Note: Sorry if I took too damn long to update this. I kinda got caught up in playing Star Fox Command on the Nintendo DS, and that's kinda been taking up my time... but I haven't forgotten about this 'fic, no! Actually, I'm currently working on Chapter Six or Seven, so it'll be going for a while.

Author's Comments: Sora G. Silverwind - Yeah, the Mujoe Laugh totally pwns all. Personally, I don't think a site such as this really has the time, or would even want to, actually go through and filter all the stuff they find as "crap," but I don't really follow their updates. I know I still see a ton of songfics around here, so... yeah...

chuposan - Yeah, I try to keep a characters personality as closely as it is on the actual media they appear in, but in the case of Bomberman 64, in which they say absolutely nothing at all, I tried to base their personalities on how they act in battle.

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Chapter Three: Woods of Desolation

"Hey, Regulus…"

"What, Orion?"

"If you want to fight Bomberman so bad," he looked down into his communicator. "Why did you send that group of soldiers to ambush him on Ksa2?"

"Why do you need to know?"

Orion shrugged. "I dunno… It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me, is all."

Regulus sighed. "If you must know, I sent them there to… 'warm' him up, so to speak."

"You sent an entire squadron of soldiers to 'freshen' up Bomberman's skills?" Orion laughed. "Wow, and they still had their asses handed to them…"

"Even when he hasn't engaged in battle for a long period of time, his skills are still unmatchable…"

"Apparently…" Orion looked back at the burning building he and his team just raided. "Say, what exactly are you doing up there?"

Regulus looked back into the monitors in front of him, watching a mysterious man in black decimate the squad guarding the North entrance of the city. "Nothing." he answered, turning away from the screen. "Send another squad down to the City Gate, immediately… We've got a fly to swat."

"Another one?" Orion realized the situation. "Understood."

"And once they're out there," Regulus continued. "Get up here. I've got something to discuss with you."

"Uh… okay…" Orion muttered, feeling somewhat awkward.

Regulus sighed. "Are you always this immature?"

"That depends. Are you always such a jerk-off?"

"… Just get up here."

Orion laughed, shutting off the transmission. "Orion, two, Reggy-boy, zip."

-- --

They trudged through the damp, empty forest, trying to stay as quiet as possible. It was hard to tell if anyone was watching them, but they didn't want to take the risk of anyone seeing them. It was unusually dark, even for the forest, the leaves looking more grey than green, the dirt more black than brown; it was very unsettling. Off in the distance, they could see someone slowly walking around the area; Bomberman stuck his hand out in front of Pommy, signaling him to stop moving. Slowly, he moved forward, quietly trying to avoid any sudden movement that could catch the sudden attention of--

CRACK!

A rather large twig of some sort snapped beneath his feet. Bomberman quickly dropped flat onto his chest, hoping whoever it was, didn't see or hear him. He crawled through the large grass in front of him, signaling Pommy to stay behind him, moving closer to whoever the person was. The slight fog made it harder to see, blending in with the darkness, but he tried his hardest to focus. As the person came into view, it turned out to be a young girl from Planet Bomber; she was wearing the same suit as he was, only hers was of a teal color. Bomberman stood up and walked up behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder; she gasped in terror.

"Shh, no, no, it's alright…" Bomberman whispered. "I won't hurt you."

She turned to look at him, her little green dress damp from the fog. He could see in her eyes that she was fine, but her small body was shaking.

"Are you alright…"

"K-Katy…" her soft voice trembled. "My n-name is… is Katy."

Bomberman kneeled down to her level facing her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Do you know what happened here, Katy?"

She shook her head. "No. A big, black ship appeared in the sky, and shot a giant, purple laser beam. Then a bunch of soldiers came down and started hurting people… I was so scared, I turned and ran here into the forest…"

"How long have you been out here for?"

"I don't know…" a tear formed in her eye. "I'm scared, and cold, and hungry… and I want my mommy and daddy…"

Bomberman smiled, trying to comfort her. "If they're as strong and brave as you, I'm sure they're just fine."

She smiled weakly.

"Do you know who the soldiers were?"

She shook her head. He stood up, took her hand in his, and flipped open his communicator."

"Shaut, come in." he said. "Are you there?"

After a few moments, Shaut's voice could be heard. "I'm here. What is it, White Bomber? Is anything wrong?"

"I found a girl lost in the forest," he answered. "She escaped from the soldiers, and has been out here for hours. I need you to take her back to the Cosmo Jetter for safety."

"Affirmative." she replied. "As soon as my tracker locates you, I'll be over as soon as I can."

Bomberman closed the transmission and looked down at the girl.

"Don't worry," he smiled. "You're safe now."

"Y-you're with the Jetters, aren't you?" she said, looking at the badge on his chest.

He smiled weakly. "Sorta…" he answered.

"Thank you…" she looked up at him, smiling faintly.

He smiled at her. Pommy came up and hopped into her arms, trying to help her lose her sense of loneliness. Soon, Shaut appeared from the trees, carrying a small pistol in her hands. She took the girl in hand, nodded at the two, and headed back the way they had came. Bomberman looked at Pommy, and they continued back on their path through the forest.

"Bomberman is really good with kids," Pommy said. "Pommy is very impressed."

Bomberman rubbed the back of his neck. "It was nothing… really."

The trees seemed to get darker as they progressed, the air getting colder and colder. Bomberman sighed, wondering how long this forest would go on. It had already been almost--

"Area's clear, boss." a voice could be heard coming from ahead. "… No, no sign of him yet. We're not even sure if he's even on the planet… yes… yes, sir. I'll continue my search."

It was obvious that he was talking through some sort of communicator, it had to have been an enemy soldier. Bomberman slowly walked forward, edging over the side of a nearby tree. Indeed, it was an enemy upon closer inspection, dressed in jet-black armor, and carrying a rather large Laser Gun in his hands. There was a silver "R" engraved on his helmet; they were the same soldiers that had ambushed them on Ksa2. Without hesitating, Bomberman quickly dropped a bomb and kicked it, watching it slam fiercely into the soldier, knocking him out.

Boom!

The soldier fell, collapsing to the extreme heat.

"Myu! Why didn't Bomberman ask him any info!" Pommy frowned.

Bomberman rolled his eyes. "One: You can't just ask an enemy for info on their cause. Two: I doubt he would've told us anything, anyways… Judging by that weapon, I'd say he was of high-rank."

They moved forward, looking cautiously for anymore soldiers. Soon, they reached the edge of the forest, reaching a street leading up to the North Entry Gate of Blue Resort.

"Bomberman and Pommy made--"

Bomberman quickly wrapped his hand over Pommy's mouth, pointing down the road; a group of soldiers stood on guard, each with Laser Guns in their hands.

BOOM!

A massive explosion appeared, killing the group.

"What the!" Bomberman dashed toward the explosion. "Who just did that!"

As the smoke started to clear away, a soldier in black stood in it's place, his red cape flowing with the wind.

"Max!" Bomberman shouted. "What're you doing here! I thought the IPF needed you at the HigeHige Dan's base?"

"Hmm?" Max turned to face Bomberman. "Shirobon? I wondered when I'd meet you here…"

Bomberman stood in a defensive position. "What's your business here?"

Max looked through the gate, where the once peaceful Blue Resort stood. "I heard about the attack." he answered. "I thought I'd come and help you out. Any group that isn't part of the HigeHige Dan always catches my eye…"

"Where are they!"

Max shrugged. "I don't know. I left their base a while before they heard about it. I don't know if they're even here yet. But enough talk," Max lifted his hand into the air, streams of white energy forming into the size of a basketball. "HYPER… BLAST!"

BOOM!

A blinding and deafening white sheet blanketed the area, making it impossible to see. After it had cleared, Max was gone.

"Ugh... I can't believe that guy's my partner..." Bomberman coughed.

He walked up to the gate, looking at the city's front, Pommy standing next to him.

"Is Bomberman ready?" Pommy looked up at him.

Bomberman nodded. "Let's go."

The two stepped through the charred gate and into the city, hoping that here, they'd find some answers.