Loyalties in Love (ZeroxIris)

Okay ZeroxIris fans, here’s my challenge fic! I apologize for not finishing it yet, but as a sign of good faith, I will post this up as a multichapter work…It won’t be long though length-wise.

Again, I’m trying to build things up right now, but for now, hope you all like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Megaman franchise or the characters. It is copyright and owned by Capcom.

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Chapter 1: Brother’s a Fool

A quiet howl entered the air as a light breeze passed over the sky, picking up the small debris on the rooftop of Maverick Hunter HQ. The small stones rolled and clattered over the smooth tiling and off the edge, falling five stories to the ground below, barely noticeable. As they fell, sunlight glinted off of their reflective surfaces, briefly causing them to shine before they slammed onto the elevated steps. Zero saw the small shine from the corner of his eye, causing him to look down over the edge as those miniscule rocks fell to the ground. For an unknown reason, his fists clenched, and with a small scowl, his view returned to the front, gazing out at the cityscape in the clear afternoon.

It had been over a week now since Repliforce issued the coup. Since then, their revolting commanders have all been decommissioned and the ‘war’, if you could call it that, was now in the hunters’ favor. Repliforce had nearly held the world ransom after five of their commanders, Web Spider, Storm Owl, Jet Stingray, Slash Beast, and Frost Walrus took positions in various locations around the globe. The five officers kept a strong check on strategic locations and critical Repliforce bases, all housing some sort of weaponry and/or supplies. However, despite these critical setbacks and numerous casualties, the hunters had quickly gained the upper hand against Repliforce. Commander X of the Elite 17th Unit and Commander Zero of the 0th Stealth Unit led the charge on these fronts, the two of whom were integral to the shift in battle, and now, it seemed that the war was coming to a close.

The light breeze picked up once more, briefly weaving its way through the crimson warrior’s ponytail. It billowed in the direction of the city, moving as if it were a wave on the surface of a turbulent ocean. Zero grunted and moved his hair out of his eyes, continuing to look over the land. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, uttering a single word as his mind envisioned a tall, proud reploid in an officer’s uniform, holding a red beam saber before his face like a member of the Marine Corp.

“Colonel…”
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Memorial Hall,
Five days after the Repliforce Declaration of Independence

A reploid’s footsteps echoed through the empty Memorial Hall, the sole military officer walking onto the empty platform. He had been waiting for some time now, nearly ten minutes for the challenger to arrive. Zero should be here by now, it doesn’t take this long to get to Memorial Hall from MHHQ; it was literally a stone’s throw away. Colonel walked about the platform for another moment when something caught his eye.

“Colonel!”

“What?!” He looked up, and in the corner, standing on a small ledge near the ceiling of the large, circular assembly room was a familiar, crimson swordsman, brandishing his trademark beam saber. “Zero!” Colonel shouted.

“I’m disappointed in you Colonel!” Zero gripped his Z-saber tightly and launched off the ledge. “Hup!” He soared through the air and landed on the platform two feet short of Colonel, the blade’s end resting on the ground. The swordsman got up from his kneel and stood ready, his green eyes keenly set on the officer. “You decided to be labeled as mavericks over a simple questioning. You supported the General’s coup and his disillusioned ideal of a reploid society…Have you come to your senses now?” Zero asked as he continued to glare, angered by his friend’s stupidity.

Colonel let out a hmph. “I’m not here to negotiate if that’s what you’re asking.” He said with his refined English accent. “Soldiers know that their pride and loyalty are the only things they can claim as their own. Repliforce is not planning to surrender anytime soon, and I don’t intend to lay down my arms, even to you.”

“Colonel, are you even listening to yourself?” Zero shouted. “Repliforce’s pride is what caused this entire mess! It’s because you couldn’t simply answer some questions that this entire thing started! If you had just come in for questioning-!”

“Are you suggesting then that I should command my soldiers to lay down their arms and tarnish our reputation as the largest military force in the world?” Colonel asked, eying Zero with little emotion.

Zero gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes briefly and looked back at him, taking a sharp inhale as he struggled to control himself. “Colonel, please…” He opened his eyes and attempted a softer expression, showing he had no belligerent intent. “I’m coming to you as a friend, just call off the coup.” He searched for some kind of emotion, something that would tell him that his friend would reconsider. Nothing. “There’s still time. I know neither us nor General want to see our men die in a worthless battle. Just call it off and let it be over! Think about how all this was caused; it’s because you couldn’t swallow your pride that we had to fight through this. Countless lives have been lost because of a dumb mistake; do you really want more men to die just because of some stupid decision?” He paused. “And Iris, do you have any idea what we’re putting her through?”

Colonel remained silent, still staring at his friend with seemingly, emotionless eyes. “…”

“You’re General’s voice of reason, you can tell him to call off the coup. I know he cares about his soldiers and he cares about you, just tell him that we’re willing to accept an apology and we won’t have to fight anymore!” Zero deactivated his saber and sheathed it for a moment, showing his good will. “I don’t want to fight you Colonel, you’re my friend. Just call it off and let it blow over. Swallow your pride and end this stupid war!”

“…” The officer’s gaze softened and briefly closed his eyes. “What you say is true Zero. I am aware that it is because I didn’t want to come in for questioning that this war started, and that I have the power to stop the coup by informing the General.”

“So then…” Zero’s eyes lit up for a moment. Yes, they can avoid this!

“However,”

Almost instantly, his optimism vanished. No…

Colonel’s eyes opened, his right arm reaching for his saber. “We were wrongfully branded as mavericks, so I see no reason why I should call off the coup.”

“Colonel,”

“I called you here for a duel, Zero.”

“COLONEL,”

“I have never intended to surrender, and I will not give myself up or my unit to you Zero. Not even for Iris.”

“COLONEL!” Zero shouted, his expression a mix of anger, sadness, and disbelief. Was his friend really this blinded by pride? He was willing to do all this just for ‘pride’?! His brow lowered and stared menacingly. “Is this really your decision?”

The officer merely huffed. “The coup will not be called off.”

The Z-saber was quickly brandished. “Then prepare yourself! Haaaah!”

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“Ungh! Damn it Colonel!” Zero shouted, stomping his foot into the ceiling. “If you just swallowed your stupid ego…! Ugh!” He grunted with frustration. How the hell did it come to this? It seemed only yesterday that he met Colonel and his young sister Iris, and even sooner that Repliforce was elected to aid the Maverick Hunters during the Soul Eraser Incident. Now, how did it come to this? Zero and Colonel, fighting on opposite sides, forcing Iris to choose between one or the other. The crimson hunter didn’t even know how he won Iris’ favor over her brother, but what he did know was that it wasn’t a happy one. All throughout the week, she pleaded with him, pleaded with everyone to stop fighting. There must have been some mistake, that was her constant reasoning, but orders were still orders, and with Repliforce unwilling to let up, Zero, X, and the other hunters had no choice.

If Iris hadn’t intervened at the right moment...

The hunter sighed, opening his eyes and staring at the city once more. “Iris, I’m sorry. I wish I could change this, but I don’t have a choice.” To a casual viewer, it would seem that he was speaking to himself. However, Zero had detected another presence behind him, standing in front of the closed door that led down the building.

Iris looked up with a sad frown and slowly walked toward him. “Zero, why are you still fighting Repliforce?” Her long brown hair, tied in a ponytail similar to Zero’s, waved briefly in the breeze. The red beret was slightly off center and her uniform still looked very refined, despite the fact that it was all she wore for the past week.

He looked away. “Please, let’s not do this again.” Zero stated as he turned.

“Answer my question, Zero.” Iris asked, her own English accent perfectly pronounced. “Why are you still fighting Repliforce?” A hint of frustration, sadness, and anger were present in her question. She didn’t believe what Zero had said before; in fact she never believed it.

“Iris, I told you many times-”

“You do have a choice Zero!” Iris cut him off abruptly, nearly yelling. “Why…Why are you still fighting Repliforce?”

Zero gritted his teeth and looked away, staring at the polished floor of the rooftop. He honestly didn’t know either, just following the orders given by his superiors. His own mind struggled for an explanation, something that he could honestly say without feeling guilty. Zero tried to form the same answers again: ‘It’s my job’, ‘Someone has to stop them’, ‘The world is in danger because of them’, but they wouldn’t form. “Because…” He paused, trying to think of another excuse. “Because they are mavericks…” He finished.

The girl’s eyes lowered. “Zero, you and I both know that that isn’t true…and breaking off briefly, that is your worst excuse THUS FAR.” Iris took the words right out of his mouth. Ever since Repliforce’s maverick status, questions have been raised about what truly constituted ‘maverick’ activity. Before, it was only those who suffered a defect due to faulty programming. Now, claiming Repliforce as ‘maverick’ had brought the Maverick Hunter HQ and the media in an uproar. All the members of Repliforce who had either defected or were taken prisoner by the Hunters were determined to have no defects in programming or traces of the Maverick Virus, thus nullifying them of this criminal status. However, even with this news brought before Dr. Cain and the higher echelons, the maverick status was maintained for Repliforce, signifying that they must be decommissioned.

“Iris,” Zero sighed. “What do you want me to say then? What do you want me to do?” He asked. “I’ve already tried talking to your brother and he wouldn’t listen to me. Repliforce is not going to back down and we don’t have a choice but to take care of them!”

Iris held her expression, her blue eyes hiding sadness beneath a veil of anger. “I want you to stop fighting.”

The hunter made a small double take. Even now, she wants to remain a pacifist? “Stop fighting?” He exclaimed with surprise. “So you just want Repliforce to-”

“I wasn’t talking about the maverick hunters, Zero! I was talking about YOU!” Iris’ fists clenched and her eyes narrowed. She struggled to control her swirling emotions as she breathed heavily, surprised herself by her own outburst. “I want YOU to stop fighting!” The hunter remained silent, watching her with those eyes of his. Iris continued, her emotions grasping her mind. “I only want YOU to stop fighting! I don’t care about anyone else; THEY CAN ALL DIE FOR ALL I CARE!”

“What?!” To say the very least, Zero was surprised by her outburst. Iris quickly covered her mouth upon realizing what she said. Her emotions got the best of her, and she said something she did not mean at all. “So you just want everyone else to die to end the war?” He said with an acidic tone.

“Zero, that’s not what I meant to-” She started.

“Yeah, that’s a great idea, Iris. ‘Oh X, I have an idea to end the war. Why don’t we ALL go jump off a cliff with a thermonuclear bomb attached to our backs? That will solve ALL our problems!’ Is that what you want?!” He spat angrily.

Iris only lowered her head, trying to cover the tears that streamed from her eyes, as well as struggling to control her own anger and frustration.

“Iris,” Zero struggled to maintain his cool, the warrior’s mind a flurry of emotions and questions. “Why are you even here? Why are you fighting with me against your brother?” He never really knew the answer to the question. All he knew was that it was a hard decision for her to make. That day, she rushed into HQ with tears in her eyes, embracing him upon spotting him at the command room. She had sobbed into his chest as he comforted her, all as he tried to focus on a remedy to the situation. Back then, he refrained from asking ‘why’, why was she fighting for the hunters instead of Repliforce? But now, he wanted to know…Iris loved her brother, putting him in higher priority over everyone else, so why would she leave his side? Why would she leave him to fight for the opposition?

The girl remained silent, staring down at the rooftop as Zero watched her. A watery teardrop splashed on the metal roof as she sniffled once, struggling to maintain her composure. Her mind was in an even stronger torrent than before, the clash of loyalty being the most prominent. Her thoughts of her dear brother…What once was sisterly love now felt like a huge gash in her metaphorical heart. “B…Because…” Her lips quivered, struggling to form the right words. What she was about to say…It felt like a stab on her very mind…“Brother…He’s…” She paused.

She raised her head. “He’s a fool.”

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Hope you guys like it so far, especially to those who wished to see this! I apologize for the lack of lemon, but I promise it will come soon!

Until then, please R+R! (Read and review!)