• Published 11th Aug 2015
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Melody of the Future - Tatsurou



Megaman X raises an infant Octavia Melody in a world of human, Reploid, and Maverick conflict.

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...For the First Time

X sat back at his desk, having just finished typing up his official review of Gate's research and developments, giving his official endorsement to Gate's continued research. It had been quite a lot to type, and each time he stopped, he couldn't help but marvel at just how advanced Gate was as compared to most available science that so much of what he'd created couldn't be completely analyzed as data. He couldn't help but think about what that said about himself and Zero, considering that they still couldn't be fully analyzed. He idly wondered how long it would be before he and Zero could be completely analyzed, and ones with their capabilities and capacity to evolve became the norm, rather than the ideal. He wondered if that could ever happen...and what that said about Dr. Light and whoever created Zero if it couldn't happen.

As he leaned back, he felt familiar hands on his neck and shoulders, and smiled as he relaxed into the gentle massage. "I'm not actually all that stressed," he murmured as he sipped his coffee. "Not that I'll say no to this either way."

Alia chuckled as she leaned over his shoulder, neither of them in uniform just now. X had gone with slacks and a loose shirt to relax in, while Alia had gone with much the same, though a bit more flattering on her figure. "So how'd things go at Gate's lab?" she asked idly.

"Beyond what I could have imagined," X admitted, letting his head rock back to look her in the eye. "You weren't kidding about how brilliant he is. I had a hard time following everything he was doing at first. And the things he's already created, the breakthroughs he's made..." He shook his head in awe.

Alia giggled quietly as she wrapped her arms around him. "Any problems?" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing that can't be solved with interpersonal relations rather than direct interventions," X replied. "That's my official recommendation in that regard...that the high power Reploids he's created do a few stints as Hunters as part of the elite teams, so they can learn teamwork and recognize the strengths and skills of others."

"Do you think it will work?" Alia wondered, biting her lip pensively.

X shrugged. "No idea. I can hope it will, and if it doesn't, we should be able to address any problems that result on a case-by-case basis, rather than letting bureaucrats make blanket decisions."

"That's good," Alia agreed. "If nothing else, it should green light Gate's continued research."

They leaned into each other for a time, just relaxing, lost in thought. Eventually, X spoke up again. "So how long do you think it'll be until Gate accomplishes his big plan?" he asked curiously. "The one you told me about?"

Alia tilted her head back and forth, making quiet 'hmm' sounds. "Not sure," she admitted finally. "It'll probably be a while. Why?"

"Just wondering how long it's going to be before human courts of law recognize Reploid marriages," X replied easily.

Alia blinked, stunned as she pulled back a bit. "What brought this on?" she asked, confused.

"A conversation I had with Zero and Octavia on the way to Gate's lab," X admitted. "I asked Octavia if she had any questions before we got there. I meant about what we were going to do there...but she asked when I was going to ask you out."

Alia couldn't help it. She burst into laughter. "So much for trying to keep her from feeling neglected about it, right?" she joked as she let her chuckles die down.

"So much for keeping it secret, either," X added. "She'd seen the way I look at you, and apparently the whole HQ knows how you feel about me."

Alia blushed, brushing her hair back. "I suppose I could have managed to be a bit more discreet-"

"She also said it was about time she had a mother."

Alia fell silent, stunned. "X..."

"Was...was I neglecting what she needed by trying not to neglect her?" he asked worriedly. "Would it have been better to tell her right at the start? Has she lost something because I didn't give her a mother when she needed one when she was younger-"

Alia cut off his worried ramblings with a quick kiss. "X, you've never been a father before," she explained. "There aren't any books on parenting...and even if there were, there aren't any on raising magical ponies from another dimension as a single parent. You've done the best you can, doing what you thought was right every step of the way. If she hasn't brought this up before now, then before now she probably wasn't secure enough in how she felt about me to want to change that. You know how she is. If she wants something, she doesn't dance around the subject."

X chuckled ruefully. "No she is not. I half expected another full fledged guilt trip like when she wanted her Power Armor."

Alia's chuckles were a bit more good-spirited. "I guess she didn't think you needed it. Still, how did this lead to wondering about Reploid marriage?"

"I...was rather obvious in my reaction, and Zero was able to get out how long we'd been dating in secret," X concluded. "Octavia said that, if it had been that long...I should forget courting and 'put a ring on that'." He couldn't suppress his smile at Alia's stunned expression. "And...now that I've thought about it...I can't help but think she's got the right idea."

"As always," Alia allowed, somewhat ruefully as she leaned against X's back. She thought quietly for a time. "I don't know about the ring...but I'll certainly be happy to make 'us' public. And...I'm looking forward to being Tavi's Mom-"

Music played loudly suddenly interrupted their quiet moment, followed by a very familiar voice singing.

"Tavi's Mom has got it goin' on!
Tavi's Mom has got it goin' on!
Tavi's Mom has got it goin' on!
Tavi's Mom-"

"Zero, I'm going to kill you!" X roared out as he drew his buster, Alia hiding her face in nearby pillows in embarrassment.

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