Author's Notes: I don't own anything but the idea for this fic.

I figured that since not a lot happens in this chapter, I'd update both today and tomorrow.

I'm trying to figure out where in the MMNTW timeline this takes place, it's got to be after the WWW because they've got the Unison ability, but it can't be during Nebula because I've already said that they're watching out for the WWW, but then considering the ending... Oh well, I'll figure it out eventually.

B. D. Yugi, Yeah, I figured out where your name came from, that Yu-Gi-Oh thing, I saw a commercial for it and immediately came up with about twenty hair jokes (Why do all of these Japanese shows give the characters such weird hair styles?). And what's with the guy who looks like every blood vessel in his face is about to explode? Please don't answer, I don't want to know.

Begin Chapter.

I left the building in shock; I had never even considered the possibility that Lan might decide to enter the Battle Expo.

"What are we going to do?" I wondered aloud. "We can't fight Lan and Mega-Man. We just can't!"

"I know." Roll agreed, "What if- oh, I can't go there."

"Maybe we just need to calm down." I started up the street. "For all we know, Proto-Man may beat Mega-Man early on, and we'll never have to fight him."

"And the odds of that are?"

"Slim to none." I shook my head, "But I guess there's no use in worrying about it, we'll just have to accept whatever happens."

"So..." My friend tried to change the subject, "What now?"

"Well, I think we need to drop by Higsby's, trading Battle Chips aren't going to be a part of this tournament, thankfully, so I'd like to have a few tricks up our sleeve."

"I hear you." Roll obviously remembered Frank's attempt to cheat us. "We used a lot of sword strategy in that last tournament. Maybe we should get a few blaster type chips."

"Sounds good to me." I began our journey across town; Higsby's wasn't that far away, and the trip there was uneventful.

We found the shop and went inside.

"So, Maylu, what can I do for you?"

"Hi, Higsby," I replied, "We've come to get a couple of Cannon type chips."

"Well, that's pretty specific," The chip nerd replied, "I've got Cannons, Hi-Cannons, M-Cannons, Shotguns, Crossfire, Spreaders, Blaster Bombs, you name it, I've got it. Why do you want them?"

"Roll and I just entered the Battle Expo," I launched into the explanation, "And we'd like to have a few tricks up our sleeves."

"I see..." Higsby replied, "But I thought that you had retired from competition."

"I did, but the Youth Hospital's in major trouble, so I thought that if we can win the tournament, then we can help them out."

"Oh, the one with the rare chip, ah..." The nerd's voice trailed off, "A level five rarity, the Hero Sword... so rare... so valuable." "Houston, we have a problem," my pink friend muttered, "Higsby's spaced out again." "I know." I sighed, if you so much as mentioned a rare chip to this guy, he'd leave you behind and drift off to some make believe fantasy. And there was only one way to snap him out of it. "HIGSBY!"

"WHAOA!" The nerd sounded like he'd been snapped out of a deep sleep, "Oops, sorry about that. Uh, what did you want again?"

"A blaster type chip." I started over from the beginning. "For the tournament."

"Oh right." The salesman caught on. "It's too bad about the hospital, one of their backers is calling in his loan. If they don't come up with a million Zen in about a month, they're shut down. I'll miss the old place."

"They will?" I hadn't heard that bit of news.

"I'm afraid so... Now, what type of gun do you want?"

"What do you think Roll?"

"I like the sound of that shotgun." My Navi replied.

"Alright, and I think I'll take a Crossfire as well."

"Very good." Higsby's voice came over the sound of typing, "A Shotgun and a Crossfire, nice choice."

We completed the transaction and left Higsby to his fantasies. As far as we were concerned, the guy was weird, but what could you do about it?

"Maylu, phone call from Lan." Roll announced.

"Put him on." I found and raised my terminal so that I could hear him. "Hello?"

"Hey, Maylu," Lan's voice was filled with excitement. "Guess what? There's a new tournament, Battle Expo, and me and Mega-Man just entered!"

"I know," I hated what I was about to say next. "You do?" "Yes," I didn't give myself time to get cold feet; I just rushed on, "Because me and Roll entered as well." "WHAT!"

"Lan, the Youth Hospital's in serious trouble, if me and Roll can win the tournament, then we'll be able to give them a lot of help."

"But- but." The Op stuttered, "But we'll have to compete against each other! I can't do that!"

"But you take on Dex all the time." I countered.

"But Dex is- Dex." Lan was still shell-shocked. "You're you, I can't fight you. And I know Mega-Man can't fight Roll, we just can't! Look, I'll drop out, that way you can still compete."

I knew how much he loved Netbattling competition, and I just couldn't let him throw this match away. "You can't do that, Lan, I couldn't bear to compete if you dropped out. Let's not worry about it, maybe we'll never have to meet in the arena."

"But if we do?"

"Let's not let it affect us."

"No holding back just because we're friends," Lan finished for me, "And no matter what the outcome, it's alright with me, if it's fine with you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I agreed, "Like that match between me and Tory in the N-1, we'll stay friends no matter what." "I agree. See you there." But I didn't think that he sounded convinced as the connection ended.

"Well, Roll." I muttered, "It's done. I hope we don't have to fight Lan, but if we do, we can't pull any punches."

"I know," My friend agreed, "Who'd have thought that I'd ever want Proto-Man to beat Mega?"

End Chapter.

Author's Notes: O.K., now they're pushing it, begging for Proto to beat Mega.

M. O. Water, I'm updating! I'm updating! Don't hurt Roll! I repeat, DO NOT harm Roll, should you attempt to do so, I will intervene.

Y. Y., I do all of these Chaud and Proto-Man hair jokes, because his overall design really annoys me. I mean, we didn't get our beloved Proto-Man back, we got Zero with a name change! And that long silver hair of his, ugh, it just drives me up the wall. It goes for Chaud too, black and white hair? Who came up with that? I made a lot of fun of their hair in my first story, and then disappointed a lot of people when I didn't continue the tradition in the sequel, so it's kind of become my signature move.

Next: Let the battles begin! Roll vs. Stealth!

Next Update: Friday.