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The ebony reploid walked alone as he thought about everything that has happened so far. Everyone he knew was gone, with the exception of Zero. Then again, he only knew Zero while he was still inactive. He had expected to at least see that reploid, X, Dr. Light was working on.

-------Flashback-------

Forte ran from Dr. Light's, Gospel behind him, with the blueprints clutched in his hand. Dr. Wily ordered him to get blueprints that could help in his plan for world conquest. He only grabbed one before they figured out what he was up to.

"Stop right there! Forte," Rockman shot a blast in his direction. "Why do you keep on working for Dr. Wily?"

Oh great, this speech again.

"Queit, Rockman, I will be a part of your group," Forte growled. "I refuse to ally with optimistic weaklings like you."

Forte charged at Rockman but was easily evaded. Forte quickly activated the Copy Vision to fool Rock. Rock charged up his shot and shot it at Forte, but he just disappeared.

What!? Copy Vision?

Rock was too late to see that Forte charged up his buster and shot it straight into Rock.

"Rolling Cutter."

Forte managed to barely dodge the attack and retaliated by using the Lightning Bolt. Rock has already been hit twice now and is low on power. Forte is still unscratched and felt pretty confident.

Guess I have no other choice than to use this.

"RUSH! Let's combine."

Rock's armor became red and he now had two jets behind him. He took flight and shot at Forte, hitting both Forte and Gospel.

"GOSPEL!" Forte looked at Rock with a look of pure hatred. "You'll pay for this Rockman, I will make sure to destroy you with my own two hands."

Gospel whimpered. Forte knew that getting back to Skull Castle took priority right now so he took Gospel and teleported out.

"I'm sorry," Rock looked guiltily at himself, "Forte."

I guess now, he really will never leave Dr. Wily. I've really screwed up this time. Rock remembered the look that Forte gave him and realized what he's done. I've attacked Forte's only companion.

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Skull Castle

Forte was checking the damage that's been done to Gospel so far, it didn't look good. All the main parts have been heavily damaged and beyond repair. Forte sighed and looked at Gospel who was still conscious. He won't be able to live for long. Forte remembered everything that they've been through as he gave out a sigh. Gospel quietly barked.

"What's that boy?" Gospel barked again.

"Alright, I guess there's no other way." Forte slowly merged with Gospel, but this time it was different. Gospel poured all his power into Forte as they fused. This time it was different. This time it was permanent.

-------End Flashback-------

I don't know anything about this new time. I guess I need to find more information before I decide what to do next.

Forte's eyes wondered into a huge city.

Perfect, I'm sure I'll find all I need to know there.

Forte headed towards Neo Arcadia to search for information.

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Neo Arcadia Base

"I can't believe that we were beaten so easily." Fefnir was talking to the two other Guardians as they discuss they're current situation.

"I don't like this one bit," Harpuia looked at the other two Guardians as they checked the details of Weil and Omega in their database. "Weil doesn't look like he's up to any good and there's something strange about Master X. Not to mention that Omega was with them.

"Relax, Harpy, I doubt there's anything we can do right now other than following orders." Leviathan replied to him.

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but we need a plan in case things get out of control." They were all aware of what Omega and Weil has done in the past.

"Maybe we should join the Resistance." Leviathan suggested as she's repairing her armor from the fight with Omega. There was a small pause.

"No way, do you really think they'd just welcome us with open arms after what we put them through?" Fefnir referred to when (Copy) X was in charge and the number of Resistance members they retired. "Besides, there's no way I'm teaming up with Zero, I swear I will defeat him one day."

"You're right, I guess the only thing we can do right now is trust Master X and keep a lookout for anything suspicious." Just as Harpuia finished his sentence, X came in.

"There's been an attack in Sector 12 database. The intruder has been reported to be an unknown black Maverick."

"Don't worry Master X, I'll take care of it." Fefnir volunteered as he looked forward to a new challenge. I hope I'll be able to get a good fight out of this. Unknown Mavericks is how they described Zero when he first attacked.

"By the way Fefnir, if it's anyone from the Resistance, then capture them alive," X ordered just before Fefnir left.

"Alright, Master." Fefnir was a bit disappointed. Guess I won't be able to have any fun today.

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Sector 12

Forte managed to hack into the database and it luckily contained a lot of information on history, including the Maverick Wars, Elf Wars, and current information on Neo Arcadia and the Resistance. It looks like Zero didn't fulfill what he was programmed to do after all; I'll find him later and make him pay for taking my revenge away from me.

Forte knew that Zero was the only one who could've possibly destroyed Rockman. Well, there's no way I'm going to join Neo Arcadia, they're all just fools protecting humans. I've got what I came for, I'll just go and hunt down Zero now.

As Forte turned to leave, a shockwave went in his direction and pierced him in the left arm.

"Looks like I won't be getting much of a challenge after all," a red reploid appeared from the hole in the wall. "I am Fighting Fefnir, one of the three remaining guardians. Now if you're a member of the Resistance, you better tell me right now or else I'll just destroy you."

"I'm not a member of the Resistance, but you'll be the one getting destroyed today." Forte raised his right hand and transformed it into a buster, also transforming his armor into a light blue color in the process. "FREEZING BLAST!"

A long icy beam went in Fefnir's direction. Fefnir just took the shot almost unscratched and jumped into the air charging his blaster for Forte. Forte managed to dodge the shot and appear behind Fefnir.

Seeing how ice-based attacks seem to barely affect him and he's fire based, this should be able to do the job quite nicely.

Forte's armor changed into a purple shade and he launched his attack. "LIGHTNING PLASMA!" A stream of purple lightning hit Fefnir squarely in the chest, and this time he took a lot of damage.

"UGHHH! You're gonna pay for that." Fefnir readied his blaster. "BURNING BLAST!"

Fefnir aimed his shots everywhere, hitting everything except Forte. Now's my chance. Fefnir charged forward grabbed onto Forte's neck His other fist glowed into a yellow light and he slammed it into Forte. At that exact moment, Forte's right hand transformed into an electrically charged yellow saber and he slashed Fefnir across the chest. Both reploids are now very weakened.

"Well, you're a lot stronger than I thought you were, but try to dodge this attack." Fefnir started emitting a red aura and massive amounts of magma and explosive shots appeared. "HELL'S WRATH!"

That should take care of him, I haven't had this much fun since Zero. What he's still standing?

Forte came out unscratched, and his left arm has healed. His armor has become different and two wings have come out of his back.

"I didn't think I had to use my Gospel Form against you, but it seems I had no choice," Forte transformed both his arms into purple blades with lightning coming out. "Now, prepare to be destroyed." Fefnir knew he might be in trouble so he quickly used a energy tank that he got before he left.

"ELECTRIC MAELSTORM." Forte used his thrusters to go right on top of Fefnir and he span around creating an electric tempest. Fefnir slowly rose up from the ground as eh got hit by the lightning and then he went over the top and was sucked into the center where Forte was.

Forte slashed Fefnir diagonally twice, in an X shaped pattern. The battle was over when Forte used that attack and he deactivated Gospel Form. Both reploids used up a lot of energy and is severely weakened from that battle.

"Well, I guess you managed to beat me," the out-of-breath Fefnir talked, "The next time, I will have recovered from my injuries with Omega, and then we'll have another intense fight just like this one, by the way, what's your name?"

"I am Forte," Forte decided to find a bit more information, "Can you tell me anything about Zero?"

"He's usually on missions, but other times remain in the Resistance base." Fefnir continued on. "Looks like everyone to fight Zero these days."

"I'll defeat Zero to prove myself as the strongest. He took the goal I was created for away from me, and now it's time for revenge."

Forte left Neo Arcadia leaving Fefnir to wonder of what happened.

I thought reploids aren't generally built with a specific purpose. This guy sure is a mystery. Zero's only been activated for a few years, but I don't think I heard anything about a black reploid. He must have had some connections with Zero from the past.

Fefnir walked back to base to get some repairs happy to find someone who enjoyed a good battle as much as he did.

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