Author's note: Characters in this fic can use final smashes only when in a heightened emotional state (anger, sadness, fear, etc.). While there are a few exceptions, this applies to most characters.
Disclaimer: Most characters are owned by Nintendo. Sonic and Snake are owned by Sega and Konami, respectively. The main antagonist is a character of my own creation.
Dark Dawn Chapter 1: First Contact
He knew someone was watching him, he could sense it. He whipped around suddenly and pointed his three fingered hand at a point in space. The outstretched limb erupted in dark purple fire.
"Reveal yourself," the creature demanded without opening its mouth.
"You first," came the slightly amused reply.
He considered it for a moment, and then stepped into the light filtering down through the haze and tree cover. He was a strange creature; almost catlike but bipedal, standing on two three toed feet. A tail sprouted from around his body, slashing at the air almost defensively .His eyes were deep and menacing, yet intelligent, glowing purple in the half-light.
"My turn, then?" came the voice again. Its owner stepped forward, the darkness around him parting like a sheet. Even in the light, he was an enigma. A thick black cloak hid any facial features, but was obviously made for a humanoid.
"Reveal yourself," the creature repeated; mouth still non-existent.
"Please. That's hardly necessary, Mewtwo," the figure responded.
"You know me? Who are you!?" the creature, Mewtwo, nearly screamed. The violet flame in his hand flared up and leapt at his opponent, who simply raised a five fingered hand in defense. The flame never reached its destination. It seemed to freeze, and then shattered on something that flashed black before disappearing again.
"Disappointing, really, I expected more from the legendary psychic pokemon" the figure said.
"I'm not trying to kill you," Mewtwo replied, switching tactics quickly. He attempted to read the man's mind, but found that unlike most mental defenses, which were solid walls of will, this one was fluid. Every time he found something, it seemed to drain away, leaving him with nothing substantial. He managed to find the man's favorite color (black), but not much else.
"It won't work, so stop trying. Besides, I want to propose a deal," the man explained. Suddenly, the fluid defense solidified into a sword like shape and stabbed into Mewtwo's consciousness. It caught him off guard and dove into his mind, but got no further. Mewtwo summoned his own defense, an army of various creatures, each one a different size and shape, and at the front stood a small yellow mouse with red cheeks; lightning arcing off of its body into the ground. The mouse gave the order to attack.
"Stay out of my mind." The retaliation was so powerful that the man was physically thrown back several meters, landing gracefully on his feet. He laughed, and then said, "Well done. Truce?"
"For now."
"Good. Now, about that deal?"
"I'm listening."
The man laughed again, and then his tone turned serious, "You remember the Smash Tournaments?"
"What about them?" Mewtwo asked.
"You were invited to the second one, Melee, I believe." He paused, then continued after a nod from Mewtwo. "Anyway, you were kicked out. So-
Mewtwo cut him off, "I left of my own accord. I have responsibilities here."
"Here?" the man asked. "This island of cloned pokemon?"
"Do not refer to them as clones. They are my life, my family," Mewtwo said bitterly.
The man grunted before continuing, "So, do you want revenge?"
"Against whom?"
"The Smashers, of course. For forcing you to abandon your family," the man said quietly.
"What do you take me for?" asked Mewtwo, "Some kind of villain?"
"I know of your attempt to rule the world," the man said, slight anger in his voice.
"That was before I had friends," Mewtwo said. "Before my family."
At that moment, Mewtwo caught a flash of yellow from the corner of his eye, "ah, Pichu. What brings you here?"
The tiny mouse didn't respond, instead, it growled angrily at the cloaked man; electricity lancing from its red cheeks. Mewtwo glanced back to the man when Pichu suddenly dashed forward. Pichu jumped onto the man's cloak and began to shock him, moving to a new spot on his body whenever the man reached for him. The man grunted in pain briefly, and then jumped into the air and spun his body; sending Pichu hurtling to the ground.
Mewtwo extended his consciousness toward the yellow mouse, catching him with his mind, before setting him down gently on the ground. The cloaked man landed a moment later.
"It seems Pichu dislikes you. I trust his instincts over my own, and far more than I trust you," Mewtwo said. "What is your true purpose for coming to my island?"
The cloaked man rose to his feet. "I'd assumed you were tainted by evil. I see I was wrong," he muttered. "I guess the attack on Smashworld will have to wait for a worthy general."
"What!?" Mewtwo took an involuntarystep back.
"My name is Dusk. My army stands on the border of shadow and light. Join me or perish!" the man screamed. Seconds later, every light went out; not artificial lights, there were none on the island, but the stars and the moon itself went black. The only remaining light came from Pichu, in short bursts of static.
The light mouse dashed forward once more, glowing brighter as it closed in.
"Pichu! Stop!" Mewtwo screamed, but Pichu continued until he reached Dusk and jumped once more. What Pichu attacked was completely different. When the light finally reached the man, he had discarded his cloak, and what stood before them was a monster. It had no eyes, just a spot of flesh where they should have been. Where hands had been before, wicked claws took their place. It was completely black, except for the rows of silvery teeth glinting in the small light.
Pichu stopped running instantly, paralyzed with pure terror. Sharp claws reached toward Pichu, who still didn't move. Mewtwo tried to run forward and soon found out why Pichu stopped. The very darkness was holding both of them down; there was no escape.
Mewtwo could only watch in horror as the monstrous beast lifted Pichu by its ears and tossed it into a nearby tree. He reached out with his consciousness to catch the little mouse again, but he felt the stabbing pain of the sword of will, much stronger this time; and nearly fell unconscious. Pichu smashed into the tree with a sickening crunch and the light abruptly faded.
"Oops," Dusk said; his voice a horrible parody of its former sound. "Well, you can always clone another one. Or was that the original?" He laughed. The sound was almost a scream of pain.
"No. Pichu…" Mewtwo whispered to himself.
"Now then, if that's over with, I still have to recruit you," Dusk explained, turning his eyeless gaze to Mewtwo.
"I'll never work for you," Mewtwo said without conviction. Then, more quietly, he said, "I couldn't save him."
"Not willingly of course," he continued as if he had not heard.
Mewtwo expanded his consciousness, now looking only for the demonic being who murdered his family. Once he found it, he could see perfectly, despite the darkness. "But I will avenge him"
The army of pokemon again appeared in Mewtwo's mind, ready to fight. The small yellow mouse was no longer in front.
Dusk spoke again. "I will make you my general. You will be tainted by the darkness, by my blood. You will beg for the job. You will want it."
Mewtwo felt the darkness holding him constrict, the blade dug deeper into his mind, and his army was overwhelmed.
"I…want…" Mewtwo began in his own voice. "I want…"
Dusk smiled and said, "say it."
Mewtwo began again. "I want…my family."
The demon was startled and took a step back. Mewtwo's army appeared again, and standing there on the front line… was Pichu. Right next to the little mouse he saw himself, glowing with a fierce aura of rage; holding the Dusk's sword in his hand.
Light literally exploded from Mewtwo, shattering the darkness around them. The stars returned, along with the moon, and Mewtwo dashed forward, slamming his flaming fist into the chest of the demon. He lifted his opponent from the ground with his hand still in its heart and spoke, his voice ringing in the demon's ears. "You come to me to ask for a deal, my service in exchange for revenge." Mewtwo glanced at Pichu; purple flame exploded inside the demon. "Then you attack me. You killed my friend; and you still offer the job!?" Mewtwo tossed it away, disgusted. "I was sworn to protect these 'clones'. I was their leader, and I failed to stop you from killing Pichu, even if he wasn't one of us. Now you want to wage war against the Smashers, the only ones who offered to take me in even after I was labeled a villain. I cannot allow that. You will never take another life, artificial or otherwise. I will-" Mewtwo cut off when the claws sliced through his back.
Mewtwo fell to the ground, his back bleeding profusely. His glowing aura disappeared. He jumped away just as the second set of claws raked the ground were he'd been and smashed his tail in his opponent's face.
"The attack has already begun," Dusk said. "This is your last chance"
Mewtwo ignored him, then teleported behind the demon, grabbed its neck, and burst into purple flame; pounding his fist into what should have been its eyes. Dusk howled in pain and reached backward, grabbing Mewtwo in his claws and raking his back even more. It tossed him. Mewtwo flipped in midair, faced the demon and opened fire with shadowy balls of flame. He slammed into a tree and was temporarily blinded by pain. Mewtwo stood still for a moment, and when the demon didn't attack, he opened his eyes.
It seemed to be gone, but Mewtwo searched anyway. He teleported the moment it burst from the trees, aiming behind it. Once he was in position, he slammed his fist into its back, smashing through its hide again. The demon lurched forward, ripping itself away from Mewtwo and spun around to face him. He felt the claw impale him through the stomach; and made up his mind. He grabbed the demon's arm and held on, before speaking. "It's time to end this"
Mewtwo thought of Pichu in his final moments. He thought of all the clones on his island, what they would do without him. A single tear slid down his cheek as he prepared his final smash. "For the good of the world," he cried, smiling, "I'll take you with me!"
"Destiny Bond!"
The world went dark.