Megaman ZX Advent – The Novelization

Chapter 20 – The Paths We Chose

Two days had passed since the Ouroboros' destruction, and the Hunters had been taken care of by the Hunters in the Hunter Camp. Vent and Aile dropped by since the Hunters defeated Albert, but they only found the very worried Model A hovering between the unconscious Hunters in their every visit.

Grey stirred a bit before opening his eyes and sat up, looking around in the room, "Where am I…?"

"Grey?" Model A turned to the Reploid, "Y-You're awake!"

"Ungh…" The two turned to see that Ashe had moved a bit before she opened her eyes and sat up on her bed.

"Ashe!" Model A turned back and forth between the Hunters, "Finally you're both awake! I'm so glad! I was worried sick about you two!" Model A saw as the two Hunters got off from their beds and stared at him, "W-What's wrong? Are you still hurt?"

Ashe let out a chuckle, "How cute! Model A, worried sick about us?"

"W-What!?" Model A turned away from the Hunters, "Can't I be worried for my friends!? I'm just happy that you're both okay. You got a problem with that!?"

Grey let out a laugh, "No… Thanks Model A…"

"A-Anyway…" Model A turned back to the Hunters, "Vent and Aile should be waiting for you two outside. You should go out and let them know that you're okay."

"Okay," Ashe said before she along with Grey and Model A went out of the building to be greeted by the shining morning sun.

"Are you two alright?" A familiar feminine voice was heard as Vent and Aile approached the Hunters and Biometal, "I think it was tough for Vent to carry both of you out and get you two here."

Vent let out an irritated sigh before folding his arms, "You think?"

"Well, thanks anyway you two," Ashe ignored Vent before turning to Aile, "So, you two are together now?"

"W-Why do you have to bring back that topic again?" Aile asked as a blush appeared on hers and Vent's faces.

"Don't mind her, she's not important," Grey pushed Ashe aside, "So, what happened to Ouroboros?"

Vent looked up at the clear sky and smiled, "Ouroboros went down in pieces and no trace of Model W found," Vent turned to the Hunters, "It was all thanks to you two."

Ashe let out a chuckle, "I wanted to say, 'I know!' but I think we won't make it without the help from you two lovebirds!"

"Enough with the 'lovebird' topic!" Vent angrily said with a blush on his face.

Aile let out a sigh before chuckling, "It's alright, Vent. She's just joking around," Aile turned to the Hunters, "Now, what are you two going to do?"

"As for me… Maybe I should find a lot of booty, get rich, and buy back the world from Legion," Ashe saw the stares coming from the others and laughed, "As if… Well, I guess I'll just keep being a Hunter. I'd like to see a lot of different places, learn a lot of things, and have people learn about me."

"As for myself… I haven't really given it much thought…" Grey let out a sigh before looking up at the two Guardians, "But it is my destiny. I can decide it, right? I want to go on a trip… How far I will go. What I will do. I don't know yet. But I want to find out who I am."

"Then you can come with me and stay as a Hunter!" Ashe pulled Grey into a headlock, "We can go around the world on trips, and maybe we can find a clue or two about you and your past!" Ashe turned to the Guardians, "What about you two? A date together?"

"I think it's getting a little bit too much, Ashe…" A faint blush appeared on Aile's face, "A-Anyway, we're planning on going around the world with the Guardian Base."

Vent nodded in agreement, "Yeah. There are still things that need finding in this world."

Model A looked at the two Hunters before turning to the Guardians, and then back at the Hunters, "Hey, what am I supposed to do then?"

"That's your destiny, right?" Aile asked and Model A turned to her for a moment before turning back to the Hunters when Ashe had just released Grey from her headlock.

"Ashe… Grey… Take me with you!" Model A told the two Hunters, "I want to with you guys!"

"Alright, let's all go together!" Grey suggested, "Model A, let's also find our place in this world!"

The two Hunters along with Model A hovering behind them ran off, waving at the two Guardians, "I hope we all meet again!"

"We can meet every time!" Ashe started as she and Grey looked back at Vent and Aile, who were also waving at them, "Because this is…"

"Our stories and our destiny!" Ashe and Grey said in unison before they ran off to the station area to meet the other Hunters.

Vent and Aile dropped their hands to their sides before Vent turned away and smiled, "Come on, let's go too."

Aile nodded, though knowing that Vent wouldn't see her nodding, "Vent… Are you still thinking about Model Z?"

Vent turned back to Aile, who stood still in her place but had turned around to face him, "Yes, but I'm sure he's doing fine. He told us that day wasn't the day he would die, didn't he?"

"Yes, but…" Vent saw Aile lowering her head sadly and approached her before putting a hand on her shoulder, making her raise her head in surprise, "Huh?"

"Don't worry," Vent looked at Aile with a smile on his face, "With or without Model Z, Boss' spirit lives with us. But I believe that someday, we will find Model Z and he'll be just fine."

"Vent…" Aile looked at Vent for a moment before smiling, "Yes, that's right…"

"Uh, excuse me…" A Hunter approached the two from behind Vent as he turned his head to see the Hunter behind him, "You're the Guardians who helped us to take down Ouroboros, right?"

Vent nodded in reply, "Yes, is there something you need from us?"

The Hunter reached for his pocket, "Actually, I found this kind of Biometal when my friends and I were about to run after you guys, but we were teleported back to the airship before we could reach you," The Hunter pulled out a red Biometal from his pocket, making the Guardians' eyes grew wide in surprise, "Is this yours?"

"MODEL Z!"

The next and final part of the series will come soon (hopefully!), since I'll be starting with my first day of training for my part time job! I'm not sure if I've mentioned it somewhere, but I'm currently (still) studying for my bachelor's degree in Computer Science and my part time job involves being a game programmer. If you are one or know someone who is one, then you'll understand why I might be quite inactive sometimes.

Anyways, thank you for reading and have a great day! (or night!)