This is the end for peace.

The Reploids believed they had achieved a relative safety. Dr. Weil had been defeated, and with the sacrifice of Megaman Zero, humans and Reploids could now both live together in harmony. But peace shall never reign.

Get ready. The fall is now.

"Miss Ciel, are you all right?"

Ciel forced a smile at the Reploid solider. "Of course, soldier. I'm fine."

He shrugged. "Good. Let's go, then."

She nodded. They had been trudging along for hours. The Virdian Forest maintained a steady flow of bugs, heat, and plants to get in their way. And you don't even know if this search will turn up anything, do you?

She closed her eyes. Three years later, and still nothing. How did they even know he still lived? No signs, no contact, nothing ever came to prove that he still existed. Now she almost doubted there ever was a Zero.

Zero. Tears started to form in her eyes. She brushed them away, hoping the soldiers didn't see her crying. He had come and gone, never staying for little more than a hello and a good-bye. But still…she wished he…

The tears flowed freely now. She fell to her knees, trying to control her sobs. Alas, she could not. And was that such a bad thing? Why? Why did you go? Why did you—

"Miss?" The Reploid trooper knelt down next to her. "It's all right, Miss. We still miss him too."

No. They didn't understand. They would never understand. And why should I be surprised? The only Reploid that ever really felt anything was Zero, anyway.

"But we need to move, Miss. Maverick activity in this area is very high. We don't want to run into anything."

She nodded and rose to her feet. "Yes, captain. Lead…lead the way."

So they headed onward. She wiped her tears away as they continued. He's gone. And he'll be gone. No matter what you do, he'll be gone.

But there was still hope. She thought he had died before, but no, he returned. But could it be that it really had ended? Was the legacy of the Maverick Hunter Zero really at an end?

With these questions tormenting her, she continued the search into the jungle. All for lost hope.

And the hero who had taken that hope with him.

--

"The sun is waning, hunter."

He raised his head. "You mean it is time?"

"Yes. The fall of the humans is nigh."

His lip curled upward, the saber in his hand flashing. "And the Reploids shall take them to it."

(Yeah, this is pretty much the shortest chapter ever. I'll try to lengthen the next one. Well, it is better than that other story I had planned. Of course, Capcom will probably come out with a Megaman Zero 5 and totally make this story obsolete, but who cares? And why is this note longer than my story? Ah well.)

Please R&R:)

Over and Out