Mega Man Zero
The Link Between Reploids and Humans
Chapter One
Darkness in the Recesses of the Heart
The wounds on his body, they were always a reminder to his pain. He fought millions alone, with only his weapons and skills to back him up. He was feared by many, and looked up to by many more. He was, quite simply, a hero in his own merit. His body was cut up many times, repaired constantly. His dark blue eyes held a mysterious, dark past behind them.
The ultimate reploid… The one they call Zero. His presence has caused the fall of his enemies time and time again…But no matter how hard he fought, he needed a purpose for his battles… Sealed away for so many years, he had lost everything he had before. His partner in battle, X, died sealing away the Dark Elf, who had caused the elf wars years back…he had beaten back the forces of Neo Arcadia and destroyed the evil Copy X.
For a time after, he had decided to break up with the Resistance Army to find his own path in life… He had lost all real motivation to fight, however…there was always something holding deep in his heart… He wandered aimlessly for a year, fighting off Neo Arcadia all the time as he went, though feeling no real care for it…something just seemed missing. One fateful day he collapsed in the desert after an extreme battle with Neo Arcadia's forces, left simply to the elements after a long year of fighting without rest.
He came to in the resistance base, finding old and new faces from his past. Once again he had a reason to fight, with the Resistance, newly led by Commander Elpizo, formerly a part of Neo Arcadia. Elpizo started a premature assault on Neo Arcadia, his forces being decimated. In this defeat, he found he needed more power…the power of the Dark Elf. Elpizo eventually broke the seal of the Dark Elf by destroying X's body, which had been holding back its power. Elpizo used its power to become much more powerful. In a fierce battle, Zero managed to defeat Elpizo, though the Dark Elf got away…
A few months later, a new discovery was made: The large reploid, Omega, and Dr. Weil. They were after the Dark Elf, for their own purposes…and even brought the former master of Neo Arcadia, Copy X, back from the grave. There was so much Zero didn't know, he was lost to it all…but he continued to battle, finally coming face to face to Omega. His power was so great, yet Zero knew it from somewhere…After the battle, Zero was left to contemplate everything…and this is where our story truly starts.
Zero laid back in his chambers, staring at the ceiling. He felt so confused by it all…he could usually act cool in front of everyone else, but on the inside he was worried. He didn't know who he was…if Omega was truly the "original" Zero…then what was he, really? Just a copy? Just like that damn Copy X, who stole his best friend's identity. Zero shook his head in frustration.
Just then, the door slid open with its usual mechanical 'whirr,' as Ciel walked into his room. "Zero?" Zero sat up, looking to the human woman as she spoke, "Are you alright? You've been kind of distracted lately." Zero shrugged. "Don't worry about me, Ciel. Have there been any news about Neo Arcadia?" Ciel shook her head, as Zero sighed, "Damn. I need something to do…"
As if on cue, the alert started to blare from the speakers. "Ciel! Zero! Come to the briefing room, now! We've got a situation!" Zero jumped off of the bed, grabbing up his trusty weapons from a table, running off to the briefing room, Ciel following faithfully behind him.
As they ran in, a soldier saluted them, and then pointed up to the screen. The operators then spoke, "There is a wide disturbance near our base…But, strangely, it isn't from Neo Arcadia's forces…Zero, can you investigate the area with Ciel?" Zero nodded slightly, looking to Ciel, saying, "I'll keep her out of trouble." Ciel smiled back at the blonde haired reploid. "I'll be careful." Ciel and Zero both stepped onto the transfer pad, as the operators started typing in coordinates. The warning alarm then blared, as the other civilian reploids stepped away from the pad.
"Transfer!"
Both of their figures faded into light, as they were sent to the programmed location. As they materialized, Zero looked around. Multiple slain reploids were laying on the ground, with multiple saber wounds, as well as some shot wounds. "If this wasn't Neo Arcadia, there's only one other possibility…" Zero trailed off, as Ciel finished, "…Weil." Zero pulled the Z-Saber from a compartment at his side, glancing around.
Some defense turrets were in flame, as the dark grey clouds overhead made it look like nighttime. Ciel held behind Zero, scared of what might come out from the shadows. Zero looked back at the girl, feeling a strong attachment to her, besides the need to protect her. Zero smiled slightly, speaking in a soft tone to her, "I'll protect you, Ciel…don't worry."
She was surprised, to say the least. Her eyes stared at Zero, feeling strangely happy at his words, never having heard him speak so warmly to anyone before. Zero's gaze then hardened, as he looked into the flames, grapping her. Zero leapt away quickly, holding the girl, as a large energy shot went by the spot they once occupied, scorching the ground.
A familiar silhouette was seen through the flames, a dark blue glow emanating from the figure's head, showing a powerful dark energy. Zero's eyes were wide, as he guarded Ciel carefully. A laugh was heard through the flames, as the figure slowly walked forward. Zero was visibly shaken, as he continued to stay on guard between Ciel and the figure.
Omega Zero stepped from the flames, his darker colored armor covered in wounds, his hand clenched on his Z-Saber, the left arm's armor scraped away to show the mechanical workings on the inside. The darker version of Zero, the 'True Zero,' spoke in a deep voice, "I missed you, my dear copy…" Zero growled, holding his Z-Saber tight in both hands. "Omega…"