Merry late Christmas!

As a late present heres a chapter and probably a few more through out the day. Hope you like it! :3

Bluestar Palette: Don't worry I'll complete it. And thanks :)

The transmission must have been slightly off because X came very close to being roasted.

X yelped, jumping away from the dancing flames in front of him.

"Are you okay, X?"

The repliod steadied himself before answering, "Yeah, fine."

"Sorry about that, X," Alia apologized through the communicator, "The heat and general chaos going on in the area has our systems acting up a little. There shouldn't be anything else."

"Are you sure?"

"Uh…"

"We'll worry about it later," Zero stated, "We have bigger things to worry about."

"Right," agreed X, "Which way Alia?"

"The reports are coming in from the north of you. It seems that one of them has gone into the caves connecting to the springs. While the other is searching for something near the spring."

"It's safe to say that the one in the cave is looking for something as well." Zero deduced, "The question is what are they looking for."

"We can ask them when we get there. Come on, Zero."

"Right."

There were trees burning everywhere they looked as they ran across the forest. Zero even almost got flattened by one if not for Layer's timely warning. X thought he heard the sound of helicopters above pour water on the worse areas but decided to not check. They needed to stop these maniacs before they hurt anymore people.

X shook the thought out of head and quickened his pace.

When they arrived, they stuck to the shadows of the trees, scooping out the area.

Madelyn was there with a shovel looking very frustrated. "How am I supposed to find some dumb mineral among all this dirt?!"

"Stop complaining." A large bulky repliod appeared out of the water, "Just put the dirt in the bag and we'll be able to find what we need."

"I would at least like to know what I'm looking for Tinboq!"

Said repliod walked up onto shore, ignoring her protests. His full name was Tinboq axe. He was much larger than Madelyn. His head looked like the rectangular medival helmet with a slight red glow coming from his eyes. His weapon was a large axe about the size of his head. He was very slow but could hit very hard.

"Hey! Tinman! Would you just answer me?" Madelyn tried.

"You will know in time."

"Grrrrrr!" She stabbed down her shovel and threw a bag filled with dirt at him, "If you're going to be frustrating then just take this back and leave!"

"Fine. I must turn in mine as well."

Madelyn glared at the spot where the repliod disappeared.

"What kind of minerals could they be looking for?" X whispered to Zero.

"I don't know but we need to try and put a stop to this and take those two out. We can get her to tell us why they were looking for minerals after we defeat her." Zero reached for his saber.

"Alright. But it didn't sound like Madelyn knew why either."

"Huh?" Said repliod whipped around to face the two. "Hey!"

"What? How did-"

"That was fast!" She exclaimed.

"Whatever! Let's just go!" Zero dashed out of the bushes with his Z saber in hand.

"Whoa!" Madelyn jumped back to avoid the hunter, wall jumping up a nearby tree to get away from the hunter and took out her bow.

"X!"

"Yeah! I got it." X took out his buster and started shooting up at the tree.

"Hey!" the maverick yelled when one got especially close to her spot in the tree.

While she was busy dealing with the blue hunter's shots, Zero made his way to her, just like they had done in the simulation. It was probably easier with all the brush around them.

Zero scaled the tree within seconds, appearing out of nowhere to the girl, "Wah!"

Zero slash out at her… but didn't hit. Something intercepted it.

He fell to the ground after the failed attack and looked up to find Madelyn now holding a saber in her hand, the bow seemingly have disappeared.

"Did I mention my bow turns into a saber?" she jumped down from her perch and started stalking towards the two. "Nice strategy though. Good job."

Zero's grip tightened around his own saber, glaring at the girl.

X appeared out of the bushes, pointing his buster at his opponent. "What were you looking for?"

"Potassium nitrite. –traite! Nitrate. Geez, cannot talk today."

"Potassium- You burned down a forest to find a random mineral like that?!" X exclaimed.

"Actually it was more of a distraction. The others took the other stuff we needed already."

"Distraction?!"

"Mm hm. Although don't tell the others I told you. They might get mad." She giggled to herself while the hunters gave her perplexed looks.

"Why would you want these anyway?"

"Ask them!" she exclaimed, annoyance laced tightly into her voice, "I tried to get them to tell me but they kept saying that I would run the risk of slipping the info since I was so new! Gah! Though I guess I did just tell you about the whole distraction thing. Eh." She shrugged.

"Well whatever," Zero stated, ignoring the little outburst, "Your coming with us."

"Sorry boys. Not today. Maybe some other time." She positioned herself into a fighting stance, holding her saber in front of her with both hands.

Both hunters prepared their own weapons as she charged towards them, but lowered them slightly when she took a sharp turn and disappeared into the forest.

"What is she up to?"

X's question was soon answered as a faint creaking was heard along with a "Timber!" in the distance. Shortly after, the two spotted a large flaming tree falling towards them.

They dashed out of the way before the great crash of the burning tree rang through the forest.

"Later guys!" they heard Madelyn yell from somewhere in the forest.

"Wait!" they tried to follow the sound of her voice but were promptly stopped as the flames of the tree quickly spread all around them. "Crap!"

"Alia we have a problem here!"