Winds of Change

Yes, I know I already have a fanfic I am in the middle of, but this plot bunny grabbed hold of me and would not let me go. So I wrote this. It was originally meant to be a one shot, but I think it might actually make a fully chaptered fic. Please let me know if you think its worth continuing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Megamind, I get no profit from this fanfic, it is written solely for fun, I have nothing but good intentions towards Dreamworks and Megamind's creators, and I defer to them any rights associated to this fic.

Here we go.=

…

Everything was dark, and her head hurt. For a minute Roxanne didn't know where she was, then her mind slowly cleared. There was always that few moments of disorientation when the knock out gas that Megamind (or more often, Minion) used on her wore off. It was perhaps the worst part of the kidnappings. She had to admit, as exasperated as she sometimes got with how they wreaked havoc on her social life, she was beginning to almost enjoy her little adventures with Megamind. Crossing verbal swords with him was fun, especially since it was so easy to make him flustered.

The bag was pulled off her head, and the bright light of the sun assaulted her eyes.

"A-ha, Miss Richie, you have awakened." He said smoothly. "As you can see, we are not in evil lair. The true genius of a villain is versotolity."

"Versotaolity?" she asked, a bit confused and somewhat thrown off by this sudden change in tactics from an adversary she always thought was so predictable.

"You know, versotality. Originality. The ability to come up with new plans and ideas. I have always prided myself on that."

"You mean versatility" Roxanne sighed. She looked around.

They were Metro City's Harper's Park, the large park in the center of the city, and she was seated on a park bench across from a water fountain. But that was not what grabbed her attention.

She was positioned beneath a huge machine. It was an enormous orb, with long spider-like legs that were planted firmly in the ground. A scary looking drill jutted out from the front of it, and cables and wires surrounded a series of metal pinchers. It was impressive. Not that she was going to let him know that she was impressed.

"Megamind, why do you even bother. Your plan is going to go downhill just like the rest of them. You and Minion- wait- where is Minion?"

"Minion is making sure that we will not be disturbed, at least not until Metro Man comes. I've set up a force field perimeter. Another stroke of genius, I must say. Behold my creation- the Occulator!"

He was really full of it today, Roxanne thought.

The machine groaned and shuddered to life, and a gigantic lens opened on the underside of the orb. The Occulator was in action.

Megamind rubbed his hands together in a dramatic, super-villain type way. He did feel a little odd to be playing out his part without Minion, but he was sure he had everything under control.

Adjusting his cape, he whirled around with a dramatic flourish and pulled a small laser gun out. "Now Roxanne Ritchi, there is just one thing yet to do before I call your boyfriend in tights." He grinned wickedly, and Roxanne suddenly felt a sharp bite of fear as he pointed the gun in her direction. Could this be the one time he really meant to hurt her?

She jumped as the gun fired, then realized he had merely cut through the rope that was binding her to the park bench.

She looked at him in confusion.

"You're not staying down here, Miss Ritchi. You are going up there." He pointed to a set of restraints that dangled from the top of the machine.

"No way."

"Come now, Miss Ritchi, we don't want to keep Metro Man waiting do we? And after all, there's this." He waved the gun at her.

"Good point." She sighed and walked up to the machine. Smiling, Megamind stepped in front of the flowing fountain and nodded his approval as she began to mount a series of steps that were carved into the side of the machine.

But suddenly the huge machine began to move. It's orb spun in a wide arc. She lost her footing and went sprawling on the ground. Angry but not hurt, she struggled to her feet as Megamind pulled out what looked like a remote control and started clicking buttons.

"No! Not yet. Stupid thing! Stop! Stop!"

The various parts of the machine began to move, one leg lifted, and the drill engaged. Roxanne watched from a safe distance. Megamind's plans always failed, but usually not within the first few minutes. This was a record even for him.

She was just about to give a well-timed witty remark when the machine broke apart.

With a gasp, Roxanne ducked a bit of metal shrapnel that flew at her head. But Megamind was not so lucky. A large piece of metal from the top of the machine sent him falling backwards- into the fountain.

In seconds, he found himself trapped underwater.

He struggled to free himself, but was wedged firmly under the beam. He could not find the leverage to push the beam off of him. He couldn't breathe. The surface, and air, was only a few inches away, but he couldn't reach it. His mind started to race.

"No….I'm going to drown…. How can it end like this? Roxanne! Where did she go? Why doesn't she help me? She left me to die. Why…well, why not? After all, look at how I treat her. Why should she care what happens to me? ….but… surely she knew I would never really hurt her…."

His hands clawed at the sides of the metal, struggling to move it, he tried to strain upward to reach the air, inches away- and he kept thinking,

"Oh my god….can't…I can't breathe….I'm going to die….I'm going to die…someone help…someone help me please…Minion, I'm sorry….I never should have…please….I'm going to die….It's all ending…."

He couldn't hold his breath any longer. He knew he was dying, knew the water would soon come rushing in, filling his lungs, killing him…

Suddenly he felt the metal lift off him and a pair of hands grab his shoulders.

Roxanne was pulling him out. They fell back together. Coughing and gasping, he sucked in lungfuls of air. His heart was racing. Still in Roxanne's arms, he clung to her like a frightened child.

She kept her arms around him for a few seconds and he didn't let her go, still deeply shaken. Finally she pulled away and he looked into her eyes.

"Why, why did you-"

"I had to find a lever. Something to use lift the metal off you. That's what took me so long. Are you alright?"

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He felt cold, soaking wet, with his cape plastered around him.

"I'm…."

Suddenly a loud voice echoed through the park. "Megamind! Prepare to be defeated! You are no match for goodness and truth! Don't worry, Roxanne, I'll…"

Metroman stopped, obviously confused, looking from Megamind to Roxanne. Something clearly was different. She wasn't tied up. He was soaking wet. The way they were looking at each other. What had happened?

"Actually I'm ok," Roxanne said, standing up and smoothing down her damp blouse.

Something was wrong. Things were different. The time honored script had been abandoned. Trying to recapture the moment, Metro Man reached out and took Megamind by the arm, "You're going to jail, and this time you'll stay there!"

He was shocked when Megamind did not answer.

As the police, who were following on Metro Man's heels, cuffed and hauled Megamind away, Metro man looked at Roxanne for an explanation, but she just shook her head.

….

Let me know if I should continue this.