Ok, ok...well, it has been awhile since I updated. I really apologize for that. And I don't usually put disclaimers in, but I decided to include one for a change. Anyway, thanks all for your reviews on my fics! Had to get that out of the way first. With this story, I've got a bunch of ideas going, so hopefully I'll be able to finish it somewhat fast (I have been busy though). I am thinking of doing multiple endings as well, but I'm not sure on that yet. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this story!

Return of Metal
Chapter 4
"Forgotten"
By MEGAMANX411

Metal had succeeded in his plan. Now was the time to strike. All he had to do now was orchestrate his vengeance, and fulfill the other part of his plan. The dark figure that appeared before him was strong, but Metal didn't plan on serving him. His plan was far from it. He wanted to overthrow him.

"You've done well thus far. Now just kill the Hunters," the figure hissed.

"Yeah, yeah, I know..." Metal muttered, a sadistic grin creeping onto his face. As soon as I kill them, I'll kill you next... he thought.

With the powers that Metal just gained, he was ready to fight. He would kill X, Zero, and Axl, and thoroughly enjoy every second of it. And if the situation proved it necessary, he would probably kill their navigators too. After that though, he would set his sights on the person who gave him this plan. He admitted that the ideas he gave were brilliant. The heist that Metal pulled off was successful largely because of that figure.

Still though, he had no plans whatsoever in serving this person. He had the power to overthrow him with ease, or at least that's what Metal thought. He didn't quite understand the extent of that figure's powers, but then again, Metal was a rather cocky person. He did just gain quite a bit of power from X. The genius of it was, it stemmed from his design entirely. To use this power, he merely had to acquire it from X in the first place. The creations of Dr. Light would now be used against X.

The capsules that Dr. Light left behind for X all contained armor pieces of sorts. Each one had a diferent armor upgrade, but the most powerful set of completed armor that X contained was the Ulimate Armor. He did have many other sets of armor though, all with their own unique abilities. Metal, because he stemmed from the same design as X, could interface with all of them. He could utilize their powers. That alone made him a force to be reckoned with, but Metal might also gain new attacks if he combined his current powers with those weapons. Considering the fact that he was already a formidable oppoenent, this new information came as a huge shock. Armed with that gear, he should be able to kill all of them. Still though, a feeling of hollowness ran through Metal. He couldn't quite place it though. It felt like there was a great hole piercing his heart, almost as if his being was no longer complete.

"What the hell...is this..?" Metal whispered, clutching his chest.

He quickly shook his head and regained his composure. He couldn't let this get to him. He was too close to let things slip away from them time time around. Last time, he had a chance to finish them...or at least, that's the way Metal remembered things now. Somehow, his memories seemed to have been skewed from his intense hate. There was a person before who could save Metal from those intense feelings of malice. There was someone who could save him. But he no longer remembered that person.

"Time to get to work."

Back at Maverick Hunter HQ, X was frantically trying to get everything he could for battle. There had to be something he could do, or at least that's what he was thinking. There had to be something that X could do to fend off the attack. He knew what was coming, but he just couldn't admit it. This was more horrifying than anything else, and he knew that there was a big chance that he would lose. Actually, he was more worried about whether or not he and his friends might die from this. If he had to die to save his friends, so be it...but he wasn't about to let Alia, Zero, Pallette, Axl, or Layer die. It wasn't as if X guessed about Metal's deeds. He simply knew. The information came to him, and X wasn't even trying to think about it. It was like the thoughts were literally forced into him, ripping their way through his psyche. He felt like his mind was going to collapse from the strain.

"I can't let him kill anyone!" X screamed, gearing up for battle.

Alia, worried about X's condition, rushed over and placed a hand on X's shoulder. Her blonde hair swayed quickly as she ran over, and her face displayed her obvious worry. Her body was shaking, not from any form of fatigue, but from fright and worry. She didn't know what was going on, she wanted answers, she saw that X was acting strange...it was all rather overwhelming. Things were happening so fast that she didn't know what to do, and that was a first for Alia. Zero, being more calm and reserved than X, casually walked over and searched for his weapons. He did notice that one of his Z-Sabers was stolen. He still had other weapons in his inventory (he gained multiple weapons from the 8th main Maverick incident, the mission involving Lumine), but still, the fact his Z-Saber was stolen was a setback. Nothing of Axl's was stolen though. No one else except X could quite figure out why though. It was simply because Metal was like the opposite of X. Whatever X could use, Metal could use. That was the theory anyway.

"Alia, you take Layer and Pallete and leave here. Metal will be back," X warned, his voice full of worry.

"What are you talking about X? Metal coming back? I thought you said he was reformed-"

"I said get out of here now! I don't want you to die!" X screamed, his eyes quivering.

"X...I..." Alia stammered, her voice becoming lost.

"X. What's going on?" Zero asked, his voice as cold as ice.

"It's Metal...or at least, it seems like him. I can't tell if it's him for real or not. I mean, I feel him, but this...this evil I sense. It's something else. The thing that scares me is that it seems like this evil is doing its work through Metal..." X explained.

"If he's coming, we'll just fight him like last time!" Axl shouted, trying to raise everyone's spirits.

"It'll be harder this time...Metal...seems to have gotten stronger than before. He's stolen some very valuable parts...and that will make him near impossible to defeat. I'm afraid that maybe...this time, we won't be able to avoid as much bloodshed..." X whispered.

Before X could get Alia, Layer, and Pallette to evacuate the building, let alone the other trainee Hunters, a shadow fell over Maverick Hunter HQ. A grim feeling washed over everyone. Feelings of despair rode in on the darkness. A new fear rose in everyone, and the inevitable terror before them bore the name Metal. Things could fall apart in any instant. If X faltered for just a moment, it could lead to the loss of Alia, Layer, Pallette, Axl, Zero, or any of the other Maverick Hunter staff/trainees. This truly would be one of his most difficult tests.

"Metal...I guess you've come back..." X commented, his voice somewhat soft.

"X. My other half. Nice to see you again. Unlike you though, I'm not such a wuss. So it looks like you're going to die," Metal replied, an evil smirk appearing on his face.

"I do remember you Metal. But I don't remember that smile, or this feeling I'm getting from you. This isn't you. You're no servant boy..." X answered, trying to reason with his opponent.

"Shut up! I serve no one. You were adored by your creator, and he was there for you. Mine treated me like shit. I'm only evening the score by taking what should've been mine. And after I've killed you, I will be the true original. And you Zero...I haven't forgotten about you. I'll still kill you for what you did to me before...and while I'm at it, I may as well kill the rest of you. It will be a fitting start for my role as the new ultimate Reploid," Metal decalred, his eyes shining with an intense evil.

With that, Metal engaged his Ultimate Armor. Unlike X's armor though, which seemed to have a light of radiance around it, there was no feeling of goodness. Only feelings of despair and malice emanated from this power. Metal's armor took on a similar form to X's, but it appeared harder, darker...more fitting for him. The wings that sprouted from his back were not the same either. They were almost like bat wings. With that new armor, Metal almost appeared like some sort of devil. Or perhaps it was a fallen angel? The malice and evil that came from this armor didn't seem to belong to Metal.

"I'll kill you...all of you!"