#X and Zero vs. Magma Dragoon

[annon-guy2]

Capcom Vs. Series: Mega Man X Representative

Note: While Mega Man X, Zero and Sigma appeared in previous Capcom Vs. Games, I still put them here for those who like them.

[megamanxfanfics]

S.IV - Ep. 11: The Burning Desire

Written by Metal Man X

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EXT. KENYA – Sun House Mountain – DAY

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Blaze Phoenix flies overhead alongside a sky car that holds the Weapons Testing Team.  

ALLEN: (o.s, filtered) There! There it is.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Heh!

They all travel until they spot a large well in the ground and land near it.  

-cut to-

----------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Hot Spot - DAY -----------------------------------------------------------

X and Zero teleport inside a sweltering hot Volcano.

X: Alright, this is it.  Are you ready?

Zero closes his eyes and opens them slowly as he changes his stance.

ZERO: Hmph.

-a split screen appears, showing Zero on the left and Blaze Phoenix outside of the well on the right-

ZERO & BLAZE PHOENIX: We're gonna get that Son of a bitch.

[Insert Title Card: The Burning Desire]

-close split screen-

Zero runs ahead, leading the way down the slanting rocky terrain as the ground shakes beneath them.

X follows as he notices something behind them.

X: (reacting) A-a-ah. Look out!

ZERO: Wha-? Ah!

Zero turns around to see a series of fiery boulders chase them down the slanting ramp.

X & ZERO: Aaaaah!

As the boulders draw closer, a spiky climbs it’s way up to their position, but Zero cuts it down with his Saber immediately.

They make it to flat terrain, but the boulders continue to chase them. X points to a short wall ahead of them.

X: The wall! It’s our only chance.

The two run and dash-jump over to the far wall as the fiery boulders violently crash against it.

X: Phew.

ZERO: Hmph.

He walks over to a short crevice and stops short to see a large flaming boulder fall down into the gap ahead of him.

ZERO: Whoa!

X: We've got to be careful. This entire place is ready to blow.

Zero nods in agreement with wide eyes.

   -        Cut to –

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INT. SUNHOUSE MOUNTAIN – Well Entrance – DAY

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Blaze Phoenix and the Team of testers look at the well carefully as they walk up to it.

GLEN: Are you sure this is it?

ALLEN: Absolutely. These are the coordinates that Victor gave us.

BLAZE PHOENIX: That’s good enough for me!

Blaze Phoenix smirks as he flies in, leaving them behind.

RON: Heey! Wait for us.

Without waiting, Blaze Phoenix rushes down through the deep well and makes it to land where he notices that a cavern opens up.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Hmph..  This must be his hiding place.

He runs ahead while the Weapons Testers barely make it to his position with their jet packs.

GLEN: Whooa.

ALLEN: Phoenix! Wait up!!

   -        Cut To –

----------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Rock Gaps – DAY -----------------------------------------------------------

X and Zero hop among a series of rock masses that have so many gaps between them, they might as well be pillars. Fire boulders spurt out up and down between some of the gaps, effectively scaring X and Zero as they carefully navigate the terrain.

After getting past 8 pillars, X and Zero take a long jump to more steady terrain.

X shoots down a Batton bone that awaits them.

Zero notices an energen capsule on the ground and grabs it.  Then a swirling flame passes over his head and back into the ground.

ZERO: Whoa!

They come across two mets, which shield themselves from Zero's saber slashes.  The moment they peek out from their hard hats, X shoots them down with level 1 shots.  Then, another swirling flame almost takes out X.

X: Damn! This heat is crazy!!

They jump over a few more rock gaps and dodge the corresponding flaming boulders.

When they make it to the next stretch of land, they carefully watch out for the fire swirls as they spot a large Giga Death mechaniloid waiting for them.

X: Oh man!  What’s that?

ZERO: I don’t know, but I don’t like it.

It fires three missiles at them, from both arms and it’s nose.

The two briefly struggle as they dodge and take it out with a slash and a charged shot.

A swirling flame crosses a gap behind the Giga Death's explosion, almost as if leading the way.

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SUNHOUSE MOUNTAIN – Underground Cavern – DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blaze Phoenix runs through a short corridor where dragon themed heads glare at them menacingly from every corner.

GLEN: H-h-haw. What skeevy décor.

BLAZE PHOENIX: (acknowledging) What is this place…?

ALLEN: Is he trying to build a Base??

As they pass by a Dragon Head, a violent flame spurts out from it's mouth.

TESTERS: WHOA!

RON: Hey! Those are our Flame Throwers.

GLEN: That bastard.  That’s where the fruits of our labor are going?

Blaze Phoenix looks ahead.

BLAZE PHOENIX:

Come on, guys.  We'll set him straight.

He leads them down, into another corridor, below the decorative flame thrower.

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Land Masses - DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

X spots some more bats and shoots them down as they hop over a gap and make it to another long crevice.

Three large fire boulders pass through the crevice.  Two descending and one ascending in the middle.

ZERO: God, Damn!

X: (brave) Be careful!

X takes the lead and air dashes to the other side.

Zero is about to do the same, but more fireballs interject, this time in the opposite manner.

ZERO: (grunting) Aaaarrrrggggghhhh!!!

Zero jumps and performs Hienyaku, the air-dash he learned from Jet Stingray.

On the other side, they see a ramp leading upwards as the ground shakes once again.

ZERO: Uh oh.

X sees the first fire boulder come down the ramp.

X: Shiiiit!

A line of fire boulders come down on them. They will surely hit.

ZERO: Ahhh! Think fast!!

They both look around and instinctively jump and air-dash toward a rocky formation that’s slightly above them at a slant.

X: Whoa!  Good call, Zero.

ZERO: Yeah man.

They grip tightly to the walls as they wait for the boulders to pass.

ZERO: Now!

X: Right.

The two air-dash back to the ramp and quickly run to the top.

Immediately, they see more fire boulders crash against the ground.

X: Ahhh, man!

Zero spots a sealed off gate made of rocks ahead of them.

ZERO: Quick! Over there!!

The gate seems to have a glowing eye, as they dash over to it and quickly slash and blast it down together.

X: Hmph. Dragoon must be watching us.  He knows that we're here.

ZERO: Good!

They both run in.

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. REPLIFORCE HQ – Command Center – DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A blip on the monitor alerts General to the activity sparking up in Krakatoa, Indonesia.

GENERAL: Hmph.  So the Maverick Hunters are at it again…  It looks like Dragoon was right about his hunch.

He zooms in on the large volcano with his satellite feed and glares at the screen when a live image of X and Zero appear, running through a cavern.  Then, he presses a button on his control panel.

GENERAL: Prepare yourself, Magma.  They’re on their way.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (o.s, filtered) Heh.  Roger.

-cut to-

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SUNHOUSE MOUNTAIN – Pit – DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blaze Phoenix and the Weapons Testers run along a pathway with an opening that leads deeper below.

ALLEN: Jeez! Just how far does this rabbit hole go?

GLEN: (intimidated) Remind me why we're here again?

BLAZE PHOENIX: To avenge Infinity Flea's death, and take our weapons back.  Come on!

He flies into the pit leaving behind a wicked trail of flames.

GLEN: A-Alriight.

ALLEN: I don’t know about this..

RON: Come on, ya pansies.

Ron jumps in and follows Blaze Phoenix with his jet pack.  Then Glen and Allen follow.

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Rocky Ledges - DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

X and Zero run out of a small cavern and stop short at another long Crevice.

ZERO: Oh, shit.

X: Looks like this isn’t getting any easier.

They watch as fireballs pass by the long stretch of air.  Their only means of passage is to use the jagged formations of the Rocky wall to their side.

ZERO: Alright, come on man.

The two hop along two rocky ledges.  When Zero gets to the third, a fiery boulder passes behind him downward and ahead of him upward.

ZERO: (surprised) Oh!

X bravely air-dashes past him to a fourth and fifth ledge.

ZERO: Look out!!

X: /Ah!

A fire boulder shoots upward into X's ledge and cracks it from below. X quickly dash-hops away.  Zero follows suit.

More fiery boulders drop and ascend passed them, between the rocky ledges until they finally make it to solid land once again, on the other side of the crevice.

X: Whoa, God!  This is too much.

ZERO: I know.

The two run over to a short wall and scale it with kick-jumps.  Once there, they see a taller wall with a Raiden Armor Soldier looming above them.

X: Uh oh.

ZERO: Hmph!

He kick-jumps up the wall and stands before the Raiden Soldier, who glares at him.

RAIDEN 1: You’re going to regret coming here.

ZERO: (defiant) I REGRET NOTHING!!

Zero dashes and uses Shippuuga, Slash Beast's powerful blade attack.  The pink, enhanced slash of the saber puts an immediate dent into the Raiden Soldier’s Ride Armor.  Then, he swipes his blade 3 times in a smooth combo, which cuts away at the Ride Armor and the soldier inside entirely until they explode.

Behind Zero, X floats from his thrusters with his arms folded.

X: So much for our cease-fire…

He hovers over to his position with a glum face.

Zero shares X's solemn face.

ZERO: You know that wasn’t going to last forever, X…

X: (sighing, admitting) I know…

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SUNHOUSE MOUNTAIN – Deep Pit – DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blaze Phoenix leads the way with an eager grin on his face as a fantastic wave of flames surrounds his entire body.

Far behind the flames, Allen, Glen and Ron struggle to keep up as their bodies are perspiring from the intense levels of heat in the pit.

Then, the whole area begins to rumble.

ALLEN: Hm?

GLEN: What was that??

The giant tunnel shakes as rocks can be heard crashing down beneath them.

RON: What the-?

He turns around and widens his gaze immediately at a huge stream of lava, as tall as the entire tunnel around them.

RON: Oh God!!

Allen and Glen turn around, frightened to see the huge wall of lava coming for them.  There is no way out of this.  They will have died for nothing.

ALLEN & GLEN: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

The wave reaches Ron and engulfs him entirely. Their bodies disintegrate instantly upon contact.

RON: NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

From far ahead, Blaze Phoenix crashes through a wall with an aura of flame around him.  He barely hears the faint sound of screaming, which makes him only slightly turn his head.

Then, he notices a giant wall of lava headed straight for him.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Hm!?

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Rock Walls - DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

X looks at the damage done to the Repliforce soldier with remorse.  Then, he gets distracted by a warm sensation emitting from his compartment belt.

X: Hm?  /Hey! The heart fragment is glowing.

X pulls out his incomplete heart tank and  gladly changes the topic.

ZERO: There must be another one up there.

Zero kick-jumps up and dash-jumps in an impressively wide arc.

On the other side, he dashes and grabs the item.

ZERO: Got it!

He dashes back to the ledge and tosses the fragment to X below him.

X: (happy, thankful) Whoa! /Thanks Zero.

He /catches the fragment and connects it to the heart tank as the power surges through his pores.  His hands slightly glow purple before placing it back in his compartment belt.

X: Whoa… Thanks for collecting the rest of these.  And the weapon chips too...

X kick-jumps up the wall, on the other side of Zero.

ZERO: Of course man.

He dash-jumps over to X's position.

ZERO: We're gonna need everything we've got to stop Repliforce and the Mavericks.

X gives him a crooked eye with a slight smile.

X: Hmph.  I suppose it’s inevitable right now, but hopefully, we won’t have to fight Repliforce any more after this.

ZERO: Heh.  Ever the Optimist.

He dashes past X with a smile.

X: (smirking) And you – the cynic, to keep me grounded.

He turns around and follows his partner.

ZERO: Someone’s gotta keep things in check.

X: (smiling) Hm.

   -        Cut to –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SUNHOUSE MOUNTAIN – The Pit – DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

BLAZE PHOENIX: (hurting, writhing) AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

The huge wave of lava passes over Blaze Phoenix, who we see guarding his entire frame, huddled under his wings.

BLAZE PHOENIX: (struggling, shaking) Gaaaaaaarrrgh…  That… Really hurt.

He falls to the ground, wounded.  After a moment, he shakes it off and re-ignites his entire body. Then, he flaps his wings, surveying the damage.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Oh maaan…  There’s no way they made it out of that alive.  …I killed them!

He blinks as he realizes the severity of his situation.

BLAZE PHOENIX: I didn’t need them to defeat Dino-Rex anyway, but… Now I'm weak!!  I can’t continue the mission like this…!  Ahh Man..  This won’t sit well with Gate and Laye at all.  They didn’t even know about this.

He looks at the tunnels beyond with a resentful glare.  There is plenty more terrain to cover before he might even get close to Burn Dino-Rex.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Shiiiiit. This is a lost cause.  I need to head back.  (v.o) ..and pray they accept my apology.

Blaze Phoenix reluctantly retreats to the top of the tunnel and makes his way back to the opening as he can feel the ground rumbling once again.

BLAZE PHOENIX: (v.o, thinking) Oh great…

   -        Cut To –

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Mechaniloid Station – DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

X and Zero dash over to another Giga Death as the volcano rains flaming boulders down on them.

ZERO: Gyaaah, look out!!

X fires at the Giga death from afar with level 2 charges.  When Zero inches near it, he destroys it with his Z-Saber.

ZERO: (continuing) Ya know what, X? We're kind of like a battery.

X: (smiling) Is that so?

They run on through the terrain and /destroy another Giga Death in the same fashion.

ZERO: Sure.  We're two different charges that don’t really see eye to eye.. But when we work together, we're /unstoppable!

Just then, X's internal tracer chimes in.

[RADAR]: Detecting a breakable wall, ahead.

X: (pleased) Is that right?

The two try to dash-jump and air-dash to it, but to no avail.  

X: Damn. It’s just out of reach.

Nearby, however, there is a Ride Armor which could help to give them a boost.

ZERO: Hmm. Let me try something.

Zero hops in the Ride Armor and uses it to dash-jump in the air. Then, from the cockpit, he hops out, allowing the armor to fall haphazardly in the lava.

X: Whoa!!  That was a waste.

He notices that the lava doesn’t affect the Ride Armor at all.

X: Wait.. Was it?

Zero stands above him.

ZERO: Up here, X! Lets break this thing down.

X: (nodding) Hm.

His armor switches to yellow and black as he shoots a carefully placed Lightning Web in mid-air.

X: (v.o, thinking) If my training should prove accurate, this'll work.

X air-dashes to the web and is able to use it as a short wall to kick-jump up and air-dash once more.

X: Yes!

He successfully lands on the ledge by Zero, who clashes his Saber against the rock wall again and again.  Then he presses his broken buster against the wall and uses his Thunder God Attack.

ZERO: Damn. Nothing is working!

The electricity of Zero’s Raijingeki fades.  

X: Hold on. Let me try.

X’s armor turns to purple and green as he switches to Aiming Laser.  When he sets it off, the green ray has no effect.

[RADAR]: Sorry, X.  The internal ray is not strong enough.

ZERO: Grrr.

Frustrated, Zero dashes back, and then forward once again.  This time he performs Shippuuga.  The pink blade of his saber is powerful enough to cut through the bottom block.

From the other side, he looks wide eyed at a hidden Light Capsule and turns around.

ZERO: Whoa! Nevermind.

X: Wow, Zero!!  You did it.

X is shocked to see that a capsule was hidden here this whole time.  He dashes through the hole and joins his friend.

ZERO: Damn.  Dragoon must’ve sealed this off and coated the wall with something.

X: Hmm.

X walks up to the capsule as Dr. Light's hologram reveals itself before the two Hunters.

Zero looks at the Doctor with awe.  This is the second time he’s seen him in person, and yet, laying eyes on him gives him a strange feeling in his heart.  Something almost.. familiar.

DR. LIGHT: Equip with this new body module, X. This body part absorbs damage inflicted by enemies and will gradually accumulate within. When it is filled to capacity with energy you can execute the invincible Nova Strike. However, a single use will consume all your energy stores, so use it only to pull through tight situations.

X: Whoa. Thanks Doc.

DR. LIGHT: Of course, X.  Rid the World of this evil.  And remember… Not all forms of evil are draped in black and white.

He fades away, mysteriously.

X: Huh?

ZERO: Yes! He agrees with me!!

X: Hmph…

X steps in the capsule and gains his new upgrade in a brilliant flash of light.

X: Whoa!

His chest piece is now colorfully coated in white with an extra overlay of white and blue with a red core piece and two green lights.  His shoulder pads are an iconic white, blue and gold once again.  Two, sharp red points stick out from the tips of his shoulders, overall complimenting the accents on his helmet and his boots.

ZERO: Lookin’ good, bud.  How do you feel?

X: Amazing!

Zero smiles.

ZERO: Good.  Let’s get down there and finish this bastard.

X nods.

- cut to -

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT.  KENYA - Sun House Mountain -  DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blaze Phoenix flies out of the well, twirling, and twisting, high in the sky in an attempt to shake off the flames from his molten armor.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Uuuugh, God..  I’m never gonna be able to explain this...

He slowly descends towards the Sky Car that Infinity Flea’s team rode in.

BLAZE PHOENIX: Aw man.  What a failure.  ...I’m gonna take a lot of heat for this.

He enters the Sky Car with a defeated grimace and takes off upon activation.

- cut to -

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO - Lava River - DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

X: His retribution has come.  It’s time to get some answers.  

Zero drops down and dashes over to the unaffected Ride Armor that sits in the Lava.

ZERO: Hmm.

He takes a risk and hops inside the cockpit.  The Ride Armor stands upright by his controls and easily traverses among the river of lava below him.

When X drops down, he is surprised to see Zero manning the Ride Armor.

X: Whoa.  You aren’t pulling any punches, are you?

Zero dash-hops along the rocks above the lava and X follows.

ZERO: This bastard switched sides and almost killed the 14th Unit without so much as an explanation.  He has this coming!

Zero takes another far jump with his Ride Armor as a swirl of flame passes by, passing over the rock from the lava.

Before him, standing on another rock, a Raiden Soldier stares at Zero.

RAIDEN 2: Stop!  This is Repliforce Territory-

ZERO: Shut uup…

Zero jumps and slashes him down with the Ride Armor’s beam buster.

X quietly shakes his head and keeps his mouth as Zero moves on to the next rock.  A swirl of flame catches Zero’s legs, and X almost feels good about it.

Another Raiden Soldier awaits, Zero.

RAIDEN 3: You dare defy us!?

ZERO: Yep.

A fiery boulder almost crashes against Zero’s Ride Armor as he hops over to the Raiden and breaks him down.  Again, X almost wishes Zero got hit.

Zero hops along to another rock as a fire swirl passes him by.  On the next land mass, another Raiden stands by.

RAIDEN 4: (fearful) Commander Dragoon!  The Hunters are here.  I repeat!  They’re heEEAAAAGGGUUURRRRGH!!!

The Raiden violently explodes to the Ride Armor’s beam buster.

Zero dashes along the land mass and jumps back into the river of lava.  He notices a series of rocks, which he’s confident the Ride Armor can break. He charges up the Ride Armor’s buster and crashes through the rocks.  Burrowing underneath a mountainous pass, he decides to coast along the river and break through the rocks.

X sighs and looks above him.  He air-dashes up to the mountain’s ledge, where a Raiden Soldier awaits him.

RAIDEN 5: Stop.

X stands by and looks the soldier in the eyes.

X: Stand down soldier.  I don’t want to hurt you.

RAIDEN 5: You have no command over me.

X: We’re just here to have a word with Magma Dragoon, a former Maverick Hunter.

RAIDEN 5: Just as you had a word with your old companion Web Spider!??  I won’t allow it.

X: (annoyed) Hey!  I’m overlooking the fact that your forces attacked me first on the Sky Lagoon!  But now I need to talk to Magmard and you’re in the way!!

RAIDEN 5: Be gone, Maverick Hunter.

He slashes a beam at X, who jumps back and hovers in the air.

X: (upset) I didn’t want to do this, but you leave me no choice.

X charges up and fires a level-3 X-Buster at the Raiden Soldier.

RAIDEN 5: Gaaugh!

He falls to the ground, out of his Ride Armor, hurt.

X: Remember this.  I gave you a choice.

X charges up and blasts him away.  He holds back a tear as he makes a firm grimace.

Dashing ahead, and scaling along the mountain with kick-jumps, X quickly makes it to the top of the rocky structure.  He enters what appears to be a mechanical area, when he drops down onto a rocky land of mass.

- pan to -

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. VOLCANO – Training Area - DAY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just then, Zero crashes through the rocks and hops onto the landmass, joining X.  

ZERO: Hey.

X: Hey.

They both look at the mechanical wall nearby.  It appears that Magma Dragoon was watching them after all.

On the other side of the landmass, Magma Dragoon rises out from the lava, which startles them both.

Lava drips off of his fiery frame as he sets off a quick aura of flame and normalizes his armor.  Then, he prepares himself with a battle stance as he looks over to his two old friends.

MAGMA DRAGOON: X and Zero… You've arrived.  I can’t believe It's really you!

They both narrow their eyes.

X: Dragoon! Why did you betray the H.Q.!?

He hesitates to answer.  He can only offer them a wicked smile.

MAGMA DRAGOON: .........

ZERO: (annoyed, firm) Why did you betray us?!  …Answer me, Dragoon!

MAGMA DRAGOON: I have no answer for you my friend.

X: Well that’s not good enough!  A lot of blood has been spilled for an unjustifiable cause and you can’t even offer us an explanation.

MAGMA DRAGOON: ...You're so naive. ...Listen closely. I let the Sky Lagoon fall! And I'd do it again! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

ZERO: (shocked) Dragoon!

X: But... Why!? We're allies!  How could you DO THIS TO US!!!???

MAGMA DRAGOON: (impish, baiting) Heh... You'll have to defeat me first.

X shakes his head in disbelief.

X: (aggravated) No!! Those were innocent people! You're not Dragoon! Just a Maverick!

MAGMA DRAGOON: You got that right! Power up guys! It's time you both showed me what you can do!

X looks at their former friend with wide, bewildered eyes.  Zero’s eyes get sharper as he prepares the controls in his Ride Armor.

Suddenly the ground shakes as Magma Dragoon summons his power.

MAGMA DRAGOON: HuuurrrrrAAAGH!!!!

A circular arc of lava covers his body as he crouches down and unleashes a violent wave of flames from his mouth.

X & ZERO: Whoa!!

X dodges as the flames are directed at Zero, whose only option is to jump out of the Ride Armor when it explodes.

ZERO: Haw, damn!!

X narrows his eyes and fires a fully charged X-Buster at Magma Dragoon.

Magma Dragoon takes the hit and high jumps over to X.

MAGMA DRAGOON: /Kyeh!

He comes down with a sharp, /flame kick, which /catches X in the chest.

X: /Gah.

ZERO: Hey!!

Zero dashes after Magma Dragoon with his saber out.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (excited) That’s it!  This is what I've been waiting for!!

Magma Dragoon happily blocks Zero's saber attacks with his arm, which still gets cut in the process.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Hee/Yah!  /Shuryuken!

He /strikes Zero in the chest with a flaming fist and then /upper cuts him. ZERO: Ouuuuh..

Zero falls to the ground.

X runs over to Magma Dragoon with a charged buster and blasts him again.

Magma Dragoon jumps back and dodges it, while his fists glow red.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Heh..  I've been looking forward to this day for a long time.  Longer than you'd think…

X stands by with a solemn grimace as he can hear Dragoon powering up.

X: Oh yeah?

MAGMA DRAGOON: I've been training. Waiting.. And Hoping for the day that I finally get to show you… the Full Extent of my Power!!!

ZERO: Oh, Shut up!

Zero jumps after Magma Dragoon, who simply turns his body and /pushes his palms out.

MAGMA DRAGOON: /HADOUKEN!!!!

ZERO: /Grrraaaah!!!!

Zero is /knocked down once again and now he looks hurt.

X: Zero!!

MAGMA DRAGOON: Hahahaha. HAHAHAHAH!!!!!! X: Noooooo!!

X blasts desperate level 1 shots of rapid fire in retaliation.

Magma Dragoon stands proudly as he takes the shots.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Heheheh. Hahahah!! /Hadouken! /Hadouken!!

With glowing fists, he /throws a fireball at X. Then he ducks and /performs a second one.

X dashes away from the first one, and barely jumps over the second one in time.

X: Dragoooon!

He air-dashes over to him in anger.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Heh! /Shuryuken!!

He /catches X with his rising uppercut.

X: (reacting, hurt) Gaaaah!!

X falls to the ground and puts his hands over his aching stomach.  He feels a shortness of breath as his chest tightens.

Magma Dragoon just looks down at him with pride.

MAGMA DRAGOON: What’s wrong? Those were the moves you showed me…  It burns pretty bad, doesn’t it?

He walks around, smug looking at the fallen heroes.

MAGMA DRAGOON: It should burn you even more to know that You did this.  You created this Monster! Both of you!!

ZERO: (hurt, muttering) What!?  ..Crazy Fuck..

X: (hurt) We… Have done nothing…

MAGMA DRAGOON: You have done Everything!!!  Its Always you two!!  X and Zero. The World Famous Maverick Hunters!  When was it ever about us!? /Huh!??

He /kicks X hard in the ribs while he is down.

X: Aaaah!!

MAGMA DRAGOON: /Huh!!?

He /kicks Zero hard in the stomach.

ZERO: Uuurgh.

MAGMA DRAGOON: /AAAAH??!!

He takes a /flaming kick to Zero, who quickly /grabs a hold of his shin and looks up at him.

ZERO: /Try again…

He dashes back to his feet, while still holding Dragoon's shin.  He /shoves Dragoon to the ground and /slashes him across the chest at close range.

MAGMA DRAGOON: /Ungh. /Hoouuuhh.

X silently blasts Magma Dragoon with a charge shot from the ground as he makes his way to his feet.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Agh!

X: You arrogant, envious fool!  For us, it was never about the glory.  When we saw an Emergency, we responded to it! And you were a part of that!!  Why throw that away?  Just for a…  Misguided Grudge Match!???

MAGMA DRAGOON: Its more than that!  This is about the Pride and Self Worth of every Maverick Hunter you've ignored. Every Reploid whose been thrown to the wayside, because they could never get a word in edge wise with you two.

He slowly rises from the ground.

ZERO: What are you talking about!?

Zero runs after him and swings his saber, but Magma Dragoon grabs his hand.

MAGMA DRAGOON: (struggling) Anyone who wasn’t good enough!  Who could never hold a candle to you!  …None of us had that certain.. /fire that you look for.  

He /ignites his hand, burning Zero’s arm in the process.  Then, he /punches him in the gut and /kicks him to the floor.

ZERO: /Aaaah!  /Oough, /Kaaagh.

Zero slides on the ground as he holds stomach and chest.

X glares at Magma Dragoon, as his inner-temperature rises.

MAGMA DRAGOON: Most of us never had the great privilege of working with you.

ZERO: (coughing, hurt) You did…

MAGMA DRAGOON: A rare Honor, indeed!  But secretly, with every triumph and every new power up you two received…  I was never happy for you.  No. Instead, I grew resentful of you both. Most of us are…

X: Damn you Dragoon!!

X runs to the side, and fires a few level 2 and 3 busters at Magma Dragoon from afar.

Magma Dragoon dodges the attacks and fires back with flame hadoukens, which X dashes away from, as he nears his position.

X: It didn’t need to be like this!  This whole thing is pointless!!

From up close, X shoots rapid-fire level 1 shots and attempts to punch Magma Dragoon in the chest with a dash.

Magma Dragoon simply catches X’s fist and tosses him aside like a ragdoll.

X: Whooooooa, /Urgh!

X /hits the wall and falls to the ground.

Irate, Zero shakes off his pain and stands up once again.

ZERO: Oh BOOHOO!  Poor Magmard!  You weren’t getting enough attention, so you flew the coup and caused a World Tragedy on our account. Are you kidding me with that, right now?

X: (hurt) Zero!!  Don’t.. rile him up any more…

ZERO: NO!  We took this guy to Laguz Island. We trusted you!! Almost every co-op mission we've done was with the 14th Unit.  Then you betrayed us.  For no reason!

MAGMA DRAGOON: …It all comes down to one simple thing in the end.  Power…  And sometimes, in order to achieve what you truly want, you have to make sacrifices.

X gasps and sharpens his brow in anger as he gets up.

X: You sacrificed an entire civilization… and joined Repliforce, just so we'd fight you…

ZERO: So that was your big plan!?  Take out the Sky Lagoon and make it look like Repliforce did it!!!?

MAGMA DRAGOON: It was so brilliant.  The look on your bewildered faces when Colonel declared War on you.

Tears well up on X's face as he clenches a fist.

X: (whispering, shaking) So many lives.. Lost for nothing…!

ZERO: I've spilled a lot of blood and staked my reputation on shutting that operation down.  And now I find that it’s all because you wanted to spar with us…?

Magma Dragoon glares at them with a impish, wicked grin.

ZERO: Next time just ask!!!

He dashes after Dragoon, infuriated and uses Shippuga, slicing a pink blade at Dragoon’s gut.

MAGMA DRAGOON: /Guuah.

He slashes blade after blade at Magma Dragoon, catching him in the shoulders, before Dragoon fires back with close range hadoukens.  Zero is so zoned in that he instinctively dodges the two blasts, but then Magma Dragoon catches him with a /spin-kick

MAGMA DRAGOON: /Heyeh!

ZERO: /Awh.

Zero is pinned down to the ground and then punched hard in the sternum.

ZERO: /Augh.

He coughs up some blood.

Then, a large X-Buster blast /catches Magma Dragoon from behind.

MAGMA DRAGOON: /Hwooah!

X:

We had Peace!  We worked so hard to re-attain the state of the World after Doppler’s reign, Sigma’s return and Berkana’s erasures.  Then /YOU ruined it.  Over the most.. Infantile reason!  …I'll Never forgive you for this!!!

His fist glows blue and then flames up into a fiery, red state.  The flames grow across his arm and cover his body as a glowing aura of gold surrounds him.  Then, the aura covers his body with pure power.

X: NOVA STRIIIIKE!!!!!!

MAGMA DRAGOON: What!?

He stares in awe of X's new attack, as X launches himself with a swift air-dash, directly into him.

MAGMA DRAGOON: GYYAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

X rams into his chest as his Nova aura breaks off his torso and completely disintegrates his legs.

The broken, defeated Maverick looks up at X with tired, hurt eyes.

MAGMA DRAGOON: gg.. Uuurgh. You... are... strong... X...

Zero slowly gets up with wide eyes as he looks at the damage, X has done.  He walks over and stands by his exhausted partner as they look down at their former friend.

X pants as he sweats through his helmet. X: Such a waste... Why Dragoon?

MAGMA DRAGOON: ... Always... wanted... to fight... you. ...Then ...he ... appeared ... and

X: He appeared? Who?!

MAGMA DRAGOON: ...told me to work for Repliforce. To goad you into fighting...  ...He ...told me... he'd give me power.. only if I worked... for Repliforce...

ZERO: ...What!? He? Who!? MAGMA DRAGOON: I couldn't... refuse the offer... Sorry Zero... ZERO: ...Dragoon!!! MAGMA DRAGOON: ... was worth it... for a final duel...

He turns his head as the rest of his body explodes.

X: Dragoon!!!

X and Zero stare at the damage in silence.  X walks over to his frayed corpse and pulls out his weapon chip with misty eyes.  He places it in his compartment belt and turns to Zero.

ZERO: …Its over.

X looks up at him with a sorrowful frown.

X: No it’s not.

ZERO: I'll call in a meeting with Colonel. Tell him we were set up. I can fix this.

X: No. You can’t..!  Don’t you see? Its too LATE for that!!! He was Repliforce.  Which means, they’re going to retaliate, whether we attempt a negotiation or not.  

ZERO: You think the time for talking is over, huh?

X: Oh yeah.  By a long shot!  And I’m also about 50% sure that the person who went to Dragoon was General.

ZERO: (surprised) Huh?  ..but why!?

X: I don’t know.  Doctor Cain never trusted the Repliforce he helped create.  And that final evaluation he wrote came out in June, after he met their new General.

ZERO: Reeeally.

X: I might be wrong.  But either way, they are going to attack us with the last of their forces, after this. No doubt about that.

ZERO: Who is the other 50%?

X just gives Zero a look.  He doesn’t even need to say the name.  Zero looks at X in shock and for the first time he is speechless.

X: Dragoon played us…  And we all lost this Repliforce War…

-freeze frame. Grainy effect-

NARRATOR: The Maverick Hunters have successfully defeated their treacherous friend, Magma Dragoon.  They have confirmed that the Sky Lagoon Incident was a Maverick attack, but there is no cause for celebration; only concern.  Who coordinated this attack?  Could X be right that the General is a Maverick?  For now, the only certainty we have is that this War will continue.  The damage has already been done to the Repliforce and regardless of their motives, they will respond with retaliation.

-fade to black-