WARNING: This chapter may contain sad scenes, but they are important to the rest of the story. Most of this interlude is just my story of how Mega Man was able to be introed early. There also might be some OOCness since I know only a little tidbits about Mega Man's games. I mostly used the trailer, the bits I know about Mega Man's games, and my imagination in creating the story. Just a general heads up to readers.

Enjoy!

Interlude: What Happened Before…

(Mega Man's POV)

I sat there, unloading my things. Where that blue hedgehog jerk is, I haven't a clue, nor do I really care. He's put me through enough for one day, as if I didn't already have enough on my plate before that breakfast incident. As I continue to unload my things, my pet dog, Rush following me around as I do, I remember what had happened before I was introduced (well, formally, anyway) into the Smash Mansion.

All I can say is I wasn't supposed to be introduced when I was, but due to the circumstances, I had to be brought to the mansion early.

**FLASHBACK***

Everything was in ruins. When I say everything, I mean everything. Almost every building was destroyed and beyond repair. Even the ground was cracked. I was standing above on a piece of rubble which towered above the rest. I'd gone up here because of two reasons: One, I had no place else to go, and two, I wanted to calm myself down after what has just happened to me.

. . . . .

My home was under attack by a set of new baddies that I'd never seen before. They didn't talk, but they wore suits of green, and honestly looked creepy. The eyes looked like they were possessed, and every time one would be defeated, it would disintegrate into a bunch of purple colored dots. They didn't look like they came from this planet either. The things were invading my home, destroying everything. There were so many of them around that the repeated blasting from my Mega Buster barely slowed them down. But that didn't stop me. I wasn't about to let them get to Dr. Light, my creator, or Rush, my canine friend. They were both just down the hall, and they both were my best friends, probably the only true friends I had. Luckily they were behind a closed door so they probably had no clue about what was happening. Which I found to be a little bit funny because of the noise, but that's all beside the point.

I knew in the back of my head that I wasn't going to be able to fight these guys all on my own (even though I was making a grand attempt of trying). Sooner or later, one of two things are going to happen. I was either going to tire out and shut down, or Dr. Light is going to come out of that room and be trampled on right then and there. Either way, the outcome wouldn't be a good one.

I wasn't going to let that happen. I knew I was going to pull through just like I did all of these years. I'd defeat all of these guys. There's nothing to worry about. I kept telling myself these things.

Suddenly, I heard a loud thump coming from across the hall. I struggled to shove my way through the enemies to find out what the thump was, but I had managed, and I kicked open the door, not caring that I might get in trouble for doing that later.

I couldn't tell where Dr. Light or Rush were. All I saw was a bunch of the same guys from before, along with a bunch of robots resembling R.O.B. swarmed around. I heard Rush barking, but I couldn't tell where he was. What overpowered everything was the noise of the enemies Of course, I tried to fight the enemies, but due to being weak from fighting the ones back in the hallway (who were now filing in the room), I end up collapsing.

The last thing I remembered hearing before I shut off were screams from Dr. Light, and a huge boom. I felt rubble fall onto me, and I shut off.

I would see Rush again, but I would never see my creator again…

. . . . .

"Come on, I know that you're in here somewhere...don't tell me they got you too. There's something important I need to tell you!"

I woke up as the rubble was lifted off of me. I was heavily damaged, sparks flying like crazy from me and my eyes flickering every now and then. I looked up and saw one of those robots that had swarmed the mansion. Not knowing who it was, I shakily activated my Mega Buster, but the robot stopped me.

"I'm not here to hurt you…I'm the only good one." he said. "I was sent here to give you this letter, but some unexpected other things decided to happen in the process. Mario, Kirby, Donkey Kong, and Link are taking care of them."

"All this…over a letter…" I said quietly, my damages causing me to barely be able to talk.

"Not entirely." the robot said. "Anyway, let me get you fixed up. If you stay in this condition you're not going to make it."

I didn't bother saying anything. I was too messed up to really do much of anything but lay there. Somehow, the other robot was able to repair me with what was left of the tools, and sat me up against the wall. I was still weak, but at least I was in a stable condition now.

"Listen…I need to give you this." the robot said, pulling out a letter, stamped with a familiar icon. I peeled the sticker off and opened the letter.

"It's a notice that you're going to be in the next Smash Tournament…Well, it was supposed to be an invite, but seeing as how your world is trashed…it seems you're stuck going whether you want to or not. But Mario insists that he, Link, Kirby, and Donkey Kong do a practice fight with you. It's standard protocol, so I can't argue with it. Anyway, watch for them…they'll be here shortly. Meantime, I suggest you just keep yourself turned off for awhile or whatever."

I just nodded, not sure what to say.

"Anyway, I'll be seeing you." the robot said as he left.

I wasn't sure what to do. I wasn't sure whether to be scared, angry or devastated. Probably all three. I was scared because I would have to be removed from my universe by some other video game people that I didn't know. I was angry at myself for letting this all happen and not doing more to help. But most of all, I was just devastated at what all had happened. Not wanting to to stay here anymore, I ran off.

. . . .

It'd been a week since that whole incident and I was still struggling to cope with what all had happened. But standing here on this pile of rubble helped me. It helped me to clear my thoughts, looking at the full moon which was behind me. It seemed to fill the entire sky. I turned off again automatically.

Several minutes later:

"Hey, you!"

I immediately turned back on at the sudden shout. My eyes lit up and I looked to see that Mario, Link, Kirby, and Donkey Kong have arrived. I'd met Mario before and we were alright with each other for the most part. However, the other three, I wasn't sure about.

"Let's-a-go!" Mario said. "To the Smash Mansion. I would fight with you but I heard from R.O.B. you nearly didn't make it, so we can skip the introductory fights if you want."

"But I'm not ready to go yet." I said. It was true. I didn't want to leave. The place was trashed, I knew. Dr. Light and Rush were dead, I knew. But still, I had hope. I had hope that everything would be okay again. I had hopes that I would somehow be able to fix everything like I had before, for all of these years. I wasn't ready to leave my world. Not when everyone needs me!

"Well, it's either go now or we have to fight you and you're still going anyway." Link said. I don't think he intended it to be heard, but I still heard it anyway.

"Alright then, if you guys want a fight then I'm more than happy to give one." I said. I wasn't about to leave my universe easily. I disappeared in a blue light and appeared back on the ground, Mega Buster held in front of me.

Mario, being the obvious leader of the group, started first by rushing at me, followed by the others. I used my sliding move to knock all four of them out of the way, and I hit them with a few quick blasts from my Mega Buster. They didn't see it coming and all four of them were knocked back. I think they were surprised at my speed, for someone who had almost died a week ago.

So the four decided to try different tactics on me by splitting into two teams. One was Mario and Kirby and the other was Link and Donkey Kong. Mario fires a fireball at me, which I jump over. to get hit. This gave Kirby an opening and he managed to kick me. I was thrown back a little, but remained on my feet nonetheless. I charged up my Mega Buster and blasted a huge blast at them. Of course, all four were pushed back again.

I rushed back at them, but was tackled onto the ground by Kirby, who delivered a few kicks and punches before I broke free, jumping into the air. Unfortunately for me, Donkey Kong was waiting and hammered me to the ground with two fists.

I hit the ground hard. I also had been damaged badly in the fight. Once again I was sparking, and my eyes flickered. I felt like I was going to fall out right then and there – that monkey was nothing to mess around with. Now I understood why he came with them. I struggled to catch my breath again.

"Come on, we can make this a lot easier on you if you would just come with us to the mansion!" Link yelled. "This world is trash anyway, and it's for your own good! If you're thinking you can save it, you can't! It's too late for that now!"

It was in that moment that I snapped.

I glared at them, mostly directing it at Link. I wasn't leaving. I refused to accept the fact that my world is ruined forever. This city has been in worse shapes. I always was able to fix everything. I would do that this time, and I was not going to any Smash Mansion. I wasn't going to give up on whatever people might still be alive. And I didn't care what Link said. I could save this world, and I wouldn't go to that mansion!

I forced myself up and drew two Metal Blades. I threw them both. One at Mario because he was the leader and it was probably his idea to send me away while people still needed me, and the other at Link, because of what he'd said. Mario got hit, his cap spun off of his head and resulted in him losing some of his money in the process, which I picked up. Link puts up his shield, but the blade scratched it up. Meanwhile, Kirby and Donkey Kong stood there.

I fired off a Crash Bomb at Kirby while Mario and Link were trying to recover from the blades that had been thrown at them. The bomb latched onto Kirby's face and blew up, sending Kirby flying.

At that moment, Mario recovered from the blade attack and rushed at me. Immediately, I summon my Leaf Sheild and throw it at him, which sends him flying away again. I jump into the air and throw a Hard Knuckle at Donkey Kong since he was too busy scratching his butt to pay me any mind. He went flying, and I hit him in midair with my Fire sword to make sure he went away. Link was the only one left now, and I immediately slashed him with a Slash Claw, sending him flying, followed by a Spark Shock. All of these attacks caused the four of them to land on the ground, winded. However, I gave them no opportunity to get up. I picked all four of them up with my Super Arm and sent them flying up into the air. As they are flying, I activate a Flame Blast, blasting a huge blast of fire at all four of them. All four are blasted away and they don't return. Unfortunately for me, I overheated and passed out shortly after the four flew away.

. . . . .

"I swear I am beginning to feel like I am your medic." a familiar voice said. "You certainly are stubborn. Your acts back there were awesome, yet disrespectful. Do you have any clue what I had to go through? Mario lost his cap because of you and flipped out and he's mad because he's missing 20 star coins, Link can't find his sword, Kirby lost a shoe and Donkey Kong lost his tie. They're not pleased and you owe them an apology…if you wake up that is."

"Apology…for what?" I said groggily as I start to regain consciousness. "They were the ones who wanted to take me away! I wasn't ready to leave!"

My vision slowly came into focus to reveal the robot from earlier, standing over me. I was in a cot of some sort with the fans all on and an ice pack on my head.

"Yet you're still here anyway, just like Link told you." the robot said. "We've dealt with stubborn Smashers before. They all end up here in the end. What you did simply hurt yourself in the end. You know full well you couldn't have survived in that world. You know it, I know it. It was all for your own good."

"And because of them any survivors in my town have no one!" I snapped, finding out clearly that I had been taken to the mansion even when I said I didn't want to be here. "I had a job to do at home and those four acted like they don't even care about my world. Link flat out told me everything was trashed! Those four only cared about themselves and their lousy Smash Tourney!"

"No, they did it for your own good." the robot said. "You would have died had you stayed. Those things that attacked your home – the Primids – would have killed you, or you would have just shut down because of overheating, freezing or just flat out not getting what you need."

"I would have been fine." I snapped. "You people didn't even give me a chance!"

"Had we, you wouldn't even be here today." the robot said."You were out for three days as it was."

"Three days?!" I was shocked to hear that.

"Yes, three days." the robot said. "There's just no way you would have survived another week in that world."

"I wouldn't have cared; at least I would have died helping people out!" I shouted.

"Listen…My world had a similar fate as yours." the robot said. "My creator was killed just like yours; my home was destroyed just like yours. Like you I wanted to help out. But I had to leave. I was forced to work for the Subspace Army as the Ancient Minister. I had no option, I had nowhere else to go. At least you were lucky to have been able to go somewhere. At least you weren't forced to go with the bad guys and have your family as your minions and watch them all die for pointless reasons because of you! Yet you have the nerve to act how you did! Your situation was nothing! Yet you have the nerve to be mad about it. Sure you lost a few townsfolk. Sure you lost your creator, but at least you weren't forced to be the one who caused them to be lost because you had no choice but to do that or be left to die. At least Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, and Kirby wanted you to have a chance before that happened…yet you have the nerve to fight them away, steal their money, and cause them to lose their belongings!"

I sat there, taking all of this in. I realized my situation was indeed nothing compared to this robot's. I suddenly felt bad for taking Mario's coins and for even bothering to fight. They were saving me and what I did to thank them was fight them and cause them to lose their valuables.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered.

"Don't tell me sorry." the robot said. "You should tell them sorry."

"I don't think I can face up to them now." I said softly, looking down at the ground. I was ashamed of myself for acting how I did. "But thank you…for helping me realize that my situation was nothing compared to yours. I overreacted."

"It's no problem." the robot says. "Anyway, my name's R.O.B. and you are…?"

"I am Mega Man, created by Dr. Light, and I protect the world from Dr. Wily-"

"Hold it, we don't need the extras!" R.O.B. said. "You just need to say your name around here. Got it?"

I nodded.

"Alright, now that that's out of the way, I wanted to give you a tour of the place, but it'll have to wait until lunch since Master Hand didn't intro you yet." R.O.B. said. "But first I wanted to show you something I managed to recover from your world."

R.O.B. got in the closet and pulled out a box, opening it.

"Just stick your hand in." he said.

Cautiously, I did just that, not sure what I would find. However, I am shocked to find that I get a lick. Then barks. Then the entire box falls over onto its side. Unfortunately I went with it, and was shocked when I saw Rush run out of the box and tackle me.

"How?" was all I could say.

"When I was looking for you, I found him." R.O.B. said. "He wasn't too badly damaged, but I decided to keep him as a surprise for another time. To let you know you didn't lose everyone."

"Thank you for saving him." I said, smiling. "I don't know what I could do in return. After what I did to Mario, Kirby, Link, and Donkey Kong, I for sure didn't deserve it."

"Everyone deserves to at least have someone from their world around." R.O.B. said. "After all, I didn't want you to end up with no one like I did."

"Did you find Dr. Light?" I ask. "Or anyone else, for that matter?"

"I couldn't find anybody besides the dog." R.O.B. said. "I'm sorry."

I nodded, and looked away. I knew what happened to Dr. Light. I wouldn't be seeing him again. For the first time, that fact had finally set in…and it hurt. I kept my gaze fixed on the floor, and I didn't know I could cry. Until today that was.

"Hey, hey, please no tears." R.O.B. said. "I know…it's sad to know that you won't see your creator again. But at least you have your dog and you are safe. You're going to have a fresh start here. There are over 30 Smashers here and I'm sure some of them will be your friends. I'll be your first one, but you have to promise to keep it secret… I'm not supposed to befriend newbies before they are actually introduced. If Master Hand knew about all of this, he would be angry."

"Okay." I mumbled. R.O.B. offered a hand to help me up, since Rush had now moved. I grabbed it.

"Come on, it's lunch time now so I can give you a quick tour." R.O.B. said. "But we have to make it quick, we don't want anyone seeing you yet."

I nodded and stood up as we headed to tour the mansion.

. . . . .

That was the beginning of a lasting friendship between R.O.B. and I. It wasn't until a month later that I was actually introed. Master Hand had much prep work to do, since he'd already known that Sonic would have a bird once he saw me, which he did. Even though it was expected, I still don't understand why Sonic hates me. I do want to be his friend, but he doesn't want to be my friend. It makes me angry to say the least.

I sigh. I guess that there are things that can't be changed. I need to learn that in a bad way, but for some reason I can't. I still wish that Sonic would quit treating me badly because I don't deserve it at all after what I'm still recovering from. You'd think that I would snap at everyone given the emotional toll it gave me, but I didn't. He's the one who has the problem with me.

I walk down the hallway to get another box and just sigh to myself as I think these things.