(Zero's has recovered physically from the battle, but not mentally, and that was both physically and mentally wearing him down. Iris was walking down the hall after paying a visit to Gate and Life Saver when she passed by the training room. Hearing sounds she peered through the large window and looked down, and there she saw Zero, taking his frustration out of himself through mass rigorous training. She sighed, taking her hands from off the glass as she continued along her way. He growled at himself as he repeatedly punched one of the bags until it fell off its latch. He then turned to another one, doing a spinning kick, slicing it in half. Then he grabbed his light saber and slashed the half part still hanging to ribbons. It fell to the ground around him as he panted. Iris went into the main room and sat down, tired. X was on the opposite couch reading a newspaper when he noticed her. He looked up and set it down.)

X: Hey.

Iris: Hey.

X: Feeling ok?

Iris: Yea.

X: No you aren't cause I know how you feel.

Iris: Hu?

X: I may not be pregnant like you...

Iris: Thank god.

X: (smirk) But I am close to Zero like you are. I know you must be feeling bad about all of this, what with your baby due any day now and the events circulating your husband. We may not be a married couple but we sure act like one. We're not just partners, we're best friends, we've been through a lot together and it's hard for me to see him like this too. He's not himself, but he's a tough guy, and he'll get through it.

Iris: Heh, that's the same thing Life Saver told me when I saw him and Gate earlier.

X: Yea. Life Saver has surprisingly been very supportive lately.

Iris: Tell me about it.

(They both shared a brief laugh before letting out a sight.)

X: So anyway...

Iris: Well what are you going to do?

X: Hu?

Iris: You don't have a mission?

X: No not yet today, everything's calm out luckily, after we lost Garres the base has been pretty mellow yellow.

Iris: I saw Zero training.

X: Oh?

Iris: He's under a lot of stress, it's good for him to get it out of his system, so in any cause, ah... you know.

X: It's an anger management therapy to prevent his transformations.

Iris: Exactly.

X: Heh, smart. For once he's using his brain.

(That caused a giggle to rise out from Iris. X smiled. Zero walked into the room after taking a break from training, feeling a little more rejuvenated.)

Iris: Hey hon.

X: Hey Zero.

Zero: Hey Iris, X.

X: Why don't you take it easy today and relax?

Zero: I can't relax, not with what all's been going on.

X: Zero, don't stress out, you'll get tense, tense leads to anger, anger leads to...

Zero: Yea, yea I know, suffering. Gees X, when are you not quoting Star Wars?

X: (laughing) No you idiot! Anger leads to your transformation, well, which could lead to suffering.

Zero: (smirk) Aha, I knew it!

X: Oh I'm sorry! I just got the new DVD, I can't help it.

Zero: Heh, well it's good to laugh again and hang out with you off the battlefield.

X: Heh, you said it.

(They both stared blankly at each other for a moment, then Zero walked off and X went back to reading his paper. Iris smiled at herself and picked up a parental magazine to read. Zero was heading to his room when Signas ran past him.)

Zero: Hey whoa, boss.

(Signas screeched to a halt and whirled around, rushing over to him.)

Signas: Zero!

Zero: Calm down man, what is it?

(Signas stopped panting when he caught his breath.)

Signas: I'm on my way to the control room, we've got trouble.

Zero: Oh yea?

Signas: With a capital T.

(Signas called everyone to the control room over the intercom, and soon everyone was there.)

X: What is it sir?

Signas: This is it everyone, the day we've all been training for. As you know as Maverick Hunters we live to uphold the peace between all Reploids and humans. Whenever a Maverick attempts to disrupt the peace, we take care of it and prevent any cases of an all out war. Well, the day of reckoning has finally come.

Zero: Yea I know, I bought it to play off of Gate's Game Cube.

Gate: Zero!

Zero: Ok, ok, I'll ask next time I borrow it.

Signas: Please be serious, I know we don't want you stressing out but please Zero.

Zero: I know, I know, I'm just kidding. I know what this means. We have to fight back.

Signas: Sigma's army is large, larger than ours. But we have you, X and Zero, you can take out a whole army.

X: Yes I know, but...

Signas: But, with Zero's condition, we'll have to be sending an army along with you. All of the trainees, everyone. You'll lead this mission however, got it?

X and Zero: Right.

Alia: We're lucky, we're getting this right at the beginning, only one place has been demolished and taken under Maverick territory. They're just leaving that and heading to the Tropics Quadrant near Alpha.

Signas: We can't let them take over the city. We had word that a small revolution army was located there named Red Alert, but their army was destroyed in the last battle with Sigma. The city is filled with some of their support followers, but nothing more. The Maverick's must be taking over their territory since no leader is left alive to control it.

X: I got it. Don't worry boss, we'll take out the Maverick army before they can leave the city.

Signas: Good. Douglas, can the transporter teleport the entire army at once?

Douglas: I can make a quick modification, it'll only be five minutes.

Signas: Good. Get on it now. X, go to the training quarters and rally the troops, this is it men, it's war.

(Five minutes later, the troops were rallied and Douglas has the modified transporter in the maintenance room. Douglas got on his walkie talkie with Alia.)

Douglas: We're ready here.

Alia: Affirmative, imputing coordinates, now.

Douglas: Roger.

(In a few seconds X, Zero and the whole Hunter army had vanished. They reappeared outside the city of Alpha, a slightly rural suburb between the desert and the mountain areas. X and Zero stepped forward and looked around.)

X: Zero, can you sense them?

Zero: Yes. They're coming from that direction.

(He pointed to the swampy terrain off in the distance.)

X: Hmm, not suited for battle.

Zero: We may not have a choice. This is it, X.

X: Yea I know. Are you ready?

Zero: Are you?

X: Yea.

(Zero nodded and looked up.)

Zero: Ok guys, get ready, this is what you've all been training for. War has been declared and it's up to us to win the fight for all Reploid humanity. Do whatever it takes to take them out, this is a must win situation, if Sigma were to triumph, the world will fall to his dictation and virus control.

X: They're coming!

Zero: Get ready.

(Back at the base, Iris let out a cry as Alia rushed to her side.)

Alia: Iris, what is it?

Iris: Oh, it's time, the baby's coming! Ah!

(Alia gasped as Iris held her stomach.)

Alia: Quick, hang on, I'll get you to the med ward!

(She ran off to get Douglas to help carry her. Iris fell to her knees.)

Iris: Zero, you're going to miss this!?

(X held onto his buster, Zero had his hand ready to grab his saber. The troops each had a gun, a staff, or some sort of weapon to fight with. There was a still wind in the air that seemed to hang over them with anticipation. They tensed as they saw the black spots grow larger in the distance. Zero growled, X gave him a cautious look.)

Sigma: Well, well, well, it looks like the Hunters are out to greet us.

Neon Tiger: Hi Zero!

(He waved, Sigma shoved him and he rubbed the sore spot.)

Sigma: How the hell did you ever become my right hand man?

Neon Tiger: Cause all the good Mavericks were dead.

(Sigma grumbled. Once the two armies were about fifty feet from each other, they stopped. The two sides stared each other down. There was a slight breeze that blew up at Zero's ponytail, when the gust subsided, it dropped back down. Sigma snickered to himself, folding his arms.)

Sigma: Well, well, it's nice to see you again.

X: Sigma.

Zero: This is it, for the last time, we end it now.

Sigma: I have to agree. Ready?

X and Zero: Ready?

X and Zero and Sigma: Go!

(Both sides cried out as they ran at each other. X and Zero led the assault but Sigma jumped up out of the way to stand up on a rock to observe the fighting. Neon Tiger scrambled up a tree as the Hunters and Mavericks began to be slain. He shivered as he looked around, desperately trying to find Zero. Noticing the commotion, civilians began to look out of their houses and peer around corners.)

X: No, get back, please for your own safety!

Reploid: Hey, what's going on over here?

Sigma: Once you get the chance, men, go after the innocent!

Mavericks: Yea!

(Mavericks and Hunters had already fallen, but there were a few Mavericks without an opponent, so they jumped into the town. The civilians screamed as they were slaughtered. Bodies of the innocent Reploids and humans began to line the gutters with blood. Zero slashed the final bit of one of the enemy Mavericks when he turned around to see the massacre. His eyes widened.)

Zero: (gasp) No.

(A flock of Mavericks began to tower over X, the Mavericks had more troops even though both sides had already amounted casualties.)

X: Ah, Zero!

(Zero turned around to see his friend struggle, he was loosing ground quickly. Zero growled.)

Zero: X, no! (He rushed over and took out his light saber, he jumped up and swung it, slicing them all in half. They fell to bits on the ground as Zero landed.) Are you alright?

X: (panting) Yea, fine. Look out!

Zero: Hu?

(He turned to see more Mavericks attacking. He yelled as he slashed through them all, X blasting the halves of them as Zero cut them in half with his saber. More Hunters, Reploids and humans fell as well. Those civilians who hadn't slaughtered realized there was no point in hiding, the Mavericks were ransacking their town. They had to escape. A group of humans and a few Reploids was running away when Neon Tiger spotted them, he jumped over to block their escape. They froze in fear.)

Neon Tiger: Haha, ah, ah, where do you think you're going?

Reploid: Stop, please don't hurt us!

Neon Tiger: Well, since you asked so nicely...

(They let out a sigh of relief.)

Reploid: Oh thank you kind sir.

Neon Tiger: I'll kill you painlessly, like the mercenary that I am!

Reploid: Ah, no please!

(Neon Tiger raised his claws to the cowering group, but he was tackled from behind by a red blur. He fell and rolled over as Zero stepped before him.)

Neon Tiger: Zero?

Zero: (to civilians) Run. Run now, go!

Reploid: Yes, thank you sir!

(He waited before they had all run off before his eyes locked back onto Neon Tiger. He looked up at him and waved innocently.)

Neon Tiger: Hello.

(Zero looked around at the bloody mess of humans and Reploid parts. He growled.)

Zero: Damit all.

Neon Tiger: Oh Zero, I can't fight you. Why can't we be friends?

Zero: Because you're a jackass!

(He swung his saber and Neon Tiger ducked, scrambling off. Zero growled, then gasped, turning around, realizing he forgot the true fight. Very few Reploids were left compared to Maverick's, X was holding the bulk of them off and he was already very injured.)

X: Ah!

Zero: X! Hang on!

(He rushed over and hit them all aside. X groaned and fell to one knee, holding his shoulder.)

X: Ouch.

Zero: X, are you ok?

X: They're much stronger than I anticipated, it's too much for our team to handle. Ah, we're loosing.

(Zero looked up around him as the Reploids were falling to the Mavericks. He lowered his eyebrows into an angry expression. X was crestfallen. Zero clenched his fist, his muscles under his armor flexing larger tightly. X looked up to see him growling. He froze.)

Zero: Dam you to hell Sigma... you bastard!

(He stood tall yelling, Sigma took notice, as did the other Mavericks. Waves of energy were flowing wildly from Zero. X shook.)

X: Oh no!

(Zero growled as he clenched his fists by his side.)

Zero: No, I won't allow you, I won't let you do this! This has gone on far enough Sigma, this long struggle will finally be over!

(He growled, his body trembling with rage. Sigma watched this expectantly, was this his transformation? Zero's head butted as his hair and armor began to flash, his eyes were white with anger. X shook, gasping with fear. Zero finally let out a loud yell as he flashed. X cried out as he looked up at Zero, once again reverted to his Maverick state. Zero growled, his fangs bared, his eyes pierced with blinding rage. His fists were clenched so tightly they shook with anger. Back at the base, Iris let out a scream as she lay on one of the sick bay beds. Life Saver and Gate were ready, Alia was there holding her hand for support.)

Gate: Come on Iris, you're doing great.

Life Saver: It's almost there kid, just push.

Iris: Ah!

(Zero whirled over at Sigma.)

Sigma: You want this so bad Outsider? Come at me already!

Zero: I'm gonna lay the SmackDown on your candy ass!

(Zero ran madly towards him. Sigma smirked.)

Sigma: Eh he. Men!

(At the command, every Maverick left their injured Hunter and ran at Zero to attack. Zero roared as he slashed them all to bits in seconds. Sigma frowned at this shocking turn of events. Zero growled as he looked up at Sigma. Sigma pulled out a gun.)

Zero: What's the matter Sigma, afraid to fight me like a Maverick?

(Sigma threw the gun down at him, it bounced off him and fell to the ground. He took out his own light saber.)

Sigma: Zero! Unsheathe your light saber and fight me.

(Zero smirked as Sigma jumped down off the rock to face him.)

Zero: It's about dam time.

(Zero took out his light saber. X struggled to sat up, the injured Hunters tried to watch but they were so exhausted that they passed out among the dead. A breeze broke the still air, ruffling through Zero's long white ponytail. X watched, he couldn't even feel his own heartbeat from the mood emitting from the scene. After what seemed forever in a time still frame, Sigma and Zero ran at each other with a battle cry. They locked light sabers and growled face to face before breaking away and the fight began. Neon Tiger crept up from some of the Maverick body scraps. He was watching his master fight his lover. X could only watch in horror as the fully transformed Maverick Zero faced off with his rival Sigma. But Sigma was too strong, too fast, and Zero wouldn't stop fighting, he just couldn't control it. Zero was going to die out fighting, and X couldn't take it anymore. He made a promise to Zero and he intended to keep it. Zero leaped at Sigma on the offensive, but Sigma became defensive and slashed Zero repeatedly. Zero cried out and flipped back. Sigma's light saber glowed, it powered up an attack. He waved it at Zero and it flew at him as he landed on his feet. X growled as he got up, struggling from the pain of the fighting injures. He looked up to see a blast from Sigma flying at Zero, who was standing his ground.)

X: Zero, no!

(X jumped and tackled Zero down on his side, both narrowly evading the blast. X panted, then gasped as that demonic growl began to rise up from out of Zero again. X looked up in fear, he was holding him, he was too afraid to let go, he was going to be slaughtered by his partner, his best friend! Zero's eyes fluttered and slowly opened as his growling subsided. X gasped in utter shock, the sight of his sparkly blue eyes was so beautiful!)

Zero: X...?

(Zero's voice was his own, tired, but back to normal. X didn't get it, his armor was black and his hair was still white.)

X: Zero? Wha...

Zero: You did it X, you saved my life. Rather than following your purpose to kill me, you lived up to your promised word and look at me now. I made my own destiny.

X: Zero?

(Zero struggled to stand up, X helped to support him.)

Zero: This, is my true form.

(X's eyes shook in surprised awe. He was shocked as he looked down at the light saber clenched in his friend's hand. It was blue too!)

X: Zero!

(He was about to smile but he noticed Zero's eyes locked onto Sigma's.)

Zero: X, I can take him down. But I need you to hand onto me, for just a little while longer.

X: Ok Zero, I can do it for as long as it takes. I'm here for you always, partner.

Zero: Thank you, my friend.

(X held his weary friend up for support, but Sigma just laughed to himself.)

Sigma: It's over, prepare to die in your huddled ball of fear! Ha!

(He shot a final full powered blast from his saber. X was afraid but he didn't shake or shiver as long as Zero was there. Zero's light saber looked strange, it had an aura of wind circulating around it. As if in slow motion, Zero raised his light saber as the blast neared.)

Zero: Now Sigma, you shall meet your end!

(Zero waved the saber at the attack, it sliced through it. Sigma was shocked.)

Sigma: Haha... (gasp) What!

(The saber sent out a blast of it's own after cutting through the blast. The wave of pure energy swept over Sigma. He cried out in pain as it vaporized him. Zero kept watching but the light was too bright for X, he had to shield his eyes. When it finally faded he opened them. He gasped, Sigma was gone. Zero had done it! X looked at Zero's eyes, there was a slight glint back before they slowly fell shut and his body went limp in X's hands.)

X: Zero!

(He held him in his arms. Zero moaned and groaned from the pain.)

Zero: X...

X: Hang in there Zero.

Zero: No X, it's over. That attack, it, it was my life force. Ugh, it was the only way to defeat Sigma. Ah.

(He closed his eyes and shook in pain, it was a struggle just to talk.)

X: No, Zero... please.

Zero: He's finally gone X, we did it. The world is finally at peace. And so am I.

X: What?

Zero: I finally mastered my true form. I made a class of all my own but nobody was in it until I found my family, my friends. It was you X, you were the one who was there, and you told me, I make who I am, and I did.

X: Zero.

Zero: The fighting is all over, the war has finally been won. And I am at peace.

(A smile started to tug at his lips, but he was too worn. His eyes closed as his body began to shake less and less. X gasped as tears began to well up in his eyes.)

X: No, Zero, please don't go.

Zero: Hey X, take care of Iris for me. Ok?

X: No Zero, don't, please don't go Zero... Zero? (no response, he lay still, gone) Zero! (he sobbed) Zero, the Maverick, you changed your ways and made your own place, you lived your live as a Hunter and ended the war. You saved my life, and that of the entire world, and for that nobody can ever repay you. You will always be my best friend.

(Iris let out one final scream.)

Gate: There it is!

(The baby cried and Iris opened her eyes, a relieved yet tired smile on her face.)

Life Saver: Congratulations, it's a girl.

(Iris held her and rocked her tightly as she stopped crying.)

Iris: A girl, my gosh, she's so beautiful. (she held her close) I'm sorry you had to miss this Zero, but thank you so much, for this blessing.

(X broke down into sobs as he lay Zero's limp motionless body down onto the ground. In the distance, Neon Tiger was pale with shock, his lover was dead. He was too stunned to move, to even cry, until something came flying at his head.)

Neon Tiger: Ow!

X: Hu?

(He turned to see Neon Tiger rub his head as a young Reploid aimed his gun at him.)

Reploid: Hey you, you're one of Sigma's Mavericks aren't you?

Neon Tiger: Yea, so?

Reploid: You killed these innocent people and Reploids, you were responsible for the end of Red Alert! Red was my best friend, I'll kill you, I'll kill you!

(He began to fire wildly randomly in the air. Neon Tiger squealed and ran off. The young Reploid cried out. X ran over.)

X: Hey, hey, hey, wait, stop!

(He turned to him and stopped.)

Reploid: Hu? Hey, I know you!

X: Yes, but who are you?

Reploid: My name's Axl, and you're Hunter X.

X: Yes.

Axl: I'm the only one left of Red Alert. Sigma and his Mavericks did this, didn't they?

X: I'm afraid they did.

(Axl looked around.)

Axl: Hey wait, where's your partner Zero?

(X didn't respond, he just looked out into the battlefield. Amid all the Reploid and Maverick bodies, Zero's body stood out. Axl gasped, then lowered his eyes, sorry for asking.)

X: He gave his life to end the war, he saved them all. The Mavericks are all gone and Sigma is dead.

Axl: (gasp) No way. (X nodded) So, then, what are you going to do?

X: Go back to base and give them the news... both the good, and bad.

(He shook. Axl frowned, looking at him.)

Axl: I'll go with you.

X: What?

Axl: I only joined Red Alert because Sigma destroyed my family. I wanted revenge but I couldn't become a Hunter. I hated all Mavericks, I wanted to be just like you and Zero, I idolized you. So please, can't I fight by your side?

X: Well the fighting is over kid, it's all finally over, thank you.

Axl: Please, can't I come?

X: Alright, you can come. Who knows, something might happen in the future for you.

(X walked off.)

Axl: Hey wait, where are you going?

(X approached Zero.)

X: I'm not leaving you behind, I never did before, and I never will, partner.

(He picked him up and walked back over to Axl.)

Axl: Ready?

X: Yea, hold onto me. (to his communicator) Teleport back.

Alia: Roger.

(They disappeared, leaving the bloody battlefield outside of Alpha with the bodies of the human and Reploid casualties, Hunters, Mavericks, and the remains of their leader, Sigma.)