It happens once every month, that one night the crimson hunter vanishes only to return before dawn so he could spend the rest of the breaking day sleeping...That one night he slips out dressed in an gothic armor equipped with bat wings anchored to his back and a mini pair of them attached to his head...That one night when he crackles under his breath of who he will fight next...But none of what X noticed about on that particular night gave any clues to what exactly happened to Zero on these mysterious nights. All he knew that they didn't threaten his best friend's well-being and that it appeared to be a little side hobby that the blonde warrior preferred to keep a secret. It wasn't anything BAD right?
This night X was just chillaxing in an plush armchair engrossed with his favorite manga series and a Sub-Tank in his hand. He heard a familiar pair of heavy boots cross the floor which caused him to casually glance up at Zero armored in Goth. "Hiya dude, going out again?" "Yeah, catch you later kid." "Yo!I'm not a kid Zero!I'm at least past being a kid." Zero just cocked a teasing grin as he leaned against the doorway he was about to exit.
"Oh, reeeeeeeeeeally?Because despite being more than a century old, being the father of an entire race of New Age robots, and having saved the world five times over, you amazingly remained as a kid!" Zero claimed. X just sighed at him skeptically as he turned to his thrilling(and less irritating!) manga. "Where's your logical proof Sherlock?" He scoffed in contempt. Zero cheekily replied, "Name one hunter besides yourself that loves reading manga." X's eyes went wide in realization as he dropped his book. It didn't help that the rating labeled on it read K+.
Zero confidently smiled, "My dear Watson, if that one piece of evidence doesn't convince you. Then allow me to explain other examples-" "Get outta here!" X yelled as he threw his sub-tank aimed at Zero's head. Zero caught the sub tank with a hearty chuckle. "And being sensitive is one of them." He smirked as he tossed it back to a blushing X before dashing off laughing. X just sighed as he sheepishly returned to his reading.
"I am not kid, darn it Zero..." The cyan hunter grumped. It seemed as if Zero was getting on his nerves more than ever now. Maybe it was because they were spending less time bonding due to the maverick outbreaks. Their friendship was strained a bit because all the stress weighed on them from maverick hunting began taking a toll on their attitudes. Zero becoming more cold, violent, and more irritating. X becoming more quiet, frustrated, and beginning to get desperate on achieving harmony between reploids and humans.
He was lucky to catch a quick break that evening so he could de-stress a bit. X barely flipped a page to read the next chapter when-WEEEEOOOOW!WEEEEOOOOW!WEEEEOOOOW! Suddenly his whole world erupted with deafening sound waves and blinding red light!"OH SHOOT. A EMERGENCY NOW?!" X yelped as he scrambled through the chaotic hallways packed with hunters streaming in or out to report to their battle stations!X managed to reach Central Command without getting squashed into a titanium waffle! Zero was the only hunter absent for the emergency because he had already left to meet his engagement that night.
"I can handle it by himself! Zero doesn't need another reason in justifying that I'm a kid!"
X spoke confidently before teleporting away to the field of battle...
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Location:Silicon City Time: 7:34:21 P.M.
Imagine being plunged into one of those battlefields that video games envision. The challenge is that the enemies are attacking by air, aerial vehicles are short-handed due to a large fraction of them being lent to the neighboring district, and the only ground you have are the tops of skyscrapers. Imagine the battle zone being overrun by plasma blasts, smoke from mini-bombs, and careening mavericks from the sky. Causing your vision and hearing to obscure due to the overload of light, sound, and danger. A time before you can receive the upgrade that would have been practically helpful for this type of situation.
But unfortunately for X, it was not a video game challenge he could log out of and he didn't discover the Falcon Armor yet. The word "DANGER" rang warningly through X's mind incessantly as he tried to keep himself grounded from falling off the skyscrapers.
While at the same time evading the speedy and deadly attacks from above! If Zero had been here, he would have embraced the challenge whole-heartedly. While his present little buddy's only concern was to STAY ALIVE AND KEEP EVERYONE ELSE INVOVLED ALIVE.
Although the blue android courageously persevered and proven to be capable for unpredictable predicaments like this for instance. Its just that the fight contained odds his limitless potential had yet to adapt to. And his X-Factor happened to be running on full-speed, his new evolution had to catch up with the pace the furious fight ran!X dodged beaming lasers and took a daring leap towards another rooftop!He rolled onto his landing where he jumped back up to fire Charge Shots at three bumbling bee bladers hovering over him!Hordes of squeaking batton bones fluttered madly towards X who exterminated scores of the pests by the bundle!
Too soon he heard the ominous buzzing of an incoming gold blader. On cue a shining golden bee of great size shadowed X as it began raining silver and golden mettuars!X swiftly outmaneuvered the pouncing mettuars heading straight towards their carrier!Taking his turn to pounce, he lunged at the gold blader delivering the latest attack that Zero spared time to teach him. "FALCON PUNCH!" His fist obliterated the bulky machine seconds after he launched himself onto another gold blader!Megaman X bounced from blader to blader delivering Falcon Punches that inevitably ended them!
The early evening slowly descended into the realms of midnight. The full moon glowed like a beacon of light urging the robotic defenders below to persevere to the very end. Their enemies started off indomitable at first, but as the clash raged on the mavericks began faltering their stance. Sensing that their opponents' strength was wavering-they charged upon their opponents' weakness which quickly turned the tables on the formerly relentless mavericks!The enemy retreated further from the city with the Maverick Hunters right on their tail!But just as victory seemed to be in the clear-a supersonic jet rocketed into the scene flying straight to the city!
X had been one of the few hunters to stay behind to help the victims caught in the crossfire. Then his communicator crackled to life from a panicking navigator's voice,"X!Our signals have picked up the presence of a nuclear bomb within the jet!If no one else stops it Silicon City will be lost!"She frantically spoke. "Roger!I'm intercepting the jet!" Our hero answered as he took the last remaining hover board to fly upwards to the sky!
The hover board cruised through the sky like a graceful bird thanks to the smooth piloting of X.
His broad-range eye camera spotted the incoming jet and he boosted the hover board to full-speed ahead!Meanwhile, the maverick pilots in the jet were wickedly taunting the "supposedly superior war veterans" who were chasing their fellow cronies away from their target. Leaving them open free to bomb the metropolis sky-high!They were too distracted congratulating themselves for an ingenious and pre-mature victory that they failed to noticed a blur of blue light approaching them at incredible speed!CRASH!The arrogant crew screamed in horror to find that the famous X himself smashed through the canopy glass!
"AAAAUUGGGHH!"The lead pilot received the mighty hunter's kick which sent him flying to the back of the jet!His two other comrades fumbled to grab their weapons in order to strike back!But their formidable foe grabbed hold of both their arms and flung them besides their dizzy bad bud. All three cowered before the short-but-intimidating-if-needed android that glared at them with green eyes glowing with indignation. "You are all under arrest." "But-but, MEGAMAN X!You gotta be CRAZY to arrest us now before the BOMB BLOWS!" The lead pilot protested.
X registered his words, "The bomb is TIMED?" "SIR YES SIR!" "Then how do I turn it off?!Spill it to me NOW." "As much as I like to show off my disarming-bombs skills, were not staying for YOU." "Oh yes you are you disgraceful mavericks-" A smoke bomb exploded at X's face causing his world to be blanketed in foggy confusion!When the smoke cleared all three partners in crime had vanished without a trace. However a swinging door left opened revealed that they had escaped with their parachutes.
Leaving our hero in an un-piloted supersonic jet with a BOMB that could explode at any time...
"DAMN IT!DAMN IT!DAMN IT!" X cried out in sheer frustration as he rushed to the cockpit to takeover the controls!He nearly lifted the plane in the nick of time from crash-landing into Silicon!But things went awry when the jet didn't STOP going upwards because X had accidentally damaged the controls when he broken in earlier! " ITS JUST WONDERFUL." He hissed as he ditched the pilot's seat for the cargo hold. Fortunately for X finding the bomb proved to be easy-unfortunately deactivating the bomb happened to be a difficult problem entirely!
"What did I do to deserve this?!" X seethed in extreme stress as his examination of the bomb revealed that whoever constructed it built a protective cover over it to prevent anyone from defusing the bomb-IN TIME. His only option was to jump off the jet before it exploded into thousands of blazing pieces!Good thing he piloted the plane far enough from its previous target and that it was flying high enough for any debris to disintegrate before hitting the earth. Our hero sucked in his breath, wished for good luck, and took a Superman leap from the plane before it went-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The explosion measured the same magnificence and unquenchable heat from a volcanic eruption...
A single drop of glowing cyan fell to the earth like a drop of rain...
The robotic defender of earth relived all his memories in his computer brain...
A powdery crash occurred 67 miles from the city...
Megaman X crouched in a paralyzed position, unaware that he had ultimately survived the impossible. He blinked a few time with a wild look in his eyes like a freaked out predator's. His body vibrated as his computer brain hastily recalibrated his entire sensory system. His hands dug deeper into the sweet solid ground. He sat there for a prolonged moment of frozen disbelief-a whoop of joy burst from within him as he snuggled into the blessed soil as if it was a luxurious bed. "OH MY GOSH I'M STILL ALIVE!"
He began grinning crazily like Zero as he cockily added, "Zero-senpai is going to be soooooo jealous of my new worldwide record surviving a fall that high...?!" A large shadow appeared over him, soon to be followed by the burning remains of the BOMB. "GYAAAAAA!"
X yelped in horror before the fiery mass impacted him!
(Not too long after X was discovered and evacuated to Maverick Headquarters for a life-saving operation. Captain Zero was called in when reported the critical condition X was in...)
Lifesaver and his assistants buzzed madly about the operation room doing everything they could to keep their severely damaged patient alive! It was a miracle he even survived the accident!Interrupting the chaos stirring within the room was the forced entrance of a enraged robot with his long ponytail blazing like fire!Two guards made an pathetic attempt to restrain him, but the unconquerable Zero flung them aside like rag dolls snarling. "Don't you dare at stop me. I will not accept pushes that will persuade me to shove back-and you don't want that riiiiiiiight?"
The guards accepted defeat as they marched hastily away from the sighed in exasperation,"Your visit can last for 30 minutes but no more. Understood captain?" Zero nodded in reply as he walked over to his teammate's side. "And for goodness sake, please explain why you are wearing Goth!" Lifesaver exclaimed in utter distaste for the style. His question fell on deaf ears as Zero sat down to face his broken blue buddy.
"Hey X, how are you..." The rest of his sentence soon lost to grief. He gripped the sides of X's cot gasping hard for breath. Guilt had washed over him like a tidal wave. What kind of best friend would run off to have fun only for his best friend to almost be swooped away from DEATH?!
"I'm a absolute bonehead." Zero choked stared miserably at his little buddy ridden with shame and dread.
Before Zero met X, once upon a time he was a living weapon and nothing more. He hated the cruel world he was forced to endure, everyone he encountered were his enemies. Then X dropped into his life when he joined the Maverick Hunters and became Zero's new protégé. At first Zero was put-off by the pacifistic kid who naively gave his goodwill to everyone, including Zero. But as the compassionate trainee and embittered mentor spent more time together from training to hunting down rogue reploids to doing mundane data work. The crimson hunter who held malice towards everyone because he thought he could never be a person like them...
Realized one day he couldn't bring himself to hold malice against X. He remembered sitting in the rec room staring at every reploid while mentally checking off whatever he held against them. His thoughts wandered as to why he was even in the rec room in the first place..."There you are Zero-senpai!I finally found the movie I wanted to show you! Why the crush would they not sell it online is beyond me."
Zero turned to the voice of his upbeat student who had arrived with the film he was excited to show his mentor. Zero couldn't believed he had been talked into this. As X set up the movie, a question popped up in his head asking, "What had X wronged me?" The answered came unexpectedly in a serious tone: "Nothing at all." X had not done nothing to hurt Zero.
(Except for the few times his X-Buster accidentally self-combusted in Zero's face or ran into him while speed dashing!)
During the film Zero began cogitating about the blue kid watching the movie happily.
He could not understand why X never treated him like the rest of the world treated him. X had treated Zero as if he were a person.As the movie neared the end, it came to him that he liked kid that had somehow brightened the darkness of his life. X was the first person he actually wanted to-protect.
X' friendship began changing him slowly but surely. With X he discovered the true beauty of life. His own moral compass been shaping up after X's conscience. He actually had a real live sincere friend-someone who actually cared about him. It was thanks to X that Zero had met the love of his life:his precious Iris-chan.
To make a long story short, X gotten himself lost in the mountains of Hokkaido on an urgent mission. His senpai would have ripped out his hair in frustration for failing to locate his hopelessly lost kohai-if Iris who happened to come along with Repliforce hadn't kindly offered to help him. After trudging through the mountain terrain together they rescued X and completed the mission as a team. After Zero had grounded his kohai for a week in a stasis capsule. He had spent the entire week secretly hanging out with Iris causing the seed of love to be born.
Zero couldn't bear to loose X, the gold-hearted hunter became the little brother Zero never had.
Zero quietly stayed faithfully by his friend's side until Lifesaver shooed him out for X's next operation. "Before you kick me out, you better tell me if he'll make-" Lifesaver snapped,"Of course he will! Your friend's astonishing survival confirmed that he will recover-if you will considerately leave the medical care to us!" He pushed Zero out the door which closed behind him.
The scarlet captain began pacing though the hallways reviewing the past events that lead up to this painful moment. It occurred to him that their chaotic careers had been causing cracks in their friendship. They barely spent any other time together besides terminating maverick outbreaks which pressed their breaking points more than once. Something had to be done, it couldn't go on like this. He made a personal promise to protect X and he will.
Maybe it would be wise to take a break at a hangout together...A light bulb lit up in Zero's mind and he snapped his fingers. "Of course!Why didn't I think of it before?I just need to make a call."
Activating his communicator, he contacted a familiar Repliforce officer...
Me:Hoped you enjoyed part 1!The whole short story will contain 3 parts in total!
Zero:What about that other story you just started?
Me:Relax, I'm not going to abandon it!Switching stories will help keep my mind fresh and not loose enthusiasm!
X:Uuuuuuuuhhhh, so can you please tell me what you planned for Zero to do to me?
Zero:Aw come on bud, its definitely not yaoi.I would never do anything to hurt you.
X:*Sighs in relief* Ok, so what's the grand plan?
Me:No spoilers!All I can say is that your look great in Goth for your night out!
X:Wait-what?!What kind of place would I need to wear Goth?!
Me:NO SPOILERS!
(X notices the summary on the fanfic and realizes the deep trouble he's in.)
X:NO WAY, NO HOW, NOT EVER GONNA HAPPEN!
Me:I just told you NO SPOILERS!
Zero:Come on X, its about time you had some fun!Just quit being a pacifist for one night-
X:NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(Tries to bolt out the door only for Zero to grab him.)
X:HEEEEEEEEELP!MY BEST FRIEND IS GONNA DRAG ME TO A-MMMFFFF!
Zero:Sorry kid, no spoilers!
Me:Part 2 coming soon to fanfic theaters to you!