GT: Fair warning for you guys…this is not going to be all of a good ending. Be careful near the end as things really start to change.


Wily pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly. For the past two months…the several plans devised by his organization were being messed up…by children. None of them even at thirteen even. Walking over to a computer, he looked at the four portfolios on it.

Ciel Oda, daughter of 'Slick Daddy' Oda who was infamous in the underground circles due to his style of sleuthing. She was a genius, having made several programs shortly after she got out of the hospital after a car accident left her and her younger sister comatose for several days. Mother died in the accident.

Eugene Chaud Blaze, son of IPC's president. Famous Official, having become one at the age of nine. Also the vice president of IPC. His informants managed to find out that the father and son had deep issues on connecting with one another, growing worse when the mother passed when he was 5 of a sickness.

Maylu Persephone Sakurai, parents constantly abroad due to their professions. Grandparents live nearby to keep watch of her. Practices parkour and the piano.

Lan…Hikari… Wily grit his teeth, his eye burning in anger as he gazed upon that name. Son of Haruka Hikari, former high school boxer, and Yuichiro Hikari…scientist of SciLab and son of him. Moderate grades until a few days after Fireman failed his ongoing mission of causing fires through the ovens. He had to look away to calm his rising blood pressure and change to their NetNavis, aside from Ciel who didn't have one oddly enough.

Protoman…A customized NetNavi…made by Chaud's mother even as she was on her deathbed. Speed, reflexes, defenses…all stronger than even the most recent line of NetNavi. Preference to sword-related BattleChips.

Roll A…also known as 'Ashe,' she is a wildcard with her A-Trans ability that allows her to transform into others she's battled. Even without it, her ultimate attack Giga Crush has been devastating to his forces. Seems highly protective of her NetOp, often getting enraged and far more dangerous if she is put into danger.

Megaman…known also as 'Vent,' he calls himself a 'carrier.' Deeper research through plants in SciLab discovered he was a NetNavi made by Yuichiro and has surpassed even other, more modern, NetNavis. Had a mentor NetNavi teaching him before an accident left the NetNavi Deleted. Has access to items known as 'Biometals,' allowing him to change armors with unique elements…items that were created by Ciel Oda shortly after she got out of her coma and scattered them across the Network. An interesting pattern was that each armor always had 'X' in their name.

Even Roll A had one that allowed her to A-Trans: Model A. Another of Ciel's creations, perhaps? It mattered little of their origins. What mattered was the fact that they were a dangerous threat to all his plans if he couldn't obtain the final of the four Elemental Codes. He let out a sigh, shaking his head, before looking at four machines set up before him, three filled with holograms of a sphere either made of flames, leaves, or water. Just one code remained…his thoughts were cut off by a cup of tea being placed before him.

"Lord Wily, please take some time to calm yourself," a voice spoke, causing Wily to look at the slender man with two blue triangles on his face, a red dot on his forehead, and his brown hair pulled back into a slipknot.

"..." Wily sighed, taking the cup and taking a sip of it, "...Your tea is marvelous as always, Yahoot."

"I am pleased to hear," the man noted with a small smile, his eyes kept shut, "I've come to do a report for myself and my cohort also in the DNN involving the N1 GP."

"Pray tell, what news do you bring?"

"Under pseudonyms, we were able to enter Maddy, Match, and Zap into it as Madoi, Hinoken, and Jack Elec. I was able to talk him down from entering under the identity of 'Netbattler Q' so that we would have a member partake in it in the background," Yahoot explained.

Wily nodded, "Good…Before the second round, make sure Zap is out of it. The night before it, SciLab will be having a party to showcase new inventions. I need him and Elecman for the plan."

"We will make sure of it," Yahoot assured.

"...There is one other thing…No one knows your NetNavi, yes?"

"Indeed. I have kept him hidden while using the Alpha-I that you provided for my cover," Yahoot replied.

"Good. During your next broadcast, deploy him with his hypnosis program at full force," Wily ordered, "Deny any and all association should he lose to Megaman and Roll A."

"Sir?"

"The N1 will be a powder keg, all we are doing with this final act before it is add the final touches to its load to ignite," Wily stated, "An event meant to alleviate the tensions by showcasing how strong humanity and NetNavis can become to fight us…will instead be a full blown panic-spreading assault of madness. When Zap and Elecman are successful in obtaining the ElecCode…In the final round…we will deploy Operation Endgame!"

"Understood," Yahoot replied, bowing.


"Hah…" Lan sighed as he skated alongside Maylu on her scooter.

"What's wrong?" Maylu asked, "I thought you'd be excited for something like the N1."

"I am…but it's the reasons behind it that's getting to me," Lan replied, frowning.

Vent frowned in his PeT, 'That's true…In the original timeline, we joined because it looked like fun. But here…as NetSavers, we 'received' intel on World Three entering the tournament. We're being entered instead of just volunteering like we would've done.' "Hey, Lan?"

"What?"

"Don't focus on the World Three, alright? Focus on something else."

"And what's that?"

"Us winning," Vent smirked.

"What?! Oh heck no! If anyone's winning the N1, it's gonna be Maylu, Model A, and me!" Ashe declared.

"A-Ashe?!" Maylu gawked.

"No way! Vent, me, and the Biometals are gonna win," Lan declared, a grin on his face, "No offense, Maylu, but we're not gonna lose if we fight you."

"...What's that supposed to mean?" Maylu demanded, narrowing her eyes.

Lan chuckled, "Well…we're not gonna hold back on you guys. Even if we're best friends, I'm not gonna let that get me to hold back."

"Mmm…Well, neither will we!" Maylu declared, "Ashe, Model A, we're gonna go all out when it's time!"

[Heck yeah! We're not gonna lose to you guys! And don't think it'll be a draw like when we first fought, Vent!] Axl whooped.

[Careful, Axl, pride goeth before the fall] Zero warned.

[No wonder my siblings kept losing to you] Phantom noted, keeping the link to just Vent and Ashe.

[Phantom~!] Fafnir and Harpuia whined.

[And who's pride had them self-destruct to try to take down Zero?] Harpuia recalled.

[Kids, no arguing] X scolded [We're already going to be late enough as is]

"Gah! That's right!" Lan panicked.

"You could always send us ahead to explain the situation," Ashe offered.

"Please do!" Maylu begged as the two kids picked up the pace.


"Those two sure are running late…" Dex noted, himself, Yai, and Ciel in Yai's treehouse base, "The show's about to start soon!"

"It can't be helped, I suppose," Ciel sighed as she glanced at the television, 'I…I still can't believe that Yahoot is a member of World Three…'

"Lady Yai, Sir Vent and Madam Ashe have arrived," Glyde informed, the screen popping up to show the Network.

"We're really sorry about Lan and Maylu's tardiness," Ashe apologized, bowing to them, "Masa trouble."

"Who's Masa?" Yai asked, tilting her head.

'Oh right…The aquarium event was different,' Vent thought.

"A good fisherman, but also a bit kooky," Dex explained, nodding in understanding, "I get that all too well, Ashe. Why do you think I was jogging to school and not on my scooter that one day?"

"...This Masa guy?"

"Yep! He's a man who takes health quite seriously," Ashe explained, "He's got a good heart, but is a bit…er…gungho."

"He's an honest fishmonger…but I cannot deny he has moments that just make me chuckle," Vent added.

"Plus, he's very knowledgeable about fish. We honestly needed it when a virus attacked," Ashe recalled, "That knowledge on jellyfish was perfect for the Jelly Viruses!"

"Really?" Yai pondered before a notification went off on Ciel's PeT.

"Oh. The show's about to start," Ciel informed.

"Glyde," Yai commanded.

Glyde smiled before giving a formal bow. The screen changed to show a channel that was showcasing a title card of a pair of elephants that seemed to be playing with one another in a sunset background. Above them were the words 'Mahajarama Yoga.' Traditional music played as the card transitioned with a fading effect to a studio set up with various oriental items as Yahoot sat upon a yoga mat with his legs crossed behind his head and his hands brought together in a prayer pose.

"A pleasure to have you all gathered once more," Yahoot greeted calmly, "For those new to our program, I am Yahoot Mahajarama, an expertise in the art of Yoga…"

'Ciel…I hope you remember to close your eyes when the real event starts,' Vent thought in concern.

"In ancient India, Yoga was a way of strengthening one's heart and body. Under my guidance, you will surely have the opportunity to improve upon your health through your body and mind, healing yourself both physically and spiritually," Yahoot continued as he stood up, "Now then…let us begin. We'll start off with the grasshopper's pose, allowing our skin to be strengthened." Yahoot bent down to the floor, slightly bending his knees while keeping his hands flat on the floor, and the three pre-teens followed his lead, "Good. Now we will transition to the pose of a flying bird to allow us to become more active. It is often best to use this when you first awaken in the morning." the trio followed his lead of standing up with the left leg bent and lifting their right leg back while spreading their arms out and tilting their body to the side a little, "The pose of a wild boar to increase one's endurance follows."

"Why are you doin' it, too, guts?" Gutsman asked, watching Ashe and Vent follow the posing.

"Ah!" Ashe nearly fell out of position if not for Vent nudging her, "It's so we can show Lan and Maylu later because of them missing it."

"The pose of a lemur, allowing one to have optimal space within a crowded train," Yahoot continued as the two bent their knees while rising up a little, folding in their arms and keeping them curled up like animal paws before them.

"It also helps us feel closer to our NetOps to better synchronize with them in FullSynchro," Vent added.


"The pose of a western wildcat, loosening up the body enough to let one easily remove stickers without leaving residue behind or causing it to tear," Yahoot went on.

"Even if I've known the guy for a while now, it's hard to believe a famous yoga instructor like him is working for World Three," Match noted in the World Three base.

"I'll say! This show is seen by almost every single person in Electopia! And even in some international channels, too!" Zap grinned.

"He's got such a weird face…" Maddy muttered.

"He's been around since the very beginning of World Three," Wily informed, "Now watch, you three, and see the difference between the chaos you bring forth…and what he can do."


"You've all done well today. Before we end today's program, as a treat for the N1 Grand Prix in a few weeks, I would like to show you all a pose that will circulate your energy in a way to bring out the maximum performance of your NetNavi through a spiritual connection," Yahoot informed, "It was quite the surprise when performing it that I felt as if I was seeing through my NetNavi's eyes."

Ciel gasped under her breath as Dex blinked a few times before asking, "Hey…Doesn't that sound like what Lan and Maylu describe FullSynchro like?"

Inside of the Network, Ashe and Vent narrowed their eyes at that statement, realizing the implications. The screen suddenly flickered before changing to show another Network with an ominous blue-garbed NetNavi based upon a sorcerer with a metal cream 'beard' that hid all but his glowing yellow eyes underneath an armored wizard's hat and red crystal spheres for hands.

"Who dat?" Gutsman pondered.

"Ladies and gentlemen, children of any age! Don't be surprised and turn the page. I am Magicman, Magician of Skill! Watch as you are now under WWW's will!"

"Close your…!" Ciel began before a bright flash went off from the screen…and Ashe and Vent collapsed.


"Hurry, hurry! We probably already missed it, but we are not gonna be no shows!" Lan declared as the two approached the clubhouse.

"Why didn't we keep Ashe or Vent with us to deal with that virus that messed with the crossing signals at all those crosswalks?" Maylu groaned as they entered…and blinked a few times.

Yai rowled as she chewed and gnawed on a fish on the floor. Meanwhile, Dex hooted and banged his chest with one fist as he ate a banana in the other. Ciel sighed upon spotting the two.

"Oh thank Asimov you two aren't like them," Ciel noted in relief.

"Ciel, what's going on?" Maylu asked.

"WWW hijacked the yoga show," Ciel explained, "A NetNavi by the name Magicman sent out a hypnotic visual signal. I barely got my eyes closed before he did, but Yai and Dex…" she gestured to the two acting like a cat and gorilla, "They nearly attacked me if I didn't bribe them with food. And don't show your teeth around Dex. It seems that whatever this is also included the actual behavioral patterns of the animals they're hypnotized as. But…"

"But…?" Maylu repeated, unease in her tone.

"Master Vent and Lady Roll passed out when the light went off," Glyde informed on the screen as Gutsman was keeping vigil of the two collapsed NetNavis, "We've attempted to awaken them, but nothing has changed."

"Oh no…!" Lan gasped as he ran over to it, "Vent! Hey, Vent! Wake up, buddy!"

[We've been trying to get them to awaken ever since they collapsed] Zero explained [No luck. Not even Reverie is working]

"Oh that is so unfair!" Lan groaned.

"Lan…" Maylu sighed before looking at Ashe in worry, "Roll…" she noticed Ashe's hand twitch, "Roll?"

"Vent!" Lan called out as, slowly, the two started to awake.

"...rrrrr…" Vent growled.

"Vent?" Lan pondered before Glyde and Gutsman yelped as Vent snarled while chasing after them on all fours, barking and howling, "VENT?!"

"Roll?" Maylu pondered as Ashe licked the back of her hand and rubbed it against her face.

"Is she a cat like Yai?" Ciel pondered.

"Rrowrl~!" Ashe mewled…before Vent froze up, Gutsman trying to pull him off Glyde as the long-haired male's teeth dug into part of Glyde's right boot.

"Guts?" Gutsman pondered, earning her attention, "?!"

"Mmrowl?" Ashe mewled, tilting her head before seeing Vent, "Rowrl!" She bounced up and started to approach…before Vent bolted, "Meow?"

Vent whimpered as he hid behind a pillar in the Network.

"...What's going on?" Lan pondered, watching as a curious Ashe moved to the pillar only for Vent to run away again.

"Is Vent…afraid of her?" Maylu pondered.

[No. I've been with Vent the longest alongside Zero. With how long we've known each other…] X noted.

[Vent's guilty] Zero summed up [His posture and mannerisms all show signs he feels guilty about something involving her]

"Vent? Vent, come on, what's wrong?" Lan asked, his voice making Vent freeze up before scurrying out of sight once more.

[Seems you're also triggering a guilt] Zero added.

"What is he guilty about?" Maylu pondered as Ashe kept trying to catch Vent, none of them seeing how Ciel bit her lower lip.

'I know…' Ciel thought before shaking her head, "Everyone, Log Out. Lan, Maylu, we have to head for DNN's broadcast station to shut down the signal. Can you two handle operating Gutsman and Glyde since Ashe and Vent are currently incapacitated?"

"..." Lan frowned in concern but nodded, "Since we're stuck in this situation, who do you want to Operate you guys? Me or Maylu?"

"I'm used to being Operated by Lady Yai, so would it be alright if you do so, Lady Maylu?"

"Of course, Glyde."

"Gutsman glad to work with ya, Lan! Let's show that Magicman jerk how much my training's been paying off, guts!"

Ciel nodded as she picked up the dropped PeTs. She gave the duo some more fish and bananas before the trio left with all four NetNavis in their individual PeTs. Ashe let out a few sad mewls, pawing at the screen while Vent huddled in a corner of his PeT's screen, still whimpering.

{Curiouser and curiouser} Phantom thought, watching over Vent with the other Biometals.


Wily cackled as various screens displayed the chaos occurring all over Electopia. People gave chase to many either individually or in packs. Buildings with windows and balconies had people hanging on them upside-down like bats regardless of age. In stores, all the fruit, meats, and vegetables were being voraciously consumed by the people within them…or playing with the various pet toys and yarn.

"Excellent! Your work is impeccable as always, Yahoot, Magicman!" Wily laughed, "Now this is what a plan to instill chaos truly looks like! Perhaps you may learn well from this!" he turned around…before facepalming as he saw the trio were a dog, a peacock, and a frog, "...Because of course they didn't look away…" he noticed something on one screen and scowled, turning around to see Lan, Maylu, and Ciel running through the city, "They didn't look."

"Would you care if we did something?" a voice asked from another.

"Do as you wish," Wily replied.


In the recycling center, several machines hummed to life as a conveyor belt moved. Mechanical hands reached down and began to go to work. On several screens, a purple stylized 'W' shined within the darkness as blueprints, coding, and schematics flashed rapidly across them in popups.


"This is bad…really bad…" Lan grimaced.

"Ah! Lan, Ciel! It's Ms. Mari!" Maylu gasped, pointing ahead at a tree…where Ms. Mari was hanging upside down, a lazy expression on her face.

"Whoa, she's just looking nowhere, hanging upside down in that tree like that," Lan awed, "She must think she's a sloth!" he jumped as Sal jumped by them, keeping her hands before her in a curled up manner, "Sal?!"

"She looks to be emulating a kangaroo," Ciel noted, seeing a doll peeking out of her outfit, before a shadow came overhead, making them look up in time to see Miyu soar by using her fortune telling table's cloth as a glider, "...Aaaaand Miyu seems to have become a flying squirrel."

"Dis is gettin' nuts, guts," Gutsman noted before Ashe began to rowl and hiss, making them look in the direction Maylu's PeT had been facing to see Masa slithering on the floor.

"Good heavens! Has this poor man become a serpent?" Glyde asked.

"No…This is Masa," Lan replied, "A-And I…I think he's an eel."

"Even hypnotized, he's still nutty about fish," Maylu sighed.

"Help~! Some assistance if you please!" everyone looked at a tree where Higsby was clinging to it.

"...I…I think he's supposed to be a cicada?" Lan guessed.

"First bug of the day," Ciel muttered before yelping and barely catching the falling PeT from Higsby's broken holster.

"Oh thank goodness! I'm saved!" Numberman sighed in relief, "This is horrible! What's happened to Higsby?"

"We're heading for the TV station to try to deal with that bad NetNavi," Lan explained, "It even affected Vent and Ashe."

"Really?!" Numberman gasped, "Please, allow me to assist."

"Why should we trust ya?" Gutsman questioned, narrowing his eyes.

"Because I was the one who rebuilt him and installed a termination code into him if he and Higsby violated their parole," Ciel replied.

"I also have my memory from our time in WWW," Numberman added, "I recognized the NetNavi on the screen as Magicman, one of the strongest NetNavis in the organization. I, however, never met his NetOp."

"...Glyde? Gutsman? This is your call since he he hit you two, Yai, and Dex the most with what went on back then," Lan spoke.

"...Any help would be good in this troubling time," Glyde replied, "I do not condone his actions against myself and Lady Yai nor his actions that hurt Dex and Gutsman, but in the end, we need as much assistance in this endeavor as we can ascertain."

"Gutsman don't trust disco head, but we need any advantage we can get for dis jerk, guts," Gutsman huffed, crossing his arms over his torso as he glared at Numberman's PeT, "And, if anything, we can toss him into the PeT with Ashe in it."

"Speaking of…why aren't they speaking?"

"They got affected," Lan replied, showing his PeT.

"Huh?! But…how?!"

"We have no idea," Maylu replied.

"..." Ciel looked around before spotting a set of gachapon machines, "Over there. We'll send Gutsman, Gylde, and Numberman ahead to DNN while we make our way there."

"I'll inform Gutsman and Glyde of as much information as I have on Magicman and his abilities while we make our way there," Numberman assured.

The three preteens nodded as they approached the machines. Within moments, all three NetNavis were off towards the station's Network. After that, the two girls were quick on their scooters as Lan kept ahead on his roller skates. A howl made them look over their shoulders and yelp as they picked up the pace as a pack of office workers pursued them, acting like a hunting pack of wolves.


"He can do all that?!" Gutsman gawked as they raced through the Network.

"Indeed," Numberman confirmed, "His name is not merely that, but his entire being. Though…there is something odd."

"What is it?" Glyde questioned.

"Those two…Vent and Ashe…they shouldn't have been affected by the hypnosis," Numberman replied.

"Huh? Why's dat?" Gutsman asked in confusion.

"Because Magicman's hypnosis doesn't work on NetNavis or animals, only humans."

"?!" Gutsman and Glyde's eyes widened in surprise before a red beam of light raced passed them, "Ah!"

"Good heavens! What was that just now?" Glyde questioned.

"I believe that may be another NetNavis making their way to the station!" Numberman realized.

"Den let's pick up da pace, guts!" Gutsman roared before, eventually, the trio entered a massive Network with the 'sky' above sporting a series of revolving logos for DNN.

"Civilians and a criminal?" the trio looked to see a scowling Protoman on another part of the Network.

"We were sent here by Ciel Oda to assist," Numberman informed quickly, "Magicman is a skilled NetNavi capable of techniques that could only be described as like his namesake!"

"Dat's right!" Gutsman backed him up, "Da guy can teleport, make fire dat homes in on ya, and can summon tons of viruses!"

"Like the ones that fast approach," Glyde noted in concern.

"Of course," Protoman scoffed, about to attack when Numberman waved a hand at him.

"We will handle these. You need to force Magicman to Log Out or Delete him to reverse the trouble he's caused!" Numberman spoke.

"...Lord Chaud?"

"We'll allow it for now," Chaud stated, "And I'd rather not stress Ciel out further due to what's going on already."

"Understood," Protoman nodded before racing off to find Magicman.


"I think…that was worse…than last year when Masa…got Maylu, Dex, and me doin' all sorts of…exercises…" Lan panted, the trio having blocked off the entrance to DNN with as many tables and chairs that they could grab.

"Now…it…it'd be a lot worse…if we…we haven't been doing…our parkour and…and Yai's security runs…" Maylu added between pants.

After a few more moments of catching their breath, Ciel was the first to get up and look around, "Looks like the lobby is empty, but we have to be careful."

"Right," both nodded.

With that, the trio went towards the studios part of the building. As they went down the hallways, they ended up stopping and tensing at times when they heard loud crashes and banging against doors, the howls and roars of the people hypnotized within muffled by the doors and walls. Lan peeked through part of a window where the blindfolds had been bent and mangled to see a man in a yellow jacket with tassels on the sleeves curled up on the floor with the room a mess of broken trophies, plaques, overturned chairs and even the desk with all the items on it scattered across the floor either intact, partially broken, or completely destroyed. He grimaced before nearly jumping and screaming when he felt something grab him. Two hands quickly covered his mouth and pulled him away to show it was Maylu and Ciel that had grabbed him. He relaxed before sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Maylu rolled her eyes as Ciel gave him an annoyed look before pointing down the hallway for them to resume. Eventually, they made their way into the studios, the entire area pitch black from no lights turned on. Lan took a step forward before a guitar riff wailed. Spotlights lit up and shined down ahead of them, revealing a stage with large speakers. Standing on it was a strange mechanical-looking creature. Its body was lanky and made of various shades of a green/blue metal shaped to resemble a condor of sorts mixed with a humanoid. Its legs were digitigrade in shape, meant to resemble the legs of a bird with three sharp, white talons for the feet. Each segment of its arms sported two long spikes that a semi-transparent blue plasma flared between to resemble wings of sorts, leaving to its green hands with four, white, talon-like fingers that grasped a skeletal-themed guitar in the same colors as the creature. On its rounded torso, a part raised up to show a gunmetal interior…with glowing red lights resembling eyes shining within. Attached to it by a long, skinny neck was a head resembling an armored skull of a condor with red eyes in the sockets, green spikes emerging from the sides, and a green lower beak/jaw.

"I see you pushed your way through all those Mavericks to get a special front row seat to watch me perform. That's pretty rocking of you kids," the machine spoke, sounding like a rocker.

"?!" all three tensed up on seeing him.

"A…A robot?" Lan asked.

"Nope! I'm a Pseudoroid! The name's Vulturon the Condoroid! But I'm thinking of making myself a handle for the stage and calling myself Condorock the Vulturoid!"

"Wait…Y-You're one of the A-Trans Ashe can use!" Maylu recognized.

"Huh?" Lan looked at Maylu in surprise as Ciel narrowed her eyes at the Pseudoroid.

"Y-Yeah…She uses it to play music at times, normally gentle guitar melodies when I can't sleep," Maylu replied, causing Vulturon to nearly fall over.

"Aw what?! Now that ain't Mega of Mega Man Model A at all!" the Condoroid snapped.

"Huh? Megaman? But…we're talking about Ashe," Lan tilted his head.

"He does mean Ashe, you two. I gave the title of those who can transform with the Biometals I made 'Mega Man,'" Ciel explained, 'How is a Pseudoroid here on Earth of all places?'

"Mmmm…" Lan looked over Vulturon's shoulder (which was a bit difficult since the machine was banging his head to an unheard rhythm) to see the doors, "Those must be where we can shut off the broadcast." he started to move only to yelp and move back when Vulturon leapt and landed before them, his eyes glowing dangerously.

"Not so fast, that's where the VIP seats are. I'm afraid you can't go in there," he scolded.

"Gh!" Lan tensed as the trio started stepping backwards from the slowly approaching Pseudoroid.

"What do you say we start the show?"

"S-Show?" Maylu repeated.

"Yeah…I'll play the guitar, and you'll sing the vocals," Vulutron declared, turning his guitar, "I'm looking forward to the finale…" he raised his talons into the air, "…as you scream your last breath! Sound Vibration!"

He swung down, his talons raking across the magenta guitar strings made of a faint plasma. All three screamed as a visible barrier resembling a soundwave erupted from his body and knocked them away to different parts, Maylu to the right, Ciel to the left, and Lan straight backwards. Maylu grunted as she bounced a few times along the floor as Lan gagged as he slammed into a buffet table, knocking it over onto him. Ciel grunted, tumbling along the floor. Vulturon turned to her only for a slice of cake to hit him in the face. He wiped it off and looked to see Lan, already up and his hands filled with two more slices. With a shout, he threw them at the bird machine and ran away.

"Gah! You little punk! Junk Marionette!" Vulturon shouted, playing a rapid riff while his back was turned away from Ciel.

As he played, he didn't see Ciel managing to get into the next area, the blonde glancing over her shoulder to see Lan subtly giving her a thumbs up as he ran over to Maylu to help her up. She gave a silent prayer for their safety as she made her way. Meanwhile, the pieces of machinery in the studio shook and trembled before several broken parts shot off and assembled with one another, turning into a strange humanoid figure made of junk, a broken camera lens acting as a cyclops eye that glowed ominously with a red color. It shuffled across the floor, its movements earning the attention of the two.

"Ah! Robo-zombie?!" Lan yelped as he grabbed Maylu's wrist, "This way!"

The two quickly ran away, avoiding the lunge it made to grab at them only to break a piece of the set of another show. The two yelped as they barely avoided Vulturon landing before them while he swung his guitar at them, smashing another set piece with it after missing the two kids.

"Hmph. Black Ruler," Vulturon intoned as he strummed his guitar…before he vanished in the soundwaves.

"?! Where did he…?" Maylu began, the two looking over their shoulder before they gagged as Vulturon's guitar slammed into them.

"GAH/GUH!" the two screamed as they were sent crashing into the Junk Marionette.

Before either could do a thing, the created machine grabbed them both and squeezed them hard in a hug of sorts. Pops and cracks echoed as the two screamed. It dropped them on the stage as the speakers had been turned to face inward. Vulturon raised his talons up.

"Last Gig…"

With that, he began to play wildly. All over, the debris in the room began to shake from the soundwaves coming out of the speakers that slammed into the two kids between them. All Lan and Maylu could do was scream, the music drowning that out, as the debris shot out and covered the speakers before shooting out and slamming into the two. For a few moments, silence fell. On the stage, Lan and Maylu laid down on it, their bruised and battered bodies barely twitching while their PeTs had fallen out of their holsters to lay near their heads. Vulturon sighed, looking at the state of the two.

"Mega bummer, dudes," he noted, slowly approaching, "Honestly, with how much of a rockin' time you've been havin' with my fellow performers in the WWW, I thought you'd be a better match in this battle of the bands."

'A…Are we…going to die here…?' Lan thought, 'C…Can't move…don't…don't feel my limbs…'

'W…We're dying…' Maylu thought, 'Breathing…h-hurts…so much…'

"Rrrrrrr!" Lan managed to move his head, seeing Vent snarling and growling while looking towards Vulturon with murder in his eyes.

"HISSSS!" Maylu got her head to move enough to let her see Ashe on the screen, rowling and hissing while giving Vulturon the fiercest look she could.

'Roll…'

'Vent…'

'...I'm so sorry,' both thought as a tear fell from their closing eyes.

The drops fell and landed on the two PeTs. For a moment, nothing happened…before a light began to shine from the screens. Vulturon backed away, holding a hand up to block the bright light.

[Lan…] X spoke [There is still hope]

"H-Huh?" Lan asked.

[Maylu…There is something we could do…] Axl suggested [But it's risky, especially in your states]

"Risky…?" Maylu cracked open an eye.

[In all likelihood…you could very well die because you don't have certain modifications to your bodies] X warned.

[Especially with how beaten up you've been] Fafnir added.

[Ashe and Vent are able to merge with us because they can hear us] Axl explained [If you can hear us…you can merge with us]

[Lan, don't even think of trying to use two of us together] Zero warned [Only one of us can be with you, so pick just one]

"We can…merge with you?" Maylu asked.

[Of course!] Axl beamed [Now I want you to focus on a Biometal. Then you yell, "MEGAMERGE!" as loud as you can! Ya got it?]

Both managed to nod before, with grunts, the two slowly stood up. It was strange…just a minute ago, neither could feel their bodies at all…and yet, here they were. Standing up again. Aches and flashes of intense pain lanced through them…but neither cared. Their eyes focused on Vulturon as they held their PeTs tight.

"Oh? You guys think the show's not over?" Vulturon asked.

'Please work…' both thought before inhaling deeply, Lan's thoughts turning to Model F and the time in the Waterworks as Maylu's turned to all her times with Model A, "Mega…MEEEEEERGE!-!-!-!"

Twin pillars of light erupted from their PeTs as Model A and Model F lit up [BIOLINK ESTABLISHED! MEGA SYSTEM ONLINE!]

In the Network, a figure stared at the feed inside of the studio with wide eyes of surprise before narrowing in excitement. Within the light, Maylu and Lan grunted as sparks came off their bodies. The two let loose cries within the light before it slowly dissipated, leaving the two heavily panting. Maylu was donned in Model A's armor, but her helmet didn't sport a ponytail; instead, her back armor was slightly bulkier with two long orange and red cables acting as a scarf emerged from it. Meanwhile, Lan looked like he was Model FX, but the horns faced away from him instead of going forward while the busters had grown bulkier and more draconic in appearance, almost resembling the heads of two dragons.

"What the…This feeling... This power...in my body...What is it?" Maylu asked as the two looked at themselves.

"I…I think it's the Biometal, making us stronger!" Lan realized.

[You betcha! This is the power of the MEGA System!] F declared.

[Guys, you don't have long in this form, so kick that beak boy's head in!] A shouted.

"Right!" Lan nodded.

The Junk Marionette rushed at them. Lan narrowed his eyes as his right hand was engulfed in one of the white buster/gauntlets. He rushed at the machine while reeling his fist back. With a roar, he swung the weapon at the machine and shattered it. Vulturon moved to start playing before yelping as bullets riddled him, forcing him to jump up as the blue energy on his arms flared up, jetting him away from the attack coming from Maylu's guns. The two guns in Maylu's hands shifted parts of themselves before she pulled the triggers and plasma bolts shot out of them and slammed into Vulturon, knocking him out of the sky to get another punch from Lan, sending him crashing into one of the speakers. Vulturon pulled himself out before he smelled something burning. He spun around in time to see a streak of flames racing across the floor and explode beneath him, sending him up into the air. Lan stood up from his punching the ground to catch Maylu in her jump and threw her at Vulturon. The red head roared as she slammed the sides of her guns into the bird robot, slamming him into the other speaker, knocking it over with him embedded into it. Maylu landed beside Lan and the two couldn't help but look at themselves and each other.

"H…How are we…?" Maylu began to ask.

[You're just kids, so we're lending a hand by stimulating your bodies with 'memories' of how to fight with our powers] Model F explained.

[Think of it as giving your muscles new 'memories' that will let them handle this] Model A added.

Vulturon groaned as he pushed himself out of the ruined speaker, "Ugh…" he shook his head before looking at the two while pulling his guitar out of the debris, "..." he couldn't hold back a laugh, "What an act! You two are a real platinum record at the moment to me! Let's give way to the finale then!" he played his guitar hard, causing the entire studio to shake as all the broken debris assembled into a pair of speakers at his sides, "Are you ready to rock?!"

[One last hit, Maylu. I'll help you with it, so let's go with the Giga Crush!]

"Right," Maylu nodded.

[Lan, you've got a pretty strong soul that roars like an inferno. I'm going to teach you something Vent doesn't know about]

"Huh? Something Vent doesn't know?" Lan grinned, "Alright then!"

The bulky busters covered both of Lan's hands as Maylu closed her eyes. A three-dimensional purple 'cube' emerged from her, covering the area. Beside her, Lan closed his own and aimed at the ceiling at an angle. The busters in his arms glowed before opening up, resembling the heads of a pair of dragon/wolf hybrids preparing to roar out.

"LAST GIG/GIGA CRUSH/METEOR RAIN!" all three roared.


Ciel forced back a scream that escaped her lips as the ground shook and rumbled as bits of dust fell from the ceiling above. In another room, Yahoot frowned as he was surrounded by knocked over objects with his PeT held between the soles of his sandals, watching as Protoman sliced through a green fireball Magicman released from his right red orb before tearing through several serpent like viruses that emerged from the left red orb. He heard footsteps and knew it was time. He set up an Auto Jack-Out program to activate for Magicman before hiding his PeT inside of his outfit. The doors swung open and Ciel ran in and flinched. Yahoot looked up, standing on all four. He looked at her before bounding off, acting like a graceful gazelle.

"Even Yahoot was put under it. …Maybe Vent and Ashe were wrong and Yahoot isn't in the World Three?" Ciel pondered before shaking her head and running off towards the control room of the whole building.

"..." once she was gone, Yahoot stood up and rubbed the underside of his chin, "Vent and Ashe…How curious…"


"GUH! U-Ugh…" Vulturon choked as he looked at the two…before his eyes seemed to smile atop his hole-ridden, partially melted body, "N-Nice performance…second time I did a revival concert…only to retire once more…" he chuckled, "Go on then…give 'em a rockin' performance out there, you two."

He collapsed as the light left his optics. The sparks grew stronger before tiny explosions began to go off in him before a final large one left nothing but a small crater where he had been. Lan and Maylu sighed before their armor vanished. Lan weakly took a step forward…only to gag and he threw up blood onto the floor. Maylu began to shout and reach for him…only to collapse to the side, throwing up a bit of blood as well. Lan fell backwards, his head landing near Maylu's. The last thing he remembered seeing was the ceiling while something warm held his hand before darkness engulfed him.


"Program Advance," Protoman declared as he grasped a blade of pure purple plasma, "LifeSword!"

He vanished before appearing behind Magicman. The sorcerer-like NetNavi turned…before he collapsed into two halves and Logged Out. Nearby, Gutsman roared as he delivered a final blow to some of the last of the Viruses. Several explosions made him flinch and turn to see Numberman holding an arm out where several bits of Viruses that had been behind Gutsman were dissolving from his dice bombs. He nodded at the skinny, lanky NetNavi before walking over to Glyde.

"Guys! I've turned off the broadcast!" Ciel called, "Is everything alright in the Network?"

"No more Viruses, guts," Gutsman replied.

"Protoman has managed to defeat Magicman, so the hypnosis should be wearing off for everyone," Numberman added.

"Protoman? Oh thank goodness…" Ciel sighed in relief.

"Guess Lan Hikari and Maylu Sakurai were victims?" Protoman asked.

"?! Oh gosh! I forgot!" Ciel panicked as she ran off.

"I am checking the outside cameras," Glyde informed, "People are coming out of hypnosis as we-Oh dear! Master Lan! Lady Maylu!"

"?" Protoman turned to him as Glyde had a screen displaying the two preteens collapsed on the ground within a growing pool of blood, "What happened?"

"Something interfered with the security feed. Between their arrival and just a few minutes ago is corrupted," Glyde informed.

"I think Gutsman sees gunshot holes," Gutsman noted, pointing at parts of the floor…and then on the injuries on the two.

'What happened?' Protoman pondered, narrowing his eyes behind his visor.


"What happened?" Oda questioned, his fedora tilted to hide his anger-filled eyes.

"It seems their bodies were put under an immense strain," the doctor explained, looking through the glass window to the recovery ward where Lan and Maylu were sound asleep in separate beds with Haruka keeping watch of them both, "Several organs are on the verge of failure, muscles and tendons strained with many more ripped to shreds…We've had to restart their hearts five times in the last three operations we've done so far. To be honest…they're…probably never going to be able to do much with how wrecked their bodies are. Even with physical therapy, neither will be able to hold things like the handle of a PeT or even basic things. They'll be wheelchair bound and will barely be able to do much of anything. We'll likely need to give them wheelchairs that include a device to speak for them."

Oda scowled. Nearby, Ciel looked down, biting her lower lip. Yai struggled to not cry as her father held her close as Dex grit his teeth as his clenched fists were squeezing hard enough to draw blood. Ciel inhaled before standing up, tablet in hand with a determined look in her eyes.

"I have a suggestion, one with a recovery period of less than a week and give them mobility and protection from this repeating," Ciel informed as she walked up to the doctor and her father.

"Ciel?" Oda pondered.

"What do you mean?" The doctor asked before Ciel showed him her tablet, "..." his eyes widened as he read through it, "What the…?"

"Can this be done?"

"I…I'm not…but the data here…but…"

Ciel slammed a fist on the window, startling Haruka on the other side along with the doctor, "Can your doctors do this?"

"...We…We could, but where would we get these…?"

"What do you need?" Yai asked, "Whatever needs to be obtained, I'll make sure to get it for them!"

"Yai…" her father began.

"Daddy, they've done so much for you and me and the only things they asked were to be my friend and help improve our security systems. They're the ones who saved our company from that WWW attack along with the one at school." Tears welled in her eyes, "If I can even do just one thing for them, then…"

"..." he looked at the doctor, "All billing is to be given to the Ayano Family. We will make sure to get whatever you need as well. Glyde?"

"Ready for note taking to send to the right people and NetNavis, Master Ayano."

"But there's still the fact this…" the doctor began before Ciel tapped the tablet and showed a few photos, "?!" he looked at her in surprise, "He did it before?"

"Yes," Ciel replied.

"He?" Oda repeated.

"..." the doctor furrowed his brow in thought, "...We're going to need some scientists from SciLab here to help with the operation. If Dr. Black Jack could do this…then it is possible."

'?! Dr. Black Jack? The miracle worker?' Oda thought with wide eyes as he glanced at his daughter, 'What kind of connections have you been making when I haven't noticed?'

"Make sure no one puts neither Network interactivity nor compatibility into these," Ciel warned, "Just think of the horrors a rogue NetNavi or Virus could cause."

"Wait, scientists? Ciel, what did you…?" Oda pondered.

"Your daughter just gave us a method that can revolutionize the field of medicine and cybernetics on a scale unheard of," the doctor summed up, sending copies to his PeT and then to several doctors, "This works as intended and by the instructions provided? Those kids will be out before the N1 starts if they were planning on joining it."

"That fast?" Yai's father asked in surprise.

"I'll just need the permission of the parents or guardians," the doctor informed as he walked off to go inside.

Oda slowly looked at Ciel, "Ciel…you are just brilliant, you know that?"

Ciel sheepishly scratched her cheek, blushing at the praise, "It…It's not that much. Just…something I did while bored one day…"

"Well, if this procedure you came up with does what he says it can, you should get bored more often," Oda chuckled.

"Ah! Father~" Ciel groaned, realizing he was doing a joke.

"What I'm scared 'bout is what happened to cause that in the first place," Dex frowned.

"Gutsman don't know. We went ahead and got stuck fightin' Viruses and Magicman, guts," Gutsman noted in concern.

"We know Magicman has a powerful hypnosis ability, one that actually bypasses the need for believing the hypnosis will work like most cases. Maybe before the fighting began, he used it on those two to make their bodies do this," Ciel suggested, not willing to tell anyone about the Pseudoroid, "I wouldn't know since a pack of hippos caused us to split up."


"What the hell happened?!" Ashe demanded, pacing about in Vent's PeT, "I mean, what the fuck went tits up today?! We weren't supposed to get hypnotized! Just humans!"

"...Roll, we are humans," Vent reminded her, sitting at the table nearby with a contemplative look.

"Huh?"

"I was a human who became a NetNavi. You're a NetNavi. We both died and reincarnated as humans. Then we died and became NetNavis again," Vent explained, "But the fact is we were human before. We might be NetNavis now, but maybe our minds are still human enough that it worked on us."

"Maybe…" Ashe sighed, sitting down across from him, "Ugh…It just sucks I can't remember anything! Especially with what happened to our sibs!" she glanced out of the screen towards the two comatose preteens, "..."

[Perhaps we can explain about some of that] Phantom noted as he floated over.

"Huh?" Vent pondered, looking at the purple Biometal.

[Lan and Maylu Megamerged with Biometal Models F and A respectively]

"WHAT?!" both gasped.

[They had to in order to defeat Vulturon and not be slaughtered] Phantom explained.

"V-Vulturon was here, too? On Earth?" Ashe asked.

[Yes. He was protecting the main area of the TV station] Phantom explained, [Had they not performed the act, they would've died then and there]

"And this is better?!" Ashe snapped.

"Roll…" Vent began in worry.

[They'll survive] X stated [We just received a private message from Ciel. The doctors are going to use the method from your time as humans to save them]

"Method? What me…?" Vent trailed off as he looked over at Ashe…specifically the white boxes on the sides of her head, "...She's giving them that?"

"Huh?" Ashe tilted her head, her rage replaced with confusion.

[They're replacing parts of their internal systems with cybernetics] X explained.

"...HAH?!" Ashe gawked.

[She did leave out the 'ears', though] X noted.

"What are they doing?!" Ashe demanded as Vent grabbed her by the shoulders to look her in the eyes.

"Roll…They're doing what our old world did to us," Vent calmly explained, "They'll be alright and will be tougher so they won't have to worry about getting harmed as much."

Ashe grimaced, "...Why…?"

[That's our fault] Model A reminded her, he and F floating over [Vulturon was about to kill them and…]

[None of us expected this severe of a drawback to a Chosen that didn't have the implants to happen] F stated [All we can do is pray for their recovery going well and possibly avoid doing this again]

"...And knowing our luck…" Vent sighed before seeing how worried Ashe was and quickly held her, "They'll recover. We have to believe that."

"I…I'm scared…" Ashe whispered, trembling in his embrace, "I…I don't want that to happen again…please…n-never again…"

She didn't notice how Vent tensed at her words as a phantom agony tore through his stomach and heart. He held her closed, letting her sob into his body, as his eyes started clouding over until he shook his head and narrowed his eyes.

"That day will never happen again. Not as long as we can help it," Vent swore, "They are going to get through this…all of us are going to get through this." 'Damn it…Just…Just what the hell is happening?!'


GT: Eeyup. No one expected this, did they? In all honesty, Lan was meant to Megamerge with Model F in the Waterworks, but I went against it and instead just resonate with the Biometal to boost him enough to make the wheel turn. And in all honesty? I've always meant to give this harsh drawback to the Biometals since they've only been used by Reploids or by Humans that have undergone the surgery that modifies their bodies to extend their lives and make them far more durable in the era they live in. That kind of power needs those conditions to not kill a person. As for Vulturon? He originally wasn't involved in this, was gonna be more like the anime but with those three there instead of Megaman. But after Fistleo…my head just couldn't get the idea out of my head to not do more. Was gonna extend this to when they wake up, but…I think I'll enjoy you guys waiting for that more. Please read and review!