Hi. This is the bro. of Banbie Bunny. This is a one chapter story that takes place a short while after Megaman Zero 3. It may branch off into a whole new story, but for now this is what it is. This is my first Megaman Zero fic. Any reviews are welcome.

Ciel wandered about the resistance base in search of Zero. He had been missing the entire day and they had not received any calls from him. It wasn't like him to disappear without telling anyone. He had not been sent on any missions lately, and they had not had any calls from Neo Arcadia about attacks from Zero.

"Cerveau!" she called as she passed the lab door. Cerveau came out with a blow torch in his hand. "Yes Ciel?" Ciel stayed a safe distance away from the blow torch just in case. "I'm looking for Zero Cerveau. Have you seen him?" Cerveau shook his head "No I haven't. Sorry, I wish I knew where he was too. I have a new weapon for him. He's been missing all day." he suddenly dropped the torch and it hit the floor in a flurry of sparks. "Yikes!" shouted Ciel jumping right out of the way... and into the wall behind her.

Cerveau lifted his mask and picked up the blow torch. "Whoops. I guess I dropped it. Ciel?" Ciel was not there. She decided it was best to avoid any other accidents.

Ciel went to her lab and picked up a microphone that would sound all over the base. "Attention! Attention!" she began "Has anyone seen Zero? Please let me know if you've seen him." she put the microphone down and sighed. She leaned back in her seat and wrung her hands nervously. She could never worry about Zero too much. Any time he was on a mission, or when he was hurt, she was always there to apologize or help him.

An alarm suddenly sounded making her jump. She typed some commands into her computer and it brought up a map. From a vertical view of the base, it showed a red blinking dot on her lab. She looked around. There was nobody there. She picked up her microphone again "Alert Alert! We have an intruder. Be on your guard!" She repositioned the view on her map and it showed a side view. The dot was on the roof above her lab which was three floors down.

She got up and readied a blaster she had built especially for herself. Over the years, she had decided it was best to have some means of defense. She went to the elevator. A soldier met her there "Miss Ciel!" he said "Where are you going?" Ciel punched the top floor button. "I'm going to the roof to see what is going on." The soldier got out his blaster. "You can't go by yourself Miss Ciel. I'll go with you." She smiled and shook her head. "No. Thank you anyway. You stay in here if I need you." The soldier stood up straight looking as official as anything "Yes sir- I mean ma'am!"

The door opened and Ciel stepped out onto the roof. She held her blaster up and looked around. She only saw some flashing lights and sounds of battle going on behind a tower. She approached the tower and cautiously peered around the side. It was Zero, and he was fighting Sage Harpuia. Zero seemed to be putting up a good fight, but all Harpuia was trying to do was avoid him.

"Stop it Zero. You really must join-" Zero shot his buster rapidly "I can't even believe you would ask such a thing. What do you think I am? A Judas?" Harpuia shot into the air blocking shots with his blades. "It would be for a greater good you know. You can't keep going forever." Zero leapt up after him using the Chain Rod and catching Harpuia on the leg, pulling him down. Harpuia slashed at him with his saber.

Zero pulled him down and grabbed him by the neck "Sage Harpuia..." he menaced "Don't you ever try anything like that again. Got it! Now get out of here. I don't want to see you again." he threw Harpuia off the roof. Harpuia regained flight and hovered in the air. He gave a small evil smile. "You won't be able to fight it Zero. Just remember that." he took off and disappeared.

Zero stood panting and shaking with anger. His eyes were blazing with anger and something else... fear? Ciel walked over to him and laid a hand on his arm. "Zero?" she said. Zero jumped and whirled around. He sighed and put away his weapons. "How long were you here Ciel?" he asked. Ciel shrugged slightly "I just got here. I'm sorry I couldn't have been here earlier to help you. Are you alright?" she asked with concern. Zero shook his head. "Yes, but he sure made me angry. I need to go rest."

Ciel walked with him back to the elevator. "What was going on Zero? Did he attack you?" Zero shook his head again. "Sort of. I'd rather not talk about it." Ciel nodded understandingly. She beckoned to the soldier in the elevator to help Zero to his capsule. She laid one of his arms across her shoulders. Zero groaned "Come on. You worry too much about me, I'm not that hurt." Ciel and the soldier lugged him inside. "Let me help you Zero. I know I worry too much, but I can't help it. I hate to see you hurt."

Zero smiled. Ciel was a worrier all right. But it was often nice having someone worrying about you. He took his arms off them and stood up straight "I'm Okay, really. Thanks though." Ciel smiled up- way up (He is way taller than she is) at him. There was no question about it. Ciel loved Zero. It was as plain as day that she did. It was just a slight question if he loved her or not.

They finally reached the third floor again and Cerveau greeted them. "Zero!" he exclaimed "I've been looking all over for you. I have a new weapon and-" Zero waved his hand "Later Cerveau. I need to rest." he trudged off to his capsule. Cerveau looked after Zero with a confused look "What's wrong with him?" he asked. Ciel cocked her eyebrow "I think because he saw your blow torch."

Zero lay back in his capsule. He sighed as he thought about what had just happened. Harpuia dared to ask him to betray the resistance! He didn't know where he got the guts- no, lack of guts to ask such a thing. He never would... but then, his mind was filled suddenly with a few forgotten memories and a familiar fear rose up inside him.

Iris. That reploid he had known over a hundred years ago. He shut his eyes but he couldn't keep a few tears from escaping. He had fallen in love with Iris, but alas their friendship was only temporary. She was maverick and he had killed her in self-defense. He didn't want to, but he had no choice. It was then that he almost gave up on fighting. But he had continued; trying to forget his friend. But now. Even now after a century had passed she still haunted his mind.

He remembered what he had said after his mission then. He actually believed for a while that all reploids were born to be maverick. Even Megaman X had told him that he thought he would turn maverick. He had asked Zero in case that happened, to take care of him. Zero had dismissed it then, but later he found himself admitting that it might happen.

Now his mind was filled with fear that the chances of him turning maverick may in fact happen. He broke out in a cold sweat. Despite the fact that he was purged of the virus, he still thought that Harpuia may hold truth in his tauntings...

No. He said it resolutely in his mind. He would never turn maverick, never. If he could help it. "But... I'm just a copy of Zero." he said aloud leaning forward in his capsule. "I don't know if that won't happen to me as well. Omega Zero could have infected me." he clenched his teeth and fists. "No! I will not turn maverick! I won't, you hear me Harpuia!" he leapt out of his capsule and shouted at the ceiling. "I won't join your pitiful side. I am Zero! Maverick Hunter alongside Megaman X. You can ask and threaten me, but I am still a maverick hunter. Tell that to Weil for me and give it up!"

He glared angrily upward and his shoulders heaved up and down in weariness as he recovered from his surge of anger. The door to the room suddenly opened and Ciel rushed in. "Zero! Are you alright? What's wrong?" Zero closed his eyes and he sat down on a couch. "It's nothing. I just got a little angry." Ciel sat next to him and rubbed his shoulder "Zero please tell me. You don't have to, but I'd feel better if you did. I could help you..."

Zero lay back. "I... Ciel, what would you do if I turned to the bad side and joined the Guardians?" Ciel looked shocked and confused "Why, I'd... I don't know what I'd do. I, would be sad... after all you did to help us." Zero nodded slowly. "Well. Harpuia asked me to do just that. I got so angry that I blew my top. And he also said that I would turn maverick, whether I wanted to or not."

Ciel got an angry look on her face "That will never happen. I know you Zero. You are not like Omega, you are the Zero. Never forget that." she leaned over and hugged him. Zero blushed slightly, but he felt comforted and reassured at her words. He hugged her back. "Thanks. I don't know what I would do without you Ciel." Ciel felt very small in Zero's arms, but she smiled and said "I don't know what I would do without you Zero."

They broke apart and Ciel stood up "I need to go and do some research now. I'll see you later Zero. Try to rest some more please." Zero stood up and walked to his energy capsule "Alright. Thanks again Ciel." Ciel opened the door and looked back "Your welcome. Goodnight." and she left.