Chapter 41: "Truths and Choices"

Peach's castle was bustling, with everyone preparing for what felt like an inevitable confrontation. The sense of urgency was palpable, but even amidst the chaos, there were moments of quiet. In one of the castle's corridors, Roll was talking with Sonic. The two had grown close during the last battle, and Sonic's upbeat, showboating personality seemed to shine a little brighter when she was around. Roll's laughter echoed softly as Sonic spun a coin on his finger, showing off his speed and dexterity.

"You're going to make me dizzy if you keep that up," Roll said, smiling. But beneath her smile, she could see Sonic's eyes flicker, a glimpse of the worry that still lingered over Tails. Sonic wasn't saying it directly, but she knew he was trying to distract himself—and maybe her too—from everything that had happened.

Before the conversation could go further, Dr. Light's voice echoed from down the hall. "Roll, can we talk for a moment?"

Sonic gave her a nod and stepped back, his usual smile a little softer than usual. "Go ahead, Roll. I'll be around if you need to talk later."

Roll followed Dr. Light to a quieter section of the castle, her heart beginning to race as she noticed the serious look in his eyes. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts, and then spoke.

"Roll," he began, "there's something important I need to tell you. Something I should have explained long ago."

She looked at him, concern flickering in her eyes. "What is it?"

Dr. Light hesitated, his gaze steady but filled with a mixture of pride and guilt. "After Mega Man was destroyed, you asked me to upgrade you to fight—to protect the people he gave his life for. I made you stronger, but… I also made one more change."

Roll's brows furrowed slightly as she listened. "A change?"

"Yes," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "I gave you free will. The choice to decide your path, to choose what you wanted to fight for." He watched her carefully, the weight of his words sinking in. "You are not bound by programming. Every decision you make is your own."

Roll's eyes widened as she took in his words. "You… gave me free will?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she tried to absorb the weight of what he'd said. Free will? She'd always seen herself as following a path, fulfilling a purpose created for her. But now, those moments of compassion, like her efforts to help Zero... had they been choices, not directives? Her hands shook slightly. "Why… why would you do that?"

Dr. Light placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression soft. "Because I wanted you to be more than what I could have ever made you. You created your own compassion, Roll. That was never programmed into you. You chose it. You chose to fight for something bigger than yourself. And that's what makes you truly extraordinary."

Roll's gaze dropped, processing the revelation. The decisions she'd made, the friendships she'd formed, the courage she'd found—it was all hers. Not something imposed upon her. Her chest tightened, and a small, quiet sense of pride bloomed within her. She hadn't just been following orders; she had been choosing, all along, to be who she was.

As she tried to find her voice, a figure appeared at the end of the hallway. It was Bass, his usual defiant demeanor softened by something deeper, a shadow of introspection in his eyes. "I heard what you said," he muttered, his tone caught between anger and confusion. "Why didn't you give it to all of us?"

Dr. Light turned, meeting Bass's gaze. "I couldn't," he answered, his voice measured. "It was a gift that required readiness—a gift that came with risk. Roll was ready."

Bass's fists clenched, his voice rough, a raw edge of hurt beneath his words. "Why didn't we get to choose, like Roll? Why am I stuck being... this?" He looked down, struggling with the weight of expectations he'd always carried—the need to be superior, to prove himself, to control everything. What would it mean to just... be himself?

Proto Man stepped forward, his voice calm but pointed. "Bass, think about it. Would you trust yourself to do what's right if you had no rules holding you back? Free will isn't about power—it's about responsibility." He paused, the weight of his own words hanging in the air. "I'm not sure even I'd want that, if I were in your place."

Bass's gaze softened slightly as he absorbed Proto Man's words, wrestling with his own resentment and an unfamiliar yearning for something he hadn't considered before. He looked away, unwilling to admit the vulnerability he felt. Roll's free will was not something he could grasp, but he could respect it. And perhaps, somewhere within, he could find respect for himself.

Dr. Light watched him for a moment, then nodded. "Free will is a heavy burden, Bass. But maybe, one day, you'll find it within yourself too. It's not a gift that I can give—it's a choice you'll have to make."

Bass said nothing, his gaze dark but contemplative, and he turned away, walking slowly back down the hall, lost in his own thoughts.

Roll took a deep breath, the tension easing from her shoulders. As she turned back to Dr. Light, a soft, determined smile crossed her face. "Thank you for telling me," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'm ready to fight—not because I have to, but because I choose to. And I'll fight to protect everyone who gave me a chance to be who I am."

Dr. Light's eyes softened with pride. "You've come so far, Roll. I couldn't be prouder."

Roll nodded, a quiet strength shining in her eyes. She turned and headed back to the main hall, where the sounds of preparation and determination filled the air. She found Sonic again, waiting with a grin on his face as he spotted her.

"You doing okay?" Sonic asked, his tone light, though his eyes reflected a genuine concern.

Roll turned to him, her eyes clear, bright, and filled with a newfound strength. "Yeah, Sonic," she said, her smile warm and resolute. "I am okay. More than okay, actually. I learned something about myself today... something that makes me want to fight even harder. Not because I have to, but because I choose to."

Sonic's grin widened, and he gave her a quick thumbs-up. "That's what I like to hear! Let's show them what we're made of."

Roll's smile widened as well, a deep sense of purpose filling her as she looked around at the friends and allies she'd chosen to protect. The decision had always been hers—now, she would stand by it with everything she had.