Chapter 14: Sky Falls
Super Smash Bros. [Kid Icarus, Skyworld; Super Smash Bros., Capital Island Chamber of Select, Capital Island Regal Estates; Game and Watch, Flatzone]
"...don't!" However the angel of Palutena didn't get to complete his words to the little Goddess, being instantly teleported out of harms way and back to Palutena's Temple. He had held his hand out to Viridi, reaching out to help her, but was now facing empty space in the meeting room. The empty space in front of him should have the Goddess of Nature safely in front of him,
[Play Jack danced like a butterfly 10 hours until I say otherwise] "Oh geez. Glad we got out of that mess." Falco looked around at the hall, noticing that their was grey skinned couple doing stretches near a small pool. Sleeping like a slob on marble steps with a newspaper over his face, was none other than Wario, snoring a few z's. Diagonally right to where Falco and the others came in from, was a young girl with a large do and red dress holding a creepy wand (must be some witch) standing next to two little ninja girls sitting down in two chairs, tied up watching something stupid. "I don't even want to know. So is this all the crew? Where is this Goddess lady, Palumomma is it?"
"It's Palutena, Falco." Fox corrected. "She must be doing something somewhere else. Speaking of such, what's going on here." The young witch in training turned her head to the space ace in a deadpanned manner, speaking in such as well.
"MY FRIENDS ARE BEING PUNISHED." Both Kat and Ana's eyes are wide and completely devoid of the knowledge of their outer environment watching in utter subliminal absence within the television tube. It's as though their consciousness was devoid of being as they paid no attention to anything at all except the everplaying video of Jack Black dancing like a butterfly.
"Umm... how long have they been watching that?"
"Six hours."
"Six hours of that! Geez, that's what you call torture." Exclaimed Sonic the Hedgehog, upon getting a glimpse at the empty eyed girls staring at the stupidity. The rest of the group previously back from the DK Isles only had to hear the obnoxious loop to desist from delving too far into the details. Poor Kat and Ana. [okay, now end BGM]
Pikachu looked around and noticed that their was someone from their team missing. "Pika." He tugged Luigi's side, looking to him for an answer to the absence.
"Wha? Who now?" Taking a look around, Luigi now saw that their leading Goddess was missing from their ranks. "Hey, where is Viridi at?" The other members (excluding Pit who was going through a BSOD) glanced here and there, yet she still did not appear. "Pit?"
"They got her. The Dusk Templar got her." Pit answered.
"Pika." Pikachu added, very distraught as well. It tugged at Luigi's leg. "Even Giratina huh?" Was the green Mario bros. response.
"Haven't seen that Pokemon before." Stated Fox. Luigi must've assumed that Giratina is that big shadowy monster that came out of nowhere to protect them. It must've been some Pokemon to revered so much by Pikachu. "Let's not get off topic. Who was that Viridi girl, and what was so important about her?"
Falco shrugged. "Couldn't really be that important, with all the help we got fighting those metal mugs." Almost catching him by surprise, Falco sidestepped a downward swing from an enraged Pit's golden weapon.
"That was the Goddess of Nature, and she was the one who teleported us here to safety you stupid worm chewer!"
"Oh! We're going there are we?! Allow me to teach ya some manners kid." Fox got between the livid wingmen, with Sonic and Luigi holding them back as well. "Oooh, you lucky they're holding me back punk!"
"Urgh!"
"Cut it out you two. Are we really more important than the Dusk Templar?" Suddenly, a double door across from the quarrel opened up, entering Palutena's team, carrying bags of snacks and some novelty things from like a gas station mart.
"Oh. What's with all the noise? Did I mention this is a safe zone?" Pit collected his composure with his Goddess now present.
"Forgive me Lady Palutena. I did not mean to lose control." Miraculously the angel calmed down enough to let off. However the Goddess of Light's curiosity was peaked.
"What happened. Where is Viridi?"
Meta Knight approached to answer her question. "Viridi has been taken by the Dusk Templar who appeared at DK Island. She was wounded in the skirmish, but she had just enough power to transport all of us."
"Is that so. Now before anyone blames themselves over this loss, we must remember. Celestials like me and Viridi are in just as much danger from the Dusk Templar as you are. Our only trump card to this is reassembling your team and rising against this enemy. I know this is truly disheartening, but we must not let her or anyone else's capture be for nothing." Even with this recollection, Palutena still felt sad upon losing such a great ally, especially with the history she had with her.
"It seems no matter how hard we try, we always lose someone as we gain others." Charles lamented on the unfortunate observation.
"That may be. But we shouldn't let it eat away at us. This makes our goal all the more important." Fox stated. "You can count Falco and I in this plan. If anything can stop Knightscourge, it's the Super Smash Bros.."
Sonic somewhat agreed. "I guess it's our best hope. But how is it your central leadership is not responding to this crisis?"
"The Capital is in turmoil with the Separatist uprising taking the headlines. Unfortunately Knightscourges raids are either in secluded areas or so thorough, communication with others is near impossible." Said Rosalina, placing down a bag of goods. Speaking of such, Wario's attention was stuck on the bags, hoping for something edible especially for him.
"Great, just great. It's not like that's not important or anything, but what's in the bags, hmm?" Thankfully Wario's greediness shifted attention to the goods Palutena and company brought back from their trek.
"Ah these. Well since we've had our fair share in deadly chases and battles, I thought it would be nice to take a breather for now. We can't fight a planetary invasion on an empty stomach." Palutena smiled, setting down the large bags she carried. The bags her crew got full of items for the Smashers and Task Force were improbably large close to overflowing with snacks and goodies made to last a picnic. "Most of the Palace provisions go out to the refugees, so this should do for our group."
"Yeah yeah. Just lemme see what's for me."
"For you Wario, i got you a whole sub sandwich. I knew you like garlic, but the closest thing to it were some garlic flavored chips. Is this okay?"
"Sure thing!" The burly guy nabbed his things and a soda. "Guess I'll have to make due." Everyone else got to have their share in the food eating sandwiches, chips, Hostess cakes, pretzels, sodas, apples, oranges, bananas (Diddy's preferred snack) and water. The Wii Fit trainers reserved their one salads, and Little mac savoured a average sandwich that wouldn't go against his diet. Doc Louis stuck to his Chocolate bars as a side, allowing Ness to try one out. The Pokemon, including the reserved Greninja and the recovered Jigglypuff, had their Poke food to enjoy, but they also partook in a fruit when they liked. R.O.B. and Megaman stood by, not seeing any need to eat that kind of food, however Megaman felt a little jealous that he thought he couldn't eat like the others (Don't worry you two. You can eat, they just don't know it.) Ashley and the kunoichi girls were the only ones not joining the others, what with the little witch too shy to associate, and the other two still catatonic. It was a nice atmosphere to just sit down and dine with your friends. It was almost like the danger of Knightscourge and his armies were non-existent. But this stupor would soon end when the break was done and business was to be had. Charles noticed that beside Ness and Luigi, Pit ate slowly, which is unlike his gluttonous eating habits of his stories. He reached out to hand the angel an apple slice, making Pit get out of his sulk and look to the Villager.
"It's going to be fine. We'll get her back. Her and everyone kidnapped by Knightscourge. That's our focus for all this." Pit had never really felt this depressed from any situation he'd been in. His dense sense of heroism kept him optimistic in even the most deathly conflicts. "Their's no need to blame yourself for a what happened. If anything, we should be thanking Viridi for keeping Knightscourge from gaining more in his trophy case."
"Here here!" Announced Meta Knight in respect for Viridi by lifting up his drink in the air.
"Let us give thanks to Viridi for helping our cause further by preventing the Dusk Templar's quarry." Proclaimed Mr. Wii Fit as well.
"Oi. Yeah, if it wasn't for her. Their would be far fewer us here, resisting that bastard!" Cheered Falco. Pit and him looked at each other in an unspoken apology and forgiving between the past. This moment would tie them all together, just as the Smash Brothers have before, against greater threats only they can stop assembled.
"Gee guys. Your all the best." Said Pit in gratitude. "It'll be a great honor to fight by your sides against the Dusk Templar."
"Hmph. That would be my line." The comment Meta made gave a hearty laugh from the friends around. Charles felt a great connection amongst his brothers in arms. Even if he's only met these folks recently, if he was given the chance to get to know them more in the future he wouldn't hesitate to receive the opportunity. Of course he would have to go on a long vacation from his mayoral duties, he'd make the most of his time there. Plus it's not like the Super Smash Brothers live at the Smash Manor or anything. They just take residence their when Master Hand holds up a tournament. Another good thing came when Toon Link came out of a hallway to the team, looking better than ever since he had his arm dismembered.
"Toon, your looking well." Charles pointed out, allowing the comrades to look back. They were all pleased to see the child was alright, especially the Smashers amongst them.
"Hehehehey! Toon Link, long time no see." Sonic exclaimed. Ness nodded his head joyously to a close friend. Toon gave a warm smile back at them.
"It's great to see you all again." "And it seems you have made a full recovery from you last mission." Mentioned R.O.B., having the newer Smashers double-take on the realization.
"Hold up, what recovery?" Fox was among the many concerned past Smashers who had not heard of what happened at Diamond City and the teams skirmish there. "What happened?"
"Well, let's just say the mission at Diamond City getting Wario and a few others almost cost me an arm and a leg. Quite literally for one of them." The boy looked to his right arm closing his hand then back out again. This news enraged his fellows who have been his friend, wanting to know who did this atrocity on the young boy.
"Who did this!? Was it the Dusk Templar?! When I find out which one did it..."
"No! I'm going to personally unhinge every arm right offa them the next time they decide to show up, acting all violent and ruthless as they are!" Falco interrupted Fox's anger with a declaration. "See who's savage then!"
"Save your fury for later." Said Meta Knight. "Less you want to stoop to their level." As much as the star warrior was angry at what happened with his comrade, his honor-bound, collected stance would not allow his close allies to let revenge and hatred ooze into the convictions. Yet not many of the Smashers didn't feel the same way about the assailants they have to deal with.
"Why not let them blow off some steam." Countered Wario, after he munched down the last of the sub. "It's an eye fo an eye, and these guys have taken more than their fill of lives in their little tour of our worlds. They come in, slicing anything their trigger happy boss doesn't want on display in his gallery, burning down homes and unnecessarily razing the surface into ash without any thought on consequence after. It makes sense that they be given what they're selling. I may be quote-on-quote 'bad', but even I wouldn't go as far as it to make things global beyond repair. I gotta live somewhere too. Charles, you gotta relate here. What with what Knightscourge personally did to your town." The conversation would have gotten too far with having to involve the Villager into this rage, but he appeared to be calm enough to gulp down his bite and respond to Super Mario's viler counterpart.
"Yes. I can't say I don't agree with you." He started. "All I want now is to put Knightscourge up to every transgression he has ever done to all he's encountered. To have him suffer for every citizen, every creature, every home and well being he has decimated on his quest for a collection. He has no right, no moral obligation to pass these cruel actions upon our lives. I want to see him experience the full pain of his decisions drawn onto him and any who followed in such ludicrous deeds. Yet, that's not what I am. I was never the kind of person to let revenge blind me. To have vengeance be coveted before the more important things. So yes. I do want to see the Dusk Templar and Knightscourge fall hard on their butts, to see their plans blow effortlessly in their faces. But I'm still the type of man to have as many innocents be out of the crossfire before something as extreme as war be waged." The surrounding friends agreed with the little speech given by the small man. It would seem everyone wants justice to reprimand Knightscourge and his legions for their atrocities, but before they fully focus on defeating him, he still has prisoners whose lives are in his grasp that include some Super Smash Bros.. The true fight between them and the invaders would have to wait until the freedom of his 'Trophies' is fully realised.
"Ah yes. That is what we strive for. Once all the innocent are freed from the Dusk Templar, only then can we focus on dealing with Knightscourge and his forces. Remember, if you Smashers could take on an entire invasion from Subspace, then surely this new threat won't be so much a sweat." Lady Palutena was sure of this fact since she had a front row seat of this task. A few heroes and villains, teamed up together to take on an army and it's all-powerful leader coming out victorious in the end has certainly been repeated for the whole SSB series.
Alas, hearing something outside that felt rather faint, Palutena's angellic captain of her guard did hear this low rumbling. "Wait, does anyone hear that?" Silence was heard. That's what they heard at least.
"What's their to hear?" Asked Luigi. Pit got up from where he was sitting and sprinted outside, parkouring ever higher on the temple exterior to get a better look. The Centurion sentries assembled around the fortifications, preparing for the dark essence coming over the clouds whereas Pit climbed to the highest place he could to survey the oncoming disturbance. "Their's no way anything can sneak from above us. Their's nothing higher than the sky."
Contradicting his knowledge, the massive assault carrier of the Dusk Templar descended from above Skyworld, right out of the atmosphere with no good intentions. The clouds tore apart letting way for the vessel to gaze upon the Skyworld. "Lady Palutena, are you seeing this?" Pit spoke to his goddess telepathically while watching their enemy invade their space.
"Yes Pit." Palutena and the others gathered around a reflecting pool, seeing the mighty ship coming for Palutena's Temple in the heavens. "Never thought Knightscourge would be as bold as to attack me directly. He's as dastardly as he is vile." The image projected onto a wall so all of them could see without bustling to see in the small fountain.
"But how did he find this place so easily?" Worried Charles beside her.
"That is a excellent question, but we all know exactly why he's here." Outside, a large swarm of Venx shot out of the hangars of the sides of the ship, as numerous as the Enders Game alien craft, alongside other larger bombardment vessels. "Brace yourselves everyone!"
"It's all right Palutena. I'll handle this." (play Sky station, SM Galaxy 2) Rosalina floated forward to the vision of the invaders. She twirled her star wand around followed by the starry glitter it profused and her Luma moved along with her gestures. She flicked her wand to the right, gaining a blue glow from her eyes as well, when a sparkle produced a expanding barrier before the Dusk Templar attack force, engulfing around the temple and the small surrounding floating islands present. Venx that were zooming to the raid burst into flames upon ramming head first into the hard forcefield forcing the rest of the force to fly around and breach the wall. Their onslaught was putting some discomfort upon the cosmo guardian, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. "Urngh. Palutena, use this chance to evacuate the refugees." Palutena nodded going to the sidelines so as not to distract Rosalina to alert anyone not eligible to fight to evacuate via some transport vessels able to warp to farther places.
"Where can they go!? They have no where else to stay?!" Rosalina struggled to hold back some heavy blasts to the shield, but still replied to Mrs. Wii Fit.
"Anywhere but here should do." (end BGM)
In the captains chair, Knightscourge gazed at the bubble over the mess of islands his Venx cannot get through, not fazed by the obstacle. "Are they merely playing games here? Do away with this barrier so the hunt may continue." The technician being spoken to powered up the Macre blasters, the same destructive green force used to slay armies at Plegia, adjusting where the twin beams should be unleashed upon. The green lights flashed, charging up the deathly rays at the bubble of Rosalina's making. The rest of the Smash team witnessed the glowing weapon coming from the enemies ship, and that was most definitely a bad sign.
"That's no good." It goes without saying who said that.
"Oh sweet lord." "Haven't seen nothing like that." "OH COME ON!" "Gre." Holey Moley!" Some looked speechlessly at the lights until they collapsed upon themselves, firing two voracious beams against the bubble. The barrier could only take so much before the powerful rays bore through the defense.
"Aaaaahhhh!" Rosalina shrieked in great pain. The new impact was too much compared the volts shot out from the Venx and heavy rounds from the Pharsdel, breaking her barrier as well as breaking her mind. The shock from holding back a devastating blast (two to be exact) ravaged Rosalina's telekinetic power, knocking her back with a bad nosebleed. Her Luma panicked near it's mother, desperately concerned for her well being. Her fellows gathered 'round her, just as worried as her starchild.
"Rosalina?" Choked Toon Link, hoping she wasn't dead. Mr. Wii Fit checked her pulse, something he and his wife usually did after their exercises. Simple.
"She's fine, unconscious and weakened though." He reassured. Palutena came back just in time to see Rosalina's sorry state and that the barrier around her Temple gone as well. The Macre blasters did not cease from Rosalina's bubble, but tore through two islands, the remaining rubble falling from the sky. As an effect, the Venx rushed back to their destination.
"Those bastards!" Proclaimed Charles.
"Yeah, they're not getting away with this." Said Little Mac, Pikachu nodding next to him. "I'll give'em a new one."
"Don't give Knighscourge what he wants. We must escape here at once." Meta Knight took up arms with the rest of the group following his lead.
"Their are still refugees evacuating. For the time being, we hold them off long enough for the evacuation." Palutena's told her Task Force and the Smashers the main objective.
"Lady Palutena, what are my orders?" Pit called from the Goddesses telepathy.
"Assemble my forces. Prepare for battle!"
[play Wrath of the Reset Bomb, Kid Icarus Uprising (SSB4)] Upon the orders, Centurions of all kinds flew out in numerous legions from the islands around Palutena's Temple. They manned implacements from minor trebuchet, watchtowers, and bunkers,to activating all Juggernaut stationed around the Temple. "For Skyworld. For Lady Palutena!" A banner carrier lead his courageous troops into combat against the Dusk Templar, full of zeal and determination to defeat the unruly foe. However, due to the massive Dusk Templar Venx machines oversizing the puny defenders, the mere shots fired from the enemy craft shredded through the tiny Centurion by the dozens with so many rounds coming from the swarming Venx. Though equalling in numbers, their weapons just couldn't pierce the hard metal surface of the Venx. It took swarms of Centurion Strongarms to just tear through a single Venx, but the automatic fire from their enemy proved too much to handle. Luckily the Juggernauts pulled off the weight of the Centurions sacrifice by taking out numerous Venx with the heavy boulders flung at them and their fair share of high fire rate on the sides. Palutena's Army was able to deploy an experimental Mega Laser cannon to even out the odds, testing out the weapon by tearing through many of the Dusk Templar light craft. Pit, with Palutena giving him the power of flight, supported his fellow guard, bravely fighting the great numbers of the Venx overpowering his troops. He decided to go with precision in his battle, taking aim with his bow to get just the right shot out of the Dusk Templar. He let go of his arrow, sending the charged projectile zooming through a Venx cockpit, initially dispatching it's pilot (luckily) to have it crash into another which caused a chain reaction of a few more crashes, ending in downing a large Pharsdel bombardment ship. Yet the battle was most certainly in favor of the Dusk Templar with the Pharsdel bombarding the defenses with arcing, explosive cannon fire. With Palutena's Army distracted in the air, troop transports deployed past the defences. Pit saw this go through, right as he was battling atop a Pharsdel.
"Lady Palutena! They're dropping off scumbags at the temple!"
"Oh hell no! Alright you all, the Dusk Templar are stomping their way in my house. Now would be a good time to vent out some hate for the defense of the refugees. Buy them as much time as possible." She announced to her allies. "Jigglypuff, Luigi, Toon Link, Doc Louis, R.O.B., Karen, Meta Knight, Ashley, Kat and Ana, and I will stay and protect Rosalina here. Dark Pit, can you fly out to see where the invaders are coming from?" Asked the light goddess.
"Yeah I guess. But don't wear yourself out. Your also giving Pitstain some power to fly as well." His response was.
"Don't worry about me, just try to help out my forces as much as you can."
"If it means busting up some reject Transformers, then leave it to me!" Pit's dark alter ego climbed out the opening of the hall leaping into the sky with Palutena's blessing, soaring into the dogfights in the skies.
"Finally! Time for round two against those sleezes!" Wario bellowed.
"Even if we are their main targets, let's show them we're not as easy to catch than they think!" Added Megaman. Diddy screeched to agree, going first into a hallway to find where the enemy is coming through. All the team ran through the corridor reaching where the outside battle was visible. Pit and his shadier twin assembled to fight in tandem with Pit, swinging his Upperdash Arm to tear off a Venx's wing thus sending it falling out of the sky to the surface below. Dark Pit assisted Pits arrow fire with his own, doubling the amount of arrowheads fired at the numerous Venx.
Exploring through the temple, Charles lead Daniel, Sonic, Fox, Falco, Wario, Pikachu, Greninja, Little Mac, Megaman, Diddy kong, and Ness to clear out any foes rampaging through the holy halls, wishing the Templar luck if they ever found them. The knights bore holes through the beautiful temple, searching hig and low for their objective. Any Ceturion defenders were slaughtered on the spot dampening the halls and rubble in the fiend's path. Eventually the heroes came upon a scouting party of Gerrag, breaking through a doorway, with Sonic all too happy to strike first with a homing dash into one of the helmed enemies. The fight escalated into a life or death situation real fast as the group avoided getting butchered at close quarters all while fighting in an broken room. Megaman threw a Metal Blade at he forearm of a Gerrag, losing it's gun, letting Mr. Wii Fit to toss a ball into another one nearby reloading it's own rifle. Accompanying the Gerrags were bipedal goblinoids, with heavy guns for arms, firing maniacally at the Punin they so hated. Thankfully these critters were near the defenders size, unlike the towering Gerrags, serving as flushers like the Verrutts or Flivburns. Pikachu used Thundershock at the Scaths, taking one out but disorienting the other six. Wario got up close and used his incredible maw to chomp down upon one, then swing it around at a Gerrag. Greninja snuck behind their lines and followed Ness' PK Thunder thrown at the the brute rearing it's blade to smash Megaman with a Shadow Sneak. Not really fatal, but the laceration at it's back forced the huge knight to turn around and swat at the pain. Fox deflected some fire back at the gunner, tearing back into it's abdomen then left part of it's head initially ending it. Little Mac jabbed away a nearby Scath before it took aim at Diddy, going in to give a flurry of hits to a Gerrag's leg. He evaded being swiped at with it's gun, going to it's other leg, swinging low at it's shin like he would at a large opponents core, which took it off the foot in middle of its fight. Amazingly Little Mac's strength was enough, but since it would take far too long to realistically wait for a Smasher to break through a Dusk Templar armor than it would in it's respective game, let's just go along with it for the rest of this story. Falco was forced to take arms against the approaching Scath, hitting it back into one of Diddy's banana peels. Megaman drew out a Hyper Bomb (courtesy of Bombman's saved data) and threw it into the center of the Dusk Templar force, finishing off the remaining Scath and pushing the Gerrags into the walls.
"Say. That wasn't so hard." Sonic cracked his knuckles. "And we were worried they would be too much."
"That was only a scouting force, judging by the numbers. Let's keep moving." Charles stated, going on ahead with his group. But before they proceeded, Mac moved his muscular right arm in the villager's way as the others rushed ahead.
"Yo, after that fight at Diamond City, I've been meaning to give you these babies." The champ pulled a stringed pair of red boxing gloves from thin god knows where and held it up to Charles, who looked at the gloves in surprise, then back to their holder. "You need something to defend yourself with, and since no one has chipped in yet, maybe you might be used to a hands on approach." Back in his home town, Charles was indeed a busy guy. The mayors most trusty tools were the hands he used said tools with, from pulling weeds, shaking trees, and lifting heavy objects when the time came. "These are no ordinary gloves. I used these when I first practised my boxing skills."
"Are you sure. These things must be very precious to you. I couldn't"
"Go on. You might need them more than me. I only ask that you cherish them and use them when you absolutely have to." Receiving the gloves from the short boxer, Charles slipped them on. A surprising fit, but with both of them near each others size, it's safe to assume they would most likely fit the small man. Before he could thank him for the gift, Little mac noticed they were being left behind and made like a direction and left. Charles smiled as he put the gloves away in his pocket. His pocket! The apparatus he has used to store countless items in his homely quest to repay Nook's debt and run an entire village. Remembering what potential his unique trait has, perhaps he can use it to his advantage in combat the next time.
After going through corridor after corridor, they finally came out to a garden, currently being ravaged by the horrid Templar warriors. The Centurions knights trying to defend were heartlessly ripped to shreds by their enemies, strewing the parts about, ruining the lush garden. Our heroes immediately rushed to face the threat taking them by surprise. A Zelguum went in haphazardly, but was given a strong, clean uppercut from Little Mac enough to send it on it's back. Greninja phased atop its chest and swung with a water blade at it's throat leaping off the squirming victim. Ness performed a PSI Magnet that surprisingly worked against the Templar rounds. The enemy could not believe that something so puny could destroy their shots before it pierced. None were amused. Aside from that, Fox utilized his combat prowess barely used in his adventures to hold back any Flivburn, Scaths, or Didraturs, evil mechanical tops with bat'leth style blades on two sides of the top and two on the midsection. He kicked in rapid succession against a stunned top, delivering a final foot launching the mech into two others. Megaman jumped over the roof of the nearest building with his Tornado Hold (along with stopping any zako mechs itching to tag along) in order to scope out the skies around. The huge fleet of Venx and their other craft soared across Skyworld unchallenged, laying waste to any who dared cross their path. another wave of Centurion defenders flew from another place of Skyworld, facing the onslaught their brethren from before went through.
Megaman took aim at the nearest Venx flying by, shooting three Crash Bombs toward it expertly, then having it detonate in the different areas which took it down with two others nearby. What made them so easy to destroy was how close Venx flew next to each other. Pit And Dark Pit held out well aiding a Juggernaut in destroying more Venx. A lone ace saw Megaman firing from above and too it upon itself to fire down on the bot as it descended. Megaman sidestepped away from the bolts, hopping over twice to a new spot to fire his Mega Buster back. The Venx flew by, only to loop up to come around again for another run. Megaman prepared for this and deployed a trusty Leaf Shield. As the imposing Venx came soaring down, shooting it's rounds at the Blue Bomber, he unleashed the shield of rotating leaves into spinning wheel of razors far into the Venx's underside, most likely tearing through the control and hurtling it into Temple into a wreck.
Wario punched and kicked at the legs of the huge Gerrag shooting at the heroes, which made one shove him away with it's shin, snarling out alien tongue for, "Wait your turn, filthy vermin." Ness hopped up from a Scath's head, floating onto the rifle of a Gerrag taking cover, swinging down his baseball bat to break the gun as much as he could before dodging the furious hand of the monster wielding the otherworldly weapon. The gun had better days but this distraction prevented the Gerrag from seeing Mr. Wii Fit and Pikachu jumped to it's face to smack it with palm an tail alike, hitting it back near it's comrades. Charles snuck around the enemy line to get in close for his first fight. Unfortunately some Flivburn caught sight of this and rolled out for an easy kill. The villager aided the attacks by a hair, feeling his fear build up again. After taking a deep breath, he put up his dukes (equipped with Little Mac's gift) and lunged for the nearest Dusk Templar mech turning back to it's foe. He swung left at the head of the small mech, looking back at it with open eyes and a burst of determination, giving right and left hooks repeatedly until he swung hard enough to send it sailing at a pile of rubble. Let's just remember that Charles has absolutely no experience with combat so his moves may be childish and sloppy, but it actually gets results. He dodged right at an incoming claw and imitating Little Mac's composure, he ducked and smacke upwards under the Fliv's head, flipping it on it's back. If only Little Mac could see him now, he felt like a natural. Plus with the adrenaline of the ensuing battle happening, he found out what made the Super Smash Brothers so combat savvy along with his current team mates. A nearby Gerrag saw this little display, pulling out a hatchet to test out the power of the small opponent revelling in it's new found courage. Charles turned back in time to avoid being split in two, pausing to see if anything was chopped before returning the glare back at the offender. The knight swung once more horizontally, so Charles hopped over the axe to jab at the collar of the giant. The Gerrag smacked Charles with the handle of it's hatchet, throwing him over the edge of the garden he and his allies fought for.
"Gaah!" Pit gazed over his shoulder, seeing his friend falling off the floating temple.
"Charles! Hold on!" As such the angel dive bombed to the falling mayor in hopes of rescuing him. But he was impeded by a Venx that accidentally flew into the tiny angel. Like a bug on the windshield, Pit was pushed up against the glass, opening one eye to look in at the pilot. Of course, the windshield was only one way so the livid pilot snarled as it manoeuvred in spinning motions to get the bug off the glass after Pit finally lost his grip an flailed off. Unfortunately the Venx didn't realize it flew too close to a floating island, crashing into the rocky face.
Charles, however reached out to the vines hanging from the temple island, grabbing at the nearest one, toughing through the rope burn his right hand went through to resist plummeting to the surface below. On the side from wincing from the excruciating pain, Charles took a gander over in the lower catacombs of Palutena's Temple witnessing a band of knights sneaking through a hole into the darkened large halls below. One of these louts was a certain red variant of the Templar, more spiked at it's armor, looking around to see if anyone had caught his scheme. " Uh, Palutena. We have a problem." He remembered he could respond to her telepathically. "A special someone has entered inside! In the lower halls!"
Inside the room where Rosalina is being tended to, Palutena opened up a small screen at her fore arm, showing the lower catacombs, watching Knightscourge and his cronies breaking through statues of their stature out their way, searching restlessly for some unlucky opponent to come out and face them. "Well look who's joined the party. However..." Palutena looked to her cohorts, R.O.B. monitoring Rosalina's vitals. "Everyone clear out! Knightscourge is in my Temple and he's out for blood!"
"But Lady Palutena, we can handle him." R.O.B. exclaimed.
"I don't think he's in the mood for a friendly spar. Any other Dusk Templar is fair game. But we have to play it safe and avoid their leader as much as possible. We can't risk it, if the rumours about him are true. Everyone regroup at the elevating shrine above the highest fountain. We can't face his entire force with this many of the Super Smash Bros.."
"Jiggly?!" Jigglypuff puffed.
"I'm not sure how long Skyworld can hold out. It's too late for it. At least bought everyone enough time escape, hopefully."
"Where are you going?" asked Karen, seeing Palutena walk toward the furthest doorway.
"Oh i'm just going to welcome our esteemed guest." The goddess looked back, giving a cheery smile before exiting to the fray.
"Alright y'all! Let's pack it in!" Doc Louis helped Luigi carry Rosalina, leaving the sanctuary close with the others. Toon Link looked to where Palutena exited, hoping that the Goddess of Light can handle fighting against the Dusk Templar leader head-on. (end BGM)
Outside with the others, the team fought in tandem, facing the warriors in synchronised strikes that doubled the potency of damage to the Templar knights. Little Mac lunged forward, smacking down at a Scath hard for it to hit the shin of an imposing Gerrag, just in time for Falco to Phantasm across, severely cuting at it's arm, dropping the gun it wielded. Ness shot out a PK Fire, blocking the Flivburns and Scaths from proceeding to overwhelm so that Sonic can rush and knock off any small mechs near the edge. Dark Pit made a pass around their vicinity, firing down a few arrows at the Templar to add in on the hurt. Mr. Wii Fit was pinned down by the fire power of a Gerrag carrying a RPG-esque weapon accompanied by another, and a few Didraturs. Fox's blaster did minimal work, barely phasing the assailants. "Not to complain or anything, but some back up would be really useful right now. Whoa!" A stray blast from the heavy weapon Gerrag buzzed past the ace's head, blowing up some building behind him and Daniel. Pit landed next to Megaman, firing at the Venx and ground forces back-to-back, not letting one get a clean shot at them.
"Pit, this repetitive." Mega said to the angel.
"Whuh?" Was his response.
"If we don't clear out soon, they'll realize we're tiring." He's right that this fight was lasting more than they hoped, but what else could they do with this huge force.
"I just got news from Lady Palutena that we regroup to that platform over there!" Pit pointed to a big platform hovering at a high rest. "But I'm not sure how we'll traverse through the hordes." Wario rode his primary motorcycle he pulled out of nowhere, riding about hitting enemies about even driving up the front of a towering Zelguum that pushed on it's back. Diddy Kong had strewn a couple of banana peels that made a the knights comically lose a moderate amount of balance but it wasn't enough to have them fall over. One such irritable Gerrag opened fire at Diddy. The little monkey Kong was suppressed under enemy fire, with no where to go behind the cover that was being obliterated. The Gerrag had the simians life on a thread, when out of the blue something made it lose connection to it's body. The head slid off the metal shoulders followed by the limp body before Diddy, as surprised as the knight's last expression. Standing past all the dust, some shady looking guy looking more anti-hero than great warrior. However, past all that misleading looks, he did carry one big ass sword (a BFS). [play Magnus's Theme, Kid Icarus Uprising].
"Sorry I'm late. Looks like this was more important than what I was doing before." Spoke Magnus looking on at the viscous invasion Skyworld has befallen into.
"Who's this guy?" Fox was at a loss of words, since it only took this sir one swing of his blade to behead their foe. Pit glided down near the outer team.
"This is Magnus, the strongest human warrior in this world." The angel explained to his fellows. His opposite hovered near him, releasing an arrow elsewhere.
"He's just some lowly man. Sure he's got some rep." Dark Pit retorted. Pit decided it would be best to ignore him.
"Magnus! How did you know about us? Did Lady Palutena call out for reinforcements?" Magnus shook his head.
"Nah. This lady here got me up on the whole gist kid." He moved a hand out to show Phosphora collect power in her palms then strike out lightning from the sky to zap some Venx flying about.
"They took our goddess right. It's only fair that we give a little retaliation for the misdeed." She zipped above Wario shooting out a few waves of electric volts to some eager Flivs and Scaths, shorting them out severely. In the distance, Arlon the Serene floated about shooting energy bolts that simply pierced through the enemy craft.
"This evil will not go unpunished." Arlon followed up with sending out a cloud of darkness that had Venx inside fly out in a confusion, either colliding into one another or upon exiting the field, or flying off to smash into the islands and Pharsdel. Across on a higher small island, Cragalanche bashed it's way through a party of Templar knights, then jumping off to land on a nearby Pharsdel, hulking out on the craft and any giants rushing to fight the rock golem.
"We'll handle as much as possible! Just regroup with the others!" Phosphora zipped about, dodging the Dusk Templar fire, and returning it back twofold. "This is for Viridi! You no good knuckle draggers!" She shot out two big electro orbs, damaging the enemy as well as shock them. Pit landed to his friends to rally them to the descending platform in the distance.
"Alright team! Regroup at the platform!" The outside team left the hard work to the Commanders of the Forces of Nature and Magnus to ward off the Templar (the latter taking solace in challenging a new more dangerous foe he's getting the hang of).
"Whoo!" Shouted out the human champion, Magnus. "You call this a siege? You armored pansies oughta put some elbow grease into it!" He swung his huge sword into an onslaught of small fry converging toward him.
In the inner parts of Palutena's Temple, the esteemed goddess strutted through her halls, on the lookout for Knightscourge and his posse. Coming from her left, an arm bashed it's way through a wall, grabbing the goddess and pulling her into the destroyed room it came from. It pulled her to meet with two other Gerrag ready to squash her, but she had better plans than dying. She broke through her captor's fingers with her angelic wings, then kicked at it's neck, with the concentrated power at the end to tear apart the area. The other Gerrags shot out with their weapons, but the Goddess warped away from the rounds. "Warp!" Behind a nearby pillar broken in half, she remained safe from the suppressive fire. She looked over to the right, pointing out her staff to the lugs. "Autoreticle." The blasts from her burned onto them, getting them somewhere else to aim. Palutena sped out from her hiding place, warping out of harms way until she was right next to the feet of her attacker, summoning out a flare from below her. "Celestial Firework!" The flare edged next to the knight's helms, then exploded like a in great colors, pushing the burned warriors to the side walls. Palutena hopped up to one of the Gerrags, plunging the bottom of her staff into the side of it's head, killing it effectively. The other one raised it's gun at point blank in hopes to shoot the little woman. "Reflect." She raised her shield to unleash a barrier between her and the gun right as the Gerrag had pulled the trigger, having the bolts fly back into the giant with it's head being one of the areas being shot into. The troops dispatched, Palutena swirled around to see their real enemy walking toward her.
"Well isn't that a striking display." Knightscourge snarked. "Palutena."
"You have no right to blaspheme my name Knightscourge. Not that I want to know of moi." The goddess showed instant disgust and hostility to the Dusk Templar leader, readying herself for a sudden strike.
"About as cringy as it is to hear your breath spew out mine. I have my research."
"You've got some balls charging my home like you did. I'll make sure that you don't get away with this." She retorted to her loathsome foe.
"It is about as daring as that stunt you pulled off on my ship. You know a lot of my favorite trophies got out because of that. Not all of them, but some pretty important ones I might add."
"Your ship?"
"Do not play as dumb as you are. I only wish to show a certain celestial what happens when they get in my way." With that, Knightscourge lunged toward Palutena, short sword first, missing only by a hair. Palutena flew up firing light shots and beams to the dreaded Templar leader while also avoiding being cleaved. Unfortunately, with all the Dusk Templar invading in her domain, it was hard to recollect her powers for this dire moment. Knightscourge wasn't like creaming any Gerrag or Zelguum. He was far more skilled and calculating than his ruthless brethren. His savagery was more refined and honed in super reflexes, keeping his distance from being struck from any attack the goddess had to offer despite his larger size. Palutena thrust out her angel wings to swipe at her opponent, trying her darndest to not be cut from his sword. Growing tired of her resistance, he showed that he was through with games by swiftly grabbing at bothe her wings, then tearing them off her with as much strength as it needed to pluck her appendages off.
"Aaaaauugh!" The Goddess of Light shrieked at her spiritual wings ripped from her body, falling in frailty to the malevolent fiend. He stood above her, pushing down his foot down on her small body. "Guh!"
"I don't have time for your irrational games, celestial. Once your out of the picture, my goal will be within my grasp."
"Tell me something." Palutena struggled beneath the crushing foot. "Why are you doing this? What is the point of this hostility?"
"Hostility? Heheh, that's not how this is going. This is merely a hunt. This trip has been planned for quite some time, to fill my trophy collection of only the finest items around."
"You mean you're, *gurgh*, hunting down heroes and denizens of out lands, for trophies of them!?" Knightscourges bent over a little to humor this goddess.
"Of course. Nothing personal, it's all in the sport."
"You consider this war, *urngh*, just a sport?!"
"War? Don't flatter yourself. War is waged between individuals of equal status. No, I'm merely a hunter. Searching out a worthy quarry to put in display forever more as my greatest accomplishments. Do you not understand punin? I was once a warrior of the Dusk Templar, now merely a wandering soul, commanding a ship for a hunters greatest dream." Knightscourge motioned out with his hands in profound knowledge, believing his ideals are nothing less than his life. "It is the destiny I've carved myself. Free from the oppression of just serving as a pawn of the Templar."
"But you realize you are not hunting animals. You're hunting people! *Urngh* Beings with reason and aspirations."
"I see no difference! Does a hunter ever consider the lifestyle or empathy of a Quiplon he's been pursuing. No. The hunter is out to bag him some game. Either as food, or as rite of passage or sport. More or less, I've seen beings of this world hunt down your lesser life forms indiscriminately. Those 'animals' are not equal to humans, or whatever dominant beings that roam about. Only beings of my caliber could understand this reasoning, and why punin like them are so insignificant. They're not even worth speaking to, lest they even understand basic language." This callous nature to her creation and beyond is pissing off the goddess.
"If that's so, then why are you speaking to me? Why not end it and hold me hostage?" Knightscourge scoffed and shook his head.
"Hostages, you sure are delusional celestial. Because you and all your other celestials are different. More powerful than any punin before. Sure your revered as deities to the crazed masses, but what makes the Dusk Templar so unique," He pressed a little harder on her to put more pain onto her. ",is our sure fire way to slay gods themselves. Y'see I don't believe in the concept of god, for every germ that goes around claiming to be such never survives an encounter of my kind. Me and my kind have crushed various false gods with our bare hands, squishing the very life out of them slowly and surely. Last time I checked, a god should be faultless, never experiencing imperfection like sin, and not at all phased by the works of mortals like you are now. They should be immune to any source of pain or death no matter what and they should know beyond anything us here could comprehend. So their meanings would come off as insane to the common mortal. If a man were to try and understand the meanings of god, his imperfection of limited life would not allow such comprehension. And if they were to somehow learn of immortality, then it would take infinity for him to fully understand his masters workings. That, is what a god should be. Not some filthy manifestation of how mortals interpret them. Because, again, mortals are imperfect, so how can they completely interpret a perfect spirit being? Answer: They can't! Because they are not perfect!"
"Great lecture. But that's a no on keeping me as a trophy?" Palutena smirked under the huge foot crushing her.
"No, only weaker celestials can join in on the collection. Rowdy ones like you can only be put down, despite the rarity." He put his sword to her neck, ready to behead. "You celestials are all the same. Thinking you're so high and holier than thou. As if you have no forces of death that affect you. Well Palutena. That new force, is Knightscourge."
"Knightscourge!" The said knight turned his attention to small well dressed man with clenched fists staring down at him. He sparked his memory of just who this punin was.
"The One who made me bleed." Knightscourge scowled over to the small being, taking himself off of the goddess dwarfing compared to him. He stepped back so that Charles could look over Palutena and assure himself that she was alright. "Last time I saw your potential corpse was when I laid waste to a punin camp."
"That was the town I ran, bastard!" Charles growled to his nemesis.
"Oh, my deepest apology runt." He bowed in slighting to Charles. "That was purely out of luck that it was of great importance to you. Honest. It never occured to me in the slightest, not that I cared."
"Such nerve." Palutena retorted. "You're confidence will be your downfall!"
"Is that right? I don't believe that any one of you punins recognize what kind of situation you are in. You're little bush is being burned so that any punin dwelling in it will scatter, like birds. That is why, Palutena, your punin will be preserved, alive or otherwise."
"I wouldn't be too sure. We might not be alone for much longer." Knightscourge gave Charles a queer expression (that is if he or Palutena could read it beyond just squinting eyes)
"Enlighten me." The large knight said back to his targets.
"You see Knightscourge, we went to our world's capitol to warn about your presence here. But you made it quite elusive with your ever so successful raids, and with some minor turmoil going on here. Luckily I got our High Chancellor's permission to cast some footage of your factions violence and the destruction. How you ask?"
*Flashback*
Princess Shokora was seeing off Palutena's crew but not before she could offer anything for Charles, the Animal Crossing Villager in charge of Smashville. "Well if you need anything at all, feel free to ask."
"Now that you ask of it. I would like if you could have a camera crew head off for Skyworld for a big scoop. Have somebody get someone out their." Said Charles to the chancellor.
"Why is that?"
"I have the horrid feeling something bad will happen soon. I mean, believe it or not Sky World and the domain of Pit and Palutena won't be safe forever, plus the reugees will be proof enough to testify the Dusk Templar activities. I only ask for this favor." Shokora thought this over. She wanted to believe in the mans claim, but she really had to get the reins back on the council.
"I believe we have some equipment on the island for shooting live here in the Chamber of Select. I can send some over no problem. It won't be hard." This was most assuring on Charles behalf.
"Thank you Chancellor."
"Please. It's Shokora. I hope you guys find the Super Smash Bros. again. We could really use them for all that's going on. And I don't doubt that they could help out in your guys problem." She flash him a sweet smile, hoping that her help would ease the tension Palutena and her group are experiencing.
*end Flashback*
"It was good timing that you and your band of beasts showed yourselves otherwise none of the footage would have been as convincing as just refugees." Charles smugly grinned to the enemy waging conflict against the verse of societies that have been made his hunting grounds. Outside among the clouds, numerous camera drones (much like the ones used in the Super Mario Strikers: Charged) whizzed around Skyworld capturing the gruesome battle setting the cloudy realm ablaze with the massive Holocaust carrier in the background. Shooting live footage of the Venx slaughtering defenders here and there, watching transport ships of refugees being targeted by the Dusk Templar until they too were falling to the ground in fire and smoke.
The images were being displayed live to various parts of the worlds, ranging from as far as the Hoeen region of the Pokemon Country, to areas like Big Blue and Delfino Plaza. Even in the Regal Estates, where Shokora had retreated to lounge for some time turned her television to the urgent news of a terrifying attack on Skyworld itself, the chancellore holding her hands to her mouth at the obscene carnage and mayhem from the voracious Templar force. This sparked a chain reaction that got the politicians at the Capital to assemble into the Chamber of Select to discuss on this foreign enemy.
"As we speak Knightscourge, our government should be doing something to prepare for any attacks you plan to do. Not just that, now everyone knows you're here." Palutena was certainly impressed with this planning from Charles. She wasn't let in on the plan, which she will firmly discuss with him for, but looking back at Knightscourge, he didn't seem to have reacted to the revelation. His shoulders looked to be shaking a bit.
"Aheheheheheh. ARRRHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHA! IS THAT IT?! That is your trump card!? That is the thing to put fear inside me?!" Palutena and Charles were not expecting him to be taking this so lightly. "I thought that was the limit of your defenses! Government! Heheha! Aid! Ohohohoh, please stop! The comedy of it all!" This is the complete opposite of what Knightscourge should be feeling. That is if this monster could have feelings.
"Did you think we were all that could fight against your tyranny?" Palutena asked incredulously at the chortling giant. To which he responded after finishing his laugh.
"Could've fooled me."
"Even if this doesn't faze you..."
"Oh no it doesn't, little one. No it doesn't." Knightscourge interrupted Charles. "You see, I've had some time to plan this. Lots of time. And it's good you got all your punin assembled together for a common cause. But I don't doubt my strategies can ever be turned by hopeless military strikes from only one planet. My ship was designed to lay down destruction upon entire worlds. And judging on how kingdoms and huts of primitives have been laid to waste before even I, I hold no fear to your Capital's power. So I say to you, I say to you, One who has made me Bleed, 'Bring on the coming fire, bring on the sticks and rocks to be thrown at us'. One way or another, I promise you my goal will come to light. And the inevidibility is out of your control."
"Geez is their anything that can surprise this guy?" Charles said to the Goddess of Light besid him.
"So far, he's got his work together. Our author sure is laying on hard stuff when it comes to this vile villian." Palutena smirked to him. Knightscourge didn't appreciate the goddess' two cents on matters outside their control.
"Your total disregard for that wall has never failed to grind my gears celestial. However this conversation has taken it's toll, and I fear this is playing too well into distraction. So without further ado." Knightscourge revealed that he had been wielding a Dusk Templar rifle with him to exterminate any punin in his way. Palutena grabbed for Charles upon seeing the gun aimed to kill them right there.
"Hold on." She held him formly to her raising her staff up to Knightscourges barrel right as it was releasing its first rounds. "Warp!" The shots landed to where the two were, but no evidence of their deaths showed.
"*Sigh* Dammit. Shouldn't have went with the monologue." He put his palm to his face. Knightscourge was certainly going through deja-vu.
[play Flatzone, Super Smash Bros. Mellee] Somewhere in the Flatzone, our favorite denizen of the aforementioned place was going through his apartment, popping in a digital bag into a black microwave. Beeping sounds of different volumes imitated popping from the popcorn, until a shrill beep indicated that the completion of the cook was done. The black silhouette person was an average joe in his 2-D world, lounging about with his ordinary life, not involved with the Smash Bros.. When not performing various tasks and jobs or partaking in wacky escapades cartoony characters like Mickey or Popeye would journey into back in the day, either putting a good name on themselves or starting off as a town annoyance (that would make an awesome cartoon. The Mr. Game & Watch Show! Maybe later) this dude is off being a schlub with a certain empty feeling inside. Taking out the microwaved snack, our main guy of Game & Watch takes a seat on the sofa in front of his flat-screen T.V. let it all hang out. He's noticeably gained a lot showing in the expanded belly jutting out while sitting. The miserably bored fellow turned the channels with another flat remote until it came upon a sight of a heavenly place being ravaged by some alien threat. He skipped over it and resumed his search of entertainment, but came back around to it recognizing in his past experiences with a certain group in a fighting tournament. Gazing further into the news spewing out nonsense it did spark an idea in his 2-dimensional head. Perhaps he should his old buddies at the lodge. Yeah! His old lodge buddies must be missing him by now, and their's no natural law forbidding him from going out of his home realm to visit some old friends he fought in the war with. Of course the barflies wouldn't recognize him in this state, so he tore off the chub belt tied around him and grabbed a black bag to store some things in before he set off to see the guys at the club. As he exited his dwelling, he skidded forward in a stop, remembering to hang up the "Do Not Disturb" sign over his door. Then Mr. Game & Watch ran off to reunite with his team to relive the glory days of the Parcheesi Olympics. [end the BGM]
[play Destroyed Skyworld, SSB4] Skyworld, the magnificent domain of Palutena and forces of light, crumbles under the dauntless fire of the Dusk Templar. All her defences reduced to unrecognizable rubble, her guard littered about in horrific messes while the killer Venx soared unchallenged. The great Pharsdel ships ,floated throughout in search of any straggling defences to rain hell upon, while transports from the Holocaust bring in more knights to hunt down Knightscourges prey. The group carrying Rosalina make their way through the ruined halls of Palutena's Temple to get to higher ground, narrowly avoiding more Dusk Templar breaking through the walls. The path to the highest point began to grow more treacherous as the amount of cover depleted the further they ventured. In the distance, Magnus continued his slaughter of the Dusk Templar trying to overwhelm and outflank him. However his tenacity kept his fighting spirit as far as his superhuman strength would let him, not showing any signs of tiring. A nearby Venx almost caught sight of Jigglypuff but not before Karen Wii Fit pulled it from being seen.
"This is way too bad." Toon Link said quietly to the others. "We won't be able to get to the fountain unless we cross that bridge. But their are too many of them to get through without a fight."
"We're out of options at this point anyway kid. If only we had the rest of the guys to add some support." Doc Louis added, feeling despair sneak itself on the morale. R.O.B. scanned the other side of the bridge, seeing life signs of the other group heading upstairs to the fountain.
"Them! The others are heading up to the fountain!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Lets get over there before being seen!" Both Ana and Kat, now recovered of course, raced across the sturdy bridge, with the others holding Rosalina in towe. With the whole team assembled at the fountain, the departure onto the floating platform was under way.
"I'm glad everyone is okay." Said Daniel out of breath from the trek. "It wasn't some walk in the park that's for sure."
"Hold on now." Alerted Falco, shifting gazes around the party. "One, two... hm... we're missing some. At most two."
"Lady Palutena!" Pit immediately recognized his goddess from the other side of the bridge, looking weak from her previous wound.
"Hoy. They made it. Charles, once we get to that platform, I'll use whatever remaining power I have left to teleport us somewhere safe away from Knightscourge." The little man nodded to her, grabbing her hand to lead her with her Task Force and the Smashers. Unfortunately, Knightscourge came straight out of lower portion of the temple, gazing up to find his targets.
"My hunters! Do not let them escape! Capture them!" He ordered his troops attention to one of the last resistance fleeing to higher ground. Immediately Venx flipped around to fly back to the hiest point of the island complex their punin targets took refuge in. This meant that Palutena and Charles would have to hurry and cross the bridge before the Dusk Templar could converge upon their position.
"Let's hustle!" The pair sped up their movement, narrowly avoiding shots fired from airborne Venx to the fountain. Their friends urging them to come faster, the fire from the Venx took it's toll on the bridge, breaking it to pieces. But thankfully the villager and goddess jumped to the helpful hands across before they too fell with the bridge. With obviously no way back to the devastated temple their goal was within reach. Pit and Dark Pit distracted any Templar climbing to them with arrow fire supported by Fox and Falco's blasters, but neither weapons had the killing potential they needed to shed the enemies numbers. Taking everyone under account, a sneaky Zelguum smacked Karen off the safe zone below.
"Oh no." Charles took it upon himself to jump down and protect the Wii Fit Trainer from the oncoming warriors. It couldn't get any worse, but per the norm the elevated platform the others were on started to raise itself higher into the skies above Skyworld at such an inopportune time.
"Aw not now. Charles! Karen! Come back on this! The lift is leaving up!" Palutena called to the two below. Charles shoved away the Flivburns and Scaths coming over to Karen. Pikachu, seeing it's friends in harms way, leaped down to shock off any Dusk Templar swarming from around the area including the fountain. Various knights climbed the cliffs to reach the team opposing them, but Meta Knight joined the skirmish, slicing out the small mechs and attacking the giants, one Gerrag having it's eyes cut resulting in it falling off into the depths below. It took the support from their friends to keep off the Templar so that Charles and the other three could climb back onto the platform leaving. With the platform reaching above the clouds, all they had to deal with now were any Venx or Didraturs pursuing from below.
In the distance, Cragalanche was smashing apart any enemy engaging him in combat, hopping to crush those shooting at it from a distance. One gerrag wasn't fast enough to dodge having it's head being grabbed, slammed into the ground hard, then the rest of it thrown at three other approaching Gerrags accumpanied by Flivs an Didraturs. It did stop when no more foes came for a beatdown, glancing back to witness a Phasdel with Venx surrounding it's position. Immediately after the Phaslight cannons blasted out, the squadron of Venx rained innumerable shots against poor Cragalanche, obliterating the entire place the golem inhabited with no way to escape. Seeing this, Phosphora made a beeline over to help her fellow FN commander.
"Hold on Craggy! I'm on my way...!" However, she was caught in midair by her leg, smacked to the ground forcefully by the very aggressor holding her. She looked behind her viscously at the fiend associated with the brazen murderers that are her enemies. "Don't screw with me. I'll fry you!" Another Gerrag pounded the butt of it's gun into her, another trophy for their malignant master. Not only is Palutena's radiant temple a smouldering wreckage, other gods are being rounded up to be taken under the Dusk Templar's grip into the treacherous hull of the Holocaust, where only God knows what goes on in there. Arlon stood elegantly upon a spire of destroyed building, seeing the futility in resistance against the fiends now bolstering up with more numbers coming into play.
"Aw the inevitable fall of the top." Even he knew that with the Dusk Templar around his most divine abilities are stunted down to around mere super limits. "To all those who have fallen defending against these ruffians, it has been an honor." Posing in a refined bow, Arlon awaited as the Dusk Templar surrounded intending to restrain him. As for Magnus, we can assume he went down kicking, taking out as many scrubs as possible until even he was swarmed over (or anything else). Our heroes, losing sight of Skyworld, elevated past more clouds, glad the entire battle zone is out of their hair. Daniel held his wife in his arms, glad he hadn't lost her when she fell down to the Templar claws. Many were disheartened, feeling utterly bare to the Templar who had found a way to locate their hidden base. Ness neared the goddess' arm, wondering how harrowing this must have been for her and her angel.
"Palutena." He reached for her hand, which she gripped with maternal instinct.
"It's alright. All we can do now is pick up from where we started and keep looking for the other SSB." She smiled to the boy. Yet she must've been feeling some extreme emotions over the ordeal. "We'll just have to find another place to call HQ."
Doc Louis looked up just as they were leaving the layer of cloud. "Not to be the barer of bad news, but we're far from safe now." Surrounding them, more Didraturs rallied around, with Venx crashing through the cloud below.
"Crap! They don't know when to quit do they?" Little Mac groaned. Now the next part of their battle would begin, but the Venx would be considered untouchable considering not many of them would have adequate weapons to strike at the fighters.
"Well, it's honestly been a good run with you guys." Said Sonic, running out of ideas. Not even he would be able take this without tiring out.
"Jiggly, jigglypuff!"
"I have to agree with the puff. I ain't going with them without a good brawl." Falco was ready to go all out, especially if it would be their utter end.
"They'll have to take me dead if that's the whole deal. Right coach?" Mac looked to Doc Louis. The trainer pulled out one last chocolate.
"Not to be a sorry sack, but I'll make it last. LET EM' HAVE IT MAC!" At around this minute, Rosalina had finally awoken, seeing that she was not in the Temple, but outside, surrounded by Dusk Templar fiends. Suddenly, she started zezzing out, like some sort of glitch, gradually fazing away catching everyone by surprise.
"Holy smokes! Did that tall chick just vanish?!" Following suit, Wario went through the same effects, slowly fading away as well. "Wooooaaaa..."
Those present around them were now fazing away as well, not at all knowing what was going on with them. "Pii? Chaaaaa..."
"Hold up now! Whoa!..."
Sonic, Jigglypuff, the Wii Fit Trainers, Diddy, everyone was rezzing out, leaving Charles and R.O.B. the few left.
"R.O.B.!" Charles reached out to his bud, yet R.O.B. looked around not showing as much fright the others were going through, fazing away finally. Charles saw himself sort of pixelating, looking back to see a Didratur taking the moment to ram straight for him. Bracing for the impact, Charles faded away for the confused top to survey it's surrounding to double check so that it had no malfunction. Skyworld had been sacked by the Dusk Templar, yet Knightscourge hadn't gotten much to show for it besides a small catch of punin celestials.
Knightscourge returned back to his ship, successful in downing one of the punin bases, but not what he had gone there for.
"Greetings Great Knightscourge! I hear your latest hunting expedition turned out well. Another victory over the enemy!" The knight approaching had a orange pattern to his body, decked out with spines pointed down on the sides of his thighs and running up from his neck, splitting off at the middle of his back. This one was the one who had caught Mario at Lumoise City.
"Silence! This was no victory. The kill escaped again." Knighscourge was not feeling up to converse with any underlings right now. His day had not started well anyway.
"Escaped? Well at least we can say that there is one less hole for them to reside in. Heheh."
"They will pay for what they have done Viperion. Mark my words. I'm scheming another way to flush them out. And this will be flawless."
"Come around when you feel in the need of assistance. I'm just dying to let you in on some plans I have for those wretched punin." The knight tapped his claws together maniacally, ever indulgent on the search for these punin.
"You'd best pray it doesn't come to it. My plan first, then I'll consider even humoring your psyche." The master left for his captains chair, with his underling both snarling and mildly cackling on his plots against the Nintendo cast.
Trophy description: Dusk Templar Flivburn
More or less mechanical devices used to bay the prey (or at least distract it) for the Templar hunters to go in and trap it. Originally used to sneak into tight spaces for the giant knights, the expendable bots merely keep Knightscourges quarry contained. Don't let it's resemblance to a cuddly bunny fool you, their claws and saw spines are what make them Dusk Templar material. Can be seen carrying small firearms or be used as moving bombs.
Dusk Templar Scath
Another small bot primarily used much like the Flivburns, but are more trigger happy. The manic small fry are equipped with a multitude of weaponry, from repeaters to small cannons to even lightning rays, and the list goes on. Are best known for sabotaging their enemy equipment and craft working best around other Templar around their size (to absorb the damage for them.).
Dusk Templar Didratur
A mechanism like a spinning top with dangerous sharp edges equipped. Unlike the Flivs or Scaths, they prefer to hover around the prey and close in if provoked or just get in the way to impede escape. Did we mention they can fly? But just because they stop spinning, doesn't mean they can't shoot themselves forward at the enemy bottom-first (twisting may be included) Crafty little fellas, huh?
Dusk Templar Verrutt
Knightscourges hunting dogs, designed like a hyena with the same nasty bite. The huge, voracious predators are efficient killers whether in packs or sniffing out prey for their malignant masters.
Dusk Templar GD Pharsdel
A medium bombardment craft that serve to demolish at large scales with the Phaslight cannons it carries. Prone to flying above their targets because the rounds they fire arc downwards. However these cannons can be adjusted to shoot some distances. The massive menaces are a well built defenses worst nightmare.
Smasher appearance: Mr. Game & Watch
Game & Watch has a weird sense of memory. Anywho, I'd been leading up to this battle for quite a while, but lets get things straight, they are far from losing everything to Knightscourge, which is what next chapter will discuss. If it isn't already obvious, the word punin is a slur used primarliy by the Dusk Templar in comparison to small beings to them. I'll be back to revise this but I've been working too long on this. Any questions? Please leave a review and I'll see you readers l8tr! ;p