It was only once Zack had already reached his destination that he started to have second thoughts about his plan, particularly upon realizing he was still somewhat beat up from Zero using him as a punching bag (but not as badly as before due to what he could only guess was some kind of auto-repair system).

His mind was quickly taken off that point by the world of fire and brimstone surrounding him. His adventures aboard the S.S. Tipton had taken him to volcanoes before, but he never imagined he'd actually be in one.

Eventually, he snapped out of his awe long enough to remember his mission: he had a Dragoon to find. Dashing ahead, he took care to avoid the standing lava pools and leaping flares of lava. While he would've imagined himself dancing over them with deft maneuvering as he smashed up the enemies in his way, in reality, he got hit more than a few times.

The ground soon gave way to far thinner platforms and meteors…lots of meteors.

Before he could make a move, however, he heard the sounds of yet more explosions, slashing noises and the marching footfalls of someone coming his way, and then…

He turned around to see a figure amidst the smoky haze. He almost wished he hadn't.

It was Zero, and he looked ticked.

"Having fun 'fixing this', Twerp?"

-000-

The look of irritation on Zero's face, he knew it well from teachers, his own parents, brother, and someone…someone he was trying desperately not to think about at the moment. The thing was, while he would usually play it off as if it didn't really matter, tell himself every time that they didn't affect him, the truth was…they did. Nowadays a lot more than they used to, even...

At least it wasn't one of disappointment. He didn't know whether he could handle more of those…

If there was any upside to this he could find, it was that the ponytailed swordsman didn't know him.

"Well?!" Said swordsman snapped him out of his thoughts. He forced on an annoyed glare to match his mentor's.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it fun cleaning up your mess…"

Zero's tone became as sharp as his weapon. "Don't play with me, punk. I'm a Maverick Hunter, NOT a babysitter."

He took out his energy blade and drew it in front of Zack's face for emphasis. "Try anything like this again, and…well, we both already know you're nowhere near my level in combat…"

It was official, Zero terrified him, not that the darker red reploid was about to let him know that.

On the Hunter's end, though he wouldn't show it outwardly, he did respect the boy's moxie. He sheathed his saber but kept talking. "What you did was incredibly reckless and dangerous."

What kept the teen from zoning out at yet another lecture about his actions (if he had a dollar for every time he received one of those, he'd make a certain someone he knew look flat broke by comparison) was the nasty little death weapon his lecturer was carrying.

Still…

"Why's he still walking around, then?!"

It was downright scary how dismissive the answer he got back was. Physically waving off the question, Zero said, "Some wacko probably brought him back. This isn't new. Anyway, come on. You started this mission, and you're going to finish it."

Zero took off, forcing Zack to keep pace as they threaded the needle through what was effectively a meteor shower (with meteors of varying sizes) that destroyed the already spotty ground they were walking on as they were moving. Eventually, they finally got to a silver door.

"Well, this is where I make my exit. Dragoon's right through that door."

Zack's jaw dropped. "So, you're just gonna leave me here now? Are you serious?!"

The red reploid merely raised an eyebrow. "Yup. Did I stutter back there? I'll still be watching from the Base, though. Adios."

The teen watched helplessly as his only potential aid warped away in a flash of red light.

-000-

Everyone in the Navigation Room was shocked when only one person came back. Zero was casual about what he did, catching the former humans off guard…to say the least.

"You just left him there?!" Bailey practically screamed, echoing the rest of the group's sentiments.

"Relax. I'm going somewhere with this…"

"How is leaving Zack to get butchered 'going somewhere'?"

Zero walked right up to the taller of the twins to make his point. "Answer me this, Smart Guy. Would you have done any better out there?"

Cody didn't really have an answer for that. "I…"

"…would've gotten killed," he completed for him. "Besides, he's gotta learn to take a few lumps. It's part of being a Hunter. Considering he got as far as he did, he at the very least seems competent enough to finish the job."

-000-

Mustering what courage he could, the shorter twin stepped through the door to find a chamber surrounded by a pool of lava, a bipedal draconic orange reploid standing at the center of it with his back toward him.

"Dragoon, I presume?"

The creature turned to look at him with a sort of muted curiosity. "A little boy? The Hunters must have grown complacent in the time I've been gone if they've resorted to sending out little brats like you…"

"What'd you call me…?" Zack snarled through gritted teeth.

The Maverick just rolled his eyes, not threatened in the slightest. "You heard me. Run along and fetch me a real Maverick Hunter before you get hurt."

"You're the one who's gonna get hurt," the boy fired back, fists balled. "It's time for you to pay for all the people you killed at the Sky Lagoon!"

"So, you know about that, hm? I was merely issuing a challenge… " An amused growl escaped the beast's maw. "How about this: since you insist on getting revenge for matters that don't concern you, how about I throw you a bone? Prepare, child!"

Without another word, he launched a fiery punch at Zack, which he ducked under, trying to throw him…and he did.

…surprisingly far.

Even while externally bracing himself for a counterattack, he smiled just a little bit inside.

So, I guess I have super strength. Cool…

Said counterattack was swift, Dragoon bounded off the wall he'd been thrown towards with a kick aimed for his opponent's head. The boy ducked again, only for that to be followed up by a seemingly never-ending flurry of fiery blows, ending in a jumping dive kick that landed all landed plush.

Cratered into the ground, it was pure survival instinct that allowed him to see and react to the fiery projectile and jump over it. Thinking quickly and trying to ignore the sirens going off in his head (possibly literally considering his condition), he charged a punch right over the Maverick's head. Thankfully, he was just recovering and didn't have the chance to put his guard up.

KABOOM!

Dragoon exploded in a shower of broken parts. What was left of the robot's head had one last thing to say before it went offline permanently.

"Well fought…"

Praise from him, of all people? He shook his head in disgust as he communicated with the Base, allowing them to warp him away, but not before taking a strange red orb that caught his eye amidst the wreckage...