EPILOGUE: Keeping Our Promises…
Am I alive? Phew that was close… I thought that was it! That would've been a really lame way to go out after kicking Copy X's butt so hard!
Axl started to move his body, but to no avail. Every part of his body ached and sore, making it hard to move even his fingers. The ground was warm and… sandy? A desert perhaps?
Starting to lift his head and tried to survey the surrounding area, but his vision was blurry like waking up from a deep slumber. Different from the time Ciel woke him up, he felt extremely tired and started to drowse a bit.
Suddenly Axl's body felt warm and light, leaving all of the fatigue he once had behind. The presence of someone nearby was close, the light warm and familiar. Axl know who it was and listen carefully as the light began to speak to him.
"I'm leaving the fate of this world up to you… Axl," the light said in a gentle but monotone voice.
Axl perked his head up a bit, the loneness and lack of a certain emotion betrayed the warm of its glow.
The light began to speak up again, keeping the same calm monotone voice. "Please allow me… to rest in peace just for… a little while longer my old friend."
After finishing its sentence the light started to take form, a blue male Reploid wearing a long blue and cyan color robe to match his armor and a rainbow colored halo or crown appearing right above his head. He looked down towards Axl giving him a knowing and wryly smile.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this Axl… but you're the only one I can depend upon. Like I've always did during the rough times." the blue Reploid apologized.
Axl couldn't reply, still recovering his strength and listen to his best friends words of apology to him waiting patiently to finish his mind's story.
"You when fell to deep sleep hidden away from the world, both himself and Zero continue fighting against the Mavericks one by one," he stated casting down a gaze with a bittersweet smile, "Until Zero went to deep sleep himself, to prevent another to use his powers and find a way to eliminate the source of the virus within… and find a way to save you as well."
Axl's eyes widen a bit, choking on his own breathe not knowing how to reply.
The blue light smiled, a sad expression crossing his features, "Since both you and Zero disappeared I was the only one left to fight in the wars to come… all alone against an uncountable number of Mavericks for nearly 100 years."
"Battle after battle, killing after killing, it was so painful, so sad, and so hurtful that I the cruelest part was… I stopped caring about all that. I just killed and killed one Maverick after another without remorse, without fear, without care and… without worrying about my enemies and friend," the blue Reploid continue emotionlessly.
His response, his pain, his heartfelt regret hidden beneath his words struck Axl in the heart. All this time he had to fight alone, losing friends, enemies, everything. And the most part of it as well, he lost his emotions in the process… becoming a shell of his former self.
"But I still held on, remembering the days when you and Zero were there. With you guys keeping an eye on me, encouraging me, support me, guiding me back on the right path again after swaying so many times I was able to keep on moving forward and keep my sense of self intact. Even when you disappear I still tried to remember your words…"
Tears, tears were falling down Axl's face now. I'm sorry X, I'm sorry X… I can't turn back time and these apologizes mean nothing now… but I'm…
Memories of days long ago resurfaced in Axl's mind. The times were X was unsure of himself with his methods and Zero prodding why he fights and why he exist and Axl was always there for them both. Cheering them up, reminding them to keep on fighting until the war is over, lighting up the dark mood with his optimist and straightforward attitude.
And the times where Axl was scolded for his misguided actions and even doubted himself at times, but X and Zero were there to support him too. Always believing in him always encourages as he's done for them before. To him they were his role models, people he strive to be, people he wanted to overcome, but that time is long gone.
"Axl… I'm alive so don't worry and I'm using the remainder of my power to protect this world from a dangerous threat that appeared during the Elf Wars, the Dark Elf. The same being that brought an end to the Maverick Wars and the start of the Elf Wars. Your words helped me regain my true self again when the time came again," the legendary blue Reploid Mega Man X looked down at his best friend giving him his true sincere genuine heartwarming smile like in the past.
"Thank you for everything Axl… I'm glad I meet you that day even though you caused some much trouble for everyone, but you worked hard to help everyone in need… and help me fight for everlasting peace for both Humans and Reploids. Take care my friend…"
With that the blue light disappeared returning to where he came from to rest.
Finally recovering all of his energy again Axl stood up wiping away the tears in his eyes looking up into the blue sky.
"Got it X," Axl knowingly said. "Just leave it to me! I'm you're apprentice after all or am I not! I'll handle everything from here on out!"
Axl cast his gaze onto the ground, giving a cocky but sad smile to no one, "So leave it to me, that's why we're best friends, best partners… and brothers, right? Just sleep and when you wake up I'll show you a world where Humans and Reploids can live in peace again! That's our promise!"
He shouted on the last sentence into the sky before turning his attention behind.
A vast army of Neo Arcadian stood before, more than the army he fought during the invasion on the Resistance Base. A sea of blue Reploids and Golems enter every part of Axl's field of vision.
"Besides I made a promise to Ciel as well! And I don't go back on my promises to my friends! And just you wait X! I'll become a bigger badass and kickass legend than you were! Hehe!"
Axl readily pulls out his guns as the army runs in toward him.
"I can't keep on crying forever and I have to keep on pushing forward! And I'll continue with doing what I do best! When I see a Maverick standing right before me!"
Axl disappears behind one of the Neo Arcadian blasting it behind its head and jamming his other gun into another Neo Arcadian's head before blowing it up as well and rips another Neo Arcadian in half by roundhouse kicking it with such vicious velocity.
Most of the Neo Arcadian slowly back away, fearing the black Reploid before them. A cocky and amusing smile crosses his face, beaming with a fire of light never before seen in the young Reploid's eyes.
"I'll turn all into scrap metal! Hehe, my trigger-finger just itching to mop the floor with you guys now!"
Author's Note: Will this is it, the ending chapter of the Mega Man AXL: Era Zero fanfic. It was indeed a good run and I enjoy writing this fanfic. I'll glad you people stuck it out with me until the very end of this fanfic, but don't feat my dear friends! Even though this story is over Axl's adventure still continues!
Look forward for the upcoming sequel, Mega Man AXL: Zero Era 2, which follows Axl's journey in the ZERO timeline during MMZ2. Also expect more Lumine from now on and some interaction between Axl and the Guardians of X… as well as Elpizo.
See ya next time guys!