Chapter 3: Spelunking Angels
(At an unknown area on Popstar)
The two mysterious figures who attacked Meta Knight earlier placed a small device in front of them and both took a bowing position before a video screen appeared. A minute or two later, the wicked god, Tabuu, appeared on the video screen. Tabuu was sitting in a fancy armchair while holding a cocktail glass that looked like that was a drink in it.
Both mysterious figures- Greetings, Master Tabuu!
Tabuu- I take it you both have done what I asked.
Mysterious figure- We have, Master Tabuu.
Tabuu- Then let me see. I want to see how well it worked with my own eyes.
Other mysterious figure- You heard the master! Get your ass over here!
Then from the shadows came Meta Knight. The back of Meta Knight's head was bleeding a bit do to these two strange tentacles sticking out from behind his head. Meta Knight's eyes had turned red and part of his outfit and mask were scratched a bit. Meta Knight slowly moved closer towards the video screen Tabuu was using to communicate with them, but each step was with great hesitation.
Tabuu- The mind control seed seems to be taking its effects on you, but you are obviously resisting its control.
Meta Knight- I…will never…serve…you…**** off…you…evil god…
Tabuu- Flattery will get you nowhere. But I have no interest in controlling you, Meta Knight. You see, I have someone else in mind…no pun intended.
Meta Knight- What…?!
Tabuu- I had to come up with a new plan after I was defeated in Grand Metropolis. I was able to think of the perfect way to dispose of the Mario Brothers even with your student Kirby and the rest of their dumbass friends at their side. But even a god like me required help. So, I spent six months putting together a team of my own.
Then the two mysterious figures stepped into the light and showed their faces. One was Marx in his imp form. The other was a being who looked like he was made of fire named Pyrrhon, who was believed to have been destroyed by Pit during the Aurum invasion in Kid Icarus Uprising.
Meta Knight- Marx…I should've known…
Marx- Bet you weren't expecting me after hearing about my fight with Kirby and that gorilla on Earth! I was lucky my new powers got Master Tabuu 's attention during that fight, or he might not have saved my soul at the last minute.
Pyrrhon- And soon, Kirby and the rest of the Super Mario Brothers' Team, including that winged bastard, Pit, will know our revenge!
Tabuu- And there's more where they came from, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I'll get straight to the point. One of my followers, Lysandre, who triadically met his end at the Kalos League, was able to test my mind control seed before he was defeated. It controlled Ash's mind, but not for a long time. I plan to control the mind of someone close to the Mario Brothers and let their good friend cross Mario and Luigi off my hit list. But I obviously can't risk anything going wrong this time. No matter what is being used to control someone's mind, those with a strong-willed mind are harder to control. After Lysandre was able to test my first batch, I told Marx and Pyrrhon to test my improved batch on someone who has an even stronger will than who I really want to control.
Meta Knight- And who…are you…planning…to control…
Tabuu twirled the cocktail glass in his fingers for a bit as he sighed at Meta Knight.
Tabuu- I'm insane, but I'm not that insane, dumbass! Anyway, I know you are struggling to keep that seed from taking over your mind and losing at the same time. The mind control seed certainly has a longer lifespan if it's still in your head after two days, but we'll see how well it really functions once your mind finally gives in. Take him away for now.
Marx and Meta Knight left while Pyrrhon still looked at the video screen.
Tabuu- I want you all to lay low until Meta Knight is completely under our control. I really do prefer to keep those that know about my latest plot to a minimum as much as possible.
Pyrrhon- Yes, Master Tabuu!
Tabuu- One more thing, Kirby had noticed Meta Knight's disappearance and has brought Pit to help him track Meta Knight down.
Pyrrhon- Pit! That name really burns me up! Shale Marx and I dispose of them?
Tabuu- Of course not! That is reserved only as the last resort. You obviously have a lot of hot air in your head since I've gone over this with you at least twelve times. Acting now could expose not only you, but my plans as well. For now, we need a distraction. And I think I know just the fool for the job. He's be able to make your trail…go cold! Hehehe.
Tabuu snapped his fingers and a blueprint appeared in Pyrrhon's hand.
Tabuu- There is a castle over by Cappy Town. Make sure this overweight king finds that.
(In the cave where Meta Knight was last seen)
Kirby, Pit, and Dark Pit were exploring the cave while searching for clues about Meta Knight. Pit and Dark Pit were a little uncomfortable being underground. Meanwhile, Kirby was leading them through the cave while wearing a miner's helmet.
Pit- You certainly know your way around this cave, Kirby.
Kirby- Believe it or not, I was spelunking through this very same cave during my "Great Cave Offensive" adventure. I got lost when I first came here to hunt for treasure, but I kept a mental map just in case I had to come back here.
Dark Pit- I can't believe you actually live on a planet like this! Everything about this place, even outside the cave, looks like something out of a cartoon for five-year-old kids!
Kirby- Well, no one on Popstar is complaining. I'll admit, it's not completely luxurious, but it's home to us.
Viridi (telepathically to Dark Pit)- Mind your manners, Pittoo. That is not how an officer of the Forces of Nature should behave.
Kirby- You work for the Forces of Nature? I would've figured a clone of Pit would be working for Palutena.
Pit- I have been meaning to ask you, Pittoo, why did you side over with Viridi?
Dark Pit folded his arms and grunted.
Dark Pit- None of your beeswax!
Viridi (telepathically to Kirby and Pit)- I'll tell you. After Dark Pit lost Pandora's powers when he revived Pit in the Rewind Springs, he was no longer able to access the power of flight on his own. I agreed to grant him the power of flight whenever he wished in exchange for joining my troops. And I would like to offer a spot in the Forces of Nature as well, Kirby.
Kirby- Uh…how about we talk after we find Meta Knight.
Pit- Believe me, Kirby. After meeting Ash's friend, Dawn…I can relate.
Suddenly, Pit tripped over something and fell to the ground. Kirby rushed over to Pit and held his hand out to help Pit up.
Kirby- You ok?
Pit- I'm fine. What did I trip on?
Then Kirby, Pit, and Dark Pit saw what looked like a sword on the ground.
Kirby- Hold on! That sword looks familiar!
Kirby picked it up and saw it was Galaxia.
Kirby- This is Meta Knight's sword, Galaxia! No way in hell would he leave this behind unless something happened to him!
Pit and Dark Pit looked around and saw parts of the area was sliced up.
Pit- It definitely looks like a fight took place here.
Palutena (telepathically to Pit)- But the real question is who else was fighting and who won?
Pit- This is strange. I'm picking up the feeling of intensive heat. Last time I felt that was against Pyrrhon.
Palutena (telepathically to Pit)- I am picking up an energy signature similar to Pyrrhon's, but I'm also picking up something…darker…
Viridi (telepathically to Kirby, Pit, and Dark Pit)- Hold on! I'm picking up the same thing.
Palutena (telepathically to Kirby, Pit, and Dark Pit)- We're going to try and make this energy signal more visible. It might be the clue we need to find Meta Knight.
Suddenly, a bunch of multicolored lights of energy appeared out of nowhere and began to form an image on the wall of the cave. The image showed what looked like a mark of rainbow colored wings.
Kirby- That's…Tabuu's mark…
Pit- Oh mother****ing no! Kirby, I'm really sorry, but I'm already fearing the worst for Meta Knight!
Kirby- Pit, how can you say that to me?!
Pit- You know just as well as I do that Tabuu almost always equals Armageddon. And Meta Knight has been gone for almost three days now.
Kirby- We can't just give up on him! We have to at least try and rescue him!
Pit- But Kirby, do you really think Meta…
Kirby- What if it was Palutena?!
Pit- …ok…you have a good point there, Kirby.
Dark Pit- HAHAHA! You just got owned by that little squirt!
Kirby- I'm not a squirt, Dark Pit! I might be small, but I'm much stronger than I appear to be.
Pit- Besides, if anyone should be mocked, it should be Ty and Shantae for that silly bet they made on Pi'illo Island a few weeks ago.
(At the cave's entrance outside)
Kirby, Pit, and Dark Pit returned above ground, but something was off since they were down in that cave.
Pit- Kirby, is it just me or did become winter all of a sudden?
There were snow clouds covering the sky and the area was now covered in ice and snow.
Kirby- This isn't right! It never snows naturally in Popstar, ever. Only times it really ever snowed is when that fat ass, King DeDeDe, orders an ice monster from Nightmare Enterprises.
Then Kirby saw his friends, Tiff and Tuff, running up to them.
Tiff- Kirby! Thank goodness we found you!
Kirby- Does this have something to do with the sudden temperature drop?
Tuff- Yeah! DeDeDe somehow created these weird weather making machines and he's using them to completely block out the sun! He said he's only unblock the sun if all of Popstar surrenders to his rule.
Tiff- Kirby, I know you and your angel friend are looking for Meta Knight, but this requires more immediate attention.
Kirby- Unfortunately, she's right. Pit, let's deal with DeDeDe quickly so we can get back to looking for Meta Knight.
Pit- Don't worry, Kirby. Pittoo and I are ready for action!
Dark Pit- Don't call me that!