Mother Elf Birth?

This is a speculation revolving around Axl, the Prototype, His injury from Lumine. And his absence in the Zero series. So remember that when reading.

Cataloging the events in X8. The 'Final Battle' on the Moon. Sigma was the first main opponent And upon defeat, was in a sense cast aside for Lumine. Who ended up 'Crushing' some remnant of Sigma's body. And immediately afterward, was 'powered' with something. This could have been his body absorbing the Virus and increasing his power output. Also explaining his 'transformation'.

This being the prime source of the speculation. After defeat, Lumine's body shatters, and a 'Gel' type substance strikes Axl in his forehead crystal. Immediately Zero cuts the gel. Now this could have been a final attempt for Lumine to forge himself within Axl. But with the cut from Zero, that transfer was halted. Only a small amount of something was within Axl's forehead. And taking into account the flashback within X4, how Sigma defeated Zero with this same move, was the instance of Sigma being infected.

Now, at this part there can be 2 speculations. With Lumine's defeat (had he absorbed Sigma's Virus) that gel could have had a small amount of Virus. And with it being incomplete could reforge using Axl's Prototype based DNA. Or, after that desperation attack, rendering Axl unconsciousness, any floating Sigma Virus sentience would have the means to enter within Axl's body. So either way, Axl would have something to do with Sigma from then on.

After these events, we know that Axl is fine in regards to him in Command Mission. But after that, the Force Metal Incident.

There would be small traces of Sigma Virus on Earth, since it is not all gone at this point. It is just minimal thanks to the Copy Chip, and the New Generations. But the Virus would still be rampant regardless.

After those events, the timeline takes us to Zero's sealing. This being the process to research his body, research the Virus in him, and th 'Purge' it.
Remembering MegaMan X5. The Sigma Virus, the Colony Virus and the Zero Virus... They all tie to Sigma. So with the research on Zero, would ultimately lead them to Sigma Virus. However, with regards to Axl, with the 2 possibilities that happen to him, he would be the updated carrier of the Virus. The New Gen Virus you could say. Which would have led to some conflict between Axl and X (remembering Zero 1's X statement: "Having fought this war for nearly a hundred years alone").

Taking that into account, something happened between them. Which would have led to Axl being killed, or rendered unconscious again for study. Either way, his body would be in another sentience control. And during that research, the ties of Virus and everything, they would have enough info to create the True Anti-Sigma-Virus program. Project Elpis. Or Mother Elf.

With Axl dead or alive, his body is condemned to research. And being a Prototype, his DNA base would already be slightly different. And after conversations (taking him being alive approach), he could have chosen to be the Anti-Virus carrier Per se. Once the Program was completed, they would remove Axl's DNA Soul from his body, maintaining his consciousness. Just encrypting him with the Anti-Virus program. This would result in a DNA base change which would remake up His persona. The change forged Mother Elf. The True Ant-Sigma-Virus.

Had he been dead, they could have either used his body to 'contact' or lure his DNA soul back around his body for the process to work. Or, if he was dead, and something took over his body, then that would have led to them using the Anti-Virus on his body. Which would have destroyed that Virus, and forged with his DNA remnant data to create Mother Elf. Just got to remember, that Axl's Copy Chip was also a Prototype. It didn't contain Sigma DNA. So this could mean that the lack of Sigma DNA may have either a defensive purpose against the Virus. Or the lack of defensive properties meaning him becoming the 'Child of Sigma' is a possibility.

Don't forget, the Anti-Sigma-Virus is only encrypted to Axl's DNA Soul. This union isn't permanent. It in a sense gives birth to the unified program, the Mother Elf.

Which would be the dawn of the Cyber Elf, either approach taken. Since the technology used for Mother Elf, would have led them down the discovery path to Cyber Elfs.

It is long shots, but they do make sense.