GT: Yeah…You know Miyu and her fortune? About how rivers and stuff? …This is one of the moments where one river bled into the river they're in.
Fireworks exploded and crackled from a hologram projector set up in the middle of a modest two-story home by a large lake, most of the ground covered in dirt and gravel outside. The room the projector was in was a rather spacious living room, a bar set up on one wall near the kitchen with a large circular couch in the center of it all. On the couch, Match gazed upon the feed with a bored expression.
"Tamaya~! The firework's temperature is about 1100 degrees celsius!" the narrator cheered, only causing Match to sigh as it changed to show a volcano with a flow of magma pouring out of it, "The steaming hot lava that flows from a volcano burns at about 2000 degrees celsius."
"It doesn't burn…" Match grumbled as the image changed to the sun in space.
"The sun burns at about 6000 degrees celsius."
"It still won't burn…" Match sighed, "Ever since that day…my heart has been heavy. It has stopped burning with the intensity it once had…" he slumped and turned off the movie, leaving him in the darkness, "All because of…" he clenched his fists as he grit his teeth, anger rising within him as he recalled Roll A and her swiftness in defeating Fireman, "If it weren't for that punk who destroyed my plans with her NetOp's home!" he stooped up, "That damn Roll! You've stolen the flames of my heart! I swear…I swear that I will Delete you for this! I'll show you…" he clenched a fist, "I'll show you my true inferno!"
"Oh really now?"
"?!" Match tensed and slowly looked at the projector as it turned on, "Y-You're…"
"I'm excited for what you wanna do, Match. I'll let you have one of them to help Fireman. But the only condition? Include Vent in your revenge scheme."
"The Hikari lad's NetNavi?"
"Indeed. We have quite a unique…history so to speak."
"Okay…How are you feeling, Roze?" Ciel asked, working on her laptop in the NetSaver base, "How's the build?"
"I feel…lighter. A lot lighter than ever!"
"Great! I'm going to deploy a few Viruses for you to fight so you can get used to your new power, okay?"
"Understood! I'm ready!"
Ciel smiled at that as she launched the program, 'I think by tomorrow, I can give you to Alouette at last.' the door to the base opened and Madam Rose ran in, "What's the situation?"
"Heat surges in the Network," Madam Rose informed.
"Hm? Heat surges?" Ciel asked as she turned around to face her…before blinking a few times at seeing Commander Beef being helped into the place by Mysteriyu, "What happened?!"
"Ugh…The container I use to transport my fish for my undercover job exploded," Commander Beef informed, "I barely got my suit on before it did, but I feel like I've been broiled like a lobster. Lost my bike and today's catches due to it."
"My sprinkler system deployed boiling hot water and damaged many of the plants I was raising up," Madam Rose scowled.
"On my way here before I encountered Commander Beef, I witnessed your schoolmate Dex in a 7/11 opening up the drinks…and all of them were boiling and ready to pop," Mysteriyu added.
"Are WWW doing this?" Ciel pondered in concern, realizing she still wasn't done with the additional coding for the ElecCode.
"No. It seems to be pure randomness," Madam Rose replied, "Normally, there's a pattern to WWW's schemes. But this time…it's all random."
Ciel's PeT rang, "Hello?"
"Big Sis~!"
"A-Alouette? What's wrong?" Ciel asked in concern.
"O-Our class was on a field trip to the ice cream factory…a-and we were gonna get to get free samples…b-b-b-but it's all melted~!"
"Oh my goodness…" Ciel whispered, her eyes going wide, "This…This isn't good at all." she shook her head, "Alouette, be a big girl for me, okay? I promise we'll get this solved and later on, I'll get you your favorite ice cream flavor and a new outfit for Beep."
"O-Okay…" Alouette sniffled as she hung up.
Ciel sighed, 'Even if she's really several hundred years old...she acts like her physical age...' "Great…" she looked at the trio, "Deploy Woodman, Sharkman, and Skullman. Have them search for the cause of these surges. I'll get in contact with Agents Chaud, Lan, and Maylu immediately to request Protoman, Vent, and Ashe to assist."
"Yes, ma'am!" all three replied.
'I really hope they're not somewhere that is being hit…' Ciel thought, dialing for Chaud first.
Roll A narrowed her eyes as she stood, surrounded by Fireman, Colorman, and Elecman. Oddly, the trio had a faint aura to them while their eyes were dull, almost as if there was no soul within. Colorman shot out his large ball at Roll A, who rolled out of the way and a flash went off…causing a yellow and orange ball to zip off and right at Colorman. The orange parts extended out into electrified spikes that shocked Colorman. Lightning raced towards the ball as it uncurled to reveal a mechanical-looking hedgehog-like creature. A flash went off and R-Aeolus sliced through the lightning strikes. Another flash and R-Atlas slammed one of her guns into the ground, sending a trail of fire to strike at Elecman. Another flash and R-Thetis created a wall of ice that took on the Firetower from Fireman. All three jumped her only for another flash to go off and Roll A grinned, her guns bright.
"GIGA CRUSH!" Roll A shouted as she tore them apart with her gunfire, "..." she sighed in relief once they were gone, "So glad I found that concept on Ghost Data so I can practice on these things."
[We really goofed up focusing on just Maylu and watching Vent when he was Megaman] Model A admitted as she dropped the Megamerge [So many things we didn't look on, like this Ghost Data stuff that forms when a strong NetNavi gets damaged enough that its lost data merges with BugFrags to make 'ghosts' of them NetNavis can fight for BattleChip and Zenny data or the Undernet o-or a lot of stuff…]
"Yeah, that was…that was our bad," Ashe sighed, rubbing the back of her head, "Normally I like to make sure I'm all prepped for things, but…" she frowned, "...but I didn't want to leave Maylu…I lost her once because of my actions in the past…never again."
[Still…] Model A began before they heard the door open [Oh! Welcome hoooh my gosh!]
"Hi, Mayloooh…" Ashe grimaced as her eyes went wide.
"A-Ashe…" Maylu sniffled, tears welling in her eyes.
'Shit…I forgot it was after Elecman and his video game heist that this happened…' Ashe thought, deciding to turn off notifications on the PeT to focus on Maylu.
Lan yawned before rubbing an eye, "Ugh…You are evil, Vent."
"Hey now…You're improving," Vent defended, "I didn't reach the end like normal today."
[You really need to stop the late night strategy stuff, Lan] Leviathan noted.
"I get my best ideas at night…"
[Here comes Maylu] Fafnir spoke up as Maylu walked by, wearing a green hat resembling a lily pad.
"Mornin'!" Lan greeted, causing Maylu to jump and grab her green hat and pushed it down on her head, "Hm? What's with the hat?"
"I-It looks good, doesn't it?" Maylu asked, "I-I thought I'd try a new thing…"
"Mmm…" Lan frowned before grabbing her hand, "Hold on."
"Huh?" Maylu blinked as Lan led her back into his house and to his room, "L-Lan, what are…" she yelped as Lan took her hat off, letting her hair drop…before curling up, "Ah!"
"Hm?" Lan blinked, tilting his head, "...I honestly don't know how to help with this aside from listening."
"...Yesterday, I went to the salon," Maylu explained, "I…I won a free full treatment the other day at the shopping district. It was going so well, too. B-But then the dryer malfunctioned and…and…" she sniffled, "I look terrible…"
"Hey now," Lan frowned, wrapping an arm over her shoulders, "You don't look terrible. It's…kinda cute, actually."
"?!" Maylu looked at him in surprise.
"W-What?" Lan asked, blushing now, "Look, if it bothers you that much, why don't we ask Vent and Roll to stockpile enough Zenny for a better place to redo your hair this afternoon?"
"...Y…You think we can?" Maylu asked.
"Yeah," Lan nodded, "We're best friends, aren't we?"
"...Yeah," Maylu nodded, wiping her sleeve on her eyes to dry her tears as she was given her hat back, "...I…I thought you were going to laugh, to be honest."
"...I probably would've, but Vent and the Biometals have been, well, beating my butt with learning manners," Lan admitted with a small grimace, "It's not all that fun at times. Especially when Zero figured out how to block access to stuff on my PeT."
[Just be glad you didn't laugh. I would've deleted your homework] Leviathan noted.
"L-Levi!" Lan yelped.
"Yeah…I think I would've done something like that if you had laughed at me if Ashe hadn't been helping me with some issues I've had," Maylu admitted with a grimace.
"Eh?!" Lan gawked in disbelief, 'Girls are terrifying!'
'Crisis averted…' Vent thought before going to check on Ashe, "You alright?"
"Yeah. I didn't have a bad problem with the hair dryer at the salon," Ashe replied, "I'm thankful for what you guys have been up to with Lan. I was worried Maylu would do something like delete his homework again, even with the stuff I've been doing to help with her temper like the meditation and medication…"
Vent nodded, "Hey, I get how Maylu feels. If someone caused my hair to curl like that, I'd be horrified. I like my hair the way I want it. I'm just relieved that instilling manners in Lan is helping not to cause a mess like last time." he frowned, "And…I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"For when this happened in the previous timeline," Vent explained, "You girls apologized, but Lan and I…we never apologized for laughing at Maylu nor for making you so upset."
"Ah, it's all water under the bridge, Hub," Ashe assured.
"I really do want to make up for it," Vent insisted, "Maybe tomorrow we can enjoy a nice dinner and go see that show you've been wanting to see?"
"You betcha!" Ashe smiled before hugging him, "So…when do we find that asshat and shoot him dead?"
"After we get a good plan and Fireman comes to find you to send that challenge letter to me."
"I have a great plan! …I'll A-Trans into Bifrost and eat him!" Ashe declared, slamming her fist into her palm, "Then turn into Buckfire and dance on his grave!"
"You don't know where he's been," Vent pointed out.
"...Phooey," Ashe pouted, earning a chuckle from Vent as he kissed her forehead, "...In no way does this make my pout any less of a pout."
"Why did he give you the challenge, anyway?"
"Because I'm normally with you. He didn't even know I was mad at you at the time," Ashe replied.
"I see…So we just wait until he shows up?" Vent asked.
"I guess. So…let's get going on collecting that cash for Maylu, hm?"
"You bet," Vent nodded, "Surprised Lan thought of that."
"Same here. Guess you're helping him grow up faster," Ashe noted.
"Maybe…" Vent frowned.
"...You're thinking on the memories Lan and Maylu are seeing, aren't you?" Ashe whispered.
"Yeah. Last night was when I was his age and had a nightmare about the day I lost my mother," Vent replied, "You?"
"...She saw a memory from when I was eight and tried to follow after my foster pops on a mission of his," Ashe grimaced, "That salon trip yesterday afternoon was meant to help her forget what she saw happened to one of the guys on that mission."
"Then let's get enough to give Maylu a great memory to make up for both," Vent grinned.
"Right!" Ashe agreed.
"You're going to be late you tw…" Haruka began as she poked her head in to see Maylu's hair, "Oh dear. …I see why you brought her inside, Lan. Maylu, I've had this happen before."
"Ashe and I are going to work on getting some Zenny while Lan and Maylu are at school for a salon to help after school," Vent informed.
"Good. Maylu, I can do a temporary thing until you can get to a salon," Haruka advised as she offered a hand to Maylu.
"Th-Thank you…" Maylu thanked, trying to hold back her tears from the kindness as she accepted the offered hand.
Several minutes passed before Lan and Maylu headed out, the latter's hair pulled into a tiny ponytail and some styling gel made to keep her bangs framing her face straight.
"There you two are!" Lan and Maylu jumped at the sharp tone Ciel had as she glared at the two, "Why didn't you respond to me last night?"
"Huh? Respond?" Maylu blinked a few times.
"Zero locked all my stuff on the PeT until I finished my homework," Lan explained.
[When an assignment is one that can make or break your grade, Lan, of course I'll make sure you do it] Zero huffed.
"My bad, too. Maylu came home in tears since I was doing some practice with A-Trans, so I turned the alerts on the PeT off so I could run damage control and comfort," Ashe added.
"..." Ciel looked at Maylu's hair, "...Shoot. You got hit by the heat surges yesterday."
"Heat what?" Lan blinked a few times.
"All over ACDC, random heat surges went off. Sal lost several delicate plants, Masa's out of a bike and nearly got severe burns from boiling water and boiled fish, the local 7/11's entire fridge section popped due to the drinks boiling in their bottles, and the ice cream factory lost its entire stock."
"What?! Aw nooo…" Lan groaned, "There goes that."
"Huh?"
[Lan was going to treat Maylu to ice cream after we got her trip to a different salon done to help her feel better] X explained.
"I see," Ciel frowned before sighing, "I know we're kids, but you also have responsibilities now. Please keep notifications on in case this happens again."
"Okay," both nodded.
Ciel nodded, "Good. Now then…your hair looks cute that way, Maylu."
"Mrs. Hikari helped me," Maylu explained, blushing at the compliment.
Match cackled in glee, "Keep going at it, Fireman! Unleash a burning hell on the Network and earn the attraction of that nuisance Roll A!"
Fireman cackled as he raced through the Network. Across town, a sauna was filled with screams as old men in them raced to get out with bright red bodies from the intense boiling waters…aside from one elderly man who sighed in content in the boiling liquid as it was finally hot enough for him to relax. In an electronics store, people were fleeing from it as intense waves of heat billowed from the multitude of ACs for sale. A deep chuckle made Match look at the nearby projector as a figure sat down in the Network on it in seiza.
"The panic and chaos caused by this is quite filling," they commented, "However…This is quite unlike the boy."
"Hm?"
"In times of danger like this, he was quick to respond," the figure explained before chuckling, "It may be that due to his new position…he is unable to see and respond to this."
"You're telling me we did this for nothing?!" Match gawked.
"It seems that way, Mr. Match," Fireman sighed as he appeared by the figure, "Maybe we need to do a direct confrontation."
"A challenge letter," the figure offered.
"Hm? A challenge letter?" Match pondered, rubbing his chin in thought, "...Yeah…" he grinned, "That's it! We need to take this directly to them!"
"Go with the recycling center," the figure advised, "If we wreck havoc upon there, it will mean more being delivered to the power plant to turn into fuel for the systems."
"Oh! Furthering World Three's plans and getting us a way to fight that damn bitch and you getting your chance at Megaman!" Match grinned, "I love it!"
"It looks like all the heat surges have just…stopped," Vent noted, looking around with Sharkman.
"Ugh…Seriously, what was with that? Masa's not gonna be able to do many assignments for a week or so because of it," Sharkman scowled.
"Likely…an upset Fireman," Vent guessed.
"Huh? Fireman?"
"Think of it, Sharkman. Colorman and Elecman have appeared multiple times, yet Fireman has only appeared during his oven fire outbreaks," Vent reminded.
"Huh…Ya know, dat is right…" Sharkman muttered in thought, "Ain't no signs of 'im at all…" a beam of red light shot down before the two, "Huh?"
The light formed into Fireman, who focused on Vent, "Megaman."
"Here for a fight?" Vent asked, readying Model X and Model L…before blinking a few times when Fireman materialized a letter and sent it to him, "Huh?"
"Pass this on to Roll A for me," Fireman ordered.
"...A letter of challenge," Vent noted, looking at it…before registering the name he said it was for, "Wait…Roll? Why her?"
"You snuffed out my Viruses in your NetOp's family's oven. Nothing much to get heated up over," Fireman shrugged before narrowing his eyes, "But the one who snuffed out mine and my NetOp's infernos…she is the one who I challenge."
'Sonuvabitch…' Vent thought as his eyes widened.
[Wow. So instead of you…it's Ashe] Zero noted.
[This is hilarious!] Fafnir cracked up laughing.
"However, a partner of mine overheard this and requested me to give you their challenge as well, so I wrote it with mine to her."
[Wait, what?] Fafnir paused his laughter.
"...Do you have a time on this?"
"Location and time. Both are in the written challenge," Fireman replied before logging out just before Sharkman could grab him, causing the shark NetNavi to land on his face.
"Oh god…" Vent groaned, facepalming, 'If I were anyone else and didn't know how strong she was, I'd be worrying about Ashe surviving.'
[Good. If you were, I'd be pissed] Leviathan warned.
"Ugh…W-Well…I guess you were right…" Sharkman groaned as he got up, rubbing his bruised nose, "What's it say?"
"I'll check," Vent replied, opening it, "'We challenge Roll A and Megaman along with their operators to a pair of duels. Fireman and Mr. Match against Roll A and her NetOp while Megaman and his NetOp face against…" he trailed off as his eyes widened, "No…"
"Hm?" Sharkman tilted his head as Vent broke out in a sweat.
'No…This…This shouldn't be possible…but…but that can't be…' Vent thought.
[How the hell is he here?!] Fafnir demanded.
[We're in for a rough battle, it seems] Leviathan noted.
"He sent a challenge letter?" Ciel asked, sitting in the empty lobby of the salon with Lan.
"Yes. It takes place at 9:15pm tonight in the DenTech Recycling Center," Vent confirmed, "We managed to also confirm that Fireman was the one causing the heat surges all over town yesterday and today thanks to their admittance in the challenge letter for Ashe and myself."
"World Three…They're gonna pay for the hair and ice cream!" Lan declared, pumping a fist.
"...I could've sworn you'd just think about the ice cream…" Ciel muttered, a drop of sweat going down the back of her head.
[He likes…] Zero began.
"Shaddap, Model Z!" Lan quickly spoke, his cheeks pink.
"There's more. 'If you bring any other NetSavers aside from Roll A and Megaman, we will leave and engulf the city in an inferno for snuffing out our flames of vengeance upon you two,'" Vent read, "And with him there…that's not a threat; it's a promise."
"Him?" Lan and Ciel repeated.
[An old enemy] Model Z replied.
[He used Fafnir to make himself powerful] Model X explained [He laid waste to part of the Network Vent was making a delivery in. We saved as many lives as we could]
"Huh? Why haven't I…?"
"To maintain a cover of 'peace' for the normal populace, the police have been enacting a 'coverup' policy on major network-related crimes," Ciel admitted.
"S-Seriously…?" Lan whispered in shock.
"Ashe and Vent have been involved in several of them prior to becoming your NetNavis," Ciel added.
"I swear, my delivery routes are cursed to be involved with danger," Vent sighed.
"So…you know who's working with Fireman?" Lan asked.
"Yes. It was back when I first got Model X and Model Z. He had part of Model F in him, using it to empower himself," Vent explained.
[It's been years since we last fought him, but we're stronger than back then and we have you operating us, Lan] X noted.
"I'm done~!" the two kids looked to see Maylu walking over, her hair back to its original state, "Honestly…this place was much better than that last salon. Cheaper, too."
"You look great!" Lan beamed before remembering what just happened, "Ah…We have a situation."
"Hm? The heat surges, right?" Maylu guessed.
"It involves them," Ciel replied.
"It was Fireman's doing?!" Maylu angered shout made Lan and Ciel wince as Maylu fumed in the arcade part of the base, several of the arcade machines looking in better condition than before.
"He just left a challenge letter for Ashe," Vent informed, "And I have a challenge from a partner he's working with…one I thought I destroyed four years ago."
"Huh?" Ashe pondered, going to his PeT to look at it, "...What the hell? Why am I getting challenged and not you?"
"For one, you're the one who smacked him around; I just Deleted his viruses while you beat him," Vent reminded, "The others will be targeting me more than you, Colorman especially."
"Unforgivable…" Maylu growled, Lan swearing she was ablaze with intense magenta flames, as she spun around to the Whack-A-Mole game the blonde and brunette of the trio had gotten working, "I'll never forgive him!" she began to rapidly strike them, "Never! Absolutely never!"
"Ulp…" Lan nervously gulped, watching the sight with wide worried eyes.
[I am really glad you didn't laugh at her hair or, even worse, do it at school…] Fafnir muttered.
[I'm surprised. Her spirit at the moment seems like it'd fit you to a 'T,' brother] Harpuia noted.
[I'm headstrong; not stupid]
[Could've fooled me…] Leviathan muttered.
[Focus] Phantom reminded [We have a situation involving World Three]
"Phantom's right," Ciel nodded, "Maylu!"
"Hm?!" Maylu looked from the machine at her.
"Focus that on Fireman."
"Right!" Maylu nodded.
"Vent, what do you have about this other guy?" Lan asked.
"He's a Fire Element and he's truly intense. Sheer blunt force brutality. We'll need to be fast and nimble…and have a lot of Aqua Element BattleChips."
[He used part of me as a battery!] Fafnir growled.
"What?! B-But how?! Only those I made certain had certain requirements could use Biometals!" Ciel questioned.
[Serpent happened] Zero replied, keeping the connection to just her [He split Fafnir, Harpuia, Phantom, and Leviathan in half and either made bodies that became Pseudoroids or infused them into Reploids and humans to make Pseudoroids]
[A scientist managed to figure out how to create living programs that could draw out our power] X 'explained' for everyone else [Models P, H, L, and F were all split into two and used to make eight Pseudoroids-NetNavis that were infused with the power of a Biometal and transformed into AutoNavis of incredible power-that Vent had to defeat to collect]
[And then another made eight more!] Model A added.
"...Those weird animal-looking ones?" Maylu realized.
"Yep. Model A and I thrashed them good before we became your NetNavi, Maylu," Ashe admitted, "We didn't want you to worry about those forms because we thought they were all long gone, but…the past really hates to be left behind, huh?"
"But we have you guys now. This will be hard, but we can overcome it together," Vent assured.
"Right!" Lan nodded, pumping a fist, "Let's beat up these jerks and get payback for Maylu!"
Night soon fell and workers at the recycling center worked, part way through the afternoon shift. Several alarms began to go off, causing them to look around and start entering commands, trying to find the source of the problems. Within the Network, several Mr. Progs whimpered on the floor, several sporting burns and others sporting dents and even chunks missing from their bodies. The ground began to break and crack as they logged out. Within moments, the ground shattered and began to float above a vast pool of boiling lava. Fireman gazed out upon the transformed Network, his eyes steel in their resolve.
"Roll A…I have issued the challenge to you and the challenge for Megaman," Fireman declared, "This will become your grave, you two." twin beams raced down and slammed into the ground across from him, transforming to become Roll A and Megaman ZX, "?! A…A new form?"
"Fireman…!" Roll A growled, "You're gonna pay for wrecking my adorable little sister's hair with that stunt yesterday!"
"..." Megaman ZX narrowed his eyes before spinning around, his Z-Saber shifting into an ovoid shield that blocked a blast of flames resembling a lion's head, "So…that wasn't a lie…"
Standing atop one of the smaller 'islands' dotting the landscape was a slender, toned being. Their body was covered in a dark-orange/brown bodysuit with crimson armor covering most of it. The crotch area sported orange armor covering it with orange making up most of the lion-shaped head and in the middle of his bulky upper torso armor. Thick rounded gauntlets covered his lower arms, giving way to large three-clawed hands with his feet sported three more on each foot. Flames billowed out of the back of the lion head while green optics shined in its eye sockets.
"Fistleo the Predatoroid," Megaman ZX recognized.
"It has been many years, Vent," Fistleo noted, pointing a claw at him, "I have spent my time since my revival here practicing and improving upon the Reioh-Ken. Even with the loss of Model F, I will show you how far my strength has grown."
"You're not the only one who has grown stronger since our last battle all those years ago, Fistleo," Megaman ZX declared.
"Good luck, Vent," Roll A whispered.
"To you as well, Ashe," Megaman ZX nodded.
Roll A nodded before pointing at Fireman, "Listen you, you hothead! A girl's hair is her life! You won't get away with what you've done to my little sister!"
A flash went off as Megaman HX started things off, a sharp look in his eyes as he focused on Fistleo. Purple blades of plasma swung and were caught by claws engulfed in a fiery plasma. Fistleo's foot slammed into Megaman HX's gut, sending him through the air…before his eyes widened as the lion-like being shot up at him, his feet kicking at the very air to make him move towards Megaman HX to deliver a roundhouse that sent him flying and crashing into another large patch of ground several kilometers away from Roll A and Fireman. A flash went off and R-Iceman unleashed a barrage of icicles erupting from the ground at Fireman, who retaliated with a wave of lava from slamming an arm onto the ground that overpowered the ice. A flash went off and a magenta blur dodged the lava. Fireman looked up to see a humanoid bee-like being with the lower half resembling a plug for a port in a car's dashboard. It aimed at him and fired off a barrage of plasma arrowheads that forced Fireman to start to run around and return fire with fireballs that caused explosions when they collided with one another.
[How are you here, Fistleo? I thought when Slither Inc. was destroyed, the data to revive you was gone as well] Model X noted, keeping his voice to just Megaman HX and the Pseudoroid as the green Megaman did his best to fly about to dodge the strikes of the lion.
"I awoke one day here. I knew not how, but it mattered little to me," Fistleo replied, "This realm…this Network…it's full of weaklings outside of a single area: the one they call the Undernet."
'That place again…' Megaman HX thought, swinging a blade and sending a crackling sphere of purple and black plasma and harsh winds at Fistleo, only for the lion to punch a fist and send out a massive lion-shaped head of plasma that 'ate' the sphere before exploding.
"It is paradise for the powerful! Constant battles! Endless excitement! The thrill of eternally growing stronger to challenge those known as 'The Ranked!' It is Valhalla to me!" Fistleo cheered, upon Megaman HX before a flash went off and LX unleashed an ice dragon upon the lion, forcing him to 'kick' the air and move away, landing with a backflip on a tiny island amidst the floating islands with LX handing upon another, "While I was there, I was found by those who would bring me more to face and grow stronger from combat with!" He did a roundhouse kick, unleashing a large slash of burning plasma at LX who blocked with a wall of ice that vaporized in an instant upon contact, "As you can see, it has led me to becoming greater than before! You will fall and not me this time, Vent!"
"This guy's nuts!" Lan gawked.
"From the little time I spoke with him during our last battle, he's a man obsessed with physical power and obtaining it," Megaman LX noted.
"And again with that Undernet place. I'm really starting to want to look at it," Lan noted.
"Same…but we need to survive today to adventure another," LX reminded.
"Right! It's all us, guys! FullSynchro!"
"Here we come, Fistleo!" LX declared, spinning his spear to point it at the lion.
Fireman swung a Firesword at Roll A, who retaliated with a swing of her PaladinSword, creating a small shockwave from the impact.
"Your transforming technique surprised me that day," Fireman noted, sparks flying from their stalemate, "But it won't save you today, Roll A!"
"Neither will you after messing with my baby sister's hair and causing her to cry!" Roll A snarled.
"We won't let you get away with doing that to any other girl!" Maylu declared as the two went FullSynchro.
"You'll feel my rage when I take your life!" Fireman roared before the two jumped back from one another.
"...Heh…" Roll A smirked, "Honestly…this feels like the Pits."
"...It honestly does," Maylu admitted, "So…let's go with a classic."
"You betcha! A-Trans!" Roll A cheered.
In a flash of light, a tall, bulky yet slender, gazelle-like being replaced her. Sporting costume traits from North American Indigenous peoples, the new form's body had a sand color with details in red, black, and white. It had two cannons for arms with long red hooks on the wrists, and a pair of red and black horns with the appearance of sword blades. The plating on the back of the head resembled the feathers of a war bonnet and the feet had the appearance of pilots from locomotives.
"BUCKFIRE!" Roll A's new form declared with a bellowing cry.
"Wh-What?!" Fireman took a step back.
"No way…Y…Ye can't be Buckfire the Brave!" Match gasped, "Ye musta copied him! That's it!"
"Nope," R-Buckfire snorted, pawing the ground with a hoof, "You're seeing the real deal here!"
With that, an AreaSteal went off. Fireman spun around and his sword met the glowing blade of R-Buckfire's right arm before grunting as he was knocked away with three arrows impaled in his side. He managed to slam an arm into the ground, unleashing a Firetower at R-Buckfire, who crouched down and shot up into the air right over the Firetower. A pair of M-Cannon BattleChips formed over R-Buckfire's own before the gazelle unleashed a barrage of shots, engulfing Fireman in the smoke of the explosions. Nearby, dragons of ice and lion heads of flames collided, engulfing the field in steam. The thickness of the steam hid the flash and Fistleo roared at the same time HX shouted. The two threw a fist and charged weapon met flame-engulfed fist, unleashing a shockwave that dispersed the steam. HX grunted…before grinning as his weapon and lower arm changed into a drill with yellow casing that tore and shredded Fistleo's fist, making him cry out in pain. HX dismissed the drill only for it to be replaced with one of Gutsman's gauntlets and fist. He slammed it into Fistleo, sending him flying into the smoke Fireman was within.
"Quake 1, Quake 2, and Quake 3! Download!" Lan and Maylu shouted, their NetNavis jumping into the air.
"Program Advance!" the two NetNavis shouted as they fell towards the smoke, extending their left legs as a bulky crimson (R-Buckfire) or cobalt (Megaman HX) metal stamp formed over it.
"HEAVY STAMP!" all four roared as the two NetNavis shot through the smoke, explosions erupting in the smoke before it dispersed…revealing large holes in the two WWW NetNavis.
"It…It happened again…" Fistleo choked out, "Y…You did it…again…" he closed his eyes, chuckling weakly, "Nice job…Vent…"
"Who brought you back to life?" Megaman HX demanded.
"You'll see…soon enough…" Fistleo chuckled before his body shattered while Fireman logged out.
=Fistleo: Deleted=
The ground rumbled as it slowly lowered back down, merging the islands back to their original single area. R-Buckfire snorted before changing to Roll A as Megaman HX dismissed the Double MergaMerge. He blinked as a familiar 'star' appeared where Fistleo had been before going to Roll A.
[Whoa~! Fistleo is really strong! He can jump in mid-air like a doublejump! His normal attack is a close-quarters style of rapid and heavy strikes, but charging it up lets us add some fire power to it!] Model A noted.
"Looks like all the systems have gone back to normal," Ciel noted in relief, looking at the data of the Network, as everyone stood in the NetSaver HQ.
"That's a relief," Lan noted.
"Though…it seems some of the systems the center uses for doing their job have burnt out from the heat," Ciel frowned, "Which means more of it will be diverted to the Government Complex's Power Plant."
"That's horrible," Sal frowned, "A lot of the products I use come from here."
[Ciel…why haven't you introduced the CIEL System here?] Zero asked, focusing his 'voice' on her.
'I need a few more years before I can,' Ciel replied, 'It would be too suspicious for a twelve-year-old to just suddenly make a whole other energy system.'
"Still…It was a World Three plot in the end," Masa frowned, several bandages wrapped on parts of his body, "And it's interesting to hear about you knowing Fistleo, Vent."
"He had part of Model F inside of him. I wasn't going to let him go about with him." Vent shrugged, "What worries me is that World Three was able to revive him…meaning there may be others like him in their ranks."
"Others?" Sal asked in concern.
"Just means all of us are going to have to take them down and not just Vent," Lan noted.
"We're going to need a roster on all the NetNavis like Fistleo you've fought," Ciel advised/ordered.
"I'll have them first thing tomorrow," Vent assured.
"Oh! We were able to collect his data! Maybe you could make a simulator for everyone to practice with in case he gets revived again," Ashe suggested.
"Right," Ciel nodded…while mentally sobbing, 'Another project~'
Vent frowned as he looked up at the 'sky' of Lan's homepage from his bed in it, "Fistleo…"
[We should've expected this] Phantom noted [If Ciel and Prairie were here…it stands to reason that others could be here as well]
[I'm more worried that someone copied us when we were Reploids] X noted in concern.
'If there is a copy of one of you, I'll eat a hat,' Vent thought before a soft beep made him pull up the feed for his security cube, seeing Ashe on the other side, "..." he unlocked it and sat up before Ashe entered and ran over to him, "Worried, too?"
"Yeah," Ashe frowned as he gestured to her to sit beside him, "That guy…you fought him back then?"
"Yes. Him and seven other Pseudoroids made from halves of Biometals F, H, L, and P. Serpent had them made," Vent scowled, "And with Fistleo here…there may be others."
"Maybe even the ones I fought that Albert made from Model W," Ashe growled.
"Maybe…" Vent nodded, "...I'm glad things went differently this time…but…"
"Hm?"
"I'm sad we didn't get to see Fireman's face when Gutsman shot through his lava wave again."
"...pfft…O-Oh!" Ashe began to crack up laughing, "Oh man…I forgot about that!"
Vent smiled at Ashe as she continued laughing, 'We need more times like this…especially if more Pseudoroids really are here…'
GT: Whew…okay…originally, this was meant to be Vent still getting challenged and Ashe getting to rip off Fireman's arm as Bifrost, but…that didn't make sense because Ashe was the one who bested Fireman, not Vent. Furthermore…there wasn't meant to be Fistleo, but while I was writing…he just appeared in my head. The scene involving Lan doing the hat thing? It was meant to happen at school, but Lan takes her under the stairs instead of doing it in class. This episode of the anime…has always been one that I could never stand. So many issues in it that I couldn't handle between Lan and Maylu and Megaman and Roll. The former two never even truly apologized or made up for their actions. They just got mad at one another again at the end while Lan and Maylu made up. I refused to let this episode be the same as in the anime!