A/N: Hey, guys! In the previous chapter, Little Mac faced Russian Soda Popinski in a symbolic match as representatives of the United States of America and the Soviet Union respectively, and he won. This marked the beginning of a new friendly rivalry and mutual respect between the two. Let's see who will be the next opponent.

Chapter 16: Show-off and Humility: VS Super Macho Man

(''ACDC Town- Mega Man Battle Network 2 OST'')

It was evening, and Little Mac was training, with Doc Louis watching him. ''Wow, I surprise myself.'' he said, referring to the victory against Soda Popinski.

''Yet you did it. You only need one opponent before facing the World Circuit Champion, and it's Super Macho Man. He comes from Hollywood, a district of Los Angeles very famous for VIPs, and he's very popular with girls and paparazzi.'' said Doc.

Super Macho Man was 27 years old and was a heavyweight 1.93 meters (6 feet 4 inches) tall and weighing 110 kg (242 pounds). Out of 36 matches, he won 35, including 29 by KO, and lost only once, which the boy thought was against the Champion. ''I hope I'm not in front of an idiot.'' he commented.

''Some VIPs are a little arrogant because of their fame. If someone is very famous, fame may go to their head. In short, they act boldly.'' replied Doc.

''You don't think I'll become like this, aren't you?''

''No, I know you will always be humble regardless of fame. Come on, the match is about to begin.''

Mac went up to the ring and saw a very tall and muscular man with tanned skin. Judging by the look, he looked older than he was, accentuated by his long gray hair wrapped in a ponytail and some wrinkles on his face. He had a golden tooth and wore gold jewelry along with turquoise boots and thong and red boxing gloves.

(''ACDC Town- Mega Man Battle Network 2 OST-s'')

Super Macho Man was taking pictures from paparazzi, then turned and laughed when he saw the opponent. ''Seriously? That weakling is my opponent? He'll never beat me.'' he said in an arrogant tone.

Mac didn't like that tone. ''Just because you're from Hollywood, does not mean you have to show-off.'' he said.

''I say things as they are. Seriously, making a comparison between you and me, it's like fighting with a stuffed toy.'' replied Super Macho Man.

''You know what? You look much older than your age. Too stressful lifestyle? Did you spent too much time tanning in the sun? Or maybe you're just lying about your age?(1)'' asked the boy jokingly.

Doc chuckled. He knew that his protégé had a great sense of humor. ''In fact, I always wondered. Seriously, Mac, who is this cook?''

''You are referring to Super Macho Man, the best of all, the most fabulous, the strongest!'' replied Super Macho Man.

The young man continued to tease him, albeit without malice. ''Who do you think you are? Have you tried a mirror? You won't see yourself the same way anymore.'' he said, then he and his coach laughed again.

The Hollywood boxer didn't take the jokes well and got angry. ''Who do you think you are, twerp?! And you too, old geezer!'' he yelled, while the audience whistled. Doc was so frightened that the white towel he carried along his shoulders almost fell off, while Mac was not intimidated at all, but only irritated by the offense to his coach.

''Come on, Mac! Give him a lesson in humilty!'' said Doc.

Super Macho Man pushed away the referee, who the young man helped to get up, then waited for the signal. ''Start!'' exclaimed the referee.

(''Final Countdown- Europe'')

Super Macho Man attacked first with a clothesline that hit Mac on the head, but the boy avoided his right hook and hit him with a series of five blows in the stomach, then dodged a delayed uppercut and hit him on the chin six more times, but was hit by a jab followed by a quick left uppercut. Mac then hit the opponent with a post followed by an overhand. The older boxer's attacks were all powerful, and often deceptively fast, but the boy was faster. After a minute, Super Macho Man used his special move, the Super Macho Clothesline, which consists of three clotheslines in a row. ''Super... Macho... MAN!'' he yelled. Mac dodged the first by jumping left and the second lowering himself, but the third took him straight on the nose and made him flinch, while a left uppercut struck him on the cheek, making him fall at one minute and forty-five seconds at the end of the first round.

''A Super Macho Clothesline by Super Macho Man, and Mac is already on the floor!'' exclaimed the commentator. The referee started the count.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5-''

Little Mac got up and jumped sideways to dodge the opponent's attacks. After dodging his left hook, he used the Star Punch, which didn't knock him down but dealt a lot of damage. He then began to move sideways at high speed, disorienting his opponent and knocking him over with an uppercut. There was little more than a minute left.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6!''

Super Macho Man got up and launched a right hook, which Mac blocked before hitting him with two posts and an overhand. After a series of shots between the two boxers, Round 1 ended.

''With quick feet, you can fight anything, Mac. Keep fighting!'' said Doc.

Super Macho Man had some small bruises on his face, but he didn't give up. ''I'm still more handsome than you, Mac.'' he said defiantly.

''We'll see what your Hollywood face will look like after the match ends!'' replied Mac, and the second round began. Super Macho Man was very offensive this time, forcing the younger boxer to duck under his overhand and parry his other blows, being blocked in a corner and hit repeatedly.

''Blimey! Little Mac is stuck in the corner! How will he get out of this disadvantage?'' asked the commentator.

The younger boxer, having no more escape route, was exposed to a Super Macho Clothesline, suffering a lot of damage, but he absorbed the blows and remained standing.

''How?!'' Super Macho Man was shocked.

''Despite being backed into the corner, Little Mac resisted a devastating attack! It looks like he doesn't want to give up!'' said the commentator.

After a minute and a half, Mac used a new technique: he stood near the corner of the ring again and accumulated strength in his fists. His right fist was now wrapped in flames, while his left fist was covered in electricity. With all his might, he pushed forward and hit Super Macho Man in the chest with a devastating cross(2) with both hands that knocked him to the mat for the second time.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7!''

When he got up, the Hollywood boxer had a big bruise on his stomach, and the ones on his face were getting worse. ''Seriously, you're ruining my star face.'' he said.

''You think you're God knows who just because you're from Hollywood. Don't mess with me, Super Macho Man.'' Mac replied. Using his speed, he could dodge his attacks by running and jumping sideways.

Super Macho Man was now fatigued and irritated. ''You lousy cockroach! Stand still!'' he shouted. But being now tired, this left him exposed to a series of quick and repeated punches that almost made him fall. Twenty seconds were left by the end of round two, and Mac managed to dodge a Super Macho Clothesline before hitting him with six hooks on his stomach and an uppercut on his chin. Super Macho Man fell to the ground for the third time, with a black eye.

''Amazing performance from Little Mac! The boy is in great shape!'' cried the commentator.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9-''

With difficulty, the older boxer got up, and the time of the Round 2 ended.

''You're almost there, Mac! Only one round left!'' said Doc.

Mac felt tired, but he had an idea. ''Doc, I have a plan, but it could be risky.'' he said.

''What is it?'' asked the man.

''If I can absorb his blows, I could tire him out.'' Mac replied.

''Are you sure? You could take a lot of damage, and I don't know if you will be able to hold on.''

''Don't worry. I have suffered even worse damage from someone who charges me like a bull.''

Doc realized that he was referring to Bald Bull. ''It may be a good idea, you are currently in the lead. Just hold on, OK?'' he said.

With the start of the Round 3, the young man fought defensively, parrying Super Macho Man's blows or dodging them, otherwise he absorbed them, ignoring the pain. The commentator was quite perplexed. ''Little Mac has entered the danger zone! Does he have a plan?'' he asked. As Doc and the commentator thought, it was all a plan: after a minute of failed blows, Super Macho Man was tired and exhausted, and the younger boxer took the opportunity to launch a Star Punch. ''He's persistent!'' he thought, noting that the opponent was still standing. With an uppercut in his face and an overhand on his neck, he made him jump off the ground and fall for the fourth time, one minute and fifty seconds from the end. The bruises on his face were becoming red.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8-''

Super Macho Man was really angry this time. ''You won't steal the spotlight from me!'' he shouted.

''I never wanted fame. Super Macho Man, you're going to have a bad time.(3)'' replied Mac.

The opponent was so furious that he made an extremely rapid series of punches, and the boy was forced to retreat, jump to the side and run sideways at high speed to dodge the blows, being closed at the corner. He was trapped, he no longer had an escape, and was hit by a series of uprights and overhand on his chin, then he saw a Super Macho Clothesline that could he not absolutely dodge, he was too fatigued and there wasn't enough space. He ducked under the first clothesline, but the second one hit him in the liver and the third one on the neck, causing him to fall to the ground for the second time.

''Both boxers are fighting hard!'' shouted the commentator.

''1! 2! 3! 4-''

''Don't give up! You got this, Mac!'' cried Doc.

''5! 6! 7! 8-''

The encouragement of his trainer pushed Mac to get up despite the damage he had, with his hair disheveled and bruises on his cheeks, as well as a small bruise on his eye. He was breathing heavily, and there were forty seconds left in the round.

Irritated, Super Macho Man provoked the young man. ''Why don't you fall, you wimp?''

''Because that's not what I'd do. I will never give up!'' shouted Mac. He created a star shape with his fists, being wrapped in a blue aura. then he jumped and hit the opponent with a downward hook. The two boxers continued to exchange blows. Twenty seconds to the end. The younger boxer blocked the opponent's double hook and pushed him away. Fifteen seconds. He dodged a Super Macho Clothesline and hit Super Macho Man with a devastating Star Punch in the stomach.

The commentator counted down while Mac prepared another attack. ''Ten seconds left! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Time's up!''

(''Final Countdown- Europe-s'')

Three seconds from the end, Mac had jumped to hit with another downward hook, but was pushed back with an overhand to the stomach. ''Since the time in the third and final round has expired, the referee will decide the winner!'' said the commentator.

The referee stood in the center of the ring, with Little Mac on his left and Super Macho Man on his right, and began to move his index finger back and forth to choose the winner. At the same time, a spotlight came on that followed his movements. This went on for fifteen seconds, and the two boxers, as for Doc, felt their hearts beat faster.

''I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but...'' the referee murmured so softly that no one could hear him. The movement of his finger slowed down more and more, and seemed that it stopped to the right, but it was misleading: he moved it once more, and when he stopped moving his finger, it was on the left, as was the spotlight. ''LITTLE MAC WINS!'' he yelled, loud and clear, with shock from Super Macho Man.

(''Victory Theme- Grandia 2 OST'')

''Yahoooo! I'm on cloud nine!'' cried Mac, full of happiness. He jumped high and launched a spinning uppercut, then posed and gave a thumbs up.

''You won, Mac! You were as strong as a lion!'' cried Doc, giving Mac a high-five.

''What a victory! Neither boxer wanted to surrender in tonight's match, but in the end, Little Mac prevailed over Super Macho Man! With this victory, he can face the World Circuit Champion!'' shouted the commentator.

Super Macho Man did not believe what had happened. ''No... How did I lose against a loser like him? I will lose all my fans and be made fun of for eternity, for this failure...'' he complained.

''When Bald Bull told me about his experiences with paparazzi, I realized he was right, paparazzi and fans can be unbearable. Fame isn't everything, and I have known this for some time.'' said Mac wisely.

''Losing against you is unacceptable! You humiliated me in front of everyone! I'll lose all my fans because of you!'' yelled the older boxer.

(''Victory Theme- Grandia 2 OST-s'')

The youngest boxer was starting to have enough of his opponent's attitude, who was behaving like a punished child. ''Drop the attitude and get yourself a new life instead of complaining! And while you're at it, do other things in life, like knitting!'' he snapped.

''Indeed! When life gives you lemons, make lemonade instead of acting like a two-year-old because of a defeat!'' replied Doc.

Even the referee thought the same way. ''Little Mac is right. That's not the way to react to a defeat.'' he said.

(''Hurry! Hurry! - Final Fantasy V Advance OST'')

Super Macho Man got mad at those sentences, and after the two boxers took off their boxing gloves, he was about to grab the referee by the neck, but Mac stood in front of him, trying to protect him by blocking the older boxer's hands. ''What is your problem?! All this because of a defeat?! Where's your decency?!'' he shouted.

In response, Super Macho Man spat in his eye, to everyone's horror, and overwhelmed him. The young man was lifted by the neck and felt the Hollywood boxer's muscular arms put pressure on his throat, his thumbs pressing against his larynx. He saw a fierce look in his eyes, and he knew he had to free himself before being choked to death. ''Stop! Stop!'' he shouted, but his voice was already starting to become distorted by the lack of oxygen, and he felt that with that force, Super Macho Man could break his neck like a twig.

''Oh, no! What is going on? In a fit of aggression, Super Macho Man is strangling Little Mac! Call someone! Another boxer, a staff member, someone stop him!'' shouted the commentator, he too was panicked.

The referee had to personally intervene alongside Doc, trying to free Mac from his grip. ''Stop it! You're killing him!'' he shouted, but they were both pushed away with an elbow smash in the face.

''He's choking him to death! Mac can't breathe!'' Doc yelled. ''What now?''

Fortunately, help came. Voices were heard.

''Let him go!''

''Let go of my friend, you hoser!''

''Oh, no, you won't do this to my ''American Brother''!''

Three boxers had arrived, and Doc recognized them: they were Disco Kid, Bear Hugger and Soda Popinski.

''Just in time! Disco Kid, Bear Hugger and Soda Popinski have arrived!'' said the commentator.

Disco Kid and Soda Popinski worked together to force Super Macho Man to loosen his grip by trying to grab his fingers, and when Mac fell, Bear Hugger took him in his arms. ''I got you. You will be fine.'' he said. The younger boxer could barely breathe and his vision was fogging. He got out of Bear Hugger's arms and landed on his knees, coughing heavily.

(''Hurry! Hurry! - Final Fantasy V Advance OST-s'')

''Mac! What's happening to you?! Come on, answer me!'' cried Doc, worried.

''This is too much! You can't react like this after a defeat!'' shouted Disco Kid.

''Yeah! Mac and I represent two rival states, the United States and the Soviet Union, but I've never done that!'' shouted Soda Popinski.

''But weren't the Soviets the enemies of us Americans? Why are you defending him, and why did you call him ''American Brother''?'' asked Super Macho Man.

The Russian was clearly irritated, and did not hesitate to reply. ''By defeating Von Kaiser, me and even Aran Ryan, Mac changed us for the better. We respect him for his accomplishments, and he and I call ourselves ''brothers from another country'' as a sign of mutual respect. The profound speech he made after he beat me was profound and left me speechless, and the President of the United States Ronald Reagan and the head of the Soviet Union Michail Gorbachev were the first to cheer.'' he replied.

''You did a cowardly act! Be thankful that I'm a good man, otherwise I'd punch you so hard I'd break your nose!'' shouted an angered Bear Hugger.

Bald Bull and Aran Ryan also arrived. The first to speak was the Irish. ''Following a match against Mac where I played dirty and he discovered my tricks, I was disqualified for three weeks. The referee sent me a message from Doc, telling me that Mac was determined to forgive me despite what I did if I would never play dirty again, and I didn't expect it, I was impressed. He changed me for the better, and it took me a while to admit it, but now I respect him. Super Macho Man, what you've done is low, even for you.'' he said.

''Aran Ryan is right. At first I underestimated Mac, and the first time he faced me, he lost, even though he did his best. After a few days, he came back to challenge me, and he defeated me in the second round without being knocked down once. He had that perfect mix of strength, agility and intuition that brought him this far.'' said Bald Bull.

''Von Kaiser said that after Mac beat him, he realized that he made him understand that he must face the ghosts of his past, and now he has overcome the trauma he had years ago after being beaten and KOd from the kids he taught boxing to. He had that touch of respect and sportsmanship that influenced us and changing us is for the best.'' said Disco Kid.

A minute had passed, and Mac no longer coughed, but he looked exhausted and chocked, with one hand on his throat. He saw nothing more and fell to the ground, motionless.

Doc noticed it and gasped in concern. ''Oh, no! Mac, what's wrong? Answer me, please! Somebody tell me he didn't die suffocated!'' he shouted.

Bald Bull took Mac in his arms and placed an ear on his chest, feeling a heartbeat. The pulse was fairly weak, but it was there. ''He's not dead. He just passed out because of a lack of air.''

The referee looked at Super Macho Man, and his expression indicated that there was no joking with him. ''With what happened, you're disqualified for ten days.'' he said, and the Hollywood boxer was shocked. ''I suggest you go to your locker room, before you start creating more trouble.'' he turned to the others, while Super Macho Man left. ''Thanks for stopping Super Macho Man before something terrible happened. I would also like to thank Mac, but I can't because he fainted. If he didn't put himself in front of me, Super Macho Man could have killed me, and in the process, he put his own life at risk. Send him my thanks when he wakes up.'' he said.

"Mac, can you hear me?" Mac heard Doc's voice, and he regained consciousness. ''What happened? My throat hurts.'' he asked, putting a hand on his larynx.

''Thank goodness you're okay. After the referee chose you as the winner of the match by decision, Super Macho Man didn't take it well. He was about to grab him by the neck, but you, to defend him, were grabbed in his place. Fortunately, Disco Kid, Bear Hugger and Soda Popinski stopped him before you could die. Aran Ryan and Bald Bull also thought this was a cowardly act.'' said Doc.

''How long was I unconscious?'' asked the young man.

''Not long, just half an hour. At the reception, your father called. He was really upset, but he was also angry because one of the boxers almost killed you in a tantrum. He also said that your mother was in shock. Super Macho Man is now disqualified for ten days for unjustified assault and injury to another boxer. I hope you learn the lesson as it happened with Aran Ryan.'' explained the coach.

The boy didn't like this. ''This is why I don't want to have anything to do with VIPs. If being famous means being like Super Macho Man, then I'd rather be unknown than having a bad reputation like a wrestling heel. It will take some time for Super Macho Man to learn the lesson.'' he said.

''Mac, always humble despite your success. Another reason why everyone respects you. Bald Bull and Aran Ryan have also arrived, and even he has defined what happened as a low blow. Soda Popinski even told us that you are called ''brothers from another country'' because after that profound speech you made when you defeated him, you have impressed us all, including him, and since then you have a deep respect for each the other. You have a great effect on other boxers, and they respect you not only for this, but also for a well balanced mix of strength, speed and intelligence. The referee appreciated the help of Disco Kid and the others for stopping Super Macho Man, but he also wanted to thank you, he thought that if you had not intervened, he could also have killed him by breaking his neck.''

''Speaking of which, while I was being choked, I felt he would snap my neck like a twig. Anyway, only one opponent is left, right?''

''Yup. Today is March 27th, and the match between you and the World Circuit Champion will be in April 1st.''

Mac felt more determined than ever. ''Then if I win, people could not believe it and they might think it's an April Fools. I will win the match and become the new Champion.'' he said.

Doc chuckled. ''I bet you will, Mac. I know you will.''

A/N: Oh-oh. Little Mac won a very tough match by referee's decision, but Super Macho Man took the defeat badly and Mac was almost choked to death! This is the longest chapter I've ever written so far. Keep following my stories and see you in the next chapter! Bye!

(1): Although Super Macho Man is 27 years old (28 in the SNES game), he looks older than he actually is, and some celebrities lie about their age.

(2): It's very similar to Little Mac's special neutral attack in the Super Smash Bros. series, the Straight Lunge, whose fully charged version is a fiery punch. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, there is an alternate version of the move that instead makes the punch electric instead of fiery.

(3): It's a very famous quote said by Sans of Undertale.