Megaman Axl.
Chapter 10. – X's sacrifice.
The space colony Dr. Weil set for collision with earth was finally destroyed. The world would live at peace finally. And Axl and Ciel would take their relation to the next level.
But before that, they had to face one more challenge before going home…
Axl and Ciel approached closer to each other… but before they could make contact, a red flashing illuminated the ship with the buzzing of red alert.
Axl: What the?
Ciel: What's going on?
Axl: Let's go to the bridge!
The two of them stood up and rushed to the bridge. The only thing visible through the front was the sight of entering the earth with a sea of inferno.
Signas: Douglas! Why aren't we ready to enter?
Douglas: The angle of approach is too steep! The debris damaged the balance servos when we were waiting by Axl! We cannot adjust the logical drive any further than this!
Signas: Then go and fix it!
Midi: The controls aren't responding! And controls are in green!
Signas: What? We have to do something! We will be vaporized if we don't do something before maximum temperature tolerances are exceeded!
Alia: Sir! The external hull has been damaged!
Signas: Damn!
Ciel: Are we going to die?
Axl: No Ciel… there has to be a way…
Ciel: Uh? Where's X?
X wasn't in the bridge…
Axl: What? Where is he?
Alia: Sir! I'm detecting an opening in the cargo shaft!
Signas: What? He can't be! Activate external cameras!
Alia: Roger!
A small screen opened on the front revealing a blue Reploid jumping from the top of the ship heading under the ship shielding it.
Axl: What? X!
Signas: X! What are you doing?
X: Listen! I can shield the ship with my power! Please try to fix the balance servos during that time!
Alia: Are you crazy? You're gonna be vaporized if you do that!
X: Don't worry about me! My Titanium-X alloy shall protect my armor… I believe so…
Axl: What? You believe so and still you go out risking your own life? Please stop this X! I lost you once, and I will not lose you again! X! Are you listening to me?
X: ……… Guys… you have done so much in my absence… please allow me to do something as well… and maybe… I shall return to the place… where I was… warm… and bright… with Double… Panda… Frogashi… and the others…
Signas: X…
Axl: ENOUGH! STOP IT!
X: ….. Axl… be strong…
Then, the image changed to static…
Midi: External cameras destroyed!
Axl: X!
Alia: External temperature tolerances exceeded!
Ciel: It's getting hot in here…
Axl: Ciel! Stay with me!
Ciel was sweating… like if the ship was turning into an oven… cooking them from the inside out… Meanwhile, X tried to shield the ship… as the pressure increased, a single crack appeared in his helmet crystal.
X: Damn it… if I don't do this, they will die… Dr. Light! I need more power! I need the power to protect my friends!
There was silence in the vastness of space…
X: Dr, Light………
X realized that his creator was gone…
X: I need power! Please!
: Do not be afraid…
X: Uh? Mother Elf!
The Mother Elf caught up with X. She looked rush also.
Mother Elf: your heart summoned me. I can help you by giving you my power.
X: What? If you do that, you will die!
Mother Elf: My power allows me to survive the fusion process. But it will take my power away… leaving me vulnerable to my dark side… I will help you… if you help me…
X: Okay……… Let's do it! For our friends!
Mother Elf: Brace yourself!
The Mother Elf spun around X as he opened his arms, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, the mother elf with a quick stroke dug deep into X. In that moment, X was able to see flashbacks of the past of a certain person… Someone who was very close to Zero… a girl… the one who always brought someone from the sadness and always was concerned about life… With a last image, a bright like came… X's helmet crystal shone in a crimson red brightness. X opened his eyes. They turned from his emerald green into sky blue as a bright light came from him… The light expanded like wings releasing white snow feathers. The angel wings grew large enough to cover the entire ship as it cooled down. The ones inside stood as they saw the growing wings and the feather shower.
Alia: This… This energy…
Midi: It's beautiful!
Douglas: I… I never have seen this before…
Axl: X…
Ciel: He looks like an angel…
Then, the bright light covered the ship… then, peace…
Minutes later, the ship made it through. It was soaring through the sea of the dawn. The bright rays of light filtered through the windows like a new hope. Signas opened his eyes as he took a deep breath.
Signas: Is everyone all right?
Alia: Everything seems to be in order.
Douglas: Looks like she managed to make it in one piece…
Midi: We're alive!
Axl: X…
Ciel: Is he?
Signas: …… I'll check it out.
Signas operated the crane seat where he was seating. He rose up to see the top of the ship… What he saw really lifted his spirits.
Signas: He… Ha! Alia! Activate the second bow cameras towards the nose!
Alia: Roger!
A second screen appeared… a view of the nose of the ship… there was a blue savior accompanied by a small floating being…
Douglas: He's…
Midi: X is alive!
Alia: Opening a communication channel for him!
Signas: X! X! Can you hear me?
X smiled as he looked at the rising sun. A soft breeze was massaging his face.
X: Everything is fine. Let's go home.
Signas: Roger! Douglas! Take us home.
Douglas: I was going to do that, but if you say so.
The cruiser of dreams soared through the skies as an enchanted shooting star storm accompanied the rising sun. Peace was finally back.
After arriving to HQ, everyone got off the ship. The greeted X with cheers as he touched the ground.
Alia: That was amazing!
Douglas: Yeah! How you fused with the Mother Elf and turned into an angel!
Midi: Too bad I didn't have my camcorder to record that…
X: Thanks guys. I thought I was fried there too. But thanks to the Mother Elf…
X looked at the gentle faced Elf…
X: No… I know who you are…
Ciel: X!
X: Ciel…
Ciel: Oh my! We though you were a goner! Thanks goodness you made it!
X: I'm glad too… but… I have to see someone…
X walked away. Alia got closer to Ciel as X walked away.
Alia: I know, he's going to see him. He was worried sick.
Ciel: I know.
X arrived to the balcony where Axl was. He was staring at the rising sun with the shooing star storm. X walked gently accompanying Axl.
X: So… we made it.
Axl: ………
X: Now peace is back as we wanted. Weil is gone for good.
Axl: …… "Sob"…
X: Axl…
There was a single tear on Axl's cheek. He turned to X with more tears coming out from him.
Axl: You… You had me worried there… "Sob"…
X: But… we made it… you know we always make it somehow.
Axl: Please promise me you will never do that again…
X: I won't promise anything, but I shall do my best.
Axl: X…
In that moment, both of them hugged as Axl cried.
X: There… You have to be strong for Ciel.
Axl: You're right… You know? I realized something.
X: What?
Axl: I thought at first, that you were a mere copy of the X I knew… but then after what you did, after you opened to me again, and you fused with the Mother Elf, I saw that you were reborn… and now, I realized that you are the real X reborn.
X: Axl…
Axl: But now, we shall keep this peace together! Won't we?
X: There… I have to tell you something…
Axl: Uh?
X: Is… about the Mother Elf… When she… when she gave me her power, she was weakened. And became vulnerable to her dark side. She asked me the favor to… work as… a seal to avoid her from awakening from her reinforcing slumber… And I have to do the favor.
Axl: What? You just saved the world, and you will go away? After what you promised me? After all I have been through without you? NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!
X: Axl.
Axl: I WON'T LET YOU DO IT!
X: Please… you must understand Axl. I know it's hard, but it is part of life to let go of the ones we love. Trust me… I know… and you know… Red… He loved you as a son and always protected you from the others. But he had to let go. You became stronger then. I also felt the same thing with Double, when he sacrificed himself to save me. And now, there is someone who really needs you now.
Axl: ………
X: I have been around for too long… we achieved peace at last… my true mission. Eradicate the Maverick Virus and bring piece. Now, I can rest from the struggle.
Axl: X……
X: You know how it feels. Now, let me do my final request.
Axl: Okay… but… I will never… forget you… everyone will never forget what you did to this world… you are really the one who changed the world…
X: … Thank you… I have to go… I shall go far, far away where no one can find the Mother Elf and accompany her in her confinement. During that time, you must be strong for this new world.
Axl: Okay. I will.
X: Well then, good-bye Axl.
Axl: Good bye… X…
X turned away as he called the Mother Elf… the two of them teleported away. as they disappeared in the sky, Ciel approached hugging Axl's arm. Then the two of them faced each other.
Ciel: I know you chose right Axl.
Axl: And then, we must be strong fir this new world.
Ciel: Yeah…
Axl: Where were we?
The two of them came closer, and with the bright sunrise, the two of them came into their first kiss.
A new world… a new hope…
Author's note.
That's it! It's over! We reached the end! Neah! We just reached half of it. We need to move on to the creation of Neo Arcadia. And for the ending, the events that are going to happen shall be the ones that forge Ciel's concern for life and the reason of never giving up, because something will happen with Axl.
Of course, everything shall be happy time in Neo Arcadia with many familiar faces, including Marino, Cinnamon Massimo and many faces from CC. But the dark times shall come… leading to the escape. And Axl's decision for Ciel's good.
