BassDS here once again...and yeah, I know, I've been gone a lot and this story has hardly seen updates. It's my fault, really. Whenever I have spare time, I always want to work on my videos or look around online. What can I say, I get distracted easily. It was also easier when I was in school; every bit of free time I had at school went towards my writing. As much as I like having a job, I'm kinda missing the educational system. Hard to believe it's been a full year since I graduated. But anyhow, I'll stop chattering and let you all enjoy this long, overdue installment. Also, make sure you stop by my profile for the newest poll, as it'll be very important for the story's end. But that can wait until after you all have immersed yourselves with the new chapter, so enjoy everyone.
Star Lovers 4
Ch. 8 Inner Strength
"We have to make our move soon. We're running out of time." Lance said Xenex looked into the stars from a warp hole.
"Then we'll draw them out. The stars are almost in perfect alignment. We just need to get them here, and the plan can proceed as scheduled."
"Shall I invade WAXA again?" Lance asked.
"No...we'll go straight into the heart of the city and unleash the Dusk Devils there."
"We only have a little bit over 1000 Devils left...are you sure we can risk that?"
"If everything works out as planned, we won't need them. Although, I would like to spice things up concerning the Devils." Xenex grinned, feeling the time was drawing closer.
"Auntie Sonia, can I feed the duckies?" Alexis asked with a puppy dog look on her face.
"Hehehe...just don't scare them off or make them mad, or they'll bite you." she said as she took a small pail they brought and opened up a loaf of bread and took several pieces out and tore them up, making sure she only filled it half-way full.
Alexis happily took the pail and walked off over to the ducks.
"Tia busy?" came a voice as Sonia turned to see Seira as she sat down on the bench with her.
"Hey. You feeling okay? Geo told me you got banged up pretty bad."
"I'm fine. I'm a Murian, so I'm tough enough to deal with it." she smiled.
"I needed to get some fresh air, so I figured I'd bring Alexis to feed the ducks."
"You been feeling okay?" she asked.
"Yeah. The morning sickness is still around, but it wasn't as severe as before. So what about you?"
"Let's just say...Solo's amazing..." she blushed.
"You're kidding me..."
"It was so perfect...everything about the night was just..."
"I don't think I wanna know." Sonia said as she sweat a bit.
"Oww!" Alexis cried out as a baby duckling snapped at her finger.
"I told you not to irritate them." Sonia laughed as they got up and Alexis walked back over, pail in hand and almost all the bread gone, due to being dumped on the ground when the duckling struck.
"That's a bad ducky!" she said to it as it quacked back at her.
"Come on, let's get you home. Your mommy's probably got dinner waiting."
"Yum-yums!" Alexis cried as Sonia picked her up.
"Want to come along?"
"Might as well. I haven't a clue where Solo is...sometimes I wonder why I even fell for him in the first place, especially since he ups and leaves all the time." Seira sighed.
"That's hard love for you." Sonia laughed a bit.
Elsewhere:
Sono looked out at the city on the horizon as he looked down upon it from a hill.
"I was wondering where you went." Geo's voice rang as Sono turned to see him.
"I just needed to be alone for a bit and think things through."
"Guess that's something else you take after me for." Geo said as he laid back against a tree. "Back when my dad was missing, I'd always go to Vista Point as the sun would set and look out at the stars; wondering if he was out there..."
"And then next thing you know, we bumped into each other." Mega said.
"Yeah, and my life hasn't been the same since then either. You've even made my life a living hell at times with everything you put me through."
"Ahh...the good ol' days when we'd peek inside of other people's Transers and read about their personal info." Mega replied.
"We? You're the one that always did it, I was against the whole thing, but no, you just had to snoop." Geo barked back.
"I was getting used to humans, so I needed to know how they operated."
"That's the lamest excuse I ever heard, Mega..."
"Well, you two seem to get along pretty well." Sono couldn't help but laugh.
"When you have to live with an alien that gets you thrown into saving the world, you kinda have to get used to him." Geo spoke to him.
Sono turned back to look at the city.
"Tell me...do you think we have a fighting chance at this?" Geo asked.
"I wish I had an answer for you..."
"The Wave Accel...it's the most powerful thing I've ever experienced...I feel that I can do this. I'll use this power to protect everyone."
"Powerful, yes; but at the same time...It's incomplete..." Sono replied.
"What do you mean?"
"I was the one that created the Wave Accel...it took me a long amount of training to acquire it, but at the same time, I almost lost my life trying to control it." Sono spoke to him.
"So you mean we could'a bite the dust!" Mega snapped.
"No...you see, the reason Xenex needs you and mom is because of the powers you have locked deep within you...even though I was the first one to have access to it, I inherited that strength from you two."
"But I don't understand...how can we have this power? I mean sure, I was raised just like any other ordinary kid...well, until Mega showed up, but this all doesn't make sense."
"That's why I did some research back in my time. With Ace's help, I was able to gather information on every major event that happened in your lives, and I came to a conclusion..."
"And what was the result?" Geo asked.
"Wanting to protect one another, and others around you, not only that, but every greater power you came in contact with, combined with your ability to master them is what caused you to slowly grow that power."
"But how does Sonia factor into this?"
"The bonds you two share through the BrotherBand and Link Power...and from what I've learned in this time, the tragic similarities you two faced at a young age...it caused your bonds to deepen and merge. In a way, you and mom have been connected."
"That...would explain how Sonia was able to achieve Wave Accel as well..." Geo said. "You seem to know a lot about the BrotherBand system and Link Power despite the time period you're from."
"Heh...that's what happens when you read all the old archived researches on Link Power that Dr. Lan Hikari wrote about."
"So...this is only a small fraction of our true power?" Geo said as he looked to his hand.
"Once you do reach that level...this future of ruin I hail from will be no more."
Silence surrounded them.
"That's why I came back here. You died before you had any knowledge of it. But with my arrival here, You do have a fighting chance."
"I may have a fighting chance, but I'm not alone in this." Geo grinned as he placed his hand on Sono's shoulder.
As they prepared to head back, the ground began to shack violently as they looked to see fires popping up in the city.
"Let's get over there!" Sono cried as he transformed, with Geo following after him.
People ran as far as they could as the city was being engulfed by hoards of Dusk Devils, destroying everything in sight.
"You've got to be kidding me..." Mega said as he observed what was happening.
"There's...so many of them..." Zero MAX said as his eyes widened at the sheer number of the devils.
"Well in that case, let's get rid of them in one blow." Mega Man said as a red card materialized within his hand. "Giga Card: DarknessHole!" He threw it up into the sky as a huge black hole began to form over the city.
"What's it doing?" Zero MAX asked.
"Those things are weak, and luckily, since they're just a different type of virus, the DarknessHole will suck them in and delete them all at once." Mega Man retorted.
The two looked on as the Dusk Devils were pulled into the hole, not leaving a single one behind as it began to close.
"Not bad." Zero MAX said as he watched as the hole began to close.
Just as it almost did, a giant, gray claw burst out of the small opening, completely destroying it as the beast that broke through landed in the city once again.
"What the!" Mega Man said as he became anxious and infuriated that the battle card didn't work.
"They...fused into one..."
The being began to slowly flood the streets with its body as part of it became a form of liquid, but the glowing red eye in the middle of it's oddly shaped body showed that it was ready to kill anyone and anything as it towered over the buildings and began to crush them with it's claws.
"This...isn't good..." Mega Man muttered through his teeth.
"Mommy, a duck bit my finger and it hurt!" Alexis said as she showed Tia the small bruise.
"Well you shouldn't have irritated it, silly. They'll fight back."
"I told her the same thing before she went and fed them." Sonia laughed.
"Make it better, please Mommy!" she said as her puppy dog eyes widened.
"That's the look your daddy gives me whenever I get on his case about those snack wrappers of his...and I fall for it every time..." Tia sighed as she took her daughter's finger and lightly kissed it. "Does that feel better now?"
"I love kisses! They make my boo boos feel better." she smiled.
"Now go find your daddy and have him put a bandage on it. Mommy's got something to take care of."
"Looks like you have a small change of plans." Seira said as Ace ran down into the lobby as he transformed.
"Yay! Daddy's a robot again!" Alexis cried.
"Not right now, sweetie. Why don't you go help Dr. Goodall upstairs. She's making brownies."
"Yummy!" she replied as she stormed off.
"Ace, what's wrong?" Tia asked.
"This." Ace said as a screen was brought up, showing the city being attacked by the gray beast.
"I'm going out to get that thing taken care of." Acid Ace replied.
"Ace, that thing is enormous! I'm not having you get killed! I refuse to let you leave!" Tia cried out.
"Tia..." Sonia looked on.
"You know I have to go..."
"Just come back alive...that's all I want." she said.
"You can count on it." Acid Ace said as he teleported out of the building.
"Tia, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine..." she said as she grew an irradiated look on her face. "Men can be so stubborn..."
"Geo, Sono...if you two are out there, please come back safe..." Sonia said as she looked on.
Back in the city:
The beast began to create smaller clones of itself as they floated and began to attack Mega Man and Zero MAX.
"There's got to be a way to take this big lug down." Mega Man said as the smaller beasts multiplied.
"Acid Scattershot!" cried a voice as a rain of small lasers struck the smaller clones, destroying them as Acid Ace appeared before them.
"Figured you could use some help." he cracked a smile.
You figured right." Mega Man said as he got up.
"Hate to cut this talk short, but what are we going to do about this thing.
"I have an idea." Zero MAX said as the other two turned to him.
"What is it?"
"Maybe we're going about this the wrong way. We're not even making a scratch on its body."
"What do you propose?" Acid Ace asked.
"We fight him on the inside, as well as the outside." he said smiling.
"Good idea, if we weaken it on the inside, then it should weaken overall. It's worth a shot." Mega Man smiled at the idea.
"Question is, who's going in?" Acid Ace replied.
"I'll handle it." Zero MAX said as he jumped toward the beast without a reply from the others as he formed his blade and destroyed the red jewel on its forehead and entered it before it closed up.
"While he's doing that, let's stop this thing from destroying what's left of the city." Mega Man said.
"Let's just hope that kid's plan works." Mega said.
"Let's do what we can for now. The rest is up to him." Acid Ace added.
Deep inside the Chaos Devil:
Zero MAX ran through a gauntlet of Dusk Devils as he raced along the cord-like hallways.
"This place is like a damn maze." he said as he came into a large area; a black orb in the middle with red cords attached to it.
"That must be what's giving it it's power." he said as he formed his sword and gripped it in his hand. "Time to turn the lights out." he raised it up as began to swing, but a dark wave of energy knocked it out of his hand and landed into the wall.
"I'm afraid I can't have you doing that." a voice of pure evil filled the room as Xenex appeared behind him.
"You...!"
"You are quite the intriguing little game piece...but not one I need for my game."
"I've waited for this for a long time..." Zero MAX said as he began to tense up.
"Do you honestly think you stand a chance against me?"
"All the people you've hurt...everyone that has suffered because of you, it's because of them that I'm here now. I'm stopping you before you even have a chance to hurt them."
"Small words for an empty threat. I'm far stronger than you, and once Stelar and Strumm are mine...I shall become a god..."
"You aren't going to lay one hand on them!" he cried as he dashed toward him and landed blow after blow, not doing any damage to him as Xenex grabbed his fist and through him to the other side of the room.
"That actually tickled."
"Chew on this then! MAX Charged Shot!" His buster formed and released a power blast toward him and struck him right on contact, but the attack didn't even make a scratch.
"Is this all you have, or are you just playing around?"
"As long as I'm around, I won't let you bring harm to them..."
"And if you fail?"
"Even if I fail, he'll still stand up and fight against you. He's not the type to give up...now that I've seen it with my own eyes.
"Ahh...Mega Man...true, he is strong, but he is no match for me...neither of them can compare to my power. Once I've used them exactly how I want, their existences shall fade from this world." he laughed, but was caught off guard as Zero MAX punched him in his stomach, then delivered an uppercut to his face, knocking Xenex back and threw him to the other side.
"You can say what you want about me..." he growled at him. "BUT I WILL NOT LET YOU INSULT MY MOTHER AND FATHER! he cried as a white aura glowed around him, concentrating all his anger into raw power.
"Hahahaha...well, seems like I've touched a nerve..."
"Nerve this!" he said as he touched the black orb and broke it to pieces.
"Such power...you might be a challenge after all."
"No games... I'm ending this right here!" Zero MAX grabbed Xenex's neck as they both left the Chaos Devil's body.
Back outside:
"Look! It's working!" Acid Ace said as the Chaos Devil began to delete itself.
"But...where's Sono?" Mega Man asked.
"Kid, something's coming!" Mega exclaimed, and they looked up to see Zero MAX dealing blow after blow to Xenex.
"You're going to regret that..." Xenex formed his aura blade and swung it at him, but his eyes widened as Zero MAX used one finger to stop it, then placed his hand on the blade and broke it into bits of energy.
"No...you're going to regret ever existing!" Zero MAX said.
"Not while I'm around." another voice boomed as Lance appeared before the two of them.
"Master, return and make final preparations...I shall deal with this boy myself.
"Very well...the pleasure is all yours." Xenex said as he eyed Zero MAX. "I will deal with you another time, assuming you survive." he spoke and looked to Mega Man. "I'm also looking forward to our next encounter, Stelar...you and your mate." Xenex said as he vanished.
"Dad, Ace...stay out of this...I'm in a really bad mood, and this guy is going to make a good punching bag."
"Kid...can you feel that? Is all that power really coming from him?" Mega asked.
"My sensors are having a hard time measuring it." Acid spoke.
"Sono..." Mega Man looked on.
"Why don't you show me what you've got..." Lance stared him down.
"Oh, I'll show you what I've got...and a lot more..." Zero MAX said with a serious look in his face.
Elsewhere:
"What...what is this...?"
Solo stood atop IFL Tower back in Wilshire Hills as he felt the enormous power surge, even though he was a good distance away from Echo Ridge's main city district.
"Is this Mega Man's power...no...it can't be him."
"..." Laplace buzzed.
"I have to find out if it's him..." His eyes widened as he transformed into Rogue and jumped atop the wave roads and dashed along.
"Yet...if it is him...why does fear strike itself in a warrior like me...?" Rogue thought as he raced toward Echo Ridge.
Zero MAX: Xenex's terror is going to end here and now, starting with you!
Lance: Hopeless thinking. That will be the death of you.
Mega Man: I...I don't believe I'm seeing this.
Zero MAX: you haven't even felt the full extent of my anger towards the pain I've seen...
Star Lovers 4
Ch. 9 Let the Endgame begin
Sonia: Geo, Sono...I'm not letting you do this alone.
Xenex: Let's begin, shall we?
Another chapter down, and three more to go. Hard to think we're almost at the end of the original series. It's been quite a long road, but I'm glad I had you all to enjoy walking down this road with me. But once one road comes to an end, you just have to build another one, and luckily, that's where Shooting Star Lovers is going to take us, so remember to check the new poll and vote, and let's get this countdown started!
