Heart of Darkness
Disclaimer: I do not own Megaman/Rockman.exe.
Chapter 3: Goodbye, Forever and Always
I'm sorry this took so long. I never really found my documents, and I really wanted to post up the third and final chapter of the fan fiction. In the end, I decided to retype it. I had many reviews, and I thank everyone who did review me. So this is the final chapter you have been waiting for, please enjoy.
"No…I felt him," said Protoman as he faltered off.
"Protoman…" said Megaman softly.
"No!" he shouted.
Then the red navi sped off with his lightning speed. He left his PET and into the net. He was barely noticed…moving so fast. Winds had blown in the city, and tears streamed out of Protoman's eyes. He looked at the city with his own eyes, his own, deep sea blue eyes… A tragedy happened…Protoman could barely see with the tears in his eyes. He didn't want to see…he only wanted to fall asleep, and never wake up…
"Protoman?" said a voice slowly.
Protoman groaned and realized he collapsed. His eyes were still frozen and he could still feel the melancholy in the air. The sadness and depression was enclosing him, causing him to fall into the eternal darkness. Then he looked up and saw a familiar face, but nothing mattered.
"Please, say something…" said the blue navi.
"Get lost," said Protoman angrily.
The silver haired navi felt no regret in the words he spoke, and the expression he gave. His operator was dead, a fate no navi should have to experience especially when they were young. The Blaze family was almost gone, and his father hadn't even noticed…
"I know how you feel," said Megaman slowly.
"How the hell would you know! Your net operator is alive and well! Mine is dead. There is no hope this time, nothing to look forward in a day. Nothing! My life is shattered in pieced. My heart has turned to stone!" shouted Protoman.
"I don't know why…but everything you say…everything you mention, I can feel it so much…that it hurts," said Megaman.
"No, you're lying. Stop lying! Chaud is dead…he's gone…and there was nothing I could do now. He's gone…that's all there is," said Protoman.
"Please, let us help you," pleaded a young pink navi.
Protoman looked up. His tears had frozen and his heart turned to stone. There was nothing for him anymore. Chaud was his friend, his net op, and a young boy who shared memories so powerful…with him. Protoman had made Chaud feel that he was needed in the world, and Chaud had done the same for him. They had helped pull each other from within the darkness and into a dim ray of hope. The light was gone now…it had never fully reached Chaud. Protoman cared for him, loved me, and was always there by his side. Now, they were separated and their dreams lay unfulfilled.
"What can you help me with, huh!" demanded Protoman.
Roll, Gutsman, Spoutman, Iceman, and Glyde had walked up to him. Roll looked sadly at the red navi, as she had also never seen him without his helmet. But she was also grieving for the loss of a close friend. She could never imagine a world without Megaman, or Maylu. The thought was just too unbearable.
"Well-" she started.
"Shut it, I don't need you to comfort me. All I need to be, is alone," said Protoman harshly.
"Everyone does need to be alone sometimes…I should know…" said Megaman.
"I don't care what you say. You will listen to this!" shouted Roll. Suddenly, the pink navi had grown with intense anger because what Megaman had said. "I am sorry for Chaud, and so is everyone else. Why can't you listen to that?"
Protoman glared at Roll, then he put his face in his hands. He couldn't bear to see if them watch tears coming. Protoman couldn't even think straight. His mind was confused and filled with a fire of hatred. He wanted revenge…for what he didn't know. He just wanted peace in his mind…Peace in Chaud's mind.
"I'll tell you why…" said Protoman. "I don't want to hear about my net operator, every time his name is said…I feel responsible. If I hadn't called the limo driver at that moment…if I had just let him endure some more rain… I could have saved his life. I don't want to dwell on the past, I just…I don't even know what I want…'
Roll and Megaman looked as they were on the verge of tears. Still, they had each other… Protoman just hoped that Chaud and him could have done something great with their lives. Chaud had real dreams, real goals, and real ambitions that could never be fulfilled, and it pained Protoman to even think about it.
"Hearing his name, makes me want to believe that he will come back to us. Chaud only wanted to impress in father. His father never appreciated anything he did. I was never approved, yet Chaud had kept me anyway. We felt a strong bond…but now it is torn. There is no way you can comprehend the pain I am experiencing…"
The Roll pulled something from behind her. She stared at it for a moment, then gave it back to Protoman. Protoman looked up and Roll handed it to him gently. He brushed his hand over it and then tear drops began to fall onto his helmet. Protoman didn't have the courage to look up at the navis in from of him. He just clenched his hand into a fist and pounded it onto the helmet.
"Why…Nande…? He was a good person…through his surface in his in heart. Maybe you don't see that…only because he wasn't very pleasant to people like your operators. But he had a reason…he just despised people who didn't appreciate what they had. He hated people who didn't know the meaning of loss, until it happened to him. Chaud really felt like punishing himself because he was once like Maylu…Dex…Lan…Yai…Tori…"
Then, without warning, Protoman threw his helmet across the ground, and the visor broke. The deep sea blue visor was cracked in a shameful way. The pieces of glass broke away and parted with the other half of it. With great sadness and courage, Protoman stood up. He looked at the net city with anger and hatred.
"I don't care… I won't let another tear fall for you, Chaud. You broke my heart too many times. I can't live like that anymore…" said Protoman. "But I will fight for you…Only for you."
Then with a flash, Protoman disappeared, leaving Roll, Megaman, Gutsman, Iceman, Spoutman, and Glyde looking sadly into the sun and the rest of the city. A tear fell down Roll's face, and Megaman put his arm tightly around her, embracing her. Roll then went into him, and cried uncontrollably. Megaman then looked at the sun, the broken walls, and the crack in Protoman's heart.
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Yai was devastated at the loss of her loved one. She had been sitting next to the Chaud for an eternity ever since his heartbeat was irregular. Glyde was beginning to worry about her, a pain that could never heal… Yai then took Chaud's hand and held it up to her cheek. He felt cold, and Yai felt a sudden darkness enter her heart. She cried. She cried… There was no tears of happiness, no tears of joy, only tears of sorrow.
"Chaud…Please, don't leave me. Not like this…not when we just confessed our feelings towards each other. Not after I have seen the email you sent me… It's just too soon. I couldn't finally admit it to you…But I wanted to be together, to spend more time together with each other, longer. I only wanted that for you, but now, all that is…is a broken dream… I have nothing to see, I'm blinded, forever and always," said Yai softly.
Then Yai collapsed onto Chaud crying, uncontrollably. She leaned in onto him, and then kissed his face gently. She only wanted for him to feel that, at least once more, but she was too late now. Chaud was gone and she couldn't help him… Her sadness was too depressing, and so even Glyde was feeling depressed.
The sun dawned, and Yai felt no reason to turn, no reason to live, just like Protoman. It is not the person who died who feels the most pain, it is the people and loved ones left behind.
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"Mr. Blaze, sir. We have something to tell you…" said a security personnel.
"It'll have to wait, I am doing something important…" he said absentmindedly.
"Sir, it is about your son…Master Chaud Blaze," he said.
"What about him? Did he mess something up again?" Mr. Blaze asked.
"No, sir…I'm afraid it's worse than that. Your son…he's dead."
"What!" Mr. Blaze shouted.
"I'm sorry sir. The report came last night," he said.
"You're fired. Leave now," said Mr. Blaze reclaiming his tone.
"But…" he protested.
"Leave!"
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Meanwhile, in the net, destruction was occurring. Protoman had taken onto a rampage, and was destroying the city. Buildings were destroyed, navis were scared, and Protoman was angry at the world. He was one of the most powerful net navis there were, and he was using his power, to his intent, for Chaud.
Run net navis, cower in fear, my net operator is gone, there's nothing left for me. I can't stand to be like any one of you. I have my own power, the power of my master. Happiness… There is no such word for me. Not now, only before. Chaud is dead. I couldn't save him, I couldn't save anyone. No one can win against their loneliness…no one can…
"Elemental Sword!" shouted Protoman.
Then Protoman plunged his sword into a huge building, causing the destruction to happen. It collapsed, hurting many navis in the process. Although, Protoman felt no remorse, and barely felt anything. All the navis began to fight back against him, but no one succeeded. Chaud had helped Protoman become the best. He was the ultimate program and an undefeatable net navi. Protoman then ran with his speed, causing the ground to break and the sky to tremble in fear.
"Protoman! Stop! Yamero!" shouted a blue navi.
"Go away, Megaman! I'm quite busy here," said Protoman.
"Please, Megaman. Let me talk to him…" pleaded Roll.
Then without warning, Roll didn't wait for an answer and immediately jumped up to where Protoman stood. The police navis were still firing at him, and so Roll looked sadly into his eyes. Megaman was still holding his helmet…
"Protoman. Listen to me, look what you have done to the city. You destroyed it, after all that power Chaud gave you…you wasted it," said Roll.
"This is for him…" said Protoman. "I have so much power, and I wanted it to be all for Chaud. He pulled me from the darkness before. Sonic Boom!" he shouted.
Then a wall of police navis were deleted, and Roll looked amazed at his power. No one was strong enough to destroy an army of navis with just one hit. Megaman, then looked up at Protoman and Roll. Then he raised his Mega cannon up to Protoman…
"Roll, I don't want another net operator. I'd rather be deleted than that. I only wanted Chaud, and he will be my only net op. My anger, my lust, my power is all connected and now they have to suffer…"
"No! Why should they have to suffer?" asked Roll.
"They never experienced pain like I have!" shouted Protoman. "When I had first become Chaud's navi, I felt as if the world had actually had a meaning. Chaud trained with me day and night, determined for us to be strong in mind and body. His father… destroyed every dream he had, and it pained me to see my master like this. He was crying…there was nothing to smile about. And so, he developed a rigid and harsh character. That is why you had hated him in the beginning, but he was still the same young master I first met…"
"Mega cannon!"
"Look out!" shouted Protoman.
Then Protoman jumped over Roll, and the Mega cannon blast had hit him. His weakened state caused him to fall unconscious. Roll then looked at him with tears in her eyes. Megaman jumped up and also looked sadly at the red net navi. Then he used area steal, and carried him away from the top of the building…
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"Why… This is so cruel…" said Lan. Lan, Maylu, Yai, Dex, Tori, and Dr. Hikari had stood outside of the room Chaud was in. Lan's face was dulled, and his whole body had seemed saddened. Yai was beyond anything…
"Where is my son?" asked a man.
"You're Chaud's father?" asked Lan.
"Yes…I heard he died. Is that correct?" Mr. Blaze asked.
"Well…yes. But how can you talk about your son so casually?" asked Dr. Hikari.
"Well, I barely knew him. Are you his…friends?" Mr. Blaze asked.
" Yes, we are," said Maylu confidently.
"Tch, I told him not to have pointless relationships. Anyway-"
"How can you not feel anything?" asked Lan through tears. "Your son has died, you wife is gone, how can you not feel anything? Chaud dedicated his life on pleasing you, but it seems he always failed. There was nothing for him! But he tried anyway. How can you not see that! How can you take another breath of life! Why do you not feel anything?" demanded Lan.
"Young Hikari, it was nothing more than him being a servant of mine. I hated him, but I pitied him. He lost his mother, and yet he killed his mother. She died giving birth to him, that was it. I hated him from then on. I tried to see him as an image of his mother, trying to believe that one day he would please me. But that never happened, he inherited her spirit, but then he grew dark and cold…like me. I never said anything, but I also wanted him to be like me…in a way. I just lost sight of that…" he said darkly.
"Still…what do you think of your son now?" asked Maylu.
"I think that he led an interesting life, but I can't shed a tear on it. I thought you mighty want this…" said Mr. Blaze as he tossed them a book.
Then Mr. Blaze left the hospital and into his limo. He drove away, and Lan could feel the anger boiling up inside of him. Then Lan opened the book, and realized that it was a photo album. It was a photo album of Chaud that was taken by a security guard of Chaud.
He turned the pages. At first, when he was a little child, Chaud had smiled a lot. His deep blue eyes were as noticeable as ever. Then as the ages grew, the smiles began to disappear. His face became more serious and dark. Lan noticed this and could almost feel his pain. There was nothing more Chaud to smile about, and so there was no reason to smile at all. Then came the age of when he met Lan and his friends. The N1 Grand Pre was important to him. The bond between him and Protoman had flourished… Lan then could feel tears in his eyes, at least a bit of happiness in this one. There was the latest picture, where Chaud had smiled warmly with him.
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"Protoman?"
Then Protoman looked up dazed and disoriented. He coughed and then he looked at the navis in front of him. He tried to move his hands, but couldn't. There was something binding him. His black and red hands moved around a bit, trying to find a weak spot. The ropes against him felt rough and hard, so then he looked up onto the navis in front of him.
"We only did that…so you wouldn't kill us at first," said Megaman.
"I don't care about any of you. Only Chaud…" said Protoman. "Are you going to untie me? Or do I have to do this myself?"
"Protoman, we don't know what you want. Not really… But listen. Chaud never wanted to destroy the city. And I doubt you didn't want it to be that way too. Just use the power Chaud has given to you, to fight for what he believed in. Finish his dreams," said Megaman.
Then Protoman relaxed his hands and concentrated all of his power and created a small blade come out of his hand. Then the ropes parted, and Protoman stood up. Megaman wasn't surprised that Protoman could break through the ropes that easily. But it seemed that the time he bought with that strategy allowed Protoman to see in a whole new light. His expression changed, and a tear fell silently down. Then another one came, but then he wiped his face.
"Please, Megaman. Give me back my helmet…" said Protoman gently.
Then Roll screamed happily, and the other navis clapped their hands. Megaman handed his helmet back to Protoman. He smiled as he did it, and Protoman could see his green eyes staring into his deep blue ones. The visor was chipped on one side, exposing his right eye, but that didn't matter. Protoman then shook hands with Megaman.
"I'm not really good at this, but I'll try…" said Protoman as he shook Megaman's hand and hugged him. "Thank you…"
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Yai then looked happily at the sun. She had gone a bit past her grieving period, and felt the sun shine in a whole new way. She could feel Chaud's presence near her, and she could swear that he mouthed to her that he loved her. Yai was happy, strolling down the highway of life and into Sci. Lab. She wanted to help complete Chaud's dream…
Mr. Blaze looked at his reports, and into the window behind him. Then silent drops of tears fell upon his work papers. He looked onto a nearby photo with him and his wife. Then his eyes fell upon the photo where he had been reading a book to his son. Still, Mr. Blaze was amazed that Chaud was interested in reading Hamlet when he was eight…
"Chaud, it took me a while… But I never noticed how much I missed your presence. Your life and your mother's spirit you carried with you, these many years… I miss her…I miss you."
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"Hehe, with this, Dr. Regal can be the most powerful being in the world!" shouted a Dark Loid.
"No, not today…" said a certain red navi.
Then with a mighty swift of his blade, the Dark Loid was deleted and then Dimensional Area had shut down. Protoman logged out, and then searched on the net to see any more attacks. He had taken down three Dark Loids and was already tracking down more. Justice had a new ally on its side, and Chaud was there to help.
Protoman's dream had changed, because of the death of his master, but he fulfilled his new dream. Fighting for Chaud's name, and to be remembered like Chaud. He wanted to rid the net of evil, and he was accomplishing just that. Yes, he was content now…
Finish.
Author's Note: I really enjoyed writing this fic because Chaud and Protoman are simply the best. They are a really good team, and if this really happened, I would be crying because of the loss. But I hope I ended it nicely. Do not worry, there will be a sequel to this. But this time, it will be more focused on Yai and her abilities. Protoman will also be there, to sometimes help her. For she is fighting for Chaud, just as Protoman is. Thank you for reading and please review.