The forbidden map. Plantman's tale.

They had to be connected somehow, Rock just wasn't sure how. Irritation was written all over his face while he stared endlessly into the parchment. He could hear someone calling for him, but didn't respond immediately. The moon had already risen past the horizon, the mist of the amazon emerging from its heart of greenery.

A chuckle came from underneath Rock's dangling feet, making him yelp and look down. Snakeman was clinging to the wall like some kind of lizard, his eyes staring into Rock's blue ones with curiosity. "Didn't see me, did you kid?"

"Snakeman, what are you doing? I could've kicked you in the face if I didn't look down." Rock scooted back from the edge.

"At least I got your attention. Everyone else has called for you twice but you gave no answer. And everyone says that I like to give them heart attacks." He hissed smugly.

"Oops, I'll have to apologize to Roll later. Can you-" Snake snatched the map right out of his hands. "HEY!"

"Heh, and what are you doing with Plant's map? Stealing, are we?"

"N-No, I asked to look at it more! And give it back!"

Snake kept it just out of reach every time he reached for it. The tail of his helmet pushed him lightly in the stomach, increasing the distance. "Cool your circuits, I'm not doing anything. I just want to see what you're drawing..."

Rock huffed in defeat when the tail wrapped tightly around the mouth. Clearly Snake had the upper hand in the tussle. The smug smile slowly turned thoughtful, turning to gaze at the trees.

"You really think there's something out there?"

"I...yes."

"And why would you think that? Did that silly bonfire story really spark your imagination that much?"

"I know I sound a little crazy, but I feel like Plant's story might be more than a story. I heard a buzz when we first arrived, but it came from the forest. I felt weird after hearing it, and-"

"I checked your diagnostics, and you had low energy."

"But I was at full power when we arrived. But when I heard that buzz, all that energy is suddenly sapped away in a instant? Snake, there is something in the amazon, and I want to check it out."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It felt so weird to be out in the open, after so long. How long had it even been? Days? Months? Even years?

He felt so tired, but so full of energy.

The plants on the ground felt irritating to his already sore skin, so travelling in the trees was the best option. He could see the edge of the territory, but he felt unprepared for any threats.

The last of the trees receeded and he met the soft grass of a hill, the lights of a small town shining from below. They were living closer to their base than expected. But they looked so...primitive.

Had humanity really not progressed? What a disappointment.

Ra Moon was going to be displeased, and that would be worse than the disappointment itself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You would like to run into the middle one of the most remote forests in the world because of a curious feeling? That's quite the objective you've got kid."

Letting the words digging deep into his core, Rock sighed defeated and tapping his head on Snake's shoulder. "I sound crazy, don't I? Everyone else thinks so."

"The world is full of strange wonders. Who am I to judge you, when you are programmed to be a child. Perfect sense for you to be curious."

"So you agree we should explore the forest?"

"Perhaps. But before you go sprinting into the unknown, I'd suggest eating some food first. I have staring at the cooked fish intended for you for 2 hours, and I'm about to lose it. And you missed on some good veggie stew." A chuckle was shared between the two of them and Snake approached the roof door. "So, are you going to come or not?"

"I'm coming. I guess the thought of being Megaman hasn't quite left my mind, so I needed this. Snake?" Rock looked to notice Snake wasn't looking back. He wasn't looking at the door either, just out at the hills near the lab. "Snake, you okay?"

"Did Astil say anything about anyone living in the forest?"

"Why do you say tha-" Snake jerked his head forcefully. And Rock saw the object, or person, of attention. A figure on one of the hills was pacing back and forth, retreating closer to the trees slowly.

"Maybe he's looking for someone?" Snake squinted at Rock's suggestion. "You never know. I'll try talking to him, you get the other doctors and tell them someone needs our help." Rock climbed down the side ladder and jogged away, Snake crawling through the sun roof.

The figure continued to pace at a more reasonable speed, ignorant of the little robot growing closer. They were speaking in a strange dialect, something Rock couldn't identify. He cautiously looked over the hill, taking in the stranger's appearance. The dark blue body blended so well in the night sky, he had to squint in order to see them. Their chest had netting covering a portion of the chest, and a object resembling a ninja star was attached to the front of the helmet. Their eyes were a color of red, like Snakeman's, but a shade brighter. Rock didn't know what it was, but he felt as if this stranger was different.

He scooted closer when wed dirt made him slide. He squeaked, alerting them of his presence. They whipped around so fast that Rock had to step back in fear of being punched. Their eyes met each other, and were frozen in place. The stranger, that Rock identified to be male, hunched over to reach his height and scanned him up and down for minutes.

I should say something. But what? Rock mind buzzed.

"Hi?" One word. It took one word, and the robot stepped further away from him and spoke in the strange dialect again.

Rock took a cautious step forward, the stranger's posture growing more anxious and stiff. "Are you lost? If you need any help, I can help assist you."

The stranger tilted his head in a confused manner.

"Um, help? Can you not understand me? Do you have a translator?" Rock reached up for the neck, and a sword was pointed toward the space in the eyes. A gasp escaped his mouth and the robot had a angry gleam in his eyes.

"O-Okay! You don't want me to come close. I'm sorry, I won't do that again." He sat a few inches away, and the stranger did the same. He gestured to the town down below.

"The town? I don't know much about the town, but Dr. Astil knows this place really well. Maybe we can even find your creator if you're lost." The stranger shook his head hard and pointed to the amazon. "Is your creator in the forest?" A nod was the answer.

"Can you the name of your creator?" Now a glare as an answer. "Okay. That's a no."

"Well, I don't want you to get lost. I can help you get back with the others."

The stranger perked up and pointed to Rock then him. He slowly picked up what he was asking, despite the lack of talking. "Yeah, there's tons of us. There's my half brothers, my sister, Plantman, my brothers back home. And more robots all over the world, I just wish I could head out of home more often. Are there others like you in the amazon?"

The stranger shook his head slightly and got back up. He was starting to walk back toward the forest, but stopped at the border. He gazed back at Rock and gestured him to come. Rock felt his stomach turn.

"You want me to come with you?"

A nod.

"Why?"

No answer.

"I can't, dad would be worried for me. Just come stay with us in the lab, at least until the morning when it's safe." He offered a hand to the robot with a shy smile. "Please?"

The robot looked to him and the forest, and slowly gripped the hand. Rock felt a tug and the robot pulled him into the forest's shrubs. He stomped his foot in the ground, but the robot tugged with more force. Sounds of running were approaching fast, and the crowd Wi-lights and doctors were shouting. The robot tensed up and became alert.

"Rock! What are you-?" Dr. Light called out to him.

"Wait Dad, don't shout! He's-!"

A ninja star larger than Rock whizzed past his head, missing the docs but grazing Magnetman's side. His pupils shrank and fell to the ground, spazzing and twisting himself in front of Roll's eyes. He yelled in pain before shutting down, the horrified looks of everyone staring him down. Rock whipped around to see the stranger holding his sword with a grin.

"Don't hurt them! They're my family!" Rock waved frantically, but the robot whipped around and started to run. "No, Wait!"

His father called out as he followed pursuit. The stranger was fast, whipping by trees and snapping twigs into Rock's face. The moon created sharp shadows in the trees and they turned to a large tree. He almost told them to watch out, but the ninja robot's body was enveloped in black. They came into contact with a shadow of a tree, sinking into it and forming a black mist. Rock halted and processed what he saw.

The stranger disappeared into a shadow.

The black mist disappeared into the sky, and Dr. Light caught up with worry all over his face. "Rock! Don't run off like that! Are you hurt?"

"He disappeared." Rock heard the doctor, but was so marveled by what had happened he refused to answer. Dr. Light grabbed his hand and they rushed out of the forest. The Wi-lights quickly picked up the still Magnet and ran back to the lab. As they left the hill, Rock saw a regular sized ninja star left behind by the stranger. He plucked it quickly to not alert the others any further and pondered over what had occurred on that hill.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There were more like them. The wait wasn't in vain. He had to tell Ra Moon immediately.

He crawled out of the darkness of the temple, and the sound of the human typing away on their computer echoed throughout the walls. "You're technology is so dated, and yet you are far more advanced than any of the technology these ruins could come up with in their time!"

THE INFORMATION YOU'VE SHARED ON YOUR DEVICE HAS PROVEN USEFUL TO ME. PERHAPS YOU WILL BE OF SOME PRACTICAL USE FOR OUR PLANS.

I return. The stranger spoke to Ra Moon. The human, Dr. Wily, gasped at his sudden appearance.

"Great god, where did you come from?! Who even are you?!"

CALM YOURSELF HUMAN, HE IS MINE. SERVANT, REPORT THE SURVELLIANCE. HOW IS THE OUTSIDE WORLD?

While the town outside of our territory has not changed, I had met a youngling similar to our kind outside of our territory.

A YOUNGLING YOU SAY? INTERESTING.

Yes, he was a strange one. He kept trying to come close to me. But he did offer some knowledge in his rambling.

WHAT IS THAT?

Apparently there are more like him out in the world. His siblings are just a selected few, and more are scattered around the world. This could be your time.

HAVE PATIENCE.

"Am I going to be informed of what's going on? I can't understand him." Wily murmured while analyzing some of Ra Moon's wires.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. HOW IS YOUR PROGRESS WITH YOUR BUILDING?

"Nice of you to notice Ra Moon! Thomas can keep his his major project, mine's sure to marvel all the world. A combination of my genius building and your technology to create a special machine that can withstand most attacks. It is my best creation yet! May I introduce Ra Thor!!!"

All the stranger saw was a pile of black armor merged with a scrap metallic skeleton. It sounds pretentious, He murmured.

PLAY ALONG. YOU WILL CERTAINLY MAKE OUR IMPRESSION TO THE WORLD A FINE ONE, DR. WILY.

"As I should. I have to scavenge for more parts around the ruins. You," the doctor pointed to the dark blue robot, "don't touch anything while I'm gone."

The stranger growled in repressed anger as Dr. Wily left the sacred ruins. He sat right underneath his suspended master with the live wires slithering around the base.

Why let a feeble human use our knowledge for his own needs? He will offer nothing to us in return, and the rest of humanity doesn't even know we exist. He muttered quietly in disgust.

DESPITE WHAT THE HUMAN THINKS, HE IS NO DANGER TO US, AND HE IS ONLY A MEANS TO AN END. ONCE HIS USEFULNESS IS OVER, HE WILL BE DISPOSED OF. AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW US, BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE LAST THING THEY KNOW BEFORE THEIR DEMISE. BUT NOT YET. MY STRENGTH HAS NOT RETURNED ENTIRELY.

Fine. What task needs to be completed?

THE YOUNGLING YOU ENCOUNTERED. YOU INTERACTED WITH IT.

It was not intentional. He was very social, and I had to play along. Though, I did have some strange feeling around him. I wanted to bring him here, it was foolish of me.

DO NOT GET SO CONNECTED, MY SERVANT. YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT AFTER YOU'VE PROVEN YOUR LOYALTY FOR SO LONG. BUT HAVING A YOUNGLING TO OUR SIDE WILL PROVE USEFUL. KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ONE, AND SEE IF YOU CAN BRING HIM HERE.

Understood. I will not fail. The dark blue robot closed his eyes, and the wires made a circle around his sleeping form.

UNTIL THEN, GET SOME REST. WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR WHAT'S TO COME.