Epilogue

A little over a week later, on the morn of New Year’s eve, Mega and Proto were strolling around the land surrounding Dr. Light’s lab home, since it was a distance from the city itself. Wily so far had been quiet, probably sulking over the loss of his greatest and most powerful robot, and the brothers were enjoying the extended vacation, using it to get to know each other as brothers and to strengthen their bond. Sometimes they’d talk about things, or wrestle with each other, or sometimes lay on top of the lab’s roof on their backs or sit under the trees where the snow couldn’t touch and watch the clouds and enjoy the silence.

“One of these days we’ll have to get a photo for those plaques,” Mega said one cold, sunny day as they were cloud watching under a tree.

“Yeah. One of both of us.” He grinned wryly. “And you’re still a little dope.”

“You’re still a big goof,” his bro replied, adding a light kick to Proto’s foot. Proto returned the kick a little bit harder. They did this for a few cycles, and then Proto abruptly lunged at his brother, sending them rolling into the snow which so far seemed immune to the sun’s rays. They rolled a couple of times before Proto managed to get a good grip on Mega’s wrists, flipping him over onto his stomach and sitting on his back, holding both of the blue bomber’s arms pinned behind him.

“Give up?”

“You should be able to guess my answer after all those years,” Mega teased, squirming and trying to get up. He wriggled and kicked, but couldn’t budge Proto from his back.

Proto maneuvered his grip to he had (just barely) both of Mega’s wrists in one hand, removed his brother’s helmet, and ruffled his brown hair. Mega tossed his head a bit, trying to dodge his older brother’s teasing hand, but to no avail.

“Give up yet?” the red raider asked playfully.

“Let me up.” Taking that to signify Mega’s surrender, Proto began to get off. As soon as Proto was conveniently off of Mega, however, the latter lunged and renewed the tussle, once again with Proto ending up on top of Mega’s back holding him into the snow.

“Gotcha again.” Mega laughed. He couldn’t help it.

“Okay. Okay. You win. I give up.” Proto let him up. Mega shook a bit of snow out of his hair, then glanced at Proto and chuckled.

“What?”

“No helmet,” Mega explained. Proto reached up and realized that somewhere along their roughhousing he’d lost his helmet. Both looked around, but neither helmet was in sight. Mega smiled. “Good thing for recall.” He pressed a button on his arm, and with a white flash his helmet reappeared on his head. Proto did the same, but to his surprise his visor appeared with it.

“Whoa!” He recoiled back a bit in surprise, as did Mega. “What’s that doing back?”

“It must’ve returned with the recall.” Proto reached up to remove it, but Mega stopped him.

“You can leave it if you want. I know what side you’re on now.” He grinned. “Plus I know you’ve been missing it.” Proto smirked ruefully.

“That obvious, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Guess I got used to it being there after all those years.”

“Then go ahead.” Proto smiled and left the visor in place. As he lowered his hand he felt a strange new button on his belt.

“What’s this?” He pushed it, and his visor snapped up into his helmet. A second push returned it to its place shielding his eyes.

“Cool,” commented Mega. “A retractable visor.” Proto smiled and stood, helping Mega up.

‘Lets head back.” together they returned to Dr. Light’s lab. At first the good scientist and Roll were startled at the red raider’s visored appearance, but he just smiled and retracted the visor so it wouldn’t impair his vision in the lab.

“It just happened when I hit the recall button,” he explained.

“Well, that’s interesting. And I believe Roll has a surprise for you two." Dr. Light said with a smile. Roll grinned and ran out the room, passing the manger as she left. Mega glanced at the manger, with all three wise men, and smiled. How funny it was that a little porcelain statuette had, in a way, given him his brother. Roll returned a few moments later with a digital camera, which she pointed at her brothers.

"Strike a pose!" she said cheerfully. They grinned at each other and spun back to back and leaned against each other, crossing their arms. Mega propped up one leg as if the sole of his foot was resting flat against something behind him, and Proto crossed his far leg over the front one. Both flashed cocky smirks at Roll. She laughed. “That’s great!” Raising the camera to her eye and turning it sideways to get in their posture, she snapped the photo. “Got it.” Dr. Light plugged the camera into the computer while Roll retrieved the two plaques from the brother’s bedrooms. By the time she returned they had the pics printed out, and carefully they were slid into place. It was a perfect fit.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Later that night, after all had gone to bed, Proto laid awake, staring at the ceiling of his room. After a long while, he identified the emotion he felt now, which was the same as he’d felt at the tree, as a deep contentment, as peace. He felt at home with those who really cared about him and he cared about after so long.

Suddenly springing from the bed, he crossed the room to where the plaque rested on a small shelf. He removed the picture and flipped it over. On the back he wrote:

Bro-Bots Forever

Smiling at the phrase, he slid the photo back into place. Then he returned to be and curled up on his side. With a satisfied smile, he quietly fell asleep.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Mega, in the room next door, was in that same instant just sitting back from his desk where he’d been writing something. He smiled at the back of his picture, which read:

The best Christmas gift ever -

We’re finally Brothers

Then he too laid down and fell asleep, smiling like his brother.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Author's Note: Ok, I know that parts of this were a little silly, or sappy, or corny, and I know there are stories out there with the same basics and written better. But for me this story will always have a special place in my heart, as it was the first one I ever posted anywhere. And just in case you want to see where it was originally posted, it was on a little citecalled the Protoman Fan Club, under my first penname Zanta Leon. Yes, that is me, so no thinking I stole it, lol. I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time!