Chapter 14: The Ancient Tribe: Part 2 of 3: To Fight For a Friend: Return of Rogue
"Are you crazy!" Risty screamed. 1 hour since Echidna has joined the Star Force and Risty's not taking the good news seriously.
Echidna now wore a green shirt with blue pants, red gloves and yellow shoes.
"Oh? Is there a problem, old friend?" Echidna asked amused. "You darn right it is! Geo! What were you thinking?" Risty gawked.
"Pull it together, Risty. The point is, Echidna's on our side now. So please, try to treat her like a normal human being." Ymir said sternly. Risty just mumbled to herself.
"Anyway, we're heading back to the village now!" Luna proclaimed. "Yeah, they have to let us see Bud." Geo nodded in agreement.
The Star Force headed back to the village where they saw a ceremony beginning to happen.
"Eh?" Elina blinked. "Cool! Something's gonna happen!" Yayoi said cheerfully.
The village Elder and his people put some food on the altar. The Elder turned to his people with a smile.
"Whazzap! Are you ready? …I give you the herald of Mu… The great Budicus!" The people begin praying and chanting Budicus.
Then, Bud wearing some ancient robes appeared and spread his hands in holiness. "It is I! The great Budicus! Herald of Mu! I find everything to be good." Bud or Budicus smiled as the people cheered. The Bud begin eating the food offered to him.
"What in the world?" Reina has that dotted eye face look. "You got to be kidding me…" Sakuya growled.
"What happened to Bud? Why's he acting like that?" Luna asked in concern. "Reasons unknown…" Otome stated.
"They think Bud's a god. And he's relishing it by saying things like your actions pleased me." Zack sweat dropped.
"What does the herald of Mu mean anyway?" Akiwo wondered. "Yeah, something smells fishy here." Hifumi nodded in agreement.
"The only one who can answer this is Bud. Come on, let's go ask him." Mega suggested.
Geo and the gang walked up to the Elder.
"So… Have all of you come to offer your prayers to Budicus?" The Elder asked. "Actually…" Tetsuro stammered.
"Budcius is actually our friend, Bud Bison." Nanael stated seriously. The Elder just laughed a little.
"That's a amusing tale! Budicus is the herald of the Continent of Mu, and he was specifically sent to Whazzap!" The Elder boasted. "Okay! Enough!" Luna growled. "What kind of crazy tale are you making here!"
"Budicus came to us from the sky one day. Regular people don't just fall from the sky." The Elder stated. "So you're saying that Bud came all the way here from Mu?" Zack blinked.
"Precisely… All of you should head back to your country." The Elder stated. "But some of us are not from Geo's country! We're from other wor-mph!" Echidna and Alleyne covered Nowa's mouth before she can spill the beans.
"I don't think Bud's been taking over by an EM Being. If he was, I would have sense Taurus since you all know him well." Mega stated.
"Group huddle!" Susie shouted. The gang got near as far from the ceremony and got into a group huddle.
"What should we do, sis?" Elina asked. "I don't know, Elina… I don't know how to snap Bud out of this charade." Reina sighed. "We need to think up a plan and fast!" Luna said.
"How about we try the Whazzap Lines to discuss it?" Rhonda suggested. "Good idea, Rhonda." Miyabi smiled.
The gang headed to Whazzap Lines to find a way to bring Bud back to his senses. 1 minute later, Zack came up with a solution.
"I got it! How about we make something Bud likes and bring it to him? That would bring him back to his senses!" Zack suggested.
"And how do we do that?" Risty raised an eyebrow. "Ginger…" Zack stated firmly. "Beef…" Luna finished.
"Booyah! That's it!" Elina grinned, then brought up something else. "But how do we make it?" Geo and the gang, minus Rhonda, Echidna, Melpha, Yayoi, Cattleya and Otome anime fell.
Zack chuckled heroically. "I brought some ginger with me just in case this happens." Zack smirked. "Well, what about the other ingredients?" Linda asked.
"Um…" Zack sweat dropped. "We need to gather them, right?" Rana asked. "Yes. We need Beef, Onion, Rice and Egg…" Zack stated.
"Alright, let's go look for some ingredients!" Geo smiled.
It took them 30 minutes, but they gotten all the ingredients.
"Whahaaha! We got all the ingredients!" Luna cheered. "But good think I got a Cooking Matter Wave to bring with me." Luna smiled as she gave Geo the Matter Wave.
"Materlize! Cooking Machine!" Geo proclaimed as he made a hat similar to Eating Machine appear on his head. "The name's Cook-O-Matic, your Cooking Machine at your service! Today, we will be cooking a lovely ginger beef. And we'll be using the freshest ingredients known to Whazzap!" The Cooking Machine smiled.
"Don't screw this up, Geo!" Luna warned. "Bud's fate depends on it!" Reina stated.
"I know. Okay, I hope I can do this." Geo gulped as he begin cooking with Cook-O-Matic's help.
Later that night…
Geo was watching the Ginger Beef getting ready. 'Are you sure this will work?' Geo thought as he remembered something Zack said.
"It will work! Bud's an eating machine without a off switch." Zack stated.
Suddenly, Bud came in, sniffling the Ginger Beef. "Mmm… Smells good." Bud drooled.
"Bud!" Geo gasped as he and the gang ran up to him. "Who are you mortals?" Budicus demanded. "Don't you recognized us, Bud! It's us, your friends!" Nanael shouted.
"Bud? Bud…" Bud held his head in pain. "That name causes the bruise in my head to ache…"
"Did you say your head?" Zack blinked. "So that's it." Melpha snapped her fingers "Bud must have hit his head when he fell out of the sky."
"You mean to tell me he has ammesia?" Tetsuro gasped. "Looks like it." Tomoe nodded.
"Ah, there you are, Great Budicus. You gave us quite a scare. Now let us return." The Elder smiled as he walked up to Budicus. Then Bud smelled something else.
"That smell…" Budicus gasped. "Yes, it's your favorite, Whazzap Spare Ribs. Come on, let's head back to the village." Budicus and the Elder head back to the Village.
"Darn it… That plan failed!" Mega growled. "We have to rethink our strategy tomorrow…" Otome calculated.
The next day…
The gang watched as Bud or Budicus continued eating like no tomorrow. "We got to do something to save Bud…" Susie said seriously.
"People of Whazzap! Tonight we sing, tonight we dance! Tonight we will accept Budicus as our great leader!" The Elder praised, his people cheered.
Suddenly, there was a huge rumbling.
"Hmm?" Echidna wondered. "Wait a minute… That rumble!" Nikki gasped. "It better not be who I think it is!" Mega growled. Then a familiar black hole open in the sky.
"A hole in the sky?" Nowa gasped. "W-What is this!" The Elder gasped.
"Who is this fraud who speaks of Mu?" A familiar cold voice growled. Then the hole fired a beam of eerie blue light and Solo appeared, he glared at Bud with cold hatred.
"I heard there exist people who believed in the existence of Mu… But I find them worshiping a fat fraud!" Solo shouted angrily.
"W-Who are you?" Budicus stammered. "You disrespect the true people of Mu and for that, you must pay!" Solo walked towards Bud menacelly.
"Y-Your leader needs saving!" Budicus stammered again. "Budicus!" The Elder gasped in shock.
"It's him! Solo!" Reina growled. "That's Solo!" Melpha gasped in shock. "He has a dark and sad aura in him…"
Geo clenched his fists. "This time… This time… I will make him pay!" Geo shouted in anger heroics.
"We'll go somewhere safe! Please, Geo, save Bud!" Luna pleaded as she, Tetsuro, Rana and Zack head into the Whazzap Lines.
The Star Force pulsed in and lead into the altar.
"Stop! Solo!" Linda shouted. Solo was taken back by surprise when he saw the Star Force.
"What are you rejects doing here!" Solo snarled. "That's our line, pal!" Mega growled.
"What are you going to do with Bud!" Nikki demanded. "That depends on you… If you hand over the OOPArts, I may consider going easy on him." Solo warned.
"How about this? Leave my friends alone and we might go easy on you." MegaMan glared at him.
"Friends you say?" Solo growled. "Words like that make me sick, but you just throw them around. You'll never change. Friendships are for the weak."
"That's not true!" Nowa shouted in anger. "Friendships are what keeps the world in order." Alleyene stated coldly.
"Fine then… Prepare to be destroyed!" Solo shouted as he EM Wave Changed into Rogue. He emitted a blast that knocked the Star Force to the ground.
"That power…!" Sakuya growled. "He's much stronger than last time!" Susie panted. "I was just toying with you freak shows that time. Hmph… There's something you should know…" Rogue growled.
"And… What would that be?" Cattleya glared. "My Wave Changed form is known as Rogue because I do as I pleased… And I don't rely on anyone but myself."
"Rogue?" Carrie panted. "When I looked at you… …I can't understand what benefits you derive from your bonds. Clinging to others as you do is an ignoble existence." Rogue stated coldly.
"…" MegaMan glared at Rogue. "Are you watching, Hollow? You still believe he and I are evenly matched? I will never forget your insult! But first…" Rogue glared at Bud.
"You will pay for insulting Mu!" Rogue punched Bud in the head. Bud groaned.
"Leave… Him… alone!" MegaMan shouted as he got up, he managed to recovered quickly.
"I'm surprised you're still standing… Is his worthless life that important to you?" Rogue asked coldly.
"He's his friend!" Echidna shouted as she got up as well. "I'll do whatever it takes to save him! Even if it means defeating you!" MegaMan shouted as he begin to transform into Thunder Zerker MegaMan.
"…" Rogue stared coldly at Thunder Zerker MegaMan. "There's the power of the OOPArts." Thunder Zerker MegaMan kneeled down.
"MegaMan!" His friends who got up shouted in shock.
"Man… this power is overwhelming!" MegaMan gritted his teeth. "The OOPArts wiped out all 3 Tribes! If you continue to use them, you will share their fate!" Rogue shouted.
"I… Don't care what happens to me! I will fight for my friends!" MegaMan gritted his teeth again.
"You sacrifice yourself for another?" Rogue questioned. "Yes… I rather do that than see a friend of mine lost forever!" MegaMan screamed a heroic scream as a white light covered the area. When it cleared, MegaMan's new form looks like a cross of Fire Saurian and Thunder Zerker, it could be one of MegaMan's Tribe forms.
"I will fight to protect my friends! That is the vow I made! For I am the sworn defender of the Planet Earth! I am the one who answers the cries for help! I am the star that shines as the people's hope! I am the invincible champion of justice! I am the Blue Bomber, MegaMan!" Zerker Saurian MegaMan shouted as he struck a pose.
"…When your friends are in danger, you unleash your power… Just like last time… So that is the source of your power, eh?" Rogue got into a battle stance.
"People like you make my blood boil! Friends… Bonds… I'll make you and all those pointless things disappear! This time, things will end differently! By my blood, I will prove the futility of all that you hold dear!"
"We'll see about that!" Echidna challenged as she got ready. "Wave Battle! Ride On!" Zerker Saurian MegaMan shouted.
Zerker Saurian MegaMan and Echidna VS Rogue: Round 2
"Take this! Dark Chaos!" Rogue shouted as he threw a punch at MegaMan, but he warped out of the way. "What!" Rogue gasped as MegaMan appeared behind him and fired some shots at the back, giving him some medium damage. "Kelta-kun! Help MegaMan!" Echidna shouted as she made her pet snake attack Rogue. "Get away from me you lizard outcast!" Rogue growled as Ketla-Kun dodged every punch Rogue threw at him. Kelta-Kun bit Rogue in the knee before it dodged Rogue's punches. Echidna took this as a chance to slash Rogue three times with her sword and daggers. Rogue punched Echidna away before MegaMan rammed into him. "Nice one, Geo!" Mega commented. "…Your friendship will be your downfall!" Rogue shouted in anger as he fired dark energy shots at MegaMan, he made a powerful shield appear and blocked Rogue's attacks. MegaMan charged at Rogue and slashed him three times with his sword. "it's not over yet!" Rogue shouted as he made three drones appear and fired at MegaMan, Echidna punched Rogue in the gut and slashed him three times with her weapons. Rogue grabbed Echidna and flung her to the ground. MegaMan charged at Rogue and slashed him three times with his sword. "Ugh!" Rogue snarled as he fired a huge energy blast at our hero. "Rogue! Time to pay for what you have done! Vanishing Blazer!" MegaMan shouted as Mega fired a huge firey blast at the shot, it lasted for 50 seconds till MegaMan's Vanishing Blazer broke through Rogue's attack and hit him for massive damage! "Noooo!" Rogue screamed as he reverted back to normal form.
Solo panted heavily. "No way… It's impossible!" Solo gritted his teeth in anger. "Geo! Hurry and finish him off now!" Ymir shouted.
"…" MegaMan was silent. "If you show mercy, he'll come back to kick our butts in the future!" Mega shouted.
"Inadmissible." A familiar voice said emotionlessly. "Who's there?" Elina looked around. "Come out and show yourself!" She challenged.
Hollow warped in front of MegaMan. "Hollow! Why are you here!" Solo demanded.
"Lady Vega's orders. I am to take you back." Hollow stated emotionlessly. "I'm not going anywhere! I-I can still win!" Solo gritted his teeth in anger. Hollow turned to Solo.
"You're not strong enough to defeat him and his friends. Even you must realize that. If he managed to pull off the Triple Tribe On, you will be no match for him… And we can't afford to lose you yet… You have a duty to carry out still. We're leaving now." Hollow stated. Solo growled in furstation as he and Hollow vanished.
"They got away…" Susie said seriously. "But Bud!" MegaMan shouted as he ran up to check on him.
"Let's get him out of here!" Reina shouted.
The next morning…
The gang were wondering what to do
"Bud still hasn't woken up…" Melpha stated seriously. "I'm really worried about him. What if he never wakes up!" Luna panicked as Zack held his umbrella above Luna.
"Don't worry! It's Bud we're talking about! He will wake up saying he's hungry!" Carrie grinned. "Wait! That's it!" Miyabi smiled.
With the Elder…
"Hmm…" The Elder looked at Bud's K.O. form. "I've had my head bowed in prayer since morning but you won't arise." The Elder sighed. "If you don't wake up, Whazzap's future will…" He doesn't want to say it.
The gang walked up to Bud.
"Are you sure you're ready for this, Prez?" Geo asked seriously. "This has to help Bud! Please, Prez!" Zack pleaded. Luna gulped nervously as she placed the Ginger Beef next to Bud.
"Hmm?" The Elder has his eyebrows raised. Luna coughed, then struck a pose.
"Sleepy Buuud! Wake up sleepy… poo!" Luna said seductantly. "What the…?" Mega raised an eyebrow. "You people are weird, you know that?" Elina face faulted.
"I cooked your favorite, Sleepy Bud, Ginger Beef! If you don't wake up, everyone's gonna eat it up!" Luna blows a kiss at him. Bud moaned. "Prez's home made Ginger Beef.." Bud sniffled as he slowly got up with excitement.
"Oh boy! Let me at it!" Bud rushed at the ginger beef and gobble like no tomorrow.
"It worked!" Nowa cheered. "I'm never doing that again! Never!" Luna blushed madly. Bud put on his normal clothes after eating.
"Prez's Ginger Beef is the bomb!" Bud whooted. "Glad you liked it." Luna closed her eyes and smiled.
"Bud, do you remember us?" Susie prayed. "Yep! Sorry for being a pain in the neck! I'm back to good old Bud Bison again!" Bud turned to Geo with a smile.
"Geo… Thanks for saving my butt again! You're… my best friend for life!" Bud hugged Geo. Geo checked his Star Carrier and his Link Power went up by 30.
The Elder was silent. "His memory is back? …That still doesn't change everything!" The Elder shouted in anger. "You're still the ruler of Whazzap, Budicus! I need you to be!" He shouted.
"Um… about that… I'm really happy you guys fed me and all, but Echo Ridge is my true home with my friends. So I'm going back with my friends." Bud sweat dropped.
"You're leaving us!" The Elder snarled. "We'll see about that! Someone! Come quck! I need help!" Two men rushed to the Elder's aid.
"Budcius is out of control! Grab him!" The Elder ordered. "Uh oh! Time to bolt!" Yayoi stammered as the gang ran away with the Elder and his followers chasing them.
Seconds later, the followers were looking everywhere for our heroes.
"Why do they care for me so much? I'm not a great ruler or anything…" Bud stammered. Nanael then has a sneaky idea. "I got an idea! Mega, you thinking what I'm thinking?" Nanael smirked. "Oh yeah. Akane in her Kampfer form was much more cunning, but you surpass her in everyway! Come on, Geo! Let's pay Gramps a visit!" Mega suggested.
"I don't like this at all… But we have to do this in order to get out of here!" Geo and Nanael pulsed in.
"Budicus should be around here somewhere! Find him!" The Elder than noticed something, he saw MegaMan and Nanael confronting him.
"It's you! The kid in blue who changed shape yesterday! It was you and your friends who hid Budicus from me! Bring him out!" The Elder ordered.
"Budicus is my friend, Bud Bison! He's already told you that! Just let him go!" MegaMan shouted.
"I can't do that…" The Elder stated coldly. "Why not?" MegaMan demanded. "He will make the people of Whazzap powerful! I will unite the people of Whazzap, and we will increase our lands!" The Elder shouted.
"Heh, so as long as he uses Bud, he can rally the people together." Mega frowned "Yeah, he's using the new 'ruler' for his own crooked ends." Nanael placed her hands on her hips. "He's using Bud!" MegaMan gasped.
"It matters not if he's not the real deal. He just have to go along with the whole herald of Mu shtick!" Then, the Elder noticed Mega on MegaMan's hand, and gasped in horror.
"Am…Am I hallucinating? Did your left hand just spoke to you all the time!" He stammered. "No, you saw right!" Mega smirked. "M-Monster!" The Elder backed up against the wall.
Mega then got an idea. "Leave it to me, Geo! Hey gramps! I am a monster from the very depths of Hades!" Mega acted. "W-What!" The Elder gasped in horror.
Nanael got what Mega was doing and goes along with it. "And I am a messager from Heaven! The Holy One is mighty angry with what you're doing! And he and Hades have sent us to pass judgment on you!" Nanael said scarely.
"You what! No! Nooo!" The Elder panicked. "If you don't do as we say, we'll flood the entire planet and make it go Kaboom!" Mega said in a fake evil tone.
"W-What are you demands?" The Elder panicked. "First! You will take a nap!" Nanael gave the Elder a drop kick which knocked him out.
"Man, I wonder if the Chief Angel will punish me for doing this…" Nanael sighed. "Well, we knocked him out, let's get out of here." Mega stated, MegaMan nodded as he and Nanael left while the people of Whazzap rushed to the Shaman's aide.
Geo and the gang went to Whazzap Lines to make the great escape! But unknown to them that the Shaman will plot his revenge on our heroes!
To be continued…
Next time: The Ancient Tribe: Part 3 of 3: Condor's Rage
A/n: Next time, Geo and the gang must rescue their friends from the Shaman who has gotten a EM Being. Then after that, Geo and the gang fight Nyx who's gunning for vengeance against Elina, but she joins the party after some convincing from Geo and Mega,. See you next time!