Disclaimer: I do not own Megaman ZX
Chapter 9 Maria vs Shadow F
What happened to Maria is what happens to just about everyone who gets attacked by model F-you get pitched through a wall. Or several walls, in this instance. Maria sat upright, brushing the dust of her arms. "You actually threw me through a wall! I'm going to like this!" She grabbed her buster and released a charge attack. Shadow F twisted to the right and avoided the blast.
"You hesitated. Why?"
Maria grinned. That was when Shadow F realized she had a death grip on her arm.
"Oh don't worry. That was just supposed to get your attention." Maria slugged her, full in the face. Shadow F crashed into the wall, and slowly got to her feet.
"Well, you may just be worth my time after all!" Gun's primed, Shadow F unleashed a flurry of bombs.
DUCK! Maria threw herself to the floor as the devastating hail flew over her head. Activating her saber, she flipped to her feet and met Shadow F head on. Explosions rocked the floor as their attacks cancelled each other out and they both flew backwards. Maria regained her footing in time to see her next attack.
"Okay, who the hell throws a mine car at an opponent?" She split it with a well-aimed slash from her saber. The splinters of the wreck cut Maria's face.
"Natural regeneration." Shadow F observed as the red marks on Maria's face healed. "In that case…I just have to pound you until there's nothing left!" Fire burned the floor as the fight resumed. Maria felt every punch. Her vision was blurry from sweat and blood. Brushing it away from her eyes, Maria dropped to avoid another kick and swiftly knocked Shadow F's legs out from under her. In the second the shadow recovered, Maria cut a swath right across her arm. Shadow F started grinning manically and grabbed Maria's wrist.
Shit! Maria crashed through the wall and collapsed. She shivered, pretending to be near defeat. This has to work. With a triumphant expression on her face, Shadow F pulled Maria up to face level. In an instant, Maria grabbed her saber, reactivated it, and struck the crystal in the middle of Shadow F's head guard. Immediately the shadow let go of her and screeched. Electricity coursed through it.
That's it! Maria unsteadily pulled herself to her feet.
Great. Shadow F thought, also getting back up, gripping her head as pain tore through her body. She found my weak point. I can't take too many of those blows…
Warily the two circled each other, not sure what to do next. I need to hit that crystal again. Maria thought, focusing on the cracked red beacon. Wait for her to come to you.
Shadow F hissed softly. I need to take her out before she can fully exploit my only weakness. "Okay. Now the training wheels come off." Dark aura began spilling out of her. Maria took a step back, readying herself. She didn't move, just holding her saber out in front of her face.
Shadow F fell for it. As she charged forwards, Maria twisted her head to avoid the initial blow and hit the crystal again with all her strength. Shadow F screeched. She put her other arm against Maria's neck and threw her through yet another wall. Maria staggered and knelt. Her entire body screamed with pain. She was too dizzy to stand up.
"W…What is…going…on? I…feel…so…weak…" Maria groaned. Then, there was a sharp crack and a bomb flew over her head. Shadow F screeched as it hit the crystal.
"You're not bailing out now, are you?" Maria blinked in confusion, and then a red-armored hand grabbed her and yanked her to her feet.
"Atlas! You're awake!"
"We've got a problem." The fire megaman said, ignoring Maria as she tried to interrupt. "The nuclear generator is about to melt. Now get back there and cool it off! You can leave this one to me."
"But-" Atlas turned around and shoved Maria backwards towards the door. "I don't want to hear your excuses, just DO IT!"
"I'll be back." Maria promised hastily. Atlas watched her leave, and then turned around and faced her shadow copy.
"I'm about to pay you back for what you used my body to do."
Shadow F hissed. "If you want to die that badly, so be it!"
Atlas just grinned. "Bring it on."
/Generator room
Maria skidded to a halt and looked the generator over. It was red hot and ready to melt. "Let's go, Bethany!" Changing into her ice form, Maria blasted the generator with ice.
"Make it colder!" Bethany squeaked.
"I'm trying!" Maria retorted hotly. The entire generator was slowly freezing over when the emergency lights finally dimmed and turned green. Maria let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness." There was a loud crashing noise coming from the other direction. After a few seconds, Atlas walked in, looking rather pleased with herself.
"Are you okay?" Maria asked in concern.
"Yup." Atlas replied smugly. "My Shadow copy, on the other hand, is a another story altogether."
Maria smiled awkwardly. It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened to that shadow. "Um, thanks for bailing me out."
"No problem."
/Hunter's camp
"Maaaaaaan, some week I've been having!" Maria exclaimed as she and Atlas walked into the camp.
"Was it really that boring?"
"Except for the shadow copy business, yes it was."
"I'd be more surprised if the shadow copy incident WAS boring…" They stood in silence for a moment.
"Let's find the boys." Maria said suddenly. Atlas giggled.
"Read my mind."
/Auther's note: GOD! WRITER'S BLOCK! I WISH SOME SCIENTIST WOULD COME UP WITH A CURE FOR IT! Sorry if this chapter is overdue, I had a big case of, yes, writer's block. Sorry if it's short.
