Mega Man X - Prisoner Of Ice

~Prisoner Of Ice~

Rating: PG-13

Featuring: Chill Penguin, OC Farfalla X, Mega Man X, Dr. Cain, Sigma & Mavericks

Prologue

Abel City, 21XX…

"Mavericks. That's what we are labelled now…me and my newly formed army. Although Reploids weren't made to harm humans, mysterious and unknown reasons caused us to act strange and attack instantly. And that was when the Maverick Hunters were formed, to counter any possible threat and able to keep the peace. I too, was one of them. I was their leader. But now…times have changed. Staring down at this pitiful city, I shall rise with new ambitions of my own. Bring war against humanity with my new army, and take over all before me. For this war…is only the beginning…"
Sigma was brought out of his thoughts, when he noticed X being taken back to the Hunter Base by the new leader, Zero. Sigma's eyes narrowed sharply. Soon, he will face X again. He kept his focus directly on the two hunters just as a few Mavericks appeared at his side.
"X may recover for sure at this rate," Storm Eagle stated to Sigma as they watched Reploid medics come to X's aid, "but you'll be no match for him in the near future my lord."
"Bah! I could have beaten him myself, no problem!" bragged Chill Penguin, "even with my eyes shut!" He was very jealous of X. One of the main reasons for his involvement in the rebellion.
"Sure you could…" Flame Mammoth jeered, "It would have been worth seeing you slip up easily."
"Put a sock in it, hose nose!" snapped Chill Penguin, "I can totally beat X any day!"
"That's rich, coming from you," replied Flame Mammoth bluntly, "all my bets would be on X if he had to fight a shrimp like you…" As Flame Mammoth kept talking, Chill Penguin caught sight of another young Reploid coming to help X. It was a female with short wavy brunette hair, most of it tied up in a white and green bow.
Soft hazel eyes behind a blue visor; complete with peach armour which had white and grey parts, including a jade green butterfly on each of her shoulder blades. The penguin Reploid's eyes lit up when he saw her, his heart skipping a beat. She always made him feel like this.
"Aaah…Farfalla…~" he swooned; obvious he had met her before when she was first introduced to the Hunters by her creator and master, Dr. Cain. Flame Mammoth noticed this, when he heard the name.
"Now who are you talking about?" He too looked down at the female Reploid. "Ooh…her. Humph! What's so special about her?" Chill Penguin frowned up at the mammoth Reploid.
"I don't like your tone, elephant! When Sigma takes over, I will make her my queen…ice queen to be precise."
"Yeah, good luck with that," huffed Flame Mammoth as Chill Penguin kept his gaze on the dainty Farfalla, while Sigma kept his sharply on X...

Sigma Fortress, Present Day…

-flashback-

"What is the meaning of this Chill Penguin?! State your business here!"

"Aaah, Dr. Cain. Isn't it obvious? A few access codes to the HQ System and of course…you. Sigma may find you useful…"

"Nonsense! Leave at once."

"I don't think so…"

"You leave my master alone!"

"Farfalla! Stay back!"

"Farfalla… lovely as ever…how I've longed to see your sweet face up close once more…Chill Penguin Company, new plan! Leave the old man and take his operator, Farfalla!"

"YES SIR!!"

"No! Let me go! Master Cain!"

"Farfalla! Chill Penguin, stop!"

"Hmm?"

"You can't do this. It's me that you want."

"Sorry old man, I had a change of heart."

"You can take anything you wish. Take me instead, but just don't take Farfalla!"

"Too late. My mind is already made up. She belongs to me now. Now if you'll excuse me, I have plans of my own to make. Chill Penguin Company, let's move out!"

"No, please! Master Cain!"

"Farfalla! No…dear...stay strong…I'll find a way…to save you…I promise…"

-flashback fades-

It's been six days, since Farfalla was taken from the Hunter Base. One moment she was happily working for her master, Dr. Cain as an operator, the next…she was separated from him completely. All because one had his heart set on her…the Maverick, Chill Penguin. Who one day came with his company, invaded the Hunter Base and swept Farfalla away.
And now, here she was. Held against her will, inside a secret room which was close to the Abandoned Missile Base inside the South Pole area, which Chill Penguin occupied himself.
Although she was allowed to wander around the Fortress with permission, Farfalla wasn't allowed to go outside on her own, since she tried to escape once. So if she ever wanted to go outside, she had to be accompanied by one of the eight Mavericks. The Mavericks usually took turns to watch over the female Reploid, but Chill Penguin would always visit her in the evening in attempt to woo her…with no success.
At first, Farfalla was sure she would be taken to Sigma to have the private information and access codes to the HQ System removed from her. But it seemed Chill Penguin and other Mavericks had other ideas. Maybe Sigma didn't know about what Farfalla been installed with…yet. She hoped not, for the system's sake. The less Sigma knew, the better.
And now, Farfalla found herself the object of Chill Penguin's affections. The apple of his eye…the centre of his attention…the queen of his heart, he would say. He wished to make her his. Farfalla however, wasn't too keen on the idea.
She too had someone special in her heart. But it wasn't the same person. She only saw them in her dreams or when she was gazing up at the starry sky through her window. She could feel their touch when she slept. Their gentle smile set her heart aflutter, their warm embrace made her feel safe from harm. The smoothness of their blue and white armour, the softness of their flowing hair…
Farfalla gazed up at the figure and was completely lost in their deep indigo eyes. It was him…the Reploid of her dreams. Feeling a hand caress her cheek, the female Reploid was brought closer to him, their lips inches away....and then…she would wake up…

Farfalla sighed as she wandered through one of the Fortress' corridors, passing her recent watcher who was lurking in the shadows, Sting Chameleon. He watched as Farfalla went up to the nearest window and closed her eyes, murmuring quietly. The orbs of her audios glowed as a tiny light green butterfly was formed in the palms of her hands.
Farfalla looked around cautiously, before opening her hands and setting the butterfly free out of the window, and into sky. But it was no ordinary butterfly. It was a projected messenger of help.

"Who will rescue me?"  

Over lands and seas it flew, countering any obstacles that stood in its path. Until finally, it reached a familiar setting and fluttering down from the sky, it perched lightly onto a certain Reploid's nose. X stirred from his recharge, and gasped a little when he discovered the butterfly on the bridge of his nose, flexing its wings for a second or two.
Taking it carefully into his hands, the Maverick Hunter's eyes widened as he was sure he could hear a faint chanting of "help" and it seemed to be coming from the butterfly itself. X got up quickly but was careful not to lose the butterfly.
"Dr. Cain! Dr. Cain! I've found something! It could be a clue to find your operator!" Hearing this, Cain's heart was filled with hope once more. He thought he had lost trace of his Farfalla for sure, but maybe this new clue was the sign he was looking for.
"Bring it here, quick X!" he called, and X did so as Cain had a closer look. His face brightened as he recognized the voice of the message the projected brought as it dissolved when the message was heard. This is what is said:

"Master Cain, Maverick Hunters, please help. I am being held against my will by Sigma's Mavericks, and I am terribly worried that sooner or later, Sigma will discover the access codes and remove them from me. If he does…the HQ System will be under threat. Please rescue me, before it's too late…

-Farfalla"

"…So it's true…" Cain murmured grimly, "If Sigma discovers the private information to the access codes; Farfalla will be in great danger. I cannot lose her…not like this…"
"Don't worry sir, we'll get her back," X reassured him, "there's always a way. Now that we have a rough location to where the projected message came from, I will try and contact Farfalla to see if she's alright. It'll take a little while to get a signal but it's worth a try."
Back at the Fortress, the late evening was drawing in and just near the locked entrance; Farfalla was making another attempt to escape. She carefully and quietly slipped through an unlocked window, and ran from the Fortress as fast as she could. But that moment, the lights were soon ablaze in the South Pole area as Chill Penguin's voice was heard.
"Farfalla! Farfalla?" The female Reploid kept running as Chill Penguin kept calling her.
"Farfalla, answer me now!" Farfalla tripped up a little as she ran across a shallow lake but she kept on going, just as the entrance to the Fortress opened and an impatient Chill Penguin stomped out with Launch Octopus and Sting Chameleon on each side.
"GUYS!! Get out here!" the annoyed penguin Reploid yelled to the others.
"Ooh…what's happened now?" asked Storm Eagle in an irritated tone.
"My bride to be has escaped again!" Chill Penguin shouted back, and he turned to the other two Mavericks, "Sting Chameleon. Launch Octopus. Track her down boys, bring her back!" Following the order, Launch Octopus took to the water, while Sting Chameleon slipped through the bushes. Storm Eagle took the skies to patrol them in case he saw Farfalla hiding below.
Meanwhile, Sting Chameleon had crawled up the trunk of a tree, blending in before scanning the area with his left eye. He just missed Farfalla, who ducked down in time behind some reeds in a deeper lake. Launch Octopus however, heard a faint rustling in the reeds and narrowing his eyes in triumph, he swam under towards the female Reploid and Farfalla suddenly felt herself being nearly pulled under by a pair of red and black tentacles. "There you are…"

She let out a startled cry as she struggled a little against the strong bonds that held her tightly, and eventually she recognized who grabbed her as more tentacles wrapped around her.
"Why do you always have to frighten me like that?" Farfalla frowned as Launch Octopus' head rose from the water, behind her, "I'm warning you Launch Octopus, don't you get my hair wet, okay?" The octopus Reploid just chuckled cunningly.
"Sure I won't dear." He then started off through the lake, still holding her tightly just as Sting Chameleon and Storm Eagle saw that she was found, and they too followed back towards the base. Launch Octopus had to duck under a hanging branch that was in the centre of the lake, causing Farfalla to be nearly pulled under again without warning.
"You stop that…Launch Octopus!" Farfalla coughed as they rose up again and out of the lake, eventually making it back to the Fortress.
"Bring her in boys," Armoured Armadillo told them as they entered the main hall.
"So you thought you could escape again, did ya?!" Sting Chameleon jeered at Farfalla, "well it didn't work, did it?! NYAH HA HA!!"
"Let me go, Launch Octopus!" Farfalla struggled. So he did, dropping her to floor, much to his amusement.
"Silly old squid…" she muttered.
"Good job boys," Armoured Armadillo complimented, "now we just need Storm Eagle to let our little penguin Casanova know she's been found, and we may get a bit of peace." Farfalla got to her feet. "If my master, Dr. Cain finds out how you guys have been treating me, you'll be in a lot of trouble, all of you!" She then sighed, "How I miss him..."
"Oh, Cain! Cain! Cain! Cain! Cain!" Sting Chameleon imitated sarcastically, "Gosh, all she cares about is that certain old man!" He then pointed a finger at Farfalla. "Well you won't be seeing him again missy, since you'll be part of Master Sigma's army veryyy soon! HAHAHA!!"
"I will see my master again," Farfalla answered back, bravely, "and I'll never be part of Sigma's army, ever!"
"Now that's enough from you," Armoured Armadillo scolded firmly, "you've caused enough trouble this evening as it is." He then turned back to the other Mavericks. "Now boys, take this young lady back to her room." He pushed the female Reploid slightly forward, causing her to stumble a little.
"I am old enough to go by myself you know," Farfalla frowned as she reluctantly followed Boomer Kuwanger back to the South Pole area. But just as the door was locked behind her, she heard a faint voice tingling through her audio receptors.

"…Hello? Is anyone there? Can anyone read me?"
Farfalla's eyes widened as she quickly responded to the new incoming message, touching the centre orb of her right audio.
"H-Hello…yes, I can read you."
"This is Maverick Hunter X. Is this Farfalla? Dr. Cain's extra back-up operator? We met before."
"W-Why yes, it is. How did you find me?"
"I found your projected butterfly with the message it carried, and I've been helping Dr. Cain to find you."
Farfalla's face lit up. "Alright! My message sending technique worked! X…my master…is he…okay?"
"Yes, he's fine. But he'll be even better to hear that I've been able to make contact with you," replied X, "now Farfalla, we have managed to detect your location somewhere in Sigma Fortress. Can you tell me which part you are being held in?"
"I am in a secret room, located near the Abandoned Missile Base in the South Pole area. But be careful," warned Farfalla, "It's guarded by Chill Penguin. He and the other Mavericks are very strong."
"Don't worry Farfalla," X told her calmly, "we'll save you. As soon as possible."
"Ooh, thank-you X," beamed Farfalla, "I am so grateful."

Meanwhile, Chill Penguin was scanning out the Fortress, when he heard a loud whistle nearby. Looking up, he saw Storm Eagle gesturing him to come back inside. Taking that signal, Chill Penguin followed him and quickly slid back inside to the main hall.
"Did you find her?!" he asked franticly, "where is she?!"
"Relax C.P," Armoured Armadillo assured him, "Boomer Kuwanger took her back to your area."
"Why did you let her escape?!" Chill Penguin glared, "what's your excuse this time, fools?!"
"Hey, don't you be snapping at us," the armadillo Reploid frowned, "Snap at Sting Chameleon, he was one who was supposed to be watching her this time."
"Whatever," huffed Chill Penguin, "as long as my ice queen to be is safe, that's all that matters." He then took out a photo of Farfalla which he kept with him at all times, and gave a love struck grin. Oh, how he loved her. He loved her ever since the day he saw her. Of course there were many pretty female Reploids out there, but there was something about Farfalla that made his heart beat even faster than normal.
"Hmm, you really have a thing for that Farfalla, don't you C.P?" Storm Eagle stated. He and the other Mavericks knew how Chill Penguin felt about the female Reploid. He never stopped talking about her, even at meetings with Sigma.
"Of course I do," Chill Penguin grinned more, "she's the only thing worth seeing after a hard day's work." He nuzzled the photo while chuckling merrily, "Hmm, hmm, hmmm! I think I'll propose again this evening. I feel lucky, hahaha!" A pink blush came to the penguin Reploid's faceplate as he planted kisses all over Farfalla's image.
"I wouldn't get your engines too fired up Romeo," Flame Mammoth spoke. The penguin Reploid looked at him sharply.
"Oh? And why shouldn't I?"
"We heard her talking to someone just now," the mammoth Reploid answered. Chill Penguin jerked up.
"What?! Who was it?! Who dares to speak to MY bride without permission?!"
"I'll give you a little clue," Flame Mammoth teased, "it's a certain blue Maverick Hunter from a certain Hunter Base…"
"X!!" gasped Chill Penguin, "It can't be! I should have known!" And he rushed out to find his rival.
"Watch your oil pressure C.P," Storm Eagle called out to him. But Chill Penguin was too mad to listen.

"Where are you X?!" he bellowed, looking around frantically, "I'll find you! I'll find you if it takes me all night!"
"You can turn the whole Fortress upside down, and you'll never find him," Storm Eagle told him.
"You mean the cat got out of the bag?!" Chill Penguin asked worriedly.
"Yes, and soon he'll get the cream," came the reply.
"Where's Farfalla now?"
"Ooh, I'm sure she's safe and sound in her little igloo," Storm Eagle went on as they looked towards the Abandoned Missile Base, "Dreaming of her true love, and probably sobbing into her pillow." Chill Penguin sighed as he kept his gaze upon secret room Farfalla was kept in.
"Maybe if you lost a few pounds and grew a little taller," Flame Mammoth suggested smugly, "she wouldn't fall for the first Reploid she sees in her dreams." That instantly stung Chill Penguin. "OOH, SHUT UP!!"
"Oooh…temper, temper," went the other Mavericks. Chill Penguin fumed.
"Hmmm…no more Mr. Nice Penguin, butterfly!" He gave a loud squawk as he then rushed along the passage way, yelling, "you hear me X?! If you lay one hand on my Farfalla, I'll pulverize you into scrap metal!" He kept on shouting before sliding on his belly through the Missile Base.
"I'll freeze him into a statue, shatter him into a million pieces and put him in my drink! NYAAHH!!" The penguin Reploid eventually arrived at the locked door to Farfalla's room, and brushed down his armour before hesitating to knock hard on her door. So instead, he tapped gently. "Farfalla, it's me~"
Hearing the tap, tap on her door, Farfalla gasped a little and quickly got up from her bed. "…Ooh no…" she whispered.
"I hope you're decent my dear," Chill Penguin went on, "cause I'm coming in." The door was unlocked and he stepped into the room.
"Hello there my sweet," he smiled, "How are you this fine evening? And who was that Reploid you were talking to a moment ago? Maverick Hunter X, from that stupid Hunter Base?" Farfalla's eyes widened behind her visor.
"But how…but how did you know?"
"You can't hide anything from me Farfalla," Chill Penguin replied, "I let you talk to him because he is a worthless fool, unlike me." He turned back to the female Reploid he desired, taking her by the waist, "but forget about him. Are you ready to accept my humble proposal, settle down and raise a family in the love igloo I plan to make for us?" Farfalla said nothing. She just turned away slightly despite her fear. Deep down, she was quite frightened of the Mavericks.

"I have been very patient you know Farfalla," Chill Penguin went on, "just say that one little word and make me a very happy Maverick. I love you…~" He tried to kiss her but she managed to avoid it. Chill Penguin frowned, clenching his fists but was able to calm himself down in time to try a different approach. He got down on one knee.
"Ooh my precious Farfalla, say that you'll marry me and I'll give you the most beautiful things in the world! Why I can even give you an entire fortune to afford enough clothes and jewels for a lifetime!" The penguin Reploid paused as he got up to look at her sad face.
"Answer me Farfalla. Don't you like talking to me anymore?" Still no answer. Chill Penguin kept trying.
"Until you accept my proposal, I'm going to have to keep you here for the rest of your days. Doesn't that bother you?" Finally, Farfalla spoke.
"I don't want your fortune. I don't want to settle down and raise a family in this Fortress. There's only one thing I want…"
"Anything Farfalla, just name it."
"All I want, is to be with someone I truly love."
"Someone you truly love?" the Maverick asked.
"Yes," Farfalla nodded. Chill Penguin pondered in obvious disappointment, and then sighed. "Ooh, tell me this isn't true Farfalla…please?" But it seemed he had figured it out.
"…So, it's that annoying X you're in love with, isn't it?!" Farfalla looked confused.
"What are you talking about? I'm not in love with X…"
"Don't lie to me Farfalla!" Chill Penguin snapped, "I saw the way you looked at each other when you were first introduced to the Maverick Hunters! But at the end of the day, I will be the only Reploid for you Farfalla. I love you more than anyone else! Believe me, I can be so much more once Sigma takes over! Or would you rather be with someone like X? All heroic, high and mighty?"
"Yes…" came the faint reply.
"Then answer me this Farfalla," Chill Penguin lowered his voice, "why haven't you fallen in love with me?"
"I did admire you Chill Penguin," the female Reploid told him, "but because of all the Maverick business with Sigma, I became wary of you..."

"So that's why, hmm? Well just remember dear, the world can be rough place and tough decisions have to be made," the penguin Reploid warned her, "don't push your luck, because there's so much humiliation one Maverick can take, even from the only woman he'll ever love. Why…I could have even handed you over to Sigma to have any codes removed from your system!" Farfalla gasped at that very thought, just as Chill Penguin took her face gently into his hands as a sign of comfort.
"But I didn't do that to you Farfalla. I kept you here safe and sound in my Missile Base. You know why? It's because I love you Farfalla. It's proof that I love you."
"Is it really? Because if you really love me like you say you do, then you wouldn't have done anything to make me feel so unhappy…" Chill Penguin paused a bit when he heard this.
"…Ooh don't say that Farfalla, don't you like it here? You have a huge Fortress all to yourself. And besides, I promised I'd give you a new life full of happiness.
"But not away from my master," Farfalla replied sadly, "you don't know how much he means to me…"
"And you don't know how much you mean to me!" Chill Penguin squawked, "If I lost you completely, I don't know what I'd do!" He then quickly locked the door again and turned back to her. "Changing the subject Farfalla dear, this is the second time you've tried to run away and…I'm afraid I'm going to have to punish you…"
"P-Punish me?!" gasped Farfalla, and let out a cry just as Chill Penguin fired ice balls at both her arms and legs against the wall, so that she couldn't move a muscle.
"Eeeep! Chill Penguin, let me go!" Farfalla struggled. But he just smiled.
"Calm yourself darling. This is for your own good. It is not a harsh punishment, but a little lesson to learn. Now, just relax…" He reached out with both hands and began to tickle her under the arms. The female Reploid twitched, and immediately began to laugh, obviously a ticklish person.
"…Hehehehe…AHAHAHAHA!! NO CHILL PENGUIN…HAHAHA!! STOP! PLEASE…HAHAHAHA!!" The Maverick chuckled along with her as he moved his fingers up to her chin, her weakest spot and she laughed even louder. He loved it when she laughed.
"Hahaha…now my sweet, tell me who you love, or I'll tickle harder..." Farfalla thought she was gonna burst from all this tickling. A few tears were in her eyes.
"HAHAHAHA!! I…HAHAHA! I love…HAHAHA!!"
"Yeeess?" Chill Penguin smirked widely. Farfalla couldn't take anymore.
"...Y-Y-You! HAHAHAHAHA!!" A sudden peck on the cheek was given.
"I knew I was irresistible," Chill Penguin puffed out his chest in triumphant before breaking the icy bonds which held Farfalla. He caught her from falling and placed her carefully on the ice floor. She was a little breathless from being tickled a lot.

"Being my Lady of the Snowy Plains takes full commitment," Chill Penguin told her, "and I have just the thing to symbolize your bond to me." He shoots an ice ball into his hands with his breath and begins to sculpt it into shape. Farfalla watched as he finally finished, and held it up to her. The ice ball had been transformed into a sparkling ice tiara.
"Aha! For you, my love. It's made out of the purest ice crystals. The perfect emblem of your new destiny as my lady…and once Sigma takes over this world; I will have you by my side as my ice queen…" The penguin Reploid then carefully placed the tiara upon Farfalla's head.
"Wah-ha! You look divine!" Chill Penguin complimented before taking her hand, "ooh, you don't know how ecstatic you make me feel my love!" He kissed her hand and brought her closer once more, holding her by the chin.
"Kiss me Farfalla, my ice queen…" Chill Penguin whispered tenderly, leaning in to kiss her sweet lips. Blushing deeply, he was inches away, when an alarm blurted out:
"WARNING! WARNING! INTRUDER IN THE AREA!" Chill Penguin squawked in annoyance.
"Ooh, what now?!" he exclaimed. "I was about to get to the good part!" Having a feeling it was X, Chill Penguin sighed irritably.
"I'm sorry my sweet," he turned to Farfalla, "a pest has just entered the area and I must go at once to deal with it." He gave her a quick tender kiss before leaving. "Wait here, I'll be back as soon as I can." Watching him go, Farfalla sighed with relief, hoping that X had located her and was on his way.
And indeed he was. Eventually entering the Abandoned Missile Base, he came face to face with the penguin Reploid himself.
"Chill Penguin! What have you done with Farfalla?" X asked anxiously.
"Farfalla belongs to me now," Chill Penguin replied smugly, "She and I will be together and I don't need someone like you getting in the way!"
"You're crazy!" shouted X, "you're holding her against her will. That's a crime!"
"To you, maybe!" exclaimed Chill Penguin, "Farfalla is the one thing you'll NEVER have X! I won't let you take her away from me!" X raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about? Farfalla and I are just friends. That's all!"
"I don't believe you," Chill Penguin glared, "But enough talk! X…high and mighty, come and get me!" He let out a loud squawk as the battle began.
In the secret room, Farfalla was listening to the fighting outside. She was worried that X may get hurt. She had to make sure he was okay. So carefully, she peeked through the doorway. Ice and snow flew everywhere. Through a clearing, Farfalla could see Chill Penguin had cornered X.
"No…X!" she cried, hearing the penguin Reploid cackle.
"It's over X…FARFALLA'S MINE!!" But just as he was about to lunge at X, the blue Maverick Hunter made his final move and blasted Flame Wave at Chill Penguin. A squawking scream was heard and the Maverick crashed to the ground before Farfalla.

"A-AGH…I-I'm losing strength…" Chill Penguin hissed, and slowly, he glanced up at the female Reploid, "F-Farfalla…here I lie…never to rise again…but I'll…always remember you…always be with you…my love for you…will never die...REMEMBER ME MY QUEEEEN!!" And with that, a blinding light filled his body, an explosion was heard and all was hidden from view.
Farfalla had shut her eyes, just as the light died down and X earned a new weapon from the battle, Shotgun Ice. Farfalla opened her eyes, and saw that Chill Penguin had gone.
"I'm sorry Chill Penguin," she murmured, "I will remember you…" At that moment, she heard X's voice.
"Farfalla! Where are you?"
"Over here!" she called, "please help me out!" Seeing her heel still stuck in a bit of ice and the ice trapped a bit in the door when she tried to peek out, X carefully blasted the ice away and Farfalla was finally free.
"Oh, X!" she cried, giving him a big hug, "I'm so glad to see you!"
"Farfalla," the blue Reploid smiled, rubbing her head, "thank goodness you're safe." He then noticed the ice tiara on her head, "Hmm? What's this?"
"Ooh…Chill Penguin gave this to me," replied Farfalla, taking it carefully off her head, "he wanted me to be his ice queen, let alone marry me..."
"Hey, why don't you keep it?" X suggested kindly, "it's what Chill Penguin would have wanted."
"You know…I think I will," agreed Farfalla, "it will give me something to remember him by before he turned Maverick." X nodded, and holding Farfalla tightly, he called: "Mission accomplished!" And they teleported safely back to the Hunter Base.
"Here you are Farfalla," spoke X, "Home at last." The female Reploid looked back at him.
"Are you coming too?" she asked.
"I wish I could," he answered, "but I have to go back to the Sigma Fortress, and take care of the other Mavericks…." He noticed her worried expression. "But never fear," he reassured her, "I'll be alright. It's what we Maverick Hunters do…even though sometimes, it can be hard." Farfalla nodded and understood.
"You better hurry inside," X told her, "Dr. Cain is waiting for you." Farfalla does so, but not before kissing the blue Reploid on the forehead.
"Thank-you for saving me X, I am most grateful." The Maverick Hunter nodded back to her with a smile as he watched Farfalla go inside. The female Reploid looked back one more time to see X teleport away into the sky again. She sighed, and went to look for Dr. Cain.
"Master? Master Cain?"
"Farfalla?" the kind old doctor appeared, "Is that you?"
"It sure is!" Farfalla replied happily, her eyes welled up with tears of joy.
"Farfalla!" cried Dr. Cain in sheer delight as she ran into his arms.
"Ooh master!" Farfalla sobbed, hugging him gently, "I thought I'd never see you again! I've missed you so much!"
"Shhh…there, there," Dr. Cain whispered, stroking her hair as he too shed a tear of joy, "I missed you too. You're safe now, and that's all that matters…"
"All thanks to X," Farfalla beamed. The old doctor smiled too, nodding as he repeated, "Yes, all thanks to X..." They then both gaze up towards the starry sky, seeing what looked like a shooting star soar across it. "What would we do without him?"

Soon, Farfalla was recharging peacefully in her own room after Dr. Cain wished her goodnight. The ice tiara that was placed carefully on her shelf sparkled in the moonlight as Farfalla began to dream again.
This time, she was taken by the hand by her dream Reploid, and found her herself gracefully waltzing with him in a magnificent ball room, dressed in elegant clothing. When the dance had ended, the Reploid caressed Farfalla's hair, down to her face and then brought her closer into a loving kiss…
As the young female Reploid dreamed happily, a shadowed figure who was watching her from afar, leapt towards her window for a closer look. A red visor covered most of his face but a smile was clearly shown. Knowing that he and the sleeping beauty will meet one day, the figure whispered, "Sweet dreams butterfly," before leaping off once more, into the night…

~The End~