This story is Mega Man like you've never seen it before, and probably one of my darkest stories yet (and you guys thought Inner Demons was dark...). This story is rated for intense violence, strong language, sexual content, and dark themes.

For those who have played a game called NIER, this is inspired from that game. For those who haven't, it's for XBox 360 and PS3, so get it, play it, and beat the hell out of that game.

Disclaimer: Believe it or not, Mega Man still belongs to Capcom, not me... yet. I plan on one day owning the rights to Mega Man, but until then, they get the credit for the character exclusive to Mega Man.

A Mother's Hardship pt. 1

"Mommy, where is heaven?"

Zelda looked down at the cute six year old little girl watching her intently as she did her make-up. Seeing the sweet silver haired little girl in her white dress always put a smile on her face, despite how dark their world was.

"Well Sarah," Zelda said, "Heaven is a place that exists in the sky. It's higher than the highest level in Babylon City."

"Is that where Daddy is waiting for me?" Sarah asked.

"That's right," Zelda continued, "He went there when he died, and he has a special place just for you there."

The little girl smiled softly, and then skipped over to the window and looked up. You could just see the sky from their house, something that Sarah always did when she got sad. After applying her deep red lipstick and combing her long blue/silver hair, Zelda walked over to Sarah and knelt down to her.

"Sweetie, is something wrong?" Zelda asked.

"Well, I'm not getting any better, and my seventh birthday is coming next month. What if I don't live to see it? What will you do, Mommy?"

"Oh Sarah..." Zelda sat down and lifted Sarah onto her lap, "You're not going to die, honey. As long as you keep taking your medicine, you'll get better."

"Then you won't be lonely?" Sarah asked.

"That's right, I need you. So no giving up, alright?"

"Alright Mommy."

Zelda hugged Sarah, and then set her down, "Now, you should go into your room and rest. I have to keep getting ready for work, okay?"

"Okay," Sarah said, looking a little down, but she complied. Such a good girl, Zelda thought. She only wished that she could do more for her.

When Sarah left her room, Zelda sighed and walked over to her closet, pulling out her work uniform. It was a black maid's outfit with a white apron. The skirt was impossibly short though, and with as full figured as she was the top of the uniform showed an almost indecent amount of cleavage.

After putting on the indecently skimpy uniform, she went to Sarah's room to check on her. She was sitting in her bed, hugging her stuffed bunny rabbit.

"Will we be able to eat dinner together tonight?" Sarah asked.

"Yes, definitely," Zelda said sitting down next to Sarah, "I'll do extra work through the day so I can come home early enough to eat with you before my second job."

Sarah hugged her bunny tightly, "Mommy, you always look so tired when you come home, and sometimes you look hurt. I don't like seeing you hurt."

"I'll be fine," Zelda said kissing Sarah on the forehead, "Now, let me give you your medicine before I go, okay?"

"Okay," she all but groaned. Zelda knew that she hated the taste of it, but she always took it, as it was the only way she could get better. She went into the first aid cabinet and pulled out a small vial of green liquid.

"Hm... almost out..." Zelda said, seeing that she had only two vials left, "I'll have to get more tomorrow. Hopefully you won't have an attack today."

"Should I take the last one if I do have an attack?" Sarah asked.

"Yes," Zelda said instantly, "I'll leave the last vial here next to your bed, so try to not leave your room unless you have to."

"Yes Mommy," Sarah said obediently, coughing a few times afterward. Zelda gave a sad smile and handed one of the vials to Sarah. She drank the green liquid quickly, and then stuck out her tongue in disgust.

"Good girl," Zelda said hugging her daughter, "Try and get some rest, okay?"

"Okay Mommy," Sarah said lying in her bed, "Have a good day at work."

Zelda gave an inward sigh and then smiled, "I'll certainly try."

Zelda gave her daughter one last kiss on the forehead, and then walked to the front door, where a pair of black high heels waited for her. She put on the high heels, grabbed her dark blue trench coat, and then walked out the front door, into the dark world outside.

It was here that the real Zelda came out. Lost was the light in her eyes, gone was her smile. Instead, a hardened expression appeared on her face, her eyes becoming dark much like the world around her.

"For Sarah," Zelda said taking a deep breath, "All for Sarah."

She sauntered off toward the train station. As she walked, she noticed the dirty looks she got from the people around her. Though she, like everyone else in the lower quarter, was a Class B Citizen, due to her two jobs she lived better than most people in the lower quarter. Not enough to live in the upper quarter, but enough where she and Sarah could live in peace.

It was a shame though that people were so petty.

"Whore!" one woman shouted, throwing a tomato at Zelda, who moved her head to the side out of the way.

Some people shoved her as she walked, one woman even pushing her into a wall. People called her names like "whore", "slut", "gold digger", all because they knew what she had to do in order to continue living the life she had.

Not once did she retaliate. Sure, she was doing it for Sarah, but it didn't change the fact that they were right. Still though, if they only knew why she did that to herself.

"I bet none of them are even mothers..." Zelda said shaking her head.

Once she got on the train, she was subjected to the second thing that made her life hard. The women hated her, but the men were just as bad. They stared at her, constantly undressing her in their minds. She wore these long coats to cover her skimpy attire her "master" forced her to wear, and yet she still managed to get cat calls, whistles, and pinches on her butt from every man that passed her way.

Did she look that good?

She got off the train and walked to the checkpoint, a large gate that was usually closed off. There were two guards standing watch, but thankfully they knew Zelda, and were actually nice to her. Both guards wore the same red and gold uniform, the cap covering their eyes. These were Olympus soldiers.

"Frances, Marshall," Zelda called out.

"Good afternoon, Zelda," Frances said, "Heading out to work?"

"Yeah, going to see Jude. God he's a mess," Zelda said shaking her head.

"He does seem like it," Marshall said, "Since it's just you we'll let you through without showing ID."

"You guys don't have to do that," Zelda said, "I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Ah, it's fine," Marshall said, "Frances, open up the gate."

"On it," Frances said walking over to the control panel, "So, how's Sarah?"

Zelda sighed looking aside, "She's not getting any better, and we're running out of her medicine."

"That's tough," Marshall said, "Hey, are you sure you don't want any help? We've got connections after all."

"I appreciate it," Zelda said, "But I'm not letting you two ruin your jobs for little old me. I'm a big girl. Besides, not only would you guys get in trouble, but I'd be connected to the military for the rest of my life. Sorry, but you two are the only ones in the military I actually like."

"Well, just be careful," Frances said, "And gate open."

The gate opened, revealing what looked like a section of cyberspace. Inside was a glowing circle on the ground.

"Have a good day at work," Marshall said.

"I'll certainly try," Zelda said walking onto the large circle. When she stood on it, she felt her body float up a bit, and in a white flash she was transferred to the upper quarter, which was very nice and bright looking.

Here the high class lived in luxury, and looked down on the people of the lower quarter. The only reason she herself was allowed here was because she had a job up here.

"I wonder what sort of degrading work he'll have for me today," Zelda said, remembering the time when Jude made her act as a foot stool. He payed well, but it was humiliating having to be his slave, being forced to please him in any way he wanted.

For Sarah...

All for Sarah...

"Oh Jude, that sounds absolutely marvelous!" one of the partiers said.

"I know," Jude said arrrogantly, waving his short blond hair to the side, "Hm, we're out of drinks. Oh slave! Slave, come over here!"

Zelda walked in as best as she could. She explained to Jude that she wanted to get home at a decent hour in order to make dinner for Sarah. Unfortunately her "master" was hosting a party today. Even though the party would end at a good time, he just had to find a way to make it humiliating for her. Since she wouldn't be able to stay after, he found another way to get his rocks off.

Which was why she had to serve drinks with her arms tied to a bar wedged horizontally behind her, her wrists tied together, a ball gag in her mouth, and shackles on her ankles to prevent her from running away. Not that she would though. Jude payed well, and she needed the extra money for Sarah's medicine.

That doesn't change how embarrassing this is...

"Slave, go into the kitchen and get three more martinis for my guests," Jude ordered. He was lucky she couldn't talk, because she wanted to say "Fuck off". Instead, she simply bowed as best as she could and sauntered over to the kitchen.

When she got in, she saw another maid waiting for her, her uniform nowhere near as skimpy as the one Zelda was forced to wear, and she wasn't tied up. Then again, she wasn't from the lower quarter.

"Lord Jude wants more drinks?" the maid said. Zelda gave a small nod as the maid ran off. As she waited, she heard some of the other servant girls behind her.

"That woman is from the lower quarter, isn't she?"

"I bet she feels awful, whoring herself out like that. Lord Jude is only doing this because she's a B Class Citizen."

"Well, personally she shouldn't even be here, so she should count herself lucky."

Not like they were any better, Zelda thought. They had to work here in order to stay living in the upper quarter. As far as Zelda saw it, they were worse than she was.

"Here are the martinis," the maid from earlier said running back, "Please be careful, wench. I'm docking these from your pay if even a drop is spilled.

How the hell am I supposed to not spill a drop, Zelda thought. This position was awkward, and she couldn't stabilize the tray. The only way she could not spill these was if she walked really slowly, but if she took too long she would have to hear Jude's mouth.

She lost either way...

Zelda nodded and began walking back, a nice even pace as to not spill anything. She avoided most of the other partiers, but she could feel them staring at her.

God... do I look that ridiculous?

When she reached Jude, he turned his nose up at her, "About time, slave," Jude said taking his drink, "give the others to my friends here."

His "friends" were a nice looking man with shoulder length dark brown hair wearing a black and white tuxedo, and a really pretty woman with really long and full blond hair wearing a fancy blue and pink dress that hurt Zelda's eyes a bit. Both the man and woman had the same piercing red eyes.

"Prometheus," the man said, "It's pleasure to meet you, miss."

"There's no need to acknowledge dreck like her," Jude said, "She's a B Class."

"Maybe so," the woman said, "But there's no reason to be unkind. My name is Pandora. I'm Prometheus' sister."

Both of them took their drinks from Zelda, and she bowed to them, wishing she could tell them her name. They were the first two people in the upper quarter who were remotely nice to her, and as it was, she probably would never see them again.

Jude apparently didn't like all the attention she was getting, because he chose that time to sabotage her, with a sudden shove forward. That shove caused her to fall right into Prometheus, making him spill his drink right on Pandora.

"Pandora! Are you okay?" Prometheus asked.

"I'm fine," Pandora said with a groan, "This isn't the worst thing that could-"

"Slave!" Jude said pulling Zelda aside, "You ruined my friend's favorite dress!"

"This is hardly my favorite-" Pandora spoke, just to be cut off.

"I'm going to have to punish you immediately," Jude said. Zelda's eyes were wide with shock. He liked punishing her, but to do so in front of all of these people?

"Jude," Prometheus said, "I hardly feel that-"

"Come with me," Jude said, pulling Zelda to the couch. He sat down on the couch and bent her over his knee.

Oh God... he is...

"You stupid klutz!" Jude said slapping poor Zelda on the rear, "I take you in," another slap, "Give you a job out of pity," another slap, "And this is the thanks I get!"

After all three of those slaps, Zelda found herself unable to hold in her tears. Not from the pain, but from the mortification. She was absolutely defensless, unable to do anything but take this punishment. What was worse was how those around her reacted as he continued to spank her.

"Such a low class individual!"

"I don't even know why Jude keeps her around."

"That bitch is worse than the stain on poor Pandora's dress!"

After he was done, Zelda looked up at Prometheus and Pandora. While most of the people there seemed to enjoy seeing her suffer, those two seemed different. Prometheus frowned looking at the scene, and Pandora folded her arms under her bosom looking away in disgust.

"Now," Jude said grabbing Zelda by the cheeks, "Have you learned your lesson, wench?" she had no choice. She had to nod, making Jude laugh arrogantly, "Now go into the back and get another drink for Prometheus."

"Actually," Prometheus said suddenly, "I can go fetch my own drink. Sister, can I get you a napkin?"

"Yes brother, I would like that," Pandora said. Jude just threw poor Zelda onto the floor, so Pandora went over to her to help her.

"Why would you want to touch that," another woman said, "Even Jude is washing his hands."

"She's not dirty," Pandora said helping Zelda up, "Besides, she can't exactly stand up herself tied up like this," she looked at Zelda with a soft expression, despite how piercing her red eyes were, "Don't worry about it, ma'am. I know it was an accident."

Zelda nodded, looking down. She so wanted to talk to this woman, introduce herself, ask what she did, actually mingle, which was something she had never wanted to do. Even the other maids were allowed to mingle, all she could do was stand there and serve drinks, despite being an actual person herself.

Pandora must have sensed her plight, for when Jude returned she turned to him, "Jude, what is this servant's name?"

"It doesn't matter what her name is," Jude said dismissively, "Like I said, she's a B Class citizen from the lower quarter I took pity on."

"She's still a human being, and I want to know her name," Pandora said glaring at Jude, "I'd ask her, but she can't exactly speak for herself, now can she?"

Zelda's heart was racing looking at this woman. Something about her didn't seem... right. She seemed like a virus in human form. However she looked at Jude, he gulped and looked away.

"Her name is Zelda or something like that," he said, trying to hide how afraid he was.

"Zelda, is that your name?" Pandora asked, Zelda nodded in response, "Well, thank you for the wonderful service, Zelda."

Zelda gave Pandora a curtsy, actually wanting to show this woman some respect. Prometheus walked back, lightly brushing Zelda's arm as he went to his sister.

"Do you want to stay?" Prometheus asked.

"Actually, yes, I do," Pandora said, "I've finally found some company I prefer," she looked right at Zelda.

"My, looks like you made a new friend," Prometheus said, taking Zelda's bound hand and planting a small kiss on it. Based off the gasps from everyone, and the look on Jude's face, this was absolutely appalling.

Yet Zelda couldn't help but blush looking at Prometheus.

"Any friend of my sister's is a friend of mine," Prometheus said, making Zelda's heart race. Oh, how she wished she could speak right now, then she could-

"Slave, why don't you see if the other guests need drinks," Jude said suddenly, giving her a look that reminded her of her place. Sadly, if she wanted to keep this job and provide for her daughter, she had to comply.

For Sarah...

Zelda bowed to Jude, and walked off, going into the kitchen. As she continued her work for the day, she couldn't get those two out of her head.

Prometheus and Pandora...

SMACK!

"You stupid bitch!" Jude shouted after the party ended and all the guests left, "Embarrassing me in front of my guests!"

"I-I-I'm sorry..." Zelda said, knowing it wasn't her fault, but she still had to apologize. If she didn't who knew what Jude would do?

"Do you know who those two were?!" Jude asked, "Of course you don't. You aren't smart enough to know how important Prometheus and Pandora are. Just know that those two were very important guests, and thanks to YOU show boating at the party I lost their respect!"

Zelda was tempted to say that it was all his fault, but if she said that, he might...

"I said I was sorry..." Zelda said trembling, trying her hardest to control herself and not break down.

"I have enough mind to not pay you at all for this," Jude said, scaring Zelda to know end.

"No!" Zelda cried running up to him, "Please, I need the money! Sarah is running out of medicine, and my check from the diner doesn't come in until later in the week!"

"Why should I care?" Jude said pushing Zelda off him and onto the ground, "She's a B Class too, just like her whore of a mother. If she dies, then that's one less person to steal air from us real people."

This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening. Sarah could have had an attack between now and the end of the week. If she did, then she wouldn't have enough medicine to keep her healthy. The thought of Sarah dying was too much for Zelda.

"I'll do anything, I swear!" Zelda said from the ground, "Anything at all, just please pay me!"

"Hm... anything?" Jude said raising an eyebrow. Immediately a small part of Zelda wished she hadn't said that, but if it was for Sarah, she meant it. Instead of taking it back, she stood up and nodded, unable to look Jude in the eyes, "Well then, I suppose I can arrange... something."

Jude grabbed Zelda and bent her over the table, holding her back down preventing her from standing up as he reached down, putting his other hand right on her rear.

"Seeing you tied up like that got me all hot and bothered," Jude said, "And since I'm paying you for your... services... you wouldn't mind doing something about that, would you?"

"N-not at all Jude..."

Not at all what?" Jude asked, grabbing Zelda's long blue hair and pulling it.

"Not at all... M-Master..." Zelda corrected. Jude then began the horrible deed, each second that went by Zelda felt herself die more and more, but it was for a good cause.

For Sarah...

All for Sarah...

Jude was done with her for the night, which thankfully wasn't over. This meant she could still make it in time to eat dinner with Sarah. Even better, the money she got for the night was just enough to get Sarah's medicine. She'd place a rush order first thing in the morning.

As she approached the checkpoint, she got her ID ready, since these guards weren't Frances and Marshall.

"ID please," one of the guards said. Zelda flashed him her ID, and he nodded, "Open the gate for her."

The guard saluted, and a few seconds later the gate opened. Zelda walked as fast as she could through the gate, transferring back into the lower quarter.

When she arrived, she saw a group of soldiers firing at a large white mechanical dog monster. A virus, and a high level one. The beast roared loudly at the guards, but they fired at it a few more times until it fell to the ground dead.

"Why those things only appear in the lower quarter I'll never figure out," she said to herself, shaking her head as the Olympus soldiers finished off the virus.

The train ride was as long as ever, but Zelda was in her own little world at the moment. She had detached herself from the situation, and had yet to reattach herself back to the real world. As such she didn't hear any of the shouting from those around her, nor did she notice the looks she got. The only thing on her mind was getting home.

When she got home though, she heard moaning.

"Sarah?" Zelda called out. She ran into the kitchen and saw a sight that scared her to death.

Sarah was lying on the ground, holding her head in pain.

"Sarah?! Sarah!" Zelda shouted running over to Sarah. When she looked at Sarah, she saw red numbers running across her eyes. It was an attack.

Zelda immediately picked Sarah up and took her to her bed lying her down. She thanked God she hadn't taken the extra vial from earlier. Zelda took the vial and opened it, handing it to Sarah.

"Here honey, take it. It'll make the pain go away," Zelda urged. Sarah opened her mouth so Zelda could give it to her, and after a few seconds the red numbers vanished.

"It doesn't hurt anymore..." Sarah said weakly.

"Oh Sarah..." Zelda said, hugging her daughter.

"I'm sorry Mommy. That was the last one too..."

"Don't worry about that. I'll get more," Zelda looked into Sarah's eyes, "I'm just happy I got home in time. Now, you should lie down and get some rest. I'll make you some soup, okay?"

"Okay Mommy," Sarah said lying down. Zelda got up and began walking to the kitchen, "Mommy?" Sarah called out, stopping her.

"Yes Sarah? What is it honey?"

"I'm sorry. I wanted to make something really nice for you when you came home, but I had an attack, so I won't be able to eat it with you."

Zelda took a deep breath as to not cry, "I'm sure it's going to be delicious regardless. I'm going to make that soup for you, and then enjoy the wonderful meal you made for me, okay?"

"Good," Sarah said snuggling next to her stuffed bunny.

Zelda walked into their small dining room, and saw a nice plate of pancakes on the table. It was dinner now, and these were breakfast food, but these were the only thing Sarah knew how to make besides eggs. Next to her plate, Zelda saw a note written in sort of sloppy hand writing, and bad grammar, but still legible.

Your the bestest Mommy in the world. I luv u.

That did it. All of Zelda's shields dropped at that moment. She had no idea what she had to go through, what she did for her, how hard she had to work. Yet she never complained, not even when she came home late.

She worked two jobs, had to let people take advantage of her, face the horrible people around her, and even whore herself out to her boss and some of the soldiers of Olympus. Sarah didn't know, nor would she ever know, how far Zelda had to go to keep her safe and well.

For Sarah...

All for Sarah...