Legacy of Ruin

by Gardian X

25XX A.D. As the flames of war once again take root in the world, a weary figure from an era long since past recalls the terrible events that had brought all to this point. An ancient legend forced to live far longer than he should, one that's mourned for centuries is forced to once again face the uncertain future instead of wallow in the past. Definitely AU.

1. Prologue

Mega Man X

Legacy of Ruin

Prologue

A weary figure with battered and decayed armor stood in a small cave, alone as he had for countless years. His eyes told of centuries of hardship, of trials, and tribulations. Countless sacrifices that he had had to endure. A few frayed wires had been revealed under the once azure plates that had at one time served as armor, now dulled by age.

He hadn't lived. Not for centuries. Instead, he had merely existed as he had watched the outside world continue to move on without him. But it was for the best. He had... Only brought harm to the earth from the very first day he had been found. He had brought ruin... And death.

He hadn't spoken to another living entity in three hundred years. His solitude had been absolute. It was a necessity in a way. So instead, he lived and typed on a decaying computer that should have been discarded almost as long ago as he should have been.

The data he never kept but he would write daily, memories of a long forgotten war, of horrors the world had long since recovered from, but he himself had not.

22XX was a time of turbulence, of madness. War was still the nightmare of the present. There was no escaping it's grasp. Even should one have born to the richest of human parents or created in the worst of factories the inescapable reality of the Elf Wars would continue. Even though the Sigma Virus had been destroyed, the legendary hunter Zero sealed away, and Axl no longer a part of history... Yet, the madness would continue.

Only one of the 'heroes' remained. Yet, as the Elf Wars continued his heart grew cold, hard, and he became as ruthless as his enemies. The so called 'gentle hunter' became just as unyielding and unforgiving as even the enemy commander. Victory became an obsession.

Faced by this horrible fact the last legend had an option: Attempt to seal the recently corrupted mother elf before it could destroy the world, and leave the world to Zero's hands when he'd reawaken or attempt to destroy the elf before she could destroy the world?

He chose the former option and for a time there was peace.

However, plagued by the loss of a leader Neo Arcadia faltered and an idealistic six year old girl named Ciel managed to successfully create a copy of their beloved hero.

Again stability was ensured... For a time.

Yet, this copy was not ready for the reigns of power. Madness took him and Neo Arcadia fell into darkness.

The figure shakes his weary head. No, he couldn't revisit these memories. Not yet... Even after all this time. Quickly, he deleted the entire transcript; as he always did.

Instead he utters a few words. It's the first time he's spoken in years.

"I am Mega Man X, former leader of Neo Arcadia... And I have failed utterly."