Time Realm: Entrance
In the Time Realm, X and the others came out of the portal and arrived at the same area who first got here.
"Looks like we're here." X proclaimed, looking around.
"Looks like it." Storm agreed. "The same spot where we first got here."
"So it's the same place as last time, so they are connected from place to place!" Douglas noted.
Kupo! It's you again!
They turn around and saw the same Moogle again, and he look surprised to see them again.
"Hey, you're that same stuff toy we met." Axl recalled.
"Again!? I told you, I'm not a stuff toy!" The moogle yelled and then realized something. "Why you all come back here!? You know it's dangerous here, someone's been throwing people in the Time Realm."
"No, we're here to investi-" Zero paused and noticed what the moogle said. "Wait... What you say again?"
"I said Someone been throwing people in the Time Realm, Kupo." Moogle repeated.
"Are you serious?" Axl doubted. "Why would someone was thrown in here and they couldn't get out, they might die! Who would do such a-"
"...Wait..." Zero said, suddenly, stopped Axl. "Say that again, Axl."
"I said 'someone was thrown in here and they couldn't get out, they might die!'." Axl repeated, which lead Zero to think.
"Hold on... I need to think." Zero said as he began to think for a moment.
"About?" Sting said.
"Okay, this Moogle said that someone has been throwing people in here, right?" Zero state.
"Yes, Kupo?" The Moogle nodded.
"And those people…could they have been that Reporter and the student that showed up on the news?" X assumed. "If anything, there was 'someone' in our world who threw them into this one."
"Yeah… I agree." Sting saw the logic behind Zero and X reasoning. "Let's assume the little guy telling the truth… Could it be that someone's throwing people in here, intending to kill them? If that's the case…"
"Uh? What're you guys talking about." Gungaroo asked them in confusion.
"Well, I think it's still a bit of a stretch, but say those two actually did get pushed into here by someone. That would mean that the Monster the moogle talked about must have attacked those two, and, well…" X state.
"So, the monsters here really did kill those people?" Slash Beast assumed.
"Maybe... But there's more to think about." Zero said. "What if 'someone' knows about the monsters in here? What if they're doing it on purpose?"
"Wait, you think someone is doing this intentionally?" Sting said. "If that's the case, then…does that mean, they're throwing people in here, intending to get rid of them?"
"That's what I think." X replied
"Logically, that does make sense…" Storm said. "If someone wanted to get away with their crime, pushing their victims into here, and letting the monsters finish them off seems like the perfect plan, since there would barely be any evidence to use against them."
"Whoa, Whoa, whoa! Hold on! " Douglas stopped them, and look nervous. "Does that mean we are now investigating about the murders too!?"
"For your words... Yes." Storm confirmed, which make Douglas look scared about it as he began to shake.
"Oh boy... What have I got myself into." Douglas whispered in fear.
"Why are you guys mumbling about?" The moogle asked. "And you know, it's dangerous to come back here!"
Gungaroo scoffed. "We can handle this. We are Maverick Hunter, Repliforce and Red Alerts."
Sting nodded. "Yeah. And beside, this time we have a lifeli—" He couldn't finish his sentence when he realized that the line had been cut off. "What the!?
"So much for that." Slash lamented, then turned to the Moogle. "Look you better stay out of this for our investigate."
"But I want to investigate too, Kupo!" Moogle retorted. "I been here for so long, and I want to know what this place is all about, Kupo! And beside it's dangerous for you all"
"We told you already. We can handle this." Slash insisted.
"And what is this place?" X wondered as he and the other look around. "It looks so strange."
"Yeah. There's so many gears,
"And what is this place?" X wondered as he and the other look around. "It looks so strange."
"Yeah. There's so many gears,
"Yeah. There's so many gears and clocks around the area, not mention those crystals all over the place." Storm said.
"I don't either. This realm is always been like this, Kupo." The Moogle said.
"Always been like this? What are you saying?" Axl asked.
"Only me and those monsters around." The Moogle answered. "I've been survive all by myself from those monster lurking around, Kupo."
"By yourself!?" Slash beast remarked. "Man, something tells me you have some survival skills."
"Maybe." The moogle said. "But you should know that this place is dangerous, you have to leave."
Gungaroo began to fed up with the Moogle's warning. "Would you cut it out! We already told you, we can handle this! Why aren't you listening for what we said!?" He snapped.
"I-I was just trying to make sure you all leave this dangerous realm, Kupo." The Moogle stammered. "I was just trying to help you."
"Well, you're not good at it." Gungaroo muttered. "You just want us to leave."
The moogle at the group and see how they are serious about investigating the Time Realm."Look... If you guys are serious about investigating, Kupo." The Moogle sighed. "Then you need to help me."
"Help you?" X questioned.
"Yes. I want you to find the real the person who did all this. You have to stop him, Kupo." The moogle pleaded and then begsn to cry. "If this keeps up... More people will die here."
"Yeah. There's so many gears and clocks around the area, not mention those crystals all over the place." Storm said.
"I don't either. This realm is always been like this, Kupo." The Moogle said.
"Always been like this? What are you saying?" Axl asked.
"Only me and those monsters around." The Moogle answered. "I've been survive all by myself from those monster lurking around, Kupo."
"By yourself!?" Slash beast exclaimed. "Man, something tells me you have some survival skills."
"Maybe." The moogle said. "But you should know that this place is dangerous, you have to leave."
Gungaroo began to fed up with the Moogle's warning. "Would you cut it out! We already told you, we can handle this! Why aren't you listening for what we said!?" Gungaroo snapped.
"I-I was just trying to make you all leave this dangerous realm, Kupo." The Moogle stammered. "I was just trying to help you."
"Well, you're not good at it." Armadillo muttered. "You just want us to leave."
The moogle at the group and see how they are serious about investigating the Time Realm."Look... If you guys are serious about investigating, Kupo." The Moogle sighed. "Then you need to help me."
"Help you?" X questioned.
"Yes. I want you to find the real the person who did all this. You have to stop him, Kupo." The moogle pleaded and then began to cry. "If this keeps up... More people will die here."
"H-Hey! Why are you crying?" Axl said, nervously.
"What the heck's up with him?" Gungaroo questioned. "And would you stop crying like that, you making us feel bad."
Then Zero approach the Moogle, and patting his head. "Don't worry, we find the culprit, and we're gonna stop them." Zero assured him.
"Y-You are, Kupo?" The Moogle said, calming down.
"Yes. We are." Zero nodded, and then look at X. "How about it, X?"
X seems so conflicted about this, the reason why is because he had enough fighting after the Maverick Wars, he just wants to live a normal life away from all this, but hearing what Zero said and see the Moogle crying makes him have a second though about it, he began to think that this Time Realm and this investigation might be different for him. Even though, he doesn't want to fight, but he just can't stand people being trapped here or be killed by monster, so he made up his mind to help them out for the two deaths.
"Alright. Let's do this." X said in determination.
"Whoa... Seriously, X?" Axl exclaimed to hear what X have to say, he though that's he's going to rejected for doing this.
"Yes... I'm serious... And i made up my mind." X replied. "Also I feel bad for the little guy."
"T-Thank you, Kupo!" The moogle exclaimed.
"Man... Hearing for what you said really surprised me." Douglas comment. "But, it's true that we came here to figure things out. So far, we're completely in the dark."
"I know I can count you all, Kupo." The moogle cheered. "Might as well introduce ourselves."
"Alright then... I'm X... This is Zero, Storm Eagle, Armadillo, Douglas, Slash Beast, Vanishing Gungaroi and Axl." He introduced. "What's your name?"
"I'm Mog the Moogle, Kupo." The moogle answered.
"Strange name for a little guy." Sting comment.
"But how are we supposed to find the culprit in the first place?" Axl wondered.
"No clue, Kupo… Oh, but I know where the last person came in." Mog suggested.
"Wait..." Sting realized. "Are you talking about Mimi-Senpei?"
"Don't knows, Kupo." Mog replied. "But I did saw person that came in here and left last time. I don't know the name, Kupo."
"Say, did that person look like this?" Storm said, pull out a picture of Mimi Hoshi and show it to Mog.
"That's right, Kupo." Mog answered then look at Sting. "I can take you to where I last saw her. You might find clues."
"Okay." Sting nodded. "Let's go."
"Wait." Zero stopped them. "I think we should head back to the TV Studio."
"What? Why there?" Axl questioned.
"Well... I want to know what happened to Yuki Maizano." Zero state. "We all know that the culprit may have throw her in the Time Realm before Mimi Hoshi. And there might be some clues we can find."
"But... What about Mimi Hoshi?" Sting pointed out. "I want to know what happened to her and how she die."
"I understand your insistence, Sting. But I want to investigate the TV Studio and find some clues about her death." Zero said.
"But we can't go two places at once." Axl said.
"Then how about we split up?" Storm suggested. "We can go seperately as a Team."
"I agree." Douglas said. "One of us will go with Sting and Mog to investigate Mimi Hoshi's Death, while the rest go with Zero to investigate TV Studio."
"I'll go with Sting." X said. "I want to help him out."
"Me too." Storm said.
"So am I." Armadillo added.
"Okay. Then all of you shall come with me." Zero declared.
"Alright! Just like old times!" Axl said in excitement.
"Yeah, me too." Gungaroo agreed, knowing how he's looking forward to fight again, not to mention work alongside with Axl now.
"And this time, don't wonder off on your own, Kangaroo." Slash Beast stermly said.
"Aw come on! Why you guys keep treating me like a Kid!?" Gungaroo complaint.
"Because of your behaviour, so quit acting like a baby." Slash Beast argue, as Gungaroo pout.
"Okay, that's enough you two." Armadillo talked them out. "Let's focus on our investigation.
"Okay, but before we investigate... Don't any of you have weapons, Kupo." Mog asked.
"Why's that?" Douglas questioned.
"If we ran into Monster, you guys need to defend yourself against them, Kupo." Mog explained. "We can't just walk around defenseless."
"Well, X got his Mega-Buster, Zero got his Z-Saber and Axl got his guns." Douglas said. "Those three can fight."
"What about me? I can fight with my fist." Gungaroo pointed out.
"Okay, make that four." Douglas sweatdrop.
"Except us. We don't have our weapons function on us." Sting pointed. "Without them, we can't fight or defend ourselves... But I still have my invisibility instead."
"I see, Kupo... Don't worry, I have some weapons that can help you." Mog assured them, as he head to the chest, he opened it and show them all kinds of weapons for them, much for their surprised and awe.
"Whoa!? How on earth did you get those?!" Douglas exclaimed.
"I'll tell you later, Kupo. Right now, we to focus on our investigation." Mog reminded.
They want to ask Mog a question about how he got so many weapons, but it'll have to wait. And so they began pick their own weapons, Slash Beast pick a Broadsword, Storm Eagle pick a Spear, Armadillo Armor pick two shields and Douglas pick a Gun.
"What about you? Do you have a weapon?" Zero asked Mog.
"No, Kupo. I'm not capable to fight, I just run and dance." Mog explained?
"Dance?" X said in confused.
"Yeah. You want to see my moves?" Mog said.
"Maybe later." Douglas replied and noticed that Sting didn't pick his weapon. "What about you, Sting? Aren't you gonna pick your weapons."
"I can't. I don't have hands, remember." Sting muttered, and he stared at his two toed hands look annoyed.
"Why not use your tongue, Kupo?" Mog suggested.
"I can't do that!" Sting refused. "If I do that, my tongue will be cut off by those monsters you keep talking about."
"Sorry, Kupo." Mog apologies, then realized something. "One question, Who's this Mimi-Senpei person? Someone you know?"
The same pained expression made it's way onto Sting's face. "I don't want to talk about it. Anyways, at least now we know that Senpai might have been thrown in here." Sting said. "Let's do our best to investigate."
"Alright then, since we're now armed and ready. Let's split up." Zero announced.
They all split up in two direction in the Time Realm, Zero and his team headed off to the TV Studio to find clues about the Reporter's death, while X and his teams headed off to the other direction to find out what to Mimi Hoshi.
Time Realm: Odaiba District
X and his team arrived in the District that looks like Odaiba, and around street are full of crystal, gears and damaged building, not to mentioned that the skies look purple then blue.
"This area... It looks like Odaiba." Storm noticed.
"It sure is..." X agreed as he look around. "What's going on here?"
This place was place appeared ever since this Mimi-senpai person appeared in this world, Kupo. " Mog said.
"But of all places in the district, why'd they replicate this one?" Armadillo questioned.
"This is how the Time realm is, Kupo. This realm is connected to your world and different timelines." Mog explained.
"Sounds a lot like Time Travel." Sting comment. "But if this Odaiba from our timelines, we're not far from Mimi's place."
The five proceeded to walk a little further before they ended up in front of a pharmacy. And Sting recognized this Place.
"I knew it…! This is the pharmacy that Senpai's parents run." Sting pointed out. "Does this mean… Senpai disappeared here? What could've happened?" He wondered as he's about to enter.
"W-Wait a second. Th-They're here, Kupo!" Mog warned them.
"What?" Armadillo mouthed.
"What's here?" X asked Mog.
" … Monster, Kupo. I had a feeling they were going to attack!" Mog panicked.
Then suddenly Monster are coming out of their hiding places, which frightened Mog out and so was Sting. X shoot those Fire Bombs with his Buster, while Storm and Armadillo use their weapons at the Goblins. Then suddenly more of them are coming around the area and surrounded them. X and the others tried to hold them off as long as they can, but the monsters are too many for them handle, seeing that there are so many of them makes them think thst this is the end for them.
"There's so many of them, I don't we can't handle that much." Armadillo said in shocked to see how many they are
"And we're surrounded..." Sting muttered in fear. "Are we done for?"
X heard for what Sting said about being done for by Goblins and Fire bombs thst surrounded them, as he began to see image of the wars, deaths and destruction of the world. He shake his head to clear his mind.
No, I can't let this happen! I'm not letting them die like this! I cannot lose them, not again! They were about to redeem themselves for their action, and I don't want those monster to take them away! I went through many Maverick Wars to stop all this! NO! I won't let this happen to them! My friends! I want to save them!! I need Power!!!!
It looks like, you're in trouble.
Then X heard a voice, and everything has stopped except him. He look around and see them not moving like time has stopped.
"What's going on?" X wondered as he surprise to see that everything stopped except him.
I stopped time for you.
X recognized that voice, it was voice from that weird dream he had. Then an glowing blue light appeared in front of him.
"What's this?" X curiously said.
This is the power will you lend your strength... But tell me... Why
X look at Storm Eagle, Sting Chameleon, Armored Armadillo and Mog who are surrounded by monsters as time still stopped.
"I...I... I want to protect them!" X answered.
And the reason why?
"Because I want them to have a second chance, and have new life. During the Maverick Wars, I keep fighting them, war after war. After what the Virus did to them, I was so sad... To see them become a Maverick. I lost so many people who turned against me and humanity, and I can't stand this... After the war, I was so happy to bring them back, and make them have new life. And don't want to lose them again... Because of this... That's why... I wanted to protect them." X explained sadly.
I see... I guess you are worthy for this power. And for that... I will give you this... I have sense your compassion for the people you wanted to protect... And I can feel your spirit and your heart, and see how weak they are... Don't worry... This power will give you the strength and abilties to fight back against your foes and protect your friends.
Then the Blue light grows bright and floated into X's Chest, and X place his hand to his chest and he feel warm inside as he close his eyes.
This Power is yours... Now, use it to protect your friends and defeat the enemies before you!
X opened his eyes and look determined to fight back against the monsters that they're about to kill his friends, then Time has beeb resume. And X noticed the goblins coming towards Sting and Mog who are holding each other in fear, while Storm and Armadillo are holding the Fire bombs off. The goblins pull out it's dagger and walking towards Sting and Mog. X dash off to protect Sting and Mog, he stand between them. The goblin is about to Stab X, and he blocked it with his right hand then it began to shine so brightly as it covered everyone's eyes except X. As thr light dies down, his friends opened their eyes are something unexpected, they saw X holding a sword from his previous dream.
"X... How did you-" Storm hesitated to speak up as he stared at X who is now holding a sword.
X then glared at the Goblins, and proceed to fight them off. The goblin lunged toward X, but he dodge it and strike the goblin, then the goblins began to charged towards him, and he began to fight them off. He swing his sword and aim his Mega Buster at them. His friends and Mog witness his combat moves and see how skillfull he was with both weapons. He attacked all the goblins with his as they all disappeared in darkness, X noticed a fire bomb charging towards him, X aim his sword at it and began to glow blue with ice shards.
Freeze
He fired ice at the Fire bomb from his sword and destroyed the fire bomb, X look around to ses if there are more, and didn't see any. He sigh in relief and his sword disappeared from his hand.
"Whoa, X! That was awesome!" Sting cheered.
"I gotta say... Didn't know you can fight that many on your own." Armadillo said in astonished.
"How did you became so skillfull with that sword of yours." Storm questioned in awe.
"I... Don't know... I don't know how I do that. I mean, I used it before during the 6th Maverick War, but not this skillful before." X state, as he stared his right hand where his sword was. "And how did it shoot ice too?"
"Well... Since you have a sword with you, maybe it might come in handle for your Mega Buster too." Sting suggested. "You seem so skillfull with both of them."
"For once, I agreed." Armadillo said.
"Wow, Kupo! You're like a Warrior, fighting off those Monsters! You have some kind of hidden power within you. No wonder, these guys are no match against you, Kupo." Mog gasped.
"Um... Thank you, Mog." X replied still confused about how a sword appeared and how he became skillful with it.
"Gotta say, X. You are a remarkable fighter." Storm comment. "If Zero were here, he'll probably be surprised to see you do that."
"I guess." X replied as he rubbed his neck.
"Alright, you guys. Since those monsters are gone. Let's get back to investigate." Sting proclaimed as he look at the Pharmacy. "Senpai... I wonder what happened to you."
They all about enter the Pharmacy, then suddenly...
I can't believe they rebuild the Reploids again.
They all stopped and hear voice echo from somewhere. they look around to find the source.
Why would the government rebuild them for? Didn't they cause the death and destruction of our friends, family and our homes.
They should stayed broken.
I heard that one of them used to be a Maverick Hunter, then they side with Sigma. I can't stand their faces.
I hate them so much... I wish they would disappeared forever.
X and the others heard those voice, and they are shocked and horrified to hear jt. Those are voices of the Humans from their World. And it seems that the people held grudges and Anger on the Reploids.
"Are those..." X hesitate.
"It is..." Storm comfirm and look shocked to hear it.
And the voice continue, which makes Storm, Armadillo and Sting uncomfortable.
"Stop it." Sting desperately .
"All those voices..." Armadillo murmured.
I heard that some of those former Mavericks attending to our school.
I also heard that Mimi became friends with a Reploid who was involved from the first Maverick War.
In Desperate, Sting turned to Mog. "Mog, you said that this realm is connected to our world and different timelines, right. Does that mean that this was Senpai's timeline when she wandering around."
"Probably, Kupo." Mog meekly responded. "I only hear what's going on in this timeline, Kupo."
"Fine. Whatever's going on here, we'll find out ourselves." Sting suggested
They ran into the Pharmacy, not knowing what will happened. Storm, Sting and Armadillo in particular couldn't prepare for what would happen next.
They run inside, they found that the place seemed a lot more spacious than what the outside would have you believe. While the voices stopped for a short while, they started up again once they got inside.
"Again..." Sting murmured.
Mimi! What are you doing!?
Sting was startled by that voice, and recognized it. It was Mimi's Father.
How could you became friends with a reploid!? Don't you know about the Maverick Wars? They ruined our lives, and took everything from us! I lost my Parents and my Sister, because of them! And now... You began to hang out with that Reploid Chameleon! He's nothing, but Trouble!
They are shocked to heard what he said to Mimi, his daughter. And knowing about his prejudice towards Reploids who lost his parents and his sister.
"You.. You got to be kidding me. She seemed like she had fun hanging out with me. She never said anything like this to me..." Sting muttered in disbelief.
"Is this… how Mimi-senpai saw things?" X wondered aloud before he and the others saw something of interest on the table just ahead of them, causing them to approach the table.
On the table were photos of Sting and Mimi hang out together. All of which were torn apart.
"These photos… Is this…" He took a step forward and felt that he was stepping on something. He looked down and saw a familiar movie ticket in the same state as the photos. "And… this is the ticket I gave her yesterday. Why is it here? And how did she tore them all up?"
I... I didn't have a chance to tell Sting.
The Group heard a voice and they look around, and Sting recognized that voice
"Is that... Mimi?" Sting asked.
I always wanted to tell him... That he's such an Idiot!
Sting was surprised by that insult from Mimi.
I was only nice to him was because I feel bad for him, and now he think that I'm the only one who cares for him? What an Idiot. Because of him, People began to grow angry at me including my Parents. And I can't stand it, including Sting. He is so... annoying to me! The way he behaves and laugh make me got on my nerves... And he's such a coward, too!
"Did... did she called me... a coward?" Sting muttered and wish what he was not true.
Who cares about Reploids. It's their fault for causing the Maverick Wars long time ago! And now everyone in Odaiba including my parents began to hate me for this. I wish everything would just... go away!
"No!! Stop it! Stop it!!!" Sting cried out as he kneel down. "Mimi would never think of me like that! I'm not a coward, too!!!"
"Sting..." Storm said sympathetic.
I hate Storm Eagle so much...
Storm heard a voice, and it's not from the Mimi, her friends or the people who hates Reploids. But members of the Maverick Hunters long time ago.
I hate him so much after he became a Maverick and joined Sigma... How could he do this to us? He's nothing... but a total failure to the Maverick Hunters! Because of him and the other Maverick, All the Cities has been under attacked by Sigma. And now the public began to hate us since the Maverick wars. He's a total failure to us all... And it would be better for him that he never existed.
Storm was horrified to heard what the Maverick Hunter said about him.
"After he's been rebuild by the government. I don't want to see him again after what he done. I can't stand the look on his face. He's Pathetic and a Failure!
"I'm not Failure... I'm not Pathetic..." Storm murmured as he clutches his fist for what the voices said about him.
Armored Armadillo, how could you betrayed us...
The group heard voices again and they talked about Armored Armadillo now.
How could he side with Sigma. He said he was under order with Sigma, but not us? How could he... Was it because of loyalty with him.
Sigma became a Maverick and Armadillo is now on his side... How could he betrayed us all... We Maverick Hunter are supposed protect both human and Reploids... And he abandoned our Loyalty and side with Sigma... We tried to talk him out of it, but he won't listen to us... We were so upset of him and he want us to joined Sigma... And we called him a Traitor for this betrayal.
Armadillo look shocked to hear the voices of the Maverick Hunters and called him out for being a traitor.
Armadillo... You are nothing but a traitor to us, Maverick Hunters! How could you do this to us! You betrayed your own members, and side with Sigma! You said you stayed Loyalty to the Maverick Hunter. And now your Loyalty to Sigma after what he done... You Hypocrite!
"Enough! Enough! Shut up!" Armadillo yelled at the voice. "I don't want to hear it!!"
It's *sniff* so sad... I feel so sorry for myself... Boo hoo... nyahahaha.
They heard a voice that sound like Sting Chameleon, but more echo like.
I agree to you... including stuff they say about being Failure and Pathetic to themselves...
Including their Betrayal... their Loyalty is all for nothing
They heard two voices that sound Storm and Armadillo. They look around to find whos taunting them, and then Sting, Storm and Armadillo's Shadows rise up and revealed their yellow glowing eyes.
"Actually, I'm the one who thinks everything's annoying... Nyahahaha!" Dark Sting proclaimed with a laugh.
"So am I. The ones who are pathetic and a Failure... are these fools!" Dark Storm said as he smirked.
"And finally the ones for abandoned the loyalty for me... Is everyone!" Dark Armadillo added as he chuckled evilly.
"Who are you!?" Armadillo exclaimed as he, Storm and Sting are shocked to see their Dark self appeared.
"What the!? There are two, Storm, Sting and Armadillo, Kupo!?" Mog exclaimed.
"Must be one of Sigma's Maverick!" X proclaimed as he aim his mega buster at them.
"Sigma? Maverick?" Dark Storm repeated, then wave his finger at X. "You're incorrect, kid. We are not Maverick you think about, the War is over along with Sigma."
"If you're not, then who are you all?!" X demand.
"We are the dark selves of their guilt, regret, shame, anger and denial." Dark Sting answered. "The ones they refused to admit themselves."
"W-What? I don't know what you're talking about." Sting said in confusion.
"And what do you mean, you came from our Guilt, Regret, Shame, Anger and Denial?" Storm questioned as he pointed his spear at his dark self.
"You want to know why? We'll tell you why." Dark Sting said as he look at the Real Sting. "How long are you going to keep denying yourself and acted like you don't care?"
"What?" Sting replied.
"Forget Mimi and Forget everything you've been through. You're just tired of all this, especially how people treated you along with reploids." Dark Sting said.
"W-What..." Sting said.
"You were thinking there was the chance to get away from it all. And hey, if all goes well, you could run away like a Coward! The death of your beloved Mimi was the excuse you needed to get away from your problems... just like a Coward." Dark Sting said as he grinned.
S-Stop it! I'm not a Coward!" Sting shouted at his dark self.
"And as for you, Storm." His dark self pointed at him. "You didn't come here to help your friends to investigate this realm. You just came here to prove yourself that you're not a Failure or Pathetic. A perfect excuse just like Sting's cowardice. You came here because of your guilt."
"That's ridiculous! Stop saying nonsense!?" Storm rebuked at his Dark self.
"And as for you, Armadillo..." Dark Armadillo said as he look at him. "You came here for the same reason Sting and Storm has. To run away... because of the shame of your betrayal of the Maverick Hunters.
"Enough talk!" Armadillo yelled at the Dark self.
Dark Armadillo scoffed. "You stick your loyalty with Sigma and become a maverick, and then you cause your fellow colleagues to turned against you and make them feel betrayed!
"Shut up! We don't want to hear it!" Sting yelled angrily at the Dark counterparts.
Dark Sting laughed. "Why are you three got so Angry?" he said. "I thought we were just talking trash talk... Or maybe... Is what we truly are. Coward."
"Failure." Dark storm added.
"And Backstabber." Dark Armadillo finished.
"Enough of this! Who are you all!?" Storm angrily shouted.
"We told you before. We are the dark self of your Guilt, Regret, Shame, Anger and Denial." Dark Armadillo repeated.
"You're wrong. You're not us!" Armadillo denial.
Then their dark counterparts began to chuckled evilly as the darkness began to unleashed inside them.
"Say that again. All of you." Dark Sting laughed evilly.
"You're not our Dark Selves!" Sting, Storm and Armadillo yelled in unison.
Then their dark selves began to laugh from their response as the darkness began to envelope them.
"That's right! We're not your dark selves!" Dark Sting proclaimed.
"Now that you all refused us! We'll show you what we are now!" Dark Storm declared.
"And your existence shall disappeared with us!!!" Dark Armadillo cried out.
They began to transformed into a dark monstrous version of them, much for the Group horror and shock to see their appearence and how terrifying they are.
"What's happening!?" X exclaimed in horror.
"Oh no! Their Dark Selves began to go berserk, Kupo!" Mog panicked.
Then the room began to shake and all the medicines, bottles, appliances, and all the walls too were brushed away, opening up a huge battlefield for them to fight to them and the battle look like the Maverick HQ. The Dark selves of Storm, Armadillo and Sting began to attack them. They managed to dodge, while X tackled Sting out of harms way. X summons his sword and began to fight against Storm, Armadillo and Sting's dark self.
"No..." Sting mumbled as he get up. "That monster, isn't me. We're nothing alike."
"You're all just copies!" Armadillo shouted at the dark counterparts of Storm, Sting and himself.
"Guys, those things right there came from all of you, Kupo" Mog said.
"No, it doesn't!" Storm detested.
"Heh, you put on a good show, pretending to be all carefree, and happy-go-lucky and acted like you don't care!" Dark Sting laughed as he stick his tongue at X, but he dodge. "But deep down, you just a coward inside you!"
"No! I'm not! You don't know me at all!" Sting yelled, as he tries running away and use his invisibilitie. However, Dark Armadillo found him and blocked the exit, then Dark Storm blows Sting away as he collided with Storm and Armadillo. They were sent flying back and landed roughly on the ground.
"That's right. You're a coward like always!" Dark Sting taunted.
"And so are you!" Dark Storm pointed to his real couterpart. "You're pathetic! Unable to fight back without anyone's help!"
"Shut up!" Storm shouted as he throw his spear at his dark counterpart, but missed.
"You missed." Dark Storm said as he glided toward X, but he maganed to dodge as show him with his Mega Buster.
"And as for you, Armadillo." Dark Armadillo said to his real counterpart. "You're a backstabber to the Maverick Hunter. And a traitor to them!"
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!" Armadillo yelled, but failed to noticed that he, Sting and Storm are faded a bit.
"Oh no! They're about to fade away, Kupo!" Mog panicked.
"What!?" X respond while fighting Dark Sting, after he heard what Mog said and saw his friends began to fade.
"Remember what their dark selves said, Kupo." Mog recalled. "If they continue to deny or reject their dark selves, they'll fade away with them. Not only that, if they disappeared. Everyone in your world will forget about them, Kupo."
X is shocked to heard about what Mog said, Also this realm is the Time Realm which makes sense for him. But what matters worst, it's that if they erased from existance, everyone will forget about them too.
"You have to hurry, Kupo!" Mog warned. "Before they fade away completely! Also I heard monster coming towards us. We're gonna be mauled, if we don't defeat them.
"I have to hurry!" X proclaimed as he continued his fight against Storm Eagle, Armadillo and Sting's Dark Self. He use his Ice power at Dark Armadillo, but he blocked his attacked and about to rolled towards X. X quickly dodged him, but then Dark Sting hit him with his tongue and slam him to the ground.
"We know everything! Including what you guys have done!" Dark Storm shouted.
The the Monitors shows imaged of Sting Chameleon, Storm Eagle and Armored Armadillo during the Maverick War. One shows Sting Chameleon used his invisible to avoid going a mission and leave his men behind, second show Storm Eagle been defeated by Sigma and finally the third show Armadillo get yelled by his colleagues in the mines when he joined Sigma rebellion.
"This is you, Sting. During your mission, you abandoned your colleague to fight against the Mavericks. And then they called you out for being a coward, and then acted like you don't care... But deep down, you feel so ashamed of yourself." Dark Sting said to him as his real counterpart look scared.
"And this is you, Storm." His dark counterpart said as he pointed the monitor of Storm. "You were going after Sigma to stop his rebellion, and you failed to stop him and therefore joined his side." Dark storm said to his real counterpart as look he shocked about what happend that fight. "You are pathetic! You lost the battle and fight your own friend, X!"
"And finally... you, Armadillo!" Dark Armadillo shotued to his real counterpart and pointed at the monitor. "You sided with Sigma and show his loyalty to him, then offered your men to joined his rebellion. And you cause them to feel betrayed and angry at you. They began to turned against you for this, and they call you out for being a backstabber!" Dark Armadillo shouted at him. "They lost their trust with you and they tell X to take you down, all because of your stupid loyalty with Sigma!"
"You see that everybody can't stand you and your behavior!." Dark Sting said. "And you can't stand them for being cruel to you. You tried your best to live a normal life, and here you are running like a coward!
"You made people lost their family, friends and their homes! You're pathetic!" Dark storm called out to his real counterpart.
"So are you... for breaking their trust, you Backstabber!" Dark Armadillo said to the real Armored Armadillo.
"Shut up, already!" X shouted to them, which surprised Sting, Storm and Armadillo to see that X to say their dark counterpart to shut up. "I know what they did during the Maverick War, because of Sigma. But I do know is that they are trying to redeem themselves and regain the people's trust! Sting may be a coward to himself. But i do know thst he will one day have courage to himself. Storm may be a pathetic and failure... but he can still try again and improve himself to be better then this. And for Armadillo... He may have betrayed the Maverick Hunters and side with Sigma... But I still consider him as one of us! Even though, they became Maverick and turned against the humans... But I still cared for them so much, I even keeped their weapons chips on me to honor them. And I also told the government to rebuild all the former mavericks for their second chances. And I don't want to lose them again for this... and if you guys keep doing this to them, I'll make it stop!" X cried out.
X continue his fight against Sting, Storm and Armadillo's dark selves. He is doing the best he can to take their Dark selves out, he keeps attacking with his sword and mega buster, but they keep dodging and block his attacks. But then X managed to fly up in the air, and aim his Mega Buster at them. He began to charged his Mega Buster and fired at the Dark selves and have them all knocked out. X then landed behind his friends and Mog. He look behind his friend, and see that they're still fading away due to them not accepting their dark selves. X need to find a way to stopped them from fading, and the only way prevent it... is to talk them out so they can accept their dark selves.
"Sting... You care for her." X said to him.
"Huh?" Sting respond then realized what he means. "Oh... You mean Mimi... Yeah... She is. People doesn't like me for my behavior, my cowardice and what I done during the Maverick Wars. But Mimi is the only one that cares for me since my rebuild." Sting said sadly and then pull a movie ticket.
"Is that... A ticket?" X asked.
"Yes. Mimi wanted to see the Movie. So I saved up some of my money to buy her ticket." Sting explained. "It's not because I have feelings for a Human... I just wanted to make her happy." Sting explained then frowned. "And as for the people.. I tried my best to regain their trust, that's why I work at Ajax. But they ignored me and call me out for being a total coward. I want to prove them wrong, that I'm not a coward... But in the end, they are right... I am a Coward..." Sting frowned and look ashamed. "During my time as a Maverick Hunter, I brush them off about my cowardice and acted like I didn't care... But deep down, I was so ashamed myself for what I did and for what I saying, I didn't mean to let them down or hate me for this. I was just... wanted to help out for the Maverick Hunters... I failed myself..."
"Sting..." X replied as he hold his shoulders. "You can't run away for being a coward and what people say to you. You have to have courage in you. Running away is not the option... You need to be brave.
"Be brave..." Sting repeated. "Just like what Mimi said to me... 'You have to be Brave.'."
"Then you must take her Advice, and be brave. Also your friendship with her are genuine, right?" X said with smile.
"Yeah... you're right... My friendship with Mimi are still real... And I need to be brave." Sting nodded as he stopped faded from existance.
X smile then look at Storm. "Storm... You have to stop denying yourself for being Pathetic and a Failure. You need to understand what your dark selves said... You have accept it." X talk him out.
Storm wants to argue, but for his dark self and X said was true... And he look sad as he sighed.
"I guess you have point, X." Storm sadly said. "You're right... I'm a Failure and Pathetic... I lost my fight with Sigma, because I want to stop him myself... and I failed... He force me to joined his rebellion against the humans, and I did... I reluctantly force myself to attack my men and the Maverick Hubters... And I was so disappointed in my failures. I've even cause my men to hate me because my recklessness, they want me to take down sigma together, but I refused them to help me."
"But why don't you ask me team up with you?" X questioned.
"I want to... But I can't..." Storm explained sadly. "Sigma been causing so much death and suffering, I have to do something! I was so desperate to stop him myself! I also told my men not to get involved with me because... Because... I don't want lose them. We Maverick Hunter lost so many during the war, and I don't want them to end up like the rest."
"Storm, I understand how you feel." X sympathetically said. "But you should at least, let your men come with you to stop Sigma. They trusted you, and they want to help you. I know that you don't want to endangered their lives and how you protect them, but you shouldn't worried about them. And you can't do this alone, you have them on your side, you should have trusted them more."
Storm look at X and sighed knowing how right he was. "You're right... I should have trusted them more, but I was too reckless to take down Sigma myself. But seeing how I can't stop him, makes me realized how pathetic I was."
"That's why you can't do this alone." X adviced. "Working together as a team is. Me, Zero and Axl take down Sigma, because we are a team and we always look out for each other too. And you should understand it."
He look at X, and then smiled at him. "You're right, X... I can't do this alone, I have on my side. And this time... I won't be reckless or be a Failure again. And I'll make this right for myself." Then storm stopped faded from existence.
X nodded then look at Armadillo. "Armadillo... You need to listen to your dark self... You can't running away with your own shame like this... you need to learn your mistake of your betrayal with the Maverick Hunters. And you should know that Sigma didn't show his loyalty to you, he use you as a pawn for his rebellion.
Armadillo look at X, and he sighed sadly knowing he cannot runn away with the shame he keep inside himself. "Yes... I was stupid to join Sigma's rebellion and betrayed the Maverick Hunters.
"Why would you do that?" Storm asked in concern.
"Because my loyalty with Sigma blinded me. I joined his rebellion because i was under orders by him. After I joined him, my men got so angry at me for the Maverick Hunters. They shouted me saying that Sigma doesn't care about loyalty, they call me a traitor for joining his rebellion and a backstabber to them. I was so shocked to hear after they left me. And I began to go conflicted about this... and wondering if they were right about Sigma not being loyalty to me... And they were right... he doesn't care about it, he cares about the evolution of reploids... Also I heard he even take down his men after they outlived their usefulness to him." Armadillo admitted.
"What!? That's horrible, Kupo" Mog said look horrified.
"It is..." Armadillo frowned then facing X. "And you were right about him, X. He used me a pawn for his rebellion... But I went astray to side with him, and I regret it... I should have stay with Maverick Hunter instead..." He sighed sadly. "And I'm sorry for that fight we had."
"Yeah..." X replied then place his hand on his shoulder. "And that is why you need learned your true loyalty. There are some people who shows their loyalty to each other, but there some who used them or take advantage, and you need to be cautious to yourself and understand it. With that, you won't go astray again." X advice.
He looked at X and smiled. "Yeah... You're right. I have to learn my own loyalty and be cautious... This time, I won't go astray ever again." Armadillo declared.
"That's good to hear." X smiled.
Then they all heard a rumbling noises, they look behind and see the Dark selves of Sting, Storm and Armadillo getting up after X's charged shot and about to attack the group.
"So this is our Dark selves, huh?" Storm remarked. "If this came from us. We have to accept it."
"Yeah. No more being a Coward." Sting agreed as he ready to face his dark self.
"So am I." Armadillo finished. "Time for us to make amend."
They joined X to fight their dark selves together as a team. Sting is going after his dark self as he climb to wall to taunt his dark self, his dark self get irritated for his taunted as he stick out his Tongue at him, but then X cut his tongue and blast him with his Buster. Storm flies up in the air to retrieve his Spear and he saw his dark self swoop towards him, but he managed fly faster before his dark self reach him. he grab his spear and about to throw it to his dark self, Dark Storm is about swoop down again before his real self throw a spear at him. Armadillo block his dark self rolling attack with his shield, and bash him with it. And Armadillo roll himself into a ball and began to ricochet himself at his dark self, which give him alot of damages to his body and finally X charged his buster and shot at them with a powerful shot and the dark version of Storm, Sting and Armadillo reverted back from their monstrous form and they collapsed to the floor. And their real self approach them sympathetically.
"I knew you weren't lying…" Sting said, holding his dark self's shoulder. "I'm a coward to myself... Which is why I need to be Brave, and I'm done running away. I have to face it head on."
Storm look at his dark self laying down. "I'm sorry for denying you... And you're right... I'm Pathetic and Failure to myself... And I learned that I need to have allies on my side and their help. And this time I won't be reckless again. I have to make things right for myself and you." His dark self smile as he glow purple, and went into Storm and he feel it inside him.
Armadillo look at his dark side looking guilty as he place his hand on his dark self's head. "You're right... I regret for siding with Sigma and abandoned my loyalty with the Maverick Hunters. I was a fool to myself for following Sigma... and I cause my mens to be angry at me and feel betrayed..." Armadillo admitted sadly, then look determined. "But I cannot live up with the guilt anymore, and I won't let myself go astray again... I have learned true loyalty to myself and you." Dark Armadillo smiled at him as he glow dark purple, and went inside Armadillo and he can feel warm inside him.
Their dark selves looks up to them, and closed their eyes, and smiled, gladly being accepted. They began to glow into colorful lights. The green one floating into Sting's Chest, The two purples floating into Storm and Armadillo's chest. They place their hand to their chest and feel warm inside them.
"Hey, X... Thank you." Storm said.
"No problem, Sting." X respond.
"Hey... X... Can I... well... be your friend?" Sting offered.
"Um... sure... why you asked, Sting." X asked as he's a bit surprised for Sting to be friends with him.
"Well... You protected me, Storm and Armadillo from our dark selves, and how you stood up for us too. And I began to wonder if I could learned how to be brave like you said... So... I want to hang out with you..." Sting explained. "So please... can we be friends?"
X doesn't know what to say, Sting wants to be friends with him. True he didn't interact with him much. X began to feel some kind of bonds with Sting, and seeing how he want to be friends,with him makes him feel happy inside him. and therefore X offered Sting to shake hands as he smiled. "Sure... Let's be friends."
"Thank you!" Sting cheered as he shake X's hand. "You were a good reploid to me!"
"You're welcome." X replied with a smile, and see that Sting begin his friendship with him, and this is the first time X developed a bond with someone beside Zero and Axl. X began to think that Time Realm and this adventure will be different for him and his friends. And seeing him fighting along with them, make him happy to have them on his side.
Storm smiled at them, then look at Mog in questioned. "Hey, Mog. Could Mimi have been attacked by monsters then her dark self? Like how it just happened to us?"
"I think so, Kupo." Mog replied. "The darkness came from People's heart here in the Time Realm. Sometimes the darkness appeared. Then they all go berserk… And you saw what happened next, Kupo. A strong darkness makes the monster strongers then before. And the Monster will attack thise who roams around the Time Realm, Kupo. And if people continue to reject their dark self, they'll disappeared completely and everyone will forget that they ever existed, Kupo. But since the body appeared in your world, that means the monsters finished them off and send the body back to the your world, Kupo."
"That explains why the dark selves of Sting, Armadillo and Storm appeared. And why they became berserk when they refused to acknowledge them." X remarked. "Not to mention why they fade away a little, because of their refusal to accept themselves for what they are and what they done."
"Yeah..." Storm agreed sadly, knowing what will happen if he doesn't exist. "We should head back."
"Yes. Let's go, Kupo. Mog agreed, as everyone leaving the area and headed back to entrance.
"But what about Zero, Axl and the others." X asked in concerned. "They are investigating the TV Station for the reporter."
"Don't worry, X. Zero and Axl got their own weapons, they can take care of themselves and the other against Monsters and their dark selves." Armadillo reassured him.
"I guess... But what if they're in trouble." X asked again.
"Then we'll help them out... like always." Storm proclaimed. "You don't have to worried for them, they can handle their fights."
X sighed. "Okay. Let's hope they made it back."
"They will, X." Armadillo said.
And so the group headed back to the Entrance and wait for Zero, Axl and the others to come back.
Time Realm: TV Station
Zero's group are investigating around the TV Station to find some clues for Yuki Maizano's death. They search around the area, and found nothing.
"Anything?" Zero asked.
"No... We can't find anything for Yuki Meizano's Death." Douglas informed. "It looks the Culprit didn't leave any clues behind."
"Well, that was clever for them." Axl noted.
"Yeah... Not to mention, we encounter those blue slimy mosnters on the way here. Now I got blue slime all over my fist" Gungaroo complaint and show his fist covered in blue slime. "Those guys are really gross!"
"It looks like Mog was serious about monsters lurking around the place." Zero remarked.
"Well... It looks like there's nothing we could find here... Let's head back." Zero declared.
"What!? No! I wanna fight monsters more!" Gungaroo refused.
"No time for that, Kid!" Zero said.
"Stop calling me a Kid!" Gungaroo yelled at him.
"Quit acting like a Spoiled child, behave yourself!" Douglas scolded, much for Gungaroo's annoyance.
"Guys, chill out!" Axl pleaded then look at Gungaroo. "Gungaroo... Just listen to our senpai, alright. We're heading back home. But we will come back next time, alright."
Gungaroo groaned in annoyance. "Fine, let's head back."
"Good." Zero said. "Come on, everyone. Let's go back."
Everyone are leaving the TV Station, then Zero noticed thst Slash Beast is not following them. He saw him staring down the newspaper on the floor.
"Slash, Let's go." Zero call out to him, but he's not responding. "Slash?"
Slash still no responding, he still continues staring down the newspaper. The resosn why is because the newspapers he's starring... is about the Repliforce War. He remember that war and how he was ashamed of it. He covered his glass eyepatch with his hand, and began to see images of the Repliforce war. Including that boy holding a metal pipe looking angry in rage. Slash Beast began to shake his head to clear his thought and breath heavily.
"Slash!"
Slash turned as see Zero looking concern for him. "Are you alright?" He asked.
Slash beast is about to speak up and say he's okay, but then suddenly...
No, He's not! He's too traumatized to speak for you... *laugh*
Zero's Group are startled by that voice, they look aorund to find the source and then Slash Beast's shadow rise in front of him and revealed it's yellow glowing eyes.
"W-Who are you!?" Slash exclaimed in shock to see his dark self.
"Are you a copy of Slash?!" Zero assumed as he drsw his Z-Saber.
"Copy? No... I'm his dark self." Dark Slash proclaimed. "And I know everything about you, Slash."
"What!?" Slash exclaimed as he draw his broadsword at him. "There's no way, you're my dark self. Just because you look like me, doesn't mean you know everything about me!"
"Yeah... You're just a phony to him!" Gungaroo agreed.
"Stay of this, Kid!" Dark Slash scoffed.
"I'm not a Kid!" He shouted. "Why people keep calling me like that!"
Because this is what you are...
They heard a voice sound like Vanishing Gungaroo but eerie, they saw his shadow rise and appeared next to Dark Slash with yellow glowing eyes and dark aura.
"You always a selfish, bratty, manchild reploid. Who can't act like a grown up!" Dark Gungaroo taunted.
"What the!?" Douglas yelped. "Now there's two Gungaroo and Slash!?
"No way! There's no way, you're me!" Gungaroo yelled at his Dark self.
"Really?! Cause I do look alot like you." Dark Gungaroo proclaimed as he smirked. "I know everything about you, including how you behave like spoiled child."
"W-what?" Gungaroo hesitate.
"There's two of them." Douglas exclaimed. "This can't be... There's no way..."
Oh... but it is.
Douglas was startled by a voice that sound like him, and he saw his shadow rise and appeared next dark Slash and Gungaroo with yellow glowing eyes and dark aura.
"What the!? Now there's two Douglas!?" Axl exclaimed.
"That's right. And I know everything about him too." Dark Douglas said as he look at the Realm one. "Including how his colleagues became so jealous towards him."
"Huh?" Douglas whimpered.
"You were a mechanic of the Maverick Hunter, and your inventions make your colleagues grow jealous of you." Dark Douglas state while smirking. "Everytime you build, they began to hate you so much. Therefore causing them to quit working with the Maverick Hunters because of you."
"What!? They're not jealous of me!" Douglas protest as he glared at his dark self.
"Oh yes, they are." Dark Douglas said. "And they also became Maverick due to their jealousy towars you. Your inventions cause them to be like this!"
"Stop it! You're wrong!" Douglas denied. "I didn't make them grow jealous of me!"
"Sure you are." Dark Gungaroo scoffed then turned to his real self. "And what about you, Gungaroo? How long will you be spoiled, manchild reploid, huh?"
"What?" Gungaroo questioned.
"How long can you behave like this?" Dark Gungaroo asked. "People were right about you... You behave like a kid who never grow... You always been like this since you've been build during the Maverick Wars. You are nothing but a kid who's been throwing a temper tantrum!"
"No! I'm not a Kid! Everyone thinks that I am!" Gungaroo argued.
"That's what you are... a Kid!" Dark Gungaroo pointed out as he laughed. "The way you acted, is exactly why they called you this! You're being so selfish and stubborn to yourself including how you treated Red."
"Huh? Why Red?" Gungaroo questioned.
"You were being stubborn and selfish towards him when you were in care with him. Red was doing his best to look after you, and you were being rude to him!" Dark Gungaroo called out to his real self.
"No, I didn't!" Gungaroo denied. "I wasn't being rude to him!"
"Oh! Quit denying yourself!" Dark Gungaroo rebuked. "You're always like this to everyone! A total selfish, stubborn, manchild. People can't stand you for how you behave! You're acting like a kid who never grow up!"
"No! You're wrong! I'm not Selfish or Stubborn! And quit calling me a Kid!" Gungaroo yelled at his dark self.
"And what about you, Slash?" Dark Slash asked to his real self. "How long will you keep lying to yourself about what happened to your eye."
"My eye?" Slash questioned as he cover his glass eyepatch.
"Yes, your eye." Dark slash confirmed. "Did you know what happened to your eye?"
"Yes! My left eye was destroyed by a Mechaniloid during my mission." Slash explained. "Me and my elites are on a mission to take down the mavericks that invade Abel City, we help out the Maverick Hunter to take down the Mechaniloids that went on a rampage in the city. During my mission, the mechaniloids damaged my left eye, but I managed to take it down and report to the Repliforce about what happened." Slash explained. "That's what happened to my eye."
Dark slash scoffed. "Yeah, right... you're completely lying."
"W-what?" Slash perplexed to his dark self.
"You're completely lying to yourself... That's not what happened... In fact... I know exactly what happened." Dark Slash smirked as his real self. "Long time ago, during the Maverick War... There was a Mission where you and your elite were assigned for, there was a rampage that has been wrecking around Abel City, you and your team are evacuated everyone to safety... but then there was an Incident, and you were involved that time... The Mechaniloid went berserk around Abel City, and you were there fighting it without your team or the Maverick Hunters... You tried to face it all by yourself, but then you accidentally made it go out of control, cost so much damaged to the city... Not to mention what happened to those two casualties when they got invovled with that incident.
"No, you're wrong!" Slash denied in horror.
"You managed to save one lives from the Mechaniloid and you managed to stop it, but you failed to protect the other two when they got crushed by it. Then you lied to the Repliforce about what happened, because you felt guilty for what happened to them..." Dark Slash said while smirking.
"That's not true!" Slash rebuked as he grip his head.
"You cause the boy to hate reploids. And you make the Mechaniloid go out of control in the first place... It's all your fault." Dark Slash said as his real self glared at him. "You caused this to happen."
"Enough!" Slash yelled as he held his broadsword at his dark self.
"Why not?" Dark Slash questioned. "After all... This is the truth for what really happened... You can't keep lying or deny like this."
"Shut Up!" Slash Beast shouted as he grabbed his dark self.
"The truth about your left eye being damaged was not from a mechaniloid that you defeated." Dark Slash state as he grinned. "It was a boy... A human boy! He's the one who damage your eye, because you failed to protect his parents."
Zero was surprised and shocked to hear for what Slash Beast's dark self said. "What... Slash... He failed to-"
"A Human boy did that to him after he failed to save his parents!?" Axl exclaimed in shocked to hear this.
"You made that up!" Slash Beast accused his Dark self. "You're completely lying!"
Then his dark self laugh at his response as he free himself from his real self's grip. "Really? Am I lying? Do I really lie about what happened? Ha! The one who's lying is you! You lie to the Repliforce and your elites about what happened... You were supposed to be a courageous reploid Lion." Dark Slash said. "How can you be courageous, if you can't tell the truth!? You lied to the repliforce, general, colonel and your elites about what happened. You are not courageous to tell the truth!"
"You're wrong! I really am courageous!" Slash insisted angrily.
"You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me. Cause I am your dark self." Dark Slash said with a smirked. "I know everything about you, including your lies!"
"And what about you, Douglas." His self asked as he look at him. "You keep deny yourself about your colleague's jealousy. You were being praised by everyone. But they show jealousy toward you then supporting you. The Maverick Hunters began to favor you over them."
"No! They're not!" Douglas yelled back. "They're not jealous towards me and my inventions!"
"And then you became responsible for them to become mavericks." Dark Douglas added as he grinned.
"That's not true!" Douglas denied.
"And what about you, Gungaroo." Dark Gungaroo asked to his real self. "How long will you act all high and mighty to yourself, huh? Admitted, you are a kid inside you."
"I told you, I'm not a Kid! Quit calling me that!" Gungaroo cried out in anger.
"Here you are... throwing a temper tantrum like a kid... Or a crybaby!" Dark Gungaroo taunted as he pretend to cry like a baby.
"Shut Up! I'm not a crybaby, you freak!" Gungaroo yelled.
"Freak?" Dark Slash questioned. "We told you before... We are your dark selves. We came from all of you."
"You're not us! You're phonies!" Douglas shouted.
"We know everything about you... And what you are... Liar." Dark Slash said as he grinned.
"Denial." Dark Douglas added.
"And a Crybaby!" Dark Gungaroo finished.
"You're not our dark selves! You're just copies!" Slash denied in anger.
Then their dark counterparts began to chuckled evilly as the darkness began to unleashed inside them.
"What's that you say? We can't hear you!" Dark Slash chuckled evilly.
"You're not Me!" Gungaroo, Douglas and Slash yelled at them in unison.
Then their dark selves began to laugh from their response as the darkness began to envelope them.
"That's what we wanted to hear!" Dark Slash said.
"That's right! You're now completely denial of yourselves!" Dark Douglas proclaimed as he laugh.
"Now it's time for your existance to fade away with us!" Dark Gungaroo cried out.
They began to transformed into a dark monstrous version of them, Dark Slash look like a dark ferocious lion, Douglas looks like an evil Engineer riding a mech armor and finally Dark Gungaroo looks like Giant dark Kangaroo with dark aura on his fist. They destroyed the TV Station as the others were running away from the growing monsters.
"Wh-What's going on!?" Zero exclaimed to see what happened.
"They turned into a huge monsters!" Axl exclaimed, freaking out then stared at Slash Beast Gungaroo and Douglas. "D-Did you say something to make them angry?"
"All we did say they're not us." Slash explained as he look shocked to see his dark self become a monster.
"Well, for what we said makes them go crazy for destruction!" Douglas noted. Then noticed that his dark self launch missile and it's heading towards him and his friends, they managed to dodge before it explode.
"Now it's time for you to be Perish!" Dark Slash declared as he rushed toward his real self, but he blocked his dark self's jaw with his broadsword as he look horrible to see what his dark self become. "What's the matter to ashamed to fight back after your greatest failure, what happened to your courage and eager to fight when you were a Repliforce member? Are you still haunted by your past and failure or are you feeling scared of yourself for what you become!" Dark Slash taunted as his real self struggled.
"I'm...not!" Slash denied as he clashing with his dark self, not knowing that he's fading.
Dark Slash continue to struggling his Real self, then he got shot in the shoulder, he look behind and see Axl aiming his gun at him. Dark Slash glared and rush towards Axl, caught him and throw him to the wall.
"No, Axl!?" Gungaroo exclaimed in shocked, then look behind in terror and see his dark self on an giant Kangaroo.
"Look at you! You're so scared to fight me? What happened to your eager to fight? You fight monster, but not me, your dark self?" Dark Gungaroo taunted. "You really are a kid."
"I'm not a Kid!" Gungaroo shouted as he's about the punch his dark self, but he dodge it and jump on a floating platform.
"You're so selfish to admit yourself for being a kid. And you make people get annoyed for how you behave." Dark Gungaroo berated. "And you cause Red to get in trouble with the humans, because of you!"
"Shut up! Shut up!" Gungaroo yelled as he began to fade a bit.
Dark Douglas is fighting Zero, he keeps dodging his missiles and slicing them with his Z-Saber. Then he look at his real self staring him, holding a gun Mog gave him, and he looks scared at his dark self transformation.
"Look at you, you're so so pathetic... See what I look in this form." Dark Douglas berated at his real self. "I am a successful mechanic and the most powerful one!"
"That's not true!" Douglas insisted, despite being shaking in fear. "I'm not like that!"
"It is! Look at me!" Dark Douglas shouted. "You keep deny of yourself, just like you denying your colleague's jealousy!"
"You're not me, you can't be me! And they're not jealous of me!" Douglas yelled and also failed to noticed that he's slowly fading away.
Zero and Axl are fighting the dark selves of Gungaroo, Slash and Douglas. Zero used his Z-Saber at Dark Douglas mecha robot, while Axl keep shooting his guns at dark Gungaroo and Slash Beast, but they are too quick for him. And then Dark Douglas grab them both and toss them away to the ground.
"Man, these guys are tough!" Axl groaned
Zero pick himself up, and noticed in the distance that something wrong eith Gungaroo, Slash and Douglas as they denying their dark selves. "Axl! Look!" He called out to him.
"Huh?" He behind and saw Gungaroo, Douglas and Slash seems to be translucent. "What's going on with them?"
Zero and Axl are fighting the dark selves of Gungaroo, Slash and Douglas. Zero used his Z-Saber at Dark Douglas mecha robot, while Axl keep shooting his guns at dark Gungaroo and Slash Beast, but they are too quick for him. And then Dark Douglas grab them both and toss them away to the ground.
"Man, these guys are tough!" Axl groaned
Zero pick himself up, and noticed in the distance that something wrong eith Gungaroo, Slash and Douglas as they denying their dark selves. "Axl! Look!" He called out to him.
"Huh? What's going on with them?" Axl questioned.
"I don't know, but i think that they are denying their dark selves about who they are. It's like they're fading away everytime they refused." Zero state then remember something what Dark Douglas and Gungaroo said.
That's right! You're now completely denial of yourselves!
Now it's time for your existance to fade away with us!
Zero finally realized what they saying, Douglas, Slash and Gungaroo are fading away due to them refusing their dark self makes them fade away, which means... They are going be from existance if they don't stop rejecting their dark self.
"We have to stop them!" Zero gasped.
"What? Why?" Axl questioned.
"Don't you hear what I said!?" Zero reminded. "They are fading from existance, because they reject their dark selves. If they keep rejecting them, they'll disappeared!"
"What!?" Axl exclaimed as he look at them in shocked and he tried to call them out. "Guys! Stop! Don't fade away!"
"Douglas! Gungaroo! Slash! Listen to us, don't deny your dark selves!" Zero tried to called out, but they didn't listen because they were too far away, they continue deny their dark selves.
"They can't hear us!" Axl state knowing thst he and Zero are too far away for them to hear them.
"We have to stop them!" Zero said as he and Axl are running off to stop them from fading. Unknowning to them, Two colorful sphere are following Zero and Axl, and they were unaware of their presents. The Red one went Zero while the yellow went into Axl, then their bodies began to glow, but they're still unaware due to them focusing on saving their friends from fading from their dark selves.
"You are a disgrace to the Repliforce! You lied to them about your mission, and then you began to grow angry during the Repliforce war because of that mission! You are terrible to yourself!" Dark Slash called out to his real self.
"No! I'm not terrible!" Slash denied angrily.
"You're inventions is nothing but trouble!" Dark Douglas called out to real self. "You cause your colleagues to grow jealous of you and denied of their jealousy! You are responsible for this!"
"Stop it! You're wrong! I'm not responsible!" Douglas yelled.
"And what about you, Gungaroo." Dark Gungaroo called out. "You make everyone can stand you for how you throw a temper tantrum, and you even got Red in trouble for this. He was trying to do his best to look after you, and what you did to him? You became so rude to him for how he treated you! You're so stubborn and selfish to him!"
"No! I'm not that rude to Red!" Gungaroo refused.
"Admit it! You are a Kid!" Dark Gungaroo cried out to him.
"I said! I'M! NOT! A! KID!!!" Gungaroo yelled angrilly.
"Snap of it!" Axl yelled as he shot at Dark Gungaroo and punch Gungaroo at the same time, much for everyone's surprised except Zero knowing what Axl will do.
Zero and Axl began to fight Dark Douglas, Slash and Gungaroo again. Zero began to fight Dark Gungaroo and Dark Slash by using his technique and skills he learn since the Maverick wars. Axl is fighting Dark Douglas's mecha robot, and he use all kinds of bullets at him, and also dodge missiles. Zero and Axl are doing their brst to take down, then suddenly Zero see dark aura around his hand wondering what it was, but he has no time for it and decided to use it. Axl noticed that his guns are glowing, wondering what it was. Then Axl began to have this strange urge to use it. And for that Zero use this strange Dark Aura on his hand and create a dark shockwave at the dark selves of Gungaroo, Slash and Douglas. And Axl use his guns that keep glowing and to shoot electric barrage at them and have them unconscious from their attacks, their friends stare at it in awe.
"Whoa... Did we get that?" Axl baffled.
"I think so... but what kind of power is that?" Zero wondered.
They both began to wonder what it was, and how they do that. They didn't learn or hsve this kind of power before.
"Hey, Axl! Why did you punch me for!?" Gungaroo yelled at Axl which got him and Zero attention.
"I punch you to snap out of it!" Axl answered firmly, then look concern for him. "Gungaroo... You need stopped deny like this... The way you behave is exactly why people call you that. And you even got Red in trouble for this, you need admit yourself that you are a kid inside... But don't think about throwing a tantrum like that,... Do that again, or else everyone will never become friends with you."
Gungaroo was going to argue, but then take a moment to look at himself and his dark self including everyone who look concern for him. and he began to realized how selfish and stubborn he was, as he look down ashamed.
Gungaroo sighed sadly. "Yes... You're right... I am... A kid."
"But why you throw a temper tantrum like that?" Axl questioned.
"Because... I can't stand people keep treating me like a kid!" Gungaroo answered looking upset. "Everytime they call out to me, I lashed out at them for what they said. And as for Red... When he became my Guardian, he keeps treating me like a kid, and I... yelled at him for it. He tried hisnbest to look after me, but I was too stubborn and selfish to know it, I also got him into trouble during my time at school, but I didn't mean it..." Gungaroo said and face down sad. "Now I began to believe that they're are right about me... I am acting like a kid... And I let Red down for this.
"Gungaroo... You don't have to be ashamed for what you are..." Axl comfort him. "But it's okay for you to be a kid."
"Huh?" Gungaroo respond in surprise as he look up to Axl.
"Being a kid is okay, but you don't have to throw tantrum over it. You need to learn what it's like to be a kid. But you can't stay like this any longer, you have to grow up and be mature like everyone else does."
"Learn what it's like to be a kid... Grow up and be mature..." Gungaroo wondered. "Do you think I can do that?"
"Of course." Axl nodded. "All you have to do... is to behave like a normal kid, and you can also be mature too. That way people won't call you that. And you might make Red very proud of you, all you have to do... Is to grow up and be mature.
Gungaroo feel so much better for what Axl said, and from his word make him encourage and accept being a kid.
"You're right, Axl!" Gungaroo agreed and then declared. "You're right! Being a kid is okay for me! But I have to grow up and be mature. And this time... I'm not gonna throw another tantrum ever again!"
"Good to hear, Kid." Zero smiled then look at Douglas. "Douglas... You can't keep denying yourself over your colleagues jealousy, I have seen them like this. You have accept their jealously.
Douglas look at Zero and frowning knowing how right he was about his colleague's jealousy. And how his dark self about them, he can't keep denying like this, it makes himself feel sad inside.
"Yes... They are jealous of me, and I keep denying about it." Douglas admitted.
"But what reason for you to deny their jealousy." Zero questioned.
Douglas sighed. "Because everyone from the Maverick Hunter HQ likes my inventions so much, and my colleagues got jealous towards me, everytime we build new ones, everyone likes my inventions more then theirs. They got so angry at me and my inventions, and they began to quit working with the Maverick Hunters... After the argument, they've become mavericks to themselves, and I feel responsible for them..."
"It's that why you haven't been around the Maverick Hunter HQ lately? Is because you felt ashamed for their jealousy?" Zero recalled.
"Yes. That's right." Douglas sadly comfirmed. "After that incident... I decided to quit inventing, so people won't get jealous of me again."
"Douglas... You don't have to feel ashamed about what happened, sometimes people get jealous doesn't mean you have to feel guilty about it, you need to talk them out of it and stand up to them." Zero said.
"You're right. I should have done that, but I was too disappointed at myself." Douglas admitted.
"And that's why you to make it up for them, so they won't get jealous of you ever again." Zero adviced.
"You're right, Zero." Douglas agreed as he stopped fading. "I have to make things right, so people won't get jealous of me."
"Good." Zero said then look at Slash. "Slash... Is what you're dark self was true? Did you lose your eye from human boy?"
Slash beast look at Zero and the rest , knowing that they heard everything what his dark self said about him. Slash beast sighed sadly knowing he cannot hide it.
"Yes... It's true. I lost my eye from boy who lost his parents." Slash admitted sadly.
"How did it happened?" Zero asked.
"Well... The Mechaniloid went out of control because of me. The boy was trying to save his parents from it. But I hold him back and say it's too dangerous. The boy was so desperate to save his parents, but it was too late. The building began to fall apart and crushed the boy's parents." Slash frowned and look down. "The boy cried out in rage, and began to wreck things with a metal pipe. He even stab my left eye, and call me out for not doing anything but holding him back and left his parents to die. And I was so horrified for what he said, including... His eyes... His eyes is full of hatred and anger, which really scared me."
"Then what happened to him after losing his parents?" Zero questioned.
"He was send away by the authorities because of his rage... And I began to blamed myself for what happened to him." Slash explained sadly.
"Did anyone from the Repliforce knows about that mission you had?" Zero questioned.
"Iris including some other two members... But not Colonel or General... I don't want them tell them... If I tell them what happened, they'll think that I dishonored the Repliforce name. So I lied to them about that mission I made up, and I got so angry at myself for not having the courage to tell them the truth about my failures." Slash explained.
"But you can't keep a secret like that... I know it might ruined the the Repliforce name, but they deserve to know the truth." Zero pointed out.
"I know, Zero... But the guilt of my failures is too much for me to handle. That's why I have this eyepatch since then... To remind me of my failures." Slash frowned.
"Slash... You don't have to keep thinking about your failure like that... And that's why you need to have second chance for yourself." Zero said.
"Second chance?" Slash wondered. "What are you talking about?"
"It's true that you failed to save his parents from the Mechaniloid... That's why you need to have a second chance for yourself. You can't let past controlled you, you need to be strong from it. And look at your dark self?" Zero said as he look at the dark self of slash unconscious. "This is your chance not to messed up!"
"I... I don't know if I can do it." Slash said in doubt.
"You have to! Or else you'll lose more people like us!" Zero suggested firmly. "All you have to do is to improve yourself and be better then this. You can't let your guilt take over you, or else you'll repeat the same mistake again! You have fight back and stop it from happening!" Zero encourage him.
Slash is shocked of Zero's encouragement, and began to think that he might be right. This is his second chance to make things right, and he won't let it happen again. It's true that failed to protect the boy's parent, but he won't lose his friends this time as he pick up his broadsword looking serious.
"You're right, Zero. I can't let it happened again! I won't make another mistake again! This is second chance to prevent it, and i won't let my guilt took over me! I have to face it, no matter what!" Slash declared in determination as he stand up.
"That's what I like to hear." Zero smiled, then noticed that the dark selves of Slash, Gungaroo and Douglas getting up and they are ready to fight again. "Alright! Let's go!"
They all began to fight the dark selves of Gungaroo, Douglas and Slash. Zero use his technique and dark power at Dark Slash, and Axl use his new power at Dark Douglas and Dark Gungaroo. Gungaroo jump all the floating ledges and began to fight his dark self, Slash Beast rush towards his Dark self and began to clash him with his broadsword and finally Douglas aim his gun at his Dark self mecha robot. Axl and Zero conbined their together with their new power and have the dark selves of Gungaroo, Slash and Douglas immobilised. They look at their friends and nodded to them to finish them off. Gungaroo cried out as he run towards his dark self and ounch him really hard, Slash jump higher in the air and strike down his dark self and finally for Douglas he charged his gun and aim at his dark self mecha robot then it got exploded. After that their dark selves began reverted back from their monstrous form and they all laying down on the ground unable to move.
"Di... Did we beat them?" Axl asked out of breath.
"Not yet..." Zero respond as he face Gungaroo, Douglas and Slash. "You know what to do..."
"They all look at each other and nodded as they approach their dark selves in sympathy.
"I'm so sorry for throwing a tantrum like that... And you're right, I am a kid." Gungaroo said in sympathy. "But I can't stay like this anymore. Cause I'm done being stubborn or a crybaby, I have learn to grow up and be mature like everyone else does. After all, you are my dark self."
Douglas look at his dark self lying down on the ground look sympathetically. "You're right about me... I was in denial. And I was so ashamed of myself for what happened to my colleagues... And I began to deny their jealousy and stop inventing for the Maverick Hunter. But I can't stay like this anymore, I have to stand up for myself, no matter what. For now on, I'm not going to make everyone jealous of me again. And you are my dark self."
Slash beast look at his dark self in sympathy. "You are me. And I'm so sorry for rejecting you. And you're right... I lied to the Repliforce and my elites about that mission, because I was too ashamed and guilty for what happened to the boy's parent... I was supposed to be a courageous reploid lion, but I failed to protect them and not telling Colonel and General the truth..." Slash frowned then look serious. "But now, I'm done with the lie, and I'm done thinking about my guilt. I decided to have a second chance for myself. I still have my friends, and I won't make another mistake again."
Their dark selves looks up to them, and closed their eyes, and smiled, gladly being accepted. They began to glow into colorful lights. The green one floating into Douglas's Chest, The red one floating toward Gungaroo's chest and finally the orabge light went into Slash's chest. They place their hand to their chest and feel the light around them inside them.
"Feeling better now?" Axl assumed.
"Yeah, we are now." Douglas nodded, but then he, Slash and Gungaroo collapse.
"Are you alright?" Zero asked in concern.
"Yeah... Just exhausted." Slash replied looking tired.
"We should head back, I believe we're done here." Zero declared.
"Alright, let's go back. X and the others are waiting for us." Douglas proclaimed as he get up.
Gungaroo struggled to get up, but was too exhausted. Then Axl helped him up and carried him around his shoulder.
"Need some help?" Axl offered as he smile.
"Yeah." Gungaroo replied then frowned a bit. "Hey... Axl... I'm sorry for how I behave like that, I didn't mean it to throw a tantrum like that."
"It's okay, Gungaroo." Axl assured. "You don't have to feel sorry for that, alright? We are Red Alert... we always look for each other. And after all... We're friends, aren't we?" Axl said as he offered a fist bump.
Gungaroo look surprised at Axl to offered him a fist bump, and see that he didn't treat him like a kid, but as a friend instead. "Yeah! We are!" He cheered as he fist bump to Axl and start a friendship with him.
They all leaving the area and headed back to the entrance where X and the others are waiting for them, Slash and Zero are the lsst one to leave the area.
"Hey... Zero." Slash speak up.
"Yes, Slash." Zero respond as he turned to Slash.
"Can you... Keep a secret to Colonel and General..." Slash suggested. "I know I want to tell them the truth about my failure long time ago, but... not yet. I don't think I'm quite ready to tell them."
Zero take moment to think, then look at Slash. "You better not take too long, alright?"
"I won't." Slash replied. "I'll tell them the truth soon."
"And if you ever in trouble, I'll help you out." Zero suggested.
"Thank you, Zero. I could use someone's help for my problems too." Slash agreed.
They both left the area to catch up with the other, and Zero feel that this is start of his friendship with Slash Beast.
Time Realm: Entrance
X and his team are waiting Zero and the other to come back after investigation for Mimi's Death including battling monster and dark selves of Sting Chameleon, Storm Eagle and Armored Armadillo. And they saw them coming back after their battle against the dark selves of Slash Beast, Douglas and Vanishing Gungaroo.
"You're back, Kupo." Mog said.
"We are." Zero panting. "That battle really did a number on me."
"So am I." Axl agreed as he look exhausted too.
"What happened back there." Storm asked.
"You started first. What happened to you all?" Zero said.
X and his group explained what happened and saying that they ended exactly like Zero and his group.
"I see. You guys found clues that Mimi Hoshi is here, and you fought against the monsters roaming around the Time Realm."
"And X fight them all by himself!? And also summon a sword." Axl baffled.
"That's right." X said as he summon his sword as prove.
"And not to mention, that X is so skillful using that sword!" Sting pointed out. "He even shoot out Ice from his Sword."
"Are you serious!?" Slash exclaimed in disbelief. "That's impossible."
"I know, right." X agreed. As he still find it hard to believe that a sword can shot out ice.
"Okay. Since we finish our story. What about you?" Armadillo asked.
"We investigate the TV Studio to find clues, and we found nothing. After that, we encounter three dark selves of Slash Beast, Douglas and Gungaroo." Zero explained.
"And me and Zero managed to take them down." Axl finished.
"And we also find out that their dark selves came from them, and so we help them face their dark selves and accept them.
"Just like us." Storm noticed as he look so ashamed because of his past that his dark self talk about. "Me, Armadillo and Sting face our own with X's Help."
"All by yourself again?" Douglas exclaimed.
"Yeah, by myself." X answered. "And it looks like we're done with our investigation, right?"
"Yeah, I believe we're done for our investigate here, we should head back." Slash said.
"But theres one more question." Sting reminded then look wt Mog "Mog, you said that this place is connected to our world, right? So then, the Street of Odaiba and the TV Station we saw before... Did they appeared because the ones who die entered this realm, and create places from Different Times?"
"No idea, Kupo." The moogle said. "It never happened before. But that's probably where they were when the monster attacked them. They grow stronger and violent when the darkness appeared in the Time Realm."
They were silent as Mog continue talking about the Monster.
"The Darkness appeared, and cause the monsters to grow strong and violent sometimes, they can sense anyone who appeared in the Time Realm, Kupo. I have to run when it happens, Kupo. I've seen people here twice before. But they disappeared after the darkness disappeared..." Mog sadly explained.
"So what you're saying is." Sting said. "Senpai and that Utada lady were thrown in here, and since they couldn't get out, they wandered around. After a while, those monster attack them. If the darkness appeared in the Time Realm, they'll hunt them down, and it ended up killing them. Does that sound right?"
"I believe that's what we think about." Douglas noted.
"But what about those Dark selves? What will happen if they didn't face themselves?" Slash asked.
"Well... If they refuse or deny their dark selves, they'll fade away from existance, Kupo." Mog explained. "Not only that... If they faded away completely, people from your world will forget about them like they don't exist, Kupo."
"But... Mimi and the Reporter's appeared in our world." Storm point out.
"Yes... Because they were killed by the monsters then their dark selves." Mog added.
"And if we'd been here before the darkness or our dark self appeared, we would have been in trouble or be erased for good?" Slash theorized.
"Yes." Mog confirmed. "You're lucky X, Zero and Axl are here for you all, or you'll be done for."
Sting look down and look upset. "I can't believe it... Senpai and that reporter... They were trapped here all alone with no way out... No one could save them..."
The group feel bad for him, now that he knows that his Senpai, Mimi Hoshi was killed by the monsters here in the Time Realm, not to mention what will happen if he forget about her if she encounter her dark self, he'll completely forget about her. And as for Zero, he feel sad to hearing that someone die reminds him how Iris die when she and Zero fight each other after Colonel's death, and hearing about people be erased from people's mind make him fear that he might forget Iris.
"They have no idea how to get out of here, Kupo. But they were safe before that. No monsters attacked them, or their dark selves appeared, Kupo." Mog said.
"But those monsters attacked us." Storm recalled.
"Maybe they're keeping a close eye on us, Kupo." Mog assumed "They might see people who investigate this place as enemies. It'll be dangerous, but we might be able to fight them back! We might save those who ended up in the Time Realm!"
"You mean there's still a chance we can save them!?" X said, hopefully.
"That appears to be the case, X." Storm said. "With that, not only do we save people, we might find the ones who throw them in the Time Realm."
"Yeah." Zero agreed as he crossed his arms. "If we save them before the monster get to them when the darkness appeared, we'll eventually catch the culprit."
"Umm... Can I asked you a question, Kupo?" Mog asked. "Do you know where me and monster came from?"
"Huh? You mean... You don't live here along with those monsters roaming around?" X questioned.
"No... I don't think so, Kupo. I know about the Time Realm for so long, but not me or the Monsters, I have no idea how I got here or where I came from, Kupo."
"No wonder we couldn't get a straight answer out of you..." Armadillo realized.
"Will you guys... return, Kupo." Mog asked with frown face.
"Of course we will, Mog. We'll return for you." X said as he smile at him.
"You promise, Kupo." Mog asked hopefully.
"Well, you help us learned about the Time Realm, warned us about the monsters and give us weapons to defend ourselves." Douglas remarked.
Which make Mog jumping in cheered. "Yes! Thank you! Thank you, Kupo!" Then Mog stopped jumping. "Alright, I'll be waiting for you guys here. You need to come in from the same place every time, so we can meet up, Kupo."
"We'll do that." Douglas agreed and look around." And this area look safe for us. We might use this as our base."
"Yes, Kupo." Mog confirmed. "The monster won't find us here too."
"Alright. Now let's head back home." Zero declared as he look at X.
X nodded to him, pull out his Phone and activate the app.
Time Portal Opened.
The Time Portal appeared, and they headed back to the dorm while Mog waved at them.
Dorm: Lobby
Pallette still sitting down on her knees, looking at a rope for some reason while Hyenard, Alia, Layer and Gator look at her in concern. Then they saw Time portal open and see the group came back and the Portal disappeared.
"You..." Pallette said, in surprise grab X and the other attention. "You're back!!!"
"Uh... Are you alright?" Sting asked, then Palette throw a rope at him. "Hey! What was that for?!
"You guys are idiot!" Pallette yelled. ""The rope got cut off…I had no idea what to do…I was so worried…I mean scared stiff, darn it! I hate you all!"
Then she ran off in tear, making the group feel guilty about it making her worried.
"Nice going, you guys." Gator muttered. "You made her cry."
"Yeah... We know." X said look ashamed.
"Well... We're glad you guys are back. Did you find anything from that realm?" Alia asked.
"We did." Zero comfirmed. "I'll explained to you all what happened.
Moments Later
Zero explained everything to Alia, Hyenard, Wheel Gator and Layer about the Time Realm and their experiences from it, leaving them shocked and awe about it.
"So you're saying that someone throw people in the Time Realm and let the Monsters killed them." Alia said in shocked.
"That's right." Zero nodded.
"And it's true that Maizono and Mimi were killed by the monsters in the Time Realm?" Hyenard questioned.
"Also true." Axl added.
"And your guys face your dark selves in the Time Realm?" Layer questioned.
"That's right." Sting nodded.
"And if you reject or denial your dark selves, they will grow stronger, you all fade away from existence and be forgotten." Alia state.
Sting Chameleon, Storm Eagle, Armored Armadillo, Douglas, Slaah Beast and Vanishing Gungaroo nodded and look uncomfortable about fade away from existence from the Time Realm.
"And Finally, X summon a Sword!?" Wheel Gator exclaimed.
X raises his hand and summon his sword which surprised Hyenard, Alia, Gator and Layer.
"Whoa! How did you do that?" Hyenard exclaimed in awe.
"I don't know..." X admitted. "But for some reason, I am so skillful using a sword."
"Like Zero?" Layer guessed as X nodded to her.
"And I also shoot Ice from it." X added.
"From a Sword!? Impossible." Wheel Gator denied.
"Could it be a new function?" Alia assumed.
"No, not really." X said as he dismiss his sword. "I have no idea how I got this sword.
"Okay. Since we learn all that, including knowing that someone is throwing people in the Time Realm." Alia state, out of stupor. "But did you find clues about who did it?"
"No... Not really." Zero shake his head. "We didn't find anything, but we only found clues about Maizono and Mimi instead."
"That's right. We have no idea who did this." Slash Beast said. "But we all learned that he'll throw another person in the Time Realm soon, and we have to our best to save them before the Monsters gets to them."
"Well, it looks like we're doing some rescue missions, right." Layer assumed.
"That's right. Let's do our best save those victims and find the Culprit." Axl said.
Everyone agreed to his word, and then Sting Chameleon suddenly feel dizzy after leaving the Time Realm.
Sting groaned. "I don't feel so good you guys, I think I should go back to my room." He said as he walk off.
"So am I." Douglas said as he feels not well.
"Me too." Armadillo said as began to feel a headache.
"Must be because we stayed in the Time Realm for too long." Storm assumed as he also headed back to his room.
"Wait... What about Pallette?" Gungaroo reminded knowing how she's crying about what happen earlier.
"Well, we'll apologize to her once she's calm down. But for right now, we should head back home." X decided.
"Yeah, you're right, X. I feel tired now." Zero agreed as headed out the door. "We'll see you all tomorrow."
And so X, Zero, Axl and Gungaroo are headed back home seperately after their time in the Time Realm. And they know that this is the start of their adventures.
Odaiba: Park
Axl and Gungaroo walking down the street after the school got cancelled from the incident.
"Oh! Axl! Gungaroo!"
A voice called out to them. Turning, they saw that sitting on the bench at the park was Cinnamon. They walked over to greet her.
"Hey, Cinnamon!" Gungaroo greeted. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was send out for an errand for friend of mine." Cinnamon answered.
"A Friend? Was it Rainy Turtloid?" Axl guessed.
"No. Another friend of mine." Cinnamon clarified and continue. "Say, Axl... Are you getting used to this city and the school?"
"Yeah, It was great." Axl responded.
"Really, why?" Cinnamon, in surprised.
"Because I get see Red, Hyenard and Gungaroo, when we were Red Alert back then." Axl answered.
"He's right." Gungaroo nodded. "And we also attend to the same school, me, him and Hyenard."
"Well, it's great to see that you all happy for each other as Red Alert." Cinnamon smiled and realized. "Oh! Are you getting along with Pallette? I mean, she did work as Maverick Hunter years ago... Umm..."
"She's alright, to say the least. We been through alot of missions together, she work as a navigator for me" Axl said.
"I see. She's always full of energy. She's very supportive, you know. It's always her who gives me the little extra push I need." She said, talking about her friend. "We met each other before we attend to Hikari Academy, and I still remember how have a girls night out with Alia and Layer."
"Whoa! A girls night out!" Gungaroo exclaimed.
"Yeah. We have great times with each other." Cinnamon said then look at her watch. "Oh... I should get going. I need to help out for his project.
She stood up and look at Gungaroo and Axl. "I'll see you both at school then." Cinnamon said as she left the park.
"Come on, let's go home, Gungaroo. Red's waiting for us." Axl said.
"Yeah, let's go." Gungaroo agreed as they both headed back to Yongen-Jaya.
X's Apartment
At Night, X return to his apartment, he is now watching the news on TV.
Our next story is an update in our ongoing report on the bizarre murders occurring in Odaiba. At around 7:00 A.M., a high school student Mimi Hoshi was found dead in at the Odaiba Beach. Since the cause of her death is unknown similar to the Reporter, and since Ms. Hoshi's was the one who found photos of Yuki Maizono, police are proceeding under the assumption that this may be a serial murder case related to the death of Yuki Maizono . The coroner's report has established Ms. Hoshi's time of death at around 1:00 A.M. last night. The body went unnoticed until this morning.
"This is terrible..." X said in worries. "I hope we can find that culprit before he throw more victims in the Time Realm."
The incident happened at the Inn of Odaiba next to the Inami Temple. We already talked to the reploid about what happen from that night, apparently he heard a scream coming from the inn during his night shift at the Temple, he said he ran off to the Inn to investigate and he found nothing. After that, the workers from the Inn has no idea what happen to Maizono after she went missing and then die. In other words, we began to speak one of the workers on the Inn.
X looked at the TV and see Cinnamon on-screen, knowing that she works there part-time.
Hm…? Um… Are you talking to me?
Yes. We've heard that you work there as a part-time job, right? When's the last time you see Maizono?
Oh, nothing much... She just came here to rent a room.
Really? You don't know what happened to her that night?
No, I left work at 6:00 PM.
X turn off the TV, and head back to his room to sleep. When he went back to sleep in his pod, he began to feel not well after what happened in the Time Again, he began to feel pain inside of him, a pain he never felt and his robot body began to glow, which shine the room and something is about to happen for him.
To Be Continued
Friendship Links
X's Bonds
Sting Chameleon (Rank 1)
Zero's Bonds
Slash Beast (Rank 1)
Axl's Bonds
Vanishing Gungaroo (Rank 1)