Once Mega Man was fully repaired, Dr. Light stepped back with a frown. "Alright, I've got you all fixed up...but don't go trying to charge your buster again. While I do have such a system under construction, it's nowhere near ready, and even when it is it'll only work for your buster. I'm a long way from being able to produce a system to charge subweapons. A hundred years at least."
Mega Man groaned as he worked out his new arm. "I'll keep that in mind, Dad. Hopefully I'll have some time to get used to this arm before-" He cut himself off as Wily approached. "Scratch that, hopefully I'll learn to keep my mouth shut."
"Sorry about this, Mega Man," Wily told him, "but Shadow Man's issued you a formal challenge. He says he's built a superweapon utilizing his planetoid's Energy Element, and if you aren't fighting him within the hour, he's going to blow up the moon."
"He's what?" Mega Man demanded, leaping to his feet. "Get me there immediately!"
"The coordinates are already keyed in," Wily explained as Mega Man rushed for the teleporter.
Once he was beamed out, everyone immediately gathered around the screen to see what would happen. The planetoid seemed to be filled with magma, oddly enough. Given the time limit involved, it was understandable that Mega Man rushed heedlessly through, leaping downward and charging through, pushing past enemy robots through sheer physical force if possible to avoid slowing down.
"Glad I gave him a couple E tanks," Dr. Light muttered as he watched.
"He's going to need them," Wily agreed.
Protoman beamed in to battle Mega Man again, only for Mega Man to charge up and punch him in the face before rushing onward. Vinyl winced visibly at the punch...and Protoman's swearing as he turned to pick pieces of his sunglasses out of his synthoflesh face. She quickly raced away to work on a new set for him when he got back...one that wouldn't break from being punched.
As Mega Man continued his charge to reach Shadow Man's chamber, Wily scratched his chin. "I wonder if I should have told him that Shadow Man's internal gyroscope has increased sensitivity to allow him to walk across floors and ceilings without vertigo."
"Why would that be important?" Dr. Light asked.
"It makes him vulnerable to being spun around rapidly," Wily explained.
"Top Spin," Air Man clarified.
As Mega Man charged into the chamber, he spun around, pointing his buster everywhere. "Shadow Man!" he called out. "I'm here! I'll fight you! It's only been ten minutes! Don't blow up the moon!"
"Blow up the-" Shadow Man dropped down from where he'd been braced against the ceiling. "The hell are you talking about?"
"You sent me a challenge proclaiming you had a superweapon and were going to blow up the moon if I didn't fight you within the hour!" Mega Man declared angrily. "I won't let you!"
Shadow Man blinked, scratching his chin for a bit, then chuckled. "So that's how it is..." he muttered under his breath. He then grinned. "Try and stop me!" he proclaimed loudly. Drawing several shadow blades - a rather fancy name for what were basically oversized shurikens - he hurled them before he began leaping from wall to wall.
Mega Man dodged out of the way of the attack, pursuing Shadow Man and managing to tackle him to the ground. "You're not getting away that easily!" he growled out.
Chuckling, Shadow Man managed to embed a Shadow Blade in Mega Man's buster. The variable weapon system began randomizing. "Let's see how well you do when you can't control your own weapons!" he snapped.
Growling, Mega Man triggered his weapon, and began spinning rapidly.
"Damn...Top...Spin..." Shadow Man groaned as he felt his energy dropping as his power core struggled to stabilize his gyroscope. Drawing forth another Shadow Blade, he drove it into Mega Man's chest.
Both robots staggered away from each other, clutching their chests. Shadow Man noticed the alert on his readout that his gyroscope had failed. "You win this round, Mega Man," he growled out. "But you won't be so lucky next time." He promptly beamed out, leaving behind a capsule of the Energy Element.
Staggering over to it, Mega Man promptly beamed it out and back to Light's Lab.
Repairs to Mega Man went quickly, as he had to head out immediately because Gemini Man's planetoid was passing dangerously close to the Earth's orbit. If Gemini Man caused a chain reaction with the Energy Element in the planetoid, the explosion could conceivably destabilize Earth's orbit. There was no evidence that Gemini Man was planning such a thing, but there was every possibility that he was insane.
Vinyl, for her part, chose not to watch this time around, as she was busy repairing Protoman and Shadow Man, both of whom had warped in with their damages. Shadow Man's repairs would take a while, as the gyroscope had been reduced to slag and she had to rebuild it from scratch...along with any impulsive redesigns she came up with in the process. Protoman's glasses, however, were already finished, and the only repairs still needed in his case were replacement optics, which he insisted on taking care of himself, much to Vinyl's frustrations.
Mega Man, meanwhile, had reached Gemini Man.
As Mega Man entered Gemini Man's chamber, he found himself face to face with Gemini Man, wearing dark sunglasses and a suit. "Greetings, Mega Man."
"Welcome to your end," another said from behind him.
"Your defeat is at hand," a third said, stepping up to the right.
"The Energy Element has amplified our power," a fourth said from the left, as dozens of others took shape.
"We are infinite now."
"You will fall to us."
"It is inevitable, Mr. Mega."
Mega Man glanced around at the gathered Gemini Men. "You do realize I know that most of these are just hard light holograms, right?" he pointed out.
"It does you no good if you cannot find the real me," another Gemini Man stated.
"And you noticed that I'm currently green?" Mega Man inquired.
The real Gemini Man blinked as he saw himself surrounded by Search Snakes. "Well played, Mr. Mega," he stated as they all struck at once.
Nice. Took 'em down on the first try.
Well played indeed. and Punching Protoman in the face?!?... I don't know what to say to that.
I couldn't help but face palm at the notion of Gemini Man going full-on Mr. Smith... But it was funny and unexpected, so I give a thumbs up.
Another enjoyable chapter. Great job.
I'm liking what I'm assuming is a Matrix Reference.
Pretty sure that's a typo, but if not it could just be a completely hilarious game glitch. Just change to swimming animation in the middle of battle.
So, where'd all the water come from?
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God damn typos and auto-correct!
6528429 What water? Mega Man is awesome enough to swim in the air!
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Should have suggested the joke either on my profile or on one of the Fortresshy stories.
you get all the love all of it
Welp that looked like it sucked.
That last part, though
Punching Protoman in the face... this story just keeps getting better and better.
Cleverly distracting him by talking. While using Search Snake and burning through the entire lot of its energy charge. Also, RNGesus did not look well upon Shadow Man there, now did he?
Great chapter, really like how you're handling this fic. You handle filly-sized pony crossovers with a skill of adorableness few other authors can match =3. Can't wait until you introduce Napalm Man, the walking arsenal of doom ^^. So many possibilities you could use with the character ^^;. Also I can't wait to read whatever Vinyl designs and builds, from that checklist of hers.
Lastly, I got a chuckle outta Gemini Man. I just imagined that robot with Hugo Weaving's voice and it made me crack up ^^:
I've never played any of the Megaman games and I find this fic hilarious.
You can't blow up the moon. That's where I keep all my stuff!
Is it just me, or does Mega Man seem to be getting better at this?
6528397 PUNCH THAT PROTOMAN IN THE FACE LIKE A BOSS!!
just got through watching a lot of Jacksepticeye vids, sorry.
I can just see Rock grumbling about his little brother getting all the best toys.
Is it wrong to have wanted Mega Man to Hulk out and do a planetoid shaking ground pounc????
Nice chapter, I especially liked Mega Man just punching Proto Man and bull rushing past robots to get to Shadow Man.
I wonder where that threat came from if shadow an didn't know about it.
I kinda feel sorry for Gemini Man. Also, Gemini Man may or may not equal the G-Man.
SA2?
6529433 What would be funny is if Napalm man was a pacifist who collected weapons so no one could use them, but is so clumsy he accidentally attacks Megaman by tripping and firing his weapons.. The battle is just him stumbling, tripping, and attacking by accident in Megaman's general direction.
6530512 Jack is worth quoting. He's awesome.
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MEGAMAN used MEGAPUNCH!
Mega Man groaned as he worked out his new arm. "I'll keep that in mind, Dad. Hopefully I'll have some time to get used to this arm before-" He cut himself off as Wily approached. "Scratch that, hopefully I'll learn to keep my mouth shut."
Doctor Light you perverted bastard, why would you give Rock a penis? Because of his name? Hard as a rock?
Or is it because of ROLL? ANSWER MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
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...what?
6528461 6635539 The fuck?
I just got that Gemini was based of who I am guessing is Mr. Smith from the Matrix.
You need search anakes to beat Gemini Man? I just used the regular weapon.
Gemini - Goodbye Mr. Rock.
MM - My name...is...MegaMan!
And Gemini man is Mr. Smith. Huh, clever.
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In most Mega Man games, unless I am forced to use a specific weapon, my anxiety at the limited ammo makes me use the Mega Buster at any opportunity possible.
Is it smart? No. I do find the challenge fun, though.
once more another great chapter, AND a good reasoning on how shadowman's weakness works, as well as showcasing vinyl working behind the scenes to prepare her next stage.
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also... WTF dude, the hell did i just READ?