The celebration continued for quite some time, but all time had lost its meaning. The face of every Reploid was drenched in the very melodies of boundless happiness….all of them felt as if their dreams had come true, and everything was all right with the world. All of them were letting out the songs of their hearts and souls….there wasn't a single living being inside of the base that was ashamed to do so. Male Reploids were embracing and smothering other male Reploids in kisses, laughing and laughing. Some Reploids fell on the ground and did nothing but laugh, for that was all they could do. Other Reploids just broke down and wept their very eyes out….for that was all they could do.
It was a time of great emotion. Oceans of pristine dewdrops from the sunlight fell onto every heart, and warmed it with the greatest light of all:
The light of renewed hope.
Golden, serene sunlight was now covering the Maverick Hunter base, which had been drenched in bloodchilling darkness for what felt like an eternity. Just a few hours ago, every living being inside of the base was completely lost in the very emotion called 'sorrow'….but because of one young Reploid's actions, they were no longer caught in the very waves of blackness. Smiles were blossoming throughout the base the way newborn roses blossomed after a long Winter's storm…..laughter was like a cool Spring wind…..
Everyone had been given a new chance at life.
It was time to make dreams come to life…it was time to start living life to its fullest.
There wasn't a single individual that didn't believe that.
-Axl was standing right outside of the Infirmary door, lost in a whirlpool of thought. Time had passed, but to the young Reploid, time was non-existent. The wild cheering had died down….serenity was soaring throughout the halls of the Infirmary…..but the celebration was still going on in other parts of the base. After all, Zero did need his rest. A killer virus had just been removed from his body, and so he needed time to recover. The poor Maverick Hunter was perfectly fine now-just flat out exhausted. A baby would have beaten him in an arm wrestling competition-the Hunter knew that, and was definitely ashamed of that fact.
Zero had SUCH a big ego.
When the embrace he shared with Zero came to an end, he pushed Megaman X all the way over to Zero's resting place, so the legendary Maverick Hunter could have a chance to speak with the one he had missed DEARLY. It was an emotional reunion-X opened his mouth to speak, but not a single word was released. The only things that came out were sobs. Long….hard…sobs. He truly had missed Zero….the one he had worked with, the one he had shared so much with…..
Shared….so….much…..
The young Reploid released a soft sigh. His heart felt painfully heavy, and tears of sorrow were causing his eyes to shimmer with the sorrowful yet ethereal beauty of darkened crystals. He was exhausted, that was true…..but exhaustion wasn't the only problem. The problem went by a name, and the name was-
Red.
Axl felt lonely and distant….a part of him felt as if he really didn't even belong in the Maverick Hunter base. He kept the promises he had made to X….he saved Zero's life….but….what else was left? The two of them were a team. They had been a team long before he even started thinking about becoming a Hunter. He was supposed to back at the Red Alert Syndicate base, with his own family…..he solved everyone's problem, but….there wasn't anything left for him to go to. He was truly happy about Zero, and X meant a lot to him…..but what about him?
His family was gone.
All of the memories he had….all of the smiles, the tears……
All of those things….were gone. All of them…no longer meant anything.
The halls of the Infirmary were dark, but warm. There wasn't a single soul standing with him, or even near him.
He was all by himself.
Alone….
That word irritated him deeply. He wanted to shake of the feelings of loneliness and forlornness….but they just wouldn't go away. They refused to go away-it was as if his emotions had minds of their own. He wanted to throw away everything he had shared with Red…with every other member of the Syndicate….but the memories….
Were etched into his mind.
I think I need to talk a walk. This isn't working.
Tiny sobs were still wracking his body. He still wanted to break down and cry over the restored life of his new friend……..but now he also wanted to shed tears over the lost promises Red had given him. A small sigh drifted from his mouth….and his walk through the halls began…but a minute later-
"Axl!"
The young one gasped and turned right around.
The voice belonged to none other than X. He had called out to him.
The look on the Hunter's face caused even more tears to rush into his eyes. It was excruciatingly hard to describe-the Hunter looked like a homeless young man that had just won a million dollars, and a new car. He looked like someone had just given the greatest treasure life had to offer…..he looked as if he wanted to fall to his knees and spend the next two hours sobbing. Empyrean sunlight was in the eyes of the gentle Hunter….and oceans were shining in his eyes. Confusion was in his eyes….he looked the way Zero did when he rose from slumber-lost and awkward. Axl gave him one of his nonchalant, merry grins and waved.
"Yeah?"
That word was like an arrow to X's heart.
Axl had saved the life of his dearest friend. He had put so much on the line, just to restore the life of someone he barely even knew. Zero's virus hadn't been any of his business-it shouldn't have been any of his business. The kid could have turned away from the entire situation and focused on his desire to become a Hunter.
But he didn't.
And all he could say was 'yeah'?
X ran over to his friend and embraced him, not wanting to release him. The Hunter resumed sobbing, unable to speak to the one he owed so much to. X's cries were hoarse and plentiful……and so it was difficult for the Black Tiger to restrain any of his tears. The young Reploid held onto him tightly, the same way he had held Zero back in the ICU room……..
A few minutes later, X regained enough strength to speak.
"Thank you….."
"Aw, you're welcome." There was that irritating nonchalance again. "I told you I would find a cure, didn't I? Pretty good, aren't I?"
"You didn't have to, Axl….you really didn't…."
"But I wanted to. It's just like I said in the beginning-I wanted to save Zero so I could become friends with you two." The young Reploid shrugged, smiling as if he had done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING important. "I kept the promise I made, and I'm glad I did. Glad everything's okay now."
The Maverick Hunter frowned at him. His body felt incredibly heavy….and his vision was blurry…..because of the tears he had shed. "Is there something wrong?" he asked the young one, his eyes shining with concern.
Axl reeled back at this question. X knew that something was wrong-it was as if the Hunter could feel the loneliness of his heart. A second later the smile of casualness returned to his face. "Not really. Everything's cool on my end." the young Reploid said, and placed an arm about his friend's shoulders.
"Hey. I have an idea. Why don't you stay here and kick it with Zero? I'll take care of the rest, okay?"
Small flames lit up X's eyes, and he cringed at those very words. His reaction wouldn't have been any different if Axl had told him to eat slugs.
"Take care of what?"
"You know, the rest of the Syndicate. I'll pay a visit to Sigma when I'm done with the others."
Now he had gone too far.
Axl was UNBELIEVABLE! The young Reploid had just finished curing Zero, and now he wanted to take care of everything else! X almost laughed at his friend's words!
The Maverick Hunter pulled away from his dear friend, his face drenched in hard confusion and frustration. "I don't believe this!" he shouted, not realizing that his voice was at a high volume. "I really don't get you. You just saved Zero's life, you saved MY life, and NOW you want to do everything ELSE! Why don't you just bring an end to world pollution and hunger while you're at it!"
A frown grew on the young one's face, and the uneasiness he had felt a while ago with X rushed right back. "Uhhh……X….?"
X smiled at him, but the smile wasn't pleasant. "Why don't you, eh! You want to take care of everyone's problems, don't you! You want to bring an end to everyone's problems but you don't care about yourself! Not at all!"
Those words caused X to break into more tears. He wasn't sobbing the way he had just a few seconds ago, but each and every teardrop felt like a boulder of steel….and so did his heart. Every teardrop contained anger….devotion…confusion….and affection. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Axl looked at him, bearing a great resemblance to a puppy that had just committed a crime, but was totally clueless about it. X covered his face with his hands and slowly fell to his knees….
"You don't make any sense. None at all. Why? Why is that?"
"Because….." Axl's voice was firm and strong. "I just want the ones I love to be happy."
More darts.
"So what about you? You're just going to hide everything away, is that it?"
"Yeah, I guess. It's like you said-I don't want……anyone to worry about me. I really don't. I just want my pals to be happy."
A part of X wanted to beat the living crap out of the young Reploid.
The other part wanted to embrace the young one and thank him for his concern.
Things became even worse a moment later.
"I can take care of myself. I really am glad Zero's okay."
He really, REALLY wanted to tear the young one apart.
"Look. I'd better get going. Time doesn't wait for anyone. I guess everyone knows that by now, eh?"
He whipped out both of his guns, twirled them on his fingers, blew them off and winked.
"I'll catch you later. If you guys wanna tag along later, feel free to do so. That would be great. I'm really psyched up about seeing Zero in action anyway."
"Axl, wait."
"What's up now?"
"……….I have………one last thing…..to say."
"What's that?"
"I…….hope…….you can….work things out with Red. I really do."
Axl's face became bright with shock for a moment, then sorrow dominated all parts of his body. He turned away from the Hunter, not wanting him to see his facial expression……but the tone of his voice…..gave X everything he needed.
"X……I saw him. I saw him…..a little while ago….when I was pulling up the cure for Zero…and you know what? I don't think I'm getting him back."
X's heart dropped a million miles, but Axl wasn't willing to let him speak.
"Catch ya later."
It….was….all…..just…too sad to bear.
Axl had given him back everything he treasured….but the young one…didn't have what he wanted. Red left him-that was painfully clear.
He probably didn't even care about becoming a Hunter anymore.
The Hunter watched the young one disappear into the sunlight of the base….but he knew that Axl wasn't a part of the golden light. He was away from it, distant….and lonely. He wanted to tell Axl that he would always be around for him, always be willing to comfort him….but……the young one already knew that. He knew X cared for him, he knew Zero cared for him. And he loved the two Hunters as if they were his own brothers.
Red………
I've got to do something. I can't let things sit like this.
It'll be a while before Zero is able to rise from sleep. I've got to try something before he awakens. I have to.
Axl can't go on like this. I don't want him to.
A bright light went off inside of the Hunter's mind.
I know what I can do. I have to make an attempt at something.
-It's true-the story is coming right down to the wire. It's almost at its end. That fact is making me very sad right now, since I've worked so hard at this. I wonder if all of you feel the same way about your stories.
