A/N: Back again, y'all. Oof. Sorry for another wait. Kinda got distracted by stuff. But here I am. Also, wow, I got over 100 follows and favs. Neat. :v

Now then, last we left off, Sage finally calmed down. But not after causing a lot of damage. And it didn't look like it was going to stay a secret if that Moto Bug has anything to say about it. Also, Sonic made an appearance. He won't make one in this chapter, sadly. Kinda had to edit this so that I could finally update it. He'll show up next chapter, though.

Anyway, on to the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Nintendo, I don't own SEGA, and I don't own Death Battle. There. That should cover my bases, lol.

A dread-filled Sage was being led back to the Koopa Prince's workshop. Her small hand still in his larger one. Her mind racing after the chase just now.

She had made a colossal error. She had let her emotions get the best of her. She had snapped. And tried to kill Bowser Koopa the-.

…

Junior. She had tried to kill Junior. Causing a path of destruction in doing so. Something that would not go unnoticed by Bowser or any troops.

What was going to happen to her? Would she be imprisoned? Enslaved? She'd almost suggest she might be executed, but Bowser himself said he didn't hurt kids. She wasn't sure how far that would extend to kids that tried to kill his son, however.

Regardless of all that, however, one thing was for certain. The deal she had with him was now null and void once he found out. And he would. There were plenty of witnesses. The troops. They would no doubt inform Bowser. And then she'd be done for. Her father remaining dead. Sure, she could try to figure out a way herself. But she'd be monitored closely now. No chance to bring her father back.

"H-Haha! I gotta hand it to ya, kid. Y-You technically proved me wrong, haha! T-To think I actually gave you enough credit and thought you'd last a week before snapping! IT'S HASN'T EVEN BEEN HALF THAT! HAHAHA!"

Sage clenched her available hand in anger. Not just at Infinite's words. But because…he had been right. She had snapped like he had said she would. Not only that, but sooner than he had given her credit for. What did that say about her? Nothing good, that was for sure.

As she and Junior entered his workshop, Sage could feel the tears flowing down her face.

"Alright, look Sa-, WHOA! H-Hey, don't cry!"

Junior panicked and ran off to a table. Grabbing some tissues and bringing them to Sage. She took some and wiped her face.

"…T-Thank you, Junior."

"N-No problem," he replied, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

…

…

"So like I said before," he continued. "Do you wanna talk about it now?"

"…Talk about what?"

"Sage, you've been holding in what's been bothering you for a little while. And it made you snap. I'd like to think you got all of your anger out of your system after that little chase, so maybe you can finally talk to me about it?"

"…Why do you care?"

"Huh?"

"Why do you care?" Sage asked again. "I've admitted to hating you and your father. And have even tried to kill you. Before that, I aided my father in attacking your kingdom. You were even heavily injured during the attack. You have no reason to care about me or my emotional state. In fact, you have every reason to shun me. To hate me. So why do you care about what is bothering me?"

Junior just stared at her like she had grown a second head.

"…I mean, we're friends, right?"

She blinked at him. "Do you really consider me a friend?"

"Yeah! At least, that's what dad said when he basically dumped you on me. And you're cool and smart and cu-." He stopped himself and cleared his throat, his face looking somewhat red at whatever he had been about to say. "E-Er, smart and cool and stuff. So why not be friends?"

"…"

Sage didn't really know what to say to that. She had only ever had family and enemies. No actual friends to speak of. And she wouldn't have considered Junior her friend given his father had killed hers. Yet despite hating him, admitting to never wanting to be his friend, and even trying to kill him, Junior was still extending a hand of friendship to her.

It made no sense.

"You know what?" he started, interrupting her thoughts. "Don't answer that just yet. We'll get back to that. I heard what you said earlier. You don't really think it your fault your dad's dead, do you?"

She frowned heavily. Her visible eye watering.

"…Why shouldn't I? It's the truth. I had conducted millions of simulations when planning the invasion. Though the information that had been gathered was limited. If I had done better calculations and collected more information, the outcome would no doubt be different. My father would be the victor. Instead of…dead. He trusted my simulations. He put his faith in me. And I failed him in the worst way."

Junior kept a straight, mulling over what she said.

"…Let me show you something."

Junior once again took Sage's hand and led her to a specific part of the work area where a large mirror stood. He led her to it and placed her in front of it so she could see her reflection.

"Sage, what do you see in the mirror?"

"…My reflection."

"Okay, yes, but what else?"

"That's it."

"Sage, I don't mean literally. I mean like a metaphor. Or, like, filosophics."

"Philosophy."

"Yeah, that. Or not that. I don't know big words that well. Anyway, what do you see when look at yourself in the mirror?"

Sage had an idea of what Junior meant, and so looked at herself in the mirror again.

"…I see a failure."

"EGH! Wrong. Try again."

"…An artificial intelligence."

"True, but not what I meant."

She scowled. "What am I supposed to say, then?"

"A kid. Like me."

She blinked and turned to Junior. "What relevance does that bear?"

"A lot." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell me, was this your first big battle? Like, big army battle?"

Sage tilted her head. "…Yes, actually. It was my first time coordinating my father's army in a large-scale battle."

"And so it was your first time planning out said battle beforehand?"

"Yes. Though I had my father's help. But what does-?"

"Well, there you go!" He put a hand on her shoulder. "Sage, you're super smart. That's obvious. But this was still your first big army fight. As a kid, I might add. With how that fight went, you did awesome! All things considered."

Sage looked solemn. "B-But…w-we still lost. My father dead. All because of-."

"No, Sage." He looked her right in the eye. "It's not your fault. You did the best you could with what you had. And when things got crazy, you adapted to it. Right?'

He…had a point. The entire plan had hinged on Bowser being taken out by Neo Metal Sonic quickly. And it had worked. But not only did Junior save his father, he had also turned him into that giant dark beast that overwhelmed Neo Metal and the Death Egg Robot. The tide had turned when Neo Metal had gone Super and beaten Bowser back. Sage adapting the plan to get rid of that wizard on the broomstick. And when the time had come to use the Death Egg, Sage had made it a point to fire at Bowser's army. Realizing he had gone to great lengths to protect them. He had done what she had suspected and jumped in front of the attack to tank it. That's when it should've ended. Instead, Bowser rose again in that skeletal form. And Junior had turned the Death Egg into a golden block. Inadvertently trapping Sage and the Chaos Emeralds and preventing her from saving her father from death. Said death had actually freed her from the golden block.

"…I did, yes," Sage admitted.

"Exactly!" He stepped back from her a bit. "Look, not everything goes according to plan. Trust me, I know. I failed to beat Mario a bunch of times. And so has my dad. A lot of those times he ends up kicking the bucket when he loses. When I experienced my dad dying from losing to Mario the first time, I felt the same guilt you're feeling. I felt like it was my fault. That if I had been able to stop Mario beforehand, he wouldn't have died. When he came back and I told him about it, guess what he did?"

"What?"

"He bonked me on the head and said 'don't be stupid, son!' And that I did the best I could with what I had. And that I did well for just being a kid. Pretty much what I'm telling you now."

"…Are you going to 'bonk' me on the head?"

"Why is that what you focus on?!"

"I did try to kill you. It would be some level of payback, if you truly don't intend to try to kill me in retaliation."

Junior facepalmed. "Oh for-. Forget that for a minute!"

"My apologies. Please continue."

"Right." He sighed. "Look, the whole point is that it's not your fault. You're a kid like me who was thrown into a literal war. You did the best that you could. Yes, your side lost. And I'm…I mean, I can't really say I'm sorry my dad won, because I'm not sure what would've happened if he didn't."

"You and any remaining forces would have been converted into Badniks."

"Huh?'

"Turned into robots."

"Oh…huh. Robo-Junior. Metal Junior. Sounds kinda cool, actually."

"You would've also lost all free will."

"Not as cool. No offense, but I'm not sorry my dad won."

Sage gave him an unamused look.

"I mean, would you be sorry if the roles were reversed?"

"…No."

"Well, there you go."

Sage looked to the ground and gave everything Junior had said some thought. He did have some…valid points. Though she felt she could argue that because she wasn't a normal "kid", that reason wouldn't hold any weight. She was an artificial intelligence. She was far smarter than any living being. And so, she still should have known better.

…

Then again, she technically wasn't at her full potential, was she? For all her smarts, she was still a learning artificial intelligence. She had known that the more she had spent working with her father, the better she would be in serving her function. To be a better A.I. for her father. To be a better daughter.

In essence…she was still just a child right now. A kid, as Junior put it.

"…I believe I understand what you mean, Junior."

"Really? Great! Cause boy, that was a mouthful to say." He scratched the back of his head. "So, do you feel any better? Even a little?"

"…"

"B-Because if I had to pick between you being depressed or you hating me and my dad, I'd rather you hate us."

"…"

"T-Though honestly, I wouldn't mind if you didn't hate me. A-And that we could be friends."

"…"

"Are you going to say anything, or-?"

"I apologize."

He blinked. "Huh?"

"I apologize," Sage continued. "For trying to eliminate you. I should not have snapped like that. It was…a childish outburst."

"…I mean, you're a kid. That's kinda what us kids do. Minus trying to kill someone, but still."

"Even so," Sage continued. "I overreacted. And…I am grateful that you are being forgiving. Though it still confounds me as to why."

Junior rubbed his head sheepishly, blushing a little. "W-Well, you were just sad and angry. You just needed to let it out or talk about it. In this case, both. A-And again, I'd actually like it if we were friends."

Sage couldn't help but think there was more to it than that, but some quick calculations indicated that he might not expand on it. Right now, anyway. That was fine. Perhaps he would in time. Until then….

"Do you truly want me as a friend?"

"As sure as my shell is green. But, um…do you still hate me?"

…

"I don't believe so."

She was surprised at the sincerity in that answer.

"I still hate your father, however."

"That's fair. Give it enough time, and maybe you won't."

Maybe. Maybe not. She didn't know anymore.

Junior held out his hand. "So, friends then?"

Sage stared at his hand, then at her own….

"Friends."

She put his hand in his and smiled. He beamed back.

It appears I don't need to fake a friendship, after all.

She suddenly frowned. "Still…I'm not sure this friendship will last. Once your father finds out what I tried to do."

Junior grinned. "No worries! Already took care of that! I told those guys we were just playing a game that got a little intense."

"…And you think that will be enough?"

"I mean, they're not dumb, but they're not smart either. And they still listen to me. As for all that destruction…yeah, that might be a little hard to explain. But no worries! My dad won't find out."

At the workshop entrance, a certain Beebot that had followed the two snickered evilly.

"And then I punched that Egg guy into the giant gold block in the sky and BAM! Dead! And all the gold coins to be mine!"

Bowser leaned back in his throne.

"And that's about it. Besides his remaining forces joining my army. That enough detail for you, Peach?"

Princess Peach rubbed her chin in thought. Taking in everything Bowser had just said.

"Yeesh," Mario said. "I sometimes forget you have a mean punch."

"I can remind you right now, if you want?"

"No thanks. I'm good."

"It's no trouble. Just wait there while I get up and-."

Princess Peach quickly cleared her throat. "Stop it. Seriously."

Bowser grumbled as Mario snickered.

"Mario, don't set him off."

"He started it."

Peach rolled her eyes and turned back to Bowser.

"From what you described, the battle certainly seemed intense. To the point it could've gone the other way."

"…Ha!" Bowser laughed. "Yeah, right! That nerd had no chance!"

Peach felt like that wasn't the case. She noticed that slight hesitation there. She felt that Bowser agreed with her assessment.

"And to think there's a machine that was capable of fighting you even in your Fury form. Which, I might add, was rather reckless of Junior to do."

Bowser shrugged. "Normally, I'd agree. I still haven't exactly got that completely under control. But it was a 'do or die' situation. Besides, since he actually meant to do it this time, I at least had enough control to…aim it in the right direction. Course, when that stupid robot hurt my boy, that definitely helped me focus. Stupid metal rodent…thing."

Peach actually frowned at that. "Yes…was it really a rodent and not a…hedgehog?"

Bowser scratched his head. "Well…maybe? It just looked like a rodent to me."

"And can it be rebuilt? From what you've told me, it's rather dangerous."

"I suppose it could if I even wanted it rebuilt. Damn robot hurt my son. It's not getting rebuilt. Not that it could, anyway. I blasted that robot to dust! Complete evisceration!"

That caused Princess Peach to blink. That's what he thought? So he didn't realize….

Mario happened to notice the look she had. "Something wrong, Princess?"

"…Bowser? I think there's something you should kno-."

Before she could finish, a ladybug like machine with the name "Francis" written on a board nailed to its body zoomed in and before Bowser. It beeped out some sort of message, waving its little appendages about.

Bowser stared at the machine, then turned to Mario and Peach.

"Yeah, I can't understand these things."

"Francis" facefaulted. Mario and Peach just facepalmed.

"Not sure how my minions understand them. I should get one of them to tell me how. Or translate. MINIONS!"

No one showed up.

"Ugh. Idiots." He turned to the machine. "Can you write it down?"

"Francis" stared at Bowser, then at its appendages that were clearly not hands or even fingers. Then slumped.

"Hm. Hang on a second."

Bowser pulled out a magic wand and aimed at the ground. Transmuting a part of the stone floor into sand.

"Can you write it out with your appendages?"

"Francis" nodded vigorously and began writing a message in the sand. Careful to make sure it was legible. When the machine finished, it zipped back for all three to read. And the message was…alarming.

"SHE TRIED TO WHAT?!"

Junior and Sage froze, dread piling up in both children.

"…I-I believe your father found out, Junior."

"I-It could just be a coincidence?"

Several booming sounds could be heard. Making both children nervous.

"A-Are those explosions, Junior?"

"U-Um…m-more like the sound of my dad bursting through the walls."

Said booming sounds were getting closer.

"E-Eheh." Junior looked even more nervous. "A-And if I didn't know any better, I-I'd think he was heading this way."

The sounds were a lot closer now. To the point they could hear walls being broken through much more clearly.

"…He's on his way he-. YOU NEED TO HIDE!"

"B-But-!"

Not giving much time to think, Junior hoisted Sage up, ran to the salvage bin, and haphazardly tossed her up and into it. He then quickly ran to a small table, sat down, and pulled open a book to act natural.

Sage just laid in the remains of her father's machines. Both very afraid about the coming doom and a little miffed at the choice in hiding spot. Still, at least Metal was here.

…

…

…

"M-METAL?!"

BOOM!

Before she could even process that her brother's head was right there, the wall to the workshop was broken down. Sage flinched and quickly grabbed Metal's head and held it close. She hesitantly peaked out from the bin and froze in fear.

Bowser now stood in Junior's workshop. Looking like he had the fury of a thousand angry dads. Eyes filled with rage. Breathing heavily. Flames and smoke practically seeping out of his mouth.

Junior just looked up from his reading material. "Oh hey, dad. How's it going?"

Bowser immediately stomped towards his son, towering over him.

"…Where is she, son?"

"Where's wh-?"

"DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH ME, SON! NOW WHERE IS SHE?!"

Junior flinched, dropping the book.

"O-Oh. Y-You mean, Sage? H-Haven't seen her around the past…hour? Y-Yeah, hour."

"Don't lie to me, Junior!"

"I-I'm not! S-She said she wanted to be alone! I-It's been an hour now!"

"I saw all the destruction, Junior!"

"…I mean, you burst through walls, so of course there's-."

"NOT CAUSED BY ME!"

"HOW WOULD YOU HAVE EVEN SEEN IT?! YOU RAN HERE IN A BLIND RAGE!"

"BECAUSE YOU JUST TOLD ME!"

"I…oh crud, I kinda did."

Bowser growled.

"W-Wait, dad! I-I don't know who told you what, b-but it's not what you think! W-We were playing a game!"

"Oh really? And what game could you have possibly played that makes it look like she tried to kill you?!"

Junior had to think fast.

"U-Um…we were playing House."

Bowser deadpanned. Sage deadpanned. Bea the Beebot deadpanned. Even Metal's head deadpanned, and he wasn't even functioning at the moment.

"…House," Bowser said flatly.

"Y-Yeah," Junior continued hesitantly. "W-We were playing House. I-I was pretending to be you. A-And Sage was pretending to be Princess Peach. If she, um, ever finally snapped from all the kidnapping and world domination schemes."

Bowser raised a finger to say something, stopped, then rubbed his chin in thought as he processed that.

…

"Okay, I'll admit. That's a pretty clever excuse, son. Also makes me want to hold off on any evil plans a while longer.

"Thanks, dad. S-So let's just forget about this and-."

"I said it was a clever excuse, Junior. I didn't say I bought it."

"Erk"

Bowser glared down at his son. "Now you tell me where Sage is right now, or you're going to be grounded for li-!"

A tap on Bowser's shoulder stopped him. He turned to find a Beebot named "Bea" hovering near him.

"What now?"

Beeping evilly, the Beebot pointed towards the salvage bin. Where Sage was peeking out.

Junior froze. Sage panicked and retreated back in. Bowser scowled and stomped towards the bin. Junior quickly grabbed his dad's tail to try and slow him down, but he was just dragged along.

"WAIT DAD LISTEN SHE WAS JUST SAD AND ANGRY SHE WASN'T THINKING STRAIGHT DON'T-!"

Bowser climbed up and glared into the salvage bin. Finding a scared Sage holding Metal's head.

…

…

"L-Lord Bowser, I-."

He immediately grabbed her in a tight grip. Using magic to keep her in place as he hopped off the bin. He yanked Metal's head out of her hands.

"W-Wait, Bowser, I-!"

"You tried to KILL MY SON?!"

"P-Please, let me ex-!"

"If you weren't a kid, I would KILL YOU HERE AND NOW!"

That scared her and Junior silent. Bea the Beebot snickering after having backed off to the entrance to watch it all unfold.

That ridiculous buffoon Sage had seen earlier? That Bowser was gone. She was now staring at the beast of a king that had killed her father. A beast aiming his anger at her. She was more frightened here than back with The End.

"I give you a chance," Bowser started. "One chance. I figured that if I made that promise to you, and even put you with my son, you'd calm down a little. Maybe even be friends. But wow, you proved me wrong."

"W-Wait, I-!"

"D-Dad, wait, we actually are-!"

"BOTH OF YOU BE QUIET!"

Both kids shrunk in on themselves a little as Bowser continued.

"So let me see if I got this right. You couldn't get revenge on me, so you decide to go after my son instead. I killed your dad, so you were going to kill my son. That about sum it up?"

"…"

Sage's silence was enough of an answer. Making Bowser growl.

"Figures. Gave you a chance, kid. You blew it. Deal's off! Your dad stays dead!"

Sage felt her coding go cold.

"As for you?" He glared, his grip on her tightening a little. "I'd banish you if I didn't think you'd try something. So I think I'll just throw you in the dungeon for as long as I see fit! Hope you like cages, kid."

Sage shook a little. Her emotions a complete mess.

"As for this?" He glowered at Metal's head. "I don't know how any part of this robot survived, but you know what? I don't care! I'm scrapping it here and now!"

He began to crush Metal's head.

"NO WAIT!"

He stopped and glared at Sage.

"You don't get a say in this, you little-!"

"H-HE'S MY BROTHER!"

…

…

Bowser took in a long deep breath. And let it out.

"…Any other machines that are family?'

"J-Just Metal, Orbot and Cubot."

Bowser grumbled and stared at "Metal's" head. Certain moments in the recent battle playing out in his head.

"It's too late!"

"I'LL CRUSH YOU!"

And of course, Junior crashing across the ground after taking a hit from that machine. His body motionless.

"…You know what? Two brothers is enough."

Sage could only watch in horror as Bowser began to crush Metal's head in his hand. The sound of creaking metal echoing.

"NO PLEASE!"

CHOMP!

Mental glass shattered. Bowser's eyes going wide as he yelped in pain. He turned to look behind him, he and Sage seeing that Junior had just bitten down hard on Bowser's tail.

"…Junior. Stop biting my tail. Now."

"NOD UNDIL YU PUD SHAGE DOW 'N LISHEN!"

"Son, look-."

CHOMP!

"ACK! FINE! YOU ARE SO GROUNDED AFTER THIS!"

He put Sage down. The A.I. girl hovering back a bit as Junior stopped biting his dad's tail and marched up to face him.

"Look, Dad, I get it. You're very mad. For a good reason. But Sage was just sad and angry about her dad! If the roles had been reversed, I'd have been sad and angry, too. She just snapped from everything and…yeah."

"That doesn't justify her trying to kill you!"

"I know that! But I'm fine! Still here! And Sage is…still sad, but we made nice! I don't know what deal you two made, but can't you give her another chance?"

"No."

"Dad, come on! Have a heart!"

"I had a heart when I gave her a chance! She tried to kill you, so now she faces the consequences! Starting with this!"

Bowser went back to crushing Metal's head in his-.

CHOMP!

"AGH!"

Now Junior was biting Bowser's hand.

"Son, you can't be serious? You remember this thing nearly killed you, right?"

Junior let go and glared up at his dad.

"I know. A little conflicted, to be honest. But he's Sage's brother! Her family! You really going to crush her brother's head right in front of her?"

Bowser just stared at his son, then at Metal's head, then at Sage. Who was on the verge of tears as she slowly hovered forward.

"B-Bowser, I…I-I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have snapped. I-I regret that now. I-I understand your anger. A-And I still don't know how Junior isn't angry like you are. B-But please. Not my brother as well."

The Koopa King gave her a hard stare, then one towards Metal's head.

…

He hated to admit it, but he was conflicted. He really wanted to scrap this robot's head and be done with it. And throw her in the dungeon for her offense. But…the fatherly side in him was clashing with his (justifiable) anger.

It also didn't help that Junior was now giving him the Puppy Dog look. Making Bowser flinch.

"Son, no, that's not gonna work."

The look intensified.

"Damn it, Junior."

Bowser groaned and rubbed his other hand on his face. Glancing around for some kind of sign that would make this easier. He paused when his eyes landed on something new to him.

"What is that?"

He walked towards a small version of the Eggmobile that had wheels on it.

Junior blinked. "Huh? Oh, that's Sage's race kart! We just finished it earlier. Pretty cool, huh?"

A metaphorical clock was ticking in Bowser's head. The alarm ringing as an idea formed. A sort-of evil grin forming on his face.

"…Okay."

That caused the two children to blink.

"Okay, what?" Junior asked.

Bowser turned and stomped towards the two, looking at Sage.

"You want another chance? You want your brother, too? Earn it."

He jabbed a finger towards her race kart.

"You're racing in the Grand Prix. And you're gonna win it."

A/N: Oof. Um…wow. That's a big ask, Bowser. Justifiable as his anger is. Sure, she technically doesn't have to win first in every race, but this will be her first time racing.

Sega: "NOW ANNOUNCING SONIC RACING: CROSSWORLDS!

That doesn't count. This was my plan before that was even announced, lol.

Still, that's the ultimatum. It's take it or leave it. So yeah. Seriously, if she wasn't a kid...

On the bright side, she and Junior are finally friends now! Yee. :v

If you liked this and want to be kept up to date, be sure to follow and fav. Leave a review while you're at it. I love reading them.

See you in the next update.

Laters.