Author's Notes: I do not own MMBN or lay claim to any characters thereof.

V & P, 'Fishy' was a pun,, (you know, 'Bass' is also a fish). I'm working on your StarMan, if I can ever get this third one to come together, I'll give him a role. I've got the idea, and I think it's pretty good, but I can't get it developed... Let me tell you, trying to do a DBD fic, which's not about a tournament, is maddening.

S. Rain; about the advances, I'm way ahead of you... And relax, I'm running out of hair jokes, and I haven't come up with any good one's lately so I may run out (unlikely, but it's a possibility).

Y. Y., STOP READING MY MIND!

Before you ask, Teddy-Man is sort of like a giant teddy bear.

Begin Chapter.

"At least we don't have to worry about that Bug Style thing." I commented as I waited for our next match to start. Right now Lan was busy beating the stuffing out of 'Teddy-Man', and when he was done, it would be Chaud and me in the arena. "I just hope we can beat Chaud again. We've got to win this match for the Hospital."

"We've rebuilt the folder we're using." Roll's voice came to me, "And designed it with a few tricks just for him, so it shouldn't be that much of a problem."

I paused as Lan started downloading Mini Boomers, when he was finished I said: "I know, but last time we barely squeezed out a victory. And Chaud's had a lot more time to study our moves, there's no telling what he's learned. But if we get past him, then there's one more round before the finals and you know what that means."

"I do." I could recognize the hesitation in her voice. "It'll be you and me, against Lan and Mega-Man..."

"And with that move, Teddy-Man has bit the dust!" Ribbita roared into her microphone. "Battler's please leave the station, and up next, it's the Tag Team Tournament all over again, as Maylu Sakurai and Roll take on Chaud Blaze and Proto-Man!"

I headed down to the arena, and felt this odd sense of déjà vu.

"Good luck," Lan's voice came to me, "I have a feeling we'll be meeting in the finals."

"I know." I nodded for him as I kept walking. "See you there."

"And Jack In now!" The announcer shouted.

"Jack in, Proto-Man, Power Up!"

"Jack in, Roll, Power up!"

"I've got the perfect strategy to beat you." Chaud informed me. "So watch out."

"We're ready." I grinned.

"BATTLE START!"

"Hurry, Crossfire Battle Chip in, Download!" I slammed the chip into my terminal. "Get in a quick shot!"

"I wasn't fast enough." Roll informed me as I heard her blast go wild, "Proto's already on the move!"

"Remember don't let him get too close," I ready another chip, "Chaud's folder is filled with swords, so stay away from him and we'll be alright."

"I remember." I heard my Navi vault around the arena, and Proto-Man slashing like mad trying to nail her. Roll was pretty fast, but I knew that sooner of later she'd tire out.

"Nice idea," Chaud's voice came to me, "Too bad it won't work, Area Steal, Battle Chip in, Download."

"Watch it!" I fumbled through my chips, where was that Pop Up? There it was! I grabbed the cartridge and jammed it into the gate. "Pop-"

"Ugh!" Roll cut me off; Proto-Man had beaten us to the punch. I heard a loud thud as she hit the ground, so much for our early advantage.

"Now, Long Sword, Download!" Chaud shouted.

"Pop Up!" I tried again. "Download!"

"Like I'm falling for that old trick again." My opponent chuckled, "No blind mode this time... Hero Sword Download!"

"I'm on it." The Raider's voice came to me, just before I heard a slight rustle. I recognized that sound instantly, it was the Proto Spin, where Proto-Man became nothing more than a spinning red blur, and his blades sliced through the air with incredible speed, on top of all that, he was nearly invincible while he was spinning. Sooner or later he'd have to clobber Roll, it was just a matter of time...

"AAHH!" I heard the Raider connect with Roll; this was not going well.

"Hang on!" I sent her another chip, "Cyber Sword, Download!"

"Take this!" I heard the two's blades clash and connect as they parried, fortunately, Roll was holding her own.

"If only we could distract Proto-Man somehow." I thought silently, he was creaming us right now, and if we didn't do something soon, it would be too late. "Come on, Maylu, think! There's got to be a way..."

"Let me know when he gets close." I instructed as I felt over my folder, I was beginning to form another plan.

"NOW!" Roll shouted.

"Body-Double, Battle Chip in, Download!"

I heard Proto-Man slash through something.

"Get ready..." I held the next chip over my Terminal. "It's time for a style change."

"Now, Fire Sword, Download!" Chaud barked.

"I see her," The raider replied, and I heard his quick footsteps.

"I knew you'd expect us to go for Wood Shadow Style." I slammed two chips into the opening. "But guess what?"

"Aqua Shield!" Roll announced. "Crystal Globe defense!"

I heard our opponent's sword bounce off of the shield; he hadn't been able to pierce it. "Now use your Bubbler!"

"Right." My friend agreed, just as I heard the sounds of her firing, "Hey, Proto, don't forget to wash your hair, and use conditioner. I don't want to have to cut it off again!"

"Just try it." Chaud muttered as his Navi got an impromptu bath. "We've strengthened his hair, it's never coming off again."

"Really? Wow." Roll's voice came to me. "But I've always wondered how he keeps it that long without getting dandruff."

"What!" Proto-Man's voice flooded the Network.

Roll clobbered him while he was in shock.

"Proto-Man snap out of it!" Chaud snapped.

I heard the Raider begin to fight back.

"Now!" I slotted in a Geyser chip.

"Geyser!" Mt Navi shouted, just before the sounds of an eruption came to me. "How did he do that? He just vanished!"

"It's an Area Steal!" I grabbed another chip, "Quick! Look out behind you! Variable Sword, Battle Chip in, Download!"

"Hey!" Roll shouted.

"What? What happened?" I heard a slight 'thud', and tried to puzzle out what had happened.

"They whacked off my hair!" My Navi informed me.

"Payback." There was a fair amount of satisfaction in Chaud's voice.

"THAT DOES IT! The gloves are off!" My Navi announced.

"We're ready for you." I heard Proto-Man mutter as he attacked.

"Cyber-Sword, Download!"

"Ugh!" I heard Roll block the attack, and swing in return, "He's gotten stronger!"

"Thanks," Chaud said at a barely audible level.

"Not so fast." I countered. "One good Full Synchro is all we need to beat you!"

"Did you say Full Synchro?" My opponent queried, I didn't like the tone of his voice. "Proto-Man?"

"I understand." The Raider's voice replied. "I'll have it for you in a moment..."

"Watch it!" I rifled through my folder, there had to be something that would help. "He's going to try for a Full Synchro, so... Leaf Shield, Download!"

I heard the defense form, and Proto-Man's attack connect with the barrier. I then listened as Roll bounded backwards, gaining some distance.

"Cannon, Download!" I sent the chip into the gate.

"Say cheese!" My Navi fired repeatedly.

I listened as the shots cancelled out without hitting anything; our opponent had dodged.

"Now, Wave Sword, Download!" Chaud instructed.

"I've got it." I heard the Raider unleash the sword's power.

"Where'd that come from?" I heard Roll fire again, then an explosion sounded. She'd been hit.

"Hurry attack again!" Chaud barked.

Then a groan from Proto-Man grabbed my attention; we'd nailed him.

"Full Synchro!" Roll shouted. "I countered his shot. I- oh no. Proto-Man's gone Full Synchro too!"

"That's right." Chaud's voice came to me. "This Netbattle just got a bit more interesting."

"And what a development!" Ribbita blared, "Proto-Man and Roll have both gone Full Synchro! This match is really heating up!"

"Now, let's end this." Chaud stated, "Program Advance!"

"Oh no." I rifled through my deck; I hadn't counted on Chaud pulling a Program Advance while in Full Synchro. I'd never even considered the fact that he might go Full Synchro, and the Desert Storm wouldn't stand up to a Dream Sword Advance. Things didn't look that good for us right now.

"Cyber Sword, Battle Chip in, Download!" My Opponent shouted, "Wide Sword, Battle Chip in, Download!"

"Get ready!" I tensed; this was going to be the hardest thing we'd ever done.

"And Long Sword, Battle Chip in, Download. Program Advance:"

"Life Force Sword." Proto-Man finished as he unleashed its power.

The Advance tore at us.

"Program Advance now!" I cried.

"Life Force Sword!" Roll unleashed the attack, and her own blast of energy roared through the air.

"Where'd that come from?" My opponent actually sounded shocked as our advance cancelled his own.

"We rebuilt our folder for this battle." I explained, "And included the Dream Sword, just in case, and I'm glad we did."

"HAAA!" Roll and Proto-Man's Dream Swords crashed with unbelievable power, the combination of the Full Synchro and the Program Advance was incredible.

I listened to them dodge and parry, and I knew that the slightest mistake could be the last move we made.

Roll's blade sliced against her opponent's, and I heard energy charge the air as the two Advances met.

"I won't give up!" My Navi announced.

"Neither will I." The Raider agreed.

I strained to make out what was going on... the Advances and the raw energy in the air were nearly drowning out all of the other sounds. As a result I was having a hard time following the battle.

"Come on, Roll." I muttered.

An explosion erupted from the computer, and the speakers squealed so loud that I had to throw my hands over my ears in an attempt to block the noise out.

"I don't believe it!" Ribbita shouted.

The noise died away, and silence reigned, no one spoke and no sound offered me a clue as to what had happened.

"Roll?" I ventured into the air.

"I'm... fine, just exhausted." She panted, "The Synchro's still there, I can feel it. But the Dream Swords just exploded. Proto-Man's still standing, and he's got to be as exhausted as I am... He's still in Synchro."

"Let's end this." Proto-Man gasped.

"Wave Sword download!" Chaud instructed.

"Crystal Globe!" I heard the attack bounce off of her, "That was it, Aqua Shield's gone... I've got enough energy left for one attack, let's make it count."

I felt my deck, there was only one move left, and it was risky. "You ready?"

"I am. Now that I've healed a little, let's roll!"

"I thought you hated that phrase." I slammed the chip home; it was the last sword in our folder. "Bamboo Sword, Download!"

"Alright, Let's do this!" I heard Roll take off running.

"Long Sword, Battle Chip in, Download." Chaud's voice came to me.

The two battlers closed in on each other, and slashed.

Proto-Man Logging Out.

"YES!" Roll and I shouted in unison, "We did it!"

"And Maylu and Roll have done it once again!" Ribbita shouted at the top of her lungs. "So it's on to the next round, Lan Hikari vs. Peter Pike! Followed by Maylu Sakurai against Dirk Ruble!"

End Chapter.

Next: STOP, THIEF!

Next update: Tuesday.