Boundless Network

ijuinenzan:

Pride shook her head. “No! He was very polite to me. Annoyingly so. He kept calling me ‘Princess’ or ‘Your Highness,’ even after I assured him that just Pride was fine.”

She giggled. It was a wonderful memory. It couldn’t help but be wondered if she would feel the same had he acted any other way. He was just so… awesome… as CF Searchman.

“Ah.” Pride looked up, wiping Laika from her head to focus on Penelope. She hadn’t realized it, but she was feeling a bit peckish. And sticking around the castle right now sounded so tedious. Her advisors would want her to take a break… right?

Pride grinned. “I would love too!”

“Perfect! I’d love to show you my favorite spot– you’ve probably seen it before.” Pen grinned, “but it’s always better with good company.” 

They strode off the property, a bit more confidently this time. Pen didn’t mind waiting for Pride to disguise, nor a choice to allow an entourage of bodyguards. Enzan was usually trailed by at least as many. 

“No way!” Netto grinned and let himself fall sitting back on the couch. “Always good to have a friend come over, I didn’t even know you two were here in Japan! Why didn’t you tell me, Rockman?”

“To be fair, I didn’t know either. Why do you just assume I know everything?”

“Because you always do.” Netto shrugged and picked up his joystick. “Let’s finish that last boss already, I’m not gonna stop now that we’re so close to finishing the game.”

Rockman shrugged as well, going back to the floor and picking up his joystick, then he looked up to Pride once again. “Please, make yourself at home. Do you want to play videogame later too?”

“I don’t think she would like to play Metal Slug, dude.” Netto chuckled, picking up his joystick as well. “We could look up something else in the box?”

“Ahah, I couldn’t exactly tell people this time. I hope that makes sense.” Pride provided an answer, but Netto’s other questions were far more interesting. She wanted to answer them more than anything else.

“Metal Slug?” she asked as she sat down behind them. “I don’t want to be the reason you stop before the boss, you should finish that part! I’ll watch.” 

“Neither here, to be honest.” Netto shrugged, standing beside Rockman. “It’s still experimental." 

"Yeah, after seeing how much trouble could be caused if Copyroids would fall in wrong hands without any control, the SciLab decided to try out some way to put safety locks or something to limit the powers of any NetNavi using them.” Rock explained. 

“We could say Rock’s their guinea pig.” The boy chuckled, elbowing his Navi slightly. “So far, no trouble at all, so we got this Copyroid to use at home.”

Pride nodded, fully understanding Netto and Rock’s explanation. She had heard of the recent troubles surrounding them recently. Even still, it was just too cool of a technology to pass up!

“Aaah~! I hope I can convince them to get one for Knightman someday.” she clasped her hands together, and entered a sort of dreamy pose. “It would be so cool...”

A deep chuckle came from one of her pockets. “I am glad you would enjoy my company so, milady.”

“Oh!” Pride stuck her hand in her pocket, and pressed a button. A second later, Knightman’s image appeared on her shoulder. “You should’ve requested...”

{✱};— After ordering their donuts, they had to wait outside for their order. After finding a place to sit in the form of a table just only a few feet from the bakery; Netto sat in the middle of the table while Amy took the seat across from Pride. 

As soon as they sat down, Pride had something to say immediately. A request; that Netto and Amy didn’t tell Laika ANY of what just happened. Amy’s eyes widened, and to anyone else’s surprise, so did Netto’s because he was actually listening through his excitement which turned to confusion.

“W-What? But wouldn’t it be easier for both of you to just know each other’s feelings instead of–oof!” Netto stopped himself when he felt something hit his leg. He looked over at Amy to where he thinks the kick came from and narrowed his eyes. “Amy–”

“Netto. When a girl, no matter if she’s a princess or not, you keep that secret when they ask you to!”

Netto pouted while crossing his arms at the pinkette. “So it was okay for you to blab Laika’s secret but not for me to do the same?”

“T-That was an accident! I wouldn’t have said anything about it if not given the circumstances that happened!” Then she looked at Pride nervously. “N-Not offense of course but I am not a gossiper like that!”

“ … I still think you guys should get it out there in the open and stop procrastinating if you love each other so much.” He mumbled, which earned him another kick from underneath the table. “OW– C’mon! Stop that!”

“When you stop bein’ such a rump! Promise that you won’t tell!”

“Fine, I won’t! Now stop kicking me!”

“Good~!” Amy giggled before leaning over to pat Netto’s shoulder. “And I only gave you a light tap, don’t be such a drama king.”

Netto only responded by puffing out his cheeks to making him look even more overly dramatic.

Pride waved her hands to try and settle their bickering. It was no use, and she was forced to watch it play out. Netto’s words stuck to her though, and repeated while he eventually agreed along with Amy.

Her hands folded up within each other, as they settled.

“Thank you,” Pride nodded, “And, you do have a point Netto. I should open up, when it’s so obvious now, but it’s... just...”

She looked around, trying to formulated the easiest way to explain it. Explaining these sorts of things to the young and reckless was never easy, especially when they never tried to associate with such ideas in the first place. Poor Netto, he probably didn’t understand at all yet.

MerNavi AU.

“What…? Ah!” Netto slapped his own forehead lightly, chuckling. “That’s right, I never got to tell you. Rockman’s got a Copybot for himself! That’s how we’re playing together. Come on, I’ll show you!”

He held her hand and guided her to their living room. There, sitting on the floor and leaning his back on the couch, a boy that held some resemblance to Netto and Dr. Hikari was waiting, patiently tapping on the game control he held. If it wasn’t for the odd ear pieces sporting the too familiar Hikari logo, he could easily pass as just another kid, wearing a dark blue hoodie and black pants like Netto’s, but with blue sides instead of yellow.

Hearing the footsteps approaching, he turned to look up and smiled. 

“Princess Pride?” He let go of the control and got up to greet her properly, bowing slightly in respect. “What a surprise!”

Pride followed Netto with curiosity. Copyroids were becoming super popular these days, so it’s no wonder the Hikaris had one! Netto and Rockman were inseparable it seemed.

“Aaaah!” She gasped in glee at the sight of Rockman’s looks. “How cool!”

She waved at the bow, deeming it unnecessary. But it was so small compared to her excitement over seeing a navi look so human! Pride took a few steps closer to get a better look. Rockman wasn’t ignored, either.

season 1: ep. 2, 7, 15, season 2: ep. 30, 31, 46, 50, 51, beast +: ep. 11, 12

He was too stunned for a moment, but immediately hugged her back with a wide smile. 

“Of course you can, it’s so good to see you again! We weren’t expecting visits, did you send an email or anything? I might have not seen it, I’ve been playing videogames with Rockman all morning.”

“Nope!”

An email would’ve easily been tracked. Same with a phone call. Even putting it into her map would’ve given someone a hint as to where she is. No, the only info her guards and advisors would have would be which metroline stations she got on and off of. That would be plenty vague, she figured.

This wasn’t Pride’s first escape. She had learned how to maximize her time. Though the panic that she came back to did make her feel a little bad.