I own nothing. Enjoy!


Area-0: Guardian Warship

A Cyber-Elf flew about the room, trying desperately to tidy up the mess of papers and trinkets. Just as she picked up an old plasma sword hilt to put it in its place next to a broken red helmet, the Cyber-Elf heard the door's lock click. She then turned around to greet the person entering the room.

"Oh Commander Phare, it's nice to see you back so soon."

The woman smiled as she took off her coat, tossing it onto one of the many piles that the Cyber-Elf had just organized. The Elf fumed, but she kept quiet. The woman wore a crimson sleeveless dress and white gloves, a red commander's hat sat askew on her head.

"Hello Nuppie, yeah the fight didn't take as long as I thought it would."

"So, that makes another Maverick outbreak, why are there suddenly so many?"

The Commander shrugged as she sat down at her desk, activating her computer and reading through the several messages that were displayed. She paused and read the one from The Arcadia carefully.

"So, Harpuia found Model A, that is good news."

"Really, because I thought that such news was kind of bad."

The woman looked up to see a Repliroid dressed in crimson civilian attire and a gardening apron, he had long messy silver hair and a ponytail, he held a wicked smile.

"Oh, hey Ohms, how are you doing?"

"Prairie you know that I don't like being called that."

"Well it's cute, so I am going to continue calling you it."

Omega groaned as he took a seat at the desk, he began fiddling with the things on Prairie's desk before Nuppie slapped him.

"So, are you going say why you have invaded my office, or are you going to keep having Nuppie slap you?"

"Well I have come to tell you that my mother has began sensing the activation of several W-Cores."

"Well, that would explain why there have been so many-"

Prairie gave Omega a look, the Repliroid simply shook his head.

"I wasn't done. Prairie I don't know why I am telling you this, but Aile is missing."

"What?"

"She is missing, as are Crea and Prea."

"WHAT!?"

Prairie shot up and slammed her hands onto the desk, her expression was a mixture of fear and anger. Omega shook his head as he returned Prairie's look with one of concern.

"You and I have much to discuss."


Area-02: The Hunter's Camp

Ashe hissed as Nicol dabbed antiseptic on one of her many cuts. Model A floated next to her glaring at the man.

Don't you dare hurt my Chosen, I only got the one.

'Technically you said you had another one. So if Ashe does get hurt you can leave and go find them.'

Yeah, because a Livemetal roaming the earth won't attract any attention whatsoever.

"You know, even though I am glad that the two of you are at least showing some concern. Could you please shut up?"

Both Model A and Totten apologized as Nicol began wrapping the wounds. Ashe winced at how tight he was making it, but she kept quiet.

"Now can you please explain to me why you thought charging headfirst into an exploding machine would accomplish anything?"

"I told you, He ran into Me."

"And I said I didn't believe you. Ever since you got a Livemetal you have done nothing but be secretive and reckless. You are no longer a child."

"I just want to get this over with."

"There is still no excuse."

Ashe sighed and stood, wincing at the pain she felt, pushing Nicol to the side she proceeded towards the door. The man turned towards her with an exasperated expression.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Ashe flashed white as her armor formed around her, she gave Nicol a glance before smiling.

"Going to go be more reckless, because I can."

With that Ashe dashed out of the room, leaving Nicol alone, the man once again sighed. Tossing the medical supplies back into the kit they came from he dropped into one of the few chairs in the room.

"I wish she would just relax."


Area-?: Arcadia of Wind

Harpuia slowly shifted his gaze between Prairie and Omega, his expression told them that he did not enjoy the news he had just been told.

"So, there are readings similar to the W-Core being found around the world? That would explain the large amount of Maverick outbreaks we have been experiencing lately."

Omega nodded and Harpuia slumped over.

"However, these readings are too small, no matter how similar. This is why I believe that we have Model W fragments that are awakening. For how brief they are active they seem to be causing a lot of problems."

Prairie frowned as she crossed her arms, the news that the Crimson Repliroid had just shared was extremely troublesome. They had been part of a force that had destroyed what they had believed to be the only Model W, and now it was apparent that there were more.

Omega saw how both of the two reacted to this, and he gritted his teeth, wondering if he should continue.

"Well, what could be causing the fragments to wake up?"

"Artificial Chosen."

Both turned to Omega as he bit his tongue, their expressions making him wish he had not said that.

"Artificial? You mean people like Aile and Yuki?""

"Yes. They must be activating and their 'Pseudo-metals' must be influencing the fragments they come into contact with."

Harpuia sat back into his seat, dread taking place of the tired expression that he usually wore.

"So we have people running around with Aile levels of power? This would be bad even if she wasn't missing."

Prairie shook her head and turned towards Omega as she leaned against Harpuia's desk.

"I thought you said that Yuki was the only one to have survived the bonding process with her X-w."

Omega shrugged with a small smile.

"That is what I was lead to believe, but it would seem that I am once again wrong about something important."

Harpuia suddenly stood, Prairie and Omega snapped to attention as he slammed his hands onto his desk.

"So, we know know what we need to do. You two shall go out and try and bring Aile back, she may be the only person to help us right now."

Omega scoffed as he undid his apron, his armor materializing as it dropped to the floor.

"What about you Harpuia? We could use the help."

"As much as I wish to fly along side you in battle once again, I have to stay here and meet with the Model A Chosen when she gets here."

The two saluted and proceeded to leave the room, Prairie stopped before the door and turned back to the green Guardian.

"By the way Harpuia, you nor Omega told me who the new Chosen was."

"I am sure you'll meet her soon. Besides you already know her."

Prairie's eyes narrowed, Harpuia just chuckled.

"I am not a child anymore Harpuia, you could just tell me. I hate secrets being kept around me."

Finishing her sentence Prairie left, leaving Harpuia alone once more. He sat back into his chair as one of his monitors began beeping. Typing a command into the machine, a message opened up on his monitor.

-Got sidetracked by another Falseroid. Should be at Arcadia in two days, if not sooner.-

Harpuia smiled as he typed the command to summon Jackson, as the massive Cyber Elf began materializing he chuckled.

"Yes Alouette, if she is as reckless as Aile, then you should meet her soon enough."


Area-06: Ruins of the Tower

Ashe jumped over a Caterpillar Mechaniloid, shooting its segments while she was still in the air. The bug exploded as she landed, she was about to make a joke, but she was then met with a spiked plant to the face. She let out an extremely vile curse, which seemed to kill the plant on its own.

Where did you learn such language young lady? It is not appropriate to say such things, even if you get spiked in the face...

Model A then burst into laughter as she had just realized what had happened. Ashe grumbled as she pulled a needle out of her cheek.

"That's what you get when you spend all of your time with Hunters. A teenager with anger issues."

Ashe shot a shielded enemy that flew at her, it was pushed back, but it continued forward. Spinning her guns around she unloaded a Homing Shot that tore into the shield and caused the machine to turn to dust.

"Let's just hurry and get out of here, I am already in a bad mood."


Making her way into the second area Ashe was interrupted in her word game with Totten by several alarms that had just decided to go off.

INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT! CLOSING ALL ENTRANCES AND EXITS! SECURITY CODE: ROSE-03

Wincing at the loud noise that suddenly blared over her headset Ashe waited patiently for it to end before continuing her conversation. When it ended she could still hear ringing.

"So, what was that about?"

'Apparently we made the the security system mad. Looks like we need to find another way out.'

Well, the Elemental we need is here, so I shall see this as a good thing.

Ashe looked up at the massive tree that was rooted in the center of the room, she could see several Mechaniloids and turrets looking down at her.

"Well. Let the fun begin."

Ashe then rushed at the tree and jumped, grabbing onto a branch that materialized she threw herself up further, firing several shots at a Plant like turret that popped open on one of the above vines. Wall jumping onto the tree she scaled up to a ledge and began charging a shot in her right buster while shifting the left into its Homing mode.

Several of the wall vines from earlier exploded from the wall ad started shooting their spikes at her. She lifted and aimed her Homing shot at the plants, they were soon vaporized by the lightning. Several Caterpillars tried to drop down on top of her, but they were soon vaporized. Checking that there were no more enemies near to her, Ashe hopped onto a platform and began scaling the ladder up to the next level.

Ashe, how did you do that?

"I am just really focused right now."

'I highly doubt that.'

"Shut up Totten."


Almost an hour had passed while Ashe was exploring and climbing the tower. Several things had happened, most of which Ashe wished she could have forgotten. The main one was how many times she had actually fell off the tower and had to start over her climb.

It was only made worse by the fact that the Mechaniloids she had destroyed seemed to keep regenerating every time she took more than five steps away from their remains. So the climbs back up were something she REALLY wanted to forget.

Now however Ashe didn't know what to do, for she seemed to be locked in a room that seemed to be covered in wall to wall spikes, and was over a pit. Quickly running out of any option to escape the trap she turned towards her Livemetal and Cyber-Elf.

"What now A?"

I have no idea, I can see no door. And to make it worse we can't simply blow a hole through the wall because the spikes consume energy. I learned that the hard way in a previous excursion.

Ashe frowned as she again looked down, she was trapped, and she did not like it.

"Well we could always-"

'ASHE MOVE NOW!'

Not taking time to question Totten, she jumped, and the platform she had been standing on had exploded. Turning in the air Ashe was met with the horrid sight of a monstrous Arachnid Mechaniloid. It unstuck its legs from the walls and began falling after her.

Returning her gaze downward Ashe saw a multicolored platform materialize, she landed on it with a loud thud. Quickly looking up she saw the spider catch itself, its body seemingly shaking from anticipation of having a new meal. Ashe growled as she summoned her weapons.

"Okay, so any ideas?"

'My scans show multiple weak points, you could shoot those with your Homing Shot.'

Ashe nodded as the massive spider pried one of its forelegs from the wall. Lifting it a drill at the end started to spin as it lashed out at the girl. Ashe rolled to the side, getting back into standing she was frightened to see that one of the platform's segments had exploded, opening up a hole.

Ashe gulped.

Yeah I would begin shooting the thing now if I were you.

Ashe didn't even respond, she instinctively started unloading several hundred shots into the Mechaniloid's targeted weak points. Several of the joints started smoking, causing the spider to start backing up.

The spider then did something that Ashe did not expect it to do, it dropped. The spider slammed into the platform and destroyed it. Ashe was thrown further down the pit, she then slammed onto another platform that had suddenly materialized beneath her. The spider caught itself and skidded down the wall before stopping again above Ashe.

The girl coughed a little before managing to push herself to stand back up.

"Okay, that was not fair."

It is a Maverick, it does not have to be fair.

Lifting her guns once more she again opened fire on its joints. One of its legs exploded and fell off of the platform. The spider let out a howl and pulled its legs out of the wall, much to Ashe's chagrin.

Following another fall Ashe landed on another platform, seemingly harder that the last time. Getting up she smiled as her guns began sliding open and glowing.

"Hey Model A, why don't we try that burst attack of yours?"

Anything you think will help us beat this thing will be fine with me.

Aiming her guns up at the spider the familiar blue filter slid into place as multiple targets lit up on her display. When the okay signal was given, she pulled the triggers.

The room was then filled with flying bullets and metal as all of Ashe's shots connected and tore the spider apart. The barrage lasted for a minute before the guns stopped spinning and became quiet, the barrels at both ends glowing orange. The clattering of bullet casings hitting the floor was the only thing that could be heard.

The spider sat above her, seemingly trying to keep its bullet hole ridden body up. Its gears moaned in protest as it tried to hoist itself up.

Uh, Ashe? It looks like it's going to drop on us again.

"We could just drop to the next platform."

'That is not going to work. We are as low as we can get, there are spikes below us.'

Ashe grimaced as the spider reached the highest point it could reach with its damaged limbs. It started pulling its remaining limbs from the walls.

"Well, we're dead. My guns are still overheating."

Ashe sighed as another one of the spider's legs freed itself from the wall. There was really no way out of getting crushed by the spider.

"Well I can say that for the short time I was at this I enjoyed it."

Ashe groaned in annoyance as the Spider lurched forward, another one of its legs becoming free of the wall.

To her surprise however, as the spider began to loosen its final leg, its tail exploded. Ashe took a step back as the spider's body then had a hole blown into it. The spider's body shook violently as its core overloaded.

Ashe shielded her eyes from the blast. When it was clear she looked up, trying to see what caused the Mechaniloid to explode. Squinting she saw a quick flash of something red before it vanished.

'Well, that was extremely lucky.'

And here you thought that you were going to die.

"We are still stuck down here, so unless you finally thought of a way to escape, then I don't-"

Ashe was suddenly cut off by the wall next to her exploding. This left a hole that lead into the next area. Ashe glared at it.

"I do not want to hear anything from either of you."


Above Ashe sat the woman in the red cloak. She sat and watched the girl with a sincere smile. The woman chuckled as Ashe dashed through the hole she had made for her. A Livemetal materialized beside her with an annoyed glare.

You almost gave yourself away, that wouldn't have been good.

A second Livemetal appeared and nudged the first.

I thought that it was cool how she killed the spider.

"Look, if I hadn't done it, she would have been crushed. I can not have that on my conscious, and considering how important she is I thought why not go for it?."

The woman gave one last look at the hole before jumping down after Ashe.

"Now let's see if I was correct about where she was going."


Area-06: The Flower's Bliss

"I like you human, the fear in your eyes is so exhilarating to see."

"Stop, stay away from me!"

In the highest room of the tower sat a Falseroid on a throne made of flowers. His pink armor shone quite brightly in the dim light, his eyes glowing bright red as he stared down the Raider that was ensnared in his vines.

The flower giggled as the vines tightened around the man. The man let out a garbled scream.

"So much fun. I really wish more humans entered my tower, it would be a lot more interesting."

The Falseroid lifted his hand to finish off the man, but the sound of a shot stopped him. A large blue ball of fire shot forward and tore the vines apart. The Falseroid snapped his head around as his body closed into a green bulb.

"Now, why don't you just let the guy go? He is obviously not interested in you."

"Gyah. Pesky girl, how dare you interrupt my meal."

Ashe smiled as she ejected a casing from her gun. The Falseroid hissed as the Raider escaped into the next room.

"Now, how about you introduce yourself."

The Falseroid began laughing as he lifted both of his arms towards a vine that hung from the ceiling. Gripping it the bottom of the bulb exploded open again revealing the pink armored body underneath.

"I am the glorious Rosepark. Guardian of the Fragment of Ragnarok."

"The Guardian of what?"

Rosepark simply shook his head as he laughed.

"Now why would I tell a horrid little human like you such information? Especially since you interrupted my meal."

"What is with you Falseroids and eating when I get to you?"

Rosepark chuckled as electricity started charging between the thorns on his arms. Throwing them to the other vines they became electrified. Ashe jumped onto the wall as the current hit the floor and spread, she gave Rosepark a sly smile.

"Hey A, do you have anything for this?"

A-Trans for Chronoforce might help, you know, with him being an Ice Falseroid.

Ashe nodded and began concentrating, she could feel the air around her become colder as her armor began changing.


Her gauntlets and boots slowly turned into a deep blue and began bulking and becoming plate like. Her helmet slimmed down and rounded itself out as small ice blades poked out of the sides.

A cape formed from ice spikes formed around her waist as fins similar to Chronoforce's sprouted from her back.


Ashe exhaled a puff of smoke, she could feel the exhilarating sensation of the ice element. Her hanging arm shifted into a Mini-Force, whose head slid into a launcher. Rosepark fumed as he launched several electrical thorns towards Ashe. The girl fired her own volley of ice spikes, the two attacks met in the air and exploded, filling the air with vapor.

Rosepark then began gathering energy in his two forward facing horns. They began to glow as the vapor cleared, revealing to the flower that Ashe was gone. The Falseroid spun around to see Ashe standing behind him, her fist glowing blue.

Rosepark fired the shot and Ashe put up her hand. A energy clock face formed and the shot impacted and was absorbed.

"what?!"

"You know, I don't think Chronoforce could have done this, but both A and Totten say I can. So, have a present."

Ashe then turned her hand and the hands on the clock started spinning in reverse. Following several seconds Rosepark's own beam shot out of the clock and shot towards the Falseroid.

Rosepark tried to shield himself from the attack, but his defenses were quickly vaporized. His body fell to the ground, several petals floating around him.

"No, this can't be happening...I..I am wilting!"

Rosepark then exploded, leaving behind a glowing yellow diamond that floated towards Ashe and became absorbed. Ashe shook herself as her armor reverted back to its basic form.

"A, please never let me use Chronoforce's Time Bomb again, that was a bit too much for my taste."

What? Do you not want to have easy wins against these things?

"I can't learn how to better my fighting skill if I rely on powerful skills like that."

Point taken. Now let's go and see if that guy is alright.

Ashe nodded and jogged towards the door to the next room.


Ashe entered the room beyond Rosepark's chamber, and she suddenly felt like the air around her was slowly becoming heavy with a sinister energy. Ignoring it for now she shook her head and proceeded to walk towards the man standing before her.

"Hey, are you alright?"

The man jumped and turned towards her, brandishing a buster pistol.

"No, stop! Keep away from me!"

Is that really any way to talk to someone who rescued you?

The man backed away from her, Ashe could see that the gun was beginning to gather a charge. Ashe sighed and disengaged her armor, holding out her hand towards the man.

"Come on, I am nothing to be afraid of. Just come with me and I can get you out of here."

"No! You were part of the group that attacked the Slipstream! You are a-Gyah!"

The man didn't get to finish, for a saber exploded through his chest. When it was removed the man fell to his knees, his body slowly breaking apart as he became a Cyber-Elf.

"What is going on here?"

"EXPLANATION: HE IS BECOMING A SACRIFICE FOR MODEL W."

Ashe looked away from the man's body and saw two men standing before the opposite wall. One was wearing green and yellow attire saved for the high class. His hair was silver and his eyes shown red. The man was placing his sword back into its sheath.

The second man wore purple and black stealth attire. His mouth was covered by a torn red scarf. His cold eyes seemed to be scanning Ashe. His slouched stance almost seemed bestial.

"Great, more of you weirdos."

"Hold your tongue you impudent girl. You know nothing of us and our business here."

"I don't need to know anything to keep calling you weird."

"IGNORE INSULT. WE MUST HURRY AND REVIVE MODEL W FRAGMENT."

The green man shook his head as the Cyber-Elf was drawn towards him, its shell becoming a deep violet as it did. The purple man watched it carefully, he was starting to really creep Ashe out.

"I am the Artificial Chosen of Storms. You shall address me as Aeolus."

Aeolus lifted one hand as a Livemetal materialized, he then lifted his sword and slammed its hilt into the Livemetal. A massive bolt of purple lightning struck him and faded. He then stood in white armor with a deep green body suit. His armor seemed to be formed on the concept of flight.

"I AM THE ARTIFICIAL SHADOW CHOSEN. CODE NAME: SIARNAQ."

Siarnaq then formed his Livemetal in his palm. His body then broke apart and reformed itself using the shadows. His armor was primarily black with violet undertones and a white body suit.

"We have come to feed the Fragment that has rested here. This man should do nicely to wake it up."

Ashe watched with caution as Aeolus grabbed the Cyber-Elf and turned towards the wall. He let the Elf free and watched as it floated towards a large red sphere that sat embedded into the wall. Black tendrils of energy slowly snaked out of the sphere and grabbed the Cyber-Elf, pulling it into itself.

The room then began shaking with energy as the rest of what the sphere was attached to started pushing itself out of the wall.

It was a massive white metal plate with glowing red veins that traced along the edges of its blades. Ashe started feeling sick from the sheer amount of energy that the thing was letting off. Siarnaq turned towards Aeolus as he stepped away from the machine.

"OPERATIONAL TIME LIMIT: EXCEEDED. MAVERICK REGENERATION IMMINENT. WE MUST EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY."

"Wait, that thing is causing the Mavericks to regenerate? What is that thing?!"

"That is something you do not need to know, however if you wish to know such answers then you need only to play our little game."

What Game?

Aeolus seemed ready to answer, but he was cut off by Siarnaq.

"LIMIT EXCEEDED. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY."

The green man nodded and turned to give Ashe a cold smile.

"Well, we shall meet again. Maybe then we won't be interrupted."

With that the two and the massive machine vanished, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became a lot lighter.

'That thing ate a Cyber-Elf?'

"Don't worry Totten, come on let's head back and we can inform Harpuia of what just happened."

Yeah, and if anything like that happened to you I'll be there to stop it.

'Oh I feel so relieved.'

Ashe smiled as she turned and left the room, only A knew of what she was thinking.

"Okay, now how do we get out of a locked tower?"

Jump?


I hope you enjoyed!

Wanted to make up for how late the last chapter was, so this one is early. I made Rosepark that easy to kill because I honestly find him boring. Even his transformation isn't fun to use.

Anyway, wanted to show more things that are going on outside of Ashe's journey. The Cloaked Rockman saved her life, but it seemed her Livemetal didn't like that.

Again I hope you enjoyed.

Have a nice day!