#DMC x Zoids crossover

[whothehellisdante]

I have returned with more DMC x Zoids thoughts that no one has asked for. But this time, with short character profiles. It turns out Kyrie, Credo and Agnus will also play respective parts in this growing story ahhhhhhhhhh

— Kyrie and Nero will have grown up together in the Republic, and only in the last two or three years has Nero left to become a scavenger with Nico. Because the military has been amping up threats toward the Empire for their past transgressions, conscription had become a worry for many, and it's partly what motivated Nero to leave before he was dragged into a conflict he has no stake in. However, war is inevitably waged, and all young adults are conscripted into the effort. Kyrie is specially exempt because she is Credo's sister (a general with sway), until the commander in chief disregards that entirely and forces Kyrie's involvement. Unfortunately, the decision comes at the suggestion of Agnus, the head of research and development at the army. Kyrie is never aware until she’s escorted to military headquarters, where she begins training as a pilot for a new model of Gojulas, the Gojulas the Ogre. A specially-designed Zoid, its development headed and overseen by Agnus himself. Kyrie becomes his intended Guinea pig, to test the Zoid's experimental pilot-core integration system. Long story short, she's brainwashed to pilot Gojulas the Ogre on the frontlines of the war.

It's during one of these battles that Nero discovers her, and dashes off in his Murasame Liger to her aid to both stop her from attacking and from being attacked by Imperial units. It may be mutiny against the Empire (which he and his group are “freelancing” for, which is a separate plot point altogether that I won't cover here), but he's not invested in war; he wants to get Kyrie out of it. He'll fight off both the Republic and Empire if he has to, but at least he won't be doing it alone. Thankfully, she’s rescued in one piece and effectively joins their little group. No way will Nero let her return to the Republic; and with the current president in power, she’s likely now considered a traitor.

— Credo is a general in the Republican army, the pilot of a Liger Zero (Schneider, mainly) painted in a custom lavender, white and pale gold or white and pale gold color scheme. Basically, the colors of the new Republic. He would have liked Nero to serve alongside him in the military, but he knew Nero was far too rebellious and hard-headed to expect that. A part of him is relieved Nero had the sense to leave the territory, however, when war is officially announced: he wouldn't have wanted his foster brother dragged into a messy, unnecessary conflict which may well see him killed. Little does he know he will meet Nero on the battlefield as an enemy in the future, during the heat of the war. (But will they face off in the name of what they stand for?)

Proud of his rank and an exceptional pilot, Credo maintains excellent standing with the commander in chief. However, he expresses his scathing disapproval of Kyrie's forced involvement in the army when he discovers she was placed in battle without his knowledge. This is seen as obstruction and rebellion on his part, and fearing intervention, he is ordered to be killed by Agnus off the battlefield, hush-hush. The news does not spread, until Agnus later hints to Nero at Credo's unfortunate fate during an armed confrontation.

— Agnus is the head of R&D for the Republic's armed forces. Not only does he orchestrate the production of new Zoids, but he refines existing tech, collects battle data for further machine enhancements, and innovates technology for improved pilot-to-Zoid-core integration. The latter is his motivation for pulling Kyrie into the army, and to use her in his live tests of the Gojulas the Ogre, his own brainchild designed with a unique system meant to mentally link the pilot with the Zoid. It is his idea that sways the commander in chief (also the Republic's president; basically Sanctus because why not) to overturn the special exemption he had granted her through Credo. He is of warmongering mind, and Agnus appeals to his vision. Through mental conditioning (i.e. brainwashing), he succeeds in connecting her to the experimental integration system, and he is able to put her and the Gojulas directly in battle to great effect.

While mostly behind the scenes, Agnus has piloting ability and an intimate familiarity with the functions of each Zoid type. Thus, he can man virtually any Zoid. Because of Nero's intervention, he puts himself in the cockpit of the Gojulas the Ogre after Kyrie is recovered by the “rebels.” Later, he pilots a Geno Ritter stolen by the Republic and uses this Zoid to put Nero and his group into a corner. A highly formidable pilot-Zoid pairing, he effectively nullifies the Murasame Liger, Nico’s Gustav, and even nearly disables Garrett’s Konig Wolf (friend let me borrow their OC for this AU, yes it’s hella self-indulgent but bless them I’m gonna treat him so well here) before running off to return to the Republic. There is, inevitably, another confrontation in store.

[whothehellisdante]

Here are basic profiles on the protags of the DMC x Zoids crossover I can’t stop thinking about. No Read More because Tumblr just does that automatically now dkgjskdjgh. Nothing is set in stone. I love Zoids. Help.

— Nero spends his days as a scavenger after having left the Republican territory he grew up in. He was an orphan as a child for a time until he was taken in by Kyrie and Credo's parents. However, he and Kyrie grew to become sweethearts. Before the start of a new continental war, he leaves town with Kyrie's blessing to find is way in life, living off the land and without any responsibilities to hold him down. He's promised to return one day, of course. He travels far and wide with his friend, Nico, with whom he grew up back home, and together they pick up scraps and whatever parts they can find lying around the wastelands to sell. It's an insecure living for sure, but at least they clean up the environment that way. It's a disappointing, but at the same time wild, living that he's not entirely bored with yet. He starts out with a blue-and-silver Saberlion, which has been his Zoid since he was a kid. An accident in recent years resulted in the loss of his right arm, but it's thanks to cybernetics (and Nico's ingenuity) that a fantastic prosthetic is developed for him. Skirmishes have honed a capable pilot out of him.

A bust of a job leads to the discovery of a hidden bunker, where he meets a Zoidian, his Organoid, and things seem to go wild from there. The Zoidian, V, reveals he has no memory of his name or very much about his own identity, so in a bid to help him retrieve a long-lost possession that may help him remember, Nero and Nico agree to take him with them on a journey across the continent (or continents). Along the way, he loses his Saberlion to the Zoid that replaces it, a previously unknown Liger that they call (OR find out is called) Murasame Liger. The Zoid is resistant to him at first, but they gradually bond. Other pilots in unusual Ligers begin appearing to him, one in a blue Hayate Liger, a constant challenger, and the other in a red Mugen Liger, a supposed defender. Bounty hunters also have their attention called to the boy, his Zoid specifically, and make frequent attempts to waylay the group in order to collect the Liger. One such bounty hunter gets his closest, but circumstances yield a change of heart, and he ultimately tags along with Nero and crew. That doesn't come without its consequences and problems, which Nero can't get a break from the closer their group reaches Imperial territory.

— Nico is Nero's best friend and, according to her, Zi's top mechanic. She pilots a Gustav for transport and maintenance, its outer shell covered in decals. With only one bed attachment (for the Saberlion), it perfectly transports crew and cargo—before guests begin expanding the group and making demands of accommodations. She makes all the necessary repairs and modifications to the group's Zoids, and she genuinely loves to. She'll use the spare parts she finds on occasion to modify Zoids, though she's mainly interested in making a profit off those parts as it is her dream to run a one-of-a-kind mobile workshop. Being a mechanic and enthusiast, her knowledge of Zoid operation and Zoid production history is thorough. She has no desire to become a top combatant, but make no mistake that she will know how to pilot almost any given Zoid and make a good impression in battle.

Her father is Agnus, an R&D official for the Republican Army, and she's learned much from his own research, techniques, and innovations. She's not on good terms with him by the time she decides to leave their home territory, and getting away from him is partly what motivates her to strike out on her own in the first place. She enjoys the liberation of the great outdoors, no strings attached, and wouldn't trade it in no matter how disappointing and insecure the state of her livelihood. But she's with Nero (and later, more friends), and they have each other's support through thick and thin. The inevitable war between the Republic and Empire will involve even her, and there will come a point when she lashes out at her father for his abhorrent actions. Unfortunately, her Gustav is no match for the Geno Ritter he fights her back with, and it pays a price for her temper.

— V is a Zoidian, a humanoid organism with enhanced senses and psychic ability. Zoidians were native to Zi, the original humanoid race before Earthlings arrived and settled. Early Zoidians possessed a thin metallic shell that has, through evolution, largely disappeared; “modern” Zoidians have almost entirely lost this shell, and it primarily manifests as a birthmark on random parts of their bodies, or not at all. Some individuals would treat these birthmarks as ancestral/family/clan symbols, others replicate these markings by reproducing tattoos on conspicuous areas of their bodies. As such, he bears no trace of a metallic shell. Instead, his body is covered in black tattoos from his neck to his hips.

The species, however, has largely been decimated due to the indiscriminate destruction caused by a Death Saurer centuries/millennia in the past. Some sought salvation by being sealed in underground capsules, but even this went awry for many. V is among the few whose capsule has remained intact and operational, and along with his Organoid, Nightmare, have spent the past countless centuries in a state of suspended animation in the hopes that they would be resuscitated by their own. The truth turns out to be quite another when Nero and Nico uncover the hidden bunker he's been housed in, and inadvertently release V and Nightmare from their capsules. First meetings are rough, but once understanding is established, V has pity taken on him and is invited by Nico to join them for a ride to the nearest town. V is struck with visions that reveal a calamity of some form, and he admits that he does not remember much of who he is apart from the first letter of his name. He suggests an old personal effect will jog his memory, but to find it, they may have to travel across the continents. It's not all-important, but it's an adventure that the scavengers are eager to go on.

Early in their travels, Nightmare randomly brings a black Saber Tiger to V. It's for transportation as room in the Gustav is limited. V is no pilot by any means, so Nightmare controls the Zoid by merging with its Core. Unfortunately, an ambush will rob him of the Saber Tiger and leave him without a Zoid for a short time. Before another member joins their party, Nightmare will once again bring a wild Zoid to him, this time a black Rev Raptor. It's seen better days, but lives its longest life at his side. Because Zoidians are capable of communicating with Zoids on an almost telepathic level, V can understand a Zoid's feelings and empathize, and form closer bonds with them. As a result, he is none too pleased that Zoids are used selfishly for sport battling and war. While he will avoid conflict as he sits in the cockpit, some circumstances will force his hand. He doesn't know what his own determination can do.

V is a man who's been out of touch for centuries/millennia, so he is incredibly naive in the ways of the modern world. What he does understand is emotion, and as he adapts to a new world, he learns more about himself. Though he'd like to believe he's in touch with his emotions, it turns out romantic love is a new one on him as he fumbles along in not embarrassing himself in front of a bounty hunter he quickly develops an attraction to. Thankfully for everyone but Nero, V's affection for a man whose sole interest was previously in the Murasame Liger is not only reciprocated, but results in an added friend for the road whose support proves invaluable to the entirety of the group.

— Nightmare is V's Organoid, extremely protective of him and follows him closely. Black iridescent armor, violet lenses, a tapering snout like a bird's beak, three-toed hands like bird's talons, and a pair of metallic wings that emerge from a hidden compartment in its back serve as ion boosters. It stands taller than V by about three feet and displays feline behavior at times, but its vocalizations are often ear-splitting, high-pitched screeches, and growls, hisses, and trills. Organoids are much smaller than Zoids, but related to some capacity. They possess more organic functions and display more organic behaviors than Zoids, along with the unique ability to merge with a Zoid Core and lend it added power. In Nightmare's case, it can also alter the coloring of a Zoid's “eyes,” skeleton, or armor caps, changing them to violet for the duration of the merge. Organoids are also capable of housing a humanoid within a compartment hidden in the front of their bodies, which Nightmare can achieve with V for either transportation or protection. It's believed that an Organoid harbors the memories of their Zoidian companion, but without the technology available, V must resort to restoring his memories the old fashioned way.

Rough on Nero and Nico at the start, but takes its cues from V and warms as he warms. It's normally wary of and aggressive to strangers when they first meet. Incidentally, Nightmare gives Garrett very little trouble. Its first impression of him is a positive one.

— Garrett is, and I should start off with this first, my best friend's OC. They're not into Zoids, but they gave me permission to use him in this AU and they're amazing for trusting me with that. ;3; (While I don't have his backstory figured out yet, the plot of the AU doesn’t suffer for it.)

A bounty hunter who makes his living subduing Zoids that are wanted by the authorities or make nuisances of themselves to other individuals. It's not beneath him to bring in or destroy a Zoid sought by the underworld. If a bounty is worth his time, he'll take it. He's gained notoriety particularly among others of his ilk for his skill, efficiency, and rate of success. Because of the custom black Konig Wolf DSR he pilots, he's been given the moniker “Black Wolf.” It's safe to assume he walks a fine line between criminality and lawfulness (though, to be fair, it's more the former). With the Dual Sniper Rifle, he's a crackshot, though stealth plays a significant role in his success. Nighttime hunts benefit the black paint, as does the smokescreen the Konig Wolf can generate. Unsurprisingly, the Black Wolf is also a lone wolf. While other bounty hunters may occasionally team amongst themselves, Garrett relies solely on himself and prefers it that way. His peers understand to seek nothing from him, so even his personal life is quite isolated. That all changes when the Murasame Liger becomes a top target, sought subdued by the authorities for its troublemaking. No one gets as close as Garrett, but by then it's already found a pilot to claim ownership. If it wasn't for the fact that he saved their Zoidian companion from an ambush, he would have made an attempt then and there. But V gives him something else to think about, so he decides to leave things be.

A second encounter finds him making a bold attempt at seizing the Liger, but it ends in failure for him. Even though this paints him badly in Nero and Nico's eyes, V is willing to forgive him; but he sends himself away before he's sent away. There is a third and final encounter, in which he is in trouble of his own involving bounty hunters with chips on their shoulders, but Nero and company are willing to get him out of it—and it's V in his Rev Raptor who single-handedly takes down a Stealth Viper on the brink of landing a surprise attack on the Konig Wolf. For better or worse, Garrett has decided to tag along with them to help V recover his memory (which pleases them both, personally). He effectively abandons hunting bounties, proving himself a formidable and stalwart ally.

[whothehellisdante]

Also, I know that Mugen Liger and Hayate Liger are supposed to be evolutions of Murasame Liger, but I want all three to be separate, individual specimens. I do absolutely have the right.

I say this because Dante, Vergil, and Nero each have to have one. As the people are related, so too must their Zoids be. In a way.

The Mugen Liger is a heavy-hitter which comes at the cost of speed, but I feel this would do for Dante. Hayate Liger is all about speed and agility, and its blades can cut through almost anything. Also, it carries no ranged weapons. Excuse me. 100% Vergil. That leaves Nero with the balanced, “base” Murasame Liger. But they all have to have different color schemes, to fit their pilots. I know that’s not canon either but fuck.

[whothehellisdante]

That feminine urge to go ballistic with a Zoids x DMC crossover because I have some great ideas for it.

[whothehellisdante]

You think I’m clowning, but Nico is absolutely the mechanic and “Zoids expert” of the group. Nero is absolutely the “gifted combatant protag.” V is absolutely the mystical, transcendent “Zoid whisperer” who’s been frozen in a capsule for centuries. Vergil is the lone wolf “antagonist,” Dante the legendary pilot/warrior you only ever hear about but see only, like, twice: when he swoops in to “save the day.” Lady naturally pilots the heavy arms Zoids, handles all the artillery. Trish gets the black-and-yellow Lightning Saix, probably customized it to deliver electrical slashes and bites and to generate an electrostatic field. I’ll throw Lucia in there so she can go aerial. I���m nailing all the cliches.

[whothehellisdante]

Nero would absolutely flip when he loses his first Zoid. Screaming, angsty, bad attitude; and he’s gonna be focused on getting back at the Zoid that wrecked it. And he’ll want to tame that sucker and pilot it himself because he’s Like That. I personally think that’s neat of him to go through.

Oh and he’s keeping the robot arm because it completely makes sense in this universe for people to have mech parts. Hey, wait. Cyborgs?!