Megaman Battle Network: Rise of the VR King
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters legally. Capcom is the one who created them.
This series is based more on the MMBN games, and not the anime.
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"Well, that was some Net Battle, Dekao!" Netto squeaked, as he brushed his arm over his forehead. "You've been improving, I can tell you that!"
"Well, if THAT isn't praise from Caesar." Dekao grumbled. "I still lost to you."
"That may be true, but you were pretty close, man!" The full-haired kid patted his fin-haired pal in the back. "Who knows? You might actually beat me one day!"
"Yeah," Megaman shook Gutsman's hand sportingly. "I'm impressed at how fast you've become."
"I gotta be fast to beat you, Mega, guts, so Dekao enhanced my speed capabilities, guts!" The big Navi thumbs-upped his pal. He looked at Megaman. "We still pals?"
"Of course, you goof!" Megaman smiled, before the both of them returned to their PETs.
"Okay, let's check out the arcade games!" Dekao commanded, before he and Netto spotted Meiru with Eiji. "Meiru-chan, who's the kid?" His voice seemed to push the little guy a little back.
"Oh, this little guy's Eiji Himezaki." Meiru said. "He's a big fan of you and Megaman, since you saved the world lots of times, Netto-kun."
"Wow!" Eiji was in awe. His eyes pointed to Dekao, however. "You're a lot fatter than from what I heard of. No offense."
"Uh, hehehe..." Netto stood in front of the slowly raging green-shirted kid. "I'm Netto Hikari." He pointed behind himself. "That's my best friend, Dekao Oyama."
"Yo." He airlessly said.
"Hey!" Eiji suddenly squeaked. "I have a Navi too!" He pulled out his PET. "This is my Net Navi, Pallette."
"Oh, uh..." The female Navi was overcome with sudden embarrassment. "N-Nice to meet you all."
"Hi! I'm Megaman, and in Dekao's PET is my pal, Gutsman." The blue Navi turned to see his pal's eyes in sudden hearts.
"Wow... she's just as cute as Roll-chan!" He bubbled. "Gutsman will help pretty Navi with ALL problems, guts! Just as long as my brain doesn't hurt too much from doing them, guts."
Pallette's eyes simply gawked at the construction Navi. "Right..."
"You don't often see a boy with a girl Navi." Netto bluntly stated. "How'd you get her?"
"My older sisters bought me a PET just a few months ago for my birthday, with a Navi that I could customize to my likings." The grey-eyed boy glanced down. "Because my sisters are always working, they're never really around enough for me to spend time with them, so they gave me a Navi in their place."
"Aww, that's harsh." Meiru said.
Eiji's voice seemed to pick up. "Since at that time, I wanted a sisterly figure that I could always hang out with, so I made Pallette. She's one of my best friends, and we often come to Giga City to have fun. But she's also like the sister I wanted, who would often help me with homework, and be strict with me too. That's why I love my Pallette so much!"
"Wow..." The other two guys looked at each other, then at the boy, who was hugging his PET carefully. They both seemed to think, "Obsessive..."
"Would you like to hang out with us, Eiji?" Meiru offered.
"W-Wow! I'd be delighted! Thank you so much!" He naturally squeaked, and bowed politely. "Whatcha think, Pallette? We're gonna have fun with Netto Hikari and Megaman!"
"I wish he didn't treat me and Megaman like gods..." Netto thought to himself.
"Well, it will be interesting to see how he acts on a day-by-day, not-saving-the-world basis." Pallette said.
As the little boy had his hand grabbed by Meiru, a disturbing thought bothered Dekao. "Of course! It all makes sense now!" He panicked in his mind. "Meiru-chan doesn't wanna go places with me, or even Netto-kun, because she's interested in younger men! That kid's like almost a whole year or two younger than us, and to her, that's her perfect soulmate!" He started crying on the spot. "How am I supposed to compete with that?"
"Uh-oh... Dekao is thinking something stupid..." Gutsman said to himself.
"Dekao! Come on, slowpoke!" Netto called out, which snapped the fat kid out of his thoughts, as they headed to the arcade area.
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The four friends were now enjoying the time of their lives, including Netto and Dekao losing to Megaman and Gutsman in a Navi-compatible Capcom All-Stars fighting game, winning a couple more plushies at another UFO Catcher game, cat-calling Roll and Pallette at a Navi Dance Dance station, and even Dekao (of all people) regaling the group (though mostly directed to Eiji) of how he helped Netto save the world one time, followed with laughter.
The four were now at the food court, each taking a slice of pizza from a big pan. Meiru laughed at how Netto got a large string of melted cheese on his face, and Eiji tucked his PET into his pocket while gawking at the fattest of his three new friends scarfing down his pizza slice before reaching for a second one.
"Guys, I'm gonna get soooooo full when this is all done!" Dekao wailed, as he finished his second big slice.
"Gonna hibernate when we get back to ACDC, Dekao?" Netto joked.
"Probably!"
"Hey, Eiji," His voice turned to the grey-eyed boy. "Where do you live?"
"Oh, I live in an apartment building a little away from Giga City with my two elder sisters." Eiji stated. "From here to my place, it's almost four kilometers away, but I don't mind the walk there. In fact, I like to walk around!"
"Eiji's certainly an interesting kid, Pallette." Megaman said, as the four of the Navis were sitting on padded seats in the Net Area.
"I know he is." The green-clothed Navi nodded. "He's a smart and nice boy, and I'm really glad that he's made friends with your operators."
"He doesn't have a lot of friends in his neighborhood?" Roll asked.
"Not really." She looked down. "He only has one or two good friends at his elementary school, and when he adds me as well, that only adds up to three. And to boot, since his school doesn't employ teaching with Navis, I don't have a lot of companions either."
"Gutsman will be your friend, guts!" Gutsman chimed, raising his fist. "And Gutsman will hit people who don't like you, guts!"
"Now that's not really necessary, Gutsy!" Roll sooth-sayed. "But, we would like you to be our friend! It'd be nice to have another girl in our clique!"
Pallette blushed. "You... really would like me to be your friend?"
"Of course!" Megaman confirmed. "You seem like a nice girl! We think we'll get along just nicely!" The blue Navi certainly did not expect a sudden hug from the pig-tailed Navi, along with a slightly surprised Roll.
"Thank you so much, all of you!"
A sudden beeping came from Netto's PET. "Megaman, could you check what that was?"
"Sure thing, Netto-kun." Megaman checked the beep, and smiled. "It's an e-mail from Zero. He said that we should be down there right away, because it's gonna start soon!"
"Hey, thanks for the update, Megaman!"
The four of them got up from their seats, and started heading towards the VR exhibit in the upper level of the Giga City complex. Dekao stupidly kept an eye on Meiru and Eiji, as they looked around at the advertisements of movies that would appear, such as the new Breath of Fire epic, and Viewtiful Joe FX: Team Alastor. Netto was looking at his PET though.
"Hey Megaman, do you think Centaurman might try something funny at the unveiling?"
"I wouldn't put it past that guy, Netto-kun." Megaman thought. "This is a great human advancement, Zero said it was. That's more than likely the next target on their list. So let's keep an eye out for him."
"Got it."
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"Well, that was some demonstration! I think I'm gonna give it a shot now!"
Netto, Meiru, Dekao, and Eiji walked in on the demo floor, seeing a small crowd of people looking at the booths and various capsules. A familiar man seemed to loom over the four of them, with his massive fiery red hair and red goatee. He was wearing orange track pants with a fire-print shirt.
The man smirked. "Well, if it isn't Netto Hikari. How are things?"
"Mr. Match! What are you doing here?" Netto inquired.
He face-faulted to the ground. "I thought I told you to stop calling me that! You know well that my name is Hinoken!"
"Did we just miss the demonstration, Hinoken-san?" Meiru asked innocently.
"Well, missy, you just did." Seeing the slumping girl and little boy, he shrugged his shoulders. "But, since I've got nothing better to do, I think I'll help you guys out with how it works."
"Really?"
"Thank you so much, mister!" Eiji squeaked, catching the fiery master off guard.
As they walked over to five conveniently laid-out capsules, Hinoken laid out some ground explanations.
"Firstly, they said to hook your PET into this slot here." He grabbed his, and slid his orange PET into the console, latching hooks all over the device.
"Which Navi do you have with you this time, Match?" Netto quipped.
Ignoring the nickname given to him, he glared at him, before going back to the capsule. "Fireman. He has better perks over Heatman and Flameman." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, after the light under the PET slot turns green, the person enters the capsule, and they will be put into a mild sleep."
"Wow."
"The data of the person inside the larger capsule, and the encrypted code of the Net Navi inserted will be uploaded into the virtual realm, creating an avatar consisting of you and your Navi." He left the four of them hanging, as he walked over to the capsule. "But, I think I'll explain more when we get inside the reality."
"Okay!" They each walked up to a capsule, and slid in their PETs. "Jack in, Megaman/Roll/Gutsman/Pallette! Execute!" Their lights shined a bright green, as they jumped into the capsules, and felt their minds relax suddenly, as they lay back, and felt their eyes shut, and they went under the effect of the capsule.
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"Okay, is everyone accounted for?"
The four's eyes looked upon Hinoken, only he was wearing Fireman's body, his hands popping out of the Navi's blasters, and his fiery mane pillowing out from under the fire-spewing helmet.
"Whatcha think of THIS?" Hinoken gloated, showing off his fiery new style.
"This feels awesome!" Netto exclaimed, as he looked at himself, draped in Megaman's blue suit, gloves, and boots. His bandana smoothed down a bit, making it look like a makeshift version of his Navi's helmet. "I feel like I AM Megaman now!"
"Yeah, this is cool!" Dekao flexed, as his Navi's armor took to the shape of his round form, throwing a construction helmet on his head, and a metal jaw on his cheeks, making his mouth semi-visible.
"Wow! I look good!" Meiru squealed, as she was enveloped in Roll's Navi suit, her legs covered in pink and black stockings and pink boots, with her short hair sticking out in a tiny ponytail, and the rest of her head covered in her Navi's similar helmet.
"WAAAAAAAAAH!" Eiji wailed, as he looked down at himself. He was in his Navi's green dress, black stockings and white shoes, white gloves past his elbows, and even his brown hair was frayed into small pigtails. "I-I don't know what to say..."
"BWAHAHAHAHA!" The Mega and Guts duo laughed unintentionally at Eiji, before getting a hard smack from Meiru.
"That was mean, you two!" She roared, making them shake, while walking over to comfort Eiji.
The fire-Navi operator cupped his chin in thought. "I thought the avatar would take on the aspect of the person, not the Navi." He shrugged, and then waved the four of them over. "C'mon, let's check this place out."
"Wow, you sound like a teacher, Hinoken." Netto was in awe.
He snapped. "I told you to call me Hinoken--" He stopped when he realized his folly. "Oh right, you did." He smiled lightly. "Well, I do aim to be one someday. Though what I'm gonna teach in that time, I wouldn't know."
"Yeah, you'd be good..." Dekao said. "Not as good as Mariko-sensei, but you'd be there... you wouldn't be as hot either..."
"DROP IT, DEKAO!"
Glad to hear his 'students' shutting up the fat kid, Hinoken walked into the gateway, with the others following fast behind him. On the other side was a beautifully laid out neighborhood of houses and trees, showing bright blue skies overhead. Where there was a big clearing with trees and benches, they could see lots of people in their 'avatar selves' talking with each other.
"Wow! This looks too much like ACDC Town!" Meiru said in awe. A strange look caught her face. "Is that my house over there?"
"I know, it's weird!" Netto said. "It's also weird how I can feel the grass underneath my feet," he took a deep breath. "And I feel myself breathing in the air here. This place is really tripping me out!"
Eiji put a gloved finger to his chin. "It might be that when we went under, the capsule is taking readings of our bodies, and they could be hooking us up to the VR thingy. Technically speaking, it's like we're actually in this world!"
"Well, you kids certainly enlisted a smart guy, didn't ya?" Hinoken ruffled Eiji's hair, messing the made pigtails easily.
"If we can feel these sensations here, then I wouldn't really want to know what having Net Battles here will be like..." The Roll-Girl worried herself.
"Hmm, come to think of it, the unveilers never demonstrated anything about fighting in this VR place." The fire-user contemplated. "Maybe it's something that's already in this program, but we have to discover it ourselves."
"That sounds like it would work like that!" Netto nodded.
Thankfully, a sign appeared beside them, as the shortest in their clique walked up to it. "Hmm," Eiji hmm-ed aloud. "It says it right here. In order to initiate Battle Mode in the VR program, speak out the command "Execute-Battle Mode", and then the user will be in battle mode. The only battle chips you can use in the VR program, are the ones you inserted into your Chip Folder alongside your PET, and you cannot upload any outside chips, or dark chips."
"That sounds agreeable." Dekao shrugged.
"Oh yes, it most certainly does!"
A wavy and unsavory voice bellowed out, as the people in the vicinity turned to see a peculiar pair of Navis: both with blue and black streamlined body suits and crystal shards sticking out their arms and legs; their eyes gave them away as one being male, and the other being female. Between them was a pulsating orb half the size, shining the same colors as the humanoids next to it.
"Worthless beings!" It boomed again. "Grand Divinity will purge the world that you god-awful humans and the Navi dogs who toil beside you fill!" The twins started glowing. "I, Geminiman, prophet of Grand Divinity, will see to it that this monstrosity will not see the light of fruition!"
The two Navis started raining transparent white beams from their hands into the environment around them, making the panicked denizens run and hide in fear. And any of the unfortunate people who got blasted by the attack seemed to phase out of the program.
"How did those solo Navis get in here?" Meiru wondered.
"This is terrible!" Eiji squeaked. "They're gonna ruin everything!"
"Well," Netto said, mumbling something underneath his breath, before his right hand became a Buster. "I think we should take this guy down!"
"Hmm, I like the way you think, boy!" Hinoken agreed, as he felt his fire burning inside him, as he fired a burst of flames at the direction of the threatening Navi.
The humanoid representations of Geminiman turned around and eyed the fiery man and his younger entourage. "What? Humans who dare defy the will of Grand Divinity?"
"Yeah!" Netto bursted his voice towards the orb directly. "And how did you even get in here anyway? This is a closed area!"
The humanoids chuckled alongside the voice. "You humans think you're the only ones who have this ability to transcend the flesh and the code?"
"I bet you stole the plans for this machine!" Hinoken accused.
"Precisely. And with it, we will become the new rulers of this world! Of a world where humans will die, and Navis will serve under our glorious king!"
"Yeah right! Who the heck thinks that we're gonna let you evil nut bags have your way with humanity?" Netto defied.
"Ooh, nice one!" Dekao and Meiru were impressed.
"Battle Routine, set! Execute!" Everyone yelled.
The humanoid bodies started bearing their blasters as well, placing their non-transformed hands onto the orb, filling their bodies with a strange aura surrounding them. They fired two pure white beams into the air, dissipating quickly, before pointing at their five enemies.
"The only thing that you humans understand is crushing defeat. And so, deletion from life will be your ultimate punishment for defying us."
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"Ten people were attacked and offlined by that solo Navi in the VR program! They affiliate themselves with that Grand Divinity organization."
"Have you retrieved the people?"
"The offlined victims have been removed from the VR program, and their PETs have been placed with them. But that's not the problem, sir."
"What is it now?"
"The offlined victims... they aren't waking up..."
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Sudden explosions rang out across what was once the bustling VR demo town. Now it was a battlefield as Geminiman squared off angrily against Netto and his crew. Now in battle mode, the humans released their busters, and twin guns for Eiji. Their eyes shifted at the two humanoids firing their busters at them, having to quickly dodge the simple shots while adapting to fighting as themselves instead of their Navis.
"Is this the strength of you humans?" The orb questioned. "If you are trying to resist us, at least put in some effort. You appear foolish!"
"I'll show you foolish!" Dekao raged as he charged up and unleashed his Guts Punch into one of the humanoid puppets, knocking it back before he was being pelted with more shots. "Hey! Little help, guys!"
A charged Mega Buster shot knocked the other doll down, and then his arm became a Mettaur shield. "Mettaur Guard!" Netto held the shield out, deflecting all the shots aiming at his portly friend back towards the other representation as shockwaves. "You alright, man?"
"Thanks for the cover!" He thanked, before his yellow colored glove on his Guts suit became a large blaster, aiming over the shield. "Let's see... let's try this new Arc Bomb out on you, freaks!" The weapon launched overhead and past the shield, exploding on contact with the terrain, knocking the representations and Dekao and Netto away.
"Guys! What are you doing?" Meiru called out, charging her buster. She let loose a Roll Arrow towards Geminiman, the orb grunting from the sudden shock of the attack. "The orb is the true body! Aim for the orb!"
"You discovered too late, wench!"
The twins phased in front of the orb, and they started glowing a faint green, as they touched the main body. They started dashing along the ground, firing their busters in broken patterns, the evil Navi taking delight in watching the humans evading every single volley.
"I guess, it's my turn now!" Eiji exclaimed, whipping out the two guns in his gloved hands out towards Geminiman. "Pallette Bullets!"
The unphasing twins kept blocking his buster volley, the weak shots not even pushing them back while they continued circling them. However, Netto unleashed a charged Buster shot amidst the younger's blasts, knocking over the twins' pattern, causing them to halt in paralysis.
"What?"
"Time to unleash all that we have!" Hinoken roared out, as his arm cocked back, with a fiery sword coming out of his hand. "Fire Sword!" He dashed forward, and dealt a deep slash into the Navi's spherical body.
"How dare you wound me, human!" Geminiman glowed brightly. "Gemini Beam!" He fired out a pure white beam that knocked Hinoken down, and started bouncing around the entire area, laughing as the beam forced the others to dodge it and halt their assault for now. He fired two more, laughing maniacally. "Now what are you unworthy humans to do?"
"Here's what we'll do!" Eiji said, his gun-toting hands turning into a big cannon. "Hi-Cannon!" The shot launched the boy into Dekao, but dealt a strong blow into the orb, causing the beams to short out and dissipate altogether.
"Good shot!" Netto fired his buster repeatedly, striking Geminiman endlessly, ignoring his groans of pain. Now his buster took on the form of a lighter colored sword. "Time to pull out a Sword on you!"
"Not so fast!"
Before the blue-clad guy could strike at the core, the two twins knocked him down with a double tackle. The orb started glowing a bleak black, before his representations glowed in the similar light.
"If you think this is over, you are pitifully wrong, human!" The orb circled very fast around the twins, before it disappeared altogether. "Desperation Move: DUPLICATE LIFE!" The blank-eyed twins now gained red irises, as their voices now mimicked the previous form. They both dodging a swipe from Netto, and nailed him hard in the back with two Gemini Beams, with an added smirk. "Now try us, human freak!"
Both forms were rushed by a large row of fire. Hinoken, with his charged Fire Arm, and Meiru with her Heat Shot battlechip, smirked. The pink avatar girl kept launching Heat Shots as her older teammate charged up another Fire Arm, this time grazing their foes' bodies. And Dekao unleashed a surprise Guts Punch at one of the Geminiman, causing the other to suddenly clutch its chest in pain.
"Now you're gonna get it for that cheap shot!" Netto charged angrily. "Two bodies but you still share the same health? Now you're gonna get some pain!" Netto's sword became a much longer Long Sword, as Eiji melded both his hands to become a big-widthed Wide Sword. "Ready, Eiji?"
"Yeah!"
Both swords met with the stunned bodies of the Navi(s). Data was now leaking massively out of their arms and bodies, like dripping blood from a wound. The enemies were now becoming enveloped in a bright flash of light, as their programming was now collapsing on themselves.
"This will not be the last you've heard of me, damned humans! I will get my revenge!"
Geminiman's bodies exploded, now becoming erased bits of data in the system. The five of them sighed in relief, as the familiar body of Zero appeared.
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"Megaman, you and your friends will be automatically logged off while we handle this little clean-up." Zero authorized. "Though, we at NAXA and SciLabs thank you for taking care of that Navi."
"Will everyone be okay?" Netto inquired.
"That's where we got a problem..." The red ex-Virus looked down. "The people whose avatars got deleted in this run by Geminiman have gone into comas."
"Comas?" Hinoken furrowed his brow.
"Not only that, but the Navis belonging to the coma victims cannot be retrieved from the VR program."
Netto looked grim. "It can't be that serious, can it?"
"I'm afraid it is. SciLabs and the creators of the VR system, Holonax, have released word that until these problems are fixed, and the comatose victims are reawakened, the VR world will have to be shut down." The big Navi sighed. "It's a shame, really. I really wanted to come here and challenge you to a friendly duel here, Megaman."
"Well, of course we're gonna have to hold it off, Zero. But hey, we'll have that fight again sometime, after this problem's solved!" Netto was invigorated.
"Wow..." Eiji was looking at him admirably. "He is as powerful as he is friendly!"
Dekao only laughed at the little guy, smacking his back repeatedly. "Man, you really are a big Netto fan!"
"Now listen to me, Megaman." Zero asked. "I am assuming that Grand Divinity will try to round up the encoded data of the comatose victims' Navis, turning them essentially into soldiers for their sick purposes. We at SciLabs need you and your friends to help save the encoded Navis and assist us in stopping Grand Divinity!"
"Since when have I ever let anyone down?" Netto gloated, unintentionally letting Eiji drink off his shining brilliance. "You can count on us!"
"We'll let you know immediately if something comes up." Zero nodded. "Now, please log out, as we will begin cleaning up."
And with that, the five of them logged out of the VR realm.
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It was now nighttime in ACDC Town. Most specifically, it is in Netto Hikari's bedroom, as he slides himself under his bedsheets and covers, breathing deeply to himself.
"That was some day, huh, Netto-kun?" Megaman asked.
He nodded. "We got to play some games, win some plushies, make some new friends, and even stop an evil Navi." He shifted his head to the PET on his night table. "And besides, being in that virtual world, with me in command over your powers... it felt so cool. Like I was really you... Saito."
His Navi brother looked down. "Yeah, I bet it did feel good, Netto-kun."
"I really wish that they could improve on those VR things, so that we both could walk around together, and have fun, like real brothers."
"Someday, Netto-kun. But hey, I bet you didn't notice that Eiji was looking at you a lot."
"Well, it would be a little overwhelming to stand in the presence of a savior of the world!" He giggled to himself.
"A savior who still manages to get only C averages in his classes." It was Megaman's turn to laugh.
The brown-haired kid yawned. "Oh well. Tomorrow's another summer day." He turned his head back to the wall, seeing the picture he took with Dekao, Meiru, Eiji, and Hinoken before he left. He smiled lightly.
"Would you like to save your progress?" Megaman stupidly said, before the both of them started laughing.
"Oh, you crack me up." He yawned wider, and closed his eyes. "Good night, Megaman."
"Sleep well, Netto-kun."
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"Your Majesty, even though Geminiman has fallen, the plan was a success. The scientists have shut down the VR Realm and have barred it from the general masses, with the comatose victims' Navis still trapped in the programming."
"Excellent. Centaurman, extract all of the Navis' data, and take them... to the Asylum. I will focus on reviving our fallen comrade Geminiman."
"As you wish."
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The story, will continue next time...
