Rhythm blinked her eyes, adjusting to the darkness of the caves. There were a few lanterns set up here and there, but the caves were definitely darker than the outside. Unlike the lecture hall, the caves were also full of noises. Rhythm gulped when she heard yet another resounding echo ringing around the cave walls. Was the next Robot Master hanging around just up ahead? Rhythm activated her Rhythm Buster, preparing for anything. The echoing steps came closer and closer. Between the lecture hall and this cave, Rhythm would of preferred the lecture hall.

"Who-" somebody started saying. Rhythm lost it, she was just done with creepy dark places. She left loose a volley of wild shots, not really thinking. "Hey!" the voice exclaimed. Rhythm worked her eyes open, they went wider as she saw what was in front of her. Another Robot Master, but this one wasn't gleaming with power like the other ones. This one wasn't even painted. She had a big frown on her face though.

"Chill, alright?" she said. Rhythm grinned embarrassed, and deactivated her Rhythm Buster.

"Sorry, you startled me." she explained. The Robot Master sighed.

"Alright, but don't get trigger-happy next time somebody startles you." she said. She extended a hand.

"Name's Lazuli, what's yours?" she asked. Rhythm smiled, relieved to have met a friendly Robot Master for once.

"Rhythm." she said, shaking Lazuli's hand. Lazuli smiled.

"Are you like me? Trying to stop Regis?" she asked. Rhythm nodded.

"Yeah. I've already beat five of his Robot Masters." she said. Lazuli gave a low whistle.

"Impressive," she said, then pointed behind herself. ", Think you're up for beating a sixth? I could use some help getting in." she asked. Rhythm nodded.

"You bet." she agreed.


Later, further down the caves, Rhythm was glad that she had company. Lazuli seemed to have done that kind of stuff before, always hinting at being around for ages. After beating a Sniper Joe with her help, Rhythm decided to ask Lazuli where she came from. Lazuli instantly looked away.

"Sorry, don't have any info." she said hastily before running ahead. Rhythm frowned, that wasn't any help. Then again, Lazuli might have been a robot that had been running from the government for years and didn't want to get caught. Rhythm decided to listen more carefully to what she said, that seemed to work sometimes. Lazuli didn't say anything though. The walk to the Robot Master was silent. And dark. No lanterns lit up the walls anymore. Rhythm couldn't see a foot in front of her face. She couldn't see a rock in front of her foot either. Rhythm crashed into the ground. She groaned.

"Are you okay?" Lazuli asked. Rhythm propped herself up, and gave a long exhale.

"Yeah, I can't see though." she mumbled.

"One second." Lazuli said. Soon, a small light came from Lazuli's weapon. Rhythm smiled.

"A flashlight." she said relieved. Lazuli chuckled nervously.

"Yeah, can't fight with it on though." she admitted. Rhythm almost felt like face-palming, but resisted the urge.

"Tell you what, you leave the light on, and I'll do the fighting." she suggested. Lazuli laughed.

"Sounds good to me, but save some of the next Robot Master for me." she said. Rhythm laughed too, Lazuli had just the right attitude to calm her down.

"How long have you been fighting?" Lazuli suddenly asked. Rhythm looked down.

"Only a couple of days." she admitted. She didn't want to say anything else though.

"I'll give you space." Lazuli said. Rhythm smiled.

"Thanks." she said. Lazuli nodded and kept walking. Rhythm stayed close behind. The cave gradually started to widen out, leading to the main cavern. If luck would have it, a shadowy Robot Master waited in the back. He looked up, looking a little annoyed.

"Your light is interrupting my studies." he said quietly. Rhythm looked at the Robot Master,

"What studies?" she asked. The Robot Master held up a piece of crystal.

"This unique formation is often overlooked because it doesn't have the same qualities in the light as it does in the darkness. In the light, it seems just an ordinary rock, but in the darkness, it gives off a faint glow." he explained. He set the crystal down, and stood up from where he was sitting.

"My name is Dusk Man, what would yours be?" he asked. Rhythm stepped forwards.

"Rhythm." she said. Lazuli came beside her.

"And mine's Lazuli." she added. Dusk Man shrugged.

"One robot, or two, does it matter? In the darkness, nobody can see except for darkness." he said, raising his weapon. As quick as anything, he fired it at Rhythm and Lazuli. They slid out of the way just in time. Lazuli gritted her teeth.

"He means business. Better start a counter attack." she exclaimed, pointing her weapon at Dusk Man. Rhythm pushed herself up, and held up a hand.

"Wait, maybe we can reason with him." she exclaimed. Dusk Man sent another burst of energy at Rhythm. Rhythm looked up, jumping out of the way of the attack. She got a good look at Dusk Man's face. He had a hard-set frown.

"My siblings tell of reasoning, don't bother with me." he said. Rhythm frowned.

"Fine!" she exclaimed. She switched to the Mic Effect, and sent it at Dusk Man. The shrill soundwave hit Dusk Man and he shorted out. His frown lessened just a little.

"Maybe the dark could come into the light." he mumbled before coming off-line. Lazuli walked up.

"What was that?" she asked. Rhythm shifted back to her default weapon.

"I, I think the Robot Masters are weak to each others weapons." she realized, putting the pieces together. She bent down and set her hand on Dusk Man's weapon. "I think I might need this." she said, copying it.

The Dusk Sky.