RockMan Zero
Makenai Ai ga Kitto Aru
Saiko Ninja
Hey there everyone and thanks for coming back to Ciel-Network ), not only for the site, but also to continue reading my fanfiction as well as many others that are posted in this site. I've finally posted up the first chapter to this story, I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I have had writing it!
Disclaimer (Yet again...): I do not own any of the RockMan Zero characters. All of them are rightfully owned and created by Capcom. However, I do own my original character, Souta. If I did own the RockMan Zero characters, I wouldn't be writing this right now, would I...? P
-( )- : Indicates Zero's thoughts.
- - : Indicates Ciel's thoughts.
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Chapter: Awakening
-(If only...)-
-(If only the cogs of time can rewind and allow me the chance to undo the mistake I've done. I can live in peace... No... That's impossible now; time is irreversible and can never go back. It always was impossible anyway, it was a problem that couldn't be helped. I'm hopeless without you. Iris? Tell me, what do I do? I'm all alone...)-
-(Alone...)-
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"We're almost there Miss Ciel...!" exclaimed her Cyber-Elf, Ceres.
True to the statement given by her companion, the young girl could see the facility come into view. Her heart began to race as she felt something could happen at any given point in time. She felt a cold shiver resonate through her body, causing her to inhale a bit sharply the cold crisp air.
"Are you alright, Ciel...?" asked a fellow soldier.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me. Let's just get this over with so we can head back to the base..." Ciel replied.
"Roger!"
-It's odd. I feel I've seen this scene before. Déjà vu, maybe...? I'm probably worrying too much. But then again, oh, never mind. Everything will turn out fine. I'm sure... The place has been abandoned for years, so what would there be to worry about?-
Eventually, the small group reached the deteriorating facility and then gazed about the surroundings making sure there were no other obstructions that may have gotten in the way or if there were any other things that may pose as threats to them. When all seemed clear, the group progressed forward into the abandoned facility unknown to the fact that it was verily much still functional, just in a state of stand-by, so to speak.
"Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this Miss Ciel..." Ceres whispered.
"Don't worry Ceres; this place has been abandoned for years already. There is nothing to worry about. I'm here with you, so there's nothing to be afraid of..." replied Ciel.
This eased the fears of the floating Cyber-Elf and eventually, it became quiet once more, the only sound audible being the sound of their footsteps resonating through the already broken down halls. Stepping through the obstructions such as fallen ceiling pieces, the group stumbled upon an area with a dangling sign reading "Energy Synthesis Room".
"This is the room, everyone...!" exclaimed Ciel.
The young girl's face lit up with excitement similar to that of a young child receiving a gift on their birthday. The others in the group also showed expressions of relief that showed that this trip was not a complete waste.
"Let's press on and get this over with. Once we complete this mission, we'll be heading back with a new energy source that will help us all in the resistance base...!" Ciel said while walking into the next area of the facility.
As the whole group went inside to the following area, the door swung back loosely behind them causing the sign which told them what room it was to fall to the ground. In place of what the dangling sign led them to believe, was a rusted sign reading "Project Z".
Seconds passed into minutes, minutes passed into hours. It seemed like they were wandering farther and farther, getting nowhere at all. Some of the soldiers began to worry that there wasn't even an energy source to begin with, that Ciel had been misled.
"Miss Ciel, are you sure we're in the right area...? Shouldn't we have found the energy source by now?" asked a hesitant soldier.
Ciel herself was beginning to doubt her feeling about there being an energy source that actually existed such as this "Energy Crystal". Still, she wasn't going to give up yet. They've gone this far and she set her mind that they would not return empty-handed.
"I'm sure this is the right place...! Don't worry! We'll find it soon..." replied Ciel.
The other soldiers nodded in agreement to Ciel and felt the same way that she did. They've come this far and they knew in their hearts that their efforts would be repaid greatly.
A soldier, almost about Ciel's age caught up with her and then walked alongside her, his face faintly blushing. This soldier was glad that he was able to join Ciel in her mission to find a new energy source, but what he was more excited about was the fact that he was with her.
Ciel gazed to the side at the faintly blushing soldier and then noticed the red shade on his face. Her expression was that of a quizzical one and of course, this led her to inquire him what was wrong.
"Ne, Souta-kun, what's the matter? You look a bit ill. Are you exhausted or something?" asked Ciel.
This caused the soldier to turn a bit more red in the face, his jet black bangs falling over his twin crimson tinted eyes, hiding his embarrassed expression. Immediately, he responded to Ciel reflexively.
"N-Nothing is wro—..." Souta was cut short.
"AHHHHHHHH...!"
An ear-piercing scream resonated throughout the whole area followed by a bone crushing sound causing Ciel and the remainder of the soldiers to turn around just in time to feel the blood of a few of their fellow soldiers' splash across their face and uniform. Ciel's eyes widened with fear.
"No...It's a Golem! Everyone...! Run!"
There was no need to repeat the order as all the remaining soldiers, including Ciel and Souta, ran as their lives depended on it. A few brave but foolish soldiers stood their ground and fired shots from their plasma rifles and handguns to try and halt the progress of the pursuing Golems. Yes, there was more than one Golem pursuing them, and to top it all off, X Drones were chasing after the small fleeing group.
"AHHHHHHHH...!"
More piercing screams followed behind Ciel and Souta. The young soldier was keeping in time with Ciel staying only a little bit behind her to make sure that any enemy was dispatched of before even laying a hand on Ciel. Eventually, Ciel and Souta were the only ones left from the entire group. They soon ran into an area that seemed to open up into a dome.
"Hah...Hah...Hah..." Ciel exhaled sharply, slowing to a stop.
As the young girl gazed behind her, Souta held the Golem back firing his rifle at the head of the Golem causing the Golem to explode, a chain reaction occurring. A few X Drones taken along with the explosion.
"Ciel...! We have to get out of here now!" exclaimed Souta.
"I can't find any other way out...!" Ciel said desperately.
"Damn it..." Souta fired another shot of his rifle.
Souta only had a limited amount of plasma reserves left in his rifle to hold back the small army of X Drones sent to take them out. It seemed hopeless...
"MISS CIEL...!" Ceres shouted.
Ciel turned back to look at her Cyber-Elf with a startled expression.
"Look...!" Ceres pointed to a lone red-armored figure dangling from cables, almost as if sitting down.
Ciel stared at disbelief unable to grip the reality of what lay before her. It was the hero of legend that rumors spoke of. It was the renowned Maverick Hunter Zero, although he seemed to be in the worst of shape. Of course, it was no surprise, as it's been years that Zero has been perhaps laying dormant here.
"Ciel...!" Souta shouted.
"I'm going to hold them back! Go on! Hurry!" he continued.
Shots were fired towards the soldier, all of them hitting in seven second intervals, each hitting the designated target, Souta.
"Aghhh!!!" Souta fell back, barely conscious.
"Souta!!!" Ciel screamed.
-This can't be happening.-
"Miss Ciel...!" Ceres shouted.
-This is all just a dream. A bad dream...-
"Miss Ciel...! I have a plan!" Ceres continued.
The young girl looked to her Cyber-Elf wondering what could possibly get them out of this jam. Eventually, the thought occurred to her and then her eyes widened with worry, perhaps a bit of frustration at that.
"No, Ceres! I can't do that!" Ciel said.
"It's the only way... Don't worry Miss Ciel..."
Ciel nodded and closed her lavender tinted eyes for a moment. She opened her eyes with tears now flowing down her face. This was the only way, the only way that she could continue to live. There had to be a sacrifice, either she died, or she used her Cyber-Elf and then it would rest in peace. However, this was her Cyber-Elf's decision, and she would remember what Ceres did for her. She called forth her Cyber-Elf one last time and then smiled weakly. Ciel wouldn't want Ceres to remember her with a depressed expression.
"Thank you, Ceres..." whispered Ciel.
"Thank you, Miss Ciel..." replied Ceres.
The Cyber-Elf burst forth with speed and then became transparent, almost spirit like, and infused himself with the crimson maverick hunter. All of a sudden, a blinding flash of white light filled the dome causing Ciel to shield her eyes.
-I never thought that the day would come when I would actually meet the hero of legend, Zero. The moment I laid my eyes on him, my life was forever changed.-
A revived crimson red warrior stood before her with a momentary glazed expression in his emerald tinted eyes. He slowly picked up a handgun lying on the ground and held it tightly.
-(Where am I...? What am I doing here...? –Who- am I...?)-
Quickly, Ciel went to Zero and having an expression of request, almost plead. Her lavender tinted eyes expressed fear and a little bit of awe from witnessing the crimson warrior.
"Zero...Please, help me..." Ciel whispered.
-(This is all I need to hear for now. I may not remember who I am, but I'm sure that I have to help her.)-
The crimson armored warrior held the handgun and then pulled Ciel behind him in a protective manner. Right now, his mission was to get her out of here safe, and in one piece. In this state, he knew that it may be a bit difficult, but he would pull through and make sure she would be alright...
"Let's go..."
End Chapter: Awakening
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Well then, that about wraps it up for the first chapter. I hope that you enjoyed reading it, as there will be more where that came from. Sankyuu again, I'll be posting up the next chapter whenever I have the chance to, and when Ciel-Network gets the opportunity to put it up.
That's about it; catch you all on the other side of the computer screen. :)
Ja matta, minna!
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"Because ten billion years' time is so fragile, so ephemeral...
it arouses such a bittersweet, almost heartbreaking fondness..."