Author Notes: This is practically a complete and total rewrite of the original Poison of Love. The basic thoughts and some characters are the same, but most of it is brand new. Thus, those of you who read the original are going to be pleasantly surprised to find that this isn't simply the old fic all over again, with some spelling improvements and grammar checks!

We will be using the character's Japanese names; this is more for personal preference than anything else.

Rockman (Rock) = Megaman (Rock)

Blues = Protoman/Breakman

Forte = Bass

Gospel = Treble

Neither Yuki nor myself claim to own Megaman, the genre or the characters involved. Our interpretations of these characters are entirely our own and do not represent Capcom's views on said characters. Rose is my own personal brainchild. And before you ask, no; Rose is not named after the flower but rather the musical term. But I like roses so both work out. :3

Poison Of Love

By Neon Tiger and Yuki Ryu

Chapter 1

"Hey, hey, hey! I wanna turn with the remote!"

"Fat chance, butthead."

Wily glowered at nothing, his expression dismal and uninterested in the squabbling Robot Masters around him. He was wrapped up in a blanket, holding a cup of tea in his hands as his feet rested in a bucket of warm water. He wasn't feeling well; in fact, he was feeling hideous. The worst had happened.

Dr. Wily was out of ideas.

"But... but... Forte..." Woodman's lower lip trembled. "You had the remote all day!"

"And I'll have it for the rest of the day, too!" Forte snapped, yanking the remote out of reach.

"But we wanna watch something else!" Needleman whined.

"Tough!" Forte sneered. "I have the remote, so I have the choice!"

"Hey, Jackass is on!" Junkman suddenly exclaimed before he snagged the remote from Forte, being tall enough to just casually reach down to do so, and then proceeded to change the channel.

Forte stared at his hands, then glared up at Junkman slowly. "Oh, it's on now."

"Yeah, that's what he said-!" Woodman nodded before yelping as Forte lunged at Junkman, snarling.

"GIVE ME THAT REMOTE!" Forte roared.

"But everyone likes Jackass!" Junkman yelped as he fell over off the sofa, holding the remote up.

"No, no, no! No one likes that icky show!" Clownman protested as he hung from a ceiling fan. He then proceeded to snatch the controller from Junkman's hand just as Forte was about to, and quickly changed the channel. "It's time for the super special 'Barney Meets the Teletubbies'! I've been waiting all month to see it!"

"But... but... 'The Price is Right' is on!" Woodman stomped his foot. "I wanna see! I wanna see! Bob Barker's so sexy!"

Everyone stared at Woodman oddly before returning to their squabbling.

"We're watching Jackass!"

"Barney! Barney!"

"NO!"

"Bob Barker's buns are so firm!"

"The Osbournes!"

"That's all garbage!"

"How about Jerry Springer?"

"Bob Barker isn't garbage!"

"Fear Factor!"

"Garbage, garbage, GARBAGE!"

"JERRY! JERRY! JERRY!"

"It's a SPECIAL! We have to watch!"

"I wanna see who gets voted off tonight!"

"Let's watch something educational."

A female robot with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail with a ribbon strolled over and grabbed the remote effortlessly from Needleman before she changed the channel, looking quite ordinary and not very intimidating in her blue jeans and red t-shirt.

Everyone turned to stare at her as the girl sat down casually and turned on a documentary. No one moved for a while, too stunned at how easily and calmly Rose, the female house cleaning robot, managed to steal something from a large group of male combat robots as if it were nothing at all.

Even worse, they were stunned at the fact that no one dared try to take it back.

"Oooh, a documentary on the Star of Ishtar!" Rose squealed. "It must be because of the fact that the museum just got it in!"

"Who could watch that when Jackass is on?" Junkman grumbled quietly.

"Jackass is for jackasses," Rose said, firmly.

Junkman didn't say anything for a moment as Rose's comment sunk in. "... Hey! Did you just call me a jackass?!"

"I don't know, did I?" Rose looked at him casually.

"... Er...?" Junkman blinked, confused.

"What's the big deal about a stupid trinket?" Forte grunted as he sat down by Rose, knowing better than to argue with her.

"Barneeeey... Teletubbiiiieeeees..." Clownman sniffled softly, but kept his whining quiet so Rose wouldn't hear.

"Oh, it's more than just a trinket!" Rose giggled. "It's gorgeous... and has a lot of history behind it!"

"Like what?" Iceman asked from his seat on the rug, being the only Robot Master present that had the sense not to get in a brawl over the remote.

"Well, according to legend, it's one of the most powerful magical artifacts ever created," Rose began excitedly. "Supposedly it was created a long time ago by a powerful sorcerer for the Goddess Ishtar. It's said to have the power to summon a person or creature of whatever the keeper of the orb wished."

"Shyeah, whatever!" Forte scoffed. "What a load of crap."

"You mean, like all the junk that comes out of your mouth?" Rose eyed Forte, who blinked and shrugged with a grunt. Rose smirked slightly, then tilted her head. "Anyway... Whatever was summoned by the Star of Ishtar could be made any way the summoner wished, which included everything from their appearance to their abilities. The only downside was that the Star was transformed to do it so there could only be one at a time."

"Weird story," Springman commented as he wound his leg back into place. Junkman had sat on it while they were fighting over the remote and flattened it.

"I like stories!" Woodman giggled.

"Sounds like one of my Transformers!" Clownman piped in, forgetting about his show for the moment.

"Feh," Forte snorted. "Just sounds like an overly fancy robot to me."

"A robot?"

Rose jumped and turned to stare at Wily, who was suddenly staring far too intently at the television. "A robot, you say?"

"Well... the legend does mention one of the forms the Star of Ishtar took was of a metal golem," Rose said, slowly.

"... Yes... YES!" Wily cackled, standing up sharply. However, his feet where still in the water as he did so. Thus, he tumbled to the floor with a cry, water spraying everywhere. However, he didn't seem to care as he cackled on the ground. "YES! BRILLIANT!"

Rose stared at Wily, idly wondering if there was sake in his tea.

"You!" Wily pointed up at Forte. "Go! Get that star!"

"Eh?" Forte blinked.

"Go to the museum and steal that star!" Wily repeated, gleefully. "I can use it to make the ultimate robot!"

Forte's cheek twitched. "I'm the ultimate robot."

Wily just looked at him, and then cackled. "Yes, that star could be the key to my ultimate victory!"

Rose inched over and helped Wily to his feet, who held her arm and giggled happily.

"Yes, yes... an idea! I thought I was getting too old for ideas... and then I suddenly have a breakthrough!" Wily cackled. "It's perfect!"

"Uh, of course, doctor," Rose eyed her creator.

Forte's cheek twitched visibly.

----------

"Stupid Wily... stupid plans... stupid Star," Forte grunted as he crouched on the ceiling of the museum, peering downwards through the skylight. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. I'm the ultimate robot! Not some ancient piece of crap!"

"Weee! I'm on a mission!" Woodman beamed from behind Forte.

"Shut up," Forte growled.

"Don't be so anal, my dear!" Starman purred, oddly enough crouching right behind Forte and getting a rather good show of Forte's metallic fanny. "We're all FRIENDS here, aren't we?"

Forte sweatdropped and shifted so that Starman didn't have as good of a view anymore.

"Awww," Starman pouted, his bright blue eyes sparkling sadly.

"Can we go?" Astroman whimpered. "I... I don't mean to rush you... but... we're so high and... and... EEE, what's that noise!? A cat? A cat, was that a cat!?

Forte eyed Astroman oddly, then grunted and massaged his forehead.

"Wonderful. I'm going to rob a museum and who are my backup? A moron, a fruit, and a coward."

"I PREFER the term 'batting for the other team'," Starman sniffed, daintily.

"Whatever!" Forte spat. "Let's just go." With that, the black and gold robot leaned forward and slowly lifted the skylight upwards.

"Yeah! Yeah!" Woodman laughed and lunged forward. Forte had no time to react before he found himself tackled by the overly large Robot Master and sent crashing through the skylight.

Forte screamed as he and Woodman fell towards the ground below before crashing into it with a mighty shudder. Forte moaned as he climbed out of the crater, disoriented. Beneath him, Woodman looked around sheepishly.

"Whoops?"

"Oh man, oh man, oh man!" Astroman fretted, becoming more than a little hysterical. "We're going to get caught and... I'll bet the silent alarm's going off like crazy... and... and... Oh my gosh, I'll bet Rockman's on his way already!"

"Did you get a boo-boo?" Starman asked as he landed near Forte. "Shall I kiss it and make it better?"

"Shut up," Forte grunted.

"Hey wait, don't leave me up here all alone!" Astroman yelped as he quickly hovered down after the others.

"Let's just find that stupid star and get out of here!" Forte snapped.

"You don't have to yell..." Astroman whimpered as he hid behind Woodman from Forte's wrath. Woodman blinked at Astroman.

"Someone needs to relax after this," Starman crooned as he walked by Forte. He dragged his finger along Forte's back as he went. "Why don't you visit my room for some R & R?"

"... Don't you mean S & M?" Forte arched an eyebrow.

"Whatever floats your boat, hon," Starman smirked.

"Oh man... oh man... oh man... we have to hurry or we'll get caught!" Astroman whimpered as he looked about nervously. "Or worse Rockman will beat our butts again... and Dr. Wily will have to rebuild us and... and... he'll be all mad... Oh, BOY will he be mad!"

Forte glared angrily at Astroman, then whirled and started stalking through the museum. He disliked being reminded about Rockman; he particularly disliked being reminded of the 'getting beat by Rockman' part.

"Oh man... is he mad at me?" Astroman fretted. "He sure looked mad... I'll bet he IS mad at me...! Oh no... I'm in SO much trouble!"

"No, he just needs someone to relieve some of his... tension," Starman observed.

Forte grunted as he stalked through the museum, glancing about idly for any sign of the Star of Ishtar. He really didn't want to get it but knew that, in the end, he had no choice.

"The doc'd just bitch until I did," he sighed.

Suddenly there was a crash.

"Whoops!" Woodman yelped as he stood next to the shattered remains of a priceless ancient vase.

Forte cringed then glowered over at Woodman. "Keep your hands to yourself!"

"But it was so shiny and pretty!" Woodman protested, eyes shimmering.

"You broke it, so it isn't shiny or pretty anymore!" Forte snarled.

Woodman sniffled as tears came to his eyes.

"Oh man, oh man, oh man, I knew it!" Astroman cringed. "He's maaaaaaad!"

"Just frustrated!" Starman giggled.

Forte growled deep in his throat and stalked down the museum, practically radiating anger.

"Hmmm, so what does this star look like?" Starman inquired, idly tracing the contours of a vase.

"... Like a star?" Forte offered.

"You don't know," Starman observed.

"Whatever, how hard could it be!? The damn thing's probably labeled!" Forte snarled.

Suddenly there was another loud crash.

"Whoops again!"

"Touch something else and I'll use your hands for matches!" Forte growled.

"Yeep!" Woodman yelped, obviously not wanting to be charred to a crisp, and quickly ducked behind Astroman.

"H-hey!" Astroman squealed and the two Robot Masters got into a brief scuffle as to who would shield who from Forte's rage.

"Bleh," Forte grunted and continued walking. Starman eyed Woodman and Astroman, then grinned and followed after Forte.

Minutes passed as the robots explored the museum, looking for the Star of Ishtar. It wasn't until they passed the numerous exhibits of dinosaurs and Native Americans that they finally came to a rather interesting Babylonian exhibit.

Many colorful pieces of Babylonian history hung from the walls and were displayed prominently amidst the floor in an intricate design meant to replicate the interior of a Babylonian temple as best as possible. It was most likely done in such a way to give those that came to see the exhibit a feel for what it was like to search the ancient ruins and find ancient treasures like the archeologists did.

The majority of the artifacts seemed to be centered on the Goddess Ishtar, with the dominant color being a deep blue that had faded over time. Each piece was most certainly priceless, particularly the jewelry, which seemed the most ornate at all.

"... Wow," Starman blinked as he looked around. "I'd like some jewelry like this!"

In the center of the exhibit hall was the most dazzling part of the display. Numerous small yet intricately designed statuettes varying in appearance, make, and subtly in size rested on almost perfectly smooth round pillars. Each pillar was decorated with ancient script writing and pictures, most likely depicting some part of an almost forgotten legend.

In the middle of the circle of pillars was an even larger pedestal made entirely of finely crafted gold of varying types, and enhanced with almost every precious gemstone imaginable.

Resting, almost humbly, atop the pedestal was the largest gem of all. It was only slightly larger than the average softball and was perfectly smooth and round, its color deep and richly blue with an almost shimmering exterior that made it seem as if it were glowing softly.

"... Huh, so that's why Rose likes this crap..." Forte blinked, then looked at the largest gem. "And that must be the Star."

"Brilliant deductive skills, hon," Starman winked.

"Shut up," Forte growled.

"OOOOH! SHINY!" Woodman squealed as he ran excitedly into the exhibit hall.

"Uh... um... well... shouldn't... you... um... check the label thingy first?" Astroman stammered nervously as he tapped his fingers together.

Forte glowered at Woodman and Astroman before stalking towards the pedestal. "I don't need to. I'm not an idiot."

"But... but what if it's something else here?" Astroman stammered. "I don't mean to make you mad! I... I'm just saying that... you know... Dr. Wily would get really mad at us if we were wrong and... and he'd start yelling and... and..."

"Let him," Forte growled.

"Can I touch this then?" Woodman asked excitedly as he pointed at the largest gem, running towards it eagerly.

"NO!" Forte barked. "Don't touch-!"

"Stop right there, Forte!"

Forte jerked about to stare as a familiar blue robot stood just a few feet away, aiming his blaster at them.

"... Damn it," Forte sighed. "Not you. Not now."

"OH NO, OH NO, OH NO! IT'S ROCKMAN!" Astroman squealed fearfully as he flailed his arms about in a panic.

"Mmm, still wearing those tights, I see," Starman grinned.

"Yes me," Rockman scowled, 'sternly'. He tried to ignore Astroman and Starman. "What are you doing here?"

"None of your business!" Forte snapped.

"Uh... Forte... maybe we should grab the shiny thing and bolt before Rockman kicks our butts again," Woodman suggested in a quiet whisper.

"That's the first smart thing you've ever said," Forte growled, then turned on his heel and darted for the pedestal.

"HEY! WAIT!" Rockman cried as he darted after Forte, aiming at him. "Stop! I'll shoot if you don't! I mean it!"

"Oh dear! I think he's serious!" Astroman squealed and began to flee.

"Tee hee!" Starman 'pranced' away in a very poor attempt to run and wiggle his hips far too much. "Oh dear, oh MY."

"Shut up and distract him!" Forte snapped. "I don't have time to mess with him today!"

"Uh, how?" Woodman blinked blankly at Forte.

"ATTACK HIM!" Forte howled.

"Forte! I don't want to fight you!" Rockman grunted. "Just give up!"

"Oh, okay!" Woodman said and quickly activated his special ability.

Such an action proved to be a critical mistake.

When the leaf shield formed around Woodman, the Robot Master had forgotten to take into account the priceless artifacts that he was standing far too close to. As the metallic leaves swirled about him, they ended up smashing into the intricate display and sent everything flying about in random directions, some of them in pieces.

"AAAAACK! YOU IDIOT!" Forte shrieked.

Rockman yelped and instinctively dove about, trying to catch the priceless artifacts before they were smashed.

"Uh... oops?" Woodman rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Oh no! Oh NO! OH NO! We're going to be in SO much trouble!" Astroman squealed.

Alarms blared loudly though out the museum, piercing their metallic eardrums.

"Oh great, now it signals..." Forte flinched, idly recalling how the fall through the skylight hadn't even set off the alarm; at least not the one they could hear. "Anyway... let's scram and leave the Blue Twit to clean up the mess!"

"But what about-," Woodman began.

"Forte!" Rockman whirled, his blaster charging as he stood among the debris. "YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY!"

"SHUT UP AND MOVE!" Forte screamed as he turned tail and bolted for the door.

"Indeed!" Starman agreed as he pranced towards the exit, giggling.

"EEEE!" Astroman shrieked as he flailed his arm and quickly hovered after Forte and the others.

"Wait for meeeee!" Woodman yowled as he quickly chased after.

"Forte!" Rockman growled, chasing after the four fleeing robots. "Stop! I said stop!"

"NO WAY!"

"Tee hee, running makes me so sweaty!"

"Oh deeeeaaaar! We're in SO much trouble and I just know we're going to get yelled at!"

"Aww... I wanted the big shiny thing!"