Ch.11: Zero's Feeling's
It's been 3 weeks since the IS Academy has been rebuilt from the massive Gospel attack. Zero and the gang has been training for the tournament that's coming up.
IS Academy Class 2-1: Break Time
"We finally get to participate in a tournament again." Ichika said. "Yeah, since we had to rebuild the academy, last month's tournament was cancelled." Cecilia said. "Are you going to participate this time Zero?" Charlotte asks.
"Maybe, I'm not sure yet." Zero replied. "Just enter and participate." Houki said. Everyone looks at Houki. "That was a bit rude, Houki." Rin said. "Yeah, ease up some." Ichika said. "No, she's right, I should." Zero said.
Everyone looks at him with a surprised look. "But I'll most likely have to put some major restrictions on Zedept." Zero said. "So does that mean." Rin said before she gets interrupted by a massive crowd of students. "Zero team with me!" "Ichika, be my partner!" "No, team with me!" The crowd said. "What's going on?" Laura asked. "This!" The crowd said as they displayed papers in front of them.
"The next tournament has been changed to a tag team tournament, all participants please register your team a week before the tournament, thank you for your cooperation." The gang read. "So how about?" The crowd asked in unison.
"I've already got a partner in mind, sorry." Ichika said. "And Zero isn't sure if he's going to participate." Ichika also said. The crowd leaves. "Oh well, let's go find other partners." "It would have been great to team up with a boy." Students in the crowd said.
"Man, just like last year, huh Ichika?" Charlotte asked. "Yeah, except it was me and Zero." Ichika replied. The bell rings and class went on as normal. The final bell rings and classes are done for the day.
"Man, what a day." Cecilia said while stretching. "Let's go to the arena and get some training." Ichika said. "Ok." Everyone said but Zero. Rin goes up to Zero. "Are you coming with us?" She asks.
"There are some things I need to do first, I'll join you afterwards, ok?" Zero said. "Ok." Rin said. Everyone leaves and head for the arena while Zero leaves and heads to his room.
Dorm: Ichika/Zero's room
Zero walks over to his bed. His sword is leaning on the wall next to his bed. Zero pops up a screen. "Zedept, contact Mentor." Zero said. A minute later, Sky's face appeared on the screen.
"Zero? Do you know what time it is over here?" Sky asks as the call woke her up. "Sorry about that mentor but I need a favor from you." Zero said. "Oh, what is it?" Sky asked. "I want some restrictions to be put on Zedept." Zero said.
Sky is surprised by the request. "Should I ask why?" Sky asked. "There's a tag team tournament coming up and I know Rin wants me to participate with her but with Zedept's power it will be too easy, so I want restrictions to be placed to make it fair." Zero explained.
"So you're going to participate in a tournament again after all this time, alright, what are the restrictions you want put on?" Sky said and asked. "I want Zedept's new powers locked, and Zedept's strength cut in half as well as speed." Zero said. "So basically, you want his power to be the same as a regular unit's power?" Sky asked.
"Yeah, but I want all of his skills to be unlocked, just weakened." Zero said. "Ok, I'll get on it later." Sky said. "But I want access to remove the restrictions if something was to happen." Zero said. "Understood." Sky said.
"Sorry again for waking you, I forgot about the time difference." Zero apologizes. "It's alright, a lot has happened and it's easy to forget, so don't worry about it." Sky said. "How's sis and mom?" Zero asked.
"They're alright, Brittany told your mom what happened and she understood." Sky explained. "That's good, and can you do me one more favor?" Zero asked. "What is it?" Sky asked. "Would you help train sis in the way of IS piloting? She told me that she wants to apply to the IS Academy and since I'm here on a mission, so can you help her in my stead, for me?" Zero asked and explained why.
Sky closed her eyes and smiled. "Sure, I'll train her, this is the first time you've asked me for a personal favor since their deaths, you've really have changed back to your old self." Sky said. "I guess I have." Zero said in agreement. "Oh and one thing about training sis." Zero said. "Don't give her a personal unit without my approval, that's all." Zero said.
"I understand, knowing her, she might want a unit like her brother's unit." Sky said. "Yeah, that might be true." Zero said. "I better get going to the arena and help train them for the tournament, thanks for the help Mentor." Zero said. "No problem, enjoy." Sky said as the conversation ends and the screen disappears. "Well, let's get to the arena Zedept." Zero said as he leaves the room.
IS Academy: Arena 4
Ichika and the others have been training in groups for the tournament. Suddenly 6 blasts went towards them and they dodge them all. "What was that?" Charlotte asked.
They look to where the blasts came from and they were shocked at what they saw. "How is that possible?" Houki asked. Zero came down and with 5 copies of him. "Zero?" Rin asked. "I'll explain, since all of you are training in groups, figure this with be good training for you and I can try this new skill as well, it's called Shadow Skill: Duplicate. As you see, these are my element forms and you'll be fighting us on a 6-on-6 match to test your skills as teammates. They all have their own minds but I'll get all the information from the fight, so what do you guys say?" Zero explained and asked.
They all looked at each other and back at Zero. "You're on." They say. "Then let's start." Zero and his clones attack and the gang attacked back. After 15 minutes of fighting. Zero's clones started to glow. "What's going on now?" Ichika asked. "Looks like they've been placed." Zero said.
Suddenly the clones disappeared and went back into Zedept. "That's the match." Zero said. "But what happened to the clones?" Cecilia asked. "I called Mentor and asked her to put restrictions on Zedept." Zero explained. "Why?" Rin asked "You want me to participate in the tournament right? It's only fair to weaken Zedept so the other students can have a chance to win." Zero said. "So that means?" Rin asked.
"Yeah, I'll participate in the tournament." Zero said. Rin went and hugged Zero, they were still in their units. Zero's stomach growled. "Let's get something to eat, shall we?" Zero asked. "Yeah, I'm starting to get hungry myself." Ichika said. Everyone flew down, changed into their uniforms and headed for the cafeteria, they ate their dinner and went to their rooms.
Dorm: Ichika/Zero's Room
Ichika and Zero are relaxing at their chairs. Ichika is in his pj's while Zero is still in his uniform pants and a white t-shirt. "So what made you decide to participate in the tournament?" Ichika asks. "I think it'll be good for me and that it might be fun." Zero said leaning back.
"If you say so." Ichika says while shrugging. "I'm going to the roof to watch the sunset. I'll be back afterwards." Zero said as he gets out of the chair and walks to the door. "Ok." Ichika said as Zero leaves.
Dorm: Roof
Zero walks out onto the roof and sees Rin standing there watching the sunset as well. "This is a surprise, seeing you up here before me." Zero said. Rin turned around and saw Zero standing there. "Well, I figured that you'll be up here soon so I've decided to get here before you." Rin said. Zero walked up and stood next to Rin watching the sunset.
"I've thought a lot about what happened the last time you and me were alone." Zero said, still watching the sun. "You're talking about the kiss, right?" Rin asked still watching the sun as well. "Yeah, and I've finally got an answer for you." Zero said as he turns and looks at Rin.
"Oh, you do?" Rin said as she turns to Zero. "Yeah and here it is." Zero says as he kisses Rin passionately on the lips. Rin's eyes widen for a few seconds and then closes as she returns the kiss back. They kissed for a few minutes until they broke the kiss. "So that's your answer then?" Rin asked her arms around his neck. "Yeah, that's my answer." Zero said with his hands around her back.
Zedept's gauntlet started to glow. "What's going on with Zedept?" Rin asks as she looks at Zedept. "I don't know." Zero replied. Suddenly there was a massive light that came from Zedept, blinding them. When they opened their eyes and saw that Zedept's form has changed. "Whoa!" Rin said as she looks at Zedept.
Zedept's new form is pretty much Megaman Zero's ZX form with 4 wings, 2 long parallelograms on top by his shoulders and 2 small rhombuses by the base of the spine. Zero is looking at Zedept's new look. "Is this Zedept's Second Shift?" Zero asked. A screen appeared in front of him. "What's this?" Zero asked as he looks at the screen. "Zedept Advent." Zero said as he read the screen.
"That's great!. You've reached your Second Shift." Rin said in excitement. "Thanks Rin." Zero said. Suddenly the roof's door flew open and the gang, fell through. Zero and Rin looked to where the sound came from and saw the gang on the floor.
"Ouch, I told you to quit pushing, Charlotte." Cecilia said. "Sorry but I wanted to see as well." Charlotte said. "What are you idiots doing?" Rin asked in frustration. "Spying on your guy's private moment." Laura said without hesitation. Everyone went to cover Laura's mouth but couldn't make it in time.
Rin turned red in embarrassment and frustration. Rin walks over and yells at them as Zero just watches. Suddenly, Sky's face popped up on a screen. "Zero! We've just got a massive energy change from Zedept! What happened?" Sky yelled and then she saw Zero's head protector. Zero looks at the screen. "Oh, hi Mentor, what's up?" Zero said. "What happened to your head protector?" Sky asked.
"Zedept's gauntlet started to glow, there was a flash of light and when I was able to see again, Zedept's form changed into its Second Shift." Zero explained. Sky is surprised by what he said. "I see, so you've finally achieved your Second Shift? That's great news." Sky said.
Shana's face appeared on the screen as well. "Zero, I've just overheard that you've achieved your Second Shift, congrats!" Shana said. "Thanks, I see that you still listen to other people's conversations." Zero said. Shana looks away. Zero chuckles. "I'll send you Zedept's new form data later." Zero looks over to make sure everyone else isn't listening. "And their data as well." Zero said softly, to keep his mission a secret. "Understood." Sky said and the screen disappeared.
Zero returned Zedept to standby mode and walked over to the others. "Ok Rin, that's enough." Zero said. Rin stopped yelling at them. "It's starting to get late, let's rest up for the tournament." Zero said. They all went back to their rooms and went to bed for the night.