Chapter 2: Strange New World

The two bro-bots tumbled over and over in the tunnel of light that seemed to be propelling them somewhere. They managed to disengage but were unable to slow their travel.

"If this is a trick of yours - " Proto began.

"It's no trick of mine!" Mega protested. Just then a light appeared ahead of them, bright and white.

"What's that?"

"I'm not sure, but we're heading right for it." The two were shot out of the tunnel and tumbled down into a snow drift.

"Oof!"

"Ouch!" They scrambled to their feet and looked around.

"Where are we?" Mega asked.

"I don't know," Proto answered, "but I'm gonna to finish you off once and for good." And he leapt upon Mega again.

"Wait!" Mega managed to get out as they rolled again. "This - isn't such a good - idea!" They rolled apart and stood facing each other, only feet apart.

"What do you mean?"

"We should work together until we know where we are and how to get home," the younger of the two said.

"And why is that?" Proto wanted to know.

"Because we don't know where on Earth we are, if we are still on Earth, and if not then we're the only friend each other has at this moment. We have a better chance surviving if we pool our abilities and resources. Then we can settle this after we get home." Proto thought about it for a moment, then nodded.

"I don't like to admit it, but that does make sense." Both looked around, trying to get some sort of bearing.

"Any clue where we could be?" Mega asked.

"Not one." Proto looked at the ground and the snow that piled around them in gentle drifts. "Where does it snow this time of year?"

"A lot of places."

"So that doesn't help any."

"At least we know we're not in central Texas." Just then they heard the clash of metal against metal and the sounds of a fight.

"What's that about?" Mega wondered aloud. Proto turned towards the sound.

"Lets find out." The two trekked through the snow until they reached a clearing. In the clearing were two cats - yes, cats! - wielding swords and locked in battle. They looked as much alike, identical really, both with gray fur and blue eyes, that they had to be related. One wore primarily orange clothes, and the other purple, the style of which was almost middle ages-like, tunics and pants with boots, and cloaks upon their backs. As they fought, one called the other brother.

"I wonder what they're fighting about." Proto smirked at Mega.

"Looks like we aren't the only brothers who are on opposite sides." Mega looked at him.

"Why do we have to be, though? You know I always wanted a brother relationship with you."

"And you know it'll never happen." Just than, they heard a cry from one of the two combatants. The slightly smaller of the two, the one in purple, was sent to the ground as his foot caught on a stone. He sword was sent spinning away. "Looks like this battle is over." Mega watched, tense, awaiting the moment when one brother would finish the other off, bitter emotions welling up inside him. But the twin bro-bots were in for a surprise.

The standing brother dropped his sword and fell to his knees at his double's side, concern clearly evident on his face and in his voice.

"Are you okay, brother?" The other rubbed his foot and ankle, checking for injuries, then smiled and nodded.

"Unhurt except for my pride." They both laughed, and the slightly taller helped the other to his feet. The sight filled Mega with a kind of pain that he and Proto would never act that way towards each other. And it brought back memories of the one time when he thought that Proto had switched sides, only to discover that he had been tricked in the worst way possible.

"So what now?" Proto's voice broke into his thoughts.

"We can either show ourselves or remain hidden." Proto eyed the two cats, then without warning stood up. After he recovered, do did Mega, revealing them both to the cats.

"Who are you?" the cat in orange asked, holding his sword up and ready while the other hurried to get his.

"I'm Mega Man."

"Proto Man." They stepped into the clearing.

"I've never seen either of you in the valley before," the cat in purple said, sword once again in hand.

"We've never been here before," Mega said. "An oval of green light brought us here."

"A portal," the one in orange said. "They are unpredictable." He extended a hand. "My

name is Zantar, and this is my brother Zentarou." They all shook hands.

"So you know of a way for us to get back to Earth?" Proto asked.

"Simple enough," Zentarou said. "Zatana, can sometimes makes portals appear. But I'm not sure where she is at this moment. Things are rather crazy around here." The two led the robots through the woods as they talked.

"What's going on?" Mega said as they crested a small mound of snow-covered earth.

"Why, it's Winter Fest!" Just as Zantar spoke, they reached the top and saw a city before them. It was a very grand city, all decorated for Winter Fest with greenery and colorful decorations strung up everywhere, and music flowed from a small covered area where musicians played and sang in a strange, foreign language. Upon entering the city where they could see close-up, the robots saw that the inhabitants of the city all looked like Zantar and Zentarou did, half animal, half human, though the Cat brothers lacked something these ones had: a smooth stone set in their foreheads like gemstones in a variety of hues..

"Half-Kins are anthropomorphic," Zantar said, when he caught their questioning glance. "It's the same with most of the people where we come from, Caine. But we're here visiting for the Winter Fest Season." Two youngsters waved from where they were building a snow creature that somewhat resembled a dragon.

"Seen Zatana anywhere, Alcor?" Zentarou asked of one of the kids.

"Last we saw her she was practicing for the Winter Fest Pageant and Talent show," the lion cub answered. He patted a handful of show into the formation, then jogged over. "I'm Alcor!" he said brightly, extending a hand. The robots shook hands with him, then followed Alcor to a stage where a young lioness was playing the piano and singing with a rather beautiful song, though they couldn't understand a word she was saying "Zatana!" She turned at Zantar's call.

"Hi." She finished the piece and met them at the foot of the stage's steps. "Who's your friends?" Introductions were made again, and Zatana said that she did have that ability, but it wasn't working for some strange reason. "I don't think it's ever worked around this time of the year. Sorry." Just then, they all heard a low growl. Zatana turned, and was pounced by three lions who knocked her flat and caused the others to leap away to avoid them.

"What's going on?" Mega asked, thinking Zatana in danger. But that was when he and Proto noticed that Zatana was -- laughing.

"That's her father, brother, and one of her uncles," Zentarou said. "Half-Kins can transform into the animal they most resemble, and theirs is the lion." Zatana laughed and laughed as she struggled under her family and they played with her like cubs themselves.

"Quit that!" Eventually they let her up and changed their forms so that they were standing on two legs like Zatana. She introduced them to Mega and Proto and explained that the two bots would be spending some time with them.

"The more the merrier, as Zant would say," Zatanair, her brother, said, smiling brightly. He turned to the bro bots. "Zant's our other uncle, but he wasn't feeling too well this morning and is inside, resting. It's nothing serious."

"Do you want to help with the Winter Fest Pageant?" Zatana asked. That reminded Mega about the reason he had been out at all. Zatana noticed his sudden downcast look. "Is something wrong?"

"Just thinking about my sister and Dr. Light, who created me. We were getting ready for Winter Fest when I went out to get a duplicate Magi for one of ours' that was broken. My dog Rush has it. It's kind of a long story, but I just remembered that they are waiting for me and are probably worried."

"Pathetic," Proto muttered, which Zantar heard.

"What's so pathetic about that?" Mega sighed.

"We're brothers, him older by about three months, but we fight on opposite sides of battle."

"That's kind of sad," Zantar said. "I know I'd hate it if my brother and I weren't on the same side. We're best friends."

"I don't suppose either of you would consider changing sides?" Zatana wondered. Both robots shook their heads no.

"I wouldn't want to be evil," Mega said.

"And I was programmed for the bad side, and have known nothing else," responded Proto. Zatana looked at him.

"Programmed?" Mega chuckled.

"We may look human, but we're not. We're robots, machines of metal and wire made to look and think and act like humans."

"Like golems in our legends," Zentarou put in. "They were animated constructions that to an extent could think and move."

"Well, we're able to act just like humans, but first we had to be programmed. That means our personalities and likes and dislikes and such were put into us. Like I was programmed to be hoest, and to not hurt people, and to do good when I can, while my brother..." Mega didn't elaborate. "We can be altered, called reprogramming, but it's very complicated, and robots like us will usually fight it, unless we want to be reprogrammed."

"So you were made evil?" Zatana asked Proto. He nodded.

"From day one."

"Then couldn't you be reprogrammed to at least be able to make your own choice in the matter?" That made Proto pause.

"My own choice? Why would I want that?"

"I’m able to make my own choices," Mega said. "And that's why I don't fight on Wily's side. I know what's right and wrong."

"And you could always be reprogrammed back to the way you are now," Zatana encouraged. "Sort of a trial period when you can decide where your heart really belongs. After all, it's not fair that humans and elves and Sir'Kai and Half-Kins get free will, but you don't." For a moment the two robots were confused by that string of race names, then Proto asked,

"But who would reprogram me?" That made all pause. Just then, a small dragon, blue in color, flew over and landed on Zatana's shoulder.

"Yes, Blue Glider?" The creature trilled and chirped in her ear, apparently telling her something.

"What is that?" Mega asked.

"Blue Glider, Zatana's spitfire," Zantar said. "They're a type of small dragon, nor near as big as their larger kin."

"There are dragons here?"

"Yes." Just then Blue Glider finished telling Zatana whatever it was he had to tell her.

"Thanks."

"Well?" Zentarou asked, although everyone wanted to know.

"He said he spotted out some strangers, two humans and a dog, heading towards Kijo's Glen. I think I should go and check it out." She whistled and a black dragon appeared.

"And I'm going too," Zantar said, and an orange dragon came at his whistle. The two bro-bots voiced their own curiosity, and were given a hand up onto the

dragons, Mega with Zatana and Proto with Zantar. The dragons pumped their wings and lifted off.