Chapter 10: Double Trouble

Location: Dream's Deep

"What," Alex said.

"The," Fox added.

"Heck," Sonic finished.

"I have to level with you guys on this one," Mario chimed in. "I have no idea what's going on."

When the group arived in Dream's Deep, they realized that Dreamy Luigi wasn't with them anymore, only to find a bunch of Luigi outlines and creepy Luigi faces in the background. Speaking of the background, the enitre thing was purple and had some really weird things floating around that can't be described.

"I'm definetly on LSD," Alex muttered.

"Let's just...keep going," Sonic said.

"To avoid any more weirdness, the group decided to keep on walking. As they walked, Fox noticed that Alex was looking a little glum.

"Everything alright?" Fox asked.

Alex gave a nod. "Couldn't be better."

(Okay, something's definetly bothering him.) "Just tell me what's wrong."

"What makes you think something's wrong with me?"

"The way your acting."

"Seriously, I'm fine."

"Is it about your cybernetic arm?"

"Fox, I really dont want to talk about my arm."

"Could you just tell me why you have on-"

"I said I DON'T want to talk about it."

(He's not going to say anything.) "Fine. Talk to you later." The vulpine walked over to Sonic.

"Not saying anything?" Sonic asked.

"Nope."

"Don't sweat it. Just ask him again when he feels better."

"I can't believe you actually came up with a good idea just now."

"Hey!"

"No offense."

"Big bro..." a voice said.

Everyone in the group came to a halt. "Did you hear that?" Dreambert asked.

Everyone slowly nodded.

"Big bro..." the voice repeated.

"There it is again!" Sonic said.

"We're here for you..." the voice said. Then out from above them, Dreamy Luigi came floating down.

"Did he just," Alex began. Everyone else was completly speechless.

"What?" Dreamy Luigi asked, completly oblivious as to why everyone was acting a bit weird.

"Nothing," Mario replied. "Nothing at all." The group countinued walking ahead, oblivious to the danger ahead.

Location: Pi'illo Island, Mushrise Park, Maintenance Hut

In the real world, Lucario and Dark Pit had their hands full dealing with a brainwashed Shulk. Everyone else except Starlow and the sleeping Luigi had left the area for safety reasons.

"Stay back!" Lucario warned as he dodged several swings from the Monado.

"How the hell do we win this?" Dark Pit asked while firing his Silver Bow.

"Just hit him with something already!" Starlow yelled. "You're not even trying to hit him!"

The statement was true. Lucario and Dark Pit were making their attacks to barely scratch Shulk.

"Brainwashed or not, Shulk is still one of us, and normally good hearted," Lucario said. "We don't want to hurt him."

"There's got to be a way to take him down!" Dark Pit added.

Shulk began using Monafo Arts, starting with Buster.

"Avoid him at all costs!" Lucario warned Dark Pit.

Unfortunetly, the warning was too late. The blows dealt by the Monado were more powerful then before, and left small marks on the two of them.

The next ability he used was Speed. The Homs boy became to difficult to hit. By doing so, he was able to hit them from behind.

"Starlow!" Lucario called out. "I need you to see if there's anything making him like this!"

"Uh, okay!" Starlow replied. She then floated closely towards Shulk and from a safe distance, could see something out of place. "I think there's something on the back of his neck."

"Neck?" the two Smashers said at the same time. When they dodged his next attack, they saw that there was something on the back of his neck.

"That must be what's brainwashing him!" Dark Pit yelled as he tried to shoot the thing. Unfortunetly, Shulk knew exactly what they were doing. He quickly dodged and dealt several slashes to the angel.

(I'll maintain telepathy for safer communication.) Lucario thought the Dark Pit. (I need to you to distract him. Leave the object on his neck to me.)

(Got it.) Dark Pit thought back. "Hey you!" Shulk turned towards the angel. "You want some? Come and get it." The two charged at each other.

The clash was glorious. Each combatant tried to hit the other, but the attack was always blocked.

"That the best you got?" Dark Pit taunted. The brainwashed Smashers took this as a challenge and began to attack more frequently. Eventually, the two combatants started fighting in different areas of the park.

"That fight is really intense," Starlow commented.

"That is why it must be stopped before someone is harmed," Lucario said. He then turned to Starloe. "Do you happen to have any abilities?"

"Why yes I do!" Starlow happily answered. "Being a Star Sprite had advantages!"

"Do one of those abilities include being able to keep someone in place?"

Location: Entrance to Mushrise Park

"Pathetic," Dark Pit taunted as he blocked another blow from the Monado. "Is that the best you can do?"

The Smasher answered the request by kicking Dark Pit in the chest, putting the angel right in front of a large gap.

(Lucario!) Dark Pit shouted in his head. (I need that help right about now!)

(Understood.) Lucario thought back. (Hold on for just one more minute.)

(Well hurry the hell up!) As Shulk walked closer to the dark angel, Dark Pit had an idea. "Do it. I dare you."

The punch came right into his gut. Through the pain, Dark Pit had to concentrate on order to use the power of flight to reach the other end of the bridge and avoid falling to his possible death.

Dark Pit can now use his Recovery Smash: Power of Flight!

Dark Pit is now level 3!

Dark Pit crossed his arms. "Beat that."

Shulk let out a small grunt. He proceeded to back up to prepare for the impossible jump when...

"NOW!"

Suddenly, the brainwashed Smasher found himself unable to move. If he could turn his head, he would see that Starlow was responsible for this. Alongside her was Lucario.

"Just do what you need to!" Starlow said. "I can't hold in down for very long!"

Lucario nodded. He walked up to Shulk, grabbed the thing in his neck, and pulled it out. After said action was preformed, Shulk fell onto the ground unconscious.

Dark Pit used the Power of Flight once again to cross the gap. "What the hell is that thing anyway?"

Lucario examined the object for a bit before throwing it into the gorge below. "I don't know."

Suddenly, Shulk's body started to stir. "Owwwwww..."

"Looks like he's finally waking up," Dark Pit noted.

"My...my head," Shulk said as he put his hand on his forehead. He then looked around to see his location. "Where am I?"

"On a place called Pi'illo Island," Lucario replied.

The heir to the Monado turned his head to see both Lucario and Dark Pit standing in front of him. "How did you two get here as well? And what was I doing?"

Lucario and Dark Pit looked at each other, realizing that this was definetly the real Shulk. "Come with us," Dark Pit said. "We'll tell you our side of the story."

Location: Dream's Deep

"STOP MOVING AROUND AND LET ME BURN YOU!" Bowser yelled.

"No way, slowpoke!" Sonic taunted.

When the group had saved Peach, they had to deal with Bowser using the dream world power of Antasma. Luckily, Mario was using Dreamy Luigi's power. Unfortunetly, the Smashers had to rely on their natural abilities.

"Take that!" Bowser yelled as punched Fox in the gut. The vulpine didn't feel so good after that punch.

"Don't worry Fox!" Alex yelled. He then used Heal on the vulpine, causing Fox's body to glow for a brief moment. After the glow dissapeered, Fox felt more rejuvenated.

"Thank," Fox replied.

"Take that!" Mario exclaimed as he jumped on Bowser. The Koopa King was then hit by a bunch of Luiginoids on the head as well.

Sonic ran over to the Alex and Fox to regroup. "Man, this guy isn't so easy to beat now!"

"That's kind of because he's using powers granted to him by someone else," Fox said with a bored expression.

"And the only person that really does damage on him is Mario," Alex added. The Smashers then came to a realization. "Wait a second. Hey Mario!"

"Yeah?" Mario asked.

"We need you to distract Bowser and draw his attention!" Fox said.

"I understand!" Mario then headed towards Bowser.

"Finnaly, just an epic duel between me and you with those idiots in the way!" Bowser said. The two then begun fighting with fierceness.

"Well, he got him distracted," Sonic pointed out. "Now what?"

"Easy," Fox replied. "We sneak around from behind and attack him there for a final blow."

"I like it," Alex agreed, "but why can't I just use ranged attacks?"

"Because you'll end up cowering behind something in the end."

Alex let out a sigh. "Fine."

The group of Smashers then proceeded to carefully go behind Bowser. Luckily he was distracted by Mario.

"Hey, where did Sonic go?" Alex asked. The Blue Blur wasn't with the Smashers.

"Hey turtle breath!" Sonic called out.

(Oh no.) Fox thought.

Bowser stopped fighting Mario to look Sonic. "Hey! Get away from her! I need to kidnap her!"

Sonic had for some reason disagreed with the plan Fox had and decided to pick up an unconsious Peach.

"What are you doing?" Dreambert asked with worry.

"Don't worry about me," Sonic replied. He then have the Pi'illo prince a wink and then faced Bowser once more. "I'm sorry, does this belong to you?" he asked in a much more cocky and sarcastic tone.

"Let go of my future wife you rodent!" Bowser yelled angrily as he charged towards Sonic.

"Catch me if you can!" Sonic then ran off at a speed slightly faster than Bows-

"Am I seeing this correctly?" Fox asked. "Is Sonic actually not running at his fastest?"

As insane as it may be, Sonic wasn't running at his best. He was running fast enough to not get trampled to death by Bowser, but not any faster than that.

"Is he supposed to be doing that right now?" Mario asked.

Fox was going to immediately answer no until he looked a bit longer. Sonic wasn't trying to get away; he wanted Bowser to chase him. "Yes."

"Huh?" Alex asked.

"Think about it," Fox pointed out. "Sonic's providing a distraction that gives us a window to attack."

"Oh."

"I know how to take him down!" In the blink of an eye, Dreamy Luigi popped up above Mario and then turned into a giant ball of Luiginoids. "Hop on!"

"Uh," Fox began. "This has got to be the most insane idea ever, but count me in."

"Nothing else has made sense today, so why the hell not," Alex added as he hopped onto the ball.

Back with Sonic, the hedgehog saw what the others were doing and let out a grin.

"What's the matter?" Bowser taunted. "Can't run as fast as you normally do?"

"Of course I can!" Sonic then ran at top speed and put the princess in a safe spot and then used the Flame Ring on Bowser's right leg. (Bowser: OWWWW! MY LEG!) "I'm just buying my friends some time!"

"Huh?" Bowser turned around too late, only to be squished by a giant Luiginoid ball. After he was ran over, the three hopped off, the ball dissapeered, and Dreamy Luigi appeared at their side.

"Cheaters!" Bowser complained.

(How is he still standing after THAT?) Alex wondered.

"That's it! If you're not fighting fair, then neither will I!" Bowser prepared to use his fire breath on them when...

"BACKSLASH!"

"OWWWW!" Bowser suddenly felt a lot of pain in his back.

"Next time, try shutting up," Dark Pit commented.

Sure enough, there was Lucario and Dark Pit standing behind Bowser. However, Shulk had somehow gotten into their group.

"How did Shulk get here?" Fox asked.

"I'm just as confused as you are," Shulk replied. "I'm just glad to see you guys alive." He then turned to Alex. "I don't think we've met before."

"I'm Alex. It's nice to meet you!"

"We can have introductions later," Lucario said. "Right now we have something else to deal with."

Bowser let out a grunt. "Oh heck no you didn't free this guy from his brainwashing! No more mister nice guy!" (Even though I never was mister nice guy in the first place!) The Koopa King then let out a powerful flame breath, roasting the group into their oblivion...

Location: Mushrise Park, Maintainance Hut

"Are you done yet?" Alex asked.

"Just a little while longer," Shulk replied while twisting the wrench in his hand. "Your arm took quite a bit of damage from that fire."

The group had somehow managed to survive that last attack. Sadly, to their dismay, Bowser had fled back into the real world. The most shocking thing of all was that Peach wasn't kidnapped. When they got back to the real world, Alex realized that his cybernetic arm had been damaged and couldn't function properly, so Shulk had to make repairs in front of the others (which Alex found embarrassing due to the fact that he hated others knowing about his cybernetic arm).

"There we go." Shulk stepped back and closed the panel. "Try it now."

Alex moved his arm in several different ways without error. "I think it's fixed."

"I-I'm sorry about all of this," Luigi said as he looked down in depression. "I-if I hadn't fallen asleep at Pi'illo Castle earlier today, none of this whole have ever happened."

"It's not your fault," Mario said. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

"I'm just glad you guys are okay," Peach said.

"No sweat!" Sonic bragged. "It wasn't dangerous at all! Besides, you guys can finally join your vacation.

"No exactly," Dreambert chimed in. "Our top priority is to get to the Dream Stone before Bowser and Antasma."

"I guess we should get going," Mario said.

"Bye bye!" Luigi said.

"See you!" Starlow added!

"Best of luck in your travels," Dreambert said. The group of four then walked off to their next location.

Mario, Luigi, Starlow, and Dreambert left your team.

"I should probably head back to the castle before Toadsworth worries about me any more," Peach said. As she walked back towards Pi'illo Castle, she faced the Smashers quickly and said, "Good luck!"

"I guess we should head back to the mansion," Fox said.

"I agree," Shulk said. "And since you told me about what's going on, we look like we could use all the help we can get."

Alex realized how Shulk had said 'we' instead of 'you.' "Are you joining us?"

"I don't really have any other options now, right?"

NEWCOMER!

Shulk joined your team!

Fox activated the device on his wrist to open up a portal. The group of six walked through, with the portal closing behind them.

MISSION COMPLETE!

You got 5000 Smash Coins!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Do you wish to save your game?

Yes

Saving...

Location: Smash Mansion

Party Members: Alex (lvl 3), Fox (lvl 2), Lucario (lvl 2), Shulk (lvl 5), Dark Pit (lvl 3), Sonic (lvl 4)

NOTICE: Are you a fan of this story? Do you want to see a somewhat AU story of this story? Then you're in luck! I have posted a new story titled The Genesis Strike, which will gain a new chapter whenever I find an opportunity to.

Also don't forget to vote on the poll on my profile for the saga you want appearing in this story. There are only four more story arcs left until the first saga, so be sure to vote while you still can!