Palutena was standing in front of the entire group. Her normal group, the three with artifacts, Rosalina's group, the Halberd crew, and even Mario's group. Cloud was clearly a little uncomfortable. Palutena looked over to Rosalina, who nodded. Rosalina walked over to Cloud and sat next to him. Cloud looked to her. "I know this might be overwhelming, but you must fight through it", she said. Cloud looked to the ground.
"It's just a lot to take in, and most of it is my fault", Cloud said.
"Don't blame yourself, instead you can make up for the past. The future is what defines you, not the past", Rosalina said. Cloud thought about it for a second. He gave a nod and stood up. He walked up to Palutena. Rosalina soon joined. Palutena walked to Cloud.
"Well, what's the plan?" Palutena asked. Cloud thought.
"Is this everyone in the world, other than the ones we are fighting?" Cloud asked.
"No, there are more people. But they have been more or less unaffected by the events", Palutena said. Mario walked up.
"What about Lucina, she was involved with the protection of the metal artifact", Mario said.
"She is currently protecting her town of refugees. Her and her team, together", Palutena explained.
"And most of the Pokémon are looking for the artifacts", Red chimed in. Cloud though for a moment.
"There must be a reason those refugees survived the merge. And we can use as many people with us as we can. We need a team to go recruit them", Cloud said. He told everyone to line up. He mentioned how he was going to go with this team. But he needed to find a team that people wouldn't be afraid to join. Dr. Mario joined because he was a doctor, Peach joined because she was a princess, Kirby because he was squishy, and both Ice Climbers because they were kids. Looking at these kids reminded Cloud of the three kids kidnapped.
"We will need a team to sneak into their base to retrieve those kids, and those under the control of the poison", Cloud mentioned. He looked over the remaining people. Dark Samus would lead this team due to knowledge of the place, the other Samus would join too for the fact she is a renowned bounty hunter, Marth then insisted on joining because he felt he let these kids down, the final person was Lucario for the odd chance that they ran into trouble. Lucario's ability to gain aura due to damage could help defend them. After those two more types of teams were needed. One to protect the current artifact holders, Fox, Pikachu, Palutena, and Yoshi, and the other teams would round up the remaining artifacts. Palutena then told Cloud what artifacts were still needed. Water, electric, earth, ice, and space. So that was six more teams needed.
The team that was told to go find the space artifact consisted of Falco, Mario, Rosalina, Ridley, and Link. The ice team was Daisy, Shulk, Diddy Kong, Squirtle, and Mega Man. The Earth team was Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Ryu, Little Mac, and Pit. The electric team was Captain Falcon, both Inklings, Peach, Ivysaur, and King Dedede. The water team was Pichu, Bayonetta, Ken, Richter, and Simon. That left Snake, Meta Knight, Red, Sonic, and Mr. Game and Watch. Cloud smiled at how perfectly it matched up. He looked over the teams a final time. Palutena floated next to Cloud. "Is that all?" Palutena asked.
"Yup", Cloud said. Palutena then floated above everyone.
"Before you leave we have an item for each team", Palutena said. She handed each team a small device, this device had been created by Zelda. Zelda and her minor team has something else they are doing, but they were ok with having Captain Falcon join them. These devices were the team's form of communication. When these devices become active it'll show a holographic version of the user for which they can speak. The teams all tested them, then departed. Only the ones who were deemed with protection had stayed.
Lucas was checking on the unconscious boys. He stayed in there, but he has control over himself. The poison lost control for a little bit. Piranha Plant walked in, he was going to say the poison was almost done, but then noticed Lucas in control. "Lucas?" he asked.
"Yea?" Lucas questioned.
"How are they doing?" Piranha Plant asked.
"They should wake soon", Lucas said. He looked away. Familiar tears returned to Lucas' face. Piranha Plant walked over to him.
"There is something I should say about the poison", Piranha plant said. Lucas looked over but before Piranha Plant could answer there was movement in one of the three boys. It was Ness. Soon enough he fully got up and looked around. He noticed the two Links on the other beds. Lucas walked over to them.
"They'll be fine", Lucas said. Ness hopped off the bed and looked deeply into Lucas' eyes.
"How long do you have control?" Ness asked.
"Not too long", Lucas said. "But the others are coming to save you guys and the others under the poison's control. You'll have to fight one to make it seem like you are following me. They will save Toon and Young Link, along with the other poisoned people. But if you stay and act to be working with me you could get certain things done faster".
"Does your other self not know this plan?" Ness asked.
"I remember what I do when he is in control, but he doesn't remember what I do", Lucas explained. Piranha Plant interrupted. He mentioned how a few of the Miis and ROBs had been taken out. Lucas looked over to Ness and soon his eyes started to glow. Lucas stared at Ness. "I suggest you do what I say, or these two get it". Ness gave a nod. That's when Lucas' left eye lost its glow and it winked. Lucas covered it. "That poison better be done soon". Lucas stormed out the room. Piranha Plant walked over to Ness.
"That poison will defeat the poisoned Lucas", Piranha Plant said.
"It will?" Ness asked.
"Yup, the poison reversed the effects of its own poison", Piranha Plant said.
"When is it done?" Ness asked.
"Now, so we need to 'deal' with the intruders then we can reverse Lucas' poison", Piranha Plant said. Ness nodded, and Piranha Plant took the links. Ness ran over and found Lucas in a hall. Piranha Plant had taken the Links into a room. This room had the people who were poisoned. Charizard, Olimar, and Sheik. Jigglypuff and Captain Falcon were of the poisoned as well, that was until Joker found out about the reversing effects of the poison. He chose to reverse the effects of those two in particular because of a connection to the artifacts. He didn't have enough for the last three. Piranha Plant put Young Link next to Olimar and Toon Link next to Sheik.
Lucas and Ness walked down the halls. Lucas was going to where the Intruders were. He knew they were in a room, but not necessarily which one. They then checked the factory, and sure enough there were people in there. They were messing with the machine. Lucas prepared a PK Fire and launched it toward them. They turned and saw Ness. Dark Samus was attacked by Lucas. Ness felt bad, he knew the connection they have. Lucas looked over to Ness. Ness remembered what Lucas said beforehand. He walked up to the remaining people and mentioned what Lucas said. Samus stepped forward. She prepared her stance and nodded. Ness returned the nod.
Ness and Samus fight
Dark Samus flew by. Lucas saw the fact that Ness defeated Samus. That's when a loud noise came from a different room. "I'll handle this", Ness said. Lucas gave a nod then left. Ness knew that the noise was Piranha Plant, it was a distraction. But the distraction was to blame Bowser, because Piranha Plant didn't want to lose Lucas' trust. Ness mentioned where the others were. Dark Samus helped herself up by putting her hand on the machine. When she did this accidentally turned it on, and it started to create a Mii. Lucario walked to it to check on how to possibly turn it off. Ness looked towards Marth. When Ness walked to him he noticed a guilty look on his face. Marth looked up.
"Sorry", Marth said.
"For what?" Ness asked.
"Not being able to protect you and the Links", Marth said. Ness then shook his head.
"Don't be, if it wasn't for you then I would've never found a way to fix Lucas", Ness said.
"You found a way?" Dark Samus barged in.
"Yup, he just needs to be injected with the poison in the same manor as how he originally had it", Ness said. Lucario pointed out the fact that it had happened to him. Dark Samus was happy that they could fix Lucas. Despite not really having a face Samus walked to her. She put a hand on her shoulder.
"You really did change from the last time I saw you", Samus said.
"Lucas is the son I can't have", Dark Samus said. Samus smiled.
"I'm happy you found yourself", Samus said. Dark Samus just gave a simple nod. Lucario continued his attempts to turn off the machine. But to no avail. He mentioned how he was getting no progress. That's when Ness made a plan. They would leave and grab the Links and the poisoned people, Ness would stay here to defeat the Miis. They would then wait in front of the base, so Ness and Piranha Plant can inject Lucas with the poison. The three of them will meet up with the others and they all can leave together. They all liked the plan and enacted it. The machine blurred loud noises and the others ran. Ness prepared for a fight. Once they left Ness noticed how many Miis were being made. 50 to be exact. Ness had to fight fifty Miis, and they all seemed to be the Gunner variant.
When all 50 Miis formed then they all looked toward Ness. Ness got nervous. He knew that 50 was a lot but seeing 50 in person is even more terrifying. They all aimed their shots at Ness. One of the Gunners stepped forward. "He is not our creator, attack", Gunner said. That's when they all shot at Ness. But lucky for him Ness had his PSI Magnet. When he absorbed the shots, it made him stronger. A few of the Gunners walked in to attack Ness. Ness then put his hand on the ground and closed his eyes. He then yelled PK Fire which caused a huge fireball surrounding Ness. This fireball destroyed all the surrounding Gunners. Ness then destroyed more by attacking them with his strangely powerful yoyo. Ness was destroying them relatively fast. Not too long after they formed there was only five left. Ness was able to use his bat to stun some of the five which he was able to launch himself into them with his PK thunder. All that left was one, and it happened to be the one who ordered the others to attack.
"Very strong kid, but I'm sure you're tired now", Gunner said.
Ness and Gunner fight
Once the last Gunner was defeated he ran out the room. He soon was able to find piranha Plant. He told him that Dark Samus and the others were able to leave with the unconscious people. Piranha Plant also told Ness that they are preparing to inject Lucas with more poison. Ness then ran around the base, trying to find Lucas. He soon did. Lucas has his eyes in a book. "Lucas?" Ness questioned. Lucas turned to face Ness. "Piranha Plant said the poison is ready". Lucas smiled. He closed the book and walked over to Ness. He then walked past him and into a distant room. Ness soon followed him into it. Lucas had started to strap himself into a metal bed, and Ness helped strap in his legs. Lucas had a smile on his face. Ness had known that the smile wasn't from the poisoned Lucas, rather the better one. The original Lucas was smiling, he knew he was going to be free from his prison. Piranha Plant walked in with the syringe. He looked over to Ness.
"Joker isn't here to give him it, so you'll have to", Piranha Plant said. Ness nodded and took the syringe. Lucas had already prepared a location on his bicep. Ness looked at the syringe, a mental smile was in his brain. He then poked the needle into Lucas' bicep. He then injected the poison and took out the syringe.
Lucas was walking around in the dark. He looked ahead and saw himself. Lucas' yellow glowing eyes were used as a flashlight. He walked over to the other Lucas. The other Lucas had his back facing him. When Lucas grabbed the other Lucas' shoulder he turned him around. He saw that the other Lucas had his eyes closed. The dark room started to shake, and suddenly became pure light. This sudden light blinded the poisoned Lucas. When he opened his eyes, he noticed the area around him had changed. He was in a sunflower field now. There was nothing but Sunflowers and a huge pit. The other Lucas finally opened his eyes. "What is this place?" the poisoned Lucas asked.
"You of all people should know", Lucas said. He turned around. "Mom, that should answer your question". The poisoned Lucas walked to be side by side with the other Lucas.
"I was injected with the poison, why don't I feel stronger?" the poisoned Lucas asked himself.
"You're really an idiot huh?" Lucas questioned.
"What do you mean?" the poisoned Lucas asked.
"More poison stops the existing poison, so you are losing you hold on us", Lucas said.
"Impossible", the poisoned Lucas said.
"If it's so impossible, then fight me", Lucas said.
Lucas and Lucas fight
The poisoned Lucas fell to the ground. The normal Lucas stood above him. Almost completely undamaged. He kneeled down. "See, now to finish you off", Lucas said. Lucas then grabbed the poisoned Lucas' neck and held him over the big pit. The poisoned Lucas was struggling to breathe, but the regular Lucas didn't care. He gave a big smile and dropped him. Lucas just watched as the poisoned Lucas fell in the never-ending darkness. He then walked away.
Lucas' eyes had lost the glow. Ness walked over to him. Lucas looked to him. "He's gone, at least for now", Lucas said. Ness couldn't hold a smile, he helped Lucas out his straps. He then walked to the exit. Lucas told them to go ahead because Lucas needed to do something really quick. Ness and Piranha Plant nodded and left. Lucas the walked over to his book and wrote inside of it. He wrote the fact that he is back in control, and that they won't get away with what they have done. Lucas walked out and saw Piranha Plant talking to something. He knew who he was talking to, it was Joker.
Joker and his team had been out at sea for a while now, but then Joker had a ringing. He brought out the communication device and saw Piranha Plant. "Lucas is back, back in control", Piranha Plant said. Joker smile and told his team they were heading back. They were definitely happy to leave. His team was Bowser Jr. and Dark Pit. The reason Joker chose to work with those two was because he knew they weren't as much of a villain as the others. They might just be working for Tabuu for the fear of being on his bad side, and for Bowser Jr's case it might be because of his dad. They made their way back to the base and Joker left. He saw Lucas and the others outside. Before he started to walk over there, Bowser Jr. walked over to him.
"I don't want to be here", he said.
"You don't?" Joker asked.
"No, the people here are too mean. I don't like that", Bowser Jr. said. Joker issued for Bowser Jr. to follow him. When they made it, he mentioned how Bowser Jr. didn't like helping Tabuu. Joker had a talent in knowing if someone was lying or not, and Jr. was being genuine. Lucas walked over to Bowser Jr.
"Would you mind taking me to certain places?" Lucas asked.
"Not at all", Bowser Jr. said.
"Then welcome", Lucas said with a smile. Bowser Jr. hopped out the clown car and allowed the Links, Olimar, and sheik inside. Samus and Dark Samus had to carry Charizard. Marth led the way to Palutena's temple. When they made it to the temple Lucas felt guilty. He lagged behind everyone, especially when they made it to the artifact holders. Yoshi mostly. He walked over to Lucas. Yoshi saw the guilt written on Lucas, that's when Pikachu ran over. Lucas kneeled down. "I'm glad you made it here buddy". Lucas had a smile on his face, it was a smile he hadn't been used to having.
"You're the reason Luigi is the way he is?" Yoshi asked.
"Sadly", Lucas said as he stood back up. Palutena and Fox soon appeared. Palutena looked into Lucas' eyes.
"You're very strong Lucas, you seem to have been the most affected by the poison, yet here you are", Palutena said. Lucas refused to look her in the eye. Dark Samus walked up to him. Her hand planted itself on Lucas' shoulder.
"I killed someone else", Lucas said. No one replied, so Lucas decided to continue. "Wario, and I still have his spirit".
"Well, he is filthy. I'm sure no one is that mad", Dark Samus said. When she said this, it brought a smirk to Lucas' face. Lucas grabbed the clown car that held the links, Olimar, and Sheik and the two Samus' picked Charizard back up. Palutena led them to the cells so they can reverse the poisoned effects. They place the Links outside the cell since they weren't poisoned. Ness stayed out with the others. Marth walked to him.
"You were able to defeat all 50 Miis?", Marth asked. Ness gave a simple nod. "Interesting, could you show me how you fight?".
"Sure, I could use fun", Ness smiled.
Ness and Marth fight
Marth was smiling wildly. "I guess I shouldn't have worried to much for you. You can definitely fend for yourself", Marth said. Everyone who was waiting for Palutena watched the fight. Fox stepped forward.
"Your powers are reminiscent of Lucas'", Pikachu said.
"We both have capabilities of PK telepathy. We can even communicate with only our minds if we so chose to", Ness said.
"Is that why you two instantly connected?" Marth asked.
"Yea, it's not often that we find someone with similar powers", Ness said. They continued asking questions about Ness and his powers. This led to Ness almost spilling the beans on Lucas' past. Lucas had told him about his brother, his mom, and his dad. Lucas wanted only Ness to know about that. About the fact that his Brother is dead, Mother is dead, and Father became highly effected by it. Becoming almost severely depressed. His only pride and joy was Lucas, and yet Lucas saw him turn to dust. The world merger had turned every world it effected into mere dust, but with these people the dust reformed into their formal self.
Eventually Palutena walked with he formally poisoned people. Charizard, Olimar, and Sheik all had ill looking faces. Palutena issued them to a bed so they could rest. The Links soon woke from the unconsciousness, extremely confused. After the fact that Palutena showed the beds she brought out a projector, and a projector screen. She was playing a video. Palutena mentioned how this was the only thing left from the world that they live on now. The world had inhabitants, but after Tabuu's merge they too disintegrated. This movie starred a person named X. This "movie" was a love at first. But then it changed to horror, then even a space fantasy. It was weird, but it all centered the boy X. The boy having struggles with family, sexuality, and his home. When they got to the space part Fox got intrigued. That's when the movie took a turn.
The characters in the movie started to break the fourth wall, and they even started to talk about the artifacts. That's when we noticed that the artifacts are connected to X's abilities. He is the god of the elements. This was his story, his life. They had just watched it all. The movie then automatically turned off and Palutena appeared from behind the screen. She mentioned how the artifact holders must get stronger. Their bodies need to be strengthened in order to contain X's power. Each holder chose someone to train with. Yoshi chose Dark Samus, Palutena chose Lucas, Fox chose Ness, and Pikachu chose the newly restored Sheik. The others had to only sit and watch.
Ness and Fox fight
They trained for a while. The more the artifact holders won, the more they got stronger. But if one loses, they don't know it yet, but they get even stronger. In a way they become immune to certain pain faster than most people. That's the point of training, is to be immune to pain.
