Author's Notes; Shounen-Ai. Some fluff. Drama and Action towards the end. Guess I have to reserve the big action for the last chapter..again..Oh well..don't want to make these thing too long, something I've really been getting carried away with lately..First of all, Saturnus governs karma, hard-learned lessons, and old age as well as agriculture..He is dark and considered the Destroyer, but this can also be attributed to Hades/Pluto..and is more fitting by the way even though Saturnus does wield a scythe..Leave it to someone possessed by Saturn and has studied Astrology to know this shite..Most of the hell-raising by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto often gets pinned on Saturn, thus his bad reputation..Anyways, before I start going on about Astrology, please enjoy..Shit might be about to hit the fan in the last chapter..
Zero gave Light a gracious welcome home by conjuring a buffet, similar to the one he served X the night before. Light thanked him before he and X started eating. The redhead smiled happily before starting to eat some meats and fruit. X focused on the vegetables and some fruits, leaving Light to enjoy the breads and grains.
Once they ate as much as they could, Zero cleaned up for them contently. Chores didn't bother him much, he was used to it by now. Light smiled watching him. "Wouldn't you rather us do it?" Zero chuckled. "As appreciated and tempting as it is, allow me. I set it up, it is no problem." He said, snapping his fingers which cleaned the dishes and sent them away.
The boys went to bed not long after Light did. X sat down on the bottom bunk and looked at Zero. "Are you going to sleep up top?" Zero shook his head. "I will sleep wherever you sleep." He said, sitting down beside him. Before either of them could relax, Zero could see his mother's miasma entering the room, but also noticed another presence beside her. "Mother is here, but there is someone with her this time." "Huh? Who?" X asked, looking at Nyx's miasma as it took her shape. "I cannot tell just yet." Zero watched as a shadowy figure holding a scythe took shape beside Nyx. His eyes widened. "I do not believe it. It is Saturnus, the original Lord of Darkness and Destruction." X gulped and leapt into Zero's arms, knowing too well Saturnus' reputation.
"You have matured into a fine man, Zero." Saturnus said as he and Nyx appeared before them. He noticed X in Zero's arms, grinning a little. "Your mother tells me of your love and dedication to the boy in your arms, how you evolved an ancient trend. I find it most admirable." "Thank you, sir. To what do we owe this unexpected visit?" The redhead asked. "I come bearing a warning. Soon, the areas around you will fall into chaos at the hands of mechanical beings and you will be forced to intervene. Just as you fought against the demons, you will have to fight these mechanical beasts on Earth." Saturnus explained. Zero held X tightly, certain the only reason Saturnus said he would be forced into the fray was if X was in impending danger. "My dearest has informed me of these beasts and their maniacal creator. Sir, I feel I must ask; Why did you pass your title of Lord of Darkness to me?" Saturnus grinned. "I never truly presided over darkness. Humans of old used to see me as dark. In truth, I preside over old age, karma, and hard-learned lessons. You, on the other hand, do preside over darkness, far more than I ever did. You have fulfilled your intention of showing that darkness can be good, not always evil like humans are inclined to believe and even the other gods. Even though you are but a half breed, you are the essence and incarnate of benign darkness. Being born between a god and demon, your body is tolerant to light and fire. You are far more prepared to fight tainted light than I. You deserve to become King of Darkness when you marry. You are noble, humble, and kind to those dear to you, all fine and befitting traits of a true king." Saturnus told him. Zero looked down at X in thought. He'd never seen it that way before. He didn't see himself as worthy of being a king. "Saturnus, the creator behind the mechanical beasts knows that Zero embodies benign darkness and fears him because of it. His jaw drops and he shivers every time he sees Zero." X told him. Both Nyx and Saturnus smirked at this. "Then, our Zero already possesses an advantage over this man. The most important thing is that Zero should not become overconfident or cocky in his abilities. He need only focus on your safety and well-being during these conflicts. Many a human has become overconfident and arrogant with their power and it ultimately leads to their downfall." Nyx said. Zero nodded deeply. "Power is but the crutch of a weak being." Saturnus nodded. "Precisely, so you must use your power with care." "Very well." The redhead said gently with one more nod.
Saturnus soon took his leave, wishing Zero luck while Nyx remained, wanting to spend time with the two. "Zero, what did he mean that you would be forced into the fight?" X asked, a little puzzled. "I fear he means something will happen to you that will force me to take a stand." Zero answered. "I will not let that happen to you." X pinned Zero down to the bed. Zero thudded onto the bed and X helped him move and make room for Nyx beside them. "How, Zero?" X asked in worry. "I don't want to be without you again." Zero smiled lovingly and held X's shoulders as Nyx settled beside them. "Do not let your worry and fear cloud your thoughts. Think, dearest, how did I get you above the heavens?" "You carried me on your back." X answered. Zero smiled more. "Yes, you will be on my back once more. My body will be your shield and my miasma inside you will defend you from the rear." X tilted his head a little. "Won't I weigh you down? And you don't have armor...How will you fight?" "You do not weigh me down at all, X. Ah, that is what I forgot to show you." Zero assured, touching the Amethyst on his tiara, which summoned black armor bearing a small pair of wings on his helmet with a red gem, a large chest lens with a blue and purple stripe near it on both sides, indigo demonic hands with black claws, and wings of black with red marks that were larger than his normal wings. Both pairs of wings had claws. X observed the armor in awe. "Wow, this armor...its amazing." "Mother crafted it in case of an emergency. All my abilities transfer to it and are strengthened by it. It has a natural element of Ice, which might be helpful. She made a scythe with it, but you will see it when the time comes." Zero explained. This would be the second time Nyx was glad she made that armor. "But you would be putting me directly in danger if I rode your back as you fought." X protested. Zero looked somewhat somber. "That may be, but if you could entrust me with your heart, you can trust me to see to your safety. You do trust me, is that not correct, X?" X nodded, sweating nervously and anxiously. "Of course I do, Zero. I'm very sorry. I'm just scared. I don't like fights and it will be a new experience for me." Zero nodded, wiping away X's sweat. "I can understand that as it will be a first for me to go into battle with my precious one on my back. We can handle it, X, we will endure it." X smiled a little, clinging to him and touching the Amethyst again to deactivate Zero's armor, snuggling against Zero's chest.
The next morning after a bath and breakfast, X, Zero, and Light could hear a commotion in town. Zero could hear screams coming from the school, followed by explosions in town. "Hmm, it has begun." He sighed, touching the Amethyst on his tiara, which activated his armor and summoned his red and black scythe that he'd mentioned. X gulped and followed Zero outside. "Be safe, boys. Things already look grim." Zero nodded, opening the door. "Yes sir." X nodded too, following him out and crawling under Zero's hair, between his wings, and onto his back. Zero blushed a little, moaning gently when X's legs wrapped around his sides. He made sure X was on tight before taking flight. His miasma trailing behind him as he flew towards the downtown area drew out some of the robots from the school and elsewhere.
In the downtown area, people were screaming, running in fear as entire buildings fell. Zero was able to catch some of them and seal them back into place before landing in front of a mall that had terrified people flooding out of it. Two robots emerged from the entrance of the mall. One looked like an Egyptian pharaoh and the other looked like a skeleton. These were actually two of Cossack's robots, but Wily had sent them on a rampage. X looked behind him and could see many robots he remembered his dad working on with Wily. The robots soon had them surrounded. Zero growled, looking at them and expanding the miasma around himself and X. "Mechanical beasts. Come on if you dare." This enraged most of them and the Egyptian robot, Pharaoh Man pointed at them. "Attack!"
