Mega Man X
Legacy of Ruin
Chapter 2
Deep within Neo Arcadia's heart a great tree rose up from the bowels of the earth itself. They called it Yggdrasil after the tree in Norse mythology. Its roots burrowed deep into earth's crust. Her branches radiated a life that defied her dark secret. But at the base of Yggdrasil, a solitary body remained locked away, protecting the world he'd sacrificed so much for in the last thing he could do. Yet, the eternal slumber of the ancient legend was not to remain disrupted. X's spirit had returned.
He flickered into existence, creating a feeble hologram of his actual body which was still sealed away. While his image warped and bent. As he hovered in front of himself he reached out with his massless hand, brushing his body's face almost tenderly.
"This is... What I must do. Zero... Isn't going to awaken. He hasn't awoken even after all this time... The resistance is on the verge of failing and should that happen... The world will remain enslaved to that copy..."
If he could have wept he would have, but he was a cyberelf now, he had no physical body to shed tears with. Instead he floated over to a console next to his body, and with a few carefully placed commands the seal on his body pulled back. A moment passed before X's body fell lifelessly to the ground with a muffled thud.
As he floated to his body, preparing to reenter his form he observed the Dark Elf flee. He shook his tiny head sadly, accepting that one day soon he'd have to deal with her and Weil's nightmarish partner... With her release Omega would soon descend... But, X had another concern in mind at that time.
That copy had thrown a monkey wrench into everything... He felt a new life rise within him, a force that he found himself despising. He had merely wanted to rest... But he was forced to take up arms once more. X pushed himself to his knees slowly before his hand rested on a familiar saber. He'd meant to give this to his beloved friend... But that was no longer an option.
"Zero... You gave up too much for this world... I'm sorry that I haven't managed to bring earth to peace yet... But, I'll do it... I'll end my fake and... I'll put down that copy of yours..." He grit his teeth as he recalled the corrupted monstrosity of Zero.
A coldness settled into X's posture, and he forced his resolve to harden. Cold, icy ruthlessness took over X as he purposefully strode away from the core of Yggdrasil. He had work to do, and he had little time to do it in. Nothing, no one under the sun would stop him. He'd cut down any foe, he'd destroy any threat that tried to keep him away from his copy.
However, there was a problem with this. X was well aware that while if he attacked now he'd have a distinct advantage, odds were Copy X would quickly find out about the real X's approach and sound the alarm. He would eventually be overrun by the sheer number of Pantheon soldiers at his fake's disposal.
He needed a support team to take down the false X. Only one force opposed Neo Arcadia now though... The ragtag resistance that fought with peashooters against Neo Arcadia's far superior firepower. Still, if they had him on their side... They could perhaps survive and more importantly, he'd be able to get to his copy, and terminate him. Then, he'd be able to focus on Weil's plots. He cursed the fact that he'd agreed to sealing him into an eternal shell. That had been... Foolish of them. Hindsight was indeed twenty twenty but there was little that could done about that. Instead, X had a resistance to find and save.
It didn't take him long to find a transerver that would lead him out of Neo Arcadia. However, he downloaded the coordinates to this transerver, and its security code. When it was time he'd be able to return and with a vengeance.
"Next time I enter to Neo Arcadia I'll finish things."
Nothing would stop him. Nothing.
Light swirled about X in a cascade of white before he felt his body dematerialize and a moment later reappear in the desolate wastelands outside of the city. This was the only place a reploid that had been deemed maverick could survive and likely not for long as Neo Arcadia's reach was great. A reploid could run in the ruined wastelands but it would amount to naught. Either the earth herself would claim the reploid's life or Neo Arcadia's armies would.
However, X ignored the knowledge of what the wastelands brought. He'd exiled himself in a willing gambit at a greater prize. But, it had been his choice. He truly trusted no one in Neo Arcadia. Not the Guardians, not the servants, and certainly not the Pantheons that had been modeled after himself.
He had to sort this mess out himself, and then, maybe he could rest at long last.
He brushed some sand aside as he strode forward with a destination already set within his mind. He had thankfully taken time before returning to his form to learn where Ciel and her resistance was headed and where they had taken shelter. While the sand caused his feet to slide by a few inches he didn't mind. Even in combat he could take advantage of that slip.
It took time to chase her down though. She was already several miles ahead, and he had little time to spare... They were headed to the lab where Zero had once been sealed away... He wasn't there anymore unfortunately, but surely... Zero was still alive... He'd awaken one day, but he was counting on X to protect the world for a while longer.
He passed by the Golems and Pantheons without conflict as they recognized him as their Master. They merely stood aside upon seeing his form. One day soon he'd have to destroy them, but for now he could pass by unhindered.
A pantheon saluted as X drew towards the deepest chamber. He merely gave a faint nod as he walked past. Inside a human girl rested on two knees, sobbing and no longer paying attention to her surroundings. A tiny cyberelf floated next to her protectively, trying to comfort the teen. However, X paid the cyber elf no mind as he approached.
Once he stepped beside her he reached down, and his hand gently gripped her shoulder as he spoke.
"You led Neo Arcadia on quite a merry goose chase."
He felt her shiver. He had to have terrified her. He was aware that she thought that what she had replicated had come to confront her personally and it probably was something that had haunted her dreams for many, many days. Yet, X didn't respond to her fear directly, but instead he continued on as if she was perfectly fine and they were talking about something as mundane as the weather.
"Like you I'd like to find Zero, but… That can't happen anymore. Ciel... Because I realized that Zero, isn't going to awaken… It's up to me alone to deal with the crisis' that plague our world… As well as I can. Can I assist you in your attempts to free Neo Arcadia?"
She looked up at him, her eyes brightening with the realization that this wasn't Copy X. He was the original.
"Y-Yes! Of course you can!" Ciel agreed quickly.
He wasn't Zero, but he had a plan in mind... He knew how to save this world... But first Copy X had to be eliminated. He was a problem. X helped the teen stand and Passy smiled at the former leader of Neo Arcadia in gratitude.
"Thank you Master X." Passy murmured.
However, X shook his head.
"I'm no longer Neo Arcadia's leader, merely a soldier of the Resistance. I have my own reasons for aiding Ciel, but I'll help where I can." X replied a bit gruffly as he led Ciel past the guards.
With X escorting her Neo Arcadia's forces paid her no mind; accepting that she had been apprehended. It would be disturbing for the Guardians to see the legend walking beside Ciel as if she was a friend. However, like many other things X cared little of that fact. Instead, Ciel would be the one that would assist him in securing the fall of his copy... Her rebellion was for Reploid Equality... That was a goal he agreed with. Still, he knew that as long as his copy remained, there was little hope for a tomorrow.
A good twenty minutes passed before Ciel and X were able to transfer directly to the HQ of the resistance. It was a decaying and rotting mess that had once served as an underground fortress for humans during the Elf wars before the madness consumed the war-torn land. However, by some miracle Ciel and her people had managed to get the rickety complex running again.
Naturally when X appeared with Ciel there was a large panic, many of the Resistance soldiers drew their weapons and aimed at him. However, he merely raised an eyebrow as if asking them if they actually believed that they could harm him.
One reploid glowered at X as he lowered his rifle, his expression downright hostile.
"I'm not the X, that's been in charge of Neo Arcadia during this... Madness. He's a... Stand in that isn't doing the job he'd been created for." X commented as he passed by.
"How can we tell that you're the real deal?" He snarled.
"I'm not asking you to trust me." X responded as he stepped onto the elevator and waited for the leader of the Resistance.
The green uniformed resistance soldier glowered at X's reply but said nothing more.
"Please forgive Colbor." Ciel apologized for her subordinate once she stepped beside him and the elevator started moving.
"Nothing to forgive. He's got every reason to distrust me. Just keep an eye on him. I'd rather not have to worry about getting shot at every time I return here." X replied while he crossed his arms thoughtfully.
Ciel nodded quickly, eager to please.
"Of course. I'll do everything in my power to make you welcome." She vowed, holding a hand close to her heart.
A promise. She hadn't changed since the time he'd last met her. Yes, she'd grown taller but that eager nature and gentle compassion still remained. It baffled X how she of all people had become the leader of the rebellion against Neo Arcadia itself. She seemed too gentle.
Once the elevator stopped she noticed his stare and she turned to face him, an unspoken question on her lips.
"Sorry, I was just remembering when we first met. You were... How old? Three?" He could still remember the decision that he had agreed to that had led to her birth...
Had he made the right decision in allowing that project? He decided that yes, with her standing here on this day it had been.
"Yes M-"
Quickly, X placed a hand on her lips to silence her.
"Please don't call me that. I never cared for that title anyways." X said softly before he removed his hand.
Ciel had a bright blush on her face, embarrassed that she'd been silenced by X in such a personal way. However, she nodded and resumed speaking a few seconds later.
"Y-Yes... That sounds about right M...X." It was going to be an incredibly difficult habit for the Neo Arcadian to break.
However, X started walking and Ciel hurried to catch up with the Azure plated hunter.
"M...Er, X? There's actually uhm... Something We could really use your help with... If you don't mind that is..." Ciel said once they entered the main command room.
He turned his head a few degrees to look directly upon her before he spoke.
"I said I'd give you a hand. I meant it." X responded simply.
Ciel smiled gratefully at the ex hunter, relief in her eyes.
"What I want to ask you is if you would do something that no one has been able to do so far... I want you to destroy the Maverick Disposal Center, where they retire our comrades one after another. Even now, they may be retiring who is wrongly suspected of being a Maverick. To prevent any additional loss of life, please can you destroy the enemy facility?" Ciel looked at X, still worried that he might refuse.
He had no intention of doing that. Instead, he merely gave a faint nod before he spoke.
"Just point me in the right direction. I'll deal with it."
"Thank you Mas...X, we all owe you."
No, they didn't owe him anything. He was simply doing what he had to do. Without responding he turned back to take the path he had tread before, returning back to the elevator.
As the elevator rose to the surface his eyes hardened and his buster formed on his left hand. In his right, a familiar saber rested. He'd end this farce of 'Justice' without having trouble sleeping tonight because of it...