Megaman Battle Network - New Generation
Book 2 - Black History
By Zelloss
Author's Note: Well, I guess enough has happened/never will happen for me to put up the next bit of important information... Finally...
WARNING: This story has more then a tendency to be dark. In fact, it's mostly demonic. If you don't like that, too bad.
Chapter 4 - Copy King
Now, you're probably thinking my life was set from here on in, right?
Err... Wrong, actually. Dead wrong. Needless to say, my life never actually reached another 'normal' part in the rest of my life, and afterlife too, but that will be explained later.
In fact, I guess I should tell you that, one day, I had the urge to leave for Eyod. I'm not sure what for, I just did.
I walked up to the pier, as the sun set. If I had thought right, the boat should be there.
It was, and I was a bit surprised to see a familar face, although much older, still running it.
"Hello?" I called out in Eyodian to the man.
"Eh?" he answered. "Who are you?"
"Jerill, is that you?" I walked closer, and I could see it almost certainly was. Although he was 15 years older, and he was old to begin with. I didn't know how his aged body could still do the weekly trips.
"W... Who are you?" Jerill asked. "How do you know my name?"
"Zelloss" I responded. "Zelloss Grausherra..."
Jerill nearly fell over. "What!? Zelloss!? What are you doing back here?"
"I've come to return..." I responded. Or, I think I did. Mabye it wasn't me that said that.
Okay, not mabye, because I knew right then that I had lost my mind. I could sense the dark presence again. Only a month until the Blackday, and it was already acting...
I gritted my teeth. "Why now?" I asked.
"I need to make sure that you're under my control..." Blackfang responded, before my conciousness dispersed.
* * * * *
I found myself next on Eyod Island, the arms of Mihillias around my neck. The cold whipped about me, stinging, but it was a familiar cold. Mihillias, yes, that was her. So much older now. Mature, such beautiful form.
I caught myself blushing and kissed her on the forehead, before pushing her backwards. "Zel!" Mihill smiled. "I... I can't believe it's you..."
Then Blackfang took over again.
* * * * *
I sat next, alone on the end of the pier. Why, why couldn't I remember any of this? What kind of games was the demon playing with me, anyway?
I thought hard. Why was I also falling for it so much? Why couldn't I fight it?
It hit me. I realized I never should have left Dynast back in Electopia - he was my link to my own mind.
"Z... Zel?" Mihillias had walked up behind me. "Are you there?"
I remained silent, my purple eyes staring blankly out to the sea, as she sat down beside me, her legs hanging off the edge of the pier as well.
"Ye... Yeah..." I said, not really making an effort to speak.
"You seem, like something is bothering you..." Mihill asked, trying to look at me. I turned my face away in shame.
"No..." I lied.
"You're lying" she knew it.
"Yeah..." I said. "But you can't help me... I don't even know why I'm back here..."
"You... didn't come back for me?" I heard a slight tone of sadness in her voice.
"No, not that..." I said. "You know I love you, but..." I caught myself.
Mihill just stayed stunned for a couple moments. "I love you too, Zell..."
She leaned over, and I turned and we ended up kissing.
I felt the sting in my left arm again.
* * * * *
My mind snapped back, and the revolver dropped out of my hand. I had heard the shot, but what had I done?
I saw what I had done. I ran over to the white body. "Mihill..." I whispered. No, not in the heart, I noticed. I hoped it had only shattered a couple ribs.
"Mihill!" I shouted. Her back had been shot, but not dead center, just beside it. I cursed to my dark self.
"You did this," I thought towards Blackfang. "You tried to kill her..."
"You figured it out!" Blackfang's demonic voice seemed to laugh. "If you have no reason left to live, you'll be mine..."
"Damn you..." I swore. "Demon scum..."
"Thank you..." Blackfang seemed to grin.
"Zel!" Jerill was running. "Wh.. What have you done to her? You... Just like your aunt... You're heartless..." he reached for my throat.
I grabbed his hand and twisted, throwing him off balance. "Jerill, I didn't mean to..."
"Sure you didn't..." Jerill laughed. "It was an accident, just like with Perce!"
"She died on purpose..." I admitted. "I killed her to save my life..."
"Then why my daughter?" Jerill's eyebrow raised, as he swung. I sidestepped quickly, getting behind him.
"I am not in full control of my body..." I admitted. "Listen, there's a hospital back in Electopia. I know enough to be able to stop her from dying for a few hours, you just need to get us there!"
"I will not..." Jerill said. "You'll kill me, too, you scum..."
I looked seriously up at him, as he made the 'shooing' motion. My eye twitched, but I ignored it.
"Mabye one day I will kill myself, but until then," I said, "help your own daughter!"
Jerill blinked. "One day I will make sure you die," Jerill admitted, "but since the next time you and I will meet will be in hell, I'll help you this once..."
* * * * *
I stood just outside the room, waiting, half crying to myself, as I stepped along the hallway.
My footsteps echoed across the linoleum of the hallway, as I thought to myself. "Damn, damn, damn! Why can't my life go well? Why do I have to live with this curse!?"
"Because you are a Grausherra..."
"Sh... Shut up!" I shouted, running outside, trying to escape. Escape what? The memories? Mihillias? Blackfang? I didn't know, nor did I want to.
"Zel?" Morpheus' voice startled me, making me pause and turn.
"Y... Yeah?" I noticed somebody who looked a lot like Shinju was standing beside him.
"You okay, kid?" Morpheus tossed me something. My PET. I caught it and saw Dynast.
His face instantly turned troubled, revealing what I was trying to hide.
"You okay, bro?" the other man asked.
I nearly fell over. No, that couldn't be.
The only person I knew who ever called me 'bro', even as a joke, was...
"Matson?" I asked.
"Of course..." Matson grinned, extending his hand. "Nice to see you again!"
"But you're dead!" I shouted. "I saw your body, I was at your funeral..."
"Oh, that wasn't me..." Matson laughed. "There's a few other people in this town who look like me, you know..."
I think that I fainted right about then, Shock, Surprise, and Confusion all getting to me at once.
* * * * *
Then, well, aside from the fact that Mihill got better, I think that there wasn't much else to say. Or, sorry, there was.
This thing is hardly over. In fact, the reappearance of my old friend was only the first weird thing.
The second happened while I was at the N-1 Netbattler's Grand Prix - like a World Cup of Netbattlers. I was asked by Morpheus to help pull an attack on this place, but I figured it would be best to wait until after.
I walked up to the registration desk. "Hello, I believe I need to check in here?"
"Yes," the woman said to me. "Name?"
"Zelloss"
"Full name, please" she pressed.
I gulped, and took a deep breath, as I gave my full name.
"Zelloss o'Gaiafarou aet Neero Terso Grausherra er Shine Hitomi aunon Aeoya Jamsu Amerias et Danelle Shi-Lune" I said.
The woman blinked. "Okay, I'll check by length of name... Okay. Which of those is your last name?"
"Everything after 'aet'"
"O... kay... Oh, here we go. Zelloss Grausherra. That's about it. According to this, you've already checked in."
"What?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yup, that's how it seems..."
"Alright, thank you..." I turned away, puzzled.
Then I froze as I looked into the crowd.
I had seen myself, walking through there.
"Damnit," I swore, "What's going on?"
* * * * *
I looked up towards the netbattle screen at the tournament. It was just one of me, I saw, but something about this whole place seemed, well, odd. I couldn't place it, as I looked at the groupful of people. I knew names, I knew all the faces, but something, something was wrong.
Before I could say anything, something tinged in my ear. It was Dynast's message. "The attack has begun! Morph says to get out of there like everybody else... He also says you're doing a great job..."
"But I'm not doing anything..." I thought back.
"I know" Dynast said. "Just do what he says and ask questions later..."
I knew that was the wrong thing to do, but I ignored my gut, and that ended up saving my life - The floating arena, ten minutes later, no longer floated, and became what they call the 'Atlantis Arena'.
* * * * *
"What's going on?" I asked Morpheus and Matson. "You guys have to know something!"
"Like what?" Matson asked.
"Like why there's suddenly two of me..." I began, "like why you said I was taking part in the attack but I wasn't even jacked in..."
"You weren't?" Morpheus' eyebrow raised. "But... But I saw you..."
"I was standing out there with the rest of the competitors!"
"That makes no sense..." Morpheus shook his head. "We have to have an imposter, but by all records we could find, that was you, every single inch, both human and navi..."
"A copycat, apparently..." I sighed. "Why does all this have to be so strange..."
"Excuse me," Matson said, "I need to leave for a few..."
I shrugged, as Matson walked off. Morpheus started to talk, and I hushed him.
"One day left until Blackday, and I need to find out what's going on..." I said, and I followed Matson outside of the headquarters.
Matson stood on the roof. A communication link was open on his PET. "Very well, Neero, I will have it done..."
I gulped. "Ne... Neero!?" I shouted. Matson suddenly shut the link, turning.
"Zel, you've heard to much, but you would have found out anyway, bro..." Matson smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"What's going on?"
"Let me explain. We needed to have somebody ready to take your place... Neero copied your form to himself, a perfect disguise..."
"Neero's my father, why would he?"
"He needs your power, Zel..."
"What's going on!? Damnit, Matson, explain yourself!"
"Very well. Besides..." Matson grinned, "Actions speak louder then words..."
I gasped, as Matson dashed towards me. Catching me off guard, he landed a blow to my stomach.
I was sent flying back a few feet, crashing into a wall and nearly going off the edge of the building.
His fist, so hard, was like metal.
"You fool..." Matson grinned. "Once you're down, Neero will be able to copy the virus as well..."
"The Virus! Blackfang?" I asked, trying to catch my breath. I felt like my lungs had collapsed. "Why would he... want... the darkness?"
"The power, bro, the power..." Matson laughed, grabbing me around the throat. I reached up, trying to grab and pull it away, but his hands were so cold, and strong.
I kicked at his stomach, and felt my toe break. "What... What are you?"
I saw a bit of Matson's face flicker, showing metal underneath. "Nothing more then an android..."
"I knew Matson was dead..." I swore. "You... You fool, to think you can use this power..."
Matson turned dead serious. "I won't need it, Neero will..." he pulled back, released my throat, and punched, all in one motion, sending me sprawling off the edge and into the adjacent building - the old laboratory.
I felt the scrapes and tears in my body worsen, blood had come up to my tounge already from the plunge and the hit. An Android... he'd be... Impossible to harm...
Matson had jumped and landed beside me perfectly, not even fazed slightly, as I still tried to catch my breath. I had never felt so helpless.
"Zel!" Morpheus shouted, running towards me, Mihillias by his side. They had exited the building.
Matson grabbed me, and twisted, sending a roundhouse kick that broke my jaw and sent me crashing into the building, as a forcefield was set up in the middle of the lab.
I tried to speak, to scream, but I couldn't do it, I had no energy left of any sort. I was ready, again, to die.
And then I saw it. Standing over me, was myself.
"Neero..." I whispered, just barely, "Why?"
The copy me tore off his disguise, and I could see my father, Neero, the famous programmer, my father, standing over me.
The evil man.
"How could you have such power that I don't..." Neero laughed. "But you're so pathetic here, son..."
"Dad..." I felt him kick me in the side, making all that blood come out. I didn't even have the energy left to keep my eyes open.
I heard something, just barely. "I have... I have to have that darkness..."
* * * * *
I woke up, barely, still gasping for breath, still weak from blood loss.
"Zel!" Mihill shouted.
"It's too late, girlie..." Neero's voice. I tried to sit up, but metal hands, Matson's, no, that android's, were holding me down.
"Don't hurt him anymore!" Mihillias was furious, and incredibly sad. I tried to catch my breath enough to focus and speak.
"In only a couple minutes, it'll have finished, and then, then, the darkness..." Neero laughed.
I tried to realize what he meant, then I felt it, that surge of dark energy.
Blackday had come.
I yelled out in pain. I felt as if my whole body was being torn apart. I forced myself to sit up, smashing my hand into Matson's chest using the power, destroying the core of the android.
The image shattered, the machine creating it gone. Matson was gone, again, and this time I was happy, if such an emotion was left in me.
I stood up, wanting to walk over and hurt, kill the woman near me.
"Mihill," I forced myself to say, as the rest of my body walked towards her, "Get away!"
Mihill screamed, turned and ran. I forced my body to stop running.
Then my vision darkened, and I could feel my mind floating away, no longer in control.
And I could sense other minds, beside my own. Dynast. Neero. And the navi that had copied Dynast's form as his own.
All those were in my mind.
* * * * *
What can be done...? Can I win this time?
"Yes," Dynast spoke.
I... I can't lose to him again, can I?
"Yes you can," Neero's voice was dark. "You'll give in, son, it's better this way..."
No, father! I won't! It means to destroy... Only to destroy...
"That is the way it was meant to be! Destruction... It's meant for all!"
"No, you're wrong!" Dynast shouted. "Destruction is, like life, nothing but an illusion, and although it will one day end on it's own, it's not meant to be like this!"
Dynast... Help me fight them...
"You can't win, son..."
Dad, don't be such an idiot! The one time you return to me, and you're out to kill me, the woman I love...
"Son, you are the idiot not to see..."
No, father, I know I'm right. You can't be my father, it's impossible. My father was a creator, not a destroyer.
"I am..." the voice of my father had changed, lightened. Something that struck a chord in my memory. The voice of my father that I had missed since my youth. The one I had almost forgotten. The kind man.
Dad!
"Yes, I'm sorry... This creation destroys the mind... I was wrong..."
Let's fight this thing!
"Yes, we have to work together... With the four of us together, though, I don't know if we'll be fast enough... The power of 2 humans and 2 navis..."
We can win, I know it!
* * * * *
When I next awoke, I was in a hospital bed. My first thought was to contact Dynast. "Date?"
"It's been 4 weeks..."
"4 weeks!?" I shouted.
"Zeero? Are you okay?" Shinju asked. Shinju, Gemini, Nemo, Morpheus, Mihillias, they were all there.
"Zeero? Who is this Zeero?" I asked.
"You... You don't remember?" Gemini asked, startled. "You have to..."
"I'm Zel, not Zeero..."
Mihill broke out in tears, hugging me, and I felt a sting in my chest. "Dynast, what happened?" I asked.
"Well..." Dynast began, and I knew I was in for a long story.
Author's Note: Well, I guess enough has happened/never will happen for me to put up the next bit of important information... Finally...
WARNING: This story has more then a tendency to be dark. In fact, it's mostly demonic. If you don't like that, too bad.
Chapter 4 - Copy King
Now, you're probably thinking my life was set from here on in, right?
Err... Wrong, actually. Dead wrong. Needless to say, my life never actually reached another 'normal' part in the rest of my life, and afterlife too, but that will be explained later.
In fact, I guess I should tell you that, one day, I had the urge to leave for Eyod. I'm not sure what for, I just did.
I walked up to the pier, as the sun set. If I had thought right, the boat should be there.
It was, and I was a bit surprised to see a familar face, although much older, still running it.
"Hello?" I called out in Eyodian to the man.
"Eh?" he answered. "Who are you?"
"Jerill, is that you?" I walked closer, and I could see it almost certainly was. Although he was 15 years older, and he was old to begin with. I didn't know how his aged body could still do the weekly trips.
"W... Who are you?" Jerill asked. "How do you know my name?"
"Zelloss" I responded. "Zelloss Grausherra..."
Jerill nearly fell over. "What!? Zelloss!? What are you doing back here?"
"I've come to return..." I responded. Or, I think I did. Mabye it wasn't me that said that.
Okay, not mabye, because I knew right then that I had lost my mind. I could sense the dark presence again. Only a month until the Blackday, and it was already acting...
I gritted my teeth. "Why now?" I asked.
"I need to make sure that you're under my control..." Blackfang responded, before my conciousness dispersed.
* * * * *
I found myself next on Eyod Island, the arms of Mihillias around my neck. The cold whipped about me, stinging, but it was a familiar cold. Mihillias, yes, that was her. So much older now. Mature, such beautiful form.
I caught myself blushing and kissed her on the forehead, before pushing her backwards. "Zel!" Mihill smiled. "I... I can't believe it's you..."
Then Blackfang took over again.
* * * * *
I sat next, alone on the end of the pier. Why, why couldn't I remember any of this? What kind of games was the demon playing with me, anyway?
I thought hard. Why was I also falling for it so much? Why couldn't I fight it?
It hit me. I realized I never should have left Dynast back in Electopia - he was my link to my own mind.
"Z... Zel?" Mihillias had walked up behind me. "Are you there?"
I remained silent, my purple eyes staring blankly out to the sea, as she sat down beside me, her legs hanging off the edge of the pier as well.
"Ye... Yeah..." I said, not really making an effort to speak.
"You seem, like something is bothering you..." Mihill asked, trying to look at me. I turned my face away in shame.
"No..." I lied.
"You're lying" she knew it.
"Yeah..." I said. "But you can't help me... I don't even know why I'm back here..."
"You... didn't come back for me?" I heard a slight tone of sadness in her voice.
"No, not that..." I said. "You know I love you, but..." I caught myself.
Mihill just stayed stunned for a couple moments. "I love you too, Zell..."
She leaned over, and I turned and we ended up kissing.
I felt the sting in my left arm again.
* * * * *
My mind snapped back, and the revolver dropped out of my hand. I had heard the shot, but what had I done?
I saw what I had done. I ran over to the white body. "Mihill..." I whispered. No, not in the heart, I noticed. I hoped it had only shattered a couple ribs.
"Mihill!" I shouted. Her back had been shot, but not dead center, just beside it. I cursed to my dark self.
"You did this," I thought towards Blackfang. "You tried to kill her..."
"You figured it out!" Blackfang's demonic voice seemed to laugh. "If you have no reason left to live, you'll be mine..."
"Damn you..." I swore. "Demon scum..."
"Thank you..." Blackfang seemed to grin.
"Zel!" Jerill was running. "Wh.. What have you done to her? You... Just like your aunt... You're heartless..." he reached for my throat.
I grabbed his hand and twisted, throwing him off balance. "Jerill, I didn't mean to..."
"Sure you didn't..." Jerill laughed. "It was an accident, just like with Perce!"
"She died on purpose..." I admitted. "I killed her to save my life..."
"Then why my daughter?" Jerill's eyebrow raised, as he swung. I sidestepped quickly, getting behind him.
"I am not in full control of my body..." I admitted. "Listen, there's a hospital back in Electopia. I know enough to be able to stop her from dying for a few hours, you just need to get us there!"
"I will not..." Jerill said. "You'll kill me, too, you scum..."
I looked seriously up at him, as he made the 'shooing' motion. My eye twitched, but I ignored it.
"Mabye one day I will kill myself, but until then," I said, "help your own daughter!"
Jerill blinked. "One day I will make sure you die," Jerill admitted, "but since the next time you and I will meet will be in hell, I'll help you this once..."
* * * * *
I stood just outside the room, waiting, half crying to myself, as I stepped along the hallway.
My footsteps echoed across the linoleum of the hallway, as I thought to myself. "Damn, damn, damn! Why can't my life go well? Why do I have to live with this curse!?"
"Because you are a Grausherra..."
"Sh... Shut up!" I shouted, running outside, trying to escape. Escape what? The memories? Mihillias? Blackfang? I didn't know, nor did I want to.
"Zel?" Morpheus' voice startled me, making me pause and turn.
"Y... Yeah?" I noticed somebody who looked a lot like Shinju was standing beside him.
"You okay, kid?" Morpheus tossed me something. My PET. I caught it and saw Dynast.
His face instantly turned troubled, revealing what I was trying to hide.
"You okay, bro?" the other man asked.
I nearly fell over. No, that couldn't be.
The only person I knew who ever called me 'bro', even as a joke, was...
"Matson?" I asked.
"Of course..." Matson grinned, extending his hand. "Nice to see you again!"
"But you're dead!" I shouted. "I saw your body, I was at your funeral..."
"Oh, that wasn't me..." Matson laughed. "There's a few other people in this town who look like me, you know..."
I think that I fainted right about then, Shock, Surprise, and Confusion all getting to me at once.
* * * * *
Then, well, aside from the fact that Mihill got better, I think that there wasn't much else to say. Or, sorry, there was.
This thing is hardly over. In fact, the reappearance of my old friend was only the first weird thing.
The second happened while I was at the N-1 Netbattler's Grand Prix - like a World Cup of Netbattlers. I was asked by Morpheus to help pull an attack on this place, but I figured it would be best to wait until after.
I walked up to the registration desk. "Hello, I believe I need to check in here?"
"Yes," the woman said to me. "Name?"
"Zelloss"
"Full name, please" she pressed.
I gulped, and took a deep breath, as I gave my full name.
"Zelloss o'Gaiafarou aet Neero Terso Grausherra er Shine Hitomi aunon Aeoya Jamsu Amerias et Danelle Shi-Lune" I said.
The woman blinked. "Okay, I'll check by length of name... Okay. Which of those is your last name?"
"Everything after 'aet'"
"O... kay... Oh, here we go. Zelloss Grausherra. That's about it. According to this, you've already checked in."
"What?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yup, that's how it seems..."
"Alright, thank you..." I turned away, puzzled.
Then I froze as I looked into the crowd.
I had seen myself, walking through there.
"Damnit," I swore, "What's going on?"
* * * * *
I looked up towards the netbattle screen at the tournament. It was just one of me, I saw, but something about this whole place seemed, well, odd. I couldn't place it, as I looked at the groupful of people. I knew names, I knew all the faces, but something, something was wrong.
Before I could say anything, something tinged in my ear. It was Dynast's message. "The attack has begun! Morph says to get out of there like everybody else... He also says you're doing a great job..."
"But I'm not doing anything..." I thought back.
"I know" Dynast said. "Just do what he says and ask questions later..."
I knew that was the wrong thing to do, but I ignored my gut, and that ended up saving my life - The floating arena, ten minutes later, no longer floated, and became what they call the 'Atlantis Arena'.
* * * * *
"What's going on?" I asked Morpheus and Matson. "You guys have to know something!"
"Like what?" Matson asked.
"Like why there's suddenly two of me..." I began, "like why you said I was taking part in the attack but I wasn't even jacked in..."
"You weren't?" Morpheus' eyebrow raised. "But... But I saw you..."
"I was standing out there with the rest of the competitors!"
"That makes no sense..." Morpheus shook his head. "We have to have an imposter, but by all records we could find, that was you, every single inch, both human and navi..."
"A copycat, apparently..." I sighed. "Why does all this have to be so strange..."
"Excuse me," Matson said, "I need to leave for a few..."
I shrugged, as Matson walked off. Morpheus started to talk, and I hushed him.
"One day left until Blackday, and I need to find out what's going on..." I said, and I followed Matson outside of the headquarters.
Matson stood on the roof. A communication link was open on his PET. "Very well, Neero, I will have it done..."
I gulped. "Ne... Neero!?" I shouted. Matson suddenly shut the link, turning.
"Zel, you've heard to much, but you would have found out anyway, bro..." Matson smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"What's going on?"
"Let me explain. We needed to have somebody ready to take your place... Neero copied your form to himself, a perfect disguise..."
"Neero's my father, why would he?"
"He needs your power, Zel..."
"What's going on!? Damnit, Matson, explain yourself!"
"Very well. Besides..." Matson grinned, "Actions speak louder then words..."
I gasped, as Matson dashed towards me. Catching me off guard, he landed a blow to my stomach.
I was sent flying back a few feet, crashing into a wall and nearly going off the edge of the building.
His fist, so hard, was like metal.
"You fool..." Matson grinned. "Once you're down, Neero will be able to copy the virus as well..."
"The Virus! Blackfang?" I asked, trying to catch my breath. I felt like my lungs had collapsed. "Why would he... want... the darkness?"
"The power, bro, the power..." Matson laughed, grabbing me around the throat. I reached up, trying to grab and pull it away, but his hands were so cold, and strong.
I kicked at his stomach, and felt my toe break. "What... What are you?"
I saw a bit of Matson's face flicker, showing metal underneath. "Nothing more then an android..."
"I knew Matson was dead..." I swore. "You... You fool, to think you can use this power..."
Matson turned dead serious. "I won't need it, Neero will..." he pulled back, released my throat, and punched, all in one motion, sending me sprawling off the edge and into the adjacent building - the old laboratory.
I felt the scrapes and tears in my body worsen, blood had come up to my tounge already from the plunge and the hit. An Android... he'd be... Impossible to harm...
Matson had jumped and landed beside me perfectly, not even fazed slightly, as I still tried to catch my breath. I had never felt so helpless.
"Zel!" Morpheus shouted, running towards me, Mihillias by his side. They had exited the building.
Matson grabbed me, and twisted, sending a roundhouse kick that broke my jaw and sent me crashing into the building, as a forcefield was set up in the middle of the lab.
I tried to speak, to scream, but I couldn't do it, I had no energy left of any sort. I was ready, again, to die.
And then I saw it. Standing over me, was myself.
"Neero..." I whispered, just barely, "Why?"
The copy me tore off his disguise, and I could see my father, Neero, the famous programmer, my father, standing over me.
The evil man.
"How could you have such power that I don't..." Neero laughed. "But you're so pathetic here, son..."
"Dad..." I felt him kick me in the side, making all that blood come out. I didn't even have the energy left to keep my eyes open.
I heard something, just barely. "I have... I have to have that darkness..."
* * * * *
I woke up, barely, still gasping for breath, still weak from blood loss.
"Zel!" Mihill shouted.
"It's too late, girlie..." Neero's voice. I tried to sit up, but metal hands, Matson's, no, that android's, were holding me down.
"Don't hurt him anymore!" Mihillias was furious, and incredibly sad. I tried to catch my breath enough to focus and speak.
"In only a couple minutes, it'll have finished, and then, then, the darkness..." Neero laughed.
I tried to realize what he meant, then I felt it, that surge of dark energy.
Blackday had come.
I yelled out in pain. I felt as if my whole body was being torn apart. I forced myself to sit up, smashing my hand into Matson's chest using the power, destroying the core of the android.
The image shattered, the machine creating it gone. Matson was gone, again, and this time I was happy, if such an emotion was left in me.
I stood up, wanting to walk over and hurt, kill the woman near me.
"Mihill," I forced myself to say, as the rest of my body walked towards her, "Get away!"
Mihill screamed, turned and ran. I forced my body to stop running.
Then my vision darkened, and I could feel my mind floating away, no longer in control.
And I could sense other minds, beside my own. Dynast. Neero. And the navi that had copied Dynast's form as his own.
All those were in my mind.
* * * * *
What can be done...? Can I win this time?
"Yes," Dynast spoke.
I... I can't lose to him again, can I?
"Yes you can," Neero's voice was dark. "You'll give in, son, it's better this way..."
No, father! I won't! It means to destroy... Only to destroy...
"That is the way it was meant to be! Destruction... It's meant for all!"
"No, you're wrong!" Dynast shouted. "Destruction is, like life, nothing but an illusion, and although it will one day end on it's own, it's not meant to be like this!"
Dynast... Help me fight them...
"You can't win, son..."
Dad, don't be such an idiot! The one time you return to me, and you're out to kill me, the woman I love...
"Son, you are the idiot not to see..."
No, father, I know I'm right. You can't be my father, it's impossible. My father was a creator, not a destroyer.
"I am..." the voice of my father had changed, lightened. Something that struck a chord in my memory. The voice of my father that I had missed since my youth. The one I had almost forgotten. The kind man.
Dad!
"Yes, I'm sorry... This creation destroys the mind... I was wrong..."
Let's fight this thing!
"Yes, we have to work together... With the four of us together, though, I don't know if we'll be fast enough... The power of 2 humans and 2 navis..."
We can win, I know it!
* * * * *
When I next awoke, I was in a hospital bed. My first thought was to contact Dynast. "Date?"
"It's been 4 weeks..."
"4 weeks!?" I shouted.
"Zeero? Are you okay?" Shinju asked. Shinju, Gemini, Nemo, Morpheus, Mihillias, they were all there.
"Zeero? Who is this Zeero?" I asked.
"You... You don't remember?" Gemini asked, startled. "You have to..."
"I'm Zel, not Zeero..."
Mihill broke out in tears, hugging me, and I felt a sting in my chest. "Dynast, what happened?" I asked.
"Well..." Dynast began, and I knew I was in for a long story.