The heroes took their side of the roof. Derek did nothing, but stare them down.

“Why?” asked Samus, pointing her blaster at Derek. “Why did you use me?”

“Simple. I needed someone to get their hands dirty.”

“But why me?”

“You were selected at random. I had millions of other choices and I selected you. You should feel honored.”

Samus growled under her visor.

“Enough.” Said Batman, walking forward, putting his hand on Samus’ shoulder and gave her a look that told her to calm down. Samus nodded at him, and stepped back. “Who are you?” he said, looking at Derek.

“I am Derek, the son of the man you destroyed a year ago.” Batman, Yugi, Joey and the Links all went dead silent, until Link 2 boldly spoke up.

“He wasn’t a man, he was more like a thing!” he snarled.

“Bold words, Link the second.” Said Derek. “For a little kid.”

“Hey, I’m not a little kid, I’m almost 13!”

Derek laughed. “In any case, allow me to tell you the story.”

And so he did, the heroes listened as the girls listened as well. When the story was done, Sonic stepped forward.

“Good story. Now then.” Sonic took his fighter stance. “Anyone who kidnaps a friend of mine, even if it’s Amy!” (Amy got angry at this)

“Yeah. Enough talk.” Said Robin.

“I see you’re eager to battle. Very well.” Said Derek as he threw off his sunglasses to reveal his green eyes. “As my father once said to you before the final battle.” He took his fighting stance and shouted: “BRING IT ON!”

Sonic smirked as he rolled into a ball and fired himself at the villain, Derek jumped out of the way, and Robin jumped after him. Robin took out his Bo Staff from his belt and swung it at Derek in mid-air, Derek ducked under it and swung his foot out which struck the Boy Wonder in the chest. Link 1 took out his Master Sword and swung it at Derek, who dodged the sword and as he and Link 1 landed on the ground, Derek was about to be attacked from behind by Link 2, but Derek tilted out of the way, grabbed Link 2 by the arm swung him around and threw him off into the distance. Luigi jumped down and threw two punches and a kick at Derek, who blocked all the attacks. Luigi stepped back as Mario jumped into the fray preparing for a double-kick. Derek blocked the attack and then swept his foot out at the plumber, which struck him in the chest. Mario landed on the ground as Luigi ran up to him to check on his brother. Zero took out his saber and swung it at Derek, Derek dodged all three swipes and jumped back. X meanwhile was charging his buster and as Derek landed from his back flip, X fired his shot at Derek. Derek saw it coming and did another back flip immediately.

Barely dodging the attack, Derek had to use his hand to keep his balance. Link 3 and Link 4 charging from both sides.

“You can’t take a double team!” shouted Link 4.

Derek smirked as he stepped back dodging both of their swords and then stepped on the blades trapping them under his foot.

“You fools have no idea what you’re up against.”

Link 3 and Link 4 strained to get their blades free from his foot. But the villain would not relent. Batman jumped into action, swinging his fist at Derek, Derek dodged the attack, and Batman used his other fist to catch Derek off-guard. It seemed it would be a blow for sure, until Derek blocked it with his own hand.

“What?” exclaimed Batman, shocked.

“You’re a superb warrior Batman.” He said, complimenting him. “But I am much more superior than all of you.”

“We will see about that!” yelled Samus, as she charged at Derek, Derek smiled as he saw her advance. Derek let go of Batman’s fist, who jumped back Samus threw her own fist at Derek who ducked. Samus tried to use her blaster to fire several shots at Derek, but he dodged them with ease.

“Give it up Samus.”

“Never.”

Samus charged at him again, with a battle cry in her throat. Derek smirked.

“I think it’s time for one of you to die.”

Samus felt a sudden pain in her stomach. She collapsed on her knees and held her stomach in pain. Derek smiled as he revealed a knife; which cut through Samus’ armor, it was filled with blood.

“SAMUS!” yelled X, as he charged his buster and sent a blast flying at Derek. Derek dodged the blast and landed on his feet. The others surrounded him and taking angry glances at him, Batman spoke up.

“You are clearly outnumbered. Surrender!”

“Maybe.” Said Derek. “But never outclassed.”

X ran up to the injured Samus, she groaned in pain and fell back. “Samus?” he said, as he caught her. “Don’t do this!” he said. “Give me a sign!”

Samus was breathing, still alive. “Stay with me.”

“I don’t think that’s possible. I think he got one of my organs.” She said, smiling even though she was in the face of death. X grabbed her hand and held it firmly.

“I don’t want to lose one of our own. Don’t die!” he yelled.

“It’s inevitable.” Said Samus, as she found the strength to stand up.

“See?” said X, sounding excited. “You can make it!”

Samus shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t know how I found the strength to, but it won’t enough for long.”

X went into a look of despair. “No…”

“Mega Man X, your reputation succeeds you. I want you to do me a favor. Apologize to the girls for me.”

“What… are you going to do?” he asked, dreading the answer.

“Goodbye X.” she said.

Derek jumped out of the middle of the circle and near the edge of the castle. Samus took notice and pressed a few buttons on her suit. She ran towards the villain as fast as she could. Derek noticed her. “Oh come now Samus.” He said. “You can’t do much with that wound of yours.”

Samus kept running and running…. She collided with Derek and both went tumbling over the edge.

”What are you doing?” he said, surprised.

Samus grabbed Derek with both of her arms. Samus closed her eyes as her suit began to explode. As the suit went off, Samus’ life began to flash through her eyes. Her training, her triumph on Zebes over Mother Brain. She had been so much, and now she was going out with honor. She couldn’t have asked for a better end. The resulting explosion destroyed part of the castle. The heroes shielded their eyes. Jack and his team just watched filled with horror. The girls however just watched silently. When the explosion was over, X unshielded his eyes and much to his horror there was a helmet on the ground in front of him. The visor was cracked…

“NOOOOOOOOO!” X screamed, as he banged his hands on the ground.

TO BE CONTINUED