Che-low once again my ever lovely and ever loyal peeps and peeplips!

So here we go once again with Xero finally facing off agaisnt the mini-boss before they have to face the big boss himself. Ya, i'm sure we all this one was coming sooner or later. But first, we're going to take a look on our good friend Fury and see what causes his next headache.

Hehehe.

So let's just skip this shit and get right to the good stuff, as always i own nothing.

So please read, review and "What the fuc-BOOM"

Chapter 7: Magus Vs. Pirate And Speak No Evil

In The Helicarrier, Over The USA, 2:31 AM

"Sir, this may be a thought, it may be wrong but i think i have an idea of why our mysterious friend has not only been so untraceable but why so many are interested in him. It may also explain why he's always been sighted in so many different places in the world and why he's one of the best BSAA's allies/"

Fury looked up from the new intel report, as did Romanoff, Barton and Hill, when they heard Coulson speak up, causing the one eyed man to look up at one of his best agents, "Well, don't leave us in suspense Coulson, what is it?"

"As unlikely as it is sir, i think we may be looking at a possible, successful super soldier."

The silence was so thick, one could hear a fly buzzing around, as the three agents straighten up, while Fury looked at Coulson with a critical eye, "What evidence do you have to support this, Coulson?"

"Well sir, as we have tried to find any evidence, anything at all about our mysterious friend, we have dug up quite a bit of intel from those who are actively targeting Mr. Mazoku sir. Mostly hearsay and ramblings of mad men or criminals but if you look carefully, you begin to notice a pattern forming as we go through every induvial statement."

"Okay, so what is so similar about them?" Barton asked, as Coulson pulled out a file.

"Aside from seemingly having similar to the original Phantom herself, having the ability to quote, unquote 'walk through walls' hence why she was named the Phantom, their shared speed and strength could only be described as inhuman sir. In one of our earliest reports about Lady Mazoku, she had the ability to regenerate life threatening injures and if our boys from the lab are right, seemly has some kind of eternal youth."

That honestly worried Fury quite a bit, as one of their oldest files on record, they were able to discover a picture of Lilith Mazoku by sure dumb luck, taken in 1836.

173 years ago.

Nearly TWO centuries later and Lilith Mazoku looks no older than twenty years old. How and why, no one knew, which had spurred SHEILD on further, wanting to know how such a thing was possible.

"We know that already Coulson." Hill spoke, "We also know the target has the same inhuman abilities as his mother, but how does this all tie back into your super soldier theory?"

"Well, it has been recorded that Captain American was the world's first successful attempt at creating a super soldier." Coulson adjusted the file, as he flipped to a new page, "That being said, 'first RECODED' super soldier serum to work."

"You think they're have been more attempts?" Fury questioned, it wasn't impossible and if it was true, it would certainly answer a lot of questions about their target.

"I believe so and our target proves it." Coulson nodded, as he flipped to another page, "We have gotten word from our spies that Ross and several of his soldiers are already on route to the Mega Pizza-Plex sir." Fury groaned, Ross was the last thing they needed right now, "Along with Chris Redfield, his team of Hound Wolf Squad as well, sir." Oh fuck, if there was any chances of preventing fireworks from going off before, there was none now. The BSAA protected their own and if Ross attempted to capture or worse, kill Mazoku, the BSAA soldier would retaliate against them, "But that's beside the point. As i was saying, Captain America was the world's first person recorded to become a super soldier but that doesn't necessary mean he is the very first attempt at creating one. It's reasonable to believe that our target, no, the Mazoku's as a whole have been genetically enhanced that it's possible that they're even stronger than Captain America was. With abilities we can't even begin to comprehend either sir, so were not only going in blind, but we're also potentially going up agsinst an omega-level mutant of sorts. Honestly sir, it's possible we're looking at another Banner."

Great, just fucking great. So not only were the Mazoku's possible some sort of enhanced super soldiers of old, but they could possibly be just as powerful as mutants like Charles Xavier and Magento. Both, which could tear armies apart with ease, one with his mind-bending abilities and the other with his power over metal. Fury was tempted to start bashing his head against the wall but held himself back, if only barely.

"What else do you have to support your theory Coulson?"

"Well sir, you are aware of Laura The Ripper, correct?"

A pit of dread formed in Fury's stomach at the mention of Logan's daughter/sister/clone, "Yes..."

"Well, our boys worked overtime in gathering information and they believe there is a strong chance that Miss Kinney is trying to become an official member of Chaldea." It took every bit of willpower NOT to start slamming his head into the nearest wall, "While she is unofficial protected by Chaldea from certain organizations, becoming a member of this organization will basically make her untouchable to all." Of fucking course, the clone of the world's most feral mutant was attempting to become a part of the biggest pain in his ass, not for the protection, but purely just to drive Fury up a wall, as many will not care about such things. They'll try anyway, pissing off Chaldea and quite possible the United Nations, leaving SHEILD to clean up the mess, least an international incident occurs or worse, give the teen a reason to go full feral. There was a reason why many believed Laura was the second coming of the serial killer, Jack The Ripper, "Not only that but it appears that general Jackson Hager has gotten wind of what is happening at the Mega Pizza-Plex and is not only bringing a good-sized team with him to ensure there are no bio-weapons on US soil but he's also enlisted the help the Fantastic Four."

That made Fury's migraine pauses, trying to decide on whether or not that was a good thing or bad thing.

For one thing, General Hager was nowhere near as bad as Ross in many regardless but if he got something in his head, it was very hard to change his mind otherwise. But that did not mean he couldn't be reasoned with, unlike Ross and if given suffice evidence, he would change his mind and was not prone to being as callous as his fellow general. Plus, he had no animosity or hate towards mutants in general just for being mutants, but he also had a tendency to 'shot first, ask questions later' so, it was a sort of fifty-fifty ration of pain in the ass for Fury. That didn't Hager wasn't stubborn and if someone failed enough times, he'd be more than willing to bring in more...questionable assets.

That also meant he was prone to doing what all military leaders do, when something new and unusually appeared: Shoot bullets and missiles at it.

A lot of bullets and missiles.

Now, the superhero group, the Fantastic Four, were people Fury had monitored but not on the "Index" aka "The Avengers Initiative". It's not that they didn't qualify, as they were the kind of people that could fight the battles people like himself and his agents couldn't, but they had their own thing going on. They were doing really well for themselves, so it would be moot point to do so but in the near future, the FF could be valuable allies.

Even if they do cause a lot of collateral damage but thankfully, only equipment damage, no lives lost.

"But given Laura's reputation, they all might shoot first and ask questions later." Not that Fury could blame them, as he'd do the same but now was not the time for hotheads and shooting first. Gritting his teeth, Fury looked at Hill, "How long until we get there?" And will we beat them their first?

Understanding the unasked question, Hill answered, "By our current speed, we should be one of the first ones to get there, save for Stark."

"Stark?" Fury raised an eyebrow, what would Stark be heading towards the Pizza-Plex?

"It's very possible that Stark learned of our targets origins, either knowing or suspecting our target is his son, sir." Well shit, that complicated things, as Stark was a loose cannon on the best days, "It's possible that he even knew Lilith as well sir. Given his reputation as a playboy, it's very likely that our target IS his son and if he is, Stark might not take too kindly to someone attempting to hurt him sir." Not only was Stark well connected, but there was also a reason why he was considered the Da Vinic of creating weapons.

"Anything else?" Fury asked, feeling a vein throb on his forehead as all the scenarios ran through his mind and a lot of them, ending in blood.

"We should be at Freddy Fazbear Mega Pizza-Plex just fifteen minutes before it opens, so that gives us some time, about five minutes before other start pouring in." Coulson said, trying to ease his boss's frustration, while leaving out the fact the CIA has sent some agents to the Mega Pizza-Plex. No doubt it was done in hopes of capturing Xero to draw Miss Gudako out of hiding or something like that. Thankfully it seemed his choice did the trick, as Fury nodded, the vein on his forehead not pulsing hard as it was before.

"Good." He nodded, "But that still doesn't completely explain why you think our target is some kind of super soldier."

"Yes, well, let's be honest sir, there have been many attempts throughout history to create super soldiers. Just because it hasn't been recorded, that does not mean they're haven't been successful attempts at creating one." That was true, "Just look at some of history's greatest warriors: Alexender the Great, Attila the Hun, Leonidas the first, Genghis Khan, Sun Tzu, Gaius Julius Caesar, King Arthur, Miyamoto Musashi, Saladin. I'm not saying they were all super soldiers but that doesn't mean they didn't exist back then; we just simply didn't know. For all we know, the so called 'witch's and wizards' like Morgan Le Fay and Merlin were super soldiers themselves."

That was an entirely fair point and very true.

"Be that as it may Coulson, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in your theory." However skeptical and paranoid were Fury's middle name, one he very much lived up to as director of SHEILD.

"True, but you have to admit, there is no evidence to disprove my theory either." Well, Fury had to admit, Coulson certainly made a good point there, "I know it's farfetched theory sir but aside from being some sort of ancient mutant or something equally unlikely as that, an ancient super soldier makes more sense, as clearly the son has the same ability as the mother. Mutant abilities, while genetic, are a complete roll of the dice on what kind of power you would get and there are no guarantees that you would receive the same kind of power. Sure, children of mutants WOULD get some kind of ability but there was no sure way to say WHAT kind of power they would get as a result of two X-gene's mixing together. Given our suspicions, finding this young man might become more than just trying to assess his threat level but protecting him from other undesirables that would seek to use people like him for their own twisted purposes."

Like the Weapon X program.

"Plus, if we play our cards right, we can gain a powerful ally sir." Hawkeye piped in, as he titled his head towards Romanoff. That made Fury nodded in agreement.

Yes, if this kid wasn't a threat, then great and if he could be turned into an asset, all the better.

2:43 AM, Freddy's Fazbear Mega Pizza-Plex, Parts & Services

BOOM

The wall behind him exploded, as the captain struck his fist through the wall, allowing Xero to roll away again but not before kicking him in the back shin of his leg, that would normally send someone crashing down onto their knees with the amount of force he applied to his attack. But this time, his attack, did nothing.

That's the bad thing about fighting machines, when you spend most of your life fighting living creatures:

They don't react like living beings.

"But i'm not fighting a being of flesh and bloods but a machine of metal and oil." Xero thought, as he stood up but frowned as a thought hit him, "Oh great, i'm fighting what is basically the terminator with Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced with his furry counterpart." The worst part was that Arnold was much slower, his robotic character built for power and strength, while clearly Foxy was built for agility and speed. With no weapons to speak of and stripped of his magic, armed with only his Yoki and skills, Xero knew this would be a tough fight.

For all their flaws, the one thing a robot had over a human was the fact they're bodies were metal, not flesh and blood.

They could not, would not feel pain and even if they lose a limb, they'd just keep going and until their battery reached zero, they'd keep fighting like a man possessed. Not to mention their CPU would always have a clam, collected, logic way of thinking that could mean the difference between life and death. Xero could tear Foxy to pieces but unless his CPU was destroyed, he'd just keep coming at him, no matter how much damage he sustained in the process.

"Which means i need for find out just WHERE they put his CPU at." And then destroy it but given what he was fighting, it wouldn't be an easy task. This was a robot, whatever damage he took, it ultimately meant nothing, as Captain Foxy could FEEL nothing. But Xero could and even with his inhuman pain tolerance, he had a feeling if that fox got ahold of him, he wouldn't be letting go without taking a piece of him with him, "I could survive losing a limb or too but there's no telling what this particular fox has up his sleeve. No, it's better to air on the side of caution and figure out where the CPU is, so i can take him down in one shot."

Easier said than done.

The room they were in was large but also too small with all the equipment in the room, making it a very unideal place to have a fight. At least for Xero, as Captain Foxy was basically a walking tank, or he assumed so. There was just simply no telling what kind of tricks the fox had and he was not keen on finding out with an up close and personal preview. But where could he go from here?

An ideal location that could not only shake this fox off his tail for a few seconds but a place where he could grab a make-shift weapon and use it to test the waters, so where his weak spots were, let alone actually get a makeshift weapon that could hurt this son of a bitch. He was confident in his skills but one of the core principles of fighting his teacher had beaten into his head was this: Study your opponent, find their weakness.

"Wait." Xero thought, as he dodged another strike from the strangely silent fox, as he sent a quick look back towards the entrance, "isn't there some sort Endo-skeleton basement near Parts & Services?" A normal basement could contain a lot of things.

An Endo-skeleton basement could contain over ten normal basements worth of things.

Including tools and makeshift weapons.

Tools and weapons he could use to destroy this thing in front of him.

"I could always use my Awakened Form but i do not wish to relay on my Yoki, but Afton was able to somehow strip away my magic." Xero had to dodge another strike, narrowing missing his neck, preventing his head from flying off his shoulders, "There is no telling if Afton has a plan in place for my Yoki, like he did my magic." It was a dangerous gamble to not use the full extent of his Yoki but it was even more dangerous to use it, as he simply had no idea what could happen. He thought he had it in the bag when entering this place and now he was not only cut off from his magic but from the outside world as well with the destruction of his Focus.

No, Xero decided, he would only use his Awakened Form if worse comes to worse, a last resort.

Nothing more, nothing less.

"Sigh, man i really have become depended on that Focus have i?" Maybe, as fighting flesh and blood beings are completely different from fighting creatures of metal and wires. Not that it would please his teacher, which made Xero shiver slightly.

Goddess and Twins above, Scathach would not be happy with him after this was all over and honestly, she would be right. For all his experience and training, he was having trouble with a robotic fox of all things. All because he lost his magic and had no weapons to speak of, he was put on the backfoot? Well, shame on him for allowing this to happen and it shouldn't matter if it was robotic or not, he should be able to handle something like this with ease!

Frowning, now angry at himself for his own weakness, Xero made a break for the Endo-basement, dodging yet another strike from the robotic fox.

"Or maybe I'm so hesitant to use Yoki without knowing if Afton can do something about it, that's what's causing my current predicament." Basically, him over thinking things once again, hindering his ability to do anything. Examining every little thing, while it might sound great on paper, was a bad thing in real life, especially during a life and death situation.

Shaking those thoughts off, Xero made his way to the Endo-Basement, dodging anything Foxy throw at him. Before he even realized it, he was in the Endo-Basement and allowed him to catch his breath.

"What is going on?" Xero thought to himself, looking down at his hands, clenching and unclenching his hands, "I shouldn't be this weak. Sure, I'm still leagues above Vanny but i feel like my strength is being zapped from my body. Is this Afton's doing, is he somehow siphoning my power besides just sealing it off?"

A yellow gleam appeared in the darkness of the endo basement and just as Xero cutting off his train of thought, Captain Foxy struck!

SLENCH

"AGH!"

But he wasn't fast enough, as the hook hand had ripped into his right eye socket, hooking into the eye itself and ripping it out of his skull, taking the eye with him. Blood leaked out of his now empty eye socket, as he slapped a hand over it, trying to prevent more blood loss but failed, as it leaked between his fingers.

"Twins above, that fucking son of a fucking bitch!" Xero swore to both the Twins and Goddess above, that fucking shit hurt! His body had been subjected to all kinds of pain and torture but the one place, the one part of his body that had not suffered from inhuman levels of pain was ironically, his eyes. Thus, making them much more sensitive and prone to feeling more levels of pain, then the rest of his body.

Getting the shit beaten out of him over the years had harden his body and dulled his pain sensitivity by a massive margin. Even if he could still feel pain, it didn't have the sting it once did. Now, Xero was remembering how much it hurt to lose a limb and was beginning to hate every second of it!

"Alright, enough of thIS SHIT!" Xero thought, as his anger begin to boil over, as his Yoki responded his anger. He wasn't sure where this anger was coming from but at the moment, he really didn't care. Truth be told, his eyes were his most exotic and something he treasured, as his mother had the same unique eye color as him.

Like their Yoki and jet-black hair, their Amythest colored eyes were a symbolization of their clan and to have someone damage that infuriated Xero to no end.

So, at the moment all he really cared about, all he wanted to do in right this second, was turning this rejected mascot into a smoking pile of scrap!

"Got ya mate/SMACK"

Foxy blinked, as the traitor caught his hook hand that was aimed to slice his throat open, actually holding him in place, as his sensors begin to go crazy as a cyclone of strange energy of white/purple surrounded Xero's body. The robotic fox's CPU could not process what was happening, as his opponent's skin begin to grow an odd shade of silverish gray, as his body grew in size. Growing so big, as veins became viable all over his body, as he was able to tow over the pirate captain by two inches, as his muscles expanded making him more bulker. Whatever little clothing he had left on, begin to rip apart, as black, metallic armor plating appeared encircling Xero's neck, as two black horns came out of the sides of his head, as they curved forward like a bull's horn. His lone purple eye had transformed from its exotic color to the same hellish gold Vanny had witnessed, with his pupil becoming slit, like a cat's as his long, jet black haired turned a shade of pure sliver/white. His mouth gain one, thin line through his cheeks above his jawline, allowing him to unhinge his jaw with ease, as his teeth sharpen into fangs with his fingernails turning into claws. The same armor around his neck appeared around his wrist and ankles, as two massive, nine feet span wings ripped themselves from his back, as a pair of smaller, one-half foot wings appeared below the larger ones. They looked like a pair of leathery wings with 'feathers' at the tips of the end.

"You're dead now, you fox reject." Xero's voice had also taken on a demonic edge to its tone, as he gripped the hook arm around the wrist and begin to pull. Hard.

Catching onto what the traitor was doing, Foxy begins to try and pull back. He tried for a minute, as his sensors begin to tell him that his arm was begin pulled off, frantically slashing and hacking at anything and everything his clawed hand could hit. He spilled a lot of blood, but it amounted to nothing, as Xero gave no indication that he even felt it, as he placed a booted foot on Foxy's stomach, simultaneously pulling Foxy's arm and pushing him back at the same time.

C-C-C-CRACK/SNAP

BREAK

Then, like it was in slow monition, Foxy's hooked arm soon came off from it's socket as bolts went flying, spilling wires, metal fillings and oil like it was blood.

Foxy wobbled back, all his vision was filled with all kinds of warnings signs, as Xero used his right wing to back hand the pirate captain away, causing the robotic fox to slaw through the wall into the next room, damaging him even more, as Xero crushed his arm with his hand with ease.

"And to think, i was having such trouble with you before." Xero muttered to himself, gaining a psychotic grin, as he felt the power of the Yoma flow freely through his body. Oh by the Goddess, it has been too long since he felt such a wonder-

SMACK

Xero smacked himself, shaking his head as his eyes narrowed at his opponent, mentally chastising himself for nearly falling back into some bad habits. Granny Miria was right, Yoki was an ever-addictive power and the more he released, the more he'd grow additive to the power of the Yoki.

One must be very careful when using it, too it's full power.

He may have complete control over his Awakened Form, but its power was like a drug. One he had no intention of getting addicted to but fuck, was it hard not to love the feeling of it. He normally wouldn't have a problem with it, unless in times like this when he used it at 100% power. When he was forced to reveal the full extent of his Yoki, transforming into his Awakened Form.

"But that doesn't matter now." Xero thought, dodging another attack sent by Foxy, as he kneed the robot in the stomach, delivering an open pam strike at his lower job, before grabbing the back of his neck, twisting around and slamming the fox into the ground, "Got to deal with this fucker first, find Gregory, save the other Glamrocks, free Vanessa from Afton and then deal with the bastard personally." Seesh, so much to do and it was only, what, almost three, possible getting closer to three-thirty in the morning?

The doors open at six AM, so that left him with only about three hours at best to do all that.

"G-get ya'r filithy hand off em tra-"

"Yeah, yeah, traitor, i heard that before." Xero said, waving off Foxy's threats, as the machine whirled his arm around, pointing his five, fingered hand and plunged it into Xero's stomach! The Magus grunted, as he felt the metal hand pierce through his stomached, trying to grip his organs or anything that could actually kill him, but he had the forethought to physically move said organs out of the way, when he felt the hand first cut into his skin.

"That hurt, motherfucker." Was all Xero had to say, as he grabbed the Foxy's head and begin to slam it down into the ground. Again, and again, and again and again letting out several loud THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP as he did so. By this point, Foxy's outer shell face became all but unrecognizable, as his muzzle as completely destroyed, the fur around his face was good, smashed into the ground and his eyes were glitching as they had several pieces of concrete stuck in them, along with several of his sharp teeth scattered across the floor, thanks to Xero repeatable smashing his face into said ground. The top lip of his muzzle had fallen off, leaving him with half a face.

Suddenly, his remaining eye glowed an ominous red, as the fox's remaining limbs wrapped around Xero's body, attempting to constrict him like he was a fucking Cobra!

"Oh, so that's your game, is it?" Xero grunted, as he felt the fox attempt to basically give him the bear hug of death, "Okay, i'll play your game. Hugs are nice and all, but you really need to learn to stop being so, DAMN. CLINGLY!" Much like before, Xero bent his knees and jumped upward, planting them on his lower torso, pushing against the robotic arms trying to make his organs come out of his mouth. But sadly, his skin was much tougher, and his bones were stronger, so even with his hydraulic attempting to squeeze the life out of him, it would take a full minute for them to reach the point of actually squeezing him hard enough to hurt him.

Too bad Xero didn't plan to give him that chance.

C-C-C-CRACK/SNAP

Foxy stumbled back, eye rapidly flickering on and off, as more oil and scrap metal dripped on the floor as what remained of his hook arm and other arm were torn off right before his very eyes, er, eye.

"Here, let me give you a hand, captain." Xero spoke with an evil smile, as he grabbed Foxy's throat, causing the robotic fox to thrash in his grip, attempting to kick him but all fail short as Xero used his other arm to form a green blade made entirely of pure Yoki, "Now, do me a favor captain and stay dead this time. Do not fight me on this, you're nothing but a puppet for an evil man and now, i will cut your strings." Without waiting for a replay, Xero then sliced Foxy's lower body off, cutting through his stomach, making his legs fall to the ground. Then, he proceeded to stab Foxy between his eyes, making the machine still for a second before he fell limp, the light in his remaining eye going dark.

Apparently, the CPU was right where it should have been, between the eyes.

Without any emotion, he dropped Foxy on the ground. But before he left, Xero gave the fox a few more stabs for good measure, ensuring the bastard wouldn't get back up and when it was clear he wouldn't, he sighed in tiredly.

Why did he feel so weak?

Suppressing his Yoki, Xero returned to his human form, nearly falling over as the pain hit him. Looking down, Xero saw his stomach was still torn open from Foxy's earlier attacks, as blood dripped at a steady rate from the wound in his stomach. He used the Yoki he had left to heal the wound, noting how only his pants survived the transformation but were now shorts and they were barely hanging on by a thread.

But using that Yoki to heal his stomach and insides came at a cost.

"Pant, pant, Ah shit." Xero groaned, as he slowly trudged away from the broken fox, sparks flying from its body, as Xero clutched his now empty eye socket. "Fuck me." Having to heal the rest of his more recent wounds from the damn fox, namely his nearly crushed insides, he had little to spar for his eye. But thankfully, his Yoki closed up the bleeding parts, leaving it stable for now, as growing a new eye entirely would take some time. While it wasn't exactly like losing an arm or leg, losing an eye was akin to an organ being punctured: It would be fine, but it would take some time to heal with his Yoki. But given the nature of his wound, that damned fox was trying to tear half his face off after all, the Yoki would have to focus on healing the more devastating damage before it could begin to regrow his eye.

With that in mind, he made his way into the next room over as his Yoki slowly healed his wounds. Fuck today, it was going to leave him with one massive bruise once it was all over. But it seemed Lady Luck had not forsaken him, as it just so happened, the room was a "Lost and Found" Room complete with plenty of things, very much lost. Now very much found by him and what do you know, it even had clothing too.

"Good." Xero thought, as he slowly started looking through the piles of clothes, "My hoodie's destroyed and these so called 'pants' aren't going to last much longer after suffering from all this abuse." Shuffling through the piles, he was able to find a good outfit for him. After all, if your going to do something, might as well do it in style.

His new outfit consisted of a light purple shirt, gray pants, black boots, a purple jacket with darker purple rings around his upper arms, a black patch on the right sleeve and long, black gloves that reached past his wrists. To top it all off, he even found a blocky, purple, black X eyepatch in the pile, more then likely a nod off to one of the OG animatronics left behind by some poor fool.

"Let's see, it's about what, three am or something close to that?" Xero thought to himself, rubbing his new eye patch, "It's going to take at least an hour or so, maybe two or three at the latest to restore my eyesight in my right eye. Until then, i'll have to keep an alert." Yeah, like he wasn't already on high alert but with his vision cut in half, he'd have to be even more careful now.

"...ro."

Xero stopped, blinking rapidly, as he looked around. Odd, he could have sworn, he heard-

"...Xero."

"Mother?"

No, that was impossible, she was gone. He watched the life leave her eyes, as he clung to her cold body. "Xero...follow my voice and you'll find what you see. Please free me." Narrowing his eyes, Xero slowly did as the voice beckoned. Ok, that was not his mother's voice but remarkable similar and strangely familiar somehow. What was going on? Was it one of the lost souls contacting him, begging for his help? It certainly seemed so.

"Its so dark, i feel so cold."

"It hurts...it hurts so much."

"Where am i, it's dark and 'm scared."

"Please..."

"...someone..."

"...anyone"

"HELP US!"

Xero's vision blurred, as he reached up and touched his eyes, surprised to feel tears falling from his eyes, as his heart clenched in pain and sorrow. He...he could feel them. He could sense them. He could hear them.

The voices of the dead and the lost.

He could feel their pain, their sorrow, their rage but most of all, he could HEAR THEM!

Crying out in pain, desperately for anyone to hear them.

Crying out for someone to know they were there.

Crying out for someone to hear their silent suffering.

Crying out for someone to help them.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" Xero questioned, attempting to lend a handout to these lost, wandering souls of the dead. He may not have his Mage Sight with no magic but if he squinted hard enough, he could actually SEE the lost souls crying out and the one that stood out the most, was a golden covered child in a princess like outfit beckoning him to follow her.

No, it wasn't just that she was wearing a golden dress, her entire body itself was gold or at the very least, yellow. Everything about her was yellow, down to her dress, hair, skin and even eyes.

She even had a cute little princess crown atop her golden head.

Seeing as he had no other choice at the moment and feeling spurred on to help these lost souls, he followed the golden, ghost child.

He didn't speak to the child, he didn't need too, as he could feel they're, no her emotions that were basically transferring her memories into his mind via unknown means. What he saw made him shutter in both, outrage and sorrow.

A little girl, blonde hair tied into pig tails having a very good day. She got her homework done on time, she aced all her tests, she had a good time with her friends at the end of the school day and her beloved daddy was going to pick her up from school, until HE showed up.

Willaim Afton aka Springtrap.

There was no warning, no word, no nothing before the bag was put over her head and thrown in the back of a trunk. What came next, was nothing more then a pure, senseless, unneeded violence. Afton had beaten this same girl to death, for no better reason other than he could, and it wasn't a quick death either. It was a slow, painful meant to inflict the most painful death possible in a very gruesome manner. There was no reason behind it, no plan, no sense, just pure violence and with her death was her sorrow.

And her rage.

A promise to make him pay for what he did to her.

To make him SUFFER the same way she suffered.

To usher him in a never-ending nightmare and hell of his own creation.

Something that Xero could personally agree with and at the moment, wanted nothing more than to make that a reality. But through it all, all the feelings, all the memories, he was finally able to close in on a particular memory, one that told him, who this golden princess was. Her name was...

"Cassidy."

As if summoned, she reappeared before him as the golden princess, eyes unblinking as she looked up at him with golden eyes, burning for vengeance. She didn't say a word, she didn't need too, as she held out her hand, as if asking to hold his but Xero knew better.

"You sure that's a good idea?" He asked tensely, eyeing her outstretched hand like it was a viper, "How do i know you won't attempt to forcefully take over my body to enact your revenge."

"..." Annoyance.

"Hey, it's a valid question and one i think needs answering. Just what are you planning to do if we do this?"

Eagerness and bloodthirstiness.

"Okay, that's fair but i intend to save not only the Glamrocks but Vanessa from Glitchtrap and Afton's control. You understand that, yes?"

Understanding and willfulness.

"Wait, you know how to free Vanessa?"

The golden princess nodded, before pointing her hand down the hall, that curved around and had an elevator that allowed one to enter a part of Roxy's Raceway. Xero felt what she was trying to tell him through her emotions and gestures, as his mind flashed with a location:

Glamrock Beauty Salon

"Got it." Xero made to move towards it, but was stopped as Cassidy stepped in front of him again, her hand once again outstretched, "How do i know i can trust, you won't try anything funny?"

Determination and anger.

"That doesn't mean much ya know and in fact, makes it more likely you'll try to take me over."

Sorrow.

Xero's eyes softened as he saw the golden princess lower her head in shame, "I see." So, that's how Afton was able to escape hell. She wanted to make things right, to make up for all the damage and death she caused, by meddling with things that should not have been meddled with in the first place. But did that mean he could trust her NOT to try anything?

Pleading.

She wrapped her little arms around his leg, looking up at him with big, golden eyes that looked close to shedding tears, as Xero sighed relucent and nodded, "Alright." She smiled widely, as he glared down at her, "But let me be clear, i sense you try anything, i'm booting you're sorry ass out." Even if he was wary, so long as Afton was alive or whatever he was, Cassidy and all the other souls of his newest victims were stuck on this mortal coil. Unable to move onto the afterlife, so long as their killer was still alive.

Which did nothing more then give Xero more reason to end this aged old killer and bring this nightmare to an end. Once and for all.

Acceptance.

"Can't believe i'm doing this." Xero muttered to himself, as he slowly grasped Cassidy's outstretched hand and with a bright smile, the golden form of the long dead ghost's essence slowly entered his body, making him shiver but he didn't resist. It was a truly strange feeling, Xero decided, as he felt Cassidy's soul connect with his own and entering his body was, well, not an entirely unpleasant experience but the process had-

THUMP

Caused him to fall to the ground, feeling dazed and dizzy.

"Ooooooh, that was...that was something." Xero grunted to himself, shaking the cobwebs out of his head, as he blinked. He felt...different. He looked down at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fist. He felt, better. Stronger even, if not magical or Yoki wise but in spirit strangely enough if that made any sense, "It almost feels like what happens when i merge with my Servants." Obviously without the unbelievable power that comes with being a Servant but it felt like his soul itself grew stronger.

Whatever Cassidy did, it changed something. It was difficult to explain but whatever it was, Xero felt renewed energy course through his veins, making him all but jump, ready to rock and roll. "Right, time to move." Unknown to Xero, as he got up and started moving towards the Beauty Salon, speeding his way really, the eye hidden/healing behind his new eyepatch had glowed a golden color behind his eyelid before it vanished.

Deep Within The Bowls Of The Mega Pizza-Plex, 2:53 AM

"AcK!"

Burntrap felt himself nearly double over, as he felt a sharp pain in his, stomach? Yeah, stomach or what was once his stomach. The burnt body of Glitchtrap never noticed the glowing crystal within his new body's chest flicker gold before it returned to it's normal color.

With Vanny

"Urk!"

Vanny nearly doubled over, feeling a sudden headache come on, as she felt her vision swarm a bit, before shaking her head in annoyance. The rabbit killer had no idea why but she suddenly felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, one that did not feel her with confidence in the captain chances of returning, despite telling herself that there was no way the meddler could win.

Right?

But deep, buried within her psychic, was Vanessa, who opened her eyes from within her mental prison and felt something she had not felt in a very, very long time:

Hope.

With Gregory And Freddy

"Oh god this was a bad idea!"

Was Gregory's only thought as Chica chased him through the halls, leading to Parts & Services, with the white chicken hot on his heels. In Gregory's hubris and eager to provide help to his mentor, Gregory put together a hastily put together plan that honestly could have been better.

But at the time, it seemed like such a good idea and plan.

Twenty Minutes Prior

"Damnit Freddy let me go! We can't leave Xero behind to deal with that thing, we can't leave him to die!" Gregory yelled with tears in his etes, as he struggled within the robotic bear's grip.

"I am truly sorry Gregory, but we could do nothing more than get in his way." Freddy said sadly, ears dropping as he put Gregory on the floor, looking the boy in the eye, "But have faith that Mr. Mazoku can defeat him. With us here, he does not have to worry about protecting you or me and can focus his full attention on Foxy." The boy growled, trying to glare at the robot, but the tears in his eyes lessened the effects.

He simply wanted to help but was unable to him and it frustrated him to not end. Not that Freddy could blame him, as he felt the same way.

"Fine." The boy angrily wiped his eyes, as he looked determined, "Xero said that we can help your friends and our best bet would be to go after Chica first, so let's do it."

"Do what?"

"Find Chica!" Gregory said like it should have been obvious, which it should have been. Freddy's eyes widen in shock, as Gregory spoke, "Come on! Xero is fighting, doing his part and so we have to do ours! Come on!"

"W-wait a second Gregory, we cannot-"

"But we can!" Gregory talked over Freddy, "I know we can do this and in fact, i think i have the perfect idea."

Freddy had a feeling he was going to regret it but nevertheless, he asked, "What kind of idea?"

With Chica, Five Minutes Later, Atrium Ground Floor

The white and pink chicken robotically walked through the corridors, looking for her quarry in complete silence, when she suddenly heard a loud "HEY! OVER HERE YOU FAT CHICKEN!"

Robotically turning her head, Chica saw Gregory near the Stage lift, as he grinned, pulling his eye lid down and sticking his tongue out blowing a raspberry. Then, in a show of pure childness, Gregory turned around, bent over and with his tongue still out, started smacking his butt, "Come on you useless chicken or are you so slow and fat, you can't catch one kid?"

Something deep within her circuits, insults and slurs throw at her during her time at the Pizza-Plex surged within Chica. Both the pain of those slurs...and anger at it, one that has been boiling for a while now. Normally, a machine, even an AI would not normally feel such a feeling but given how advanced her personality chip was, she begin to develop genuine emotions.

Ones that can react in a very organic and very genuine way, like love for food and her friends/family.

But that also included anger.

"WHY YOU BRAT!" Chica felt her anger exploded, years of repressed rage coming out, as she started charging towards the mocking boy, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!"

"CRAP!" Gregory all but slammed the button down on the stage lift, causing said lift to descended downward. Thankfully, the lift had reached the ground floor before Chica could reach the stage lift, as she dropped down onto the ground floor, eyes blazing a purple rage, as the ground cracked beneath her chicken feet.

This caused Gregory to scream in horror, before bolting down the hallway, causing Chica to chase after him, yelling, "GET BACK HERE YOU DAMN BRAT!"

Which leads us to where we are now, as Gregory lead Chica into the carefully laid trap he and Freddy had made. With no sign of Xero or Foxy, the duo decided it would be best to deal with Chica now. The plan was flimsy at best, but Gregory had to have hope that it could work or else he was done for. As the rapt thumping of Chica's feet got closer and closer, Gregory felt his heartbeat faster, as his little legs pushed harder to sped towards the location where Freddy was, Gregory could have sworn he saw his life flash before his eyes.

AND IT SUCKED!

"I HAVE YOU NOW, YOU-"

ZAP

But just as Chica was about to grab Gregory, he turned around the next coroner, only to get a face full of sparking electricity! Freddy had ripped a large electrical cord out of the wall and when Gregory had rounded the corner with his friend coming full speed, it was the best chance he had to shock Chica into shutting down via a forced reboot, overloading her battery.

Chica sputtered and twitched for a good couple of seconds, before her eyes went completely black and titled backward, falling hard on the ground, smoking from the sudden surge of electricity in her machinal, metal body.

"Pant, pant We, pant, did it." Gregory breathed out a heavy breath, desperately gulping in air as Freddy stared down at his friend's twitching body.

"Yes, we did." Fred-Bear said sadly before he brightens up. Hey, it's not like Chica was dead or gone to the dark side, she was just infected and could be fixed! Grabbing her body, Freddy threw Chica over his shoulder, looking down at Gregory, "Come Gregory, let us get Chica into the cylinder to repair her before she reboots. Then, once that's done, we will go look for Mr. Mazoku and then save Roxy and Monty."

Gregory nodded, as the two walked down the hallway towards Part & Services.

3:07 AM: 2 HOURS AND 53 MINUTES UNTIL 6:00 AM

Done and woo-boy, this chapter was a fun to right.

We get to see some of Xero's Yoki abilities and now he's got some new allies in the form of the dead ghost children, Cassidy most of all. Just what exactly did she do to cause all of this and what exactly did she do?

Ya know, by seemly 'merge' with Xero?

Well, i guess the only way ya'll find out is to stick around, review and just wait for the next chapter of this story. See you all next chapter!

Devil out!