Part One
Chapter Twenty One: Multi POV
As everyone moved out of the Chozo private quarters and into the main hallway that wound all the way around the League's main room, the man who had been hidden behind a black Hylian robe took it off, revealing himself to be the famous F-Zero racer, Captain Falcon.
Not much was known about the man, for he preferred to be alone and off by himself, even though he owned a mega conglomerate of Captain Falcon products and memorabilia.
Although a solitary creature, the man could be moved to help others out of pure selflessness. Such had been the case when the Hylian Princess had asked him.
And now, as all of the other delegates were proceeding towards the Chozo platform in the assembly hall, he would have to leave. Captain Falcon had no other business here, and although he knew something heavy was going to happen, something that would make history, the man just did not want to be a part of it. He did not want to be so swept up in the affairs of others, but he had this inkling feeling that they needed him.
He told everyone he would be leaving them, and that he wished them all the luck in the galaxy. A few disappointed faces met his, but overall he got the feeling that many of the people understood why he was leaving. It seemed that even some of them looked like they would rather be going with him.
Turning around, Captain Falcon began to walk down the spiral hallway. The walls were completely white, and the white floors covered partially with a red carpet jumped out at him. He certainly must have been an obvious sight, wearing a blue jumpsuit against a predominantly white background.
Walking along, he passed many delegates, of all different shapes and sizes and from all parts of the galaxy. Some of them ignored, simply passing by to get onto their designated stage. But there were a few who shot him a double glance, probably just realizing who he actually was.
About two-thirds of the way down, as a Representative was just boarding their stage, Captain Falcon could hear a loud, booming voice of someone. Could it have been Wolf?
No matter, though. These affairs did not bother him. He couldn't take part in this.
But as he walked away from the sound of the voice, as it trailed off behind him, the bounty hunter couldn't help but feel curious. He wanted to know who was speaking, and secretly wanted to know what would happen.
"No…" he thought to himself. "I have to go…"
Finally getting to the main elevator lobby that would bring him down the narrow column that held this place up, Captain Falcon was confronted by two guards, who were holding large metal staffs by their sides.
"Excuse me," he said, trying to get to the control panel to call up an elevator.
"Sorry, sir," a guard said, moving into his way.
"What is this all about?" Captain Falcon asked, getting straight to the point. He did not want to be meddled with. Not now anyway.
"No admittance. You do not have permission to leave," the other guard told him.
"Oh? And by who's order?" the racer's voice spoke, dripping with irritation.
"The 47th Leader of the League, Representative Wolf of the Lylat System," the guard said, putting the metal staff, now circulating with electricity, between the bounty hunter and himself.
- - - -
As everyone filed out of the Chozo quarters, the man known as "Mr. Falcon" pulled down the hood that had been partially covering his face, and revealed himself as the true Captain Falcon.
It was a huge surprise to both Falco and Fox, both of whom were big fans of F-Zero racing. However, there was no time to formally greet the man, as he said he would be taking off. It was not unlike him though, to do that. Often times, when he finished a race and the press wanted to interview him, he refused any comments and simply left.
But that was part of what made him so damn cool. A true man's man.
With his ears flickering to the sound of Captain Falcon's steps going further and further away, Fox McCloud turned back to the group, only in time to see Snake speaking quietly with Princess Zelda and her advisor, Rauru. There seemed to be a disappointed look upon both of the Hylian's faces as Snake turned away from them and headed in the opposite direction of Capt. Falcon, ascending the hallway.
Fox couldn't tell what Snake was up to, but he couldn't be concerned with that now. After meeting up with Samus and Falco aboard the Great Fox, his heart had been filled with trepidation over the announcement coming from the League about Wolf's speech.
The two had served together as opposing delegates to their home in the galaxy, the Lylat System. And although their relationship was tense, Fox had some level of respect for someone such as Wolf, who could have come from such a bad and misled background, into a role of a leader and politician.
Though that respect was certainly gone now. Ever since him and Falco had found a Wolfen spacecraft in ruins on Tallon IV, and with shattered canisters of Phazon on board, Fox had finally realized that the true nature of Wolf was not gone. The creature had merely been using his role as leader of the Andross Party to get away with ever more illegal actions.
But for what reason? Fox's mind had been distracted with that very question for so long. He knew that in the past, Wolf and his cronies often took part in illegal activities for money, personal gain such as power and esteem, or for the simple benefit of thuggish friends, but Fox could not believe it was something that simple this time.
He knew that Wolf was about to officially become the 47th Leader of the League, but the creature was clearly not qualified for the position. And there was honestly nothing about being the Leader that was glamorous or intriguing to someone like Wolf. So what was it?
That, Fox did not know. But he was determined to find out. If the betrayal to his homeland of the Lylat System ran deeper than smuggling Phazon, Fox would learn of this. Him and Falco had a made a personal agreement with one another to do this. No matter the cost.
As each delegate moved down the hall, to the designated Chozo platform, each of them stood elbow to elbow with just enough room. Next to Fox on the right, was of course, Falco Lombardi. To his left was the tall man known as Spartan 117, or less formerly as Master Chief. He was a man of few words, and left most of the talking to Representative Cortana, but Fox had a feeling this person would soon play a much larger role.
And he also had feeling that this would be the last time he would stand here at the League of the Cosmos.
- - -
After telling Rauru and Princess Zelda that he would be leaving the group to be on the lookout, because he did not want a repeat of the last time they were at the League, Snake began walking up the hallway, ascending the place to pick out a vantage point to watch everyone from.
He had gone up nearly the entire way, weaving in and out of delegates who were passing by and walking towards their platforms. He was looking for someone who would be alone on their stage, so that he would be able to knock them out and take over, using the place as spot to watch. And luck would have it that a single delegate had a platform near the top of the dome.
Slowly walking behind the person, and passing through the door that led to the stage, Snake took three small steps and then grabbed the representative, locking him in a chokehold. The person emitted small gasps for air, but Snake squeezed tighter and tighter around the neck. He didn't necessarily want to kill the person, but if that was the resulting consequence, it mattered not to Snake.
After about fifteen more seconds, the body of the person fell limp, and Snake dragged it into a corner of the stage. Closing the door behind him, he turned back around and crouched near the edge of the platform.
Snake couldn't help but feel that something was going to go wrong. After risking imprisonment because of Wolf's allegations, and then experiencing the assassination of Nabooru and Magnus, Snake expected the worse. But how could it possibly get worse?
At the edge of the platform, Snake pulled out his binoculars and looked around. First, he scouted out where the Chozo platform was, where everyone would be standing. Then he looked for Wolf. The creature was on his designated stage, standing at his podium and looking around. His speech hadn't begun yet as everyone was still getting settled.
Looking back to the Chozo platform, he saw everyone moving onto it. And then, something peculiar had caught his eye, in the corner of the lens of the binocular. It looked like something had moved across the wall of the dome, between two different platforms. But there was nothing there. Looking intensely at the wall, Snake was about to take off the binoculars and pass it off as nothing, but there was another blurring movement across the wall.
Something must have been moving across the area, but there was simply nothing there. Just a blurring distortion of some odd form. As Snake was about to pull off the binoculars to get a look without them, he saw the same strange thing, but on another area of the dome. Underneath a platform, it was the same blurry effect.
And then it hit him.
"Cloaking technology….?" He muttered to himself.
Putting the binoculars back over his eyes, he saw it again. But it was all over the place. Under platforms, on the walls, behind some delegates…
Strange, blurry movements.
- - - -
Moving onto the Chozo platform, everyone stood, elbow to elbow. Link and Zelda were concealing themselves with dark Hylian robes, so as not to make a scene in front of others. After all, one of them was presumed an escaped convict, and the other dead.
After a few short minutes of waiting around, Wolf finally began his speech. The Lylat Representative introduced himself as the 47th Leader of the League, much to Link's dismay. The creature went on at length about how he was going to bring down those who have caused chaos within the galaxy, with their dealing with the Space Pirate Confederation and ultimately the Flood.
Link knew Wolf was referring to him and Zelda, and the anger within him was beginning to grow. He wanted nothing more than to corner the beast, with sword in hand as Wolf would cower in fear, with his tail between his legs. Such an image played through Link's mind, especially when he was imprisoned on the Phendrana Drifts.
And Wolf continued with his words, speaking out subversively against Zelda, Link, and the rest of the Hylians. It continued on to the point where Link could not take it anymore.
Full of rage and anger, he pushed his way to the podium on their platform, moving Rauru and Zelda to the side.
"We must all unite! We must form a union against these perpetrators, of who so selfishly brought doom and destruction upon us!" Wolf continued to say.
At the podium, Link activated the speaker system and began to talk over Wolf.
"How exactly do you plan on directly confronting this "chaos" you speak of? What can you show us other than baseless promises to bring justice upon these 'perpetrators'?" Link said, his voice booming over Wolf's amplified one.
The entire doom went silent as Link spoke. Nobody knew who it was, as the Hylian had a hood drawn over his face.
On the platform, Link held his ground, even as Rauru tried to intercept the situation. Although this wasn't part of their plan, Link didn't care. He was waiting for this moment, to call out Wolf. Ever since that beast had been the cause of his imprisonment…
As the silence continued, with Rauru trying to get Link to fall back, Wolf spoke.
"I demand to know who I am talking to," he said.
Without saying a word, Link pulled down the hood that had been covering his face. As he did, the entire dome erupted in hushed chatter, with many gasps of surprise and shock. Nobody could believe that this one person that was able to "escape" from the League's prison quarters was here, back to confront the very thing that had put him there.
As Link looked on, he noticed the speechless expression on Wolf's face. Seeing him caught with nothing to say in return was almost as good as Link's dreams of revenge. Almost.
The two of them continued to stare at one another, even across the long distance of the assembly dome. Link could feel the icy and irritated expression of Wolf staring back at him.
Rauru, desperate to fix this tension, pushed Link aside and moved in front of the podium. Link, however, continued to fix his glare on Wolf. It felt too good to see Wolf up there, without a word to say.
"Representative Wolf, of the Lylat System, excuse the sudden interruption. But, as you, along with this entire assembly of representative have just discovered, Representative Link of the Hylian System has made a safe return here after his kidnapping from his prison cell here at the League," Rauru said.
"Kidnapping…?" Wolf questioned. "You really would have this entire assembly of intelligent representatives believes such a tall tale?"
"Yes, I would have them believe it. It is only the truth that I speak of," Rauru countered. "And here to my other side is one person who's life has been at stake since the illegal blockade to her planet was enacted."
Zelda stepped forward after Rauru's announcement and pulled down the hood that had covered her face. The great room filled with loud and chaotic discourse of shock and surprise. Surely, nobody had expected to see both of the Hylians alive and well. Especially not after all the information Wolf had given them.
"Explain your self, old man," Wolf commanded over the loud chatter. It was obvious he was disconcerted with these appearances. "And let this entire hall understand why this single platform you are standing on has more bodies and delegates than it should. What are these representatives doing off of their designated stages?"
"The manner in which we stand and congregate on this single platform correlates directly with your acceptance speech as the 47th League of the Cosmos," Rauru began. "These delegates and I refuse your command and authority as the 47th Leader, and therefore we formally resign ourselves into exile, giving up our political powers under the protest of your leadership."
After he finished, Link noted how the entire place went silent. It was so quiet, he could even hear the faint sound of the others breathing, or the occasional rumble and gurgle of someone's stomach.
It was a blunt confession on behalf of Rauru, but perhaps the old man was just as frustrated and exhausted as he was. There really wasn't any time for formalities either. As Link had learned from Ike, Planet Hylia was in the midst of extreme danger. An uphill and almost hopeless struggle against the Flood.
"What is the cause of this…opposition?" Wolf said, almost stumped with the right use of words.
"I think, especially between you and Representative Link, that you know full well what the root of this is," Rauru responded, hinting at the traitorous acts Wolf had been doing in the Chozon Prime System, but had been hiding from the entire galaxy. That statement couldn't help but remind Link about that whole situation, several weeks ago, when he was carried away by guards and imprisoned here.
"A vague and general rebuttal on behalf of these delegates... I can't help but assume that this has to do with your back room dealings with the Space Pirate Confederation and the Flood that have brought much distrust and shame upon you Hylians. And now you return here to make some righteous claim that my authority is more dreadful than the fear and destruction you have birthed to this galaxy? You expect us all to believe this when you have paraded false princesses and are assisting escaped convicts?"
Wolf's voice only became increasingly irate and loud as he spoke each sentence. Other delegates began yelling in approval the creature's remarks too. Soon, the entire hall gathered in loud yells and shouts back and forth, between representatives that supported Wolf, those that remained neutral, and the group that stood on the Chozo platform in opposition.
Link even found himself shouting back, though the entire place had become so disruptive and noisy, that he could barely hear his own voice. Rauru stood next to him, yelling to try and calm the place once again. Behind him, Link could also hear Falco shouting obscenities against Wolf that would be too profane to mention. Fox had joined in, but wasn't using any foul language.
As he looked on, Link saw Wolf standing on his stage, arms crossed with a smug look on his face, as if pleased with the yelling and the arguments that he had created between the delegates. He could plainly tell that the creature had a way with others. An ability to feed on certain emotions and points that would get the desired reactions for his gain. It was a characteristic of Wolf that would be hard to overcome.
And then, through the noise, Link thought he heard someone trying to get his attention. Mostly oblivious, Link ignored it until he felt a tugging at his arm. Turning to the person, he saw Samus next to him saying something barely audible. Leaning in closer, he asked her to repeat herself.
"I said, something's not right! Just look at the walls and under the platforms! There are strange blurry-"
But before Samus could finish, the giant dome-like room went silent. Everyone had dropped their raucous voices to listen in on one person nobody had bothered listening too.
Standing at the podium on the Chozo platform was Princess Zelda. Link was uncertain how this would play out.
"Ah, Princess Zelda of Planet Hylia!" Wolf exclaimed. "Or is it really you? I remembered not too long ago that a woman of that same name was respectfully laid to rest in a funeral procession on this very planet. And, if you remember, such a thing is an honor that not many leaders receive..."
Link couldn't believe it. It was as if Wolf was trying to get Zelda to keep her mouth shut by making Nabooru's funeral a supposed dignified and glorified moment. That in turn would suggest her murder was just as glorious, which was an odd and terrifying rationalization that only Link and his fellow delegates on this platform would be able to understand.
And Zelda only stood there, composing herself and taking her time before speaking.
"I refuse to confront such false leadership, and instead I will direct this message to all the delegates of this hall," she began, but was immediately cut off.
"You do not have permission to address only this hall and not your commanding leader of the League. You are part of an illegal rebellion, refusing my authority without just cause. By the Galactic Laws, it is traitorous to reject my leadership when it was fairly voted in-" Wolf began to declare, but was subsequently cut off by Zelda.
"It is traitorous to be masking an illegal smuggling of Phazon to the Space Pirate Confederation by pretending to be investigating the situation under the pretense of justice and safety for the galaxy!" her voice rang with anger that nobody had ever witnessed before.
Just as the League had previously calmed down, the entire place went off in more chaotic and boisterous chatter and discussion that was louder than ever.
Link, startled himself, reached his hand out and grabbed her arm, worried that she might get herself into hot water if she continued on. But without acknowledge his gesture, she pulled her arm away, escaping his grip.
After she eluded his attention, Link diverted his gaze to Representative Wolf, hoping to see some kind of answer as to how this situation was going to unfold. It appeared that their admittance to denying his power was not going to be an easy way out, or a safe plan as they had hoped.
Watching Wolf, Link saw as the creature was busy talking on a wristband communicator. His eyes were rapidly looking around the dome, darting from platform to platform, while he continued to speak. And then…he stopped. He gave a last sweeping view of the place, and then backed away from his podium.
What could he be up to now? Link was suspicious of the creature, and so he kept his eyes fixated on him. But Wolf just stood there. And the entire League kept a long and drawn out argument between all sorts of delegates.
The noisy hall kept on until there was a sudden and drastic interruption.
Coming from above their platform was the sound of someone screaming. Everyone in the hall immediately stopped talking and turned their heads to the direction of the sound. The screaming was cut off, and that's when he saw it.
Staring upwards, trying to get a view of the problem, Link tilted his head in time to see a body drop. It came falling down from above, head first. As it accelerated downwards, the body of a representative quickly passed by them.
Everyone in the hall ran towards the edge of their platforms, some crying out in fear and shock, watching as this person's body finally hit the bottom of the assembly dome, from a one hundred foot drop.
As everybody was panicking about the situation, Link felt as an arm pushed him aside.
"Look!" he heard Samus cry, with her right arm pointing upwards to stage that the delegate had fallen from.
Propped near the railing of the platform was an insectoid space pirate of the Space Pirate Confederation, standing with its right arm poised outwards, a laser gun graphed to its arm.
"Ahhhh!" came a feminine scream from behind him. Link whipped himself around to see Princess Peach with a hand momentarily cupped over her mouth, as her wide eyes looked on at another insectoid alien. It was in the doorway that connected their platform to the hall beyond.
Immediately, Fox and Falco brandished their weapons and shot the creature several times. As they did, Link heard Samus cry out again.
"They're everywhere!" her voice shuddered.
Turning back around, Link saw as more of the same pirates could be seen appearing all over the assembly hall. Grappling onto walls, standing on platforms, perched upside down and beneath some stages, they were literally manifesting from nothing.
"Where the hell are they coming from??" Link shouted, lifting his left arm up and grabbing the Master Sword that was slung on his back.
"Cloaking technology! They've been here this whole time! It's a trap!" Samus called out.
But even as the entire place was filled with armed space pirates, none of them made a move. They all just stood there, clinging to walls or hanging, aiming their weapons and putting down any direct opposition.
"Ridley's minions…?" Representative Wolf yelled aloud at his podium. "A peaceful exile these delegates declared…? These, who have plotted with the SPC and the Flood…now they try once again to intervene and bring chaos and plot against my life…! Guards! GUARDS!" Wolf shouted.
Once again, it seemed as though Wolf was one step ahead of them. And Link couldn't believe it. He wasn't surprised that Wolf had staged something against them, but the degree at which he had gone was astounding. It seemed that the Representative of the Lylat Systems had no limits to his tricks.
And just how they would all overcome this, Link did not know. At the moment they were trapped. Space pirates filled the room, revealing themselves from hiding under illegal cloaking devices, and the guards had once again been called in.
But Link wasn't alone this time, and he had a feeling it wouldn't be a prison cell that awaited them all. What possibly awaited them, the moment alluded to no answers.
As the entire League of the Cosmos was taken hostage by the Space Pirate Confederation, fear, anger, and uncertainty filled the air. Everyone was posing for the worst. Zelda was standing with left arm supporting her right, steadying it for an attack. Rauru looked around with his stern eyes, noticing every little movement or sound. Samus was next to Link, her plasma pistol hidden behind her right thigh. Fox and Falco had their weapons aimed, in a standoff against two new space pirates that replaced the dead one in the doorway.
Ike was staggered in a wide legged stance, his sword hand clenched in a tight fist, hidden by a draped cape. Prince Marth was positioned beside Princess Peach, hand on sword hilt. Peach was against the railing of the ledge, watching the standoff.
Master Chief and Pit were in the center of it all. The green armored warrior stood amongst everyone, towering over and revealing nothing about his reaction to it all. The angel-like person, the shortest of everyone, beat his wings, causing white feathers to disperse every now and then.
Poised off to the side, Link turned away from the standoff and looked all over the assembly, at every other cornered representative. Then he remembered that Snake was somewhere else, above them on another platform, possibly in the same predicament.
Looking around to try and find the dark haired mercenary, a sudden and blaring sound filled the dome. An air siren, traditionally used to warn if any spacecraft had crossed into the "no-fly" zone that occupied a good mile around the League's dome in the sky, was now blaring at a considerably deafening volume.
The siren had never been used before, save for emergency exercises.
"What now?!" Link said to himself, looking frantically around for an answer, fearing the worst.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Author's Note: Wolf is a little twat, no? I love the idea of him being a conniving villian, so I keep playing on that. And, as you should be able to put together, he is behind the appearance of the SPC. Using illegal cloaking devices, they had remained hidden all over the place. Because they are insect-like, they have the ability to stick to walls, much like real bugs. And the blurry shapes that both Samus and Snake were seeing, were the SPC pirates in disguise. Ah, but how was Wolf so prepared to stage this??
So I lied to you. There will be another Multi POV chapter after this. I was going to just make this one, terribly long chapter, but I think it would have been too much in one sitting. So I cut it in two. Hope you don't mind.
Let's see…there was Fox, Captain Falcon, Snake, and Link in this chapter. It was fun to change it up with those other two, even as this story really revolves around five distinct characters. Perhaps I will make a chapter specifically for Master Chief. I'd have to think on that one, as he's technically not in SSBB…oh, but it's so tempting. :3
Onto the review replies!
Doombringer: You are in luck! As I had planned long ago, Samus and Ike will cross paths more directly as the story progresses. I really think those two would have a dynamic relationship, even if it's not romantic.
Nintendogeek01: Two good guesses, but neither of those series are the answer. You were a little warmer when you mentioned Earthsia…in some ways.
Hehehe, I'm glad you're still enjoying this story.
TwilightBladerJulz: We've already had our one on one about pairings, but I want to let everyone know this: even though this story isn't LinkxZelda, it is not going to disrespect any other character because of this. I really don't like bashing others because of pairings, so you won't see that from me. ;)
And I really couldn't do that with Zelda, as she is one of my favorite characters. X3
Silvite's Cry: Thank you so very much for the kind review. And I can't wait to reveal more!
Alberto4395: Yes, Samus and Link will develop…some kind of romance. To what extent and how deep it will go, that's what I hope will intrigue you!
Seraph Dragon: Roy who? LOL, sorry about not including him. If I add one more character to the mix, my brain will melt. And I thought that was a sufficing nickname for Samus too. XD
Waltz of a Supernova: Pit is a supporting character. You might even see a chapter with his POV. And wow, a cheese grater would be a fairly torturous way to die….Hmm….That gives me an idea! XD
And I hope to see more reviews from you! I'm always accepting regular reviewers! XD
Flowershop78: Aww, thanks! I can only hope I carry this story to its end with this same degree of interest from you!