NintendoLand Deathmatch summary
Proto Man VS. Mega Man

Mario: Wassupppp????(His head shakes around loosely, his cheeks fluster red and there is a brown bottle in his left hand.)
 
Audience: Wasssupppp????
 
(Luigi folds his arms and frowns.)
 
Luigi: That’s what I’d like to know. Excuse my brother, folks. He’s a bit inebriated with BooBourbon.
 
Mario: With good reason, my tall and green buddy! I’m trying to forget the horrific fight between X and Zero, our two Capcom buddies who went toe to toe some time ago!

(The audience flinches at the flashback, trying to remember all the repairs that the arena needed after X, Zero, and unwelcome surprise guests Sigma and Magma Dragoon tore it to shreds. Even Samus shudders, knowing those two Maverick Hunters were dangerous enough before Zero went maverick and X put his advanced sets to good use.)
 
Luigi: Well, well. Mario proves how gutless he’s become over the years once more. Enlighten me sibling who helped out X in that one, while the other flew off to get Cain?(Mario frowns and shuts up, finally corking the brown bottle of ghost spittle.)
 
Mario: You’ve made your point, Weeg. Capcom DID apologize and give us money for the repairs. They even chipped in enough for an arena repair slush fund to get going!

(Luigi nods happily.)
 
Luigi: Quite sporting of those chaps in Tokyo. So, who do we have fighting this time around? (Mario smiles and pulls out his list of contenders.)
 
Mario: Hmm Pauline vs. Daisy, Toad Vs. Navi AHH!! Here we are. This week, our contestants will be none other tha

(Mario suddenly freezes in midsentence and looks down in horror. He gulps a few times and looks over at Luigi, who returns a befuddled stare.)
 
Luigi: What, who’s fighting? It can’t be worse than X and Zero going at it.(Mario shakes his head and tries to speak, but finds his voice has left him. Angrily, he throws the fight list at Luigi, who grabs it and frowns.) Sheesh, Mario. I know I said I wanted more to say, but (Luigi also freezes. He looks over at Mario and lifts the sheet.) This IS real, right?

(Mario nods, a wide pang of fear flashing across his face. Luigi moans and slams his head on the announcer’s table.)
 
Luigi: Looks like we’ll be needing that slush fund sooner than expected. All right everyone. You wanted a fight, you got one. This time around, the fighters will be none other than the predecessors of our Maverick Hunting buddies. Mario, get ready to start the idiotic but mandatory rythmn cheer chant.

(Mario gets up and clears his throat, over the shock.)
 
Mario: The protector of the future, be it near or be it far,

This strapping figure is a four foot star!

He carries an array of weapons to help good when he can

The Blue Bomber, 20XX version, THE ONE AND ONLY MEGA MAN!!

(The audience gasps, some even scream and hide in their jumbo sized popcorn buckets. This doesn’t work as well for Bowser, whose horns jut out of the top of the cheap cardboard cylinder.)
 
Luigi: Not bad, Mario. Now watch the master at work.

Before Mega Man tromped along in style,

A primary robot lived in Light’s while.

He wears a yellow scarf, and shades of dark hues,

Protoman to laymen, but to us true fans IT’S BLUES!!!

(Everyone in the arena looks around and grumble in unison that Luigi does a far better job at it. Mario reluctantly flips Luigi a coin.)
 
Mario: Looks like you won the stinkin’ bet. (Luigi pockets the coin in one smooth move and smiles widely.) So, where are they?

(Once again, the audience scans the arena, but finds no sign of the fighters. But a yell from above draws their attention.)
 
Mega: Hellooo down there!!! (The LakituSkyHigh Cameras zoom into the sky, where they pick out a fast enlarging dot. It is of course, the indomitable Mega Man. He holds a previous 1-1 record of deathmatches, and he looks ever more serious now than he did before. Riding on Rush in his jet form, Mega directs him down towards the ground and Rush shifts into his normal form, panting. Obviously, Rush is low on power for his thrusters.) Well, I’m here. Let’s get this party started.

(Unlike X and Zero, whose eyes held a greater depth of understanding and humanity, Mega’s eyes are bland and non-expressive. He knows some emotional expressions, but when it comes down to it, a mere robot, no matter how advanced is no match for a reploid in thinking capability.)
 
Mario: Well, well. Hey Mega! Some pre-fight commentary here. What did you bring with you to tangle with?(Mega shrugs.)
 
Mega: Whatever I might need, I brought. That’s why I was late, I was picking up supplies from Auto.(Mario looks over at Luigi nervously.)
 
Mario: Err is that a good thing?(Luigi shrugs)
 
Luigi: Depends, really. You want a good fight or a weak one? If they bring out everything, it gets long and well worth the wait.
 
Mario: Well, that explains why the tickets sold so fast. So, where’s Proto?
 
(A mystic whistle fills the arena, and repeats itself twice. Everyone scans about, looking for the sound, and even Mario recognizes it. It is Protoman’s whistle, his identifiable trademark. The noise stops, and then it is replaced with a SHOOOM as a cluster of warped particles flies down from above and recoalesces into a red and gray figure, with a yellow scarf and a pair of glasses which resemble that of an old ‘Speed Racer’ enemy.)
 
Proto: THIS is the arena?(Scuffs the floor with a boot.) Seems kinda small, compared to my romping grounds.(Looks up and flashes a thumbs up at Mega.) Yo, bro! You’re here. Good. We can get started now.
 
Mega: Well, this will be a good opportunity to spar. Say Proto, would you like to join me? We’d make a great team!(Proto frowns and shakes his head.)
 
Proto: If anything, you’re persistent Mega. But I’ll tell you the same thing I always do.(Jerks a thumb at himself.) I work alone, and being in a team only doubles the chance of failure. If this is a fight that we got voted into, I plan to give them one. But after its over-don’t ask me again. (Mega sighs.)

Mega: It was worth a shot. So, do you know how we start out?
 
Proto: This is my first shot at the fight, bro. You’re the returning champeen not like that title will remain after I’m done today.
 
Mega: Usually, we have someone start us out with a shot, or a ding of the bell. Isn’t that right, Mario?

(Mario nods.)

Mario: Yeah, why even Samus fired the starting gun for the fight between Zero and

Luigi: MARIO!!!(Mario stops midsentence and looks over.)
 
Mario: What is it, Weeg?(Luigi grits his teeth.)
 
Luigi: We still haven’t gotten in a new shipment of memory wipers yet. Any mention of the future might seriously harm the time space continuum!(Mario frowns.)
 
Mario: So I should’nt mention the previous fight, right?
 
Luigi: Until we get our memory wipers in, YES!
 
Proto: Would the two of you stop whispering to each other? Mega, I’m getting tired of waiting around for these bozos to start us off. I’ll bring in my own starting gun!(Proto whips out a stereo set from behind him and plops it on the ground. He cranks the speakers to max and hits play.)

BoomBox: DADADADUMDUM DADADADUMDUM DEDEDE DEEDEEE DEEDEEDADADADUMMMM!!!!(It is of course, the famed tune of Mega Man lore. The boss select music redone so many times in MM1, MM2, MM4, MM7 and MM8. Mega listens to it and smiles.)

Mega: Works for me, Proto. So, let’s get it on!(The two bow to each other and prepare their fighting stances, both charging their shots.)
 
Luigi: While they’re sitting in wait for their shots to begin charging, let’s take a moment to review their battle stats.(The arenacam is replaced with a boxed, frozen image of the fighters.) Mega Man is armed with a Mark 5 Mega Buster, which can charge plasma blasts up to a level three attack, as large as his four foot frame. Currently, Mega Man carries all the Master Weapons in his possession up to Mega Man 8, and a total of four E-Tanks, 4 Weapons Tanks, and one S-Tank. He also has the Rush Adapter, the Rocket Punch and several other assorted gadgets from his travails. Current rules disavow the use of helpers in this match, which means Rush, Eddie, Beat and even Auto cannot join in to back up either fighter.
 
Mario: Protoman’s armament varies far different from Mega’s, and even we do not know his full power. Proto is a bit secretive, so what information we gained was the data that Light had on him. ‘Blues’ as he is also known, carries a Mark four Mega Buster, with an air based cooling system, which he has kept since Wily first gave it to him shortly after the game, ‘Mega Man 2’ when Protoman returned from his trek from who knows where after the fateful lab accident. This lab accident not only caused Light to build Mega, a more improved and stable version of Blues, but the accident also mutated Wily’s mind until he became the maniacal demon he is today.
 
Luigi: Well, that point is under argument, Mar. You see, we are able to retrieve fighters from any point in time, or any reality. This means in effect, the Nintendoland Deathmatch Arena exists in a frozen dimension, whose chronometer differs from any other, and any time related term as ‘today,’ ‘yesterday’ and others are inefficient and provide only minor relations in the overall layout of fights which are controlled by
 
Mario: ENOUGH!!!(Mario slams his hat down on his head and groans.) If you’re making me dizzy with this scientific whoowah, you’re only making the audience even nuttier!

(But all of a sudden, the audience begins to shout and cheer. While the two announcers were arguing over chrono-semantics, Mega and Blues had started the fight with a bang-very literally.)
 
Proto: Nice shot! But even your ‘great powershot’ is no match for me!(Proto watches the blue blazing plasma ball scorch through the air, moving fast, but not as fast as light because of the time distorting effects of the arena. His own shot sizzles along towards Mega, who bends down and slides underneath the green shot of Proto’s.) Nice trick, but I have a few of my own.(Proto braces his stance and sidesteps just a bit, as much as the time allows. He swings out his massive plasma deflective shield and holds it at an angle. The blast skitters along the side, tracing the edge until Proto jams the shield upward, sending the blast flying high into the air where it sizzles into nonexistence.) told ya, Rock. I’ve spent my life dodging firefights, and I also know how to play with fire.(Smiles slightly and raises a finger.) Not saying YOU should try it.
 
Mega: Oh, really?(Smiles softly, lowering his eyebrows in a half smile, half frown.) Considering what the last two seconds just showed us, a simple shootout won’t cut it. I say we heat things up to an all out fight!
 
Proto: You sure?(Whistles a funeral dirge softly, but loud enough for the microphones to pick it up.) I got ten bucks ‘says I triumph.
 
Mega: You’re on!(Everyone in the arena suddenly pulls out their credit chits and starts to mutter to themselves, and even Mario and Luigi take sides on the victor.)
 
Mario: If Mega Man wins, you shut up about being so unappreciated for TWO MORE MATCHES!
 
Luigi: And if Proto wins, you stuff it and give me a starring role in the next big Mario game!

Unison: YOU’RE ON!!!!(The Mario Bros. have sealed their bet with a plumber’s handshake, and over the arena, thousands more bets are placed. Even Bowser pulls his head out of the popcorn bucket to tell his kids to stop squabbling their allowances on stupid chance games.)
 
Mega: You DO realize I’ve faced previous foes, right? Bomberman bit the dust!
 
Proto: And Samus wiped you flat, remember?(Mega grunts unhappily.)
 
Mega: I WAS CRUDDED! They had it in for me to lose!(Proto grins again.)
 
Proto: Enough talk. You’ve had one win and one failure, and this is gonna be one match I won’t let you take victory on. So prepare yourself for the biggest ass-whuppin’ you’ve ever gotten.

Mario: HEY! LANGUAGE, BLUES!
 
Proto: Stuff it, drainhead.(Proto grumbles it, but the mikes pick it up, and Bowser laughs the loudest at the insult.)

Bowser: Drainhead! You da man, Proto!
 
Mega: Fine. I’ll prep myself with a very powerful attack in my repertoire. (His blue suit fades away for light yellow and gray colors, one attack which has caused more problems for his enemies than any other.) Does the Thunder Beam ring a bell with you?
 
Proto: Thunder Beam, Thunder Beam where is that from?(Proto taps his helmet in thought, then raps one final time very sharply.) Of course. From your first romp, you swiped it from Elec Man. But do you think that little stun gun will mess me up?
 
Mega: Yeah, I was thinking that.(Mega raises his Buster.) My name is Rock Man. You kill my fathah. Prepare to die.(Mega fires.)
 
Proto: Keep this up, you’ll have old movies screaming copyright bro.(Proto stares at the oncoming wave of deadly crackling energy and gauges the distance.) Like a wavelength, I gotta get this just right (Proto finally takes one step forward and stands as still as a statue.)
 
Luigi: Proto, you crazy! RUN!!!(Luigi’s eyeballs pop out at the sight of his prize contender about to be obliterated by the stream of plasmic electricity.)
 
Proto: Don’t worry be happy.(The wave comes closer, its diode fangs gleaming as it coils for the strike. But the wave moves up, just up over Proto, and then down just behind him.) Hmm. THIS is the Thunder Beam? Odd, not as effective as I thought it might be.
 
Mega: WHAT?!(His eyes bulge. The attack SHOULD have hit home, but it didn’t!) How’d he manage that?
 
Luigi: Because he’s smart, that’s why! Let me show you all in the arena the slow playback.(Clicks on the remote at his side, and the cameras on the arena shift into the recording, played back at a very slow speed so everyone can see what truly happened.) As you can see here, the Thunder Beam moves toward its target in a steady, but deadly fast pace. It moves up and down in a wavelength shape, giving it greater range of attack, but also it has a certain weakness that Protoman used to his advantage. Because it moves up and down, Proto positioned himself so that it moved up over him, and then down just behind him, defying Mega the hit and possibly the win!(The screen fades back to the arena, where Mega stands frowning at Proto.)
 
Mega: Just how long have you been preparing for this match?(Proto shrugs.)
 
Proto: Long enough to know what to expect. And one part of that is knowing what your attacks are AND ARE NOT capable of. Seeing as you have master weapon abilities at your command, I consider it fair play. And at the moment, so is this.(Proto fires a small flurry of shots at Mega.)
 
Mega: Holy cow!(Mega does his best to avoid it, but Proto placed them in a specific pattern, deviously laid out. Mega jumps the first, slides under the second, holds still for the third, jumps the fourth and gets slammed backwards by a charged green blast from Proto’s Protobuster. Proto stands smiling at his wonderful pattern, and the crowds cheer at the fantastic display. Even Mario and Luigi breathe a bit easier, for the arena is still in good shape and not as badly torn apart.)
 
Proto: Gotcha.
 
Mega: Lucky shot, bub. You won’t survive this one!(Mega wipes the small amount of liquid exhaust from his mouth and glares for a moment, switching his armor’s color to a bright red and orange. It is the Atomic Heat weapon from Mega Man 2.)
 
Proto: Oh, going for something with a bigger range to it, eh? Just be careful, I know your energy bar can only support 2 supercharged shots before you need to revert to the puny version. So make them count-if you can.
 
Mega: I plan to, wisemouth.(Mega holds the trigger on his Buster steady, feeling the power of Atomic Heat growing and growing to its bigger sizes. One blast of this incinerated Wood Man in a single pass, and Mega knows its fiery fury is not one to be looked at lightly. Protoman can try his best, but he will not be able to dodge this shot.)
 
Proto: Well, I’m waiting. You almost there?
 
Mega: Just about. Say Proto, what did the commander say to his troops when a flock of geese flew over?
 
Proto: (Surprised) What?
 
Mega: FIRE!!!(He releases the trigger, and the backblast pushes him backward a few steps. A massive fiery orange ball of tempest fury flies from the Buster port, in a straight blazing arc towards Proto.)

Proto: Oh, SH(BLEEP)!!! (Proto reaches for his shield, but then turns it back to its holster.) It’ll only melt in this stuff! (He scans the arena frantically for any method of escape from this blistering attack, but it is too large to jump, and Mega will peg him if he sidesteps the attack.)

(The massive ball flies ever faster, and the blistering heat disrupts the cameras, crackling the transmission into fizzle for a few seconds. Then, the image returns, and those in the arena are screaming in fear as the careening ball flies toward the stands. It seems as if the attack enveloped Proto, and kept on going.)
 
Mario: Woah!(The ball finally crashes into the seating area and explodes, blasting the residents in every direction of ground zero. Mega Man stares in horror at what has happened.)
 
Luigi: Crap, and we just replaced the nylon padding on those!
 
Mega: PROTOMAN!!(Mega screams in fear that he might have destroyed his brother, but his fear is unfounded. As everyone is focused on the end effect, the ground, scorched from the airburst of the heat bomb begins to quake. A dirty, disgruntled, but alive Protoman brushes the dirt off of himself and flashes a thumbs up.)
 
Proto: I’m not that easy to take out, Rock. You should know that by now. While you were busy looking at the ball, I dug a semihole in the ground and used my shield to cover myself. The attack went over me, and I got up unscathed.(He looks behind him and whistles admiringly.) But DAMN. Looks like you won’t be buying anything from Auto’s shop for a while, ‘cuz you’ll be too busy paying for this!(Proto laughs again, proving further how cocky he is.) That was more luck than anything, in case you were getting depressed.
 
Mega: You have a whole STRING of luck with you, don’cha?(Frowns.) And you’ve only been mangled once-by me.
 
Proto: True, but remember I wasn’t clued in to the truth.
 
Mario: Err what are they blabbering about?(His face draws a blank. Luigi looks over and grabs a manual from underneath the table and belts the heavy booklet at Mario, who gets knocked in the jaw by the blow.
 
Luigi: Mario, get your pre-fight info down straight! I’ll sum it up as best I can; Proto went bye bye in lab accident. Lab accident made Wily go nuts. Light builds Mega to replace Proto, and Wily takes over the robots to rule the world. Mega saves the world and stops Wily two times. Then, along comes Proto back from his walkabout and is shanghaid by Wily into thinking that because there is a blue guy attacking Wily’s robots-Wily, his fellow worker at the time he went bye-bye mind you that this blue guy must be bad. Proto gets his weapon from Wily and goes off to trash Mega. Proto eventually learns the truth and works covertly to undermine Wily’s plans until he rescues Kalinka in Mega Man 4, and loses Wily’s trust.
 
Mario: Say what again?(Luigi groans.)
 
Luigi: Forget it.
 
Proto: Mega, you’d better up the ante a bit. Try pulling out some of your NEWER weapons this time.
 
Mega: I don’t know if you could handle them, bro.
 
Proto: Oh really? Come on, bring it!(Stands cockily with his arms at his hips. Mega gives a small grin and shifts into a dim purple. Proto blinks, and then frowns.)
 
Proto: That’s either the Time Stopper, or
 
Mega: THE FLASH STOPPER!(Pulls the trigger, and a bright blast of light envelopes the arena. The anti-glare invisible transpariplassteel walls on the arena glow darkly, blocking the audience from the horrifying million candela flash. But Proto seems to not be in such good shape. The flash seems to have paralyzed him in his tracks with the optic overload.)
 
Luigi: Boy, that’s some trick! Proto’s wide open for a blitzkrieg strike!(Mega pulls the trigger again, and begins to throw plasma bullets at Proto, who grits his teeth in despair.)
 
Mega: Ha! This is one attack you can’t avoid!(The shots grow closer and closer to Proto, who still stands like a statue.)
 
Proto: Heh heh-FOOLED YA!(Proto with blistering speed reaches behind him and pulls his shield forward. The bullets bounce harmlessly off of it, and with Proto’s angle on the blasts, right toward Mega. He sends several of his own off in a spread, giving Mega a lot to try and avoid.) These shades are for more than decoration, my friend.
 
Mega: WHAT?!(Mega grits his teeth and shifts from Purple to green and white. He pulls his trigger once more, and then another flash envelopes the arena, caused by the widespread fuel air explosive. It detonates every single one of the plasma shots in the air, and also damages Proto in the process.)
 
Proto: Oh, great! Now you’re getting smart on me.

Mega: What was your first clue? Your glasses may be able to shield you from the rays of the Flash Stopper, but the Centaur Flash fills the arena with instantaneous bursts of energy, an attack which you are unable to dodge in the least tiny bit!(Mega plows out blast after blast of Centaur Flash energy blasts into the air, every one close to Proto damaging him further and further.)
 
Mario: Hey!(Suddenly looks down at a red blinking light on his table’s fighter scans.) What does this mean?
 
Luigi: (Gritting his teeth) It means Proto’s getting the snot beat out of him.
 
Mario: YOU GO MEGA! I GOT MONEY RIDING ON YOU!(The senseless and utter power of the Centaur Flash seems to excite the crowd into a throng of wild beasts, grunting, howling and screaming madly at the power being put out. It is a sound not heard often, because such things usually come before a riot.)
 
Bowser: Ludwig, remind me to get that attack! The Mushroom Kingdom won’t stand a chance agaisnt it!
 
Ludwig: Jawhol, mein Bowser!(Gives a snappy salute and carefully uses his tiny telescope to zoom in on the specifics. Suddenly, something blocks the lens.) Morton, get your scaly butt outta my face! I’m trying to help dad here!
 
Morton: Uhh Luddy, that AIN’T ME!(Ludwig blinks in surprise and looks up, then his eyes widen and he gulps. Above the koopa clan towers a giant flying device, shaped as a saucer, with rotating lights and an annoying thrum in the engine. A ‘W’ emblazons the side of the pod people craft, and everyone in the arena suddenly looks at the incoming device in awe.
 
Mario: Great crikeys! Even I know what that is! That’s Wily’s saucer! But what is it doing here?(Indeed, everyone in the arena stares transfixed at it, aside from Proto and Mega, who has stopped attacking.)
 
Mega: Proto, drain an E-Tank. I don’t like the looks of this
 
Proto: Gee, ya think?(Eagerly pulls out a small canister and swallows the green glowing liquid inside of it, restoring his health.) Question is, what’s he doing here? He could do this back in our own dimension!
 
Mega: There’s a few things not here which give him an advantage, Blues.
 
Proto: Like what?
 
Mega: Our friends, brilliant.(Proto’s eyes widen, an obvious expression even under his glasses.)
 
Proto: Oh, crap.
 
Luigi: Oh crap indeed! It seems that once again we have rabble rousers in the ring! We’ll be back after this short commercial break, and hopefully with some good news.

(Greetings, all! Monty Mole here, talkin’ about my latest line of shovels )
 
>>>>>>>>>

Mario: Welcome back, all! The deathmatch continues!
 
Luigi: Well, at least the portion with Wily. At the moment, he’s just buzzing the crowd and giving them a scare.(The crowd screams again and ducks their heads, save for Bowser who is so big he cannot, and gets KO’d by the metal side. With a giant whhuuump the turtle king falls backwards and flattens the rest of his koopa family, who squirm and complain angrily.)
 
Iggy: Wendy! I told ya to stop giving dad so much candy!
 
Luigi: Things are getting out of hand with Wily! (Suddenly the saucer stops, and Wily plugs his ugly mug from the porthole on top, and gives his eyebrow raising sneer.)
 
Wily: Now I will crush them both! Hahahaha!
 
Mario: NOT SO FAST, YOU OLD COOT!(Wily’s head swivels at Mario who gives a rakish grin.) Luckily for us, we have new security! Luigi, call out the big guns!
 
Luigi: Awright!(Pulls out a remote control and smashes the button. A loud blaring klaxon fills the arena as red strobe lights turn on and begin to circle around, glaring the arena with light.(Wily looks around concerned, wondering what the bumbling plumbers have in store for his intrusion.)
 
Mario: Considering how many interruptions we get in our deathmatches with old enemy vendettas, we have determined current security was lax. Therefore, we spent our hard earned cash buying this group!(The middle of the arena begins to groan, and the ground opens apart to reveal a circular hole in the ground, like a missile silo. Steam rises from the interior and a platform escalates. Five figures stand on it, but the steam prevents any definite confirmation.)
 
Wily: Who the devil are they?
 
Luigi: Well, we got them cheap, considering they had no job. But they’re powerful, because they gave my bro a bumload full of trouble! Wily, I hope you be packing some backup in that bubbly little bauble of yours, because what you face now you have no defense at!
 
Mario: That’s right, everyone! Say hello to the Mighty Moprhin’ Axem Rangers!(The figures finally leap from the steam platform and the cameras get their first definite focus on them.
 
Unison: we are the Axem Rangers!

Blue: BLUE!!

Yellow: YELLOW!

Black: BLACK!!!

Green: GREEN!!!

Red: AND RED AS WELL!
 
Unison: In the name of everything sacred in any Nintendo related universe, we shall crush your tiny tin can piece o’ crap into scrap! Axem Rangers-ASSEMBLE THE AXEM CRUSHER!!!(the Axem Rangers throw all their weapons into the air, and they combine into a single entity, which the Red Ranger grabs eagerly.)
 
Red: All right you scum sucking deathmatch intruder! Taste the fury of the Axem Rangers!

Unison: AXEM CRUSHER FIRE!!!(Red pulls the trigger, and the mighty Axem Crusher gun begins to whine up its power. Wily’s eyes widen in fear at the gun, and he ducks back inside his hoversaucer for protection. But then the gun does something unexpected it sputters out and dies.)
 
Red: Huh?(Looks at the gun, then shakes it.) Hey! It didn’t work! Black, you sure you got this thing charged?(Red turns to look at Black, but Black is too busy listening to his Walkman, and then pulls the headphones off.)
 
Black: Huh? Whadchiya say boss?(Red’s eyes widen.)
 
Red: You didn’t (Checks the battery box in the Axem Crusher Gun, and finds it empty.) Oh, crap.

Wily: HAHA!!! Your pitiful TOY is no match for me! Say goodnight, Gracie!(Pulls on the control stick, and hurls the saucer forward. With a bone jarring crunch, he slams into the Axem Rangers and sends them flying skyward and out of the ring.)

Unison: Looks like Axem Rangers are blasting off again (The five less than spectacular specurity personnel vanish in a flash of light. Mario and Luigi look at each other in amazement.)
 
Mario: Shoot! I thought for sure they’d be able to stop Wily. Looks like it’s up to Proto and Mega.
 
Luigi: I wouldn’t be too worried! Wily’s pulled this saucer trick before, and there are several ways to take him down! They could use the Pharaoh Shot, the Silver Tomahawk, the Wild Coil
 
Mario: Hmm think these two might be interested in being security from now on?

Luigi: I don’t think so, Mario. The both of them have a lot to worry about in their own time. But they can mop the floor with Wily easily! All Mega needs to do is transfer a Master Weapon to Proto and they’ll both be popping Wily from his saucer in no time!
 
Wily: Oh, not quite my bumbling plumbers! Do you REALLY think I’d show up here outgunned? Not quite. BASS!!!

(A giant flash hits the ring, and a portal opens up. From it steps a black robot with gold trimmings-Bass. And worse yet, Treble walks beside him.)
 
Bass: Mega Man! You’re mine, pal! Today I will defeat you! Treble, meld!(Treble lets out a howl and jumps onto Bass’s back, blending their metals together until Bass has turned Treble into a jetpack, and has purple lined on his armor as well.)
 
Mega: Oh, really? RUSH!(Rush howls and bounds over towards Mega, morphing into a similar jetpack and fusing with Mega.) Proto, I have a feeling you’ll be taking on Wily by yourself. You might need a few attacks. Take the S. Tomahawk and the P. Shot just to be sure. It’s all I can offer you.(Proto grabs hold of Mega’s Buster and draws in the weapons data to his systems, seeing the Master Weapons list up on his weapons array.)
 
Proto: Thanks, Mega! I have a feeling the both of us will be needing luck here. Sorry I can’t give you any, but I’ve found luck is one thing that is untransferrable.
 
Mega: Don’t worry about me! I’ve taken out Bass before, I can do it again. You’re taking on Wily, and that’s enough of a challenge. If I keep myself mobile, Bass won’t be able to throw much at me. I hope to keep it that way.
 
Bass: Mega Man! Today we finish this!(Fires a blast at Mega, who jumps in the air and goes skyward, firing several return shots.)
 
Mega: I don’t think so, Bass. Rush, jetmode!(Rush howls and disengages his Super Adaptor form, then hops under the falling Mega and converts to a jet platform, then turns his thrusters on. Luckily, Rush had picked up a recharge for this mode a while back. A stern expression of concentration emblazons Mega’s face.) Now we’ll see who can play tag, my friend.
 
Bass: As I have said before, Mega Man! Wily may fear you BUT I DO NOT!(Bass fires off a powerful blast at Mega Man, who dodges the blast with a jump in the air and pops off a few at Bass. Even with his speed, Bass cannot dodge them all and is hit.) Gah! Blast you!

(There is complete chaos in the ring as blows are exchanged. Wily’s vanishing tactic is easily unraveled by the straight shooting of Protoman, and even Bass is not landing as many shots as Mega Man is.)
 
Mario: How are they doing, bro? (Looks at the cards in his hand and then sighs.) Got any red fives?
 
Luigi: Go cheep-cheep.(Mario groans and draws several cards. Luigi looks over his shoulder at the arena, where Proto and Mega are duking it out with Wily and Bass. He smiles casually.) They’re doing fine.
 
(Despite the callused disregard for the fighter’s safety on the part of the announcers, everyone in the ring is chanting for the combatants to overcome the pair of rude guests which come bearing blasters.)
 
Proto: Face it Wily, you’re finished!(Wily groans and vanishes underneath the cover of his invisibility, but Proto gives a rakish grin underneath his visor and points his arms, a massive Pharaoh Shot ball over his head. With a final send off, Proto smashes the blast forth, and it strikes the cloaked Wily dead on. At last, the saucer pod of Wily’s shorts out from all its abuse and decloaks, crashing into the dirt ground of the arena. Proto plugs a shot in the side for good measure, and Wily scrambles out of the derelict junk heap moments before it explodes, sending shrapnel in every direction. Proto raises his shield and blocks the aftermath, but Wily is thrown a good ten feet by the explosion, dazed and defeated.) Gotcha!
 
Mega: Bass is done, too!(Bass stands on the ground, clutching his shoulder and panting in defeat.)
 
Bass: Why can’t I defeat you?(Treble defuses from Bass and moans from his own wounds.) curse you, Mega!(Mega Man smiles.)
 
Mega: I guess we win this round, Wily. Now go run home with your tail tucked between your legs like a good little pansy so Proto and I can finish this.(Wily growls angrily.)
 
Wily: Blast you, Mega! If not for Protoman, you would have long ago stopped breathing!
 
Mario: Waittasec, he’s talking about after Gamma’s destruction in Mega Man three! Mega got smashed by a block, but Proto saved his bum!(Luigi looks over in surprise.)
 
Luigi: By jove, the portly plumber got something right! Yes, Proto Man has often come through to save Mega.
 
Wily: I will not give up, Mega Man! You may not know it, but I am far from done this day. I have brought a toy for you to play with a toy which you will not stand a chance against.

(Wily pulls out a remote and pushes a button. A blinding flash envelopes the ring, and Mega covers his eyes.)
 
Proto: What are you blabbering about, Wily?
 
Wily: I blabber not, my traitorous red friend. I have come up with a revolutionary design to which you and Mega Man have no hope of defeating.

(The light focuses into a portal, and then slowly we can see a figure climb from it. It is tall, taller than many other robot masters which Mega Man has ever seen. It is red, with white and a gaunt frame. But most noticeable is a long swinging yellow ponytail behind it.)

Mega: What the frack is that?(Gapes in awe at the imposing figure. Everyone in the ring also gasps, for it is a figure they have seen once before, and the one time they saw it, what occurred in the ring was pure destruction.)
 
Luigi: Oh, crikeys WILY, YOU DIDN’T!!(Wily looks up in confusion.)
 
Wily: Eh, didn’t what?(Shakes his head and glares at Mega Man.) Mega Man, this is my newest creation. He is my greatest creation, so strong that even you cannot defeat him! As the sole robot that exists who can think, I have given him a very fitting name. Zero!
 
Mega: A robot? That thinks? What kinda drugs you on, Wily? Proto Man, Bass and I are as good as it gets, and even we can’t think like humans do.
 
Zero: This is Mega Man, doc?(Wily nods happily. Zero grins.) All right. Now I’ll prove how good I am!(Cracks his knuckles, and his right arm vanishes into a Buster a form that Mega Man has never seen.)
 
Mario: Oh, great! Zero? Weeg, Mega and Proto don’t stand a chance!(Luigi sighs.)

Luigi: There is one good thing to this, Mario. Zero has not yet been installed with the maverick virus, which means Wily hasn’t made it yet when he came by here. Without it, Zero lacks the sheer animal ferocity and drive which gave X such a hard time with their match. Still, you are right (Luigi grabs his cellular phone.) Drastic times call for drastic measures, brother. I just hope I’m doing the right thing.
 
(Mario looks over in surprise.)

Mario: Whaddya mean? Who are you calling?(Luigi looks at his brother with weary eyes.)

Luigi: Help, Mario. The best help we have, and also perhaps the only help capable of stopping Zero.
 
Bass: Wily, you didn’t tell me you came up with a new robot!(Looks shocked.) When did you do this?(Wily grins.)
 
Wily: There are many things about me you do not know of, my friend. Where you have failed, HE will succeed.
 
Zero: Mega Man, I hope you’ve said your prayers, ‘cuz it be the junk heap for your sorry carcass! (Dashes towards Mega with incredible speed and picks him up with ease.) Tell me, do you like stargazing?(Mega is too stunned to speak, and Zero laughs.) Hope you are, because you’re about to say hello to them!(Zero hurls Mega Man skyward with a fierce throw, and Mega screams.)
 
Mega: Rush! Help!(Rush howls out and begins to morph into his jetmode, but Zero shakes his finger.)
 
Zero: Ah ah ah bad doggie!(Zero steadies his buster and charges his shot to fire. But moments before he fires, a blast jars his Buster aside, and the shot careens at an angle into the bleachers. Everyone screams in the crowd, running aside from where the blast lands and blows chunks of seats everywhere. Zero looks over his shoulder in annoyance, to where Proto looks in dazed amazement.)
 
Mario: Oh, man! This is the X Vs. Zero Nightmare match all over again!
 
Proto: Wha? That was a fully charged shot! It didn’t even make a dent!(Zero laughs.)
 
Zero: My technology is YEARS beyond anything you can throw at me, you pitiful whelp! Now taste true plasma!(Zero aims his Buster and chocks off several shots at Proto. Rush, having had Zero’s attention diverted flies into the sky to rescue Mega Man from a precarious fall.)

(Proto does his best with sliding underneath the blasts, jumping some and blocking others. But the plasma Zero shoots seems so much more powerful than any Proto’s ever felt before, and each near miss causes damage.)
 
Proto: Man, this guy’s strong! I gotta pull out something else. I hope you don’t fail me now, Mega I’m relying on your Silver Tomahawk to do some damage here.(Proto grimaces at his wounds and chugs down another Energy Tank, filling up his meter again from the abuse he took from Wily and Zero’s attack.)
 
Zero: Man, you are going DOWN, Proto. It doesn’t matter what you throw at me. I am so blasted advanced, I can take anything you dish out. To even come close to taking me down, you’d have to be a reploid as well.(The smile on his face seems so much more genuine than Proto’s ever was but his smile brings death.)
 
Proto: Reploid?! Is that what they call you?
 
Zero: That’s right, you pathetic ‘bot. A reploid-a living, thinking breathing machine, blessed with free will and as close to human as you can get. And also TEN TIMES STRONGER THAN YOU!(Zero fires off his Buster again, and Proto jumps the blast. Zero chuckles) Man, you’re dead.(Raises his Buster, and prepares another shot.)
 
Proto: You think, huh? Try this on for size!(Proto pulls back and fires off a shot. But it isn’t plasma he shoots, but the power of the Silver Tomahawk. It flies downwards, skittering through the ground. Zero sees the shot die in the brown dirt and laughs.)
 
Zero: Well, I declare. The boy is getting smarter, because he’s taking up gardening!(Zero laughs even louder at his joke, but Proto gives himself a silent smirk and fires off more shots, this time straight for Zero. Zero sees them and raises his Buster.) Oh goody, Duck Hunt!

(But as his attention is diverted, Zero fails to notice Proto’s original shot burrowing its way up as the Tomahawk flies in an arc, right underneath him. It bursts from the ground and smashes into his legs, making an excruciating sound as the blade cuts into metal. Zero finally notices the attack as his sensors scream in pain-he’s being threatened of death by the blades that threaten to chop his legs off.)
 
Zero: Aich! Get away, you blasted gnats!(Zero smashes the the blade aside, but then two more smash his face up in the air, slicing off a piece of his helmet and giving him a nasty cut, a cut that bleeds with his life energy.) Crap, where’d those come from?(Zero smashes the last one in a return arc towards Proto, who deflects it aside with his shield.)
 
Proto: A mere robot, eh? Your views need a bit of tweaking, reploid.(Zero fumes at the mouth and raises his Buster.)
 
Zero: The Hell they do, you (BLEEP!!!) You die now!(Zero fires off a powerful barrage, arranged to keep Proto from jumping or sliding. He can only stand, stand and deflect.)
 
Proto: Cripes (Proto blocks the blasts as best he can, but the plasma is more powerful than he is used to. In a final blast, the barrage jars his shield from his hands, and Proto is slammed backwards with a definitive thunk.)
 
(All in the audience gasp, for Protoman has suffered a terrible mortal wound. Zero, Wily and Bass all laugh triumphantly. Wily’s final creation is more powerful than anything Light has ever created. Protoman, his beautiful visor shattered and melted by the explosion is stunned, ruined and within an inch of his life. His pained eyes are viewed at last, and there is not a dry or unconcerned eye in the ring. Even Mario and Luigi grasp each other, both knowing they can do little to stop the melee.)
 
Zero: I told you I told you you would die, Protoman. Now, I end it.(Raises his Buster one last time and licks his lips.) Mm, blood.
 
(But before he can fire, a powerful burning fireball slams into his back. Zero cries out in pain and looks behind him, where Mega Man stands with his Buster pointed straight, and the colorings of the Atomic Fire. But his eyes blaze more fiercely than any attack.)
 
Mega: Back away from my brother, you sick monster.(Zero grins, even through his pain.)
 
Zero: Aww, idn’t dat kewt? Widdle Mega Man wants to save his brother. Don’t worry, chubs. I’ll get to you in a moment as soon as I’m done with Protoman.(Mega roars and fires again, but Zero bats it aside with his glove like it was nothing.)
 
Proto: No you won’t Zero.(Zero turns, and Proto stands panting, but also glowing intensely. His eyes are strained and glazed, but Zero’s eyes widen. Protoman means business. With painstaking slowness, Protoman raises his Buster and fires.) Big Bang Shot!(Zero screams, for the attack is devastating. Not only did the initial blast freeze his optics and stop all servo response to his metallic muscles, but the blast soars his way with a powerful green intensity.)
 
Luigi: The Big Bang Shot? Good God, Mario! Protoman’s on the edge of death! To use that means to have the destructive powers of Zero’s attack absorbed into his system, and then to reunleash it!
 
Mario: But at least it’s powerful. I don’t think Zero will be walking anytime soon after this one hits (All watch the great green globe of power continue its course, and finally slam into Zero. It engulfs him for what seems like minutes, until at last it explodes with a brilliant flash.)
 
Luigi: Cripes almighty!(Luigi shields his eyes, but the sheer force of the attack ravages Zero, slamming him through the air high above, until he smashes into the earth with a satisfying thud. His armor is singed, melted in places, other places totally nonexistent. For all purposes, he’s been scrapped.)
 
Proto: I..did it..(Protoman finally collapses in pain, slumping to his knees before he falls forward in an ironic tribute to Zero’s own fall. But while Protoman lies dazed and unmoving, Zero groans angrily and stumbles to his feet. He’s panting heavily, obviously in great pain from all his wounds. But his eyes burn with a more intense blaze than they have before. Now he does not merely want to defeat Protoman he wants to tear him limb from limb.)
 
Zero: You are SO DEAD!!!(Zero begins to walk forward in a steady hobble, but then a powerful blow from behind causes him to fall forward in a scream of pain again. The red Rocket Punch flies back to the arm that shot it, where a transformed Mega Man glares angrily at the fallen reploid.)
 
Mega: No one tries to kill my brother.(Zero roars angrily and jumps up in a fury. His breathing labored as it is, also holds a powerful chant of a rampaging animal.)
 
Zero: THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU WILL DIE!!!
 
Mysterious Voice: Not today, Zero.

(For what seems like the umpteenth time, a bright flash of a portal engulfs the ring. Mega Man, Zero, Bass, Wily and everyone else look on in stunned amazement. The figure who spoke those haunting words is tall, but it holds a familiar design to it. Blue boots tromp to the ground and a red crystal embedded helmet glints sunlight.)
 
X: I picked up your call, Weeg. Wily’s crashing the party with Zero, eh?
 
Zero: And who in the blue blazes are you supposed to be?(Zero raises his Buster and fires. But the stranger also fires his own Buster, cancelling out the blast. Zero’s eyes widen in amazement.) What the
 
X: Hmm. No sign of the virus in him still, he’d be too much for Mega and Proto to handle alone. Mega Man!

(Mega Man focuses his gaze on the stranger, who as he looks at Mega Man seems to sniffle and cry a bit in sadness.)

Mega: Yeah?

X: You did well fighting Zero.(His sadness is evident, and like Zero, his emotions seem more real than a robot’s.)

Mega: Well, Protoman did most of it. Rush had to come and save my bacon!(Grins sheepishly. The blue figure smiles.) Man, you look like me!

X: People tell me the resemblance is uncanny as well, Mega. But my concern now is stopping Zero.(X suddenly turns his head aside to see Zero, a mere yard away from his charging tackle. With lightning reflexes, X grabs a hold of Zero’s arms and slams him into the ground. Zero yelps before the wind is knocked out of him, but then X throws him in the air, and as Zero falls, X delivers a vicious roundhouse kick to where his ribs would be. Zero is sent flying through the air until he finally skids to a motionless halt along the ground. All who see this gasp in awe, for what this stranger did in mere moments was unaccomplishable for Mega and Proto.)
 
Mega: How the devil

Wily: NOOO!!! My greatest creation defeated?!(X turns to face him and glares angrily.)

X: You sadistic monster. I said before I would kill you if I got the chance. But now I see that I cannot (clenches his fists in rage and finally releases his hold.) It would go against time itself. Even if I change the future now, it will not improve my timeline it will only make a separate one. Too many timelines, and I fear the consequences. As it is, I can only set things right, and send you all back to your own time with no memories of what has happened.

(X pulls out a round metallic object and flips it into the air. It spins for a few moments, and then flashes a powerful strobe at Wily, Bass and the unconscious Zero. It is a memory wiper, a token which Luigi asked X to bring with him. With the memories of the recent events gone, X sends the troublesome trio—and Treble—back home. With that done, the ring is left as it was before. With only Mega Man and Protoman remaining. Such is the power of a memory wiper, a device X brought along for this mission.)
 
Mega: Who are you? (X turns and gives a sad smile.)

X: I am the defender of the future, Mega Man. Zero, Wily’s demon reploid is my closest friend in my time.(Mega blinks in surprise.)

Mega: How would he pull that off? He tried to mangle us!(X laughed.)

X: Oh, he was incredibly weak, Mega Man. If you had faced him with all his attacks and infected with the maverick virus as I have, you would not have survived.

Mega: The maverick virus? What’s that?

X: A simple piece of computer code which Wily will create not long from now. It is the most destructive piece of data ever constructed, for its only reason for existence is death and suffering.(Shakes his head.) It’s not Zero’s fault Wily made him. In my time, he FIGHTS alongside me against the maverick virus’s destruction, fully aware of the dark role he played with it.

Mega: That doesn’t sound good at all where am I?(X lowers his head and pulls out a memory wiper again. He walks over and squeezes his ‘big brother’ with all his might, for he knows he will never again be able to.)

X: First off, give yourself and Protoman a recharge. (Mega Man slips Protoman a much needed E-Tank and drains one himself, then looks at X concerned. X sighs and sniffles back a tear.) In the future Mega Man, I am all that remains. Everyone you know is dead including you.(Mega Man gasps in amazement, but has little time to respond. X flips the memory wiper into the air and looks at Mega Man one final time before activating his warp gateway.) Mega Man I’m sorry for all that must happen. In a perfect world, there would be no need for heroes like us. But until such a time, we must both fight. I know you will die, but I also hope you know how much I care for you. Fight bravely, Mega Man. Fight for us all.

(In a final blink of light, X vanishes from the ring, leaving a confused Mega Man without his traumatizing memories, for the memory wiper has done the trick, eliminating the memory blocks from where Wily showed up to when X left the ring with his cameo completed.)
 
Proto: Woah anyone get the number on that bus?(Wearily, but with full vitality Protoman picks himself up off the ground and brushes the dirt off his scarf. But he notices that his shades are mysteriously in pieces.) ALLRIGHT! WHO MESSED WITH MY SHADES?!(Angrily, he faces Mega Man.) Wuzzit you?(Mega Man looks at him oddly. Protoman explodes and raises his Buster.) Frackit, you’ll pay!
 
Luigi: Woah slow down there big slugger. Mario and I can explain what happened here.(Turns to Mario and covers his mike, giving Mario a very stern expression.) Excluding the part with Zero and X, got it bro?(Mario gives a big nod, knowing full well the implications Luigi must hold against what they say. Luigi smiles and turns his volume up.)

What happened was pretty simple, guys. You two were going hard at it, and Protoman was getting whomped for lack of a better word by Mega Man’s FAE related Centaur Flash. But unfortunately, someone showed up to try and stop the fight.
 
Mega: Wily?(Luigi chuckles.)
 
Luigi: Think you remember any of what happened?
 
Mega: No (Shakes his head.) I don’t remember squat of the past twenty minutes. I just kind of automatically guess anything foul with us involves Wily.
 
Mario: Well, you were right. Bass was here as well, and you two double teamed them-with great success we might add! But then Wily escaped, and hit you with some kind of energy blast. Proto got the worst of it, but the effect seems to be the same. He was off gloating about how you wouldn’t remember the fight, and how he might use it in the future.
 
Mega: Great. Just what I need to know, that Wily’s got a new toy.(Protoman grudgingly lowers his buster, but still is outraged at his visor glasses being obliterated.) So, who won?
 
Mario: You guys did, doofhead!
 
Proto: I think he means our fight, chubbo.(Mario looks at Protoman in stunned disbelief.)
 
Mario: Say WHAT?!(Pulls out his plunger, but Luigi grabs him and holds him down.) Come on Weeg! One shot at him, that’s all I ask!
 
Luigi: ENOUGH! There has been enough excess fighting in this ring today, Mario. The win has yet to be decided, so let’s just let Mega Man and Protoman finish what they started.
 
Mario: Fine. But one of these days, Proto (Looks into the crowd.) Ahh, I gotta go check on Bowser. I think he got a concussion, and his kids are suffering asphyxiation as well.

(A groaning cheer rises from the koopa clan as Iggy somehow managed to wave a clawed hand at Mario before it falls back limply into a heap. Bowser’s still out cold, proving he’s not as hardheaded as he would like to believe. Mario closes his eyes and shifts from his spiffy red suit to a white lab coat and a funky headband. He has become DR. MARIO!)
 
Luigi: Figures. Yet another game which I didn’t get a part in.(Sulks angrily.) All right, I’ll keep a tab on these two. Go rescue our mortal enemy.
 
Mega: Spiffy. All right Proto, last thing I recall is my Centaur Flash was beating the snot outta you!(Proto gives a wry smile and pulls off the shattered remains of his visor.)

Proto: Too bad you used it all up. Anyways, I’ll have to watch myself now that my visor’s gone. FRACKIT WILY! Oh, well. I’ll get back at him. ‘Every time I visit Wily’s fortress I bring back a present,’ or so it goes. I’ll arm my Proto Buster for this one again.
 
Mega: Too bad that’s all you have, Proto.(Smiles widely.) My greater weapons array gives ME the advantage.(Proto blinks and pulls out his shield, examining his system stats. With wide eyes surprise Mega cannot see, Proto discovers he has two powerful attacks from Mega’s arsenal as his own.)
 
Proto: You think, huh? You seem to forget that before you were even made, I was tromping about in style!(Raises his Buster and selects one of his two master weapons to use. Mega Man, not remembering Blues has them, braces for the attack.) Fire!
 
(His Buster onslaught is predictable to Mega, who easily avoids them. But Proto craftily sneaks in another shot A Silver Tomahawk which he sends burrowing under the ground. Oddly enough, he uses the same tactic he did against Zero, but the odd part is he lacks the memory files of that period of time.)
 
Luigi: Speaking of time again, a divergence in the set timeline of events is called a bifurcation, and
 
Mario: SHUT UP!(Reaches over, and in a supreme effort of will and courage, smacks his brother’s hat off.) Luigi, you’re doing it again.
 
Luigi: Sorry!(Cracks a smile.)
 
Mega: Too predictable, Proto. Plasma is no match for my superior skills!(Proto gives Mega a big grin and flashes a thumbs up.)
 
Proto: You think, huh?(Jerks his thumb downwards, and Mega follows with his own stare. Suddenly, the spinning blade bursts from the ground, mere inches from behind him.
 
Mega: Whooaah!(Hops forth a step and looks behind him.) Proto, you taking up gardening or something?(Proto shakes his head.)
 
Proto: Naw, just Silver Tomahawking. And digging holes.(Mega whistles, and slowly turns back to face his brother, who has silently crept to a foot within reach. Proto grins and gives a powerful, but playful shove to Mega.) Tag, you’re it!
 
Mega: WhooaaaaaOOOMMPPHH!(His scream is cut short as he finally clunks into the hole, landing on his back. Proto gives a laugh, and the simple act of backyard fun seems to do something to the arena. They laugh-laugh loudly and with gusto.)
 
Proto: Hey, Mega get outta there. You ain’t dead yet!(Chuckles loudly. Mega brushes the dust off of himself and makes a monster jump free from the hole.)
 
Mega: All right, I think that’s enough. I say we find another way to determine the winner.(Proto blinks in surprise.)
 
Proto: Really? How would we manage that? What else is there to do here?(Mega smiles.)
 
Mega: A lot, if you know what you’re doing. Siddown and plop your shield in front of you.(Proto obeys, and Mega sits across from him.) Now, let’s arm wrestle! Winner take all.(Proto chuckles.)
 
Proto: THIS should be fun. Just remember, you can’t use your Super Arm for this.(Mega lowers his eyebrows.)
 
Mega: Aww, come on! That attack is worthless unless you got a big stone block!(the two pull out their left hands and brace them together with the other. Now, they will determine the win. With a bark at Mega’s command, the two begin to strain their arm servos against each other.)
 
Luigi: The tension is thick in the arena, these two aren’t giving up! The sun beats off their brows, and they sweat endlessly at the physical toil It’s another day in the arena, where nothing can ever be predicted!
 
Mario: Weeg is right, in part. Who would have thought these two would have taken it down to a simple arm wrestling match for the win? But as you can see, they DON’T sweat, and they are equally matched in strength. This is like pushing your fists together; neither will push the other any harder.(Shakes his head in amazement.) For all that they’re doing, they might as well flip a coin.
 
(But it seems that the two robot brothers have given up on arm wrestling, as they now control gigantic life-sized punchbot versions of themselves.)
 
Mega: Ha! You can’t dodge my robot’s fist of death!(Proto whistles cautiously, moving his own joystick around and making his robot give a quick jab to the neck joint of Mega’s.)
 
Proto: SCORE!(The two punchbots take a final swing at each other, and both their heads pop out of their sockets with the ratchet joints making the all too familiar noise of a direct hit.) Dang! Another tie.(Mega and Proto toss the control sticks aside, and then look up at Mario and Luigi sheepishly.)
 
Mega: We can’t decide, Mario. Anything you can think of to determine who wins?(Mario shrugs helplessly.)
 
Mario: Just one. Luigi, get the Dry Bones Decibel Meter ready!(Luigi yelps in response and pulls out a bone-encrusted box with an attached microphone. They float out on a Lakitu Cloud to the middle of the arena and plop next to Mega and Blues.) This is our popularity meter. Luigi, please do the honors.
 
Luigi: Heh heh (Takes on a funny Louisianian accent.) When I hold up my right hand, I want to hear ‘ze applauze for the Blues I mean, Protoman! And when I hold up my left hand, I want to hear ‘ze applauze for Mega Man! First, Protoman!
 
(The crowd howls in every tone possible, the only stipulation being for the popularity contest being the contestant who recieves the most noise wins. Bowser and the clan root for Proto quite loudly, and the Dry Bones Decibel Meter takes a reading.)
 
Mario: Protoman has received 115 ear-splitting decibels. (The meter winds down once more.)
 
Luigi: Now, ‘ze applauze for Mega Man!(Once again, the maelstrom of voices ensue, and the meter takes a second reading.)
 
Mario: Mega Man recieves 117 decibels.
 
Proto: WHUT?!(Looks over at the Mario Bros.) That thing be busted!(Mario shrugs.)
 
Mario: The meter doesn’t lie, Blues. Sorry, but you lost.(Proto sighs, then brings up a weak smile.)
 
Proto: Oh, well. At least I was MADE first. I’ll see you all later. If you ever want another fight from me, just give me a buzz. TTFN!(Proto hits the recall switch on his Proto Shield and disappears in a red and gray beam of light that streaks up into the sky. Mega follows it for a moment, and then smiles.)
 
Mega: Funny, but he gave me the first real fight I’ve been in in a while. I have to get going too. Light’s expecting me back for his new series of tests.
 
Mario: Thank you for doing this, Mega Man! And tell Proto the same when you see him. The world of Nintendo would never be the same without you. And I do mean that in all truth.(A warm smile graces Mario’s face, and Luigi shares the expression. Mega returns it with his own smile, and then waves.)
 
Mega: We’ll be around. Always have been, always will be. Rush! Let’s get going.(Rush bounds over and morphs into the Rush Jet, and soon Mega is flying high in the sky towards the warp portals.)
 
Luigi: He’s quite the robot, isn’t he?(Mario shrugs sadly, his smile vanished.)
 
Mario: That he is. He’ll be gone in a few years, and he doesn’t even know it. The both of them are. Mega Man and Blues have always had a grace of intelligence about them that almost put them at reploid level. But nothing can stand against the maverick virus.
 
Luigi: Don’t remind me.(They shake the foreboding off of themselves and smile at the crowds.) Well all, that’s it for now. We wish you all a safe trip back to your respective areas, and feel free to grab a memory wiper on your way out if you’re so inclined. Just remember-they only work here.
 
Mario: So until next week, it’s ‘Good Fight, Good Night!’
 
(The arena quietly begins to empty and within an hour it is barren once more. Except for one figure who sits atop the edge of the arena wall, a long cape flowing behind him and his hair waving in the light breeze. A quiet smile of satisfaction graces the lines of his face, and he finally chirps his mini-TV off. He came to see the fight, and it was a good one.

Even by human standards.)
 
Erico: That’s my Blue Bombers. Now, I just have to get back home.
 
(Erico grabs the staff hanging on his belt and begins to silently trek towards his own portal to the real world, but it is obvious he came here for a very good reason. He came to see his favorite heroes prove once more that sometimes a win in the arena is determined not by brute force, but by subtle strategy and the oddest of circumstances. And surely, no one can argue with the truth in that.)
 
END
 
-This Deathmatch was written by Erico The Super Bard, a resident of Nintendoland who loves Mega Man! Wishing you all a happy weekend, and more wonderfully written Deathmatches to come.