Author's Notes. Canon AU. Angst. Tension. Zero is a bit more crude here than how I usually portray him, but that should slowly change. X gets to show the usefulness of humans and 3 local cities. Not the first time a city or even the world has depended on his actions, case in point, the games themselves. Please enjoy.

It was dark by the time X and the two mavericks reached the castle. X could barely see inside the castle, but the mavericks seemed to know where they were going. When the mavericks suddenly stopped, X could make out a faint light blue light, a light that looked very familiar to him. Medieval torches soon lit the room on each side. Zero was sitting in the throne in front of them with his legs crossed, a twisted smile on his face, and his pitch black Absolute armor active.

"Well, what do we have here? Megaman X, correct? Have you turned yourself in? I guess Abel City gets to see another day." Zero chuckled, watching X and the mavericks coming closer with glowing crimson eyes. The mavericks soon stepped aside once X was just before Zero. "Zero, you..you don't remember me.." Zero tilted his head, smiling more. "Am I supposed to? I only know I am programmed to destroy someone by the name of Megaman X. Though, if you truly are this X, I don't understand why I am supposed to kill you." The blond got up from his throne and came closer to X, looking him over. "You don't seem like much of a threat to me. Perhaps you could be useful. If you agree to serve under me, I will not harm you. You could help me build a utopia for all reploids and get rid of these useless humans and their waste-of-space cities."

X felt almost a little sick that Zero didn't remember him, or didn't seem to remember anything but what his creator had programmed. "No..I'm not going to help you with such things..I want a utopia too, but not just for reploids..You and I both know that can't happen. Its impossible. I don't want to fight you either." Zero's smile faded. "You refuse? What a pity. That means I have to dispose of you." X stepped back. "I turned myself in to you in the hopes of speaking with you." Zero smirked. "You've come a long way just for a simple conversation. This had better be good." X gulped a little. "What if..What if I could change your mind about those 'useless' humans and their cities? What if I could show you how useful they really are?"

Zero laughed a little. "Humans? Cities? Useful? Don't make me laugh. Although..I dare to say your offer has piqued my interest. There are 3 cities in close range of us that we were planning to hit next. If you can show me their worth, I'll spare them. If not, they fall. Is that clear?" X nodded gently. "Yes, very clear." Zero smirked. "Good. We will tour one city per day for the next 3 days starting at dawn. Show him to a chamber." The blond ordered. The same two mavericks led X out of the throneroom and to a guest room. Zero watched them leave, wondering what good there truly was to be seen. "You're really going through with this?" A servant maverick asked. "He perhaps sees something I've missed. We'll lay low until the three days are over." Zero nodded with a smirk.

The room X was led to was quite cozy. It had a large bed and mirror with many candles for lights, no lamps or even electricity. He brushed the dust from the duvets and pillows before lying down on the bed. The mattress was an old spring mattress, not too comfy, but comfy enough. X sighed quietly before trying to sleep, slowly closing his eyes. He hoped he could sway Zero's intentions, if only a little.