So, what are we gonna do next?
So far everything we've done has been for naught. Tricked and bamboozled and no matter what stopped even in our best efforts.
Well, I don't know what lives has in store for us... but the next time we get wrapped into some little scheme... It'll be on our te-

Before he can finish his sentence, his Duo form is penetrated by a powerful Charged Shot, shattering him back to his regular self.

--...Goddamn it.

The two plummet back into the midst of a city they were hovering over. In Mech-tenant's case, he crashes on his head. A Rock, however, gets up, suspicious as to what could've shot them.

Hmm... whuzz da robough eqwivawent of a cunkuscin?
....Alright, what scumbag decided they wanted a piece of us?
Durrr.
...Me. A piece of me.

Suddenly, before A. Rock can react, he is Quick Thrown into the nearest buildings.

*Cough* *Cough* ....Man. No one ever cuts us any slack.
There will be no more interruptions! Alter, I really did try settling this peacefully, but this entire time you've refused to hear me out just once! So if you won't listen to any reasoning...
...I'll just have to drag you over to the Council myself.

---

Quick Throw(Swift/Impact)- The user rushes at their target, immediately picking them up and throwing them against the nearest hazard at subsonic speeds. Will only go second against faster Swift-Core moves.

So. How about we get back to business?
....I'll need some time to think about this. You weren't the one behind everything. Regulus was. And he's got a power that no one else can begin to comprehend, so it may not matter if I do or don't.
I understand. You go around doing... Well, you guys aren't really the most relevant in terms of action in this roleplay... whatever it is you two wish to do. Until then, you know where to go.
Righteo. C'mon, dude. Let's get out of here. Are you still in Duo Form?
I'm trying to push my limits.
Mech-duo and A. Rock exit the Dark Fortress.

---

.....
Apologies for the wait. What were you saying about this "Psycho Power", Mr. Bison?

Anthem's fists tighten.

This is where your heartless empire ends. Excluding your guards, there's only one of you.
But that is where I must rebuke you, Anthem. For where you see one man, I see four.
"see four"? what the hell do you--
Look down.

Anthem and the other two members of the Anthem Brigade look down to see explosives wrapped around their legs.

Ohhhh. That makes sense.
Combining the strongest alloys from dimension to dimension, creating what I dub "Hadium". We hope you enjoyed your stay at Quartet Enterprises.

The bombs explode, blasting the Anthem Brigade back to Headquarters.

Ahhhh. You truly never realize the true things in life which matter to you until they are gone.
I'll say.

Back at, ah, screw it-- the Dark Fortress' Throne Room, a wall busts down to reveal six figures. The guards prepare for fire, but they are signaled to stand down.

Ah. Well, if it isn't my two servants and their new friends. It's truly been a while, hasn't it?

A. Rock looks for something to say, but is at a sincere loss of words.

....
Yeah. I'm gonna do us all a favor and ask. How. The . Are you still alive?
You read my mind. You heard 'em, shady. Start 'fessing.
It's quite simple, really.

With a snap of his fingers, a purple, glowing ring, falls into his hand, appearing from thin air.

I am more than certain you two know what this is, right?
A World Ring!? I-impossible! The seven of them were taken in by Regulus!
Correct. You see, this is a prototype of the World Rings, one of the many scattered across the Omniverse by El Grande Padre, who made an attempt at creating it, but failed due to lacking the perfect balance of positivity and negativity the seven were made in mind with. This... Is the Ring of Greed.
(....What does this have to due with your return?)
Contrary to what one may think, due to me being a fusion, before I was made of three distinct personalities. One craving destruction, one craving domination, and one with confusion.
I am positive you are aware of which one is destruction. The monster who destroyed your {Rock's} World. The one of confusion, who sealed him off. But what about the one of domination?
Though Regulus (+ Clones) and Delta separated, both of their wills fused to create a new one in the process. One who desired to dominate the different stars, dimensions and realities altogether.
As you may have inferred, this Ring actually sensed this desire, and not only carried on my will, which was to survive, but restored my fortress as well.

---

Any questions?
You flicked me into the exosphere.
Apologies, "Anthem", but I do not see why your weakness is my problem.

It seems like situations really can take care of themselves.
Now, where were we?

As A. Rock, Anthem, and Mech-duo take their battle stances, seconds away from attacking, a familiar building rises from the ground in the distance.

!... N-no way!!
How the hell is this possible? We saw that fortress explode with our own eyes!

Anthem eyes the duo (not to be confused with the actual entity) dubiously.

I-.. I don't know how this is possible! We're just as lost as to what happened as you are!
So... what do we do now?

Anthem palms his fist, cracking his knuckles (which shouldn't be possible).

Now.... We find answers. All six of us.

---

Wario, back at King Harkinian's castle, Wario looks for treasure, to little avail.

C'mon, C'mon, it's gotta be around here somewhere!
Wario. It's time you give up on that nonsense of yours and quit snooping around as usual. I see that you're just as hungry for gold as ever, so I have a special mission for you. Report to the Dark Fortress for more.

Wario's communicator makes a clicking noise as the sound fades.

....Lo--

---

Inside of a familiar fortress, with a familiar layout, within a familiar room, a familiar voice talks to himself amidst the darkness.

Ah. So my contingency worked as planned. Though I have to say, I'm a tad disappointed.... Not in myself, no, but for how easily people managed to underlook myself. I am business first. I don't make mistakes. I make investments. It seems that barrier was damaged as well. Oh, well. In any case...
...It's good to be back.

A. Rock and Mech-duo land on Mega City, or rather... what was left of it.

....Yikes.
Oh. Right. Former boss. Kinda forgot about this whole fiasco.
I should pummel you two for supporting the same guy who did all of this.

From behind them comes the Anthem Brigade, with Anthem in particular looking especially cross.

Luckily for you, bringing you guys back to HQ as a bag of bolts won't bring the city back. Unluckily for you, I don't happen to care.
And here we go with the macho meathead faceoff.

Mech-duo and Anthem stand chest to chest, face to face, scowling at each other.
Maybe if you weren't such a useless scumbag of a robot you could've prevented this.
Ha! Coming from the lackey of the orchestrator. Since you're so eager for a beatdown, I'd be happy to oblige humbling you and your blue buddy. After all, now that the city's decimated, it won't make much of a-
Now hold on a minute, ya'll.

Landing inbetween Mech-duo and Anthem is Will Smith.

If you guys wanna settle the score between you two, that's fine. But I'm not here for that. This city of yours has gone on in ruins for long enough.
And what does this have to do--

Will Smith suddenly activates his Rewind Time, rewinding the condition of the city to it's regular state. Before Anthem can finish his sentence, Will is gone.

...with us.
(...What just happened?)
I don't know, but this looks like a job for the Crusher Crusa--

Crusher is whacked by Lightwave.

--OW!
No one is doing that!

---

Back at Reguhalla, With Regacron...


*sigh*.

A. Rock and Mech-tenant, who is now regular again, both look awkwardly at the two.

I mean... I don't really think this is something we can prevent. At this point, I'm inclined to feel this would have happened regardless of any interference we hold.
Yeah. And stakeful as this may seem, I really don't see what we can do, or how it will contribute.

Mech-tenant hardens into Mech-duo, turning to King Harkinian.

I don't want to sound like a bummer, but this "Weegee" of yours is probably going to be summoned one way or another. My advice? just let this whole thing blow over. Most times just waiting it out is the answer to the problem. Who knows? Fighting this I.M Meen guy might only make things worse.

Mech-Duo then grabs A. Rock and flies away.

I...guess it's our turn to fight?
Hey, Rock.
Yeah?

Mech-T's body begings to harden, morphing shape into a duplicate A. Rock.

What say we show this torso who's boss?
....
I will never not hate that.

Both Rocks go into Hyperattack Switch and shoot a flurry of Buster Burrages at the Weegee torso!

Back at the plateu, Mech-Duo jumps out from underground.
Damn. I wanted to catch him off guard with a Duo Fist. Guess I was too late to the action.
Well, he mentioned something about going towards some sort of castle. Think We should follow?

Mech-Duo reverts back to his regular self.

Yeah. Let's go. (Phew, I had to transform for a while there. Though this technique isn't perfect, once I master it to 100%, I'll be able to do it for however long I want.)

The two leave to catch up with Duo, only for another figure to follow them, unbeknownst to themselves.
(Castle!? What a perfect idea! I'll steal all the treasure, and become richer than I already am! Wahaha!)

---

"Dark one"?

A. Rock and Mech-tenant jump in.

What's exactly going on here?

Wh--

Mech-Duo avoids the Dark Thunder, powering down in the process.

Just what the hell do you think you're doing? You think you can come here and attack us, and on top of that, threaten to kill us? That's a no-go, amigo.

He redirects his focus to Duo.

Hey, I know we have our fair share of differences, but how about we teach this guy a lesson before we do anything else?

---

How about you, Rock?
How about no? He's only after you two. I didn't make any kind of noise at all.
...Jerk.

Mech-Duo gets hit by the Comet, which is actually Duo's weakness since at the moment he's transformed into Duo.

(...Damn it. As long as he has that aura up, this fight is gonna be an uphill battle. Not to mention any move I do, he knows even more about. I need more power..)
...Tch! It seems you really are a worthy opponent. I'll have to pull out all the stops now.
However... I'll let it be known that I'm not just limited to your techniques. No. I've got much more in store for you. How about I show you just what I can do?
NNNNNNNNNGRRRRAGH!

Mech-Duo unleashes a wave of Dark Star energy everywhere on the plateau, powering up.

Like I said... this power has been with me through thick and thin. It's a part of me now. And there's no way I'm giving all of that up for you.

Mech-Duo then takes a stance, preparing for Duo's next move.

Urgh!

Slightly taken aback, he immediately regains his footing.

....Not bad. But I'm just warming up. Although it's probably about time I kick things up a notch.
Rrrrragh!

Mech-Duo's body glows, radiating white flames as he begins to get ready for his next attack.

Here's the big one! Comet Assault!

Mech-Duo then charges at Duo, turning into a blazing white hot comet and crashes into him at full force.

---

Comet Assault(Impact/Space)- The user goes into their comet form and rams into the enemy.

Special version: Crystal Comet Assault(Crystal/Space)

....
Am... am I sensing a hint of jealousy inside this mind of yours? Are you envious of him?
D'oh, piss off! How was I supposed to know he could do this? It just... it just looks so cool! I have to push myself to my limits just to keep up with some of these one-trick ponies, and he can just become them with a simple fist bump?

---

...Of course. I'll put the blame on me for not testing you thoroughly enough before transforming into you.
The question still remains, though...
How often have you had to deal with your own attacks!?

Mech-Duo rushes Duo with a Giga Tackle!

---

Giga Tackle(Swift/Cutter)- A dash where the user rushes their enemies, hurting them with the spikes on their shoulder.

Mech-tenant falls flat on the ground, seeming to be out cold.

Oh shoot, is he out for real?

Mech-tenant gets up slowly, slightly battered by the attack. He mumbles to Duo...

..No. Right... where I wanted you.....
Hrrrngh!

He then taps into his Dark Star Energy after getting up, turning to Duo.

After the Jazz crisis, I developed something just in case we fought something out of our league. I was saving this technique for that Regacron guy in case things went south, but it seems like you saved me the trouble of doing that. Now, if you're done with your video game references...
..DUPLICI EXEMPLARI!

Suddenly, a dark shadow envelops Mech-T, as he begins to crystalize and change form while casting a huge explosion. When the smoke clears, only one large figure remains.

Sorry, Duo, but you know what they say. If you can't beat 'em...
...Be 'em.

---

Duplici Exemplari (Copy/Time)- The user uses their Dark Star Energy to gather the collected DNA/Biomass/Energy of their enemy of choice to imitate their looks and moveset.

Augh!

Mech-tenant seems slightly disoriented for a moment, but the stun fades..

...Nice try. But this energy of mine is also gives me a bit of psychic resilience. Now, where was I?

Mech-tenant lunges at Duo!

Still being in the air, he turns his Cannon back into his regular broadshield and block the assault.

Upon landing on the ground, Mech-tenant opts to instead dash at the Duo clone, turning his broadshield into a nanotech scythe, lunging and attempting to slash at him!

Mech-tenant immediately leaps into the air, whipping out his nanotech broadshield which morphs into a Laser Cannon, and immediately fires an aerial assault upon the two Duos.

What do you..?

He then realizes what Duo means.

Wait! Purify? No way! I'm fine!? R-right, Rock!?
I'unno... sometimes you let your wild side get the better of you when you use that power of yours.

*FLASHBACK*

*END FLASHBACK*

Gee, thanks for the support, old chum.

He turns his attention to Duo.

Duo, we don't have to do this. Lor- someone... told me that this power belonged to an entity from another universe who could corrupt and take the form of others, and was bent on global domination. But he isn't me. Even as a last resort, it's a part of me now. I've lived with it and it's brought me back from the dead. And if it's your goal to take it away and destroy it...

He then takes a stance.

Then you'll have to force it out of me.

Regacron replies.

...I will say this. The World Rings are made of the most pure type of energy, in fact, and not evil. It is it's potentially limitless power, which, depends on the users affinity of said rings*, which could prove to be dangerous. Let me give you an example.
Once upon a time, there were two robots. One's name was Robert and one's name is Jorge. Robert found a World Ring, specifically the one of Joy. Though as Robert tried to tap into it's power, he found no fortune as he had a lack of Joy in his soul.
When he handed the ring to Jorge, who tried to do the same thing, he found success, and thus achieved a power unfathomable due to the great reserves of Joy he had. Although this was much to Robert's dismay, who moped about, until he found a Sadness ring. Out of what he presumed to be a hopeless attempt, he tried to use the Ring's power, and due to his Sadness, it worked.
Do you see, now? It is not the Rings that posess danger, it is the users. As for their locations... I am under obligation to omit that information. Now. Get. Off. My. Island.
We're not going anywhere until you--

Mech-tenant suddenly stands up.

Back, whatti miss?
....I guess we're going then. Come on, Duo.

A. Rock and Mech-tenant immediately turn towards the exit to make their way off the island.

---

*More than one World Ring can be used at a time (See: (Regulus, P. 95)(Defteros, P. 95))