Hey guys, it's time for a brand new story, this time going to the Zoids universe. I loved watching them as a kid, and after hearing about a new zoids series coming out (though it doesn't look good in my opinion), I got all nostalgic. This story will take place in the zoids: new century zero universe, several months after the story ended. We'll be seeing characters from the show in here, but it will focus on my own set of OCs. As for the zoid that will become my main OC, Sarah's, partner, I've already got one lined up, along with the rest of her future teammates. Anyway, I do not own Zoids. They belong to their respective owners. I only own my OCs. Here's chapter 1. Let's begin.

Chapter 1: A New Dawn

It's been several months since that fateful day. The day that the Blitz Team, first a group of decent zoid pilots that were relatively unknown in some parts, had quickly risen to the top of the zoids battle rankings. Their legend began to spread once they got their new pilot, Bit Cloud, a junk dealer that ended up being able to pilot the zoid known as the Liger Zero. Their ranking went up, their skills improved, and they took down the competition. Even more so, the zoids battle commission owed them a great deal for helping to take down the large-scale criminal organization, the Backdraft Group. After the royal cup ended with the Blitz Team claiming victory and the Backdraft Group being utterly defeated and their plans come crashing down, the ZBC (Zoids battle commission) was able to clean up whatever damages the Backdraft Group made, round up many of the criminal's groups 'clients', and finally secured their control over zoids battles to ensure that fair and honest battles would be held without any more interference. The Blitz Team made it into S class, where only the best of the best can battle…

Sarah Lockhart remembers that day very well. She watched on the TV screens that broadcasted that fateful day. Seeing the battles that took place, especially the fated battle between the Liger Zero and the Berserk Fury, two powerful zoids that displayed incredible intelligence. Sarah had kept anything related to that tournament with her, as a reminder of that day, and why she would also become a zoid warrior as well. Sarah wants to fight epic battles like those ones, to face off against skilled pilots like Jack Cisco of the Lightning Team, Leon Toros of the Fluegel Team, and maybe even one day face off against Bit Cloud of the Blitz Team and his Liger Zero. Luckily for her, that day where she can begin that journey has come…

…

It's late in the morning and Sarah Lockhart has just finished her preparations. Her home, Stonegear town, is the next stop for a moving division of the ZBC. After the royal cup, the ZBC expanded its reach and now have a mobile division on the ground. This division helps spread the excitement of zoid battles, and even offers new zoid warriors a chance to get registered for competition. What's more, local businesses work with this division to help sell zoids, transports, and even other offers. It's the perfect opportunity for Sarah to begin her journey as a new zoid warrior. She had been working a lot of jobs from around the town to help make some money, and she even learned a thing or two about zoids engineering to help her in the future. She also sold some of her own things that she wouldn't be needing since she'll be on the road a lot from now on. Either way, Sarah can't wait. She has the money, she's done the necessary steps to prepare for registration, and she even managed to get a deal for a Gustav transport from an old friend. All she needs is to find a zoid to pilot, and luckily they'll be having a show of some zoids for sale at the event as well.

"Okay, today's the day. Time to get this show on the road," Sarah mutters.

Walking out of her old home, Sarah looks up into the sky with excitement running through her veins. She has long blonde hair, and green eyes with fair complexion. She is wearing her battle outfit for zoids battles. The outfit consists of a sleeveless blue leather turtleneck shirt, and a pair of white shoulder length gloves. She is also wearing a pair of blue short-shorts fitted with garters that connect to a pair of thigh-length white leather boots. Finally, she has on two black belts, one around the waist with the shorts, and the second crossing over it, and a silver oval-shaped belt buckle to finish it She has a few pouches on her belts with a few things. Finally she has on a pair of old dog tags on a silver necklace around her neck. Now that she's all ready to go, Sarah makes her way to the center of town, where the ZBC event is taking place. Along the way, she makes the occasional wave and 'hello' to some of the townsfolk. After a quick run over to the center of town, she finds what she's been looking for. A local zoids research institute that includes zoid repairs, zoids development and customization, and zoids sales. This is the place where the ZBC event will be taking place.

"Yeah, that's the place. Hope the old man didn't oversleep today. I still need his help with getting the Gustav all finished up," Sarah says.

After making it passed the crowd forming around the institute, Sarah makes it inside and heads straight for the registration booth first. As she walks to her goal, she sees all sorts of people doing things in the building. From engineers talking about zoid specs, to junk dealers and sellers trying to make some cash, and even a few zoid pilots from other towns are here as well. However, she pays them little mind as she doesn't want to waste any time. Finally, she finds a booth set up for zoid warrior registration. Approaching the booth, she finds a female ZBC employee at the desk with some equipment.

"Hello, welcome to the Zoids Battle Commission registration station. How may I help you today?" the woman politely asks.

"I'm here to registar as a zoid warrior for zoid battles. I've brought my zoid gear with me, and I've handled the necessary preparations beforehand," Sarah says, pulling out a zoid gear for registration.

"Excellent. Just give me a moment, and lock your zoid gear in our recorder right here. Once I give you your official registration number, input the data into your zoid gear, and that should do it," the woman explains.

"Sure thing," Sarah says as she puts her zoid gear into the recorder on the desk.

The woman types some data in and works out the necessary adjustments, "Alright, your zoid registration number is 09264. Please input the data and that will do it," the woman says.

"Gotcha," Sarah replies and inputs the data into her zoid gear, and a moment later, the process is all complete. "Wow, that was easy," she notes.

"Do you have a zoid at your command at this time?" the woman asks.

"Um, no, not yet," Sarah says.

"Well when you do, please be sure to get it registered as your official zoid to the ZBC. This doesn't need to be done here, but make sure you get it set when you do," the woman explains.

"Okay, I got it. Thanks again," Sarah replies.

"I'd thought I'd find you here. Just couldn't wait for me, could you?" Sarah hears a male's voice and turns around to see an old man with a short gray beard and wearing brown clothing approach her. "But then again, I'm not really surprised. You have been known to work fast from time to time," the old man says.

"Old man Zack. I was wondering where you were. I thought you might have been swallowed by the crowds forming up here," Sarah happily greets him as she walks up to him.

"Heh, you're probably the only person aside from my wife that I'll let call me old," Zack says with a chuckle.

"Listen, thanks again for helping me out with the Gustav. I owe you one," Sarah says.

"Aw, it's no problem at all. You've been a big help to me and my business these last few months. It's the least I could do. Besides, that Gustav used to be mine when I was younger. But, I'm getting too old for travelling these days, and I'd hate to just sell it off to some strangers or have it sit around until it rusts. It's still in good condition, and it'll get you to where you're going. It'll serve you better now than it will me. Just take good care of it, and promise to stop by from time to time, okay?" the old man asks.

"You got it. All that's left is to find the right zoid for me to pilot, and then I'm all set," Sarah notes.

"Well, then you'd better hurry. There's lots of zoids going on sale today because of the event, but they won't last forever. New pilots looking for their first zoid, and veterans in need of a replacement are all over. Better get going. I'll be by your new Gustav so no one tries anything. Just meet me outside when you're ready," Zack says.

"Sure thing. Thanks again," Sarah says.

With that, the two separate with Sarah heading to the west wing of the building where the zoid sales are set up. Once she gets there, she is amazed by the large number of different zoids up for grabs. They have gun snipers, saber fangs, cannon tortoises, pteras bombers, and even a few rare ones like a gojulas out for display and purchase. Sarah walks through the aisles, looking at each and every one, trying to see which one would be the right fit. While yes, there are plenty of zoids here, and any one of them would be a good start for her since she is just a rookie, but that isn't enough for Sarah Lockhart. It had to be right, however, Sarah knows this may be her once chance to get a zoid, so either way, she's getting one and making due with what she's got. Maybe down the road, she'll earn enough money to upgrade to a more proper zoid. Going through the lineup, Sarah finds her hopes starting to dwindle a bit. There are plenty of good zoids here, no doubt there. The issue is that none of them felt…right. And yet, she has to make a choice, or who knows when she'll get a zoid to battle with. She ends up coming across a zoid that she thinks will do for the time being. The zoid is smaller than some, red, and is a tiger-based zoid, the Gun tiger. While it may be small, and an older unit, it still has decent performance, and is fast and agile. Sarah feels at least a small connection to it, so it'll do for now. After making the necessary payments and finishing the paperwork. Sarah has the zoid brought outside to where the old man and her new Gustav are waiting for her. The gustav is like all the others, the only difference being that the shell is painted white instead of red or grey like the other ones.

"Hey old man, everything all set?" Sarah asks as she walks up to him.

"Yep, everything's ready to go," Zack replies and looks at Sarah's choice of zoid. "The gun tiger, huh? Are you sure you want to start out with that one? I'm sure there were others back there that are much stronger," he notes.

"There were…none of them felt right. It wouldn't do if I went into battle with a zoid I can't connect with," Sarah replies.

"Beggars can't be choosers," Zack retorts.

"Hey, I picked one, didn't I? I mean, I can't feel that strong a connection with this one either, but it's better than the others, or none at all. Either way, this Gun Tiger is my zoid now…So, it looks like I'll be heading out now. Gotta get going and be ready for my very first zoid battle," Sarah notes.

"Where are you heading?" Zack asks.

"West. There's another town in that direction. Crest Town. I'll head there first," Sarah replies.

"You're going alone?" Zack asks.

"There's no other zoids pilots in this town, old man. And all the ones that showed up today are already on teams of their own. I'll try and find some zoid pilots in the next town and see if they'd be willing to join my team. I've already taken care of that as well. For now, since it's just me, I'm calling my team the Lockhart Team. But that will probably change once I get some new members," Sarah explains.

"I see…well, just be careful. If you're going in that direction, then you may see Zi Mountain along the way. I've heard some stories about that place. They say some phantom zoid dwells at the top of the mountain, but has never been found. Just rumors and stories though, so I don't pay much attention to them. Also be careful of bandits and thieves on your journey. Your zoid isn't all that rare, or worth much, but they'll be keen to take whatever they can get, by any means possible," Zack explains.

"I will. Thank you…See you next time, old man," Sarah says as she gives him a hug.

The old man returns the gesture, "Of course. Due try to visit every now and again. Take care of yourself, Sarah. And good luck," Zack replies as they separate.

With that, Sarah enters her new Gustav and starts it up. With her Gun Tiger on the flatbed hooked behind it, Sarah heads out to really begin her journey. Luckily for her, Crest town isn't too far away, but it will take her a couple hours before she arrives. After well over an hour with nothing happening so far on her trip, Sarah spots the Zi Mountain that the old man told her about. It isn't anything particularly impressive, aside from being the tallest mountain in the area. And yet, lots of people believe that there is something dwelling there, something that no one has seen. Which is precisely why Sarah doesn't really pay attention to that stuff much. How can there be something living there if no one has seen it with their own eyes. Probably just some people spreading ghost stories for attention. Anyway, after another half an hour of driving, Sarah finally sees the edge of Crest Town. Now, time to see if she can find anyone looking to join her team.

…

After arriving in town and parking her Gustav near the local zoids station there, Sarah makes her way to the town center. There are a few spots here to get a drink and something to eat, and that's the best spot Sarah will find to locate zoid pilots who seek some rest after a long trip. Entering the local pub, a few eyes turn to Sarah as she enters the building, but they quickly go back to their own business. Looking around, Sarah can quickly see a few zoid pilots around. They're not too difficult to pick out due to either the air they give off, or the clothes they're wearing. Sarah can just tell. Of course, finding new recruits is proving to be much more difficult than she thought. Throughout the early afternoon, Sarah has been asking around, looking for other zoid pilots to join her team. However, time and time again, she has come up short. Most of the individuals she's asked were either already on a team, or weren't looking for new members. And some just didn't want to talk to her. Later in the day, Sarah had become exhausted and stopped by the pub she first visited for a quick drink.

Sitting at a table in the back with a hot cup of tea, Sarah just minds her own business, while planning her next move. It's anyone's guess when she'll get the notification from the ZBC on her first battle, and already it looks like she'll be fighting at a disadvantage.

"Looks like this is going to be tougher than I thought. If I can't find some teammates, it'll become more difficult to move up the rankings," Sarah thinks before she sighs and sips her tea.

A moment later however, a trio of guys walk up to her table, with two of them standing back while the third stands right next to her.

"Hey there, good-looking," the lead guy says.

Sarah gets a look at him and his buddies and can see that they're all zoid pilots. However, something doesn't feel right about them. One in the back has short black hair, wearing black pants and an orange shirt under a black jacket. The second groupie has dirty blonde, shoulder-length hair, and is wearing a blue leather vest over a gray long-sleeved shirt, along with a pair of camo-pants and combat boots. The one up front, most likely the leader, has short, spikey brown hair, wearing a green jacket over a black shirt, leather pants, brown gloves, and combat boots as well. But Sarah sees he's bad news by the smirk on his face.

"Can I help you?" Sarah tries to be polite, but even that's a challenge at this point.

"I've heard you've been looking for zoids pilots to join your team. How about you come and join our team, sweetheart? This way, the four of us will be able to move up the rankings in no time," the leader says.

"…What kind of zoids do you have?" Sarah asks.

"We've got three Godos zoids. Not much, but with the three of us, and with you if you want, will win enough matches to get some money for better zoids. So what do you say, ready to join the winning team, babe?" the man asks.

His cocky attitude and slightly perverted demeanor makes Sarah want to barf, and she can tell that these guys don't want her on the team just because she's another zoid pilot. So, the answer is obvious…

"Thanks…but no thanks. I'm good," Sarah shoots them down.

The three men are stunned by this, "W-what did you just say?" the boss asks, starting to lose his cool already.

"I may be looking for new teammates, but it's not like I'm desperate. Besides, I do have standards when it comes to my teammates, and you three don't fit the bill. Not to mention, I know why you really came to talk to me. So I'm only going to say this once: beat it," Sarah shoots them down.

The three get angry, with the leader gritting his teeth a bit, "Think you're better than us? I don't think you understand the situation here," the leader says as he reaches for her.

However, the second his hand is about to land on her left arm, Sarah spills her still very warm tea on his hand, and he pulls back, screaming from the burn.

"Oops, clumsy me," Sarah innocently says.

"Why you little-," the guy growls.

Sarah stands up, ready to defend herself or run if need be. However, that plan gets put on hold when a newcomer joins the fun, a tall newcomer standing over a foot higher than Sarah (let's say she's 5'7'' in height). The person is a male with short, white hair, wearing a long coat with a high collar that covers the lower half of his face. He has blue eyes, and his coat is white with red edging. Under the coat is red pants and black boots, and he's wearing black fingerless gloves. The man grabs the leader's shoulder and throws him into his buddies. The trio fall onto the ground and look up at the intimidating figure standing over them, glaring down on them. Their anger turning into fear, the three high-tail it out of there.

"Whoa…um, thanks for the save there, sir," Sarah thanks the man. The man turns to look at her, and she gets a little nervous. "Um, I'm Sarah Lockhart. N-nice to meet you…hopefully," Sarah says, muttering the last part.

"…Pick your fights carefully, kid," the man says and turns to leave.

"Wait, what's your name? I'd like to pay you back for helping me out," Sarah tries to stop him.

"…Sky," the man replies without stopping, and leaves the pub, while Sarah watches him leave.

Well, one thing's for sure. Sarah's journey won't be boring. For good, and for bad.

And that's the first chapter. What do you guys think? For the record, the Gun Tiger is NOT the main zoid that Sarah will be using as her partner. That comes a little later. Sarah Lockhart's journey begins as a zoid warrior, but will she be ready for the challenges that await her down the road? Until then, please Read and Review.