Weil looke around himself and smiled miniacally at the lab which he had created with his own sweat and blood. The man who was to be his 'master'... His body was being destroyed and replaced by his own mechanical parts slowly. As each generation of parts were replaced, and used to increase the effectiveness of his lab, the facilities he had to work with become even more advanced, but he still had a number of problems.

Each time he tried to recreate the so called guardians something went wrong. In retrospect he had wished had had paid more attention to the flawed copies of X that had defended Neo Arcadia. They had been much more specialized and would have made for excellent specialized forces. In particular Phantom and Leviathan's abilities interested him the most, as their areas had been where X and Zero both lacked any specialization at all. The fool of a man that had summoned him had squandered her power wasting it on what was ultimately a superior reploid out of her element. That he would get such a fine piece of workmanship as her and then get her destroyed against Zero, there was nothing more stupid he could imagine than perhaps, killing his own loyal and talented brother. As Weil ran through the man's memory he couldn't help but think of the insanity that twisted this man, and had caused so much strife. But this just reinforced his belief, that all the pitiful humans of this world should live under his immortal thumb. He was the most brilliant mind in the world, and he would have what he deserved, nobody would stop him. And with his 'children' developing nicely and the starts of a true pantheon army taking root he knew that by the time Zero found out it would be too big for even him to stop. The copy of X was perfect, not in that it believed itself to be perfect but it had all the same character flaws, and the routine he had put into the copy of Zero to find these qualities worth protecting would only serve to ensure that when Zero set himself against them he would find himself facing two incredibly powerful reploids who felt they were doing the right thing, therefore they would not turn against him as their father.

"So much yet to be done... But soon enough," The man said as he walked over to a panel that showed the configurations for the next batch of pantheons, noting the increased core capacity from his refined parts, he had chosen to limit the charge power of the busters. There was no reason for their busters to be any more powerful than a normal pantheon. Any more, and the damage that they could cause would be too high. This was enough for such unthinking machines. It just wouldn't do for his new world to be destroyed by his creations when he could just as easily take it over as they were now. The fools would know soon enough. They questioned his actions even after seeing the pantheons in action. They even questioned the need for the copies of X and Zero... He'd shown them the potential they had and yet they still failed to understand. When all was shown and done, they still called him incompetent and worse behind his back. It was alright though, they'd see it all for themselves. Soon enough they would all see the greatness of his creations, the greatness of his champion and destroyer. All they needed was guidance and careful manipulation. With all of the controversial texts and histories he placed for their 'enjoyment' he knew that they would come to the same conclusion that he had come to long ago. And he finally had a lead on one bit of knowledge from a spy in Romalia, one that would shatter their belief in the humans of this world. The man chuckled darkly as he said in a low, almost tired voice,"There was no place for fools to run, they must all be under my rule."

***Break***

As Leviathan lay in the pool of water in the headquarters she watched Zero pacing back and forth. She was floating almost effortlessly in the large pool, watching him pace back and forth repeatedly as he looked at a large map that was made of multi-colored sand. Montmorency and Guiche were sitting in chairs at the table, working silently on their own homework from class. Finally Leviathan sighed and asked,"Alright, what is wrong Zero?"

"I am trying to figure out exactly what is going on with Gallia. Just what are their plans it doesn't make sense." Zero replied angrily. "We haven't heard a damned thing about them and with everything that happened they should have moved already. We more than bloodied their nose. We stopped their endorsed uprising in Albion. We killed their pet elf, I took you away from them and we took someone who could be a viable heir to the throne should I take the time out of my busy schedule to kill that useless waste of space they call a king. Not to mention I still can't figure out why he is doing half the things he was trying to do. "

"I suppose trying to understand him is not going to get anywhere. As his former familiar, all I can say, is that he was quite insane. He made Weil look like a well balanced individual." Leviathan said lazily as she splashed a little move back and forth in her pool.

Zero growled angrily. "Damn that bastard. I don't have time to think of something like that now anyhow. I still have to figure out why he'd go to the effort of trying to killing that water spirit..."

"Oh, the one in that lake?" Leviathan asked, a hint of distaste in her voice.

"Yes, he was helping Albion, so did he order her killed because of the rising waters, or the ring?" Zero asked as he came to a stop looking at the map.

"The ring? You mean the control ring?" Leviathan asked as she fumbled in her armor, pulling the ring from a small compartment."This one?"

Zero turned to look at her slowly. "Is that?"

"The ring of Andvari. A very powerful tool that I took from Cromwell." Leviathan replied as she held the ring up. "It has some interesting powers, although just touching this thing makes me feel like I'm being dirtied by an oil slick."

"Seriously? You've had that all along?" Zero replied almost angrily. "Why didn't you say anything about it?"

"Why? What do you need it for. I doubt... Well actually, you seem to be able to use magic so you could probably use it. But why? I don't see you using it for any of it's abilities."

Zero looked at her and shrugs."I promised the water spirit I would recover it, so that she would stop raising the water levels."

"I see." Leviathan replied with a smirk." And you keep your promises do you?"

"When I can, of course. Who doesn't?" Zero commented, visibly annoyed.

"A trade then?" Leviathan asked coyly.

"A trade? What type of trade?" Zero asked cautiously.

"A service for an item. We're in an old style system so bartering is allowed, even normal, correct?" Leviathan asked as she lazily dipped under water for a few moments.

"What do you want for it?" Zero replied suddenly feeling very wary of the situation.

"Nothing much. I suppose a date might suffice." Leviathan replied as she once again held the ring up into the air. "That might do indeed for such a pretty bauble, although I must admit that normally men give rings to the women in those types of situations... But I'll forgive your lack of knowledge on such things. You are so awkward when it comes to these things after all."

"W-what?" Zero demanded as he started at her.

"You heard me. I'm not repeating my price. Although for something like this, that's a steal. I could ask for more than one... I mean, it IS a priceless artifact of unimaginable power." Leviathan commented as she kept her gaze upon the ring, content with watching Zero out of the corner of her eye.

"And you're selling it for a date?" Zero demanded incredulously.

"Well, you are quite the bargainer. I suppose two would do better." Leviathan replied with a giggle as she placed the ring back in the small compartment in her armor. "Till then, I'll have to hold on to it of course, but don't worry. I won't let anything happen to it."

Zero just stared at her for a few moments, unable to comprehend the conversation that was taking place. Was this really happening? After a few moments of silence Zero asked her, "Are you serious?"

"Are you trying to talk me up to three?" Leviathan replied, pouting quite noticeably. "You're really quite the persuasive man aren't you? If you really want..."

"N-no! That's not what I meant!" Zero protested.

"So two?" Leviathan asked sweetly, as she turned to look at Zero, fluttering her eye lashes at him.

"One!" Zero replied hotly, so flustered by the conversation that he didn't realize what he was saying until he said it..

"Done. Let me know when." Leviathan replied with a smirk as she swam to the side of the pool, eyeing Zero. "I'll even let you be one of the first to see my civilian guise, because you're such an astute and perceptive negotiator."

Zero sputtered as she this, his face turning red before he finally turned away, his arms crossed. "Fine." Was the only thing he could say. Damn it, why did he have to promise that stupid water spirit he'd get the ring back? Didn't she owe him anyhow for saving her from that stupid void mage?

Guiche and Montmorency had long ago lost interest in their homework by this point, and Guiche leaned over to his girlfriend and murmured,"Wow... This one gets points for creativity and planning..." to which Montmorency nodded, obviously in awe at the wiles of the woman who shared an element with her.

***Break***

Mathilda was in the lab sitting on a table while Roll was busy poking and prodding her. She didn't know why it was important that her leg moved when her knee was hit with that small mallet thing, nor why she was wasting her time. "Why exactly do you need to do all this? I can walk right? And there hasn't been any residual pain, except for the weakness in the muscles you told me about."

"It's simple." Roll replied as she tapped Mathilda's right knee, it jerking nicely as she did so. "I'm looking at the speed of your recovery, and the human body has a great number of these types of reactions, be it blinking or reacting to joints being hit. If you didn't have any reaction then that would show that some of the nerve damage is still there. Then we'd probably have to try using more of that water magic, because I'm not to keen on operating again, especially so soon. "

"Well there isn't, is there?" Mathilda asked, impatient to be out of the area. Until she had been able to walk again she had never realized just how fully she had missed being able to walk.

"Not that I can see, but as my patient you do need to follow up with me to ensure there are no complications." Roll replied matter of-factly as she stood up straight.

"This is just how she is." Cattelya said with a smile,"She was the same way with me when she was treating my illness. Although she hasn't threatened to use Zero as a... What was it called again?"

"An orderly. Someone to restrain an ill or injured person who's being unruly. " Roll replied with a bright smile on her face. "Not that I don't have the physical strength to do it myself, I lack any real intimidation." Roll said while laughing.

"No intimidation my hypothetical ass." Rock said from the computer. "You were the scariest robot master out of all of us. You beat people with cleaning instruments! Even Zero can't go near a broom anymore thanks to you!"

"That was one time! Let it drop!" Roll replied angrily as she turned to face the main monitor that Rock normally used. "So I hit him with it. He laughed about it isn't a big deal!"

"You hit the supposedly most powerful robot master with a broom. Knocked him flat on his back. You're scary enough." Rock replied mock seriously.

"OH yeah? Scary am I? I guess someone wants another dose of cos-play!" Roll replied heatedly. "I'll even get that Siesta girl to get you a little maid outfit!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Rock replied, horror in his voice.

"Oh, wouldn't I? I'm scary right?" Roll replied with a smug confidence.

"What exactly is going on?" Mathilda whispered to Cattelya, confused at how the conversation had turned this way.

"They're fighting like any brother and sister would, I suppose, even if they're... Not arguing about the most normal things in the world." Cattelya replied in a hushed voice as the two continued to bicker for a few more minutes.

***Break***

After finally being allowed in to see their father, a full two days after the event, Copy X was as close to a fury as he had ever been. To pull a stunt like that that could have killed them, then not have time to even speak to them in person? "Father... I do not understand, why did you place us in that place and attack us? Then why block yourself from our company? Are you just going to betray us?" Copy X demanded of his 'father'.

"I'm sorry, but the nobles view me and you as incompetent because of your association with me. I needed to show them that you, my heirs are capable. And... The reason I secreted myself away was... It had nothing to do with either of you. Nothing you could do could be so horrible... So evil." 'Joseph' said, his voice catching at the appropriate time.

"I can see the logic in that,although you coulda given us some more warning on that whole fighting thing," Copy Zero replied, his arms cross, a scowl on his face. "What I really wanna know is why this library you made for us is nothing but material made to make us hate this world, or show how much conflict there is in it. I don't like being used like a pawn old man!"

"While I did ensure that you two would know some of the extent of the corruption of this world... I hid the worst. In this world, the unpleasant is swept under the rug in the name of nobility. You saw that yourself. What you would consider wrong and evil others take for granted as every day life. I have here a book, that while it isn't quite the worst... This is bad enough. once you read this you'll understand... You must understand. Something like this must never happen again." 'Joseph' said, his voice catching. "Never again..." As he said this 'Joseph' walked up to his desk and removed a single volume.

"What are you talking about father?" Copy X asked as he looked at the book that his father was offering him. He hesitantly took it, unsure of his father's demeanor. One would expect an argument, not this overbearing sorrow that seemed to wrack the man's form. Just what was it that had caused him to feel this way?

"Read the volume, from cover to cover and do not miss a word. It is small, but do not be surprised at just how vile the happenings found within it can be... I can not bare to talk about it. I will not talk about it. All I can say... Is never again." 'Joseph said as he turned away and walked from the room with a sigh, the two copies staring at his back.

"What do you think is in it?" Copy X asked as he looked at the cover. In an almost ominous black script the words "New Religion Hunt" were emblazoned upon the front of the tome.

"Who knows. But he seemed... Honestly upset?" Copy Zero said as he looked at the door as he left. Had he really misjudged that man so much? Although he thought this, some part of him told him not to trust the man. It was like an echo of another's voice, telling him not to trust him whenever he felt swayed by him.

"I agree..." X said as he hesitantly opened the volume his father had given him. "I wonder just what this 'New Religion Hunt' could be..." As the reploid flipped the pages and read through the volume, he became paler and paler.

"X? X?" Copy Zero cried out when he noticed that his partner was shaking.

"Over power, and money. Men, women, children. All innocent!" Copy X cried out as he glared at the book. "All burned alive! All burned alive so that people who wanted to hold on to their power could. These things. These unforgivable things!" he grated out, truly angry for the first time.

"Calm down, it can't be that bad." Copy Zero said for once trying to calm down his partner, rather than the other way around. When he said that he found the book thrown at his face.

"You read it! You tell me it's not that bad!" Copy X yelled at his partner, his uncharacteristic rage continuing.

Copy Zero shrugged as he read the slim volume. While his face didn't turn red, there was an audible crack then the spine of the book cracked in his hand. "Unacceptable." Was all that Copy Zero could say.

"That's all you can say? They killed innocents enmass? women and children. They burned them to death!" Copy X cried out as he looked at Zero, who's normally stoic face was colder than stone.

"X. If i go anything beyond unacceptable I'm going to go and attack two separate countries." Zero replied, the volume bent almost at a 45 degree angle. Never again indeed. "Anyone who wishes to try this... I will destroy no matter what it takes. These people... No, these monsters don't deserve to live. I'll kill them all." Copy Zero replied ominously as he looked at the remains of the book. "I'll kill them all..."

Copy X wanted to say something hopeful, but even he realized the gravity of the situation and how terrible it was. In this world there were things that were unforgivable and this was one of them. Perhaps, this was why father had been trying to tell them that they needed someone to guide them. While he was the king, and different from the other nobles, maybe that is why he was ridiculed. Perhaps his thoughts on his common man, and his compassion were what were so alien to those beings that called themselves nobles. "We will be nobles Zero. In ever sense of the word. And... Should any noble break their word... Should any noble betray that trust..."

Copy Zero nodded in agreement at the unsaid statement. They would deliver the justice that the victims could not. They would destroy this reign of chaos, anger and hatred.

***Author's notes***

Holy crap it's an update. Got some Rock and Roll action going on. Got some Leviathan Blackmail action going on. Got some development on the clones going on. Small chapter, but I'm not too disappointed in it.

1) By Aesthetics, the ceramic armor while horned looks like nothing more than form fitted armor on a young man... Those don't happen early on. And you have to realize, that just because he has armor doesn't mean anything. A mage, unless they are a knight of one of the orders bearing a crest has no use for armor. Unrecognizable armor might mean the young man is a formidable fighter. But what is physical strength to a magician? Guiche could at the time call out 7 Valkyries. No matter how powerful a person might be, as long as they didn't specialize in long range attacks, and they weren't a mage, what purpose would he EVER have to think that someone in unusual armor would be a match for his Valkyries?

2) The Romantics have been decided, and have been decided for a very long time. But unfortunately, I'm not telling you who it is. Yes, some of it IS intended to annoy Zero, but this is also to call into question Zero's ability to interact with people in general. The characters have changed in this if subtly. The maid and all the staff are bolder to an extend, Kirche is in an alliance with Louise, they're trying different and sometimes more bold things but they're not fighting over Saito. They're fighting to get his attention away from someone who's been dead for a long time. Call it a tumor if you want, but it all serves a purpose that you may or(if you call it a tumor) not see yet.

3) Zero never had a heart attack. Saito had 0 kills in that battle. I intended that one person to survive because right now there are some nasty rumors going on about what Tristian is willing to do to it's people. That's a nice humanitarian thing there. Turning your people into monsters so you don't lose. His break down was actually him harnessing too much power, too quickly, without his body having an adaption system in place. Consider it a hose with enough PSI behind it that it blew off the nozzle and now has no control over itself. As a thinking person would you let it spray all over the place, or turn it off as a safety? Zero's sharding in that particular portion was(And spoiler here don't read if you don't want) the plan of Wily in his head. He had analyzed the rune enough to know that "death" was the end. But with Zero, what is death? Wily was removing the barriers in his mind one by one allowing the power of that place to shift into Zero causing him to eventually shut down. Once his mind blanked and there was nothing there, it's not that hard for you to assume the rune will leave. From there, he can do the necessary repairs to Zero's mind and fix what the blasted rune had broken after using the remaining energy to do an emergency teleport. And if it comes to why Tiffania's village? Because I like her character.

4) Zero as a weapon. This is true. He knows he is a weapon. But he is a weapon who will not wield himself. Megaman X. He only shows up to save X. Megaman X 2. He only shows up either to fight you(being used against you), or to destroy the other Zero(because I always got all his parts that's all I ever saw). Megaman X3. Zero would come and help when needed. But you had to ask. He didn't volunteer. He was always ALWAYS ALWAYS doing what other people wanted him to do with the possible exception of command mission, but even then he was still following orders in the way he believed they should have been followed. Then look at the MMZ series. in MMZ2 he saves a pronounced maverick from the guardians. Think on that. Elpizio announced that he was going to destroy all of humanity. Yet he still did what Ceil told him and went to save him. Zero as a weapon, is a weapon that OTHERS wield with the exception of X5 bad ending. So unless he's good and gloriously pissed, he's gonna follow the orders to the T, but he couldn't bring himself to find a way to stop Col. Or Iris from dying. So I disagree with your statement on every level about him being a weapon and not tolerating things.

5) Not really sure what you mean by Vanilla. Keeping some aspects of ZnT throughout? I've kept a majority of the awkward and needless romantic stuff out, and shifted the focus to a wounded warrior who just can't find a break. Kirche alone is a massive change. She should be after Colbert. Mathilda should be nursing Wardes back to health. Wardes shouldn't be dead. There shouldn't be copies. There shouldn't be real or pseudo pantheons. Am I supposed to give up everything about the "host" series just because Zero could(Although wouldn't) have the ability to destroy everything that annoyed him? I can't say that there is much that i've actually kept intact canon wise, and that the majority is so far off the rails(even if not that far off) that there is no way to get them back on. And with each minor nudge(And some major ones) it's moving farther and farther away from the "vanilla". Last I checked, the partial humanization of a person has yet to happen in ANY ZnT story. Much less Mathilda.

6) As for Zero vs Saito. let's do a comparison. Both lack drive without someone asking them for something in most cases. Neither of them have faith in themselves(in their own way. Zero uses everyone ELSES moral compass but his own to determine if things are right. "I fight for the people I believe in and the those things they believe in"(Litereal translation, not fixed for grammar). He's saying that the people he fights for decide what he believes in. This leads back to Zero letting a real Maverick live, and then that leading to X getting killed. That's a giant ass lapse in judgement because he doesn't have the drive, motivation or self confidence in his own decisions to make the damned decisions. The only decisions he easily makes are 1) Blow self up in MMX1 2) Take second shot from sigma but kill sigma in X5 3) Kill Omega(In a way, kill himself) 4) Fall to death aboard a doomed space station.

Saito just has no compass at all because he's lost, nor the power to fix what he feels is wrong. Where Zero can identify the people and things that he feels are wrong... Saito couldn't. The two are very similar if you look at it from that angle on an outside combat basis.

And now that I've dealt with the reviews, and explained why things happen, I'm done.

Zero: Freakin seriously? You write me into this chapter after playing through MMZ2 on hardmode, resetting the state every time you got hit? Will you give me a damned rest?

When you stop screwing up, maybe.