to him and sat down next to him, touching his hand.
"It's hard isn't it, she reminds you of her."
Brakanan didn't say anything, his eyes staring into the fire he held R'sheil's hand.
"Brakanan, Avalon is not Relin. I know you may see some similarities but she isn't her so try and relax around her more. This is hard for her too."
Brakanan sighed and faced R'Sheil "I know, it is just sometimes when Avalon is joking around I see Relin looking back at me, I can ignore it but when she says Brak just like Relin did…"
R'sheil gazed into Brakanan's eyes and opened a link into his mind; she felt pain and anger which was quickly replaced by a barrier.
'There was a time when you let me feel all your emotions Brakanan'
'There was a time when peace was here as well, I do not want to hurt you with my pain R'sheil'
'Brakanan I accepted your pain the moment I gave you my soul.'
With that R'sheil broke the mind link and reached up and touched Brakanan's chin. Brakanan brought her closer and slowly kissed her on the lips.
Raven groaned as he turned over; his head felt so painful and he opened his eyes and glanced around. Noting that it must be night since there was no light flooding through the windows, he also noticed that he was tied up.
"Damm it." He muttered.
As his eyes adjusted he began to see where he was; it didn't take him long to realise he was in the back of a Gustav. He closed his eyes again and tried to remember what happened.
"Thank you." Raven heard her whisper as Avalon ran down the corridor.
Raven turned back to the advancing troops pulled out a round, metallic object and he pressed a button. A red light flashed and the word 'ARMED' appeared and began to flash.
"Hold it right there Raven!"
Raven looked at the three soldiers aiming their guns at him and Shadow and he smiled.
"Shadow." He whispered and pressed the button one more time.
The explosion that followed blew the whole corridor out, including anyone left in that whole area.
Raven opened his eyes and sighed, that was all he could remember. He didn't know how he ended up here or why he saved Avalon. There was a soft noise coming from behind him. Raven twisted around and his eyes widened. Shadow sat there all tied up and blue, metallic objects sat on his chest.
"Shadow, what happened?"
Shadow replied by trying to break free but the Electro-magnet again zapped him until he grew still.
"SHADOW!"
Raven scrambled up as fast as his tied legs could and ran/rolled over to Shadow. He reached down and touched the blue object and felt searing pains flying through his body; he quickly let go and fell back, panting.
"What the hell is happening in there?" a voice asked from outside.
The Cockpit opened and Avalon appeared. Her eyes gazed at the scene around her and her eyes narrowed.
"You're awake then, Raven."
Raven jerked his head up and snarled at Avalon "What do you want with me?"
Avalon walked in more and stood over him, her face masking any emotions "I suggest if you want to live, Raven, that you'll be a lot nicer then that."
"Don't play games Avalon, you don't scare me."
Avalon bent down so her face was close to his "You will be." She whispered icily.
Raven glared, not taking her threat, and lashed out with his feet, putting Avalon off balance.
Avalon jumped quickly to her feet and kicked Raven hard in the gut and placed the other foot on top of his throat, pressing down hard.
"Doesn't this remind you of anything Raven?" Avalon sneered.
Raven struggled underneath Avalon's weight, his face slowly turned blue. Avalon's eyes were blazing with rage.
"REMEMBER RAVEN, AFTER YOU KILLED VAN!!"
Raven felt his head slowly going into darkness when all of a sudden the darkness began to fade. And he began to see around him again but he also felt something wet touch his cheek. Raven looked up and saw Avalon with silent tears on her face. Avalon stepped back and looked over at Shadow. She walked over to him and undid the Electro-magnet; the chains sprang back and Shadow was free.
"But I am not you, Raven. I can control my anger, my coldness, my desire to kill, unlike you."
She walked back over to him and untied his chains and Raven stood up, rubbing his wrists.
"Why did you do that?" he asked
Avalon walked back to the cockpit door and stopped "Because Raven, I am repaying you back for saving my life. You have a choice: stay or be killed; or you can try your Genobreaker but I will just come after you."
With that she hopped out of the cockpit and walked off. Raven sighed and turned towards Shadow, who was extremely happy that he wasn't chained up.
"Don't worry Shadow, we'll see where they are going and then when the time is right we'll escape…"
A cold smile reached across his face. "Or kill them."
The next morning the group packed up and continued their way to Lethior Forest. Avalon rode up front in the Liger Zero followed by Raven in the Genobreaker, Brakanan and R'Sheil in the Gustav with their Storm Sworders on the back.
"How far are we now, Brak?"
"Don't call me Brak and we are about a day away."
Before Avalon could say anything Raven butted in "A day away? What are you talking about, all there is around us is wasteland."
"There are some things which you do not know, Raven, and the Lethoir Forest is one of them."
"So in other words, shut up!" Avalon suggested.
Raven growled to himself but didn't say a word.
"So Brak, do you think that I will be able to find whatever there is to find at the Lethior Forest."
"You should regain some memories while you are there, it was in fact the Royal Zoidians' hideaway."
They continued on their way in silence; it was only when night had truly fallen that Brakanan decided to stop for camp. Avalon struggled with some tents, for they jutted out everywhere and she fell in frustration and cursed.
"Here, let me help you." A soft voice broke the silence.
Avalon looked up and saw Raven holding his hand out to her; Avalon growled and ignored the hand. She carefully stopped and began to pick the tents up again.
Raven sighed and stood on one of the tents so she couldn't pick them up, Avalon looked up and glared.
"Get off Raven."
"Look Avalon, I would like to sleep in a tent in the next century."
"Would you like to live till the next week?"
Raven growled and bent down to pick up one of the tents.
"Where do they go?"
Avalon sighed; she was too tired to argue anymore "Come on I'll show you."
The walked slowly towards the campfire where R'sheil and Brakanan were chatting and they set the tents down just a little away from the campfire.
"Now we set them up."
"How do we do that?" Raven asked.
Avalon looked at the two tents and then back towards Raven "I don't know."
"You're a great camper aren't ya. Here I'll show you how."
Raven bent over one of the tents and began to assemble them; it wasn't till he was tangled up in the pipes that he gave up.
Avalon looked at him and burst out laughing; Raven looked up at her and raised an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
"Look at ya."
Raven looked down at himself and realised he was stuck; he was tangled in the string and pipes. He tried to get up but it had him tied down tight. She couldn't help it and Avalon collapsed into a fit of laughter.
"Look, can you at least help me?" Raven demanded.
Avalon nodded through her fits of laughter and bent over to help him; it took a couple of minutes but finally Raven was freed.
"Thank you."
"No worry, now let's try this again."
They started on one tent and after a lot of time, effort, and laughter they had finally put up both tents. They both sat down at the campfire to admire their handy-work and eat some dinner. Brakanan looked over at the tents and grinned.
"What took you so long?"
He didn't have time to duck as he was pelted by meat and bread from Avalon and Raven. Brakanan held up his hands in surrender.
"Ok ok I give up, please no more meat, it will leave stains."
Everyone cracked up laughing, even Raven was grinning. R'Sheil stood up and looked at her watch.
"Come on, we should all get to sleep, for tomorrow we have to get up early."
"What for?" asked Avalon.
Brakanan's eyes twinkled "You'll see."
Without another word he retreated into one of the tents, R'sheil went into the other.
Avalon turned to Raven "I guess I better go to bed then."
"Yes, me too."
There was a moment of silence as they both nervously looked at each other; Avalon give Raven a quick nod.
"Goodnight Raven." She said coolly.
"Yes, goodnight Avalon."
Avalon walked into R'sheil's and her tent, and with one last glance at Raven closed the flap.
Raven looked at the tent flap, thinking of the events of that night, and slowly began to walk towards his and Brakanan's tent. There was a slight noise behind him and Shadow stepped into the campfire-light. Strangely it looked like he had a smug smile on his face; Raven rolled his eyes and walked into the tent.
"Shut up Shadow."
Someone was shaking her, Avalon groaned and rolled over.
"Come on Avalon, get up."
"Five more minutes."
Splash
The next thing Avalon knew a bucket of water was splashed over her face, and she jumped straight out of her sleeping bag spluttering and shaking.
"What the hell!?"
Brakanan stood there grinning holding a bucket of water behind his back; Avalon growled.
"BRAK!!!!!!"
"How else would you have gotten up." He replied and walked out of the tent laughing.
"Smartarse, thinks he so funny." She muttered to herself as she dressed.
Raven walked around finishing the rest of the packing; it was still dark so it was quite hard.
Brakanan and R'shiel were talking gently near the Gustav and Avalon was no-where to be seen. Raven put the rest of the stuff into the Gustav and looked around for Avalon. It was hard to see her in the darkness but dawn was coming on quickly.
"Everything packed?" came a voice from behind him.
Raven jumped and quickly turned around and came face to face with Avalon.
"Yeah."
Avalon nodded and then grinned "Tents easier to put down then put up."
"Yeah." Raven said with a laugh.
At that moment Brakanan walked over "Ok everything ready? Good. Come on, we only have a few minutes."
They jumped into their zoids and waited.
"What are we waiting for?" asked Avalon.
"Just wait, we are waiting for the path to Lethior Forest."
Before Avalon could ask any more questions, dawn had taken place and the sun spilled a beautiful glow over the barren wasteland.
"Brak, I--"
"Shh, watch."
Avalon looked at the sunrise and gasped, as the sun spilled over the land a shape began to form on the horizon in the shape of a forest and mountain.
"Lethior." Whispered Avalon as she gazed at it with amazement in her eyes.
"Raven, I'll race you there."
"What?"
"I'll race you."
A couple of seconds past "You're on."
"Ready, set go!" Avalon yelled and burst her Liger Zero into full power.
They raced across the wasteland, neck to neck but no one seemed to care who would win; they were having too much fun. Raven pulled ahead as he and Shadow worked as a team to power the Genobreaker. Avalon's eyes glowed with delight as she followed Raven, urging her Liger to race on.
"Go Zero go!"
It was like the zoid listened to her and began to catch up; pretty soon it was neck to neck with Raven.
Avalon looked across to Raven and grinned; she held up her victory sign and sped ahead, winning the race by a metre. They stopped at the entrance of the forest and jumped out of the cockpit laughing. Avalon walked over to Raven and slapped him on the back; a sense of deja vu came to him.
"You almost had me there."
Raven grinned "Yeah but you were always the fastest."
Avalon stopped laughing and looked at him "What?"
"What?"
"You just said I was always the fastest."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't."
Avalon looked at him in confusion and shook her head "I guess I didn't hear what you said."
Brakanan and R'shiel arrived then and both got out to look around.
"Well we're here, Lethior Forest."
Avalon gazed around at her surroundings and smiled "Yes we are and I'm sure we will find answers here."
Robert stood at the entrance of the Strategy Room; inside the room were O'Connell, Dr Di, Taydra and several officers. He walked in and everyone stood up; he waved a hand and they sat down. He walked to the middle of the room and began to talk.
"Most of you have been briefed on the situation of the Prophecy and I'm sure most of you think it is a cock and bull story but trust me it isn't."
At this moment one officer, L.T Balkham stood up "How can you expect us to believe it, sir."
Robert closed his eyes and sighed "Cause I hope you can."
Voices began to raise, many saying that it was bullshit. O'Connell whistled and the room quieted.
"Thank you, now I know it is hard to believe but trust me it is true; the Deathsaurer has been unleashed due to this. I am accepting any answers to destroy it and the only one that seems to actually work is the Prophecy and I trust the people who told me about it."
More grumbling seemed to follow and Robert let them talk it over between each other and turned to O'Connell and Taydra.
"What do you think?"
"I think they think you're crazy."
"Thanks O'Connell, any useful advice."
O'Connell looked at the men and women talking and looked back at Robert.
"You have led your men into impossible battles and made them possible, you have treated every solider like a brother …"
O'Connell looked right into Robert's face "And if these men are truly loyal to you, they will trust you."
Robert gazed back at O'Connell and nodded "Are you with me?"
O'Connell grinned "I am always by your side."
Robert looked at Taydra who nodded "I too will be by your side and Captain O'Connell's."
Robert smiled and turned back to the other officers, who had stopped talking.
"Trust me or don't, it is your choice."
Taydra stepped forward "Raise your hand if you trust Colonel Robert!"
Every hand in the room pointed to heaven and Robert smiled.
"Now let's get to business."
Robert looked across the table at the men and woman surrounding it and he glanced over to O'Connell, who was standing to attention beside him.
"Right, here is what's happening. A great battle is about to come upon us. I don't know when or where but I know it is soon and we must be prepared."
Robert glanced around at the table and continued, "So here are some things we must do before then. Colonel Matani, Colonel Walsh and Captain Ikari, you'll be in charge of training; we must have a more intense training program."
The Colonels nodded in agreement and let Robert continue.
"Colonel Ginad and Major Nalk, you'll be in charge in finding anymore available men to help us fight; we are going to need it."
Robert turned to Dr Di "Dr Di, I hope you can help us by developing some weapons that can at least help us against the Deathsaurer and upgrade some zoids."
Dr Di smiled "Of course, but I will need some help."
"That's where L.T Taydra will help. He is known for being the best in the field of Zoidica* so I will send him to help you but first I will need him for something."
"Which is?"
Robert grinned, "O'Connell, Taydra, and I are going on a rescue mission."
"It is so beautiful. I feel like I have been here before." Avalon said to Brakanan as they walked through the forest. They had left their zoids in a little clearing not far from the entrance of the forest and continued on foot.
"Yes you most probably have, in your past."
They all walked in silence for a bit more enjoying the forest, which was indeed quite a place. Tall trees blocked out part of the sunlight, making the air cool and comfortable. Birds and animals fluttered in the bushes watching the four strangers walking by, and the occasional whisper of the wind would be heard. But even with all this happening it was still quiet, like it had been silenced a long time ago. Brakanan stopped as they reached a couple of smaller trails coming off the path. A tall tree, one of the largest in the forest, was in the middle of the path as well. He looked at each path and turned to the others.
"Any ideas which way to go?"
"Depends where you want to go." Avalon replied.
As the others watched Avalon walked up to the tree in the middle and touched its cool bark. She closed her eyes as she felt it singing to her, its harmonic voice whispering through her head. Memories seemed to play in her head, only quick flashes, but something else like a map began to open up in her head. It was like the tree was telling her which way to go, its musical voice flowing though the air around her, wrapping her up like a cocoon.
"Thank you." She whispered to the tree and turned to the others.
"Can you not hear that, listen well."
The others looked at her in confusion but they closed their eyes and listened and they too began to hear it. All around them, music and singing, faint but strong at the same time. Raven walked up to the tree and touched it as well, and he too felt the singing wrapping around him and memories plaguing his mind, and like Avalon a map opened up to him. A picture of a Sanctuary, a Forest Sanctuary with a temple in the middle.
"Lethior Sanctuary, the home of the Royal Family." He whispered.
"Which way then?" asked Brakanan
Avalon looked at the different paths and selected one "I will go this way, but alone."
Raven selected another path "I will go on this one, but like Avalon I feel like I must go alone."
Brakanan and R'sheil exchanged a look and they looked over at Avalon and Raven.
"Don't worry we will go this way. We will meet you at the sanctuary."
With one last glance Avalon and Raven made their separate ways; Brakanan watched them go till he couldn't see them and then he turned back to R'Sheil.
"They are remembering."
"Yes they are."
Avalon felt like she had walked for hours but deep down she knew it had only been at least 30 minutes. Her eyes wandered the forest around her and she felt so much at home here. A cool breeze blew her hair and she felt the sun's rays touch her skin through the gaps in the canopy. She closed her eyes and let the wind caress her; there was something about this place that made her feel more relaxed. A noise caught her attention and Avalon opened her eyes; she listened intently and walked forward towards where it was coming from. As she got closer the sound became clearer. It was someone crying; a child.
Avalon moved quickly and she stopped as she came to a small clearing with a large rock in the middle. A little girl was sitting on top of it and she seemed to be crying. Avalon walked forward softly.
"Are you alright?"
Avalon must have startled the girl for she jumped up in surprise and looked down at Avalon in awe.
"Who are you?" the little girl asked.
"My name is Avalon, what is yours?"
"My friends call me Akio!"
Avalon studied the girl; she looked about 10 and had long, honey/golden coloured hair and amber eyes. The eyes, which seemed to pull Avalon in, looked very familiar.
"So why were you crying?"
The girl looked at her in surprise; she had forgotten that she had been crying. Akio jumped off the rock and looked up at Avalon.
"I was looking for my friends and then I felt something cold beside me and I got scared and I was lost."
Avalon looked around but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. She bent down and touched the girl's shoulder.
"Akio, you can never be lost in the Lethior Forest. The trees are always there to guide you."
"The trees?"
Avalon nodded, smiled and held out her hand "Come on, I'll show you."
Akio looked hesitantly at Avalon's hand but grabbed it anyway; Avalon walked her over to a large willow tree.
"Touch the tree's bark."
The little girl touched the bark and looked up at Avalon quizzically.
"Listen."
Akio closed her eyes and gasped and pulled her hand away.
"I can hear singing!"
Avalon smiled gently "It's the trees. They are not strong as they were before but they will be soon."
"How do you know that?"
Avalon turned to the tree and looked at it sadly "I don't know."
"Well thank you anyway, I know where the others are now, it was nice meeting you!"
"Hey—wait!!" Avalon called out as she turned around but the girl was already running down the other path. Avalon took off after her in full pursuit.
Raven sighed as he walked along his path; why the hell did he trust a singing tree. Shadow growled softly behind him.
"What is it, Shadow?"
He was just about to turn back when he heard something playing, like a flute. He followed the sound until he got to a river with a waterfall. Tiny rainbows made by the soft mist coming up from the waterfall hung in the air.
"Who are you?"
Raven's head snapped up. He shaded his eyes and saw an outline of a boy standing on top of the waterfall cliff; the boy seemed to be holding something.
"Who wants to know?"
The boy jumped right off the cliff and landed on his feet like a cat; he stood and glared at Raven. He had long black hair that was plaited down his back and violet eyes that seemed faded. The boy was holding an ivory flute, with green painted vines wrapping around it.
"I do."
Raven shook his head "Look, I don't have time for this. I need to ask you a favour. What is at the end of this path?"
But the boy wasn't listening to him; he was looking at Shadow. The boy stepped forward and reached out towards Shadow.
"Shadow?" the boy whispered.
Raven looked between the boy and Shadow "How do you know Shadow?"
The boy looked at Raven and stared into his eye. Raven felt a sense of déjà vu, but before he could say anything else the boy had run off down the other path.
"WAIT!!"
Raven ran after him, ducking through branches as the boy kept running. The trees began to form a tunnel and most of the light was blocked out, but Raven could see an opening of light down further. The outline of the boy was shown against the light and Raven could hear Shadow behind him crashing through the bushes. The light got brighter as Raven got closer; it was an opening to a clearing. Raven cleared the Forest tunnel and looked around. A noise to the left of him made him turn and he saw Avalon come out of another path. They both looked at each other with surprised looks on their faces.
"Have you seen a---"
But Raven stopped as Avalon's face was looking not at him, but at something behind him. He turned and his eyes widened. Standing in front of him was a Temple/Castle-like building. It was huge; vines grew through it and it seemed like no one had been there for a long time. Smaller buildings lay around it and a running stream went through the middle; it was beautiful. Raven's eyes then focused on two figures, standing near the entrance to this small village; Avalon stepped forward with tears in her eyes.
"Tri." She whispered.
The man that stood next to Tri slowly turned around and Raven's eyes widened.
'VAN!'
Neko: How you all like it? Well review please for next chapter!!!!
*Packs Shadow into a plane*
*(Its like a zoologist, but for zoids, he knows a lot about zoids and how they work etc)