#harpero

Do you believe that X put Zero's DNA in the Guardians while making them? Or anything else at all?

Honestly I just want to hear your HC about how X got along with his Guardians or if you had a specific theory

Omg, I've actually never heard of that headcanon, but given my love of Zeropuia, there is some conflicts that could be a bit awkward if that was the case — but I do have my own personal view of the Guardians in a way that portrays them older than both X and Zero realize.

This is gonna get long btw. I think about the Guardians A Lot.

Though, that's more to give context on my own perspective on these relations ; I'll get to your point on how Zero's influences did impact the Guardians, because it afflicted X in general. But to give context for one part, I actually headcanon the Four Guardians are essentially a combination of X, and the living embodiments of his different armors / sense of self and consciousness ( paired with the aspect of being made of his DNA ) . Yet, I do like to take it a step further and actually reference Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs ( albeit, they're more minor in presentation, but establish a sense of their driving force ) , but regardless, X himself is in a state of Self - Actualization upon his disappearance in the Zero series ( I refuse to touch ZX, it does not exist to me bc I frankly dislike Ciel and the concept of ZX ) . Thoughts aside,

Harpuia : Falcon Armor | He embodies justice, valor, compassion, and heroism — yet, also reflecting a deep self loathing and lack of solidified identity ( which he substitutes by being a soldier ) .

Fefnir : Gaia Armor | X's fighting spirit, aggressiveness, assertiveness, determination, while also expressing deep grief felt from the turbulence of war ( albeit, unlike Harpuia, he expresses it vocally in wrath ) .

Phantom : Shadow Armor | Loyalty, dedication, and blunt in a way he's got constant blinders on, but also inheriting a sense of suicidal ideations. Which — given the events of Z1, is very apparent ( a habit X learned from Zero, but hesitated to ever do for selfish reasons, up until he sacrificed his body in the Elf Wars ) .

Leviathan : Surprisingly ? Base - X***, with minor aspects of the Blade Armor | What she makes up for in lack of strong armor presentations, she tends to make up for emotionally. She is second to Harpuia when being most X - like, albeit, she tends to veer more towards his negative aspects. While Harpuia is internal in his tendencies to keep up his shallow sense of self, Levi expresses it more openly and strongly — her adoration of Zero being a twisted version of X's care and resentment, for example. Her openly commenting on Zero not finishing her off is an expression of that resentment.

As for hierarchy of needs :

C.E. X : Self - Actualization

Harpuia : Esteem

Leviathan : Love / Belonging

Phantom : Safety

Fefnir : Physiology

Together prior to the events of the Zero series, it made X a genuine trainwreck in the sense that all his needs were neglected upon Zero sealing himself. Yet, even split apart, due to their admittedly quarrelsome tendencies ( as reflected in the audio dramas, albeit in a far more playful tone ) . While they worked together — they didn't work entirely as a unit much later. If they view themselves as siblings, though ? Mixed feelings on that headcanon for reasons I can't seem to pin down ( likely because I started Mega Man as Zero → X → Classic → back to Zero → ZX ( genuinely miserable for me ), so I didn't have full context until much later ) . Personally, they read more akin to : blood brothers ( and sister ) in terms of circumstances alone, related vaguely as, but are considered distinctive clones ( probably on par with half - siblings ) , and found family eventually. Though, even before their eventual closeness, Harpuia did take a major brunt of any abuse thrown at the other Guardian's way by Copy X ( though, that touches upon Copy's own resentment of Harpuia being so similar to X, he's jealous in my views. This post is already so long lmao ) .

So, with that context established, what Zero left behind was not DNA — but, more - so trauma stored in the DNA ( epigenetics, it's a real thing ! ) . It reflects in their mannerisms and general behaviors, with each aspect being an amplified emotion X kept locked up ; what they take as excitement in fighting Zero is a combination of :

You're alive, I missed you.

And

I resent that you left me alone.

I do write X personally with some level of hate and anger towards Zero — not enough to ever say out loud, but it's more like a love - hate where his morality tendencies became fully fledged Moral Scrupulosity ( Moral OCD ), and telling OCD to stop thinking or feeling something ? Too bad bucko, it'll haunt you even more.

With the Guardians masochist tendencies in the English release ( I'm aware it is a mistranslation but let me have this ) , it's a weird combination of resentment, joy, anguish, and the wish to be punished for these complex feelings ( which, I personally headcanon Harpuia engaging with some level of self - harming behaviors, leaning more towards purposefully neglecting repair / care until it's severe enough to need help ) . On a scale of self - hating resentment to adrenal fueled longing to hide queer yearning, it goes :

Phantom ⇆ Harpuia ⇆ Leviathan ⇆Fefnir

As for their creation ? X's body was quite literally split into five Cyber Elves, but given the extensive capabilities of Cyber Elves based on not only his own power, but that of Mother Elf, they were essentially formed on the spot from his shattered body. It was violent, an act of creation not in love, but in pure, exhausted, grief. They screamed in the moment, senses shot, body in genuine agony — but, not only in the pain of physical harm, but also in the grief of a life once lived, and ultimately lost.

X's relationship with the Guardians was a complicated mess initially, as they are quite literally aspects of his trauma as a soldier brought to life, his worst tendencies, paired with the damage Zero had caused already. So, after sealing the elves, the violent creation based off the DNA of the armors programmed into him, along with various other factors, X hadn't made himself entirely present — say, for minor influences under the guise of divine inspiration, and later more clear presentations upon the death of Phantom.

They hold various aspects of X's memories, yet Harpuia being most similar to X ? He wears his heart on his sleeve and is very much so traumatized in that aspect — yet, that heart is hidden away to lead where X once did, until Copy came forth and essentially drove away X into further hiding. ( TLDR ; When your card declines at exposure therapy so they bring out your sins embodies as warped, physical aspects of you in a way that's also disconnected from your entire identity as both punishment. )

Given Harpuia is second in command, and leader of Neo Arcadia upon Copy's death, there had to be some semblance of guidance for a reploid who feels most stable as a follower, rather than an outright leader ( though, he does not hesitate to call out injustice as he sees it, given Zero 3 and his response to Weil ) .

There's also a parallel I could discuss about the Baby Elves under Weil's control essentially amplifying existing trauma and more, but frankly, that's a heavy allegory I'd need to approach with an air of genuine care — and mentally, I don't have the energy to open that can of worms at this time. I'll link it here, and leave this tag that blatantly spells it out :

Overall ? Happiest ending for X and Zero, and the cluster of messed up reploids created in their wake would be something along the lines of the end of Bojack :

But they're so intertwined, so wrapped up in one another, it's a mess of " I know who you are " on both X and Harpuia's perspectives in extremely polarizing ways, but Zero being unable to remember who X is, and the bastardization of the Guardian's existence further fueling the flames of conflicted feelings and heart ache. It's a mix of estrangement and the inability to move on. They're so unhealthy, so enmeshed with one another, that the death of one causes so much heartache, while the memories of the other aggravates that trauma further. In the end, they won't ever let go of each other, no matter the forms taken, as their grief is too deeply inwoven to ever function seperately in their shared goal for peace.

But anyways, drama and trauma aside :

LMAO This was actually an incredible thing to wake up to, thank you. I want to mention, I like,, specifically hit up my wife ( who I'm matching Zeropuia with ) , and asked them this because they 100% aided in developing my headcanons 😭 ( wife is they / he / fae ! )

This is gonna get long, I've shipped these 2 on first sight since 2017. Everything is below the cut as it got long !

If you want more / or just some context, here's a breakdown on Harpuia's mental health, why he stun locks in MMZ1 with the ice chip, as well as just misc. headcanons ! I don't write Zero as much — so that's why I asked the wife !! They love, love, love Zero.

As for fanfics, I would love to continue and create more, esp for Zeropuia ! :) I'm just an overworked uni student at the moment. 💔

I love this ship