Megaman Excel
By: Metal Sonic EX
Disclaimer: I own the storyline. I own some attacks. Aside from that, I don't own squat.
In this chapter, where the world's TRUE strongest Maverick shall arise and a catastrophe for the shall happen. This is chapter 101 and I'm going to do a few more chapters after this. Then, I might take a break from fanfictions or I might keep going. I don't know right now, but I do know that I'm going to finish each and every one of my fanfics. So, let's get started on this one! Here's chapter thirty-nine!
Chapter XXXIX
Stage Select 2/
Fortress Level 1
Roses Are Red…
After quickly taking pursuit, the group caught Zero on the main dock. "Now hold on just a minute!" Upon hearing Teasel's outburst, Zero, who was still smirking, stopped and turned. "I thought you said that Mijinion was the world's strongest Maverick!" Zero nodded. "I did." Teasel seemed puzzled by this, but continued his torrent. "So, what is it? Is Mijinion the world's strongest or not?" Zero smirk broadened. "It's true and false." The group seemed puzzled by this until Megaman calmly entered. "What he means is that Mijinion was the strongest until the downfall of Sigma. Then someone else took his title." Teasel pondered this. "So, who took his title?" Zero sighed. "Weren't you listening to my narrative in the Manda ruins? It was Axle…" Glyde started. "Now you hold on! Axl died! I saw it with my own eyes!" Zero seemed disturbed by this, but didn't let it show. "A-X-L-E. Axle." Glyde lowered his pointed finger. "Oh."
(A.N. HAHAHAHAHA! I got you, RandyPandy! Hahaha! I made you think Axl was alive again! HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, and for your info, RandyPandy is my 'mysterious' reviewer. But still, HAHAHAHAHA!)
Zero closed his eyes. "Axle the Red. The world's strongest Maverick post-Sigma's demise. He's the one who went through and destroyed these last eight Mavericks as his 'redemption'. After this failed, he just… Disappeared." Teasel perked up. "Disappeared? Where to?" Zero shrugged and opened his eyes. "No one knows. He just vanished." Megaman, meanwhile, was looking at his updated map.
(Stage Select Screen)
(Megaman X2 (SNES) - Stage Select begins playing)
(The final square features the shaded head of Infinity Mijinion. However, the cursor moves to a vacant space on Manda Island and a new square appears. This one features the silhouetted head of Axle the Red.)
(Megaman X2 (SNES) - Stage Select fades out)
(Megaman X2 (SNES) - Stage Select 2 begins playing)
(A.N. Even prior to me playing X2, this was my favorite stage select theme in the X series. Go to Maq's Hunter Hideout for this clip of music. There are no known remixes, so good luck hunting.)
"Zero! Axle's signal is coming from Manda Island!" Zero turned and noticed the sun preparing to set. "Let's get moving. It would be better if we got there by nightfall." Everyone agreed on this and promptly began to get prepared.
(Megaman X2 (SNES) - Stage Select 2 begins playing)
Minutes later, the group arrived on Manda Island. There, the mayor met them. "Thank God you came! Several people were exploring the ruins and they thought they saw a Maverick in there!" Zero looked in the direction of the ruins. "Don't worry. Unlike the others, this one won't hurt you." As Zero and Megaman began running away, Teasel called, "What does that mean!"" Zero paused and looked back. "He may be an ex-Maverick, but he's an honorable and trustworthy reploid." By the time, the group got to the ruins, there was a stone slab with an inscription on it. Apparently, Zero had no paper, so he carved his in a piece of stone. It read: Stay here. Knowing Axle, we'll probably bring this fight outside one way or the other. However, when Servbot 27 touched the stone out of curiosity, it crumbled. "I can't believe this. If he doesn't bring this fight out here, then he's going to get it."
Level Style - Solely 3-D
Active Member - Megaman Trigger
(Megaman Xtreme 2 (Gameboy Color) - Neon Tiger Stage begins playing)
(A.N. In Megaman Xtreme 2, the music is pretty much the same as it's full-fledged platform brethren. However, it is sped up, so imagine instead of a slow beat, think of a fast-paced, bouncy sort of beat.)
Ready
Megaman entered the ruins and immediately used the Triangle Jump to scale the wall and land on the other end of the bridge which, if you recall, was destroyed by Chameleon. Megaman entered the hallway with the Force Armor and easily blew away the defensive Reaverbots. Upon using the elevator, he came across the final floor before the final room where the key to Elysium was once held. Megaman easily blew through the Reaverbot defenses before coming across a large crab-like Reploid. "Oh boy. This could be a problem." Zero beamed down and scoffed. "You're too worried about this. Allow me to deal with this." Before either of them could react, the crab exploded for seemingly no reason, destroying the entire floor, sending the hunters down a level. There, they noticed a large spiked vine with thorns protruding from the ground. It shrunk back into the ground and Zero just gazed at this. "Or not. You take lead again."
Zero beamed off and Megaman took off again. Soon, Megaman got back onto the elevator and rose back to the next level. Once he reached the large hole, he decided to go Matrix and, using the Shadow Armor for this, ran along the wall to the other side. Then, he continued on to the next level. In the hallway leading to the last room, a hologram sword appeared. Zero beamed down with Sigma Blade, swung once, knocking it backwards, then swung once more to destroy it. Then, the two ran to the door together. On the count of three, they kicked the door in and… Well… Let's just say that they got the surprise of a lifetime.
(Megaman Xtreme 2 (Gameboy Color) - Neon Tiger Stage scratches)
They didn't find Axle, but instead, found a large Reaverbot toad sleeping with a large bubble coming from its nose. The two hunters lowered there weapons and stared at each other. Moments later, they emerged from the ruins. "You finished him, didn't you?" Zero shook his head. "Believe it or not, he wasn't in there. He faked us out." As the group, save Von Bleucher who was getting the Sulpher Bottom ready, started at this, Megaman checked his map. "Odd. His signal is coming from the other ruins. What the… Now its on Ryship Island. Now it's… This is ridiculous! He's lapping the planet at least three times a second!" Zero waved it off. "I don't think that that's going to be much help here. Let's just try to figure this out on our own."
While walking back to the city with… Well… The city's population, they paused when they came to the closed city gates. "I don't remember the gates being closed, do you?" When everyone shook their head, Megaman and Zero kicked the gates in, giving everyone another shock.
Warning! Warning!
(Megaman X5 (Playstation) - Axle the Red Stage begins playing)
To everyone's amazement, the entire city, buildings and all, were covered in thick, spiky vines. Everywhere you looked, you'd see more and more of them. As the group stepped into the city, just as Teasel noticed something poking around the side of the city's left pillar, someone spoke out, causing the hunters to notice it as well. "Too bad, hunters. You lose. I could be anywhere on the planet by now, and no one would be the wiser. That is, of course, until I destroy a major city or two. Better luck next time." The figure then raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the vines sunk back into the ground, leaving the city in perfect condition. Then, he turned around the pillar an stepped into view.
(Megaman X5 (Playstation) - Axle the Red Stage fades out)
The figure, which everyone immediately interpreted to be Axle the Red, was covered in green/ light green armor. Two shoulder pads spiked out from either shoulder. On his right leg, a spike protruded from his knee. He also had a vine wrapped around the same leg. His wrists consisted of large roses that had two hands protruding from the center of them. Two spikes emerged from either side of his head and a blue crystal was in his upper chest. The most distinguishing feature was the large rose atop his head. A blue crystal was embedded in the rose and a single rose petal hung from his head.
(A.N. And thus, the first of two figures has been revealed! Behold! Axle the Red, my favorite Maverick in the entire X series! YAY!)
Zero broke into a grin and released his grip on the saber. Megaman also lowered his buster. "Well, you win. We've lost." Axle blinked once. "Yes, it seems you have, hasn't it?" No one saw his mouth due to the armor placed over it. As a matter of fact, he might not even have a mouth. "Actually, it was quite simple." He crossed his arms and leaned on one foot. "While you were circling back through the ruins, I made my escape out here and awaited your inevitable arrival." Zero smirked at this, but said nothing. Axle lowered his arms and placed one hand on his hip. "I suppose you'd like to know who Metal Shark Player regrets reviving?" The sudden mention of the subject caught the group of guard, but Zero stepped forward. "Axle, we'd love to know."
Axle sighed and looked at him. "That is lovely, but you'll have to wait for I do not know who it is." Zero stepped back and slightly lowered his head. "However, I can tell you that I did talk with Metal Shark Player prior to this incident." The hunters perked up after hearing this and Axle continued. "I tried to talk him out of this, tried to prevent this catastrophe from happening. But, as you can see, my efforts were futile. So, I returned here and lay in wait." Axle turned around and faced the other way. "What do you mean 'returned'?" Axle chuckled and began massaging the hanging rose petal. "It means that I have spent most of my life here." Zero seemed confused. "Most of your life?" Axle continued, half-ignoring this comment. "Do you know why I disappeared after my 'redemption'?"
After a brief silence, he continued. "It was far from a redemption, but instead, was a plan I'd come up with. It was an attempt to regain some trust for the reploids. However, upon destroying Mijinion, instead of gaining trust, I was criticized and jeered upon. I'd merely worsened my own condition by taking the title of the world's strongest Maverick, a title I'd prefer not to have. So, I took shelter in the ruins on this island and…" He paused to look at the hunters over his shoulder. "… And I have remained there for the past three hundred years."
Everyone, the hunters including, all gasped at this and gaped. Axle chuckled at this reaction. "You shouldn't be surprised, hunters. I could've lasted twice as long, although it seems I wasn't meant to live that long." Zero shook off the effects of the bombshell and queried, "What do you mean?" Axle managed a glance beyond the main ruins and a cloaked figure who turned and leapt away before responding. "It is a question that shall remained unanswered for now. But now, hunters, I want you to face me with all you have." He turned around and faced the hunters. "I want you to give me your all. Hold nothing back for I shall do the same."
Battle Style - Solely 3-D
Active Member - Zero
"Now, hunters. Give it to me. I've waited three centuries for this. Don't let me down now."
(Megaman X5 (Playstation) - Boss Theme begins playing)
(Axle the Red's Health)
------------------------------
Axle immediately began walking to his right as Megaman beamed off. Zero summoned Sigma Blade and Axle whistled. "Nice weaponry. It's not enough to stop me, but not bad." Axle had never seen any of Zero's weapon aside from his buster and saber. "Youdantotsu!" Zero thrust the broadsword forward, but it never made contact. With lightning speed agility, Axle spun around Zero and thrust a palm into Zero's back, sending him flying face-first into the ground several feet away. "Do you expect to beat me with moves like that?" Zero kicked himself back up as Axle brushed his hands together and continued walking right. This time, Zero swung Sigma Blade when it was close enough to Axle. Again, Axle dodged it by pulling a Matrix and leaned back and out of harm's way. He did this twice more before spinning around and nailing Zero with a kick to the left side of the head.
"Is the best you've got, Omega?" Zero stood up again and summoned V Hanger. By swiftly swinging the dagger, he created a thin purple blade that cut into Axle. He grabbed the wound and stepped back. "Nicely done. Now give me more!" Axle reached his hand back and a white glow surrounded it. Then, he swung it forward and a green, spiked ball spun around in the air a few feet away from him. "Spike Ball!" Axle leapt from one side of the city to the other and gracefully landed. There, he repeated this process, but instead of a green ball, he threw a pink one that bounded between the pillars. The green one disappeared as Megaman swapped places with him.
Active Member - Megaman Trigger
Megaman, still clad in the Shadow Armor, quickly got a fully-charged shot and, once in range, slashed Axle with the saber. "Now this is the hunter I used to know!" Axle backed off before reached his arms back again. However, this time, three large rose petals shot out of his head rose and slowly began drifting to the ground. Axle began walking to his right as Megaman swung his saber several times, all the while, charging a shot. After the third slash, Megaman finished the combo with the fully-charged blade. Megaman then activated his Giga Attack and furthered the damage to Axle.
Giga Attack
Shadow Crescents
(Axle the Red's Health)
----------------
Well done, Trigger. But you seem to forget my true power. Allow me to jog your memory." In an instant, Axle whipped his hand in Megaman's direction and his hand disappeared. Then, a large vine shot out and wrapped around his leg. Finally, Axle whipped the vine over him, causing Megaman to be smashed onto the other side of Axle. "Is that the best you can do hunter?" The vine retreated back into Axle's wrist and his hand reemerged. "This is pathetic. Centuries ago, you would've easily dodged that. Yet, even with your memory, you have lost that skill. It appears that getting your memory back has only slowed you down." Megaman smirked. "Yeah right." Megaman got a fully-charged shot, swiftly dashed over to Axle, then sliced him from between the legs up with the fully-charged saber. This massively damaged Axle, even for the world's strongest Maverick.
(Axle the Red's Health)
-----------
(Near Death Attack - Scarlet Masquerade)
(A.N. Believe it or not, this isn't my attack. I actually swiped this from the fourth season of Digimon, which I also don't own. Bummer. If I did, I would've at least started a fifth season by now…)
Axle jumped to the side of a pillar and began glowing a faint white. He looked up and, using two vines coming from his wrists, swung himself onto the top of the pillar. There, he waved his arm, spun around, and thrust his hands at Megaman. "Scarlet Masquerade!" A gust of rose petals blew through and several of the petals sliced Megaman's body. The last hit on the attack was a combination of five rose petals slicing Megaman in unison. Then, Megaman shifted to the Falcon Armor and shot a quick buster shot at Axle just as the light faded.
(Near Death Attack 2 - Earthshaper)
Axle chuckled. "This is far from over. Earthshaper!" In a vertical breeze of rose petals, Axle vanished and a tremor shook the ground. Then, in random spots, huge vines began spiking out of the ground. Five of them broke out before the sixth and final one broke out. Axle jumped off of the top of this one and spun around in the air until, just as he was about to hit the ground, he vanished in a breeze of rose petals. Then, he reappeared in a similar breeze. There, Zero swapped places with Megaman and quickly sliced Axle three times with Sigma Blade.
Active Member - Zero
Then, Zero swung the sword in the air as the blade became ice cold. "Hyouryuushou!" This knocked Axle back far enough for, Zero to swing the broadsword into his body once more, finishing him off.
(Axle the Red's Health)
None
(Megaman X5 (Playstation) - Boss Theme fades out)
Megaman beamed down and Axle stumbled backwards, his body coursing with electricity. "Well done, hunters. I expect no less from you two. However, I think it's about time that we all stopped holding back.
Second Battle Style - Solely 3-D
Active Member - Zero
Axle stood erect and outstretched his left hand. "Prepare, hunters, to face the world's strongest Maverick in all of his glory!"
(Megaman Excel Fortress Boss Theme)
(Megaman X8 (PS2) - Boss Theme begins playing)
(Axle the Red's Health)
------------------------------
As Megaman beamed off, Axle began to bounce his leg up and down while staring at Zero. Once Zero got behind him, his leg stopped and Axle whipped a vine so hard, Zero spit blood out as he was nailed in the chest and thrown back to where he started. "Nice try." Zero got up and, out of somewhat desperation to get this over with, he activated Giga Attack.
Giga Attack
Command Arts
Hoping for a miracle, Zero selected Skull Crush. Due to Axle's evasion, there wasn't much of a chance that the attack would hit. As Zero jumped into the air, sure enough, Axle ducked out of the way. However, Megaman quickly beamed down and shoved Axle back into the attack just as Zero finished the attack.
(Axle the Red's Health)
----------------------
Zero beamed off instead of Megaman and Axle stumbled backwards.
Active Member - Megaman Trigger
Megaman summoned the Hermes Armor and got a fully-charged shot ready. When Axle jumped into the air and began spinning, he fired the large laser blast which hurt Axle thrice before he fell to the ground. Then, he returned to the air, then split into two versions of himself, one of them being a copy. "Dodge this!" The Axles spoke in unison before thrust a vine forward. Then, they retracted it, squatted, and thrust it forward again. "Finally, the Axles stood erect and thrust it forward once more while Megaman fired a fully-charged blast at one of them. However, it was the wrong one and it quickly combined with the original. "Guess again, hunter."
(Near Death Attack - Earthshaper)
Axle waved his hand and the ground began shaking again. "Earthshaper." Three vines spiked from the ground, all of them being dodged by Megaman, who used the little energy he'd gathered and activated a not-so-powerful Giga Attack.
Giga Attack
Giga Crush
(Axle the Red's Health)
--------------
Megaman had gained about two-thirds of the necessary energy to activate a full Giga Attack. However with the Hermes Armor, he could activate it whenever he felt like it. But, depending on the energy gathered, the attack would vary in damage. Anyways, Axle was thrown back slightly and he activated another Near Death Attack.
(Near Death Attack 2 - Beat Rush)
Axle swiftly ran up to Megaman and reached his left fist back. "Beat Rush!" He punched Megaman hard in the stomach, then once hard in the face with his right fist. Finally, he power punched Megaman so hard, he flew into the air and, after a little boost from a vine, kicked Megaman hard in the back, sending him slamming into the ground. He slowly got up and said, "Sub Tank activate."
Sub Tanks left - 15
Megaman's health was restored and Megaman fired yet another fully-charged shot. Axle landed, unfortunately, in the middle of this and he spun in circles as he fell to the ground. He then spun his legs around as he spun to his feet. Once there, he was met with another fully-charged blast. But this one came from the recently-summoned Gaea Armor.
(Axle the Red's Health)
--------
(Near Death Attack 3 - Earthshaper Guillotine)
Axle brought out the two vines and quickly swept them over themselves. Megaman managed to dodge this, but if he hadn't, he would've been cut in half. Megaman countered with a series of regular buster shots before Zero was swapped in.
Active Member - Zero
Zero had Sigma Blade out, so he thrust it forward, knocking Axle back. By now, Axle's body was coursing wildly with electricity, but he didn't seem to mind. Axle stood still and started chuckling. The rose petals he'd fired from his head earlier finally got to the ground and the first one knocked Zero forward a few steps, as did the second. The third, however, sliced three-fourths of Zero's health off, forcing him to switch Megaman back in.
Active Member - Megaman Trigger
Megaman got a fully-charged Gaea shot ready and, knowing he'd been bested, he made no motion to dodge it.
(Axle the Red's Health)
None
(Megaman X8 (PS2) - Boss Theme fades out)
(A.N. Ready for one hell of a bombshell? You'd better be.)
Axle stepped back as Zero beamed down. "Very well put, hunters. I have been bested in combat and it brings me a joy I have not felt in years. However, with every joy…" Confusing everyone, he turned around, facing away from them, spread out his arms, and separated his legs. "Um, Axle? What are you doing?" As a figure appeared in front of him, Axle sighed. "I am giving you the answer to the question that will seal this planet's fate." No one understood him until what happened next. "Farewell, hunters. It's been a grand time." A laser was fired from somewhere and Zero ran a few steps forward. "Axle!" The laser hit Axle in the chest and he cried out in pain as his body was destroyed from the inside out. "AXLE!" No one, save the hunters, saw who had fired the blast, and they were shocked. Well, Megaman was shocked. "It… It can't be…" Zero immediately whipped out his saber. "Son of a bitch!"
(A.N. If you don't know who this is, then be gone with you! Stop reading this!)
The light faded and soon everyone saw the cloaked figure with the now-smoking outstretched arm. Although he was cloaked, everyone could make out his face. An evil smile played upon his lips and a large, red crystal was embedded in his forward. He had two large, blue, pupilless eyes with two large red streaks both above and below each eye. He also a large pit in his outstretched, Jay Leno-like chin. The carbons didn't recognize him, but their fears were soon confirmed when the figure spoke in an annoyingly high-pitched tone of voice. "Three hundreds years in the making and finally…" The figure took his outstretched hand and clenched it as Megaman gripped his buster. "…And at long last…" He smiled evilly. "I have fulfilled my promise." The carbons group started and gasped with shock. Of course, Teasel freaked out. "WHAT!" Both speaking in unison, the name of the planet's worst fear was revealed. "SIGMA!"
Dun dun dun! For those of you who didn't see this coming, shame on you! For the rest of you, congrats. Anyways, in the next chapter, the hunter duo tries coping with the revival of Sigma in the best way possible. By kicking his ass. Read and Review 'cause, obviously, this guy's going to be the final boss. Don't you want to see the final boss? I thought so.
P.S. For those of you who must know, the voice Sigma has is the same one from Megaman X4.