Disclaimer: Nope, still sadly don't own anything in here other than my OC's, everything else belongs and is copyright to Capcom.
Chapter 25: Over At Last
Silver Gallant charged toward the lady hunters, angry but cautious to not be taken by surprise like that again. Alia and Iris now however had found their groove and easily avoided the attacks. Iris used her speed to her advantage and made a headlong charge at Silver Gallant who stumbled when his attack missed. She made two quick strikes with her daggers tearing into his chest and the performed a swift spin kick her foot making direct impact to the side of his head sending him rolling across the ground hard. Alia decided it was her turn, planting her feet firmly and charging the X-Buster to max. She released the giant sphere of plasma energy which crashed directly into Silver Gallant. Iris and Alia rejoined each other, their weapons still ready as Silver Gallant slowly and weakly got back to his feet, using his lance as support. Gallant wiped away the blood from his lip and spit in the direction of the ladies.
"Even if you do...defeat me, Zero will never stand a chance alone against Gold Vallant," the silver armored reploid taunted.
Iris simply chuckled at the statement and looked to Alia.
"Let's end this so we can go watch Zero finish off Gold Vallant," she stated to her friend to irritate Gallant further.
Alia nodded in agreement and started charging her buster once again.
"At one point we were so afraid of you H-Hunters but it didn't take us long to realize, you were only powerful when together and the only reason you seemed strong when alone is because we were afraid of you because of what you did as a team, now look at you, all of your comrades are as gone as you're about to be with Gold Vallant not far behind you, if he isn't ahead of you," Alia said as she released the fully charged blast once more.
Silver Gallant tried to avoid the blast but he was to weakened and it hit him directly feeling the blast tear even more into him due to the tears in his chest caused by Iris. With a nod from Alia, Iris with her incredible speed once more was upon Gallant before he could even blink. She sat down on his back and brought her daggers to his throat. With a final low growl from Gallant Iris pressed her daggers deeper into his neck and pulled them both across. With the quickness she used to get to him she dismounted Gallant and came to a stop beside Alia and with a resounding, echoing and satisfying boom Silver Gallant exploded.
"We did it!" Alia cried out.
Iris turned and high fived Alia. The duo had done it, they had actually killed Silver Gallant, sure they had a little bit of help but most of the heavy lifting was done by them and it made them both so thrilled. They had proven that they no longer needed looking after and Alia was happy knowing that had X been around, he would have been proud of her. That thought though brought Alia's mood down some and Iris took notice.
"X?" she questioned softly understanding almost like she had read Alia's mind.
Alia simply nodded but still tried to maintain a smile. After all they had done they had reason to celebrate.
"Come on, let's go rejoin Zero, if he isn't finished already he should be done shortly," Alia stated.
With a happy nod Iris took the lead as her and her partner made their way in Zero's direction.
Gold Vallants Room
Gold Vallant and Zero charged at each and met in the center of the room, Zero striking with a flurry of saber strikes all of which to the Crimson Killers annoyance were blocked by the H-Hunter leaders shield. When Zero broke his attack Gold Vallant thrusted hard with his lance taking Zero slightly off guard and Zero could feel the spear graze his side. Zero simply bore through it, he had suffered much much worse many times before and resumed his assault. Gold Vallant however once again hid behind his shield.
"What's wrong Vallant, nothing without your shield?" Zero taunted through gritted teeth.
Gold Vallant simply chuckled thrusting his shield forward hard slamming it into the Red Death knocking him back several feet.
"I will not fall into your taunts hunter and simply toss aside my shield to prove a point," Vallant said simply walking toward Zero.
Zero knew that as long as Vallant had his shield there wouldn't be too much he would be able to do. Out of nowhere Zero felt someone close to his back but it didn't take him by surprise, he knew exactly who it was, using Zero's body to hide his presence.
"Be on the ready, I will get his shield away from him," Shadow stated.
Zero simply nodded as Shadow vanished once more. Zero looked Vallant over looking for a possible weak spot in his defense just in case Shadow failed. Zero gripped his saber tighter ready to charge in again entirely unsure of when the mysterious reploid would even strike. Gold Vallant unaware of Shadow still being around kept his focus entirely on Zero entirely ignorant of the fact of what was planned. Before either reploid could make their move Shadow appeared directly beside Gold Vallant his buster fully charged.
"What!?" the H-Hunter leader questioned.
Before he could even react though Shadow released the fully charged blast the blast hitting him directly in the hand holding his shield.
"Arg!" Vallant cried out as he lost his grip on his shield and it went flying to the opposite side of the room.
Zero took this chance and distraction and charged directly at Gold Vallant. His focus on Shadow still he was ill prepared for Zero who was suddenly upon tearing into him hard with multiple saber strikes from the Z-Saber. The saber tore into his armor deep leaving deep searing gashes that exposed his internal wires. Vallant trying to get a semblance of control back in the fight thrust his spear blindly in the direction of the of the unprepared Shadow and the spear penetrated deep and right through Shadow's chest and out of his back.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Shadow roared out leaping backwards.
"So, you are in fact a wired and metal reploid underneath your smoke and mirrors," Gold Vallant taunted as he managed to get a grip on one of Zero's arms and toss him away easily.
Knowing he was now out of the fight Shadow vanished before Zero could ask if he was alright.
"Your help is gone now Maverick Hunter, now this fight can proceed as it was meant to," Gold Vallant stated, obviously unconcerned and unaffected by the injuries he had sustained.
He readied his spear and threw it in Zero's direction. Zero easily side stepped the attack wondering what Vallant planned to do with the attack. Before he could finish forming other thoughts Vallant disappeared from his location was instantly beside Zero right where his spear had landed. With a swift motion Vallant gripped his spear and brought it around striking Zero once more with it cutting him much deeper this time in his side once again.
"You see Zero, many of your foes cower in fear at the legacy of you and your now dead partner and they also fear pain, if you put all of that behind you, what is there to you really?" Vallant questioned.
Zero gritted his teeth to bear through the pain and simply grinned at the H-Hunter.
"What am I? I am your end," Zero retorted.
Zero once more charged at Vallant pulling his saber back ready for a thrust. Vallant, prepared for this brought his spear up to block but Zero simply vanished as he did so. Before Vallant knew what had happened Zero was behind him and Zero finished the thrust piercing through his chest where his artifical heart was. Vallants eyes went wide and thrashed around some dislodging Zero from him saber and all. The H-Hunter turned to face Zero and let out a sigh. Dropping his spear Vallant simply clapped.
"Well played Maverick Hunter, you have won this round," Vallant said with an actual congratulatory tone.
Zero nodded at Gold Vallant with narrow eyes as the last of the H-Hunters exploded before his very eyes. At that moment Iris and Alia ran in a little more battle worn than when he had left them but obviously victorious over Silver Gallant. Finally, at long last it was over, the H-Hunters were gone, the threat of Corrupt X was dealt with a the great cost of X's life. Iris ran right to Zero as he was in thought and pulled him into a tight hug causing sparks to fly from the cuts Vallant had actually managed to inflict on him.
"We did it everyone, this fight is finally over," Zero said with a smile.
Iris smiled and snuggled herself more into the injured Zero still proud of what herself and Alia had finally accomplished.
"Much as I hate the guy, I do hope Shadow is okay though," Zero stated.
"Why, did something happen with him? He was instrumental in me and Iris beating Silver Gallant," Alia inquired.
Zero nodded simply "Yeah, he was injured pretty badly helping me beat Gold Vallant,"
Their attitudes matched Zero's, none of them liked Shadow much but he wasn't a Maverick or an enemy at least and they wouldn't wish hard on him at the very least.
"Well, nothing we can do for him if he took off and Zero you're injured as well, we should get back to Headquarters, I am sure everyone will be excited to hear the good news," Alia said.
With all in agreement the three of them teleported away as Wenda stepped into the room and walked over to Gold Vallants shield.
"Not all things have fallen into place but our plans are still on schedule," Wenda said to seemingly no one as she picked up Vallant's shield.
She glanced it over and took it with her knowing it wasn't as over as she had heard Zero speculate, as a matter of fact, for the Maverick Hunters, it was only just beginning.
"Soon Sigma, you shall have your new body and it will be unstoppable," Wenda stated to herself once more letting off a soft chuckle.
~A/N~
Well, I know it has been a very long time but I am still alive and here at last is chapter 25. We have finally reached the end of the H-Hunter Saga for this tale but not everything has been resolved just yet so stay tuned for chapter 26 coming a lot sooner than chapter 25 did, I promise on this one. Anyway, as always please R&R no matter if it's good, bad, or flaming, all criticism helps me in some way. Till next time my peeps!