Super Smash Bros. Shadows - Preface
By Catman
After five long years of incarceration, a mysterious being comes to rescue Bowser and other villains from the deathly Storm Prison. Will Bowser choose freedom and survival? Or will he follow his instincts of right and wrong?
One moment, complete darkness; a world of nothingness stretched out for infinity.
The next, a foggy white light shot out from the endless black, headed towards him. He flinched as the light overcame his vision, pressing down into some hard surface. Then, as the foggy light began to fade, a streak of pain shot through his body. His head was pounding as though it would explode. His neck felt like someone had severed all of his tendons. His muscles ached as though he had just run a thousand miles, but he knew he hadn't moved for days.
"Come on, get up."
The voice echoed around his head, pressing into his ears like a knife. He moaned, only drawing attention to the fiery dryness in his mouth. He was unsure of whether or not he wanted to get up as fast as possible and find water to remedy his thirst or lie there forever – but he knew that neither was an option.
"Yeah, you. Get up, you ugly lug."
He felt something dull rammed into his stomach, and he wanted to vomit. However, his empty stomach prevented him from doing such as thing. Instead, he let out a dull noise, half moan and half scream. If he had enough water in his system, he would weep.
"I'm not waiting all day. Walk it off, it's the only way. You know the drill. Let's go."
Unfortunately, he knew that this was true as well. Squeezing his eyes shut, he managed to push his lifeless legs off the side of the rock bed. They tingled from being unmoved for so long. After a few minutes, he had managed to push himself into a sitting position. His neck was still too tired to lift, so he stared at his feet. He felt the prison guard's presence over him, watching him. Compared to the other guards, he was surprisingly patient.
"Alright, that's enough time. We're letting you go out into the yard today."
Still, he could not speak. After a few wheezes and painful swallows of nothing but air, he managed to breath the words, "How long?"
"A month. Do you need some water?" Without waiting for an answer, the prison guard's footsteps told that he was leaving to get some anyway. He had left the gate to the small room wide open. It was completely useless to lock it for the minute or so that he would be gone; the prisoner was too weary to even get up off of his bed, much less escape.
He managed to lift his neck halfway up. Through his dry, foggy eyes, he looked around at the tiny room. It was a little square, completely empty except for the stone slab of a bed that he sat on and a broken, dusty mirror sitting on the floor. The room was built out of stone, and the ceiling was too small of the massive prisoner to stand up in. The steel gate that was the only exit was slightly ajar, allowing a little bit of light into the room. The prisoner still had to squint to see, as even the small crack of light was practically blinding him.
Through his dulled eyes, he managed to look into the mirror. It was propped up so he could just barely see his reflection. What he saw surprised him. He felt as though he would look all skin and bones, practically on his deathbed, but he had not changed a day since he had been put down a month earlier. And when he last saw his reflection four weeks earlier, he had not aged a day in five years. It was remarkable.
Staring back at him was a hulking, terrifying monster. Sharp teeth lined a wide mouth, and green and yellow scales covered his body. Claws marked each of his fingers and toes, and around his arms and neck were spiked collars. A giant spiked shell on his back was visible in the mirror, as well as park of his long tail. Under a mane of wild red hair were bright red eyes that were glazed over. After five years in hell, Bowser – the King of the Koopas, the terrifying enemy of all the Mushroom Kingdom – had been reduced to a mere, aching body.
The guard returned, holding a plastic cup of water in one hand and chains in another. He was a human, and was much smaller than the seven foot Koopa King. However, he walked up to the monster without concern and placed the cup securely in Bowser's clawed hand. The Koopa managed to lift it to his lips and pour it in. It scalded his throat like it were fire, but he knew it was the only thing that could quench this terrible thirst. He should thank the guard for being so sympathetic, but he felt no compassion. Nothing but anger, and rage, and a desire for revenge. His hatred for everyone else could only be matched by his hatred for himself and the five years he had spent in this hell, and the years to come that would only get worse.
"Everyone's outside already. Come on."
Bowser managed to stand, pushing himself up from the bed with the violent adrenaline accumulated from his rage. The guard backed away as Bowser almost fell back on his face, staggering across the guard until he hit the other wall and steadied himself. The guard stood back as Bowser walked past him, out of his cell. When he was in the doorway, his arms and legs were fitted with the chains, just loosely enough so he could walk. He had to be treated carefully because of his massive size and strength. Bowser remembered the chaos he had caused in his first few years; no wonder he was being watched so closely.
The prison was more like a tower. Small cells, only the size of his or smaller, lined the outside, while the center of the prison was completely empty, showing the very basement of the prison all the way up to the very roof, spiraling down gently. It was very small. Not many criminals were sent here. No, only prisoners who had done extremely severe things were sent to Storm Prison, the hellish gaol surrounded by frothing oceans for miles and miles.
It felt like it took an hour for Bowser to finally reach the main floor. The guard opened the doors and let him out into what they called "the yard". Only every once in awhile did they allow the prisoners to go into the yard; and they were awake very rarely. Bowser himself had only been out there four times. He looked around. It was like a perfect little garden surrounded by nothing but pain. The yard was the small expanse of grass around the tower. It wasn't caged; nothing prevented the prisoners from leaping off of the fringes of the yard into the waters. It didn't matter if they did. Nobody could last in the ocean for more than thirty seconds without drowning, freezing to death or being rammed back into the cliffs lining Storm Prison.
A few prisoners had been let out. A few were humans; many of them were of other species. Bowser recognized a few Koopas who he'd associated with in the past. They had the same empty looks in their eyes that he'd seen in his mirror, although none of them had aged a day. Bowser trudged across the yard until he recognized a small group of people. He headed towards them slowly. All of them looked up as he sat down clumsily and heavily.
"Good evening, Bowser," Ganondorf said, his voice cracked and deep.
Bowser looked over at his old colleague. Ganondorf, a dark wizard from a distant kingdom known as Hyrule, was once a foe to be reckoned with. He still looked like the threat he used to be, with his green, smoky skin and fiery red hair. He looked as dark and grand as always in his heavy black armour, tainted with evil magic, and the gold and jewelry that littered his clothes and was embedded in his skin glittered with malice. Until, of course, one looked into his eyes. Ganondorf had faded, just like him.
"Ganondorf," Bowser responded, his voice even deeper than Ganondorf's.
He swung his head gently to look at the others. They certainly looked mysterious, deadly, and, to be honest, quite peculiar, but beyond the borders of the Mushroom Kingdom Bowser expected creatures of such strangeness. Next to him was Wario, another associate of his. The disgusting, revolting man always look part comical, part nauseating to the Koopa King. His head was too large for his body, and his jaw was too wide. They were lined with flat white teeth that could grind bones to bits in a few seconds flat, and he had seen it. Under a helmet emblazed with a blue W, pointed ears stuck out. But by far his most distinguishing feature was his bright red nose and the crooked moustache that stretched out under it. If Wario were in better conditions, he would be picking his misshapen nose or burping loudly, but he was bent over in pain as well. It was almost chilling to see someone like Wario so silent and pained.
"These are Black Shadow, Ridley, Wolf and Shadow," Ganondorf said slowly, nodding weakly to the three strangers.
Bowser looked up. Black Shadow looked like an evil supervillain to the Koopa King, wearing a dark purple suit and cape, complete with a mask that covered his eyes and extended to two curving horns at the top. He looked strong and tall for a human, and even as he was bent over Bowser could see his toned muscles. Next to him was the most peculiar of the strangers, Ridley. The prisoner resembled a large, human-sized dinosaur, all bones and pale purple skin. Its head jutted out into a muzzle lined with tiny teeth. It even had a pointed tail and large wings, currently tucked behind him. Yet there was something distinctly human about it. Bowser had heard stories of Ridley, who was once a revered Space Pirate. Next to Ridley was Wolf, whom Bowser had also heard of. Wolf O'Donnell was, quite simply, a wolf. With deep gray fur, claws almost as sharp as Bowser's and tough biker clothes, he looked absolutely deadly. Bowser had no idea Wolf had been incarcerated, much less at Storm Prison. Wolf's eyes were on the ground, staring into nothing. Lastly there was Shadow, whom Bowser also hadn't heard of. Shadow was a hedgehog, covered in black fur with red stripes. He reminded Bowser of Sonic the Hedgehog, whom he'd met briefly years ago. The hedgehog wore sneakers and gloves, and his eyes were sharp and glowering. Bowser frowned. Shadow was the only one who didn't look glass-eyed and empty.
Bowser looked over them again, and almost smiled. "Shadow and Black Shadow?"
Shadow met his gaze and shrugged. The supervillain clad in black said nothing, as if he didn't hear him. Bowser scanned them all again. He understood how he, Ganondorf and Wario could have ended up at Storm Prison, but the other three? What could they have possibly done to be incarcerated at this hell?
"What're you in for?" Bowser grunted.
They all seemed to shake for a moment, and looked up at him.
"The government found out my team was hired to destroy the Star Fox Team," Wolf growled. Fury bubbled in his throat. He looked downright rabid with a stormy ocean and dark skies behind him. "They didn't understand that we were just paid to do a job. I shouldn't be the one here." Wolf managed to cross his arms, wincing in pain, and looked down. Ridley looked down at him in disdain.
To his immense surprise, Ridley then looked up and began to speak. "Instead of massacring me and my colleagues, bounty hunters finally managed to catch me and have placed me here. Unfortunately, I would have preferred death to the treatment we receive here. Then I could have been revived." A glint crossed Ridley's eyes as he unfolded his wings. Deep gashes had shredded the skin between his wings. "They have cut my wings; there's no chance of my escaping. I suppose I shall live out the rest of my life in this hell."
"I suppose after the fall of the Subspace Army the Galactic Federation finally had the nerve to confront me," Black Shadow said, his voice cracked and weak. "The bounty hunter Captain Falcon found me and placed me here. Which they will regret. I'll find a way out of here and take my revenge eventually."
"And just how do you intend on doing that?" Ridley hissed. "Look around you. Even an imbecile like you can recognize that there's no way any of us are escaping. We're too weak. And you are just a human."
"I certainly don't intend on accomplishing anything by sitting here, complaining about clipped wings," Black Shadow said, his voice cutting and cold.
"Be calm, my friends," Ganondorf said. Although his voice was chilling and deep, it was somewhat calming. "Your arguing will only waste your precious energy." He turned to the last of the strangers. "It's your turn, Shadow."
Shadow looked up at Bowser with those piercing black eyes, despite Ganondorf having asked the question. They were absolutely clear. Bowser felt a chill run down his spine, but refused to let it show.
"You first," Shadow countered.
Bowser achingly turned his head to look at Ganondorf. On his cold face, Bowser thought he saw Ganondorf smile. "We are being punished for the crimes we committed on behalf of the Subspace Army," he summarized.
Black Shadow, Ridley and Wolf looked up in surprise. Even Shadow's eyes flickered.
"You were in partnership with the Subspace Army?" Ridley hissed, fascinated.
Ganondorf nodded. "Indeed. Bowser, Wario and I were recruited by the Master Hand when preparations for the one hundred and thirty-sixth Brawl Tournament were being made. Then, during the first match between Mario and Kirby, I descended in a stolen airship while Wario attempted to secure the fighters." Ganondorf fixed Wario with a cold look that could shatter glass. "Perhaps," he continued, "if he had succeeded, the leaders of the revolution would have been incapable of rising against us."
Wario didn't respond, but he blinked, recognizing that he had heard something. Bowser shuffled, setting his muscles aflame once again. "What happened of R.O.B., Ganondorf?"
Ganondorf smiled wider, a cruel, emotionless smile. "See for yourself," he seethed, nodded backwards. Bowser managed to turn and look. Leading against the harsh stone wall of Storm Prison was another familiar face: R.O.B., the robot. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Bowser felt a pang of remorse.
The little robot looked crushed, as though the cruelty of the prison was physically crippling it, despite his long months in trophy form. The little robot was made of mostly white steel, with binocular-like eyes and long arms. Although it wasn't human at all, Bowser could practically feel its despair from across the yard.
"Why is it here?" Shadow asked. Bowser looked back and saw that Shadow was watching R.O.B. as well. The look in the hedgehog's eye was the same as what Bowser was feeling: sympathy. Despite Shadow's animal-like appearance, he felt as though perhaps he was the most human creature in the prison.
"R.O.B. was acting as another member of the Subspace Army," Ganondorf explained. "A subordinate to us, but a useful accomplice, nonetheless. He posed as the Ancient Minister and distributed the Subspace Bombs across Smash Land for us. However, he was easily converted by the revolution… as we were as well." A look of bitter regret passed Ganondorf's face as he lowered his head.
"If you joined the revolution, then why are you four imprisoned?" Black Shadow asked critically. "You assisted in the fall of Master Hand, did you not?"
Ganondorf fixed him with a scathing look. "The Master Hand was not the leader of the Subspace Army, you fool," he practically spat. "The Master Hand was a puppet controlled by an ancient, evil deity known only as Tabuu. We believe we would profit from the whole of Smash Land being dragged into Subspace… we believed this was the plan. But when we discovered that Tabuu was the true leader, and that he intended on dragging our whole known universe into his dimension, we agreed that he must be stopped. However, our initial actions against the revolution had to be punished, apparently."
"And now…" muttered Wario, attempting to speak despite his obvious pain, "we're stuck here… trapped in trophy form for months on end." He groaned and breathed deeply, as if speaking as torture itself. Even a month in trophy form couldn't dull Wario's revolting breath: a mixture of garlic and rotten bananas. "Why don't they… just… keep us in trophy form… forever?"
"Because if one spends too much time in trophy form, you disgusting dung pile, one cannot transform back into regular form," Ridley explained scathingly. "They must build up our stamina until we can last for months on end in trophy form. They could simply let us die, but what kind of punishment is death?"
"A merciful one," spat Wolf.
Black Shadow, Wario and Bowser grunted in agreement. Just then, a loud thunderclap pierced through the dark sky. Bowser's head had been bowed for so long that he didn't realize a storm coming in swiftly.
Guards walked out into the yard, looking upwards. "Alright, let's move it inside, folks. One at a time, okay?" A collective groan echoed around the yard. "Yeah, yeah, I know, your life is hard. Think about this if any of you ever get out of here. Move it."
Bowser attempted to stand, but fell immediately. It was too difficult to stand with chains on both his feet and arms. Ganondorf, Wario, Black Shadow, Ridley and Wolf all didn't care, and stood up on their own, walking past him slowly. Bowser muttered under his breath with complete rage, eventually roaring up at the sky.
"Need a hand?"
Bowser looked over, and saw both Shadow and R.O.B. standing above him on either side, their hands out. Bowser raised his two arms together, and the robot and the hedgehog somehow managed to get the Koopa King to his feet. Bowser groaned, and fixed his eyes on them, trying to feel some thankfulness. But he couldn't.
"Thank you," he muttered anyway. He continued walking towards the door, following the pack of peculiar criminals as they headed back towards the Storm Prison.
Then, suddenly, yet another thunderclap sounded. It sounded as though someone had fired a gun right next to Bowser's ear. He fell onto the ground in pain, a dull buzzing in his ears. He opened his eyes, and everything was blurry. But he could still see a giant chuck of dark stone from the top of Storm Prison falling past him, into the ocean. The thunderbolt had hit the tower with enough force to chip it apart.
Bowser squinted his eyes, trying to stop the ringing from happening. Eventually it faded, and he somehow managed to roll onto his stomach and push himself to his feet. Shadow was already up, and helping R.O.B. onto his wheels once again. Bowser looked around. Guards lay on the ground in pain, and some prisoners as well. Ganondorf was standing, staring up at the sky. Bowser followed his gaze, and his mouth fell agape when he saw what was above them.
It was as if the sea and the dark sky were one, towering above Storm Prison. This figure dwarfed it in comparison. Another thunderbolt illuminated the sky, most distant, outlining the figure. It was feminine, but the head seemed like it was writhing against the black sky. Then, suddenly, two eyes opened, and Bowser could see them as clearly as the sun: two black, cat-light eyes, staring down at Storm Prison.
The guards all began to yell, pointing up at the figure. What was this being? Bowser's first thought flew to Tabuu. Has the entity risen again? All he knew was that the Ruler of Subspace could change its appearance at will… it must have risen again. Then, as suddenly as its eyes had opened, a voice boomed, louder than the waves in the storm. It was as though it was right next to Bowser's ear, speaking directly to him.
"For five years," it said, its voice distinctly feminine and alluring, but venomous and full of fury, "you have been persecuted. You have been locked away in Storm Prison for crimes you did not commit."
Bowser was incapable of looking away from the eyes, but he could see in the corner of his peripherals both Shadow and R.O.B. gazing up at the figure as well. Before him, Ganondorf, Wario, Black Shadow, Wolf and Ridley were doing the same.
"Your reward for fighting valiantly for justice and harmony in our known universe was incarceration; solitude, trapped in trophy form for far too long. You have withered away to nothing but empty bodies of the brave soldiers you once were."
It was as if she were reading his mind and repeating what he had for so long wished to hear. She was speaking to his heart, understanding him like no one ever had before. She knew exactly what he felt.
"I understand the fury, the desire for revenge that you all share," she continued. "My name is Medusa. I am the Goddess of Darkness, and I am here to free you from your chains. I believe the time has come for us, the protectors of the night, to rise up once more and accept the admiration and the reverence we truly deserve. Come with me and you will all be heroes."
A shadow of doubt crossed Bowser's mind. A similar speech had been spoken to him not five years earlier from the Master Hand.
"Some of you doubt me. If you do not wish to join me, I will respect your decision. But let it be known that if ever you change your mind, you need only ask the darkness, and I will come."
"Hey!" a voice shouted. Bowser tore his eyes away from the shadowy figure's. A guard was running towards Ganondorf. "Get inside! What the hell do you think you're –"
Before he could finish, a giant hand extended from the sky and lifted the guard off his feet. His screams were muffled as the hand closed upon him, then cast the dead body into the sea. The hand had long black nails, its skin faintly grey. It was the hand of Medusa.
"I request the assistance of Lord Ganondorf, Wario, R.O.B., Shadow, Wolf O'Donnell, Ridley, Black Shadow and King Bowser," Medusa's velvet voice said. The hand lowered once more, resting against the island. The guards and other prisoners were too terrified to move, much less protest. The massive hand's palm was rested upwards, beckoning to them.
"I will join you, Medusa, Goddess of Darkness," Ganondorf said unwaveringly, walking towards Medusa's hand. It was as though the stiff condition he was in had disappeared as he approached her.
"As will I," Ridley declared. Bowser watched in awe as the dragon creature walked forwards, flapping its unharmed wings in excitement.
Black Shadow, Wolf and Wario followed them. "I'm ready for some action!" Wario exclaimed, practically bouncing around. "Mario's gonna get the punishment he deserves… I'M the hero here, not that tubby little plumber!" All five climbed onto her hand to face Bowser, Shadow and R.O.B.
Medusa waited for a moment. "I sense your hesitation."
Ganondorf fixed Bowser with a glare. "How dare you betray me, Bowser? I was lead to believe that all you wanted was the respect you deserved." Bowser felt ashamed for a moment – not for Ganondorf, but for himself. "Here is your chance."
"I'm not going."
Shadow said the words so confidently that Bowser had to look away from Medusa's gaze. Shadow's arms were crossed, and his eyes were closed.
"I see that I cannot change your mind, Shadow," Medusa deducted. "Very well. But R.O.B. Many of your family perished during the Subspace War. I think that as the last of the R.O.B.s it is your duty to maintain the legacy they fought so long for."
Bowser looked over at R.O.B. The robot shoot its head, no expression in its binocular eyes. Both Shadow and R.O.B. had refused – the two prisoners that Bowser could truly relate to. Perhaps they had seen something that he had not.
"And what about you, Bowser? Always misunderstood, always the enemy. You're an outcast, and you have never seen love. With me, I promise you shall receive the love and understand you truly deserve."
But Bowser could not agree. He saw through Medusa's seductive words. He had been used once as a tool for change; he would not be used again.
"No," he growled.
"How dare you?" Ganondorf shouted with fury.
"Very well," Medusa said passively. In that instant, the chains binding Bowser's arms and legs snapped. The pain in Bowser's muscles and throat were suddenly gone, and he could move as though he were always healed. "Remember my offer. We could greatly benefit from your contribution."
Another thunderbolt lit the sky, and Bowser looked up at Medusa's face. It was beautiful, but terrible. A winding tattoo was carved into her face around her cat eyes. But most terrible was her hair. It consisted entirely of long, black snakes, all hissing and writhing around her. She smiled, her dark lips curving up and disturbing her winding tattoo. The sky darkened again, and suddenly her hand was gone, along with Ganondorf and the other prisoners.
"What in the hell…?" Bowser growled, staring into the sky.
"Hey!" the guards had returned. "What on earth was that? What were you doing?!"
Bowser, Shadow and R.O.B. turned. The guards were approaching them, holding guns and other weapons.
"What?!" Bowser responded, confused.
"They're trying to escape!" another guard shouted. "Get 'em!"
The guards ran at the three prisoners, their weapons pointed at them. Instinctively, Bowser breathed in a big gulp of air and exhaled a powerful torrent of fire. The guards all screamed, backing away, swatting at their burning clothing. More guards approaching, a few shooting at them with their laser guns. One hit Bowser, following by another, and another. They burned into his skin, leaving dark black marks.
"They think we had something to do with that," Shadow muttered. "We have to get out of here, as soon as possible."
Shadow curled into a ball and in the blink of an eye, he had darted towards the guards and knocked the weapons out of their hands. R.O.B. looked terrified, his eyes glossy and shining. One guard managed to get past Shadow and tried to grab the robot.
"Hey!" Bowser growled. He grabbed the guard and threw him over the edge of the cliff. The guard's screaming was soon overcome by the loud, powerful waves.
Bowser, Shadow and R.O.B. continued to fight the guards. However, there were too many of them to fight their way out of, and they were already beginning to feel weak. It had been too long since they had fought. The guards cornered them against the edge of the cliff, their weapons up.
"Stand down!" one shouted.
Shadow exchanged a look with Bowser. The Koopa King wasn't sure if they were on the same page, but decided to trust his instincts. He nodded, and then nodded down at R.O.B. Before the guards could do anything, the three legendary criminals leapt off the edge of the cliff, towards the dark, churning ocean.
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