Note: Ok, this is my third attempt at this series. The first version was bad, but it was ultimately a stepping stone for me. The second version didn't get too far at all, only stopping after two chapters. And that's when I realized, after all these years, I have been in desperate need of a beta reader. Seriously, my grammar and spelling were HORRIBLE. And while I am extremely grateful for my past readers putting up with that, I'll admit that I kinda wish I knew sooner.

Nevertheless, I'm back again to do this and do it right. And thanks to the features on this site, I can upload images onto the chapters themselves. Granted, I'm still trying to figure out how to do that, but I am going to try my hand at it. If anyone has a good tutorial on how to do it, please tell me.

Some things to note before we begin though.

1. While this is a continuation of the show, the last two episodes, Mega X and Crime of the Century never happened. Because one, I have my own arc in mind for the Mega Man X series in this, and two, I will forever despise how they characterized X. X is my favorite Mega Man of all time, and I really find Mega X to be a disservice to the character.

2. So I guess that makes this an AU/Canon Divergence fic in a way.

3. While this will maintain the general tone of the show, it will be darker in some areas, and there will be minor swearing. Oh, and the fact they're robots means I can get away with some gruesome stuff.

4. Instead of listing them as "episodes", I'm going to name the chapters normally, yet specify which "arc" they take place in. Because an "episode" that's ten chapters long is ridiculous. As are chapters that go on for thirty-some pages. I honestly don't know what I was thinking back then.

5. Each "season" (aka separate entry into the series) will contain a number of arcs.

6. This series WILL have cameos and references to other Capcom titles. Hey, this cartoon has Lion Men and evil genies, I don't think anything's out of the realm of possibility.

I owe a big amount of thanks to the stories Mega Man: Defender of the Human Race and Mega Man: Recut for inspiring me to do this. It started out bumpy, but I think I'm on the right track now.

Big thanks to Pika#8629 on Discord for beta reading this!

An Uncertain Future

Mega Man (c) of Capcom

The year was 200X.

At the turn of the century, after years of study and experimentation, Dr. Thomas Light had constructed his first artificial humanoid automaton. A robot. With the collaboration of his long-time friend and co-scientist, Dr. Albert Wily, the ambitious, wide-eyed inventor was eager to see the results of what would surely be his and his friend's extraordinary accomplishment.

But it was not to be.

The test run of the prototype went horribly wrong, the machine tearing up the laboratory the two had shared together. Thankfully, this period of chaos didn't last long, and the prototype was promptly crushed underneath a large generator that had collapsed atop it during its tirade.

Thomas Light theorized that perhaps the machine's CPU, more specifically, its guidance system, was in need of improvement. Albert Wily, having programmed the guidance system himself, took great offense to this, and it was then that the two men's partnership ended. Wily snuck his way into the lab and stole the prototype, disappearing with it, never to be seen again.

At least, that's what Light thought.

A few months later, Light, while without a partner, managed to push on and construct more machines, contributions that would change the world forever.

Rock and Roll Light were assembled as helper bots, and after their success, Light was commissioned to construct six new machines for industrial work. Only three were fully ready to be unleashed out into the world, however; the other three were still under construction. Yet these six were to herald in a new age of machines that would work alongside and assist mankind.

They would be the best in their fields. Hence, they were dubbed "Robot Masters".

Unfortunately, before any of that could begin, Dr. Wily came in and kidnapped Rock and Roll. And with a recently completed robot by his side, Proto Man, reprogrammed all six of Light's machines, redirecting their allegiance to the former scientist.

Thankfully, through some quick thinking from Rock, he and Roll managed to escape. But when they led the authorities to the site of the large fortress they were taken to, they found it completely abandoned. Dr. Wily, along with Proto Man and Dr. Light's robots, had disappeared into the night.

It was clear that, despite being only one man, Dr. Wily still had the necessary knowledge to not only reprogram machines but to construct and make more for himself.

Something had to be done, lest he release his destructive creations onto the world with no one to stop him. But it was then that Dr. Light had an idea. The robotics expert took Rock, a helper bot, and constructed him into what he called a "Super Fighting Robot".

Mega Man.

That had been years ago. A decade, in fact. And during those years, Mega Man, his Rock, had stood against Wily time after time again. And frankly, Light wondered just how long this pattern would continue.

The year was 201X now, and it seemed that so little had changed.

"Doc?"

Yet at the same time, things had changed quite a lot. Though it seemed that he was feeling the brunt of the passing time. He was so caught up in his thoughts, he was lost to the world.

"You ok?" Dr. Light turned to see a young, female android had entered the laboratory.

She had a youthful face, and her height made it appear that she was designed to look as if she was an older teenager or young adult. Her skin was light and peachy and her eyes were wide and sky blue. She wore a red and yellow jumpsuit with a grey belt with a silver buckle and red boots that came to just below her knees. Her hair was long and blonde, held up in a ponytail that displayed her hair's fullness and volume.

She was a stark contrast to how her creator appeared. True, while he still maintained the same style as always (tie, collared undershirt, and a lab coat), it was clear that the years were catching up with him. His once grey hair was turning white, and his eyes were steadily beginning to look more tired.

"Yes, I'm fine, Roll." Dr. Light answered the android.

"Just wanted to let you know breakfast is ready." Roll told him. "You nervous about today?"

"I suppose so." the old man answered. "I've just been...thinking a lot lately."

"About what?"

Dr. Light looked at Roll as if he were about to answer her but ultimately decided against it. After all, he had made a promise. He wouldn't tell them what was truly troubling him. He couldn't.

Before Roll could press further, an energetic "woof!" was heard, and a red robotic canine raced into the lab, immediately jumping up onto the older man.

"Rood Rorning!" the dog greeted, having been granted the ability to speak. Albeit with some...quirks. "Ready ro ro! Yeah, yeah!"

Dr. Light stumbled back a bit from the dog's weight. Even if the robot was the size of a medium-sized dog, give or take a few more inches, he weighed a good two-hundred plus pounds. Thus, the dog's greeting wasn't exactly kind to the human scientist's aging body.

"Hey, Rush! Be careful!" another voice called out, the source of it entering the lab. "Doc's not made of the same stuff you and I are."

The red dog immediately felt guilty and lowered his head. "Reah, rorry." Though he wasn't dejected for long, a small pet on his head reassured him that everything was forgiven.

Mega Man, or rather, Rock Light, stood before them, clad in azure armor that covered everything but his face. He bore thick, dark eyebrows, and large, blue eyes on a young face. If one wasn't familiar with the Blue Bomber, they wouldn't have believed that such a face belonged to one of Light's most famous creations.

"Doc here's a bit nervous about today." Roll said, Dr. Light not even getting in a word of protest before Mega began speaking again.

"You're nervous, Doc?"

Dr. Light sighed.

"Yes, I suppose so." he admitted.

Mega smiled. "Don't worry. This isn't any different than any of your other demonstrations." he gestured to a small, rectangular object hidden beneath a sheet, the sound of a little wheel spinning around heard every few moments or so. "And hey, at least this little guy can't really cause any trouble." Not that Light's inventions were the cause of any trouble persay. It just seemed that trouble always somehow found its way to them! Mainly thanks to a certain mad doctor.

"Hm...I suppose you're right." Dr. Light said. "Well, I best get going. Breakfast is probably getting cold." With that, he exited the lab, Roll and Rush following soon after.

Mega Man stayed in the lab, though. The Doc wasn't the only thing with something on his mind, or in the robot's case, his processor. Especially in one of his more recent dealings with Dr. Wily and Proto Man. But he could ponder all that later. Right now, they had a convention to get prepared for.

Still...Wily had been quiet for the past few weeks. Mega couldn't help but ponder just what the madman was up to this time.

Across the World

The Russian Far East, while beautiful in the winter of December, was not a forgiving land.

This particular area of the massive country and global superpower, despite being considered part of Siberia, had quite a history all of its own. It had been shaped by both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Sharing borders with China, Mongolia, Korea (North and South), and Japan, the Russian Far East held a history of cultures and customs that belonged to both the native Slavic people and those from neighboring, Eastern countries. The land was home to several tales of the past, from when the Russians had first conquered the uncharted land to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904, and even during the darkest days of the Soviet Union.

Ironic, considering where one poor man was currently.

Currently, he resided in a large, empty building constructed to look almost like a Russian palace or citadel, its shadow dominating all that were caught in its dark veil. A large onion dome rested atop a green tower in the center of the structure while the other four towers were shaped more like cones. Yet all had red flags waving in the cold, Arctic wind whipping at the very top. Cannons were stationed in each of the four corners of the building, ready to fire should anyone think of trying to get close.

He didn't wish to have to fire, and he prayed it wouldn't come to that. But there was no other option now. He had to do this. For her.

Suddenly, he heard the mobile device beeping in the pocket of his lab coat. His lips tightened in anger, knowing well who was calling him.

"Yes?" he asked, not even bothering with a greeting. Despite being mostly concealed in the darkness of his room, the man's voice had a thick Russian accent, but he spoke English with no difficulty. He also sounded middle-aged, a good few decades younger than his captor.

"I'd watch that tone if I were you." an older voice warned, also having an accent, specifically German. "Or did you forget that my robots are on their way to your humble little home right this minute?"

The man tightened his grip on the armrests of his chair.

"Yes. I'm more than aware."

Though he couldn't see it, his captor was probably grinning with satisfaction. The old fool actually had him under his power. Though, ultimately, he couldn't blame the madman who locked him in here for what was about to happen. No, this was his fault. He hadn't been careful enough. Now she was going to have to pay for it.

"Speaking of," the voice on the device spoke again. "I need to check where those nincompoops are now." his captor was about to end the call, yet he then remembered something. "She IS where you say she is, right?"

"I have no reason to lie to you. Not now," he confessed. "And you WILL bring her to where you say, yes?"

"Yes, yes, relax." the voice groaned. "And once this is all over, you and your brat can see each other again." without giving the man the chance to respond, the call ended, leaving the poor man all alone again.

"Proto Man! Come in!"

Primorsky Krai

A Federal Subject (Krai) of Russia

"Come in!"

"Read you loud and clear, Wily." Proto Man said, the other three robots with him listening in to Wily's orders.

"What's your status?" Wily questioned.

Proto Man looked ahead, the eyes hidden beneath his thick black visor gazing upon a rather unusual sight. It was concealed quite well behind a dense sea of trees, yet, in between them, he could spot colors and shapes that didn't fit in with the rest of the untamed forest around him.

"Seems luck's on your side for once, Doc." the android said. "We're standing right in front of it."

"Ah, good! Yes!" Wily cheered, clearly on an emotional high. "And with our dear friend's brat in my grasp, Mega Man's BOUND to come!"

"You're getting a bit ahead of yourself there, Doc." Proto Man replied. "We've got to GET her first before your new science partner does his part."

"Then what are you waiting for? Get on it!"

Wily ended the call. Proto Man, Cut Man, Guts Man, and Bright Man looked ahead at their destination.

"All right, boys." Proto Man began, adjusting his scarf. "Operation: Your Princess is in Another Castle, is officially underway!"

Note: This is more of a prologue if anything, but still, I want to set up the story so that it's a smooth transition from Bad Day at Peril Park to the first arc of this "season".

Please give your input and let me know what you think! Thank you!