A/N: Hi, guys. In the previous chapter, Mac fell into a coma and the news quickly spread. All the boxers were shocked by it, and when Mr. Sandman arrived, they were very mad at him for what he did, threatening to get him fired from the WVBA and attacking him, but Doc stopped them. Will Mac survive his coma? And will he wake up? Let's find out!

Since Mac fell into a coma, his parents and Doc almost always went to the hospital to see him. Mom had recovered from the shock, but seeing her son like this was too much. It was unpleasant to talk only about him, but no one could think of anything else.

''I can't believe Mr. Sandman did such a cruel thing for a stupid title.'' Bear Hugger murmured. ''My squirrel friend is sad too.''

''Such dishonor is unacceptable.'' Piston Honda said. Everyone agreed with him, and believed that seeing him in the hospital room with tubes in his nose, machines attached to him and in danger of dying at any moment was just terribile.

(''Cutscene: Tense- Sonic Rush Adventure OST'')

A week later, they received bad news. ''We sutured his wounds, but the bullet is still in his knee and his vital signs suddenly dropped two hours ago.'' said a doctor.

''Please tell me he won't die...'' Dad murmured, increasingly scared of losing his eldest son after having already lost the other one.

''He is not dead, but he is in critical condition. The machines we attacked him will feed him and supply him with blood, but there is no guarantee that he will wake up. Also, by analyzing the wound on his left shoulder, we discovered something horrible: the knife damaged a nerve.''

Everyone gasped. ''What do you mean, the knife damaged a nerve?'' Mike Tyson asked.

When Mac was stabbed in the shoulder, the knife went so deep into his skin that a nerve was damaged. If the wounds are deep, some nerves could be damaged, and this could cause a partial or complete loss of feeling in the arm and hand. If a limb loses feeling, it's more difficult and uncomfortable for the person to move and use it, and if the loss of feeling is total, its motor skills will be lost(1).'' explained the doctor.

''So his left arm could be paralyzed? He couldn't use it again?'' asked Super Macho Man.

''It's a hypothesis. We'll better check the wound for nerve damage and if he can move his arm, and we'll remove the bullet from his leg.''

''Oh, no! It's bad enough that he's dying, that's awful!'' Disco Kid shouted. He looked like he was in full panic. Donkey Kong sobbed softly.

''He's holding on at the moment. If he survives another five days, we believe he may wake up sooner or later.'' The doctor reassured. ''We are now initiating skin grafts to heal the wounds on his back and shoulder.''

(''Cutscene: Tense- Sonic Rush Adventure OST-s'')

(''A New World, Merged World- Final Fantasy 5 OST'')

According to a nurse's analysis, the nerve was only grazed by the knife and the damage is only mild, so the motor skills in Mac's arm won't drop, much to everyone's relief. Mac's parents, Doc, Donkey Kong and the other boxers wrote letters for him and placed them on the operating room dresser so he could read them, and people from all over the world sent messages of solidarity, including from President Reagan, who was horrified when he learned of the failed assassination attempt on the young champion, and was happy that those who were responsible had been brought to justice. ''Thank goodness that's nothing serious.'' Dad sighed.

''I agree. Seeing him like this is just awful.'' Mom agreed.

''If only we could do something for him...'' murmured Soda Popinski.

''On ne peut rien faire pour lui, seulement attender. (There's nothing for him to do, just wait.)'' Glass Joe said sadly.

''This is all bad, it just makes me sad inside.'' Bear Hugger replied.

''I hate doing the voice of doom, but Joe is right. There isn't much we can do for Mac. If we could, we will, but the truth is we can't.'' Von Kaiser said, serious and sad at the same time.

''It's true. That's life.'' Aran Ryan said.

In the operating room, doctors continued to treat Mac's wounds. Three days later, they made three small incisions on the knee, which they inflated with saline solution.

''We need to see inside his leg. We need the arthroscope.'' said the doctor.

A nurse took the arthroscope and inserted it into one of the incisions, making the area inside the knee visible. ''It's as we suspected. The meniscus is torn.'' he said.

''Therefore, we take off the torn part and remove it along with the bullet.'' said another doctor.

The torn part of the meniscus was cut off and then removed with the bullet with the forceps, while the rest was smoothed, then the doctors closed all the incisions with a suture and adhesive strips and wrapped the knee in a bandage to protect it during the healing. The shallow cuts were then sutured, while regeneration in the shoulder and back areas still took time. The healthy donor areas chosen were the right shoulder and the left thigh, with an amount of skin adapted to cover the wounds. After that, the doctors allowed visitors to enter.

''Hold on tight, son.'' Dad murmured, squeezing Mac's left hand, with Mom beside him.

''Come on, Champ. You haven't given up against any heavyweight, so you have to hold on now too.'' Doc said, squeezing his other hand and trying not to cry.

''Wake up, Champion... do it for us.'' Bear Hugger whispered, as everyone stood sadly around the patient's body.

(''A New World, Merged World- Final Fantasy 5 OST'')

Another two weeks passed. It was now the second half of June, and Mac had been unconscious for a month. Doc and the others had visited Mac at the hospital two hours ago, at 8 AM, and had heard that his injuries are fully healed, so he would wake up very soon. They did not know, however, that someone would arrive.

(''Environmental Tension- Metroid Fusion OST'')

''Well, well. That weak boy is in a coma, isn't he?'' asked that someone.

Doc turned and recognized the guy. He was Mr. Sterling, Mac's former coach. ''Mr. Sterling? What are you doing here?'' he asked.

''I heard Mac is in a coma. I'm sure he must have lharsly ost yet another match.'' replied Mr. Sterling.

''That's the WVBA Champion you're talking about!'' Disco Kid replied.

''Indeed! He defeated us all and kept the title!'' Von Kaiser said.

''How did that incompetent manage to get here?!'' snapped the former coach.

''Ask that to everyone!'' Aran Ryan replied, and Donkey Kong nodded.

Mr. Sterling saw the gorilla and was frightened, but hid it, still snapping. ''What's that gorilla freak doing here?!''

''He is our friend and we know him better than you know Mac.'' Bear Hugger replied.

The former coach never stopped yelling. ''Seriously, how is it possible that Mac, of all people, defeated Mr. Sandman and Mike Tyson?!''

Great Tiger was starting to lose his temper with all those screams. ''Would you stop it?! If you say these things because Mac became the WVBA Champion on April 1st, that's fine, because no one would have expected it regardless!'' he snapped. At the same time, someone was hiding in the nearby bushes.

''With me, that idiot didn't get one right!'' replied Mr. Sterling.

''It's official, this guy is a jerk.'' Mike Tyson said, and Super Macho Man chuckled.

''Who is this buffoon?'' Mr. Sterling referred to Doc.

The African-American was a little irritated. ''You don't know who you're talking about! Jerome ''Doc'' Louis, boxing champion thirty years ago and Little Mac's new coach!'' he replied.

''Obsolete. Even if you really trained Mac, he would still have remained a third-rate boxer.''

''If you say Mac was terrible, I have to disagree. He had a lot of potential within him, and I saw it in match recordings. When I trained him, he awakened dormant techniques within him and switched to a personal fighting style.'' the coach replied, but was then hit by a punch in the nose so hard that some blood came out of his nostrils, and everyone was horrified. Donkey Kong growled, dangerously close to raging.

(''Environmental Tension- Metroid Fusion OST'')

And it was Mr. Sterling who hit Doc on the nose, staring at him with a glare typical of someone who didn't want to be contradicted, and he replied rudely. ''No one asked you to talk, you filthy ni-''

(''Fire Emblem Theme- Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn OST'')

Mr. Sterling didn't have time to finish that a mysterious figure, certainly a male, came out of the bushes and lunged on him emitting a roar similar to that of a lion, knocking him to the ground and punching him repeatedly in the face. ''You bastard! Don't ever say these things about my coach again!'' he screamed, leaving everyone surprised. ''And now, I suggest you leave, or I'll break your head!'' The former coach ran away in fear.

Everyone present was shocked by what had happened, both by the appearance of that figure, and by the fact that Mr. Sterling was about to say the worst and most offensive insult to those with dark skin. The mysterious man turned and posed, making himself more visible, and everyone recognized him. That spiky black hair, that tank top, those shorts, they were recognizable.

''¡No lo puedo creer! (I can't believe it!)'' Don Flamenco shouted.

''Mac! Is it really you! You're alive!'' cried Doc, immediately running to hug him, followed by the others, who embraced the young man in a group hug.

Mac was taken by surprise, but returned the hug. ''Hey, guys! Everything okay?'' he asked.

''C'est bon, merci. (We're fine, thanks.)'' Glass Joe replied.

''Thank goodness you're OK. We were all worried about you.'' Super Macho Man said.

''Wenn du aufgewacth bist? (When did you wake up?)'' asked Von Kaiser.

''About twenty minutes ago. I felt a little groggy, but other than that, I'm fine. Mom and Dad were with me when I woke up. I've seen a lot of letters and messages for me.'' Mac replied. Donkey Kong blocked him with one arm and playfully ruffled his hair, making him giggle.

''We and your parents sent you letters hoping that you would wake up, and you did. People from all over the world have also sent messages of solidarity, including President Reagan. He thought that plot to kill you was a cowardly act, and he was very horrified when he found out the news.'' Disco Kid said.

''Looking at you, it is as if your injuries were never there.'' Bald Bull said.

''How long was I out?'' asked the young champion.

''You have been in a coma for a month. You had eight slashes in your body, a bullet in your right knee and a damaged meniscus.'' Aran Ryan replied.

Mac was shocked that he had spent thirty days in a coma. ''A whole month?!'' he exclaimed.

''Yes. We feared you might die from your injuries or blood loss, you lost a lot of andlost consciousness during the transport. According to Doc, a family of bystanders saw everything and called the police, who arrested and returned the perpetrators to their cells. Welcome back, Brother.'' Soda Popinski replied.

''Thanks, Popinski. Doc, I missed you. I missed you all.'' Mac said.

''We missed you too. And thank you for defending my honor. That kook was about to say the most despicable insult ever.'' Doc said.

''Don't mention it. I heard my former coach say these things about you, I couldn't get away with it.'' replied the boy.

''Okaerinasanai, Makku! (Welcome back, Mac!)'' Piston Honda said.

''I'm glad you're okay, Mac. While you were in a coma, I asked the World Boxing Hall of Fame(2) to admit you, and some were a little perplexed.'' Mike Tyson said.

Mac was intrigued. ''Really? What is that? And how did it go?'' he asked.

''The WBHF is located in Riverside, California. Here, every year, great boxers from all over the world are registered. Normally, a boxer can only be admitted to the Hall of Fame if it's been at least five years since their retirement, but when I mentioned your exploits, they decided to make an exception.'' replied Mike.

The young man was excited just at the thought. ''Wow! When will it take place?''

''It will take place in two weeks, at the beginning of July. You will have to show up at 5 AM on Sunday 5th July.'' the former champion explained.

''5 AM?! How would I do it? I don't even know if my parents will let me be at this event at such an uncomfortable time!'' Mac exclaimed, shocked.

''Don't worry. In Washington, the time zone is three hours ahead of California and the flight will take nearly five hours. This means you could leave for the airport after dinner, around midnight. By the time you arrive in Riverside, it will be two AM, so you could get to the Hall of Fame by taxi.'' Tyson assured him.

''Alright, In the meantime, I think I'll travel the world. So many people will want to meet me, even the heads of governments.'' said the young boxer.

Doc chuckled. ''You know, the other boxers were really mad at Mr. Sandman. They were going to do something bad after he pushed us to the breaking point, but I stopped them. We threatened to get him fired if he didn't apologize and stop acting like a baby, and we got his answer yesterday. It was a little insecure, but it was always an apology.'' he said.

Mac had some doubts, but let everyone know how he felt about it. ''Forgiving him is not as easy as I have forgiven others, but I'm already starting to try.'' he replied. ''For the next two weeks, around the world!'' he then shouted, and everyone cheered.

''Welcome back, Champ!''

(''Fire Emblem Theme- Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn OST-s'')

A/N: Mac woke up from coma and is fine! Now he has discovered that in two weeks he will be among those admitted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame! See you to the next chapter!

(1): If a nerve is damaged, limbs may lose their feeling and become unusable.

(2): There are two boxing Halls of Fame: the WBHF, founded in 1980, and the IBHF, founded in 1990 in Canastota, a village in the State of New York.