Fan Fiction / Zoids Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness ❯ Chapter 1

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Zoids…although I really, really wish I owned my very own Raven…*sigh*

A/N - I know this took a long time to get out, but what can I say? I did warn you all that I am writing 3 other fics…and re-writing another 2. Eh…too much work! Stupid College!

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Ryss rubbed her temples as she sat on the crumbling brick wall in front of her house. The endless rolling dune hills stretched away on either side, glowing a pinkish orange as the setting sun cast its final rays across the sunburnt country.

She sighed softly as Specula nudged her back and crooned behind her. Her organoid was frightened of something, the same thing that had been pulsing in Ryss' head ever since she had found Raven lying in the desert.

There was a power out there in the desert somewhere. An unbelievably frightening power that vibrated along Ryss' bones whenever she paid attention to it. It was almost painful the power was so great, but fear was something that Ryss had conquered long ago so she paid no heed to the butterflies in her stomach.

"I thought I'd found you out here." Raven's footfalls were almost silent as they approached her. His breathing was rough as though he was still injured but quiet as though he was trying to hide this fact from her.

"Well they're aren't many places to go." Ryss idly stroked Specula's glowing blue snout and hummed softly as it nestled into her. She could feel Specula's organoid power rippling along her skin like a warm wind. Her organoid's power was comforting and blocked out some of the other power that was always present in the air.

"What are you doing out here?" Raven asked quietly as he sat down beside her, Shadow settling down next to him as though he were a pet dog.

Ryss tilted her head to the side as she considered Shadow; the organoid looked back at her and made an uneasy sound, signalling that it too could feel the strange power in the air.

"I asked you a question." Raven frowned at Ryss and tucked a stray strand of his spiky black hair behind his ear. Shadow nudged his leg as though scared and Raven frowned harder as he placed his hand on top of his friends head; the feel of smooth, cold metal oddly soothing.

"I'm trying to work out what it is." Ryss scuffed her boot into the sand glanced sideways at Raven, her green eyes wide with uncertainty. "Whatever that thing was that attacked you in the desert is getting closer. I can feel it and so can both our organoids."

"I don't feel anything." Raven sounded annoyed and he shifted close to Ryss, forcing her to pay attention to him. "Why can't I feel anything?"

"I feel it because I'm an ancient Zoidian and I'm sensitive to zoid powers, it's the same with Specula and Shadow. You however are just a human so you wouldn't feel the power we can feel." Ryss felt a small shiver flow up her spine as Raven's eyes travelled down and up her body as she talked.

"What does it feel like?" He moved closer still and Ryss' body almost hummed with tension as she wondered if he would make a move on her. She hadn't bothered to hide her crush on him back when they had been working with Hiltz together.

"It…it hurts." Ryss faced Raven but kept her eyes carefully blank. Specula made a small hissing sound and Ryss quickly gave it a reassuring pat. "It feels like millions of little needles pricking your skin…and at the same tie it's like a pressure in your head."

Raven nodded slowly and looked away. "Do you think its Hiltz? Do you think he's back again?" He glanced sideways at her again.

"This isn't like Hiltz. Hiltz was empty…his power was like a great big black hole. I would never have even noticed that he was an ancient Zoidian if he hadn't told us." Ryss slowly shook her head as she remembered how Hiltz had fooled her. "This power is like nothing I've felt before. It's worse then the Death Saurer…worse then the Death Stinger…it's just bad." Ryss voice shook slightly and she cursed under her breath at this show of weakness.

"Its getting to you isn't it?" Rave frowned in concern and reached a hand out to touch Ryss face before he realised what he was doing.

"It feels wrong." Ryss sighed ever so slightly as Raven's hand touched her face and he traced her jaw line. She faced him and had to swallow the small trembling smile that threatened to spill across her lips. Instead she looked at him almost emotionlessly, only allowing her eyes to show her gratitude for his small act of understanding.

Abruptly, Ryss pulled back and laughed under her breath. "It doesn't matter though, what do I care if the world is thrown back into chaos again? At least it'll keep the Guardian Force busy for a time." She snorted in amusement as she thought about Van and his little gang.

"Have you ever seen them since the battle against the Dark Kaiser?" Raven kept his distance from Ryss, unsure of why he had touched her face and disliking the fat that he had such little control over his body when he was around her.

"Oh yes." Ryss laughed again. "Every time I go out I seem to run into t least one of them. Fiona's alright, she doesn't bother me that much - after what Hiltz tried with her she thinks she understand me better." Ryss shook her head. "She doesn't even bother to hide her feelings form me. She thinks Hiltz bullied me into the person I am. If she knew the truth…" She trailed off and tossed her blue hair defiantly, Specula roaring for emphasis. "I'd hate to be her right now, she was always more sensitive to zoid power then I was. This must be incredibly painful for her."

"What about Van?" Raven ignored the urge to run his fingers through her glossy hair; instead he kept one hand on Shadow.

"Him!" Ryss snorted dismissively. "Every time I see him he's either asking about you or trying to blame me for some incident or another - most of which I'm not behind." Ryss crossed her legs and pursed her lips.

"Most?" Raven chuckled. "You still haven't given up your old ways then?"

"Old habits die hard, and there's always plenty of work for a renegade like me. I sell my services to the highest bidder." Realising what she's said Ryss blushed.

"Really?" Raven smirked, enjoying Ryss embarrassment. It served her right after how she'd acted while he had been in bed earlier! "Can I enquire how much you usually charge? I could do with some servicing myself." Getting into the spirit of it Raven raised his eyebrows suggestively, not put off when Ryss gave him a death glare.

Shadow made a sound of amusement and she switched her glare to the black organoid instead. "You men are all the same!" Ryss made to stand up when suddenly the horizon began to glow a sickly green colour.

"What on Zi is that?" Raven stood up and stared at the glowing horizon, a faint wind the only warning before a huge shock wave hit them. The force of the energy ripple whipping up sand around them and hurling Ryss, Raven and their organoids to the ground.

The air around then groaned and the ground rumbled. Unable to contain the horrible feeling that the power was causing in her Ryss shrieked; her voice joined by the roars of the two organoids as the power rushed over them in a bubbling wave…

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A/N - That's all I can manage for now, but trust e when I say that the next chapter should be out a lot sooner then this one! I feel terrible for how long it took me! Please Review!