AUTHOR'S NOTE: HUNTER AGAINST HUNTER FROM MMX5 IS RECOMMENDED WHEN READING PART 2

PART 1

"You look fine." X said, as he and Senator Luhra made their way down the hall to the senate chambers. "I never thought you of all people would be worried about appearances."

Senator Luhra walked along side X, she was actually a few inches taller than him though it could just be the Heels, and was wearing a silver gown that showed the youth still bound to her body despite her age, her hair up in neat bun and her makeup done neat. "Well considering women's rights do not seem to have any presence around her Master X, I have a small right to worry."
"If I wanted to have a bunch of old men in bathrobes distracted by a plunging neckline in order to get them to sign on the dotted line I'd have brought Blaise." said X. "Having her strut around here in one of her slinky outfits could probably allow a bandit raid to sack the city without a problem."
"Only for the Bandits to be distracted as well." Luhra added. That made X laugh.

"Yes I guess you're right." he said. It was an honest, carefree laugh, one he hadn't felt in awhile. "How did she become a senator again?"
"I think she distracted you with her plunging neckline." Luhra said with smile.

"Ah right, that has to be it." X said, giving an approving nod as they entered the main chamber. The looks they got said it all as the members of the senator whispered among each other.

"Who are these people?"
"What do they want?"

"Look at the way they dress. Especially her."
Luhra looked around as she listened to the chatter. "Blaise would have a field day in here with these backwater narrow minded men." she said.

"Indeed." said X. He turned and bowed to the emperor. "Your majesty, it is good to see you again."
"Good to see you as well X." said Molto as he took his seat. "And I'm glad to see you know how to use a door."

"Well unless properly equipped, or through magic, neither of which Luhra currently has, humans can't teleport like reploids can." He held his hand out to Luhra. "May I present Luhra of the Neo Arcadian Senate. She is also responsible for all foreign policies regarding Neo Arcadia, everything from diplomacy to terms of surrender is all handled by Senator Luhra and the ministry of foreign affairs at Neo Arcadia."
"Terms of Surrender?" snapped one of the senators. "Is that a threat?"

"Oh no no." said X. "merely an example is all. Though considering what we usually deal with back home, this is, quite honestly, Neo Arcadia's first diplomatic alliance with a foreign power in over 100 years."
"And why pray tell is that?" asked Marquis Cassel as he stepped forward to speak for the senate.

"Because we're all that's left." said Senator Luhra. "Our world has been gravely devastated by a terrifying war, and there isn't much left besides our own city, and small outlying settlements beyond our jurisdiction." She approached Marquis Cassel holding up a data pad she brought with her and handing it to him.

"What is this?" Cassel asked.

"It's called a data pad, a device from our world used to store information. On it are photographs of our world, both of Neo Arcadia within a structure known as the Eden Dome, and what lies beyond it. If you use the arrow keys there on the bottom of the pad, you can cycle through the images." Cassel looked at the pad, doing as instructed and looking at the various images, first showing the skyline of Neo Arcadia and the towering buildings.

"This is your city?" Cassel asked looking at the images.

"Yes." Said Luhra. "Our engineers are capable of some amazing feats. The sky above is artificial projected by the Eden dome, which protects our fair city from the dangers of the world outside."
Artificial? The sky is fake? Cassel was trying to wrap his head around this when he got to the pictures of the land beyond the dome, his eyes widen. "What in the world?" Cassel flipped through image after image. Vast deserts, ruined cities and broken settlements. Roadways that had once spanned miles lay broken and shattered. "Surely this can't be real. There is no way such a place can exist."

"It can, and it does." said X. "Our world was rendered desolate and barren by war and conflict on a level that you can only begin to imagine. Whole cities destroyed in the span of days. Forests burned, rivers polluted. A living hell awaits those who venture beyond the Eden dome. But many have tried. Rebuilding is a long term goal for Neo Arcadia and many times we have tried, only to be met head on by the dangers of the outside. Including the constant threat of Mavericks."

"Ah yes, the 'criminals' of your world." said Cassel. "The Emperor mentioned that. And you say such criminals are here?"
"Somewhere in this world yes." said Luhra. "They call themselves the resistance, and they fight against Neo Arcadia, though admittedly they fight for political reasons rather than for the sake of wiping out humans, but that does not make them any less dangerous. Indirectly they are a danger, causing us problems and making it difficult to deal with other maverick threats and as a result their actions jeopardize the safety of the people of Neo Arcadia."

Cassel was at a loss for words as he quietly handed the pad to the senate to pass around. All of them had that same look of shock as Cassel. To see such a ruined place was beyond what they could ever imagine.

"From what you are saying." said one senator. "It sounds like an alliance between our nations would not benefit us."
"Oh but it will." said Senator Luhra. "We offer technology and opportunity, and all we ask in return is aid in rebuilding, aid in providing homes and shelter to those beyond the Eden dome and to provide a truly safe haven from the threat of Mavericks."
"And speaking of Mavericks." said X. "We will personally hunt down and bring to justice the mavericks who call themselves the resistance, who now hide somewhere in your world. It is a win/win for both sides."

The Senators started to whisper among themselves, and X turned his head to the emperor smiling. His smiling stopped though when his com went off. He tapped the side of his helmet.

"Master X, we have a problem." came Harpuria's voice.

"I'm busy." X whispered.

"It's the resistance." said Harpuria.

X's eyes narrowed, but he recovered and looked up. "Gentlemen, something has come up back in Neo Arcadia and I must return. Senator Luhra will oversee all negotiations."
Luhra looked to X, something was wrong and she knew it.

X gave a bow, turned and left out of the doors and down the halls.

"I was hobnobbing with royalty Harpuria." X said over the coms. "You don't often get to do that in this day and age."

"My apologies Master X." said Harpuria. "But as I said the resistance came through the gate, but disappeared after leaving the city."

"And?" X asked, not liking where this was going.

"And about an hour after they were spotted, an unknown group of human females from the other world decked out in reploid armor and weaponry raided a supply depot and made off with a number of weapons and other equipment, they killed Anubis Necromancess and critically injured Fafnir."

X stopped, his mouth twitch, was hearing this right. "Wait, wait, wait. Fafnir got beaten by a bunch of girls?"

"They blew up the depot, with him trapped inside."

That made X face palm. "Are shitting me Harpuria? Tell me that's just a sick joke."
"I'm afraid not sir." said Harpuria. "Fafnir is badly damaged but okay."

'I bet his ego is damaged as well.' X thought. 'Beaten by a bunch of girls? For the love of god.'

"Another thing." said Harpuria. "According to Fafnir, one of them performed Cyber Fusion."

X stopped, his eyes widen. "What? Are you sure?"
"Thats what he thinks." said Harpuria.

"Where are they now?" said X.

"We believe they are on their way back to the gate. The Rose Order has been dispatched to intercept them. The princess wishes to personally question the humans who raided the depot."
"Very well. I'll head for the gate then, wait for my signal and send a transport for evac."
"Yes Master X." and the coms were cut.

"And now here we are." said X. "Me taken away from an important meeting to have to deal with the lot of you personally."

Ciel stepped forward, trying to shake off the fear she had. "X please listen to me. My research is nearly complete, give me a few more days, no a month. I'll have the energy source and Neo Arcadia can go back to how it was before the crisis. You don't have to do this!"

"You had your chance Dr. Ciel." said X. "And you decided to leave and stand against me. Besides there is something else I'm also here for. I want the girl Dr. The one who performed Cyber Fusion."

"What?" Ciel's eyes widen, and she shook her head. "No! Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten what happened to ME the last time Cyber Fusion was experimented on?"

Zero stepped forward. "You're not touching her X. Not while I live."
X looked at Zero. "Zero, I offer you a chance at redemption. Join me and together we can bring peace back to the world, just like old times!"

"By retiring innocent reploids?" Zero asked.

"Innocent? INNOCENT? They were Mavericks! Their presence endangered the lives of the humans! I did what I had to in order to protect the humans."

"And what about the remaining reploids living in Neo Arcadia?" Zero asked. "Do you plan to retire them?"
"What? No of course not!" said X. "Neo Arcadia has stabilized ever since the maverick purge! And human and reploid alike have worked hard to keep that peace stable. But then you have people like Ciel who think I've gone too far, and they stand in opposition, disrupting the peace and causing problems for everyone."

"We fight because you continue to oppress the reploids with unnecessary laws and restrictions." said Ciel. "What kind of peace is that?"

Sacrifices had to be made for the good of everyone." Said X. "Zero even you would understand that. You know me Zero, you know I would do nothing to jeopardize the lives of humans." He'd arm his X buster again, aiming it at Zero. "But if you will not see reason I will have no choice but eliminate you as a Maverick."

"NO!" Ciel ran in between X and Zero, holding her hands out. "NO! NO MORE FIGHTING! THIS HAS TO STOP! NO GOOD HAS COME OF IT! AND NO GOOD EVER WILL!"

"Out of the way Ciel!" said X.

"No! If you're going to kill Zero, then Kill me as well! You had me declared Maverick remember?"

"Ciel get out of the way." said Zero.

"There has to be another way!" said Ciel. "Why do you two have to fight?! My research is almost done! This is what it's all about isn't it X? The Energy crisis! Thats what cause you to change! Let me finish my work please!"

"Ciel get away from them!" said Faucon.

Ciel didn't budge, she merely stood there staring X down.

"Is she crazy?" said Bozes. "Master X is going to kill her at this rate, you saw what he did to Rory."

"Except Rory can recover from that." said Pina. "that girl won't"

"Ciel." said X.

"No!" said Ciel.

"Out of the way!" said Zero.

"I won't budge!" said Ciel. "I will not let you two fight!"

"Would you snap out of it and come back to reality!" said Zero. "X will not listen to reason! He's outright REFUSING to listen to reason. And the only way to get back to the others is THROUGH HIM! He will not let us leave." Yuno and Tuka ran over, grabbing Ciel and trying to drag her away.

"Ciel come on!" said Tuka. "This is the only way we can get home safely! You have to let Zero fight!"

"But..." Ciel shook her head, struggling to maintain her spot.

"Ciel you're being just as stubborn as X is!" said Yuno. "Trust in Zero he'll get us to safety!"

"I..."
"CIEL!" Tuka's raised voice snapped Ciel's head over to her, and the elf held out a hand glowing with magic and touched Ciel's forehead with it. Ciel blinked as her eyes went heavy, and she collapsed, falling asleep.

"Thank you Tuka." said Zero. "Get her to the van."

Tuka and Yuno nodded as they carried Ciel.

"Faucon! As soon as you have a clear shot, head for the Gate." said Zero.

Faucon nodded and ran back to the van. "Give him hell Zero."

"I will." said Zero, igniting his beam saber and charging at X as X threw his coat off and took aim.

PART 2

Was this what it was like to watch two heroes clash? X fired his Buster at Zero, who ducked an maneuvered around them as he closed the distance, slashing at X with a furious combo as the leader of Neo Arcadia moved quickly to avoid the attacks, before parrying with his hand and aiming his buster point blank at Zero, who accelerated to push the Buster over his shoulder as the shot went into the air and he tackled X to ground before jumping off and landing on his feet and swinging the Beam Saber down at X, only for him to quickly roll out of the way as he kicked Zero's feet tripping him and sending him crashing to the ground, both of them jumping to their feet as X swung out his X buster to block Zero's Beam Saber.

"You're sloppy!" said X, grinning. "All that time in hibernation has dulled your combat prowess."
"And all your time sitting on your ass ruling over a hell hole as dulled yours!" said Zero as he stepped in and slashed at X, X pulled back and fired hit buster, hitting Zero in the shoulder as Zero's Saber grazed X's opposite shoulder. The two wheeled around and landed a cross counter punch on each other with their free hands, throwing each other back across the street."
"So that's X?" said Tuka, watching the fight unfold.

"That's him." said Faucon. "Megaman X, leader of Neo Arcadia, and enemy of the resistance." He looked down to Rory, she was still regenerating.

"I swear to god." Rory groaned. "As soon as I'm hole I'm going to tear that arrogant blue boy to pieces!"

"Not in your condition you won't." said Faucon. "Even after you regenerate from that attack you're still going to need to rest! X nearly disintegrated you!" He looked up as Zero jumped back and away dodging another buster shot from X.

"What do we do?" Tuka asked.

"We wait." said Faucon. "Sooner or later we'll have a chance to make for the gate."

X charged up his buster before firing at Zero. Zero retaliated by bringing out his Shield boomerang, deflecting the attack before throwing the Shield at X. X narrowly dodged the Shield before taking another shot as Zero leapt up and came down at X with the Tonfas, catching him in the jaw and flooring him.

"He got him!" said Yuno.

"MASTER X" Pina cried out, she took a step but Hamilton grabbed her.

"Are you crazy?" Hamilton said. "What do you expect to do? We are way outclassed here."

"But, if we don't do something, he could die!" Pina said.

"Trust in Master X! kero." said Hekelot. "He won't let a maverick kill him!"

"Hekelot is right." said Norma. "Let us trust in X's abilities."

Zero landed on top of X, using his knee to nail X in the gut as he brought his fist down into X's face before drawing his Buster gun and aiming it. "Don't try it X." he said.

X glared at Zero as he struggled to get up.

"It's over X." said Zero. "Your days of making reploids suffer ends here!"

"Thats what you think!" said X as he got a hand free and grabbed Zero's buster, puling Zero toward him and head butting the red reploid knocking him off. X got back up and staggered slightly. "Why? Why do you keep fighting me?"

"Weak..." said Zero.

X's eye twitch. "What was that?"

"I said your weak." said Zero. "Were you always this weak X?"

"Weak? WEAK?!" X glared at Zero. "The one who is weak is YOU! I've been active for over 100 years, fighting Mavericks and protecting the humans. Where have YOU been?" He charged his buster, aiming and firing at Zero.

"Cleaning up 100 years of mistakes for the last month!" said Zero as he charged his buster gun and fired at X. The two shots collided and exploded, knocking both of them back, X slammed into the side of the van as Zero bounced once and hit the front side of the gate.

"The Fuck!?" Faucon peaked out the passenger side window, seeing X groaning and staggering to his feet.

Zero staggered to his feet, shaking his head and looking at X, he shook his head again, rubbing it. "Damn the smarts.

X rubbed the back of his head, groaning. "The hell is that van made out of?" he said.

"None of your damn business." Faucon retorted from the Driver side seat.

X turned his head briefly to Faucon then turned back to see Zero tackle him "Ooof!"

Inside the van, X's impact had stirred Ciel, her eyes fluttering open and she sat up suddenly "ZERO!" she screamed, instinctively.

"Your awake." said Leilei.

"Awake?" Ciel blinked and rubbed her eyes. "How did I fall asleep?"
"Sleeping spell." said Tuka. "It was the only way to get you to safety."

"What? You mean their fighting?!" said Ciel. "No, no, no!" she trembled, holding her head. "Why?! Why do they have to fight?!"

"Fate." Rory said from the back. Ciel looked over, looking relieved that Rory was whole again. "Those two we're fated to fight each other. Emroy saw it, I'm sure the other gods have as well. The fought each other once before, so very long ago. And now they fight again due to conflicting ideals. X wants to protect the humans from the Mavericks, and Zero wants to protect you."

Ciel's eyes widen, and she scrambled for the door.

"Hey don't go out there!" said Faucon. "Ciel stop!"

Outside Zero's tackle sent X into the side of the building and Zero followed it up with punches to his former friend's gut, X gritting his teeth from the blows as he managed to push Zero off, throwing a punch to Zero's jaw as the two began to trade hits now.

"I am not weak!" said X. "I've been protecting the humans for the last 100 years while you were sealed away! So don't you dare say that I'm WEAK!" X threw a heavy haymaker that staggered Zero, following up with aiming his X Buster point blank. "DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME WEAK WHEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH SINCE YOU DISAPPEARED!"

Ciel threw open the side door of the van open as the girls struggled to keep her inside, and they all saw as X fired point blank at Zero, throwing the red reploid across the ground and bouncing once, twice off the floor before skidding to a stop. His eyes were blank with surprise, and the lower half of his body and part of his right arm were destroyed.

"ZERO!" Ciel screamed, scrambling over to him tears streaming down her face. she skidded onto her knees next to his body, shaking him. "Zero! ZERO! Say something! SAY SOMETHING PLEASE!"

X staggered, a vacant distant look in his eyes as he stumbled over toward Zero and Ciel, standing over them and aiming his Buster. "Move."

PART 3

"You must be Ciel. I am Megaman X."

The little girl, no older than 5 or 6, with short blonde hair and wearing a pink colored dress, and carrying a stuffed cat plushy, blinked and looked up at the blue armored reploid who smiled down at her, Blue eyes shined as he crouched down, and held out his hand. "It's nice to meet you."

She blinked again, and her eyes suddenly teared up and she started crying, hiding behind the long white lab coat of the reploid scientist known as Cerveau. His hair a little darker back then as he scratched the back of his head. "I think your scaring her Master X."

"Oh come on." X said. "I'm not scary...am I?" he looked up at Cerveau who just shrugged. X let out a pout as he stood up. "Fafnir is a trigger happy muscle head with a face only his mother could love, and yet children somehow adore him. I say hello to one little girl and somehow I'm the boogieman. Cerveau any advice?"
"Well, if the position of Master of Neo Arcadia becomes an elected position and you have to run for reelection, I recommend not trying to kiss babies, it could damage your public image."

"Funny." said X. He looked down at little Ciel. "So she was selected for the prodigy program?"
"Thats right." said Cerveau. "She showed a natural talent for machinery, Rime believes the prodigy program can greatly enhance that talent."

"And what do her parents think of this?" X asked.

Cerveau shook his head. "She has no parents. They were killed by Mavericks when she was a baby, I am her legal guardian now."

X winced at that. "My apologies, I didn't know."

"However they were both brilliant researchers in their own right." said Cerveau. "Which would explain Ciel's aptitude and her compatibility with the program."

"I see." said X. "Be sure she is taken good care of, Ciel, and others like her, will become the future of Neo Arcadia, and continue the peaceful coexistence between humans and reploids as we continue toward rebuilding the world."
"Of course Master X." Cerveau bowed, then looked at Ciel. "Say goodbye to Master X Ciel."

Ciel looked from Cerveau, then up to X, X smiled nervously and waved goodbye, and Ciel responded with a raspberry before walking off in a huff.
X sighed. "Why me?" Cerveau just smiled, and walked off after Ciel.

"Move!" said X.

"No!" Ciel said, tear filled eyes glared daggers at X, while burning red with anger. "Haven't you done enough X? How many more reploids have to die before you justify the slaughter you instigated a year ago?"

"This has nothing to do with that!" said X. "Now move! Don't make hurt you!"

"'Don't make me hurt you?'" Ciel said, disgusted. "YOU'VE ALREADY HURT ME! Every innocent reploid life you take in the name of protecting the humans. All my wasted attempts to get you to see reason. You've hurt me plenty 'Master' X."
"Ciel, please! Don't do this!" said X.

"You want to hear something X?" said Ciel. "I've got a Cyber Elf whispering in my head right now as we speak, I've been influenced so much by Passy in the past when my anger gets the better of me that I can tell when my emotions are raging and causing cyber Elves to react." She trembled, keeping herself between X and Zero's broken body. "Remember what happen happened last time?"
X gritted his teeth. "You wouldn't."

"Oh I would." said Ciel. "I'll let that elf right in and I'll lose myself to this rage that I'm feeling for you right now and I will tear you apart limb from limb."
"And who will stop you when you start rampaging and attacking everyone else here? Zero? He can't do anything."

"Rory will stop me." said Ciel. "You know, the little girl you blasted when you made your grand entrance? She can heal pretty remarkably actually, regenerate her whole body in a few minutes, It's like watching a horror film when she sits up with half her face missing and she's talking like nothing happened. Now get away from Zero and let us leave in peace!"

"I can't do that!" said X. "I made a promise to the princess to protect the empire from Maverick threats."
"WE'RE NOT MAVERICKS!" Ciel yelled. "STOP TRYING TO JUSTIFY YOUR ACTIONS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR MISTAKE!"

X gritted his teeth, his own eyes burning as he kept his X buster pointed at Ciel and Zero.

"He's not actually going to shoot her, is he?" Hamilton asked, looking concern.

"I don't know." said Pina."

"Ciel...please..." said X.

'Kill her.' X's eyes widen, no, not now.

'She's a maverick isn't she? Just kill her and be done with it.'

No, she's not that kind of Maverick!

'Pull the trigger, and the two biggest dangers to your peace of mind will be gone.'

Shut up. X trembled.

'Do it X. Do it for the humans that you love so much.'

Shut up. X gritted his teeth, trying to drown the voice out as he looked down at Ciel. "Ciel, move!"
"No! You'll have to kill me." she said.

"I don't want to!" said X.

'Yes you do.'

"No! I don't!" X said out loud. "Leave me alone!"

Ciel blinked, was he talking to her? "X?"

"Is he okay?" Bozes asked.

'Kill them all. Zero, the doctor, those 4 young girls. They defy your authority, hell those girls actively took part in a terrorist attack against one of your facilities and BLEW THE DAMN THING UP with one of your own general inside. Miracle he survived. But what if he didn't?"

"SHUT UP!" X screamed.

The voice smiled that sadistic smile as he leaned in behind X and whisper. 'Go on, be the hero the people want you to be."

"I SAID SHUT UP!" He turned around suddenly and began to fire wildly. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD YOU DAMNED GHOST GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" His X buster reverted back to his hand as he gripped his head, letting out a painful scream that sounded like he was in agony as he fell to his knees.

"MASTER X!" screamed Pina, the four of them ran to his side as Ciel stumbled back in shock.

"GET HIM OUT! GET HIM OUT!" X screamed, gripping his head. "MAKE HIM STOP! HE WON'T STOP! HE KEEPS TALKING AND TALKING AND I CANT GET HIM TO STOP!"

"What the hell is wrong with him?" said Faucon. "He was calm a moment ago and suddenly he's throwing a temper tantrum."

"Sounds like he's going insane." said Yuno.

"X..." Ciel stared in shock and she reached out to him, X smacked her hand away. "GET AWAY! DON'T TOUCH ME!"

"Master X what's wrong with you?" Pina asked.

"MAKE HIM STOP! MAKE HIM STOP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

"Make who stop?" asked Pina, shaking X. "Master X calm down please! Make who stop?!"

"HE'S IN MY HEAD! HE WON'T GO AWAY NO MATTER WHAT I DO!" said X. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

'Poor poor X. Now your new precious ally is getting to see the real you. The deranged psychotic maverick that you've degraded into.'

"NO! NO YOU'RE NOT REAL!" X screamed again, scrambling to his feet and stumbling. Faucon ran over, shaking Ciel. "Ciel! We need to go"
"Wait!" said Ciel. She got to her feet, walking over to X. "X. Who is doing this to you? Who is making you suffer?"

X whimpered, looking up at Ciel his eyes red with tears. For a brief moment, his eyes went from the burning red everyone was familiar and use to, to a shining, brilliant Blue. "Ciel...help me..."
Ciel gasped. "X?"

"Virus..." said X. "It's..." He screamed in pain, gripping his head, and instinctively he suddenly teleported disappearing into the evening.

"Oh no." said Ciel. "No it can't be. Thats impossible."

"Everyone fall back." said Pina. "Master X's safety comes first." She looked at Ciel, eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you did to Master X. But mark my words I will make you pay for this!" She turned and took off followed by the others and what remained of their rose Pantheon, heading for the drop ship. Once on board, the drop ship took off, heading for Neo Arcadia.

Ciel stood there, looking like she had seen a ghost as Faucon shook her. "Ciel, Ciel we have to go. If we don't get Zero back to Italica for repairs he may not make it! Ciel!"

"I know..." Ciel said suddenly.

"Huh?"

"I know why X is acting the way he is, why he did something as horrendous as the Maverick purge, and why he continues to attack us, and unless we can save him from himself, he could end up dooming both worlds."

"What are you talking about?" said Faucon.

Ciel looked at Faucon. "He's infected Faucon." said Ciel. "X has the Maverick Virus."