Note:This and the next chapters are reposts from the other edition that I have decided to move here due to not enough traction on that one.

Last part of this episode! Not exactly the most thrilling, yet I only felt it right to get Mega back into the swing (title drop) of things before everything gets turned on its head and he goes abroad. Also, don't worry, none of the other Robot Masters are going to just vanish (I wouldn't dare), much less dear Proto. Oh, I have such, SUCH plans for him and everyone else.

Again, I'm really thinking of doing this in making all the parts of the episode and posting them then to keep the waiting in between parts less.

Hope you enjoy!

Back in the Swing Part 5

Mega Man © of Capcom

The lake was but a short distance away, though this observation wasn't able to be dwelt on as yet another top came his way, this one once again blasted away.

Only for its wielder to be allowed a swift kick to his gut, sending him to the ground. He flipped upward, meeting a rolling top scratching against his cheek, then to become aware that spinning wheels made contact with his face, his cheek's artificial skin being torn off. Mega Man stumbled back, Top Man casually allowing one of his namesake tops to casually spin on his fingertip. "Has it been that long?" the DWN inquired, allowing to top to travel up his arm around his shoulders, and on the other hand where it rested on the other fingertip of his index finger. "I suppose that small incident at that little Institute was your first bout in some time." Mega in turn only narrowed his eyes. "Hey, not my fault your performance is sloppy. If anything, you should be thanking me for giving your existence some semblance of purpose."

With that, Mega shot another blast of concentrated plasma in the Robot Master's direction, said Robot Master only flipping over it and skating forward at high speed. The blue robot rolled out of the way with the intent to get back on his feet, yet a swift kick forced his closer to the ground as he ducked out of its range. The high-powered skates affixed to the sides of Top Man's heels came down, Mega forced to roll out of the way. Yet in response to this, several tops rolled his way, he was unable to react quick enough to destroy all of them, a good few making contact and scraping his outer shell, leaving long gash marks in the metal.

He didn't need to be told that things weren't exactly going in his favor. If not his current position, then the fact that he could feel his energy running low. Of all times to NOT bring Eddy. Though…perhaps he could make use of another's energy.

Top Man didn't make a move right away, immediately sensing that the Blue Bomber's immobility meant something, even if he was making himself a prime target. 'Yeah right.' He saw fit to send more rolling tops his way.

This, however, would prove to be his downfall.

To his shock, Mega caught one of the tops and flung it right in the Robot Master's direction, the top slicing across the machine's throat, a few cables able to be torn due to the vulnerable area it struck, trails of oil spilling out freely from their places. This monetarily disorientation allowed for the Blue Bomber to leap up and seize the other machine's forearm, said machine feeling a piece of himself being torn from him and transferring to another. Kicking him off, Mega managed to keep upward on his feet, a pair of skates forming on his ankles akin to Top Man's own.

"Guess you have given some purpose." Mega Man told him plainly, getting into position. "Allow me to thank you." With that, the two sprang forward.

Mega reached forward and seized the Robot Master's forearm, his body going into rapid, whirling motions that brought Top Man off his feet, he up in the air and the world around him spinning. After what seemed to be an eternity the orange machine felt himself soar through the air, landing hard on his backside, a small, stinging sensation meeting his back. Some of Toad's Man acid rain having yet to outlive their potency. Mega Man approached, Top Man in turn gripping a handful of the mud underneath him. Not exactly something he would've thought of at first, let alone be willing to do in any other scenario. Yet he and everyone else were filthy enough as it was.

Upon making his way towards the downed robot, Mega Man felt a searing sting meet his facial region, his skin sizzling and his vision blinded from the bundle of mud smeared on. He felt a sharp kick to his abdomen, sending him back, though he shot out some exploding tops, and from the sound of it, they made contact. Wiping the stinging mud off, he saw the sole of Top Man's boot coming down, he rolled out of the way only to find a top inching dangerously close to his face. This forced him to roll back and Top Man seized his chance, seizing Mega Man by the leg and beginning to spin rapidly.

Only, this brief loss of contact with the ground was cut short.

A sharp gasp emitted from the DWN, Mega Man feeling himself being dropped to the ground, looking up from his place to see Top Man slightly bent over, holding his chest, his expression seeming to indicate that whatever this was, it was beginning to cause him pain.

Whatever it was, perhaps it was something that, should he discover it, could become his trump card.

Sending a flurry of tops his way, Top Man stepped back from the numerous explosions, the resulting smoke allowing for a well placed punch to his facial region, sending him crashing into the thickened trunk of a tree. Kicking forward, Mega Man's duplicated wheels tore off layers of bark as they aimed for the DWN, said DWN getting out of the way just in time. Still, it seemed this sharp motion brought with it another surge of pain that assaulted his chest, allowing the Blue Bomber to get in another shot, that being a punch to the underside of his jaw and a kick akin to the one delivered to Mega Man but a short time prior.

Top Man flipped over and rushed forward, his skates whirling as he swung his legs in frenzied kicks, of which were countered by kicks of his opponent. "You…" Top Man began, though it was clear that he had lost a good deal of confidence that he displayed before. "You can't…" he continued as he and Mega shared blows, neither intending to let the other get ahead of the other. "Take us all out!"

"And…" Mega Man in turn replied. "You've seemed to...forget...I...didn't come...alone!"

"And...he'll meet the same...fate!" Top Man retorted, daring not to say it aloud, yet the searing heat in his chest was beginning to increase. Yet he had to continue, there was no other option now. "You...and the rest of your…'friends' won't be able...to collect all of us! Proto Man saw to-"

This turned out to be the perfect thing for Top Man, as he immediately saw the change in the Blue Bomber. "Proto-" he was cut off by a top being sent right into his face, he brought his arm up to block it, yet the explosion was enough to send him back and on the ground, landing on his abdomen, the familiar sting of the lingering acid rain coming to him. He heard footsteps coming his way, looking up to see Top Man standing above him, hand placed on his chest, a grimace threatening to come through. "Wh-What about Proto Man?"

Top Man huffed, a small, pained noise coming from him. "You'll never find him." he told the Blue Bomber. "Or anyone else for that matter." again, his words appeared to be strained, teeth grinding against each other. "Whoever's left will see to that!" still holding his chest, he moved forward, bringing his foot down to slam upon the blue android's helmet.

Rolling out of the way, Mega Man rose to his feet and released a bevy of tops Top Man's way. Though, from the way his energy gauge was looking, he only had so much left for just a couple more. The DWN leapt up and over the Blue Bomber, though this seemed to do him little favors, the pain in his chest having yet to dissipate. Though in the leap, he seized the cerulean android's forearm and began to spin, yet despite the disorientation, Mega Man found himself returning to the ground not long after he lost it, a pained cry from Top Man echoing throughout the area. Looking back, he noticed a bright source of heat emitting from the Robot Master's chest, as well as his joints.

What it was exactly, he wasn't sure, Top Man not exactly one he had much contact with. Nevertheless, his prior question to what the other machine's problem was had seemingly been answered.

Dashing to the side of his opponent, Top Man released several tops in Mega's direction, Mega in turn leaping over the other robot via the duplicated blades allowing him to gain a good degree of extra speed. Delivering a kick to the back of the Robot Master's head, the machine got back up and attempted to charge at him yet again, yet he found a series of tops being sent his way.

Each of which struck one of the glowing joints.

Top Man released a cry of agony as explosions hit, feeling his legs give way, said joints immediately ceasing to function due to the received damage, both prior and now. Landing on the ground after being forced off his feet from said explosions, he felt his left leg being seized and soon, his entire world began spinning. Despite this movement essentially being part of his general components and function, he felt as if he were being pulled apart by this, his limbs helpless in the swinging motion, joints being pulled and strained. On and on and on this went, the searing burn becoming unbearable until, finally, at long last, he felt himself flying freely.

SPLASH!

Right into a chilled body of water, sinking down until he hit the bottom.

"Oh, uh, hey there." a voice next to him said, Top Man looking over to see Toad Man. Even if he, unlike the other, had all his limbs still intact, he was just as incapacitated, he unable to move himself without searing pain. "So, how are things up there?"

"...it's a REAL pity that we can't drown. Otherwise I'd have the PERFECT response for you."


Falling to the ground, Mega allowed his vents to push out any offending particles, Lord knew that this area was full of them. Still...he couldn't deny that there was a sense of satisfaction coursing through him. All four...well, three-

"Are you all right?"

He turned to the source of the voice, Tomahawk Man having a seemingly inactive Spark Man over his shoulder, both his chargers rendered to little more than stumps. He immediately rose to his feet, his joints beginning to feel very much like Top Man's. Still, he stood triumphant in front of hi comrade.

'It's good to be back in the swing of things.'

Note: I mainly reference the Mega Man Wiki (MMKB) for both getting the specific powers and personalities of the Robot Masters. Top Man for example:

Top Man is equipped with an auto balance system that allows him to spin rapidly much like a top, which he uses as an attack called the Top Spin to injure enemies, and as a defensive mechanism because the high rotational speeds make projectiles deflect off of him. However, he can't spin for too long because he gets dizzy, and maintaining such high speeds could damage his internal components. Top Man also attacks by tossing rapidly spinning tops from his head or shooting tops from his arm cannon.

Granted, there are some things added here and there, yet for the most part, I hope that each of them are distinguishable to a degree. Please let me know.

Here's hoping you enjoyed! Please tell me!