//------------------------------// // Canterlot pt2 // Story: Megaman Zero E // by KaijinZero //------------------------------// Back in Ponyville, the others were sitting at Sugarcube Corner, waiting for any news from Canterlot. "...you guys remember when we used to do stuff?" Pinkie asked. "Pinkie, me and Zero just fought a pack of Timberwolves and a giant evil apple tree... Ah think that qualifies under stuff we usually do." "I don’t mind not doing hero things...it's not as scary." Fluttershy muttered. "Well, I’m wondering what it was that made Celestia tell us to hide..." Spike said as he munched on a cupcake. "I bet a shot from the Elements would set it straight." "I don’t know darling... that magic I felt was terrifying." Rarity shivered. "I don’t think the Elements alone can stop whatever that was..." "I know...my Pinkie sense didn’t even know what to do when that wave hit." Fluttershy whimpered. "I hope Twilight and Rainbow are okay...do you think Mr. Zero will protect them?" Trotting to the yellow Pegasus, Applejack placed a hoof on her friends shoulder. "Don’t you worry none, after fighting alongside Zero, Ah don’t think anything in this world could beat him." Dashing from the Train station, Zero, Twilight and Rainbow ran for the castle. Along the way, they fought off waves of Pantheons and Variants, as well as a few new forces that had appeared. "Gah, that thing with the propeller almost clipped my wing!" Rainbow grunted after saving a family from a Gyrocopter that was trying to snipe at them. "We have to keep moving! Twilight, are we close to Canterlot Castle?" "Just a few more blocks and we'll be there Zero." Twilight panted, having managed to pierce a Pantheon Hammer's shield with a continuous beam of pure magic. "Hopefully, nothing too bad has happened." "With Weil, you should always be prepared for the worst." Zero warned the purple Alicorn before dashing up to a Variant Claw and tearing its claw off with his Z-Knuckle and throwing it to Twilight, who teleported it back to the train. After they had arrived, they had managed to save a Noble Twilight had gone to school with named Techno, who had brought them up to speed on what had happened. "It was so fast..." he said as he cought his breath. "one moment, this ape thing calling itself Lord Weil in a glass tube comes onto the Balcony of the castle claiming to have defeated the Princesses, the next, and robots are attacking everything that moves." "That is definitely not good...Techno, do you think you can fix a train that’s at the station, you'll know if you see it." "Sure thing Twilight! And Zero, I noticed you took that part from that machine...if you send them to me, I think I can make you some new items." "Thanks, I'll be sure to keep that in mind." "So do you really think that Techno guy can fix the train up in time, and make Z some cool stuff like he said?" Rainbow asked. "I know so. Tech would never betray me." "He has a crush on you doesn’t he?" Rainbow teased the princess. "N-No...okay maybe I worked on a midterm project with him once and he's been smitten ever since... but that means nothing! What about you and-" "Zip it you two! Canterlot Castle is ahead." The Castle had seen better days, as the courtyard was marred with spots where Weil's forces had attacked and fought the royal guard. s\Several corpses of both sides dotted the area, causing the ponies following the red Reploid to gag a bit in disgust. "This is horrible...even his own forces are still here..."Twilight said sadly. Rainbow growled."The throne room is just ahead, and I bet you anything the Princesses are kicking his butt right now!" "...I don’t think so." Zero said as he noticed something amiss with some of the Reploid remains. "There's no sign of a struggle...and some of these Reploid's..." "What about em Z?" Rainbow arched her eyebrows. "...they weren’t killed by magic, these are Plasma marks." He said, pointing to a Pantheon hunter that was missing its head. "You finally made it..." a young voice said from above them. Looking up, they saw a cloaked figure about Zero's height sitting on an archway, a cowl concealing his face from the eyes up, although some kind of scar could be seen. Jumping down, the youth chuckled darkly. "I was afraid that you wouldn’t make it here." "...You aren’t good at the evil thing are you?" Rainbow asked. "What do ya mean? Most of these guys were killed by me! And anyway, what do you know, you obviously don’t remember who I am." "Zero, do you know this creep?" "...There are still a few names from my past I can’t quite recall. I'm certain I hard his voice before though." "Tch, figures." the youth sighed. "Oh well, it’s not my place to fight you here, that’s Alpha's job." "Alpha... Who's that?" Twilight inquired. "And for that matter, who are you!?" Rainbow demanded, causing the youth to laugh. "Ha ha ha, dude if you weren’t so cutesy, I'd actually take that as a threat." the Youth said in between his giggling, irking the chromatic Pegasus. Deciding she had enough, she decided to kick his face in, only to be held back by Zero. "You still haven’t answered." Zero said calmly, letting Rainbows tail go from his grasp. "Ugh, fine...I do have to do so anyway since I’m in the presence of Royalty." the Youth rolled his eyes. "My name is Theta. If you live long enough, I'll tell you my real name. Just know that Weil has a trap for you guys set up after Alpha if you can get past him...but you know that, didn’t you Zero?" "Thanks for the heads up. Now go before I take you out right now." Theta smirked under his cowl. "Still the same after all these centuries...well, Alpha has been wanting to fight you for a long time now...even longer than I knew you actually. Laters!" with that, Theta's body converged into a bright light and teleported away. ...so they have a transport system...that’s not good. Zero thought to himself. And who is this Theta...or Alpha. It can’t be Sigma, Weil made sure he was gone for good when he was on our side...so who is it? "Zero, snap out of it!" "Hm? What is it Rainbow?" "You heard what that Theta guy said about a trap right? Should we go or leave?" Rainbow asked, eying the castle gate warily. "Rainbow, you already know the answer to that," Zero stated walking towards the gate. "Besides, you'd probably just go in by yourself even if we left anyway." Sticking her tongue out at the Reploid, Rainbow flew through the gates. Flying up high, she searched for enemies hiding out. Seeing none, she motioned for Zero and Twilight to move in. "Think he ran? "No...Something’s here. I can feel it." Zero said. "What do you mean? Pegasus eyes are almost better than an Eagle." Twilight argued. "Yeah...she didn’t see anything. But that’s not the only way to 'see'...Right Alpha?" "Dude, no one was here! Can’t you see tha-?" Just then, something began whistling a sad tune. Zero felt he had heard it before...and that he should dodge two steps to the left as a large ball of Plasma was shot from above them. "You were saying, Pony?" the Reploid asked, moving from the shadows above them. "So you guys are the Heroes...doesn’t do well that I got the drop on you." "So...you're Alpha...you seem familiar." "Humph. I was around before you were even designed, kid. Allow me to give a proper introduction." tearing off his cloak, Alpha revealed that he wore a grey jumpsuit, his arms and legs were crimson. A yellow scarf was around his neck, and a Crimson helmet that had shades built in that covered his eyes. His left hand had a white and red shield, and his right turned into a cannon "I am DRN000, Protoman, and it’s time to for you to pay for what you caused Zero."