CHAPTER 14
"The Feral Net Op's Recovery"

Samir couldn't help grinning at Omar. Being the youngest, the baby was full of surprises to his family. Yahiya smiled.

"Can't help myself, he's too cute!" Samir whispered.


"I know." Yahiya said.


The age difference between he and yahiya was not as big as between the middle-son and little Omar.


"Have fun you two." Kinra said.


Samir nodded as he and his little brother left.

"We will!" Samir called to their father.

Kinra sighed.

"I hope they'll be ok." He mumbled.


"I'm sure they'll be fine." His wife said as she coaxed their youngest child from her husband's arms.


Kinra hands the child to his wife.


"Now let's see..." Samir said to himself as he and his brother headed for the palace gates in the meantime.


"What is it, brother?" Yahiya asked.


"Just making sure we weren't followed, you know how father is." Samir said.


"Yes, I do." Yahiya said.


Samir went in, once he saw it was safe. Yahiya followed as well. Samir looked for their twin cousins with his younger brother following.


"Probably in their room, playing." Yahiya said.


"Probably, if uncle hasn't got them to study." Samir said.


"Yeah." Yahiya said.


Samir headed for the bed chambers belonging to their cousins. Yahiya followed his brother. The pair came upon the heavy double doors which was the entrance to the princes' chambers. Samir pushed it enough to allow his brother and himself entry. The fifteen year old boy smiled when he spooted his cousins engaged in a game. Yugi smiled.

"Hi." Yahiya said.


"Hello cousin, playing a game?" Samir asked.


Atemi looked away from the game and smiled.


"Thought we'd come see what you both were up to" Samir said.


Yahiya and the two cousins were attack by a duel monster causing the trio to fall into a deep sleep. Samir went to protect his little brother and cousins from another attack, even if it meant his own death. The duel monster attacked again. Samir jumped in the way of the attack, letting out blood curdling scream. Yahiya groaned waking up. Samir fell lifeless at his younger brother's feet. Yahiya fell to his knees sobbing. Atemu was shocked and furious when he saw the lifelss body of his cousin on the ground.


"A-A-Atemu..." Yahiya sobbed out.

The duel monster was still there.


"SHADOW CREATURE, BACK TO THE REALM OF THE BEASTS WITH YOU!" Atemu ordered as a stream of magic flooded from the soon to be Pharaoh, dispatching the creature.


Yahiya sat there on the ground crying. Atemu went over to his little cousin trying to offer some comfort, despite the fact that he was hurting too. Soon Yahiya went home trying to fight back the tears.The mother of three was surprised to see that only one of her sons had returned.

"Kinra, Yahiya's retuned!" Fatima called to her husband.


"Mother..." Yahiya sobbed running to his mother hugging here as the tears started.


Fatima held her second born before learning the fate of their oldest child.


"Samir...he's gone..." Yahiya sobbed out.


"Yahiya, what happend?" Fatima asked as she was cofused by the statement.


"Atemi, Atemu and I were attack by a duel monster. It made us fall asleep and I woke up to a blood curdling scream and he was...it's my fault..." Yahiya sobbed the last part out.


"He died to save you and your cousins..." Fatima said with her voice was beginning to break as tears for the loss of her eldest child began to fall.


Kinra walked in blinking in confusion. Fatima just allowed her tears to continue to fall.


"What's going on?" Kinra asked in confusion.

"S-samir gave his life to save his brother and cousins" the woman sobbed out softly.


IN THE REAL WORLD

"No! Samir!" Chaud exclaimed shotting up breathing heavily.


Protoman looked at his friend confused.Chaud put his feet on the floor bureing his face in his hands.

'What is it?" Protoman asked worried for his friend.

"Just a bad dream...oh Samir..." Chaud sobbed out.

'Who's this Samir? Is he connected to the guys?' Protoman asked himself.

Protoman was debating wither or not to ask the Blue Bomber's cousins.

"You gonna be ok?" Protoman asked.

"I'll be fine." Chaud said.

"sure don't look like it" Protoman whispered to himself.

Lightman appeared next to Protoman.

"What's going on?" Lightman asked.


"Not sure, he woke up calling out for somebody called Samir." Protoman explained.


Lightman looked down sadly.

"I know who he was talking about." Lightman said.

"Yugi, what the hell's going on!" Protoman demanded.


"Samir was Yahiya and Omar's older brother." Lightman said.


"I see..." Protoman whispered, not knowing that he was the lost brother reborn.


"Chaud doesn't realize this but, his eldest son is back." Yugi said.

"And YOU know who this soul's been reborn as?" Protoman asked in a whisper.


Lightman simply pointed at the reincarnation of his eldest cousin.

"Me! You've lost it!" Protoman growled quietly at the other navi.


"No I haven't it's true...Megaman is a reincarnation as well." Lightman said.


"But we're products of this time! how can we've been-?" Protoman whispered, hoping Chaud hadn't heard them.


"It's the truth...and how doesn't really matter." Lightman said and then told Protoman about the day Samir died.


Protoman looked away, a piece of him remembered the pain that was suffered. Lightman sighed.

"Yahiya always blamed himself for..." Lightman started.


"I had to protect..." The red navi whispered almost inaudibly.


"He...tried to..." Lightman started.


Protoman looked at the other, waiting to hear more.


FLASHBACK 5,000 YEARS AGO

It's been 6 years since Samir's death. Yahiya had locked his chamber door.

"Brother?" Called a small voice.


"Leave me alone, Omar." Yahiya said.


Omar walked away. He couldn't understand what had his older brother upset. He was too young to remember that he once had another brother.Kinra was worried about his son. Little Omar looked over to his shoulder towards his brother's chamber. Yahiya was about to do something stubid. The small boy had a bad feeling about his brother and it scared him. Yahiya held a dagger in his hand. Kinra sensed his son was gonna do something stubid and came running. Omar looked up at his father before again looking to the chamber door. Kinra broke the door down. Omar was too scared to follow. Kinra gasped and rushed over and lifted to bleeding boy and rushed him to a healer. The little one timidly followed after his father, Omar peered from the doorway.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"He nearly succeeded too..." Lightman started.


Lan kicked the blanket off sweating. Megaman woke up hearing his Yami. Lan had a fever.

"Lan?" The navi asked.

Megaman knelt to the boy's level and frowned as he felt his brother's forehead. Lightman returned to his brother.

Did you notice what he was eatting?

&Do you r-e-a-l-l-y want to know?&


It could be causing Lan to get sick.


&Um... it was a raw monkey.&


Lan turned his back on Megaman and threw up.

"Give me a few minutes...better call Chaud." Megaman left to clean him up.


The navi scooped the boy and headed to the bathroom. Yugi called Chaud.


"Yes?" Chaud asked as he answered the phone.

"Looks like the tyke's not feeling well." Protoman said to himself.


"Lan's sick." Yugi said.

"I'll be right there." The seasoned netbattler said as he retrieved a known PET.

'I knew it!' thought the navi within.


It didn't take long for the two to return to the home of a known yami and hikari. Lan looked like he would throw up again.

"Easy, I know you don't feel well." Megaman said softly, mentally kicking himself for not stopping Lan earlier.


Lan was still sweating. A soft glow came as Megaman tried to ease his brother's suffering. Lan was sick from eatting all that raw meat over the years. Megaman sighed as he had done as much as he could in this situation.


We should get him to a hospital.

Megaman nodded, dreading what chaud would say. Lan groaned as he threw up again. Lan looked a bit pale.Megaman sighed, wishing the brother that he knew would return to him. Lan started to fall asleep. Megaman gently carried the boy out. Yugi sighed.

"When Lan was in the jungle he actually was uh...well eatting a raw monkey...and well now he's sick from it." Yugi said.


Protoman glared at the reincarnation of his youngest brother.
"By the time Megaman found Lan it was to late to prevent this." Yugi said sadly.
Protoman just glanced at the human before continuing his glare on a certain navi.
You better hurry.
Megaman nodded as he disappeared in a ball of light.
"I NEED SOME HELP!" He shouted as he materialized in front of the emergency entrance to a known hospital.
"What happened?" The doctor asked.
"he's been getting sick to his stomach" Megaman said.
"Any ideas on the cause?" The doctor asked.
"well i caught him eating raw meat..." Megaman said.
"Why would he do that? And why is he in a loan clothe?" The doctor asked.
"i found him in the jungle in africa" Megaman said.
The doctor took Lan into a room to threat him.
Megaman leaned against a wall, sliding down it. He began to cry.
:M-M-Mega-m-man...:

Megaman's head shot up.
:B-B-Bro...:
Megaman thought that his mind was playing tricks on him after all he had been through as of late.
:W-W-Where am I? W-W-Where are you:

We're in the hospital; I'm near by waiting to hear from the doctor. Oh god! Chaud and Protoman are gonna nail me for this!


:W-What...:

You wouldn't believe me if I told you...I STILL don't...


:Why...naked...:

It's not that...


:Why am I practically naked:


Uh I found you acting like an ape in africa...


:Really...but, why are we here:


YOU ate raw meat.


:Really:


Yeah


Megaman couldn't help snickering slightly through the link.


:Bro...:

It's not you, Chaud knew my past name.


:Wonder why:


Um I got my guesses...


:Well...:


Of course I still think Yugi's nuts...


:What is it:

According to them Chaud was our dad 5,000 years ago.


:Really? B-Bro...my...:


Told ya it was hard to swallow.


:S-S-Something's wrong...hands...feet...pain...:

It's probably from when you were moving like an ape.


A soft glow headed to a certain darkness.

A feeling came to the fighter. lan... you might wanna get outside

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan got outside as fast as he could.

WELCH94823:Megaman teleported outside.as he felt the change as well.

Phoebe1983morgan:There was a flash from Lan and he transformed.

WELCH94823:A second flash was from Megaman as he also transformed.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan lifted off.

WELCH94823:Megaman followed, hoping for not be fighting again.

WELCH94823:"where are you headed?" came the rumble.

Phoebe1983morgan:"Where we won't be seen." Came a rumbled reply.

WELCH94823: good idea, i accidently caused dad to yell

Phoebe1983morgan:Let's go.:

WELCH94823:Megaman just followed his brother, knowing that their family and friends would probably search for them.

Phoebe1983morgan:Where to go:

WELCH94823: your choice

Phoebe1983morgan:Not Africa...hmmm...:

WELCH94823: well i had headed for the rockies before...

Phoebe1983morgan:He was in the ades...

WELCH94823: or how about the andes?

WELCH94823: i know of some caves there

Phoebe1983morgan:Alright then.:
Megaman led the way he went on his previous flight, finding a rather spacious cave for them to take shelter in.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan flew in with him.

WELCH94823:"wouldn't believe the cave system globally" Megaman rumbled.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan laid down.

WELCH94823:Megaman curled up right next to his Big-Brother and fellow dragon.

Phoebe1983morgan:You tired too:

WELCH94823: yeah i got in a scuffle earlier...

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan's eyes started to close.

Megaman led the way he went on his previous flight, finding a rather spacious cave for them to take shelter in.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan flew in with him.

WELCH94823:"wouldn't believe the cave system globally" Megaman rumbled.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan laid down.

WELCH94823:Megaman curled up right next to his Big-Brother and fellow dragon.

Phoebe1983morgan:You tired too:

WELCH94823: yeah i got in a scuffle earlier...

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan's eyes started to close.

WELCH94823:Megaman's eyes had already closed as he started to slumber away.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan soon joined his brother in sleep.

WELCH94823:Even in sleep Megaman knew his fellow light would sense their transformations and that they had taken flight.

Phoebe1983morgan:Lan snored slightly.

WELCH94823:Megaman sent a puff of smoke from time to time as he softly snored.

Phoebe1983morgan:Yugi looked at the group.

WELCH94823:"what's wrong?" asked Yami.

Phoebe1983morgan:"Lan and Megaman they went dragon and left town." Yugi said.

"c-can you tell where they flew to?" Protoman asked.

Phoebe1983morgan:"I think South America." Yugi said.

"I just hope that they're alright." Protoman said in a older-brother tone.


"Me too." Yugi said.


Protoman would never admit it, but he always thought of Megaman as a kid brother even though they had been rivals.


"They'll be fine." Chaud said.


"How do you know? Those two always attracted trouble..." Protoman said.


"They have eachother don't they?" Chaud said.


"Still..." Protoman said uncertain.

Protoman shot Yugi a you better keep quiet, cousin look. There was a flash that came from deep withen the cave. Megaman stirred ever so slightly. The next day Megaman a woke to the sound of a fight outside. The young blue dragon went outside investigate but stayed near the entrance in case his brother woke up. Megaman saw many humans dressed in a style that he'd only studied about. Megaman realized that he was alone, but was confused on a course of action to take. But he just couldn't stand idle while innocent humans were in trouble, it wasn't his style. So he took flight.


:Stay back.:

Lan? Where are you?


A dragon roared in pain. The he lauched a fireball at a knight. Megaman recognized the roar as he landed again at the cave.

'I can't just stand by and let him be hurt!' Megaman thought.


Lan flicked his tail hard at the knight knocking the knight out and then Lan flew back to the cave.

MEANWHILE IN THE PRESENT

Yugi walked into said cave and gasped.

"GUYS! YOUR NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS!" Yugi shouted.


"What is it Yugi?" Yami called as he went to his brother.


"Look." Yugi said flashing his flashlight into the cave.

"Is that?" Protoman asked hoping he wasn't looking at the corpse of one of his younger brothers.


"I think so...looks like it's from the dark age." Yugi said walking over to the dragon.


"I just hope we don't know it." Protoman whispered.


Yugi picked up something that was dirty and covered in dust he could see faded color.

"Cousin, I...I think this is a PET." Yugi said sadly.


"No...please not them..." Protoman begged softly.


"Megaman may still be here somewhere." Yugi said softly.


Protoman had a hopeful look in his eyes altough it was hidden by his visor. Yugi ran off to find him. A voice carried by the winds of time echoed the thoughts of whoever had inhabitated the cave.

'I just can't stand by watch him be hurt!'


Yugi was running deeper and deeper into the cave.The sense of connection was beginning to come to the duelist. As a young dragon remained hidden, unable to help his kin.

"MEGAMAN!" Yugi shouted hoping to be heard.


A roar echoed through the cave.

MEGAMAN!


Hidden deep within the chosen lair of the Hikari Dragons laid a saddened blue dragon.

&Y-Yugi? Is that you?&


Yes.


Megaman timidly slipped out of hiding. As he went to his cousin. Showing he was still a battle and war weary soul.


"What happened?" Yugi asked.


"We c-came here for shelter. But I awoke alone...Lan, h-he...told me to stay hidden...I WANTED TO HELP HIM YUGI, I SWEAR I DID!" Megaman began to sob.


"I know...how long have you been hiding in here?" Yugi asked.


"I-I've lost count." Megaman whispered.


"Have you been in the outer chamber?" Yugi asked hoping it would be a no.

"The entrance? Only when my hunger won out." Megaman sadly rumbled.


"So you saw..." Yugi started.


Tears flowed from the dragon's emerald-green eyes.


"Come on." Yugi said.

I have a feeling history is about to change.

"That jerk had to go and play the lone wolf." Megaman rumbled as he followed his cousin.


"He probably was trying to protect you..." Yugi said.


"YUGI, THAT'S MY POINT! LAN SEEM TO FORGET THAT I KNOW HOW FIGHT AS WELL!" Megaman roared.


"You were asleep...right?" Yugi asked.


The younger hikari looked away in tears of anger and pain kept coming.


"He probably thought he could handle it and didn't wanna wake you." Yugi said.


"Always too overprotective for his own good!" Megaman growled.


MEANWHILE IN THE PAST

Lan landed in the cave.


MEANWHILE IN THE PRESENT

The enterence of the cave collasped with Yugi and Megaman inside.

MEANWHILE IN THE PAST


Lan's rough landing caused the cave enterance to collasp.


"B-Bro?" Megaman coughed out.


Lan sat up...he had a lance sticking out of hisshoulder.

:M-M-Megaman...:

"You should've let me help." The younger dragon rumbled as he went to his brother.


:Didn't want you to get hurt.:


Megaman glared as he attempted to pull the lance out of his brother's shoulder. Lan pulled his body away to help and he screamed in pain as the lance came out.


MEANWHILE IN THE PRESENT

/Yami/


-Aibou?-


/HELP/

Yami ran back in, seeing the cave had collasped. A ramming thud could be heard. Megaman was trying to clear the rubble. Yugi started to cough.


"I couldn't save my brother...I won't let you share that fate!" Came the weakened rumble as he continued to clear the rocks away.


Yugi heard movement and flashed the flashlight into the cave and was shocked.

Megaman...skeletons don't usually move do they?

&N-Not to my knowledge.&

Megaman kept digging and clearing the rocks away to save his fellow light.


His body is gone.


&WHAT! But how?&


Breathing could be heard nearby and glowing red eye could be seen. The young blue dragon had clear enough for a tunnel when he heard the breathing.

Suddenly a red and gold tail knocked more rubble clear. Megaman was in shock when he looked up. A spirit form was floating there.

:Yugi is right history is changing.:

lan? what do you mean?

Phoebe1983morgan:What has happened is changing soon it will be complet and I will be back.:

Megaman's eyes had a glimmer of hope, something that he hadn't had in some time.


:Until then protect them.:

Megaman nodded.

I've missed you so...


:I know.:

MEANWHILE IN THE PAST

Lan sat there with one limb in the air.

"There, that should help." Megaman said as he finished his healing of his brother's wound.


Lan nodded.

:It does. But, the enterance.:

You let me worry about that.

Megaman went ahead and started clearing away the debris. He started to carve out a tunnel as more rock was moved away. The younger Hikari dragon had no idea that the events of this time would effect the future. Lan laid down.

MEANWHILE IN THE PRESENT

Yugi fell foward.


"You okay?" Megaman asked.


"Just outta breath." Yugi said.

Megaman had cleared enough away that he was able to wiggle through with little or no added effort.

/Yami.../

-Aibou?-

Yugi started through the tunnel. Yami was reliefed to see not only his light but his young cousin as well. Yugi was coughing hard. A certain dragon eased the ailing light onto the ground. Using a small measure of strength he made certain that his cousin would be alright.

&That should be enough.&

Yugi smiled.

Thanks.

Megaman nodded as he lost his footing and slid on his belly. His color was dull and he was pale. It had been sometime since he last hunted.

What's wrong?

&Would you believe that I've hadn't eaten?&

Megaman tried to stand, his legs shook from under him.

"Let's get you something to eat." Yugi said.

"I thought he didn't look too well" said a certain reincarnated older brother softly.

"Come on, let's get you some food." Yugi said.

Megaman followed slowly, giving a certain net-op and navi a little sheepish gaze as he came up to them.

MEANWHILE IN THE PAST

Lan was shaking a bit.

"You okay?" Megaman asked worriedly.

"Just sick to my stomach." Lan said.

"I think it's from before..." Megaman said slyly.

"Me too." Lan said.

"I tried to tell you, but you couldn't understand me..." Megaman said softly.

"Not surprised." Lan said.

"Least I got my hobby..." Megaman said softly.

2 DAYS LATER

The monkey was out of Lan's system.

"Feeling any better?" Megaman asked before deciding to head out.

Lan nodded.

:Just hungry.:

Megaman nodded, he had noticed a river on his flight. But he decided to wait until nightfall to try searching for food. Lan looked a way a princess walked into the cave.

"Thank goodness you're alright." Maline said.

Lan smiled at her.

"Who are you?" Megaman asked, staying in front of his brother.

"My name is Maline." She said.

:It's alright brother.:

Megaman smiled.

"Sorry about that!" Megaman rumbled

"It is alright." Maline said.

Megaman tried to shake a thought from his mind of who this human resembled.

"Thy father will be none to happy. Thee beth..." Lan started.

"I care noth." Maline said.

:Megaman she is Maylu...a pastlife anyhow.:

A deep chuckling rumble came from the younger of the pair.

/Yeah./

"My brother speaks truth...if it were learned that you aided us..." Megaman rumbled.

"It be noth that..." Lan started.

Megaman looked at his elder brother in confusion.

"We wereth together when the Knight cameth." Maline said.

Megaman glared as he recalled his brother's wound.

:Her father thought I kidnapped her.:

Megaman snickered to himself.

:We...uh...well we...:

Megaman had a sense of his fellow navi. Megaman tried to shake the thoughts of his friend from his mind.

:Bro...I hope Maylu doesn't find out.:

i'm more nervous of a certain Dark and light looking for us!

Megaman sighed as he looked to the pair.

:Maline is with child and it's...:

YOU SLY FOX, YOU!

Lan smiled at his brother.

:Just hope Maylu doesn't find out...it'll be hard to explain that I had an affiar on her with her. Don't ya think:

Megaman mused over something pertaining to the children that he and his brother left behind. Lan sensed something or rather someone deep within the cave. Megaman though he sensed trouble as he went to investigate.

"Stay here." He rumbled.

:No way...:

"Maline stay here." Lan said and followed his brother.

Megaman sighed as he continued to go deeper into the cave, looking around. They finally arrived after 30 minutes to the chamber the presence was coming from. An old man lay on a rock slab sleeping he was covered with cobwebs and dust as though he'd been there for a long time the man had a staff beside him he was dressed in clothes that were at lease 100 years older then this time. Megaman approached the human with caution. Lan gasped.

:I think that's Merlin.:

I thought he was just a legend.

:So did I.:

So, you think he's the reason that we're here?

"I wouldn't be surprised." Lan said as a glow came from the sleeping old man.

"What's he doing?" Megaman rumbled softly.

"I'm not sure...but, I suddenly feel really sleepy." Lan said.

"Now... that you mention it..." Megaman started as he fell asleep.

Lan laid down and fell asleep. This change in history cause the futures Megaman to disappear from with the group to be replaced with Megaman who was sleeping deep within the cave with Lan. The blue-cad fighter woke slowly.

"W-What the hell was that?" Megaman mumbled.

The red dragon was still sleeping along with Merlin. Megaman remembered that during his five-year case, He had visited the Big Apple while following a lead. He had come accross a clan of Gargoyles. They had been living in New York City for many years. They were originally from Scotland. Lan yawned and smoke came.

"Hey what the-! BRO!" Megaman coughed out.

"Sorry, bro." Lan said sheepishly.

"YOU'RE A PIECE OF WORK, know that!" Megaman grumbled under his breath.

:Yeah, yeah, yeah.:

Megaman curled up, falling into a deep slumber. Yugi smiled sensing the return.

"There both in the cave." Yugi said.

"I hope so..." Protoman said softly.

Yugi headed back to the cave. Lan had fallen back to sleep as well. An emerald glow came from a set of eyes that were just barely open. Yugi started to search the masive maze of a cave complex. Even as a slumbering dragon Megaman could sense his fellow light.

'Where are they? I know they're both here.' Yugi thought to himself.

A soft jewel like glow began to brighten as if to lead this man to his loved ones, making a path the glow was as if to say, this way. Yugi followed the glow. A pair of slightly opened eyes were it's source. Megaman knew that Yugi wasn't a guy to give up easily.

/Yami, they're back...but, Lan's covered with dust and both are covered in cobwebs./

-We're coming!-

"Guys! Yugi's found them, c'mon!" Yami shouted as he ran towards his light!

Chaud followed Yami. It didn't take long for them to get to Yugi and a certain sleeping pair of dragons.

/What do you make of this guy/

Yugi was standing next to the sleeping Merlin.

&We think he's the cause...&

Who is he?

An age voice spoke.

"I am Merlin." He said.

Megaman stirred, shaking the dust and cobwebs off his body.

"Why did you do all this?" Megaman rumbled as he went to look after his brother.

"You two were destindent to go back in time. And Lan and Maline were meant to create a new race." Merlin said.

"You don't mean gargoyles, do you?" Megaman asked the man .

Merlin nodded.

"A clan that I met while traveling...they had a legend of how their race came to be." Megaman said.

Yugi and Chaud looked at Megaman curiously.

"One of my stops in America was New York City. There I met the Wyvern clan" The blue dragon started.

Lan groaned starting to wake up.