//------------------------------//
// Why can't I rest? 
// Story: MEGAMAN ZERO: Legends Never Die 
// by belmontzar 
//------------------------------//

Burning, and the rush of wind and gravity.  Zero had expected a swift death, but here he was... launched away by the explosion.  An Explosion that should have evaporated him.  Yet there he was, falling and watching Ragnarok explode above him.   He blinked, wondering if some random being had saved him.. yet his Cyber elf.. was asleep still.  Just as it had been before the battle.  As he turns and watches the floor below, he took in a long gaze of the land below, land he had saved.  It was strange but he felt happy seeing it safe and sound. Glad the pieces of the past, and the darkness of the assumed future would never reach it.  Still his mind drew back to the station.

"Why had I not been killed?  Why was I launched back instead of sucked in like expected?" He shakes his head and smiles.  "Not that it mattered.. soon ill be resting one way or another.."  The extreme rush of G forces as he drew closer was enough to knock the hero out.. though a small tormenting voice in the back of his head was whispering..

Zero stood within darkness, in his own mind.  Looking at his Old self. who oddly enough even wore the old Armor.
"your not done yet... You don't deserve to die yet." 
"Haven't I done enough?" Zero responds to himself watching as it laughed.
"Those battles? Those problems where your own doing. All you did was clean your own mess.. your virus has killed far more than you have saved Little Wanna be hero."  
"I'm not a hero at all."  Zero says angrily.
"No, your a villain, a monster, and the funny part is.. you WANT to be the hero. The great creation of Dr Wily, with dreams of being a REAL hero.  How sad is that?"
Zero had no reply to his inner self.. he could tell deep down it was right.
"No arguments?  No sarcastic moment?   Wow you are slipping.  But then again.. it might be the rush from the Repliforce memories..  oh.. its Kraft... right?"
Zero blinks as he watches his old self walk about.
"Yes.. Kraft..A reploid who wanted to save the world, and was tricked into working to destroy it. All in the name of Justice.. correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it that very word that drove you to kill the Colonel and Iris?" 
He growls at his older self who seemed to flaunt the memory.
"Yes the great and powerful hero. Fighting for the humans and peace by Killing everything that stands against him.  Friend of Foe, you didn't really care."
"SHUT UP!" Zero yells rushing over as he attacks his older self.
"See? Even now its your Saber that you speak with isn't it?"  The older Zero Shoves him back as it laughs.  "First instinct, kill.. just like all of the other Robot Masters.  At least one of them had a goal in mind.. what was his name?  AH yes ... BASS.  OH what a coincidence the very Bass you killed to prove yourself to your 'master'.    Do you remember?  I remember of course.. Megaman.. Protoman.. I remember all of the Robots you murdered before you where sealed away."   IT smirks widely. "Even little Roll... her head.. definitely fit her name.. didn't it?"   

Zero couldn't take it as he collapsed in thought.. remembering all the people he murdered..

(MEANWHILE in the world of the Awake)
"Wow you where REALLY quick to put him in your lap eh Levi?"  
"Stuff it Fire child."
"Leviathan. Fefnir. Behave."  Harpuia commands them as the group stood together.  Harpuia looks up as Phantom appears from a shadow as always.
"Master X is on his way."  Phantom reported simply.  "I still don't see why we don't Dump him on the Resistance's Door step."

"You didn't hear his final battle with The Doctor."  Phantom blinks as he and the other male guardians snapped to attention.
"Master X."  Harpuia says smiling as he bows. "I'm pleased to report that Zero is in fine condition, though I must echo Phantom's opinion.. why did you want him here in Cyberspace?"

"You will understand.. just read these."  X replies sending the Data from the battle he'd witnessed.   None of the guardians where surprised X was there..  they all knew X had faked his 'elf death' in order to work more secretly and to keep an eye on Zero.  But they where surprised by what Zero was.

"Wow no wonder he was so skilled.."  Phantom mused to himself.

"I can't imagine how it felt to learn all of that.."  Harpuia had to admit.   The Leviathan nods as even Fefnir was silent.  "I sort of understand, you don't want Zero back on the field.. but what do we do?"

X smiles  "Well first, we contact Ciel. Let her know Zero is alright and talk to her privately.  Then we see about helping Zero rest."

Fefnir blinks.  "Were gonna kill him? Wow that's cold boss."

Phantom and Leviathan face palm as Harpuia sighs.  "No not kill him you idiot."

"We are going to find a non technological world for him to go and rest at.  IF there is no technology there are no robotics. if there are no Robotics then Zero wont affect anything.  No robots means no battle.  What Zero needs most right now is an escape from his life of battle."
Fefnir still looked confused as Leviathan looks over.  "Master X.. please in simple terms for him..  Were gonna get him a vacation."
"Oh that makes.. HEY DID YOU CALL ME STUPID?"

Phantom chuckles. "No she called you SIMPLE. Harpy called you stupid."
Fefnir blinks. "Course Harpy can say that.. Everyone but master X is stupid against him."
X chuckles as the other guardians sigh again.  "right.. Ill go contact Ciel.. We are waiting for one other person to arrive.. but..."

"No need for that X.  I'm here.. and I brought her."   The group turns to see Ciel and the Cyber elf once known as Elplizo. "By the way, whoever was the messenger needs to be shot. I guessed it was Secret, so I deleted the other entries, though Ciel and her little one got theirs."

Ciel Smiles. "Yes I got your message, about Zero is he..."
X smiles.  "Hes fine but hes really worn out.  With all the battles he has been on non stop he is not mentally well."
Fefnir smirks.  "Not to mention he landed on his head when he hit the ground!"
"FEFI!  Down boy."  Leviathan says grabbing and pulling his ear, dragging the guardian down.
"OWW OWW OWW!"
"Yes yes.. hes fine Ciel. Leviathan and I have been keeping watch, his vitals and everything seem fine."  Harpuia says gently.  "He did land on his head, but you of all people know how hard headed he is.."
Ciel chuckles and smiles.  "Yes...  I understand, now that the war is over.. I was trying to think of more ideas.  I hadn't even gotten to Zero's break yet."

X blinks.  "You had already known he would need rest?"
Ciel blinks.  "Of course he would. Hes been putting himself under massive amounts of stress.. if he doesn't slow down hes going to fall apart.  Fighting you all may have been fun for him, but he still gets tired."

"Anyway. Master X was talking about sending Zero to another world, one without technology. Can you think of any?" Phantom asks before they all got totally derailed from the main topic.
"Without technology? hmm.. I don't think our Tech would work.. unless we found sure coordinates, but even then..he'd most likely be trapped."  Ciel replies looking worried.
"Well according to Master X we need to find one so Zero can get real rest."  Phantom states simply.
"X? whats that about?"  Elplizo asks looking over.
X frowns in thought for a moment as he mulls over telling the truth and decides to spin it differently.  "Ah yes.. you can sense the odd new energy with your device right?"  Seeing Ciel nod he smirks.  "At the moment Zero is covered in Wile's energy rays.  Any Robot that gets close to him, will go berserk.  Cyberelves like us are fine, but your Resistance men.."
Ciel nods.  "AH that's why you needed me alone!"

Unseen phantom exchanges glances with the others as they all saw the half truth there.. even Fefnir got the hint.. or was too distracted by Levi's hold on his ear.  Phantom couldn't tell at the moment.
"As you know, with reploids helping the humans focus on rebuilding. there really is no place without both Robots and humans.  The last thing any of us need is a crazy robot uprising. That status of the people, they wouldn't be able to cope." Elplizo adds in agreement.
"Exactly.   That's why we need a world with no Tech. So that Zero can rest safely."   Harpuia says kindly.  

"Yes I understand..  something tells me there is more to this.. but you all do have a point.. and I do detect strange energy from Zero."  Ciel admits nodding further.  "Actually the talk of humans and reploids reminded me of a program I'm working on."
X nods.  "Ah the Bio form project right?"
Ciel smiles.  "So you did get that... yes.  Part of the problem that led to this whole disaster was about how powerless humans felt against reploids.  Neige is helping me test ideas and concepts, but at the moment the only compatible person is Zero."  Ciel sighs sadly handing the bag of chips to Phantom. "I was going to ask him to test these forms.. they are based off you all actually. But I thought that eventually giving the humans the ability to fight like the Guardians of Neo Arcadia would help their moral."

"Ah... that explains the letters...  P, H, L, F, Z, and X." Harpuia says as he also looks them over.
"Chips that give our powers.. to the humans.."  Fefnir mumbles in thought.  "Not that any human can REALLY match ME!"
"Not in stupidity anyway..  But I do like the idea."  Leviathan says gently.  "They can use our abilities to keep everyone safe, while working with the reploid defense."

Ciel smiles wider. "I made these to work like the form DAta Zero already uses. they transform his weapons and give him the special talents you all used in battle.  As well as extra data X shared with me.  If not for X I wouldn't have gotten Harpuia's flight or Phantom's data completed."
X nods.  "Yes I support the idea of humans having the power to protect themselves.  Though I hope they don't abuse the reploids with them."  X smirks.  "I also duplicated the weapon Data Zero had used before.  Remaking his older weapons as well."

"Oh that's nice of you..." Elplizo says thoughtfully as a Cyber elf rushes over.
"MASTER X MASTER X MASTER X! WE FOUND ONE!"  
More little Elves rush over as they join the chorus.
"We did it!"
"We found a new world!"
"I saw it first!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"I recorded it first!"
"Only after I pointed it out!"
"You cant prove that at all!"
"Oh I'll find away.."
"WAAAAHHH"
"Uh oh..."
"Oh dear."

X chuckles walking to the crying baby elf. "Now now.. whats wrong?"
"they are all too  loud.. its my fault anyway.. I saw a big glowy star and wanted to know what it was so I hit the scope.  Now everyone wont stop yelling..  I'm sorry.."
The other elves freeze at that..
"Oh no.."
"Oh.. that's right.."
"It was her.."
"I remember."
"So then SHE found it."
"Yes yes she saw it first."
"PFF I recorded it first."
"So? Shes a baby shes not able to record yet!"
"YEAH don't be so mean!  They are right SHE found it."

"Hey hey hey settle down.. lets see the data."
A tall cyber elf floats over handing the data to X.  "Here are the scans."

X puts it up for them all to see.
"Lets see.. medium sized planet.. Primitive technology.. but nothing too dangerous for Zero.  Environment fits ours. gravity is about half but that's not a problem."


Ciel nods.  "It looks perfect! and wow.. that's not that far away."
"Great job kids." X says smiling as they all float off and away.  "Knew making it a game was the best option."

"Children certain love their games.. Don't they Fefnir?" Harpuia asks smirking.
"Ah well they are fun..  HEY WAIT!"

"X.. should we wake him up? or send him in his sleep?" Leviathan asks standing up still holding the knocked out Zero.

"We should send him now.. well put the chips and such in his pouch and send him along..."  Phantom says in thought.

"Yeah.. the faster he goes the faster he can come back ^_^."  Ciel says happily.



"Good bye Zero.. rest well..."

[6 hours later]
"OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL IS THIS THING?"  A voice rang out.  "FLUTTERSHY!  Why did you bring it here?"
"Well uh-mm.. I couldn't just.. LEAVE it there.. you know how dangerous the Everfree is..." the timid pegasus says to the panicking unicorn. 
"BUT WHAT IF ITS ONE OF THE BAD THINGS! What if its, is.. hes, hers.. I don't even know what it is!"  Twilight replies in a visible panic.
"Calm down Twlight.. relax. if its bad. AJ and I will just send it back."  Rainbow dash comments simply, as relaxed as always...
"Aj and I?  That's funny I don't remember you doing any heavy lifting."  Apple jack retorts.  The earth pony sitting with an ice pack on her back. "You sure your gonna be alright there sugar-cube?"
Fluttershy nods. "Oh it wasn't so bad. You did most of the work.."
"Hey! I helped!"  Rainbow states feeling irritated she was being ignored.  
"So when did flying around telling us to speed up cause your getting bored count as helping?"  Applejack says smirking. 
"Hey!  I uh.. cleared the clouds!"  
"Yeah.. in the middle of Summer!"

"GIRLS! come on and focus on the real problem here. We don't know what this... THING is and you just Dragged it into the library."  Twilight yells irritated.
"Well who else would know what this thingamabob might be?"
"the library in the MIDDLE OF PONYVILLE!  What if it's a bomb? What if it explodes!  OH MAN the princess! Shes gonna kill me!  When she finds Ponyville.. NO when she DOESN'T find Ponyille!  Oh now.. shes gonna banish me!"
"Least shes not yelling about Magic kindergarten this time."  Rainbow adds in chuckling.  "Come on Twlight.  I'm sure the princess wont be too upset. Maybe you should send her a letter just in case?  If anyone knows what this is.. SHE will."

"Ah the princess! That's a GREAT IDEA!"  Twilight yelps rushing off.
"COURSE IT IS! I thought of it!"  Rainbow smirks.  "I am the GREATEST after all."