Cyber Elf X watched, and remembered. He could feel the pain of the bruises on his past self's body. In his hands, he held the faintly glowing orb that was the Pure, and also his Cyber Elf form. He knew that his news was going to end their rare happy moment.
"So, you two know what you are having yet?" Alia asked.
"We're hoping for human." Zero joked as Medic swatted him.
"That's not what I meant!" Alia laughed, "Do you know if you are having a boy or girl yet?"
"In that case, a girl." Zero laughed, "I was hoping for a son though!"
"You might get your wish after this one." Medic smiled.
"Really?" Zero turned to her.
"I'm pretty sure our daughter is going to want a little brother." Medic said.
Cyber Elf X felt a pain in his heart as he listened. He knew what was coming and this was one of those times when he wished he didn't know. Finally, he started to materialize.
"Are you a ghost? Why do you look like X?" Axl was the first to see the Cyber Elf as he appeared, "Megaman Zero was carrying that thing in your arms last I saw him!"
"I am Cyber Elf X, and I'm from the same future as Megaman Zero. Yes, he was carrying the Pure, but in truth it belongs to me. It is also my alter form, which I'm going to have to assume in order to buy more time. As you can see, it is damaged. I am going to show you what happened…"
22XX, Castle Light Throne Room
Cyber Elf X watched with detached amusement as Fefnir and Harpuia bickered among themselves over who was going to go investigate the latest Maverick sighting while unknown to them, Zero had already left with Phantom to check it out. Down by X's feet, Alouette played with her doll. Harpuia finally realized that Zero and Phantom were both gone and this led to a shouting match between him and Fefnir. X was about to intervene when Zero and Phantom returned. Phantom put himself between Harpuia and Fefnir, which resulted in him getting hit with their weapons. They both froze and seconds later, ran for their lives with Phantom right behind them. Alouette looked up from her doll and ran to Zero.
"Daddy!" the girl about threw herself into Zero's waiting arms.
"Well?" X asked.
"It was a Parasite, and it just had to merge with a Metool, but not to worry. Phantom and I took it out. What's left of it is being examined by Ceil in the labs. I hate parasites, especially when they merge with a Metool. Metools are hard enough as it is to take out, but one fused with a parasite?" Zero complained, "Why of all things, a Metool?"
A small explosion followed by a high pitched scream came from somewhere above them. Zero tensed.
"That would be Phantom going after Fefnir and Harpuia." X said, "hold on." There was a second explosion followed by another high pitched scream, "Now you may go check on them."
Zero left, still holding Alouette. X rose and walked over to a window. Below him, Neo Arcadia stretched out to meet the sky. He could see humans and Reploids alike walking together. It was peaceful. X sighed in peace.
The sky went black as red lights shot to the ground. Chunks of melted earth and vaporized buildings rained down as panicked humans and Reploids ran for cover. Alarms rang over the city. Zero raced to the Lab and handed Ceil Alouette before racing off for the Armory. X walked in as Zero zipped up his Kevlar jacket and picked up his helmet. Harpuia and Fefnir weren't talking to each other as they slipped into their armor. Leviathan came in trailing behind Phantom. X slipped out of his robes to reveal the armor he wore underneath it. Helmets clicked into place as X checked everybody's armor before they headed out.
"Status report!" X ordered, approaching a captain in purple and blue armor.
"They're everywhere, Sire." the captain reported, "We've got massive casualties down by D Street and those red lights have nearly wasted much of Lower Neo Arcadia!"
"Do your best! Harpuia, get into the air! I want you to provide air support! Fefnir, Leviathan, go help the evacuation efforts. Zero, Phantom, you are with me. Let's go!" X ordered.
"Yes sire!" Zero and the guardians broke into teams. X took the lead as they reached the street. Phantom suddenly yanked X back into the ally. A flash of red hit inches in front of them.
"Too close for comfort!" Phantom cried, "Look! The clouds are opening up!"
"What is that thing?" Zero asked.
Something huge floated over the city. Red lights flashed down to the earth every so often. It looked like a giant ship painted dark gray. X screamed in rage and was gone before Zero or Phantom could react. Phantom pointed up at a black and red object standing on the huge ship. Zero stared at the ship as if mesmerized by it.
X shifted to Seraph form and let lose a peal of lightening at the ship. It bounced off and it was all X could do to avoid being hit by his own attack. He got closer to see who the object was.
"Dark X!" X landed, shifting back to his normal armor as he landed on top of the ship.
"So good of you to come." Dark X turned, "Unfortunately, I have to retire you!" Dark X changed to his own seraph form. His form was identical to X's form except the wings were leathery instead of having white feathers. X quickly shifted back to Seraph to avoid the blood soaked claws passing inches by his face.
"Why are you here?" the two Seraphs circled each other like massive birds of prey.
"I am here, to devour you!" Dark X swiped at X, this time leaving bloody gashes running down X's seraph body. X shuddered in shock before turning and lashing out at his dark self. Dark X easily parried the white claws with his own. He snapped a claw into two amid X's scream of pain. Blood coursed down X's arm. Again, the Seraphs broke apart and circled each other.
"No! I've got friends who will never let me fall into the darkness!" X screamed, "Enough!"
"Are you sure?" Dark X grinned.
X raised both arms, "I am 100 percent sure!" He fired both of his busters at Dark X. The black Seraph raised an arm and sent the attack back at X. It did damage to X's left wing on the top.
"I have to stop him!" X glowed, reverting to Cyber Elf form. He continued to glow. The light died down to reveal X still in cyber elf form only with his seraph wings. The damage he had sustained was still there albeit slightly healed from the armor change. He narrowed his eyes.
"You don't scare me." Dark X hissed.
"I should." X raised a hand and his rainbow antennae flared. The rainbow light traveled down his arm and formed a rainbow colored buster, "Cyber buster!" Rainbow colored lethal bullets of plasma rained down on Dark X, damaging him slightly.
"Is that all you can do?" Dark X asked, "Cause I can do it better!"
X didn't give him time to change. The rainbow light shifted from a buster to a sword. X charged, using a diagonal slice that drove Dark X backward. Dark X managed to shift to Cyber Elf form and land on top of the ship. Below, the Guardians and Zero fought their way toward the huge monstrosity. X glanced down, catching Zero's dark blue gaze as it turned into one of pure horror. X spun as the blast connected, throwing him into freefall. X opened his wings and found that they were too damaged to support him. Harpuia raced toward him. X turned to see Dark X coming for another blow.
"Harpuia! No! don't engage him! He's too strong for you!" X screamed, already shifting forms to his rainbow colored Pure form, which would save him from becoming a stain on the ground below.
"But Master X!" Harpuia looked like he might refuse the order, but he pulled back. Dark X shot by them, dark energy charging in his hands. X shot after him and managed to pass him. Zero bit back a scream, saber out and body tensed for a fight he knew was coming. Dark X released the dark energy at him. Zero stared at the wave of blackness rushing toward him. His body went numb as his mind screamed at him to run. Suddenly, there was light, glorious pale rainbow light.
"Zero? I'm here. Alouette is worried about you."
"Daddy? Why Daddy sleep?"
"I don't know, sweetie."
Zero wrenched open his eyes as he turned his head, which quickly proved to be a bad idea as his head was throbbing, to see Ceil holding Alouette on her lap.
"Oh good, you are awake." Ceil said, "You were quite close to that explosion."
"Where am I?" Zero asked, "My head is pounding. What happened?"
"Daddy got hurt." Alouette said, "Doctor make Daddy all better."
"That is right, Alouette. I hear that Auntie Levi is planning another raid on the cookie jar." Ceil said.
"Not without me!" Alouette scrambled to the ground and ran as fast as her little legs could carry her out of the infirmary.
"Levi is raiding the cookie jar?" Zero arched an eyebrow and winced as the motion sent waves of pain through his skull.
"I had her wait right outside for Alouette. You've been out for almost three days. You have a concussion from hitting the ground so hard, and you were cut up pretty badly." Ceil explained.
"That explains the pounding headache. Where is X?" Zero asked, "And the guardians?"
"Fefnir is fine save for a few scrapes, Levi is fine, Phantom is okay save for a cut above his eye, and Harpuia suffered a broken arm and a few busted ribs from crash landing. He'll be fine. It's X we are worried about. His Pure form got damaged and we think he is unconscious. Mother Elf is on her way." Ceil explained, "Need anything for pain?"
"I want to see X." Zero started to sit up but his headache wouldn't have it, "I could use a pain pill." With Ceil's help, Zero managed to sit up enough to swallow a couple of Advil. Within fifteen minutes, his headache dulled to a minor ache. With Ceil's help again, (bless that woman!) he managed to stand on his own two feet but he had to lean against her for support as she guided him to a table where X lay in Pure form. Normally bright, very little light shone from within X. a slivery blue spire and part of a rainbow figure eight was gone. Cracks covered much of the Pure form.
"And just what do you think you are doing out of bed? You have a concussion!" a very familiar voice scolded, "What do you have to say for yourself, hero?"
Zero turned, "I had to see X."
"Get that backside back into that bed now!" Mother Elf fumed, practically picking Zero up and putting him back into his bed. Zero felt the blankets tuck themselves in around him, "I tell you, people these days!"
"Mother Elf." Ceil greeted, "I know, I should have made him stay in bed."
"With Zero back in bed where he belongs, let me tend to X." Mother Elf hovered around the form of X, "He is unconscious. I've never heard or seen damage on an Elf form before. This isn't good. X is like me. You could say he is Father Elf. What did this to him?"
"Dark X did." Ceil explained.
Maverick Hunters HQ, X's Quarters
"The Pure was badly damaged and I'm running out of time. Each day, I grow weaker and It becomes harder for me to maintain corporeal form. If I fall, Dark X wins. I don't have a lot of time. I have a few weeks left at most." The Cyber Elf closed his eyes, "the next piece of Pure is calling me. I see fire."
"That means that the next Stardroid is a fire user." Zero said.
"It would help to know more about our enemy." X replied, "We know their names, and the only thing that seems to hurt them is a double shot by me in Seraph form."
"I just remembered something. Back when Protoman, Eagle, and I went on that mission and had to fight Sunstar, I tried your Ultimate Armor but that didn't hurt him any so I shifted to Zero and used his Absolute Armor. Sunstar sure didn't like those claws." Axl said.
"Absolute Armor?" Palette, Alia, and Medic shared confused looks matched by that of Cyber Elf X, who was confused for a different reason.
"You are saying that my, ah, oh to heck with it, the seraph armor isn't the only thing that can cause damage to the Stardroids?" Cyber Elf X asked, "Zero, let me see this Armor, if you don't mind."
"Of course. Axl, Cyber Elf X, and ladies, you may want to stand back." Zero closed his eyes as he shifted to Absolute Armor. Nothing happened, and Zero blushed, "I forgot, I need to be wearing my armor before I can shift armor."
"In that case, go armor up and I'll meet you in the training room." Cyber Elf X replied.
"I'm coming too! I want to see this!" Palette and Alia both stood.
"Me too." Axl joined them.
"I'll come too, but I don't want to leave X alone with his injuries." Medic said, "Normally, I'd have him in Medical Bay with this kind of bruising, but it is overcrowded."
"I'm fine. It's just a few bruises." X objected.
Medic shot him a sour look. There was a knock at the door and X called a greeting and gave permission to enter. Everybody was surprised to see Signus.
"What? I can't drop in on my hunters to see how they are doing?" Signus asked.
"You came at a good time. We were just about to head out to see Zero in Absolute Armor in the training room. Now Medic can come with us, that is if you don't mind staying with X until we get back." Alia said.
"Why would I need to stay with X?" Signus asked. Medic explained the situation to Signus, "Really? Okay, I can stay. Don't take too long. I have a meeting with the powers that be over this recent mess in 45 minutes." Signus watched them leave, "I saw your crash landing the other day."
"It's not Zero's fault. I wasn't paying attention." X smiled, "I lost myself in taking out those X Joes."
Zero stood in the center of the training room fully armored. He closed his eyes and focused on the Absolute Armor. When changing armors like this, you never knew which part was going to form first. The first part Zero felt was his hair pulling free of his ponytail holder as his helmet suddenly sprouted black wings resembling those of a bat. Next came the sound of sloshing liquid as his bones turned hollow by liquefying their insides. Zero had the strange sensation of something moving up his back as his backbone reconfigured itself to accept the new bones growing from it. Zero couldn't help but wince at the sudden rip as his skin parted to make way for his rapidly growing wings. By now, his helmet and regular red armor turned itself black. His body finished altering itself as the last of his armor turned black. The last thing to change was his hands. Zero happened to reach up to scratch an itch behind his ear just as his claws sprouted causing him to scratch himself. Medic was by his side in an instant, checking over the injury. She healed it up with her healing touch, but the scar would remain.
"So this is Absolute Zero." Palette said,
Cyber Elf X walked around Zero as he studied him from every possible angle. He raised a hand in which his rainbow antennae flowed down to form what looked like a scanner. Rainbow light ran itself over Zero's body as the Cyber Elf's eyes glowed.
"Interesting." Cyber Elf X mused, "The Seraph Armor was given to me during the Eurasia incident. When did you get the Absolute Armor?"
"I got it during the Giga City Revolution. Colonel Redips, which by the way is Spider backwards, didn't like the claws." Zero answered, "It packs a powerful punch."
"I think I understand now. Zero, as soon as X is able, you two will need to locate the remains of Light Laboratories. There are, memories you two need to recall." Cyber Elf X faded from view.
"Wait! What are you talking about?" Zero asked helplessly as Megaman Zero appeared next to him.
"You'll get used to it." he said, "In fact, worry when he gives you a straight answer."
"Do I still have Absolute Armor in the future?" Zero asked.
"Yes, you do." Megaman Zero replied, "I mean, we do."
"He still hasn't moved from Megaman's side?" Roll asked softly, standing next to Bass as she watched her older brother.
"Nope, not even once. I hate to say this, but I'm getting worried." Bass replied, "He hasn't slept or eaten anything in nearly 24 hours."
"I wish I knew why he is taking it so hard. Lifesaver said Megaman would recover but it would take a while." Roll sighed.
"Protoman feels guilty." Bass turned to her, "All Light asks of him is to keep his little brother safe. We all felt Megaman die. I can only imagine how bad that hurt Protoman. He basically failed his directive. Now he has Megaman back and he is going to literally mother hen the guy when he wakes up. Roll, when we go back after finally catching Sunstar, We go back to a world without Megaman."
"Why wouldn't Megaman return with us?" Roll asked.
"I've done some research. Dark X has corrupted Time itself. This was started by Sunstar when he and the Stardroids escaped to this time. Protoman, you need to go get some sleep and get some food into yourself. I promise, I'll stay right here with him. I'll even send Roll to get you if he wakes up. You are killing yourself by not taking care of yourself." Bass intervened.
"I'm not leaving." Protoman's voice was dead of emotion.
"You are going to leave and take care of yourself now." Roll's eyes flashed.
"I said no, I'm not leaving." Protoman repeated.
"Time for some drastic measures." Bass signaled Lifesaver over, "Knock him out."
"With pleasure." Lifesaver said as he crept up behind Protoman with a needle. A quick jab and Protoman folded in on himself as Lifesaver caught him, "I've had to do this with Zero a few times." the Doctor carried the now sleeping Protoman to an empty bed and left him there, "the shot will wear off in fifteen minutes, but he'll sleep longer then that."
"Really?" Bass asked.
"Well, a few years ago, months before the Giga City Revolution, X and Zero went on a mission that was top secret. Days later, Medic and I received word of a possible casualty in the field. We were rushed to the scene and it was X who was hurt badly. Zero was nearly incoherent over what had happened. X suffered major damage to his body and all that was left was his head, torso, part of his left leg, and a part of his right arm. Medic and I knew it would take a miracle to come back from that kind of damage. Total damage to his body was 89 percent. We had to knock X out because it was clear that he was in massive agony. Zero refused to leave his side. Axl had to drag him out of here every few hours to eat. We couldn't salvage much of X's body so in the end, we practically had to rebuild him. X was kept in a coma for three months while Medic and I worked. The day X woke up was a miracle in itself. He remembered everyone which was another miracle. X is a fighter and so is Megaman from what you told me. He should make a full recovery over time." Lifesaver replied.
"Lifesaver! Report to X's quarters now!" Signuses voice roared over the com and Lifesaver went to take off.
"Nature of medical emergency?" Lifesaver asked.
"I don't know!"
Describe what happened then, Signus!"
"We were talking and X sort of blacked out. I can't wake him up!" Signus screamed, worry and fear evident in his voice, "he's bruised badly by the way!"
"On my way!" Lifesaver grabbed his black medical bag and took off.
Signus stared down the door as if he could will it to open and reveal Lifesaver. It opened to reveal Medic with Zero, Alia, Axl, and Palette instead.
"Signus, what is wrong?" Medic asked, "Guys, stay out here. I need room to work."
Signus explained and Medic paled. She joined him and lifted X's shirt.
"I'm sorry, Signus! I didn't even think to check his other bruises! This is my fault! I'm a doctor and I didn't even think!" Medic cried out, "I see signs of internal bleeding right here!"
"Can't you do anything?" Signus asked, barely managing to keep a few choice words from popping out.
"You called Lifesaver, right? I can't do anything until I get inside to see the damage!" Medic replied.
Lifesaver rushed into the room, ripping open his bag as he did.
"Oh good, Medic you are here. We've got no choice. We have to get in and stop the bleeding now!" Lifesaver screamed, "Healing touch, now!"
"On it!" Medic replied.
Lifesaver was already making the cut. Signus chose to leave and closed the door. It was then he realized he was over 20 minutes late to his meeting and took off running for the meeting room. Inside the room, the bruise erupted in a violent spray of ruby blood as Lifesaver cut into it. He grabbed gauze pads to soak up the blood flow while Medic reached in to find and stop the bleeding. They were both already covered as was the sheets, floor, wall, bed, and X.
Outside the room, Zero muttered a few choice words in German as he paced. Alia and Palette were huddled together on the floor, Palette trying to keep Alia calm. Axl stared brokenly at the door, wincing as he heard Zero give a tongue lashing that was half in German and half in English to a group of rookies that got too curious.
"Jeez, Zero! Calm down!" Axl replied in perfect German.
"Calm down? Calm down? How can I be calm when Signus calls Lifesaver and the last we hear is internal bleeding?" Zero shot back in perfect German.
"Um, would you two mind using English?" Palette asked.
"Sorry, but he started it." Axl said.
"I started it? Erzähl mir nicht solche Scheiße!" Zero spat.
"Bleib ruhig!" Axl commanded.
"English?" Alia tried.
"You don't want to know." Axl replied.
Zero looked like he was trying to calm down but he wasn't having an easy time of it. Medic came out of the room looking miserable. Her cloths were saturated in blood and it had dried, making her cloths stiff. Zero instantly went to her.
"X will be fine but we are going to move him to medical bay to be safe." She explained, "We got to the bleeding in time."
"Are you okay, love?" Zero asked concernedly.
"I don't know. The baby is fine, I'm not so sure about myself." Medic whispered, "My negligence nearly killed X."
"No, don't do this to yourself. You couldn't have known." Zero pulled her into an embrace, not caring that X's blood was getting onto himself, "I doubt anybody could have known."
"I'm a doctor. I should have seen the signs. There is no excuse for what I did." Medic looked up into the deep blue eyes of the one she loved, "I'm in trouble and Signus knows it. He has no choice but to report me to the higher ups. I'm going to our quarters to get cleaned up." Medic walked away. Zero followed her wordlessly.
"That is love right there. He knows she doesn't want to be alone without being told." Alia said softly.
"Their love is beautiful." Palette added, "I hope Axl and I get to be like that someday."
"I agree." Alia said, silently wondering if X would even live that long. She quickly shoved the thought away. Why was she thinking like this? Finally, Lifesaver left the room.
"You can go back in now, but I'll be moving him to medical bay soon." Lifesaver said, "Thankfully, we got to it in time. He'll be fine in a few days."
A knock at the door caught Zero's attention. It was night, and X was doing fine. He had already woken up but Lifesaver was keeping him in Medical Bay for a few days just to be safe. Zero opened the door to find Eagle with three other hunters Zero didn't recognize.
"Zero, don't fight it." Eagle said, "I'm here to place Medic under arrest."
"What? What did she do? Why? I can vouch for her!" Zero sputtered as Medic stepped into the hallway.
"Zero, it's okay." Medic quietly let Eagle handcuff her.
"It's not okay! I want answers now!" Zero screamed.
"Medic, do you understand the charges against you?" Eagle asked.
"Yes, I do." Medic answered, "Zero, please. Don't make this harder then it is."
"I would like to know what is going on!" Zero snapped.
"Medic is under arrest for two counts of negligence regarding the health of the Supreme Commander of the Maverick Hunters." Eagle replied.
"Zero, please. Don't fight it." Medic pleaded, "Just let me handle this."
"But Medic!" Zero protested, knowing there was nothing he could do. A thought entered his mind and he let Eagle take Medic away before running off to Medical Bay. He hoped X would be awake. He was in luck.
"Eagle just arrested my wife!" Zero cried out, "Can't you do anything on your end?"
"I wish I could, Zero." X replied, "The higher ups want her to answer for her mistakes. This is not my doing. I am not pressing charges against her. I didn't realize anything was wrong right up until I suddenly blacked out. I don't think anyone could have recognized something was wrong with me. I will however, do everything in my power to get her a light sentence if the higher ups decide she should be punished. I am powerless here. My job is to lead the Hunters, nothing more."
"Okay, what can I do?" Zero asked.
"There is nothing you can do." X replied, "By the way, have you figured out anymore clues about the Stardroids?"
"I'm still working on that. This is Axl's thing, hitting the books, not my thing. Even your future self isn't talking." Zero replied, "I have determined a few things. Sunstar is a user of Light power. He can bend light to his will and is supposed to be the embodiment of sunlight. Mercury is a user of Ice. Venus is a user of love, Terra is a user of earth, and Mars is a user of fire. We know that Neptune is a user of water. Other then that, nothing. I'm still digging."
Five days later, a fully recovered X joined Zero in the courtroom. He had used some of his influence to make sure the trial was private. Medic sat up front next to Signus. In front of them, their lawyers prepared as Judge, an imposing figure wrapped in black robes, watched. He then transformed his left hand into a gravel and brought order.
"Name the crime." Judge ordered.
"Medical Negligence, your honor." one of the lawyers, a female Reploid named Fenda, replied.
"Name of defendant?" Judge asked.
"Medic, Wife of Sub Commander Zero, daughter of Lifesaver, niece of Douglas." Fenda replied.
"Medic, how do you plead?" Judge asked.
"Guilty, your honor." Medic said.
Zero would have charged down to Medic if X hadn't grabbed him and forced him to calm down.
"State the evidence." Judge turned to the other lawyer, a male Reploid named Lodi, who stood.
"Exhibit A." Lodi tapped a screen and this time it was Zero holding X back as a large picture of X, showing his upper body and head, came up, "I would like to call Supreme Commander Megaman X Light to the stand."
X stood and walked down to the stand, clearly fuming about the picture.
"Do you, Supreme Commander Megaman X Light swear to tell the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you Light?" Judge asked.
"I swear." X took his place. Zero quietly crossed his fingers, having recognized the glint in X's eyes. He actually felt sorry for Lodi who was going to have to deal with it.
"In your words, describe how you came to get bruised." Lodi said.
"I crash landed." X replied.
"Elaborate." Lodi ordered.
"I crash landed a few blocks from HQ." X replied.
Lodi stewed, "Were you flying under your own power?"
"No, I was in an airplane. Yes I was under my own power!" X glared at Lodi.
"What caused you to crash land?" Lodi looked triumphant.
"A stupid mistake." X replied.
"Elaborate!" Lodi managed to choke out.
"I made a mistake that led to my crash landing." X said.
"Would you stop being so difficult?" Lodi exploded.
"Lodi! Approach the desk, now!" Judge ordered.
"Yes, sir." Lodi came to the desk, "He's being difficult on purpose!"
"Lodi, there will be no yelling at the witnesses. You will control yourself in this courtroom or else I'll have you thrown out along with this case. Understand?" Judge asked.
"Yes, sir. Can you please tell X to stop being difficult?" Lodi asked hopefully.
"I can't. X has the right to answer questions as he sees fit." Judge said.
Lodi chose not to answer as he resumed questioning X. He gave up after ten more minutes of suffering at X's hands. It was Fenda's turn.
"Did you know anything was wrong the night you bled internally?" Fenda asked.
"I didn't suspect a thing." X replied.
This went on for a while until the alarms screamed a warning. Zero and X raced to the Command Center where Axl was waiting, left foot tapping.
"We've got Mars's signal!" Signus didn't even look up as he leaned over Alia's shoulder, "It's coming from the smelting factory. X, you know what to do. Axl, Zero, back him up. Good luck and god speed."
"Yes sir!" All three hunters took off for the garage where their hover cycles were waiting. X was in his stealth armor which matched his cycle. They took off, barely giving Douglas enough time to get the garage doors up and get out of the way. They hit the streets.
"Race you!" Zero took off.
"You're on!" X passed him easily.
"Don't forget me!" Axl smirked, passing both of them.
"Not going to happen!" Zero picked up speed, passing both X and pulling up with Axl.
"What to do… I know! Enjoy the dust!" X shot well past both of them, "try catching up to me now!"
All too soon, they reached the brick factory. X and Axl both parked. Zero merely picked up speed. He leapt off his cycle moments before it crashed, creating an opening.
"First a hover cycle, now it is an instant door maker 3000!" Zero joked.
"You do realize that Douglas is going to kill you, right?" Axl asked, "That is cycle number 4 you've destroyed."
"I can handle Douglas. No one can resist the famous Zero charm." Zero joked back.
Meanwhile, X crept to the opening, buster out and charging. He slipped into the building. Before Zero or Axl could move to follow, they heard him scream, and the opening closed up.
"Hey!" Axl pounded on the now sealed opening in frustration.
"Move out of the way, Axl. I'll get us back in." Zero gunned the engine on Axl's cycle.
"ZERO! DON'T YOU EVEN DARE!" Axl ran at him, "DOUGLAS REALLY WILL KILL ME! THAT'S MY NINTH CYCLE!"
"And don't even think about using mine!" X activated his com, "I can handle this. I tripped over a Metool which is why I screamed. Since when do they put lava inside a factory?"
"Since it is guarded by a fire type." Zero replied, "What do you want us to do?"
"Head back to HQ. I can teleport out of here if it gets too rough. If I so much as find even one scratch on my cycle, I promise, I'll hunt you down and give you a military cut." X answered.
"You wouldn't dare!" Zero cried out.
"He would dare." Axl said.
"Who's asking you?" Zero snapped.
"You know I would dare. I'll make it a buzz cut, or better yet, how about a Mohawk?" X asked as he walked deeper into the factory.
"Hold on while I think of a snappy comeback!" Zero and Axl climbed back onto the hover cycles, "We'll follow you from the screen. I know! If you do cut my hair, I'll become your navigator!"
"His answer was X laughing out loud. He and Axl headed back toward HQ. X pressed on, descending deeper into the factory. He was starting to sweat, and his Kevlar suit was sticking to him.
"Jeez, Who's bright idea was it to put a volcano in the factory?" X muttered, taking out a few turrets that were spraying fire at him, "This is getting ridiculous." he shifted to seraph form, "Much better. Mars want's me to go to the heart of the volcano I see." X folded his wings and let himself fall.
Meanwhile, Zero and Axl joined Alia and Palette at the main screen as soon as they got back. Medic ran to Zero, her face triumphant.
"I'm in the clear. I have two weeks of probation, but I'm in the clear." She said, as Zero turned and hugged her.
"Let me guess, Lodi ran screaming out of the court room at the thought of questioning X further." Zero asked.
"Judge decided to end the case early after reviewing the evidence. I can't work or do anything regarding medicine and healing for two weeks." Medic explained.
"X watch it!" Alia screamed suddenly as on screen, X managed to avoid a lava shower from a pair of turrets by using double shot to take them out together.
"How much farther does he have to go?" Signus asked.
"You are doing good, X. You have 52 more levels to go." Alia said.
"That's roughly 1235 feet." Palette added.
"Thanks, ladies. Ack! I'm okay! Since when are there flaming Metools?" X responded as he dropped further into the volcano.
"X, get out of there! Lava geyser, you know who riding it!" Zero screamed.
With a powerful down stroke, X rose quickly, "I'm not going to make it!"
"X is at the 48th level, 95 ft per four levels, that's 1140 ft. X is passing through a level every minute, which means he needs 48 minutes to get out. Mars on his geyser is passing through a level every 30 seconds and he is at the 75th level. He'll need 37 minutes and 30 seconds to get out. Mars will overtake X on the 21 level." Palette rattled out, "Mars is traveling two levels per every level X travels. X starts at level 48 while Mars starts at level 75. When X reaches level 47, Mars will be at level 73. They'll keep going up until they meet at level 21. Impact is in 28 minutes."
"Now my head hurts." Axl complained.
"X, fly faster or else, I'll leave a scratch on your cycle!" Zero threatened.
"I'm flying as fast as I can!" X screamed back.
"X, calm down. You'll be out before Mars is out. Spread open all three pairs of wings." Eagle joined them, "Hover in place. The geyser is creating it's own updraft which will carry you well out of the volcano."
"This had better work!" X did as he was told. Soon, he was rising on the updraft created by the geyser, "Thanks for the save. I owe you one, Eagle."
"You're welcome." Eagle said, "While Palette did the math, Alia called me in."
X burst back out into the factory to see the geyser rolling back down the volcano. Mars flashed him an evil grin as he continued to rise out of the volcano.
"You took out Neptune. Can you take out me?" Mars asked.
"You want me to answer that? The answer is yes." X glared at his enemy as they landed on a platform. X reverted to Stealth armor. Before anyone could cry out a warning, Mars grabbed X by the neck. The room around them dissolved into a new room wreathed in flames. He tossed X aside.
"Alia? Come in, Alia!" X got no answer. Mars held up several wires.
"Mighty hunter is alone." He ticked off a wire, "Mighty hunter can't transform his armor." another wire was ticked off, "Mighty hunter can't use his buster." a third wire was ticked off, "What is the mighty hunter to do?"
"I can still fight!" X threw a right cross at Mars's neck and followed through with a roundhouse kick to the gut, "I'm not helpless!"
"And neither am I." a knife cut connected with X's jaw, "I still have my weapons!" a blast of flames drove X backwards.
X fought back, but he was nearly helpless. Mars kept him back with his flames which made it impossible for X to get close enough to land a few blows.
"We have got to help him!" Zero fumed.
"We can. Hand me your saber." Axl said.
"What?" Zero asked, left hand going for his saber in its sheath on his back.
"Not going to work. I can't get a fix on him." Alia replied.
"Then get a fix on Mars." Axl ordered.
"Why am I in the dark here?" Zero asked again.
"Think about it will you?" Axl snapped, "Hand me your saber. I'm going to teleport it to X along with one of my pistols."
"Smart." Zero figured out what Axl was getting at and tossed him his saber. Axl went over to Palette and accessed the computer next to her. He slid what looked like a miniature transportation pad out from below the computer and placed the two weapons on it.
"Sending coordinates to you, Axl." Alia replied.
"got them!" the transporter glowed and both the pistol and saber vanished to reappear above Mars. X saw them and jumped. He caught Axl's pistol, but Mars knocked the saber aside.
"How is that puny thing going to damage me?" Mars sneered as X opened fire.
X smirked, "never underestimate your foes." the bullets exploded, driving Mars backward, "Axl sent me more then just his pistol. Ever think about what it might fire?"
Mars finally looked down, "What trickery is this?" a thin layer of ice covered his feet and legs. His arms were frozen to his sides.
"A good navigator does more then just scream at me. Axl sent me freeze pellets, plus Zero's saber. If I'm right…" X walked over and picked up the saber. He lit it, "ah yes, the poison blade. I can't damage you directly, but I can turn your defense against you."
"But how? I took away your navigator!" Mars cried out as X lunged forward with the sword, leaving several dents behind.
"A navigator is not there by com, but also is able to watch me. Alia has hacked into the factory and is helping me in every way she can. Zero and Axl too. This is the poison blade, one of Zero's sabers. Axl sent me one of his pistols loaded with freeze pellets." the air above Mars cackled, revealing a second pistol which X leapt and caught, "And Axl has now sent me his paralysis bullets. Am I really that helpless?"
Mars scowled at his opponent, who returned the look with a determined one of his own. He lowered his shoulder mounted cannon at X.
"I can still do this, you fool!" Mars screamed
X tensed as Mars leveled his cannon at him. Mars fired, and X back flipped out of the way to return fire with a few shots of his own from the pistol Axl had jus sent him. They did no damage. Back at HQ, the battle was being watched by those in the Command Center. Zero's hands were clenched in fists. Axl stared at the screen wide eyed as X and Mars traded blows. Medic chewed her lip.
"Watch it!" Alia screamed suddenly as X barely managed to avoid a wave of fire rolling his way. Mars landed another tremendous blow, knocking X backward. The blue Reploid rose slowly, blood flowing freely from the gash across his chest. Mars struck again, sending X backward. X lay perfectly still as Mars approached him.
"You are pathetically weak!" Mars kicked him hard.
"You'd be surprised." X spat, unable to get out of the way of another viscous kick that left him coughing up blood, "If I go down, there are others who will fight!" Mars reached down and grabbed X by the head. X didn't struggle or make a sound. Instead, he quietly raised the poison blade and swung downward at Mars's chest. The sword bounced off harmlessly. That was the last HQ saw as the screen suddenly went white. Zero screamed.
"Looking for this?" somebody asked as Zero spun around. There was a crash as something fell to the ground at his feet.
"You!" Zero drew his Z-saber and lunged. Mars grinned, and faded. Signus screamed and dove to the ground as Zero's blade was stopped only by the wall where Signus had been moments before.
"You are fixing that!" Signus growled at the tall red Reploid, who was already turning from him.
"X? oh god, X! Medic!" Zero ran to X's side.
"Zero I can't! I'm on probation!" Medic cried out.
"Medic, tend to him now! I'll take the fall!" Signus ordered.
"But Signus!" Medic cried out.
"Medic!" Signus narrowed his eyes, "Lifesaver and Gate are not here. You are the only medical officer I have left at the moment. Cinnamon isn't here ether. You have to help X now!"
"Yes, sir." Medic knelt to examine X.
X didn't look good. Huge gashes exposed critical circuitry where damaged wires sparked as they twitched limply. His left arm ended in a mass of twitching wires. Fluids gushed from the many open wounds covering his body. His eyes were open, but they stared blankly ahead. Medic swallowed.
"Damage to critical systems, 83 percent, back up systems nonfunctional, Fluid loss is 70 percent and rising, damage to weapons systems 98 percent," Medic replied, "Fluid loss has reached critical, 75 percent and still rising, Main systems non responsive, damage to main systems incalculable. Total damage is 96 percent."
"Medic, can you save him?" Zero asked, fear in his eyes. Axl knelt next to him.
Medic closed her eyes, "I wish I could, Zero. I really wish I could. He's just too far gone to be saved."
"But, but Medic!" Zero cried out, fighting back a wave of tears.
"I'm sorry, Zero. X is not going to make it. He is just too badly damaged." Medic felt her heart break at the sight of Zero as his iron tough façade crumbled. Axl closed his eyes, his face streaked by tears. This was it then. The war was lost. Darkness had prevailed. Zero lifted his face to the ceiling and screamed, pouring his grief and rage out to the tiles above him. Alia crumbled, and sank to her knees next to X. Medic sat back.
"X, fight! Please, fight!" Alia cried out suddenly, "I know how easy it would be to let go, to give up, but please, fight! I am not ready to say good bye to you! I'm not ready to face a world where you are not there! I need you!"
"Al…ia…" X continued to stare ahead blankly. His speech slurred due to his damaged vocal synthesizer.
"X? Oh, X!" Alia cried, "Promise me you'll fight!"
"C… ca… can… can't… S… so… sor… sorry… Al…ia…" X managed to turn his head a bit toward Alia, his blank gaze seeing nothing.
"No! Don't leave me!" Alia screamed, her hand squeezing X's uninjured left hand tightly.
"Why won't you fight?" Zero screamed, "Medic, can't you do anything?"
"There is nothing I can do." Medic went to Zero's side, "Fluid loss at 92 percent and rising. He's going."
"Al…ia…" X's vocal synthesizer gave out, muting him.
"X!" Alia sobbed broken heartedly as she held his broken body, her head against his chest, not caring that his blood was getting on her. She felt his chest rise, and settle. She held her breath, willing X's chest to rise again, but it stayed still, "No! Come back! Don't do this to me!"
"He's gone." Medic whispered.
"This is it. We lost the war. It's over. They won." Axl looked away.
Heads bowed left and right. Megaman Zero ran into the room and screeched to a halt, his eyes wide as he took in X's broken body.
"Oh my god." was all he said.
"Cyber Elf X is gone!" Ceil joined him, and managed to bite back a cry of horror.
"That is why our X is gone. He never got the chance to become a Cyber Elf." Megaman Zero replied sadly.
"Mars, you are back!" Terra greeted his brother.
"I took out X, too." Mars said.
"Good work!" Jupiter came into the room.
At that moment, Sunstar stormed into the room, causing his younger brothers to shrink away from him. He was clearly very angry.
"MARS!" Sunstar screamed, "YOU KILLED HIM!"
"No, I didn't, Sunstar! I left him alive! I swear!" Mars protested.
"He's dead now!" Sunstar advanced on Mars, "He is dead because of you!"
"Sunstar, calm down. It can't be that bad." Terra tried. Sunstar shot him a death glare which Terra barely managed to dodge.
"How was I supposed to know he would die of his injuries? He was alive and being tended to when I left!" Mars explained carefully.
Sunstar closed his eyes and mentally counted to ten. When he opened his eyes, his voice was deadly calm, "I took out Megaman and Cyber Elf X. I said specifically to make sure X stays alive. With him dead, Master Dark X and Cyber Elf X never got the chance to be born. I can't believe I'm about to do this, but I will have to break in and try to revive him. If I can't revive him, Mars, it is on your head."
"I can lead a direct assault on their HQ and-" Mars saw Sunstar's look and wisely chose to shut up.
"He does have a good idea. If you suddenly show up in Sungod form asking to see X, they will get suspicious of you." Terra said.
"I still have to try." Sunstar thought, "Mars, you are going to lead the assault on HQ if I fail. I'll give you a signal by flapping my wings." Sunstar shifted forms to his Sungod form, "Wait here until I give the signal."
At that exact moment, Cyber Elf X walked into HQ and stopped, wondering why everybody was looking at him like they've seen a ghost. He glanced down to make sure he was fully corporeal, not transparent.
"What is with the looks?" Cyber Elf X asked, "It's as if you've seen a ghost."
"You died." Signus whispered.
"I died?" Cyber Elf X asked, "Of course I died, many years from now."
"No, you died about 30 minutes ago." Signus explained.
"I did?" Cyber Elf X thought, and paled, "You don't mean myself of your era, right?"
Signus only nodded.
"That's just wonderful. Wait a minute here. If I'm dead, which I already am dead, how am I still here? Wait, don't answer that. Where is my body?"
"Zero took you to the morgue." Signus said, "It's in the Medical bay."
"I know where that is." Cyber Elf X took off. He decided to teleport there and did so. Seconds later he walked into the Morgue.
"X? you died!" Zero blurted out.
"Where am I?" Cyber Elf X ignored him.
"You are in the Morgue." Medic answered.
"I know that! Where is my body?" the Cyber Elf let off a mental sigh.
"Right here. You sure you want to see it? You suffered a total of 96 percent damage." Medic rested a hand on the handle of the storage chamber.
"Let me see myself, please. I may be able to help myself." Cyber Elf X replied.
Medic pulled the drawer out to reveal the badly damaged corpse of X. Cyber Elf X nearly shrank back but forced himself forward to look. He was badly damaged. A quick scan confirmed what Medic had said.
"Medic, can you list the damage? At least give me an idea of what is damaged." the Cyber Elf asked.
"Mars did this to you. He cut off your communicator, your ability to shift armor, and your buster. Zero and Axl sent you their weapons." Medic started.
"They sent me the Poison Blade and both of Axl's pistols loaded with freeze and paralysis pellets. Sorry, go on." Cyber Elf X nodded.
"your vocal synthesizer was damaged, and you couldn't see. The damage to your main systems is what ended up killing you. I wish I could give you more details. Your back up systems were damaged, and that is all I can give you." Medic replied.
"This didn't happen. I defeated Mars, but barely." Cyber Elf X's eyes widened, "And I just realized something. I'm not from this reality, and nether is Megaman. We are from a different reality. I should be gone since I died before I was created."
"I'm confused." Zero said, "You are from the future, your reality. Somehow you got stuck here in the past, well, Present, which isn't your reality. Am I right?"
"I think the right term is I'm from another dimension, one that Dark X has already corrupted. That means that the Ragnarock isn't from this dimension. In my dimension, my past self is alive which is why I am still here. Megaman is from the same dimension I am from. Dark X probably has the X he was created from locked up somewhere to keep him safe." Cyber Elf X explained.
"So Dark X isn't from the future like we thought. If we find the X he was created from and destroy him, we would defeat him, right?" Zero asked.
"I wish it were that easy. Once that Dark X is defeated, who is to say that another Dark X will rise and try again? Plus, destroying that X would lead to the dimension they are from to collapse, which would lead to further trouble you wouldn't even begin to comprehend." Cyber Elf looked down at the ruin of what used to be X, "I think I know why Dark X is attacking your dimension. I'm going to come clean about this mess. I created Dark X, and he has hidden our past self somewhere."
"Wait. I'm going to gather everybody into the HQ. You can tell us all there, and also, use laymen terms or you'll have a major headache explaining things to certain hunters." Zero said.
"I understand." Cyber Elf X said.
A half hour later, the cyber elf stood before the Hunters. He closed his eyes and decided to start at the beginning.
"It's time I come clean about this mess. Dark X is from my reality. I am not from this dimension. My proof is the fact I'm still here even though X is dead. I was born many years from now in a terrible battle between Humankind, Reploid kind, and Elf kind. I made the ultimate sacrifice by absorbing the Dark elf into myself. As I died, all three sides put their weapons down in grief. In fact, after my death, there was a massive suicide movement in which the final tolls were 95 percent Cyber Elves dead, 90 percent Reploids dead, and 60 percent humans dead. To stop the dying, Copy X ordered my remains to be placed within a shrine. He was created as a replacement and to help soothe the dying. Copy X ended up going Maverick and was defeated by Megaman Zero. I returned in the form I am in now to take back my throne as emperor Light of Neo Arcadia. Megaman Zero was forced to fight Copy X again, Omega, and Dr. Wiel. He almost got himself killed fighting Dr. Wiel. Something saved him, and it was Dark X. Dark X and I are one and the same. I was afraid of the darkness in me and I cast it out. It took on a life of its own. Meanwhile in the distant past, Dr. Cossack found the original Sunstar and brought him to Dr. Light. Dr. Willy decided to join forces with Dr. Light to study Sunstar. It was discovered that Dr. Willy was in fact under control of someone else. Megaman, Bass, and Protoman fought him and it was Bass who shattered the controlling device thus freeing Dr. Willy. Dr. Willy returned to his best friends side and things returned to normal until Sunstar was found. Dr. Willy accidentally thawed out Sunstar who escaped to this time after leaving Megaman all but dead. Dark X met up with him and they have hidden my real past self somewhere. The reason they are here is because of the Pure which I hold. As you can see, it has been badly damaged. They want the Pure for it's power. The Pure is a source of energy, and it is also ether your doom or your salvation." Cyber Elf X explained.
"What do you mean?" someone called out.
"The Pure can save your world, heal the corruption of your timelines, or it can destroy your world. How it is used determines who has it. Right now it is shattered. The Stardroids each carry a piece of the Pure." the Cyber Elf sighed, as Zero came up to him.
"I'll take on the Stardroids myself." he said.
"No, Zero. You can't. It's just not possible." Cyber Elf X replied.
"But what about the Pure?" Zero asked.
"There is always hope, Zero. No matter how dark things look, no matter how bad things get, never lose hope." Cyber Elf X replied, "Never give up hope."
"Mars killed X! We have no hope! We might as well surrender now!" Zero screamed.
"Zero! Don't you realize that is what Dark X wants you to do? You can't give up hope!" Cyber Elf X replied.
"What am I supposed to do then? Sit on my hands and do nothing? My best friend died in front of me! I hate being so useless!" Zero raged.
"You can not go after the Stardroids. That is not your mission." Cyber Elf X tried.
"What is my mission then? Huh?" Zero growled coldly.
"Your mission is to protect the ones you love. Going after the Stardroids is only going to get you killed." Cyber Elf X reasoned, "Do you want to do that to Medic? Do you want your unborn daughter to grow up not knowing her own father?"
"Okay, I'll stand down." Zero spat out the words as if they tasted bad. He stormed off, his feet taking him to the observation deck, X's favorite place to go. Once there, he found himself sinking to his knees. Hot tears streaked his face, "X! Why did you have to die like that? I should have been there! I promised to protect you, and I failed!"
"Did you really fail, or was there nothing you could have done?"
Zero's head shot up to see a child Reploid wearing blue armor. The child smiled at him.
"Who are you?" Zero asked.
"I'm Megaman. Who are you?" Megaman asked.
"I'm Zero." Zero fought the urge to look away, "Last I heard, you were still unconscious in Medical Bay."
"I woke up several hours ago." Megaman sat down next to Zero, "You knew Megaman X Light, right?"
"X was my best friend. I can't believe he is gone. Just this morning…" Zero couldn't go on.
"I know how you feel. I lost someone close to me. It took a long time, but I got him back." Megaman looked up at Zero, "Things look really bad right now, don't they? They'll get better, you'll see."
"You did you lose?" Zero asked, wondering why he was talking like this to a child.
"I lost my older brothers, Protoman and Bass, to the clutches of Dr. Willy." Megaman looked out at Abel City, "It took me many years, but I got them back, even Dr. Willy once we figured out he was being controlled."
"X is dead, and never coming back." Zero looked away.
"Is that how X wants you to feel? X is alive, right here." Megaman put his hand over Zero's heart, "You got the chance to know and love him. Don't forget those memories. Cherish them."
"You are pretty smart for a child." Zero said.
"I'm not exactly a child even though I do look like one. I am older then you are." Megaman pointed out.
"Good point." Zero said, "Did you know X? You look like him."
"X is the brother I never got to know. I died before he was awakened." Megaman chose his words carefully.
"You died?" Zero asked, "Am I talking to a ghost?"
"I'm alive only because I'm here. I died fighting Sunstar. I managed to seal him into a coffin but I was already mortally wounded. Protoman came and I remember telling him not to worry. Everything was going to be okay. I died in his arms. Cyber Elf X, you came. I'm ready to go."
"What do you mean?" Zero asked.
"The time for questions is past." Cyber Elf X said, "The young one speaks words of wisdom. Heed them, Zero." the Cyber Elf raised an arm where a rainbow sword flashed. He sliced open the air to create a rift. Megaman turned and smiled before he leapt through the rift. Cyber Elf X closed it just as Roll, Rush, Bass, and Protoman ran out onto the observation deck.
"Where is Megaman?" Roll asked fearfully.
"Megaman has gone back to his rightful time, which is where you need to go, after you capture Sunstar. Megaman will insure your timeline to here stays intact." Cyber Elf X smiled, "Dr. Light, Dr. Willy, and Dr. Cossack are about to receive a shock."
"You mean he won't be dead?" Protoman asked.
"That is right. Megaman died too soon even though it was at the right hands." Cyber Elf X replied.
20XX, Dr. Light's Lab.
Willy was on his third bowl of cereal while Cossack was drinking a cup of coffee when they heard Light scream. Cossack spat out the mouthful of coffee he was in the process of swallowing, giving Willy a coffee shower. Willy was too busy trying to Heimlich himself as he had just taken a bite of his cereal when Light screamed, to care about the coffee shower. Cossack reached over and pounded on Willy's back, causing him to cough and bring up his spoon. They both raced for the lab, fearing the worst. Light was standing in front of an open door leading to a side lab when they got to him. Willy looked in to see the still form of Megaman. He realized something else. Megaman's chest was rising and falling rhythmically as if he were asleep. Willy screamed, getting Cossacks hands slapped over his mouth.
"I'm not seeing things?" Light asked.
"I'm seeing it too!" Cossack said, forgetting that his hands were covering Willy's mouth, and, unfortunately, his nose.
"Merf!" Willy mumbled, clawing frantically at Cossacks hands.
"Oh, sorry Willy!" Cossack removed his hands from Willy's nose and mouth.
"Finally! First I choke on my spoon, next you try to smother me!" Willy turned back to the room, "Wasn't he dead? How?"
"I don't know how!" Light cried out.
"What programs did you use on him?" Willy asked.
"I used the usual programs, why?" Light asked.
"Think, did you use any kind of self repair programs?" Willy asked, "That is not possible! We all saw him die. I unplugged the machines myself, remember?"
"I'm thinking! Nope, I don't use those kinds of programs!" Light replied.
"Something happened that ether brought him back, or he wasn't really dead!" Willy shot back.
"Shut up you two! He's waking up!" Cossack called out excitedly.
All three doctors walked into the room quietly, or tried to. Wily managed to stub his toe which led to him cussing in every known language he could think of other then in English. Cossack clamped his hands over Willy's mouth and ended up with a bitten finger. Light shook his head in exasperation at his colleagues. Megaman yawned and stretched before opening his eyes.
"I made it back." He said quietly.
"Megaman!" Light hugged him tightly, "You were dead! How?"
"I can explain, but you may not understand it fully." Megaman returned the hug, "I was in the future. Roll, Rush, Protoman, and Bass were there. They made it there safely. So are the Stardroids, all ten of them. I chose to come back because it is not my fight. According to Cyber Elf X, I died too soon even though it was by the right hands. Also, Megaman X Light was killed by Mars while I was there."
"Cyber Elf X?" Light asked.
"Cyber Elf X is, or was Megaman X Light. He is from farther into the future. X was forced to make the ultimate sacrifice to end a really bad war and came back as a Cyber Elf. He did what you said he would. He became Emperor Light of Neo Arcadia." Megaman explained.
"I see. Megaman X is a success." Light smiled.
21XX, Observation Deck
"Protoman, I failed my mission, didn't I?" Bass asked, "You told me to protect him and I failed."
"No, you didn't fail." Cyber Elf X broke in gently, "I'm still here. Dark X has screwed up the timelines royally and while it looks hopeless, we will prevail."
"How can we win? We can't even hurt the Stardroids!" Zero complained, getting up.
"We will find a way, Zero. Don't lose hope." Cyber Elf X turned to him, "Yes, I'm dead in this time, yes everything looks bad, but things will get better. I promise."
Queen Sunstar: Happy Thanksgiving! This is only the first half of the update. The second half will be out in early December. After that, I'll have updates ready for Deletion and Damaged, plus, I have a little Christmas Present for my loyal Readers also coming out. It is a one shot set in the Megaman NT Warrior universe. The title is called Blood on my Hands, and is done entirely from Protoman's point of view. You may want to watch Megaman NT Warrior Axess episodes 26: Anette's Revenge, and episode 27: Nebula's Secret Base before you read Blood on my Hands. the link is in my profile. Chapter Six will cover Mars's invasion, and We will get to see Cyber Elf X in action as he faces off against Mars. Meanwhile, Sunstar in his Sungod guise manages to sneak into the HQ and sets off to locate the body of X. Can he revive him? See ya soon!
German words: Erzähl mir nicht solche Scheiße: Don't give me that crap.
Bleib ruhig: Keep Calm
I'm German. Zero is blond with blue eyes which is the standard look for us Germans, so I decided to make Zero German. It also gave me a chance to use some of my German which I speak fluently.
You are also probably wondering what the deal is with Zero's saber and Axl's pistols. I recalled that the only way I was able to defeat Spiritbomb on Pokemon: Diamond, was to use Pokemon with attacks that cause status changes. (I used an Ice type move that ended up freezing Spiritbomb) For Mars, I decided to employ the same strategy by having Zero use multiple swords and Axl with his freeze and paralysis pellets. See Ya!