#!forsooth

“Okay, whatever you think is best.” Magic stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. He then spotted Knight Man sitting on his bed. The usually fully armored bot was without his chestplate, pauldrons, or helm. Upon Knight’s featureless black face, shining streaks under the eyes made it clear that some crying had been going on. “Well, someone’s seen better days.” No response outside of a blank stare through bloodshot eyes. “Right...so. I heard that you’re not to happy about Centaur Man resurfacing.”

“Woman.”

“Pardon?”

“Centaur is a woman now. She transitioned during the earlier rounds of the Tournament, but did not reveal it publicly until after all was said and done of that affair, after she was back home in Greece.”

“I see. My apologies.” Magic took a step or two closer to Knight. “Well, you two must have been quite close for her showing back up to affect you like this. I’ve never seen you so...well, I don’t have to tell you how you feel.”

“We were...not as close as we would have liked to be. We knew how one another felt, but...with the Tournament, we felt it impossible to be together, when we were supposed to be enemies.”

Magic stood in silence before sitting next to Knight on the bed. “Knight...you really loved her, didn’t you?”

Knight took a deep breath before sighing. “Centaur...she meant so much to me. Before Lord Wily reprogrammed us all, I saw all of my fellow finalists as family, our bond forged and tempered through battle, but she...was so much more. Even before her transition, I do believe she held my heart in a way no other had before, or has since. Back then, fighting for the regime, to me, was fighting for a world where we could be together without such trivialities as robot law or nations' borders to come between us. After Mega Man thwarted us, and we were returned to our nations, I of course broke free and went straight back to the regime. But...before that, I went to Greece. I hoped to bring Centaur with me, and we would return to his lordship's side together...she refused...she chose to stay with her family...I have not known a greater pain since. As if my own heart were ripped from my chest and stomped into the dirt...”

“...I...I had no idea...Knight, if it hurt so much, why on Earth didn’t you choose her over Wily?”

“You don’t understand. Lord Wily is the reason I am. I could never turn my back to such a debt. Besides...I...I still think that if lord Wily were to conquer the world, it would become that world where we could be together.”

“I don’t think that’s how she saw things. Knight...do you think maybe Centaur would have wanted to be with you in the world as it already is? Maybe if you had chosen her over Wily that day in Greece...”

“There’s no point in fretting over what could have been...this is what is.”

“...I suppose that’s true.” Magic stood up from his seat. “Still, though.”

“...say you are right, and that is what she wished. Say she did think we could have been together in the world as it is now. What if she were wrong? What if we had tried, only to be torn apart?”

“...and what if you were wrong? It would mean that you were the one who tore you two apart.”

“!!! You dare-”

“Knight, I won’t stand here and debate your ideology with you. Goodness knows nobody believes in Wily’s cause as much as you. That said...maybe you should take a look at what that belief has ended up costing you in the long run.”

“...mm.”