Note: This is an alternate ending to my Search for a Soul fic. I had this idea in mind while I originally wrote it, although I decided to implement both ideas in the end. Keep in mind that this starts off in X's dream world. This is a far darker ending, and is the "sad" version as opposed to the orignal "happy" one. If you don't like sad endings, you probably won't like this one. Still, if you're interested, check it out.

Search for a Soul
Chapter 15
"Alternate ending"
By MEGAMANX411

X smirked as he looked at the vengeful version of himself locked in the cage.

"I won't let you out there ever," X mocked.

The vengeful X was angirly slamming against his cage, shouting wildly. But then he stopped. He chuckled lightly as he looked back menacingly at X.

"What's so funny?" X asked.

Vengeful X drew his face closer to X's, and sneered.

"You're such a fool. You've bottled me up in here so long...and as a result, I've gotten powerful from your emotion. You, on the other hand, have grown weak. You fail to accept your emotions..and that will be your downfall!" vengeful X hissed.

With that, vengeful X smashed his fist against the cage, and shattered it. X looked on horrified as he saw the demonic version of himself drawing closer. He tried to fire, but the shots were useless.

"I told you X. You're too weak. You were always too weak. Now I'm claiming this body!" vengeful X shouted.

X tried to escape, but vengeful X quickly grabbed him, and started choking the life out of him.

"But I don't..ugh..understand..you need me, we're all a part of one X.." X whispered.

"I don't need you. I can control the body without you, X. And I'm going to do what you should have done a long time ago," vengeful X mocked.

A loud cracking sound was heard, and the dream was ended. X, or who everyone assumed was X, opened his eyes. Alia looked down at him sympathetically.

"X? Are you alright? X?" she asked, visibly worried.

X smirked, and sat up. He had a devilish smile on his face, and his eyes were blood red.

"X? Is there something wrong?" Alia asked.

"Where's Zero?" X asked, his voice having a very hard edge to it.

"He's in the briefing room..why?" Alia asked.

"I have some business to attend to," X hissed.

X slowly got up, and walked to the briefing room to meet Zero. His stride was surprisingly nonchalant, yet there was something about it that oozed viciousness and malcontent. Something was wrong. So, Alia decided to follow him, but she stood far back enough to not be noticed. X soon entered the room, and gave Zero a hard glare.

"Hey X, buddy. Something wrong?" Zero asked.

"You...are the first Maverick," X hissed.

Zero's expression became quite serious.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"You're the first. You must die. That's my destiny," X added.

"X..what's wrong with you? Wait a minute..you're not X! Who are you!" Zero shouted.

"I am the new X. The reborn X. The old X was weak, I am not. Time to die, Zero," X whispered.

"X, I'm not going to fight you," Zero protested.

"Good, that makes things easier," X replied, aiming his buster.

Zero was confident his friend wouldn't shoot him. He couldn't, they were best friends after all. Could he? X just smirked evilly.

"Say goodbye," he mocked.

X fired, and the blast clipped Zero's shoulder, nearly taking off his arm.

"X...what..why..!" Zero screamed, clutching his wound.

"DIE!" X screamed.

X kept on firing, but Zero decided to get serious. Alia, on the other hand, was too shocked to do anything. What had happened to the gentle, caring figure that she had known previously? What happened to the real X? She had to do something.

"X!" she shouted.

X slowly turned around and faced Alia. His face had a hard, brooding edge, and his eyes still glowed bright red with hate.

"X, this isn't you..wake up!" Alia shouted.

X turned his back to Alia, and gave his attention back to Zero. The red hunter managed to fend X off for awhile with his superior technique, but X kept coming after him. As the battle drew on, Zero became more and more fatigued, and X didn't seem to tire at all. Zero stumbled,and X was pointing his gun straight at him.

"Stop!" Alia shouted.

Alia stood in front of Zero in the hopes she would deter X from shooting.

"X, please...return to the way you where," she pleaded.

X smiled. And fired.

"Ugh...X...no..." Zero moaned.

Alia fell down and landed in Zero's arms, lifeless. X had shot her straight through the chest. Zero looked back up at X, horrified. He couldn't believe what he had done.

"X!" he screamed.

X didn't say anything. He just fired again. This time, Zero was the one who hit the ground. Both he and Alia were on the floor, devoid of any signs of life. Killed at the hands of a vengeful demon. But something inside of X just snapped, and suddenly, his eyes shifted from the hateful red to their normal color.

"What...I..no.." X stammered.

X looked on in sheer terror at what was before him. His two dear friends, dead. And he knew that he was the one who did it. He knew it was that vengeful side of him who did this.

"I..have nothing left..." X whispered.

X was truly alone. His creator was dead, his friends were dead, his ideals were dead, people hated and shunned him, reploids hated and shunned him, and soon, he would be arrested. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. Everything was gone. There was nothing left.

"It's...all..gone.." X whimpered, tears streaming down his cheeks.

X slowly drew his buster up to his head, and smiled.

"I'll be with you Alia, and you too Zero..." he whispered.

X fired, and took his own life, thus ending his seemingly unending cycle of pain and torment.