Chapter 4: Determination

Mario was sitting down on a chair in the boardroom of the Great Fox. In his hand was a note that Fox had said was sent to them a few days earlier. "Gather the 12 and meet at the Mushroom Kingdom." Most of the members of the 12 were sitting down in the room. The only ones who were not there was" Jigglypuff, Luigi, and Link. While among them were several new faces. Princess Zelda, Princess Peach, Bowser, Nana and Popo.

"Princess please tell us how you escaped from the castle and my imposter!" Bowser demanded.

"When the imposter came I immediately knew it wasn't you since he didn't enter in the same way with the annoying fanfare."

Bowser began to sulk in the corner. Everyone was equally surprised when they saw Princess Peach running down the streets of the Mushroom Kingdom in a panic. What was equally surprising was how one second Link was there the next he disappeared.

"I'm sorry we got you mixed up in this," Mario humbly said to the Ice Climbers.

"Its alright," Popo responded. "The mountain was getting really boring."

"Popo don't say such things about our home!" Nana scolded her brother.

"So fourteen people," Fox sighed looking around the room counting heads. Mario was sitting right in front of him; beside Mario was Pikachu, followed by Bowser, Peach, Yoshi, DK, and Captain Falcon. Beside Fox were Ness, Nana and Popo the Ice Climbers, Kirby, Samus, and Princess Zelda. "Three of the original 12 are missing. Well our force is better than nothing, though I'm going to have to inform what we will encounter to the new ones among us." His eyes shifted to Bowser, the Ice Climbers and the two princesses. "Mario perhaps you should tell us what we are up against."

Mario stood up and looked around the room. "We are up against Master Hand, his brother Crazy Hand, and Bowser's imposter who has revealed himself as Giga Bowser." Mario then looked down at some notes he had made before the meeting. "They had waited nearly 3 years in order to gain more power. They also hold now the three dragons and it is unknown beyond that. I think Bowser's imposter is the leader of them and he mentioned something about a Giga form."

Everyone was silent until Fox spoke up. "While in space jumping from planet to planet I stumbled upon the Smash Planet. This was about one year ago. Returning to it recently I discovered that it supported life, and is no longer the wasteland that we once knew it to be." A hologram of the Smash Planet floated above the table. There they saw the planet's distinguishing ravine that separated the planet into four unequal parts. "The Government also knows about the planet and they suspect that it might hold one of the secrets to the weapon of immeasurable power; The Revolution."

"The Revolution?" Zelda responded shocked. "But that is only a myth!"

"So was the N-Sword." Fox replied. He glanced at Bowser noticing his eyes light up in greed. "But we all know that exists. I think we should go to the Smash Planet. Perhaps then our questions will be answered." Everyone nodded in agreement. "Now then Princess Peach, Princess Zelda, Nana, and Popo please come with me. I will have to brief you with the dangers involved."

"Hey what about me?" Bowser shouted.

"I think I all ready know your answer no matter what I say." Fox replied. "You would want to find your imposter no matter what and kill him. For that you will be ready to brave the dangers involved." Bowser stared at Fox rather shocked. "You are a one dimensional character and extremely easy to read. Mario please restrains him." With that Mario jumped in front of the raging Bowser easily holding him back due to the Pact of the Stars.

Fox then walked into the hallway Peach, Zelda, Nana, and Popo followed.

Fox first looked at Princess Peach. "Princess," He sighed. "Please be serious with me, tell me why you want to go into danger and fight these monsters."

"I can no longer sit and watch Mario protect the people of my kingdom while they suffer. I myself must help my kingdom." She replied. Fox was about to speak up but Peach as though she was reading his mind said, "even if it means fighting Master Hand."

"And you Princess Zelda?"

"I want to find him, he who was taken away from me. And I too also want to protect my people."

Fox's eyes focused on Nana and Popo. "This won't be an adventure, your life will be at risk, if you want to back out now I won't hold it against you. You know the dangers that lie ahead and we won't have any time for people who are just here because their mountain is becoming a little boring."

"Why weren't you this harsh on them?" Popo asked pointing at the princesses.

Fox ignored the question. "Are you in 100?"

Popo was at a loss of words. "We're in," Nana surprisingly said. "We'll fight with you and carry our own weight. Even if we don't want to be involved we all ready are."

Fox then looked at Popo

"Yes," Popo responded. "I'm in."

Fox smiled and pushed something on his vest. "ROB, prepare to take off!"

Meanwhile The Melee Master and Link are standing alone watching The Great Fox go into space. "Do you think its wise to leave them?" The Melee Master asked.

Link looked up at the sky. "I don't think we have left them yet. After all our destination may be the same. But our goals are different. We are bound to meet up there..."

"For simplicities sake I hope we don't," The Melee Master replied. "There will be far too much explaining."

Link nodded as a response. "We will worry about that if it happens..."

To be continued...