The world rumbled violently. The pinkish light streaked down toward Abel City. X stepped up to the screen.
"Stop!" He screamed, "I'll come!"
"But X! he'll kill you!" Megaman Zero cried out.
"G-good choice." Copy X sneered, "W-who said a-anything about k-killing? If h-he dies, s-so do I."
"I will teleport to you." X decided, teleporting despite Alia's cry of protest. What happened next would give her nightmares for a long time. Behind Copy X, the shadows moved. X appeared, and the copy turned to him. Suddenly, there was an explosion of crimson as Copy X screamed, his chest splitting open to gush a river of red that coated his body. X backed away from something only he could see. A white hand with long nails appeared, holding something red and moving. There was another spray of blood as the hand squeezed the object. Zero realized it was a heart. Another scream rent through the speakers. X reappeared, his buster blazing, as he backed into the screen. Then they saw it.
It wore a long black robe with a silver bleeding cross on the front. It's eyes were two red lights glowing brightly. It's helmet matched X's helmet perfectly, except it was black and red. It's skin was white. Megaman Zero's mouth opened in a silent scream. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. There was no way. Someone shook him, snapping him back to reality.
"Zero? Do you know that thing?" Phantom asked.
Megaman Zero nodded, "Yes."
"Who is he, and why does he look like X?" Signus asked.
"Yea, Zero." Leviathan put in, "Talk."
"Fine. The only reason I survived Raganok was because of X, that X. He is known as Dark X. as Raganok fell through the atmosphere, my body began to melt and burn. That is when I saw him. Dark X told me that he wasn't done with me yet and I woke up the woods, my body healed. That is when X, our X, found me and brought me home." Megaman Zero explained.
"How does this fit in with the whole Sunstar thing?" Axl asked from his corner.
"Dark X is controlling Sunstar." both Zeros said as one.
At that moment, X teleported back in, panting. He was fine physically.
"That was me!" he gasped, "I have to fight and defeat myself!"
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Medic rested a hand on her abdomen, near her unborn child. She couldn't help but smile. She knew that Zero would be overjoyed. Zero came in then and went to her side.
"How are you feeling?" Zero asked, lovingly brushing Medic's bangs from her face.
"I'm fine." Medic smiled, and took his hand. She placed it on her abdomen. Zero looked confused at first, but then he figured it out.
"You're pregnant?" he asked.
"Yes. We're going to be parents in about seven months." Medic smiled, relishing the feel of Zero's arms around her as he embraced her.
"Oh god, back when we did battle with Final Sigma, where you pregnant then?" Zero asked.
"I'm pretty sure we conceived that night in Giga City. You wanted to celebrate, remember?" Medic winked at him.
Zero smiled, and kissed her tenderly, "We had a lot to celebrate, with X on the mend, Sigma gone for good, the Core driven away, and Cinnamon forgiving X for what he had done to her."
"So, what is going on upstairs?" Medic asked.
"The end of the world as we know it." Zero replied, "I will protect you and Junior." He went on and filled Medic in over what had happened.
"Junior, huh?" Medic asked, "It is too early to determine the sex of our baby. We could be having a daughter instead of a son."
"Hey, don't pop my bubble. When do we get to spread the word?" Zero asked, smiling, "All we have to do is tell Palette and Axl. They can't keep a secret if their lives depended on it."
"That's true. I'd rather wait until this mess is over." Medic replied, her left hand going subconsciously to her abdomen.
"I think we should at least tell X." Zero said, "He is going to need all the reasons he can get to fight."
"If he fails," Medic closed her eyes, "our child will never get to see the future."
"Oh, but she will." Megaman Zero said, walking into the room. He fought the urge to run to Medic. He missed her so much it hurt, a lot.
"We're having a girl?" Medic asked, "How do you know?"
"He knows because he is me, a hundred years later." Zero answered, "Alouette looks like she is only 3. How did a hundred years pass without her aging?"
"That, I'm afraid, I can't tell you. I wish I could, but I can't." Megaman Zero answered, "Alouette is three and a half. I've said too much as it is." he turned to leave, "Love and cherish Medic, Zero."
"I already do." Zero watched him leave, "I already do."
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Axl found himself at loss over what to do. For once in his life, he was bored. Signus had already assigned the good missions to other hunters, and Pallette was too busy navigating to give him any attention. Axl decided to go pay a visit to Medic and Zero down in the medical bay. As he walked, he heard the sound of crying. He realized it was X he was hearing. Axl crept closer to the partly opened door of his friend's room, wondering if he should go in and try to comfort him. Another voice spoke, and Axl froze, listening.
"You can't be afraid of what lays inside you." the voice was male.
"But I am afraid, Father. Very afraid." X wept, "I'm a monster."
"is that what you think, my son?" the voice asked.
"I'm responsible for this mess! I killed my brother and my future self! I set this on us!" X screamed, "Why did you have to make me?"
"I made you out of love to defend the places we loved dearly. The human race needs you more then ever now. You must fight not only to protect them, but for Axl, and Zero. Especially Zero. What ever happens, Zero must live." the voice soothed, "Zero is responsible for protecting the future."
"What if I choose not to fight?" X asked, "What if I refuse to fight?"
"Then Dark X wins." the voice explained, "is that what you want?"
"No." X responded, "Axl?"
Axl jumped, "Hi?"
"What are you doing here?" X refused to look at him.
"I, ah, I heard crying." Axl explained lamely, "and it was you."
X looked away, "Axl."
"Something is bugging you, and you know I won't leave until you tell me what is up." Axl said.
"X, is this Axl, one of those new generation reploids you've told me about?" the voice Axl heard spoke up. It came from a computer that showed the face of a portly old man with white hair and a white beard.
"Is that Dr. Light?" Axl asked.
"Yes, and yes." X replied.
"You look so young." Light said, "Do you know what is going on?"
"Well, X has to go kick some more butt to gather the pieces of the Pure to defeat Sunstar, and last I heard, himself." Axl responded, "As usual, Zero and I will be with him each step of the way."
"Not this time, Axl." X said.
"What?" Axl spun to face him, "Are you nuts? You need us to help you!"
"He's right, Axl. X must do this alone." Light explained.
"but why?" Axl screamed, "he won't survive alone!"
"It's the Pure. I have to be alone so it goes to me only. If it goes to ether you or Zero, we're doomed. You and Zero were not made to handle the Pure. It would destroy you." X looked away, "I've gone after Sigma alone before. This shouldn't be that much different."
"That was Sigma! This is the ten Stardroids! They are far stronger then Sigma! Sunstar already took you out once!" Axl protested, "Then you have to defeat yourself! You can't do this on your own and you know it!"
"I don't have a choice!" X shot back, "Do you think I want to do this alone? I'm sick and tired of fighting! It always falls on me to stop Sigma! It was me who stopped Lumine! It was me who stopped Redips, the Core, and Final Sigma!"
"Excuse me? Who stopped Redips?" Axl screamed, "If I remember correctly, that was Zero and I who stopped Redips! You got knocked out for the duration of that battle!"
"Whose charged shot finished it?" X looked down at Axl coldly, "It always ends up being me that has to go save the world. I'm tired of it. What use is there fighting it?" he turned away.
Axl forced himself to take deep breaths, "I can't believe you are talking this way! The X I know and love would fight to the finish to stop Sunstar! Are you going to let Megamans and Cyber Elf X's deaths go unpunished? If you are not going to fight, I will!" with that, Axl stormed off.
"Is this what you want, X?" Light broke the silence.
"I want the fighting to stop." X didn't turn to him, "Was I made for war?"
"I made you to keep the world safe. You are not a tool of war. I hoped you wouldn't have to choose this path, Megaman X Light. I know it is hard. Many people depend on you to keep them safe. How would they feel if their hero choose not to fight?"
"Alright, but this is going to be the last time." X shut the computer off and sank onto his bed, head in his hands, "I wish I didn't have to do this anymore." After a while, he got up to head to the command center.
Axl entered medical bay and went to the recovery area. Medic was alone. He considered leaving.
"Axl." Medic smiled, "Good of you to drop by."
"Where did Zero go?" Axl asked, "I thought he would be down here by you."
"I sent him to our quarters to get some rest. He has been through a lot too." Medic replied, "I get to get out of here tomorrow morning. Then I'm on medical leave for a week. Any more news from upstairs?"
"Well, Signus has decided to treat Protoman, Bass, the four guardians and Megaman Zero as extra hunters. They got all the good missions. Ceil and Roll are working as extra navigators." Axl replied.
"Will Axl and Zero report to the command center?" Signus's voice echoed in the intercom.
"Finally, a mission! See ya!" Axl chose to teleport to the Command Center.
X and Zero were both waiting when he got there, as usual. Zero was tapping his left boot impatiently. Axl gulped. X gave out the details of their mission.
"We are going to Giga City. However, I will have to take on Neptune alone. I am going to need your help in getting to Neptune. He holds the first of the pieces of the Pure, which I must collect in order to take out Sunstar. Get all that?" X asked.
"Yes, lets go." Zero acknowledged.
"I hear ya loud and clear." Axl saluted X, who shot him a dirty look.
"Then lets go." X headed toward the armory. He decided to use his stealth armor which would grant him access to his X Fire armor and Ultimate armor. He would also be able to access his seraph form through his stealth armor which was an added bonus. It met that he wouldn't be able to access Falcon or any of his other armors. X couldn't help but wonder if he would find any capsules from Light containing new armor. He was still lost in thought as he headed out to meet Axl and Zero who were waiting by the transport. Kitty Havoc was piloting the transport. She was a favorite among hunters because of her skill in the air. The three Hunters climbed into the transport. X jumped when the com went off.
"I'm Kitty Havoc and I'll be your pilot taking you to Giga City. I've been briefed on the mission and I'll be waiting to fly you boys home once you are finished. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight!" Kitty replied as she gunned the engines for takeoff.
The flight was uneventful and they reached Giga City without any trouble. Right away, they could tell that something was wrong. It was silent, and there was damage from a recent fight. The doors were blown in, and gaping pits covered the ground. Kitty gasped. They turned and she pointed to a figure crumbled on the ground. On closer inspection, it turned out to be Fusion. They all knew Fusion. She was one of the four guardians appointed by X himself to protect Cinnamon. She had decided to stay at Giga City along with Star and Lilac. Bard, the fourth guardian, decided to return to being a Hunter and had returned home to his old base in Germany. Zero knelt by the former Guardian.
"Fusion? Are you okay? What did Neptune do to you?" He asked.
Fusion's eyes opened and she shot away from Zero, gasping, "It was a glowing Stardroid!"
"What happened?" Zero tried again.
"It attacked us and we couldn't hurt it in any way! It's got all of Giga City held hostage! It left me out here for a reason!" Fusion thought, "Oh yeah! It told me to tell you to give up now while you can."
"Not happening." Axl smirked, "We are going to stop Neptune."
"Correction, I'm the one who has to stop Neptune. You two, find and bring all survivors here to Kitty so she can get them to safety. Fusion too." X replied, "Can you tell me about Neptune's attacks?"
"It used water based attacks." Fusion accepted Zero's help to rise. X nodded his thanks and took off.
Inside Giga City looked worse then it did outside. Wires hung from openings in the wall that looked like someone with claws had used the walls as a scratching post. It was slow going as X had to dodge falling debris and direct all survivors he came across out to Zero and Axl. He reached a gap and stopped. It was wide, and it was too far for him to jump.
"Time for Falcon armor, oh wait, I can't access it through stealth." X studied the hallway. Would there be enough room?
"Help!"
X looked into the gap and nearly swore. Far below him, he could see Nana, an operator, clinging to a ledge. Fear reflected her eyes.
"Nana!" he called down, I'm coming!" X focused, going Seraph. As soon as the light show ended, he rose on three pairs of metallic wings. Locking them straight up, he plummeted down to Nana in the gap. He snapped open his wings and hovered, "Nana, I've got you. Did Neptune do this?" carefully, he closed a huge claw around Nana's body and began to climb up and out of the gap. It was difficult and X had to work at flying to climb higher since there was no wind or an updraft to help him. Nana clung to a claw that was bigger then she was.
"It happened so fast!" Nana clung tighter to the claw as she felt X dipping with a strong down stroke, "He was so strong. Our defenses couldn't hurt him. Star, Lilac, and Fusion couldn't stop him. Are you here to stop him?"
"Yes." X replied, Almost there…
"What is this armor? I've never seen you use it before. Is it new?" Nana asked.
"It isn't an armor. It is called Seraph form. I received it in an upgrade from Light during the Eurasia incident. First time I used it, I lost control. It took about thirty Hunters to take me down. I used this form to defeat Final Sigma. I was afraid to use it because I lost control the first time." X explained, clearing the edge of the gap, "Head forward and watch out for falling debris. Zero and Axl are coordinating rescue efforts. I've got to go after Neptune." X reached the far side of the gap and shifted back to stealth armor. Nana watched him rush off and turned to walk out of Giga City.
X pressed on, working his way further into the city. The damage grew worse the deeper he went. Winged parasites began attacking in greater numbers. X knew he was getting close. A lone Metool waddled out in front of him. X charged his buster, planning to take it out with a single hit. Unfortunately, a winged parasite chose to show why it was a parasite by merging with the Metool, maxing out it's abilities. It ducked into its helmet just as X released the shot. It did very little damage. The Metool sniggered, and raised it's scythe. It slammed it down into the ground, which triggered a wave of energy that shot toward X. He managed to dodge it with a back flip. Unfortunately, the energy wave had other ideas. As X leapt backward, the energy gathered right where X would land, delivering a painful shock.
"Okay, no more Mr. nice guy." X growled, shifting to Seraph. A double shot ended the Metools reign of terror. X shifted back to stealth armor, and scanned the area for more enemies. None appeared. He moved on, reaching a steel door. Behind it, he could hear voices. It slid open and he walked in. The room was filled with humans and reploids alike. They all looked toward him the minute he stepped in.
"It's the Maverick Hunter, X!" someone called out.
"He's alone! Star had Lilac and Fusion on his side and lost!" another voice rang out.
"X is strong! He defeated Final Sigma soundly!" a third voice put in, "He can take on that thing and win, no problem!"
"Is this everybody?" X asked out loud, "I want you to make a run for it. I have contacted Zero and Axl, and they will meet you soon. I have to go on to Neptune, so, where is he?"
"Right here!" the Stardroid crashed into the room, "puny weakling!"
"You'll be singing a different tune when I'm through with you." X snapped back, readying his buster.
The steel door slammed closed, trapping everybody inside. X only flinched, knowing his job just got harder. He was going to have to protect the people from harm while fighting Neptune at the same time. Neptune wore green flippers over a black Kevlar suit. Dark blue armor and blue gantlets covered his chest and hands. A blue helmet fit snuggly on his head. His gloves were webbed. X shifted to his X Fire armor. Neptune smirked, spun, and shot at a helpless Reploid female with a child in her arms. X flung himself into the path of the blast, taking damage. Turn, he charged up his claw. Neptune spun to fire at a family huddling together before X could attack. Again, X put himself in harms way, taking more damage, and losing his charge. This went on for a bit. X knew he couldn't keep this up. The damage was starting to slow him down. Rising after a particularly hard hit, X shifted to Seraph form. The shift would heal some of the damage. Without giving Neptune a chance, X struck with both hands, sinking his claws into Neptune's back. Neptune screamed. A double shot rendered his legs and arms useless.
"Don't think you've won!" Neptune screamed.
"And what can you do about it?" X retorted sarcastically.
"Sunstar gave me a gift that'll beat you!" Neptune glowed with the Pure.
"Hey genius, I am the Pure." X rolled his eyes, finishing Neptune off with another double shot, "And he calls himself a Stardroid. Pathetic." X absorbed the Pure left behind.
"You did it!" someone cheered as X tiredly shifted back into Stealth armor.
"Now is not the time to celebrate. I've still got nine more Stardroids to defeat, and they are not going to be easy like Neptune." X replied, "Let's get you all out of here."
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Megaman Zero sat with his back to the wall of HQ, watching the Ragnarok. A soft glow turned his attention to the Pure sitting beside him. A small part of the fourth spire formed. He sighed, bowing his head.
"One down, nine more to go, before you are restored, X. you are doing well." He thought.
"Talking to yourself?" Ceil joined him, "Alouette is asleep. She made a friend with another Reploid girl her age, Snow Eagle."
"She did?" Megaman Zero sighed, "At least she is happy."
"Time's running out, isn't it?" Ceil settled herself next to him. He nodded.
"Yes, it is." Megaman Zero looked up at the Ragnarok, "Dark X does not have much patience for waiting."
"I'm afraid. Can X stop himself, literally?" Ceil asked.
"When the time comes for him to face off against Dark X, I'm going with him." Megaman Zero decided.
"So am I." They looked up to see Protoman leaning over the wall above them, "I'm doing this for Megaman."
"Are you sure?" Megaman Zero asked.
"You bet." Protoman answered, "I'm stuck in this time until I capture Sunstar. Trust me, Sunstar is going to pay dearly for what he did. Dark X too."
The alarm klaxoned suddenly and they all headed into the Command Center. Signus was standing in front as usual. The place filled with Hunters. Axl, Zero, and X were still at Giga City, so they weren't there.
"We are under attack again." Signus explained, "Take a look at the screen."
The screen lit up to show thousands upon thousands of what looked like blue reploids. They were different at the same time. Their faces were a single red light. Megaman Zero and the guardians all groaned as they recognized the reploids. Ceil too.
"You know them?" Signus asked.
"X Joe Units." Harpuia replied, "How did they get here?"
"Didn't we destroy the last of them weeks ago in Neo Arcadia?" Fefnir asked.
"We did, so where are they coming from?" Phantom asked.
"They are coming from Ragnarok. Dark X." Megaman Zero answered, "Looks like he can clone anything."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go mop them up." Bass flexed his fingers in anticipation.
"Unfortunately, It's not that easy. We have to cut off their source of replication before we can take out the army. That means some of us are going to Ragnarok." Megaman Zero replied, "I've been there, so I have to go."
"I'm going with him." Protoman spoke up.
"Okay, I need the rest of you out there fighting. Bass, I'm putting you in charge of the 0th unit, and Harpuia, you have the 17th unit. Good luck and god speed." Signus ordered, "Stay alive out there. Navigators, That includes you and Roll, Ceil, lets get busy."
The Hunters all rushed out into battle. Protoman and Megaman Zero met and prepared to go to Ragnarok. The battle started as the X Joes charged toward the Hunters. Laser beams, sabers, daggers, buster shots, and energy beams flew through the air.
"How do we get to Ragnarok?" Protoman asked. His answer was Megaman Zero resting his hand on his shoulder, and the world blurred. After a dizzying series of light flashes, Protoman found himself standing on Ragnarok with Megaman Zero next to him, "You could have said something before teleporting!"
"Quiet!" Megaman Zero hissed, "If Dark X hears us, it's game over! Follow me. We need to attack the core."
"Why the core?" Protoman asked, "Wouldn't it be easier to find a terminal and shut down Ragnarok through there?"
"And have Dark X find us? I don't think so." Megaman Zero found the opening he'd used before to get inside. They slipped in quietly and crept forward down the near pitch black hall.
Squelch…
"Oh ew! I just stepped on something and it popped!" Protoman squealed, getting Megaman Zero's hands clamped around his mouth.
"Shh!" the red and black Reploid hissed, "do you want to get us killed?"
Protoman shook his head no, and felt something wet drip down on his shoulders. The hallway was suddenly bathed in light. He looked up, and it was all he could do to not scream. Copy X, or what was left of him, was hung by a large hook. Protoman looked down to see what he'd stepped on. Megaman Zero gasped in horror. Protoman swallowed, moving his boot to see what was left of what was once a kidney. It took him a second to realize where that kidney had come from. He suddenly took off back around the corner and muffled retching reached Megaman Zero's ears. He was too busy staring ahead to give much notice. Beyond the body of Copy X, were other bodies, some of which Megaman Zero knew well. Protoman joined him again, and gasped.
"That's Dr. Light, and there's Willy!" He pointed them out.
"Cerveau, he got Cerveau, and Copy X. There's Cyber Elf X, and Dr. Weil. This guy is sadistic." Megaman Zero replied.
"Megaman?" Protoman ran up to the hanging form of Megaman, whose optics turned on.
"Protoman… get out… before he… gets you…" Megaman looked down at Protoman.
"You died! How?" Protoman asked.
"Dark X… He's corrupted… time… Couldn't stop him…" came the pained reply.
"I'm getting you down!" Protoman searched for a weapon, and raised his buster.
"no… just go… too late… for me…" Megaman seemed to sag against the hook nearly cutting his body in half.
"But I don't want to lose you again!" Protoman charged his buster and fired, cutting the rope which caused Megaman to crash to the floor. Megaman Zero winced at the noise. A cough sounded behind him and he turned to see Cyber Elf X moving.
"X?" He asked.
"Time… corrupted… not much time left…" Cyber Elf X gasped sharply, "The pure… core."
"Simple English, please." Megaman zero sighed, "please?"
"Take the pure… to the core…" Cyber Elf X deadpanned, his hands on the hook. He gave a violent twist, ripping himself free of the torture device, "Give me… a minute… already dead…"
"Was that so hard?" Megaman Zero asked.
"Megaman Zero, He needs medical attention!" Protoman called.
"I'll take him." Painfully, Cyber Elf X half crawled, half dragged himself toward Megaman, "Shut down the… core!" they vanished in a shower of light.
"Let's go." Megaman Zero took the lead again. They crept into another room that Megaman Zero recognized as a control room. He walked over to the row of computers and logged in quickly. Using secret passwords that he'd memorized, he hacked into the mainframe. A few minutes later, he logged out.
"It's been done, now we need to hit the core. This way." Megaman Zero walked over to an elevator and stepped onto it.
"Mind telling me what you just did?" Protoman joined him.
"I deleted the X Joe program, and made sure Dark X wouldn't find any other programs to corrupt." the elevator dinged loudly, and the doors screamed open, "Now I remember why I hated this place!" Megaman Zero stepped off the elevator and walked into a dark figure.
"oh crap." Protoman groaned, joining him, "Discovered."
"Calm down." Megaman Zero pushed the figure aside, "it's not real."
"It's not? Man this guy is crazy." Protoman followed Megaman Zero into another room where a blue glowing cylinder stood, "Is that the Core?"
"Yes." Megaman Zero walked up to it, and pulled out the Pure. They watched as the light changed from dark blue to nearly white. "Now we go."
"I think not." Dark X strode toward them.
"I think yes! Megaman Zero, teleport!" Protoman held onto Megaman Zero's arm.
"On it!" Megaman Zero focused, and the world blurred. They appeared on the ledge they started from. The Hunters were taking out the last of the X Joes. Something huge swooped over their heads, raining down lightening that took out huge swaths of X Joes. Megaman Zero tensed in recognition of the figure. Seraph X. Also in the air was a smaller black bat like figure and an even smaller white figure.
"It's X, Zero, and Axl. They are back." Protoman whispered, "I'm going to medical bay to see my brother."
Megaman Zero nodded absently, watching his past self swoop down like a massive bird of prey to take out an unlucky X Joe that happened to pop up to take a shot at X. X on the other hand banked a left to escape a stray buster shot. Axl was having fun picking off X Joe after X Joe with his crossbow. Zero yelped, nearly getting an arrow in the backside as he dove to take out the same X Joe Axl targeted. Unfortunately for them, X came in low to take out the same X Joe. The X Joe saw the three coming and apparently decided that suicide was the better way to go as it blew itself up. X couldn't pull out of his dive fast enough and took the brunt of the explosion while Zero back winged in a vain attempt to avoid slamming into X. Axl covered his eyes, not wanting to watch the inevitable collision, yet he peeked through his fingers to watch anyway. Zero managed to slow his speed enough to miss slamming into X head on, but he clipped X's left side hard, sending the Seraph into a steep spinning nose dive. X was too close to the ground to pull out of the dive. He snapped open all three pairs of wings in an attempt to slow his speed, but he was falling too fast. Zero managed to right himself as he hovered, watching the unfolding crash in horror. X hit the ground hard, causing a small earthquake as he slid twenty feet forward. He didn't move right away. Cinnamon rushed over to him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Zero sped toward him, "Axl, stop laughing! I'm sorry!"
X glowed, reverting to stealth armor as he moved, wincing, "You're forgiven." He tried to rise, "Ow!"
"Careful, and hold still." Cinnamon ordered, "I can't do much about the bruising, so you are going to look like hell for a few weeks. Take it slow."
"I didn't mean to crash into you!" Zero started, "I couldn't stop myself! Axl, if you are still laughing, I'm going to hurt you! I was going too fast!"
"Zero, calm down. It was an accident. You are forgiven." X rose with Cinnamon's help.
"You sure?" Zero asked.
"Yes, and I might join you in hurting Axl." X added, smiling, "I think that's the last of them."
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The next morning, X nearly didn't recognize himself in his mirror. Both eyes were black and his left one was nearly swelled shut. Deep angry bruises covered most of his face. Much of his left arm was bruised and his left hand was swollen. Heck, half his body was covered in a patchwork of blues, purples, reds, blacks, and greenish hues. His door opened as Alia came in and gasped.
"X, what did Zero do to you?" she asked, "You look terrible!"
"Actually, I suffered a crash landing yesterday. I'm fine, albeit a bit sore." X replied, "I know, I look like hell."
"You should be resting. Let me get you some ice." Alia said, "Let me take care of you."
"Really, I'm fine." X told her, as he allowed her to guide him back to his bed. He knew she was right that he needed to take a day to rest. A few minutes later, Alia left and returned with some ice.
"Medic is going to come by to check on you." She said, "I told Signus I'm taking today off." Alia laid a cold washcloth against X's left eye and carefully laid a few ice cubes on top of it, "You rest. I'm yours for the day." she smiled.
"Of course, love. Anything for you." X put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. Alia couldn't help but sigh in pleasure. This was where she wanted to be, in the arms of the one she loved. There was a knock and X called a come in. the door opened to reveal Medic with Zero. They were both dressed in regular cloths instead of their usual Kevlar suits. Medic wore black jeans with a form hugging white t shirt with a red cross on the front. Zero was wearing black jeans with a red and black long sleeved t shirt. They were both wearing white tennis shoes.
"Hey you two." Medic walked into the room, "X, you look like hell, no offense. Let me see that eye."
"None taken." X let her check his left eye which by now was swelled shut.
"Remember, Medic, no Healing Touch." Zero reminded, closing the door behind him and drawing up two chairs. He sat in one of the chairs, "We don't know how it will affect the baby."
"What?" Alia sat up quickly, "Medic?"
"Zero! I thought we decided to wait until after this mess blew over!" Medic turned to him, "I'm sure she'll be fine. I don't think it affects her in any way."
"Guys, got something to tell us?" X asked.
"Might as well tell them now." Zero couldn't help but blush.
"You two are not allowed to tell anyone else. So far, only Gate, Cinnamon, and Dad know. We are trying to keep it quiet until after this mess blows over. It's true. I'm pregnant. Zero and I are going to be parents in about seven months." Medic explained, "What ever you do, do not tell anyone, not even Axl or Palette."
"Don't tell us what?" Axl asked walking in then with Palette on his arm. They were both dressed in regular cloths. Axl wore blue jeans with a black t-shirt. He was wearing black boots that added three inches to his height, making him level with Palette, who was wearing a light blue jean skirt with a white blouse and flat white shoes.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Zero blew it by whistling innocently.
"What is with him? X, you look like somebody ran you over with ride armor, no wait, make that parked on top of you." Axl claimed the other chair. Palette pulled up another chair.
"That did happen once." Zero remembered, "You did that, Axl."
"What? I was learning to drive a ride armor!" Axl protested, "X said walk forward three paces and park, so I did!"
"You walked forward five paces instead of three and shut down the ride armor instead of parking. There is a difference between park and shut down." X recalled, "I was sore for a week after that."
"And you wonder why Signus won't give you your license." Zero added.
"Seriously, what did you mean by nothing at all?" Palette asked.
"just that, nothing at all." Zero replied a little too quickly.
"You might as well tell them now and get it over with." Alia chuckled.
"Tell us what?" Axl asked.
"Medic's pregnant." Zero answered.
"Really?" Palette asked, "that's the big secret?"
Axl let out a wolf whistle, "Zero, have you been busy."
Unknown to them, they were being watched by a certain invisible blue Cyber Elf, who sighed. He didn't want to break their moment with his news. Another soft sigh escaped his lips. He'd wait, let them enjoy their rare down time, then tell them his news.
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Queen Sunstar: I know, I'm late by three weeks. Life threw me a lemon called Appendicitis. My appendix ruptured before it was removed, landing me two days in the hospital. Then, I got rushed back in by ambulance because I couldn't breathe, or talk. They had to call animal control on my cat because he wouldn't let them get near me. He bit one of the EMTs in the hand. Thankfully, he didn't draw blood, and my cousin responded to the animal control call. My cat is back with me. He was only trying to protect me. I am much better now and I don't ever want to go through pain like that again. Anyhow, next update is Thursday as usual. No cliffhangers this time. See ya!
Zero: leave reviews, lots of reviews, please! Oh, and insert hideously long and boring disclaimer here. Amerella owns Dark X, used here with her permission.