Lantern Power asked for this one. Here you go, Amiga! Enjoy! :)

Mega Man belongs to Capcom. Mythology belongs to its respective owners. Jocu, Optimo, Lauhin, and Nitia belong to guestsurprise.

A/N: This story and the title were inspired by the Disney song "Strangers Like Me" from the movie "Tarzan".

A Stranger Like Me

Bubble hummed happily as he had just returned from not only helping Mega Man defeat a robot of Dr. Wily's that had gone on a rampage, but also visiting his brother Metal Man, who had been happy to see him and they had helped Dr. Light with some experiments.

He now saw Jocu and Optimo up ahead and grinned, teleporting to his brother and tackling him. Jocu, having not expected that, jumped but laughed as he saw it was his youngest brother. "You're getting good at teleporting," he said.

"It's the only way I can keep up with you guys since I can't run good on land," Bubble said.

"I might have a solution to that, Prince Bubble," Optimo said, kneeling down in front of the young prince to be at his height.

"Yes?" He asked, curious.

"I believe the reason you have trouble running is because your balance may be off. Granted, it doesn't affect you while walking, but trying to run might be causing a reaction that doesn't allow you to run well or fast."

Bubble nodded, seeing that the Captain of the Tickle Knights could be right. "I wish I knew for sure," he said.

"Perhaps our friends at the Mansion might be willing to look into it when you are ready," Optimo said gently. "Until then...,"

He caught Bubble in his arms and began tickling his stomach. "AH! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OPTIMOHOHOHOHOHOHO! LEHEHEHEHEHEHET GOHOHOHOHOHO!" The young prince laughed out.

The Captain of the Tickle Knights chuckled. "Cootchie, cootchie, coo!" He cooed playfully, making Bubble laugh harder.

Nitia, having heard the laughter, came around the corner, her fur poofing as she heard the laughter, for as it was known, laughter made a Nitian lose their power. She cautiously made her way down the hall and saw Jocu and Captain Optimo sitting on the floor and tickling Bubble, who was laughing happily.

The young Nitian had seen Bubble a few times, but had stayed away as she was still unsure about her situation, though she was internally grateful that Lauhin had saved her from the Nitian King when he was going to destroy her. Optimo saw her and chuckled. "Looks like our guest is curious," he said, stopping the tickle torture.

Bubble giggled as he sat up, catching sight of Nitia, who gasped and backed up a little, swallowing hard. The items in the hallway began reaching for her to tickle her as the castle sensed her fear, but Jocu gently clapped his hands twice. "Not now," he said gently. "She is still adjusting."

Obediently, the tickle items retreated, though one of the feather drapes did gently brush over Nitia's shoulders in a comforting gesture. She looked puzzled, but then shrugged. Bubble went up to his brother. "Jocu, is that Nitia?" He asked. "The one Father mentioned the other day?"

"Yes," the red-skinned Lauhinian said. "Nitia is a Nitian who despite liking nightmares, seems to have morals."

The robot moved a bit closer, noticing that Nitia was actually rather pretty. She noticed him coming closer and took a step back. Bubble stopped when he saw this and put his hands up in a placating gesture. "Don't be afraid. I won't bite," he said.

"I'm not afraid," she said, her fur puffing up a little.

The prince smiled, liking her right away. He then noticed she cocked her head to the side curiously before her eyes widened. "Why, you're the robot that King Lauhin took in," she said. "The same one who defeated three of my kind sometime back."

"How do you know that?" He asked curiously.

"The King wasn't too pleased to learn that three of his warrior had been defeated by you," she explained. "He was angry that they had failed to capture you."

Bubble chuckled. "Well, I had been practicing with my powers," he admitted.

Curious, Nitia came closer, circling him. "You are stronger," she said. "No wonder my associates were defeated so easily. You are a strong warrior."

"Thank you," he said. "Though, why do you still call them your associates if you are no longer with them?"

She sighed sadly. "I'm still a Nitian," she said.

Bubble cocked his head to the side. "But...you don't seem evil," he said. "And you're really pretty."

She looked at him in surprise before looking away. "Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked.

"Well, I don't like being mean," he admitted. "Plus...I know what it's like to almost be destroyed."

She looked at him in surprise before he nodded. "My creator didn't think highly of me and would have destroyed me if Jocu hadn't rescued me," he said.

"I'm glad he did," she said very softly, but they heard her.

Bubble smiled and held a hand out to her. Curious, she carefully placed her hand in his and was surprised when he pulled her gently into a gentle hug. She stiffened a little, biting her lip. "Shh," he soothed in her ear. "It's just a hug. I won't hurt you."

Nitia wasn't sure about the hug, but she didn't push him away and he let her go after a bit. "Are you okay?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yes," she said.

He smiled. "I wasn't lying when I said you're pretty," he said.

"I know. I can sense you're being truthful," she said, looking down. "No one's really been this nice to me. I mean, King Lauhin and his sons have been nice to me, but not like...um...,"

"A friend?" Optimo supplied gently.

Nitia looked at him and nodded, looking unsure. Jocu smiled gently and placed a hand on Nitia's shoulder. "Perhaps you and Bubble could be friends," he suggested.

She looked surprised. "But...Nitians and Lauhinians can't get along," she protested weakly.

"You seem to be getting along with us just fine, young one," Optimo said gently.

She didn't have a rebuttal to that and Bubble went up to her, taking Nitia's hand and holding it against his own robotic hand. She looked up and she could plainly see how different they were, but at the same time, it felt...like someone understood her. She looked at Bubble, who smiled and she actually gave him a small smile in return.

"Oh? So the little Nitian can smile?" Jocu asked teasingly.

"Perhaps because she has found a friend who understands her and has battled a similar past," Optimo said gently.

Bubble smiled. "Nitia, can we be friends?" He asked.

She thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay," she said. "But easy on the hugs and stuff."

"No promises," he said with a chuckle.

Nitia smiled again. He and I are not so different, she thought to herself. I don't know yet about joining the Lauhinians, but...having a real friend might be nice.

Jocu and Optimo smiled at the two, having a feeling the two would be good friends.

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GoldGuardian2418