A/N: First off, I'd like to say thank you to all the wonderful reviews. You have no idea how much it means to me to log back on after a long absence and see all the supportive comments. Thank you for sticking with me through this wild ride! ^ ^

.::Chapter Nineteen::.

"I'm telling you," Wario growled. "If there's money in a job, I take it. I don't give a damn what it is, as long as the pay is good. You think I know what the heck Tabuu's up to? I was just doing my job."

Toon Link immediately whacked him on the head with his sword. "Oh come on, you gotta remember something!" he said in exasperation. "Think, will you?"

"Hitting me on the head isn't gonna help!" Wario snapped back. "You think I'm gonna tell you anything after you broke my car? That thing cost me hundreds of dollars!" He turned away, or at least, he tried to with his bindings. Toon Link sighed and sulkily cast a look at Mewtwo.

"He's not going to talk."

"You think?" Red said. He was leaning against a tree, carefully bandaging his wounds. "Say you were ambushed by some random person, then thrown out of your car, and then--"

"I get the picture," Toon Link snapped. "You don't need to act like that." He kicked a rock at the Pokemon Trainer and stormed away. Mewtwo looked at the two before slowly floating after him.

"We can offer you something more than money," Roy said quietly.

"Oh, really?" Wario rolled his eyes.

"You know," the mercenary continued on. "That you have to be alive to get money." Wario froze.

"You're bluffing!" Wario held his head up in disdain, though he was shaking from head to toe. He suddenly blurted out, "I mean, you need me!"

"Sure we do," Dedede said, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "We'll just get the information from your fellow coworkers. You know somethin'?" He casually set a gloved hand on Wario's head. "I don't think there's money in the afterlife."

Sweat popped out on Wario's face. "I'll take you to his base!" he finally burst out. "But I better get something good outta it--"

"Hey," Dedede tightened his grip. Wario froze. "Just be glad you're keeping your head." He let go. Wario relaxed. "How far?"

"Not far, it's really close by," Wario muttered. "Really, really short walk. I mean, sprint. Hey, you have freaky psychics in your group, don't you?! Why don't you ask them to teleport you or make you fly or something?"

Dedede turned to Red. "That's actually a nice idea--" He stopped in mid-sentence when he realized that there was nobody there. "Where the heck is everyone disappearing to?"

Olimar just gave a resigned shrug and stood up. "I'll go find them." He paused. "Our ride should be here soon."

"Ride? What ride?"

A shadow fell over the group. Dedede looked up to see a giant, masked ship bursting out of the clouds. The penguin took a few steps back in surprise. Olimar cleared his throat.

"That ride."

Falcon slammed on the brakes and the ship skidded to a stop in the air. He turned around, a skeptical look on his face, and said, "You're kidding me, right?"

Bowser mumbled angrily. "Do I look like I'm kidding?"

Samus shook her head. "You want us to go straight into the enemy's arms, Bowser."

Peach fidgeted in her seat. Mario looked at the Koopa King sitting beside him. Snake simply said 'Hmph.'

"Well, it works for both of us," Bowser growled. "I'll bring my army, Mario brings his... Toad and Yoshi friends, whatever they're good for, we'll make a distraction, and you guys can sneak in and save the world like you always do."

"So," Falcon said. "We're just going to waltz into Tabuu's base. Is that the plan?"

Bowser gave a hoarse chuckle. "Exactly. We both win."

"Hold on a second here," Samus said. "From what I can tell, this place is going to be pretty well-guarded. It'll be a miracle if we can get past twenty miles within it."

"Pika!" Pikachu heartily voiced his agreement. Kirby hesitantly echoed him.

"I know, I know," Bowser said. "But it'll work. I know it'll work. You'll have to trust me on this. I know the way inside and out of the base like the back of my hand. I was Tabuu's inside man, if you've forgotten."

"Like we can forget," Snake muttered.

Falcon was staring straight ahead, showing no emotion whatsoever on the subject. Bowser leaned forward. "Trust me on this."

"It's not a matter of trust," Samus said. "What you're suggesting is going to get us all killed."

"I know how Tabuu thinks," Bowser said. "He knows you're going to try to find the other Smashers. He wants you to find the other Smashers. But it's all to get us into one big group so he can wipe us out all at once. He's gotten some new tricks up his sleeve, and he's knows the chinks in our armor now."

Snake lit a cigarette, deeply inhaled, deeply exhaled. "Since when did you become the eloquent speaker?" he asked.

"I'm telling the truth!" Bowser roared. "Tabuu knows the best way to get to us: through our friends!"

Silence settled over them. Then Mario said, "I know what you mean."

Falcon looked at the plumber curiously. Mario shrugged resignedly. "I think-a surprise attack would work, if we played our cards right." He nodded to himself wearily.

"I disagree," Samus said a bit too pleasantly. "The best thing would be to gather the Smashers--"

"You HAVEN'T been LISTENING to what I've been saying!" Bowser shouted.

"We heard you well enough the first time!" Falcon shouted back. "Now listen: I like this idea of a surprise attack. This plan might work, like Mario said. A few of us can sneak in and sabotage the place from the inside. Bowser will help us, since he seems to know his way around the place. Mario and Peach make the distractions..."

"... Gladly," Peach chirped.

"... While the rest of us go into the base." Falcon paused. "Oh, do you happen to know if there's any Pokemon nearby?"

At the mention of 'Pokemon,' Pikachu's ears pricked up. "Pika, Pikachu," he said.

"There might be," Samus translated.

"Well, then," Falcon said. He turned the ship onto autopilot and spun his chair around. "Why don't you be the diplomat, little guy?"

"Pikaa?"

"Gather all the Pokemon you can find." Falcon thought for a moment. "Mmm-hmm. We'll need a really big distraction. If you manage to bring your army, Mario, and you manage to bring yours, Bowser, we should be able to distract Tabuu long enough. If Pikachu manages to bring enough Pokemon... well, I guess we'll be set."

"Poyo!" Kirby waved his stubby arms. "Dragoon! Voosh!"

"Ah, right. The Dragoon. That'd be great too, Kirby."

Kirby nodded in satisfaction. Falcon looked around him. "Well? How's it sound so far?"

"Suicidal," Samus said tartly.

"Right. But we've been through tougher stuff," Falcon said. He programmed the next destination and grimly smiled. "Luck and fate have always been on our side. Let's hope it still is."

Ike looked at Marth, looked at the revenge-crazed robot, then back at Marth. "Well, some heroic death this is," the mercenary said.

"Don't assume it's the end before it's the end," Marth answered. He slunk lower to the ground as Galleom unleashed another barrage of bullets. Ike mirrored his movement.

"I don't see any way out of this," Ike said. "Do you?"

Marth's eyes darted around the room and he reluctantly shook his head no. Ike tightened his grip on his sword. "Well, let's make the best of it then--"

"Come out, little cowards!" Galleom bellowed. "I will kill you sooner or later, either way!" He gave a mechanical laugh that shook the ground.

Ike looked up. The ceiling was sagging even lower now. It wasn't long before it collapsed on all of them...

Wait! Ike looked back at the ceiling. Marth instantly knew what he was thinking and said slowly, "You're going to kill us all."

"That's what Galleom's going to do, anyway." Ike knelt down to the ground. "I'm going to need your help. Draw his attention away."

"And you?"

Ike nodded toward the beams. "I'll take care of the rest." Marth shifted uneasily.

Ike waited until the robot stopped firing. He signaled to Marth. All at once they jumped out, swords ready. Galleom, having run out of bullets, gave a low, angry growl and lunged at them with an inhuman roar.

Ike rolled to the left. A giant fist slammed down where he had been moments before. Clouds of dust and dirt filled the air. Pieces of metal flew. Ike pressed himself flat against the wall, stifling his cough. He felt around, trying to feel for the beam.

Bang. Galleom's fist slammed by him again. Ike froze. The fist retracted.

"I can see you, little warrior," Galleom snarled. "There isn't anywhere for you to hide."

Ike knew that he was bluffing. Galleom couldn't see through the dust either. If he could, then Ike would've been dead by now. He slowly faced the first beam and slammed his sword into it. The rusty metal creaked as it buckled underneath the powerful blow.

"I know where you are!" The robot's heavy footsteps resounded through the small hallway.

Clang! The sound of metal against metal made Ike instinctively turn his head. Galleom stomped away from Ike's position.

There were four main beams standing. If Ike could break one more, the entire ceiling would collapse on them. Hopefully, it would knock Galleom out. But he had to hurry. The dust was beginning to clear up. And once it did, he was a sitting duck.

A breeze gently blew past Ike. Wait... a breeze?! Ike looked back and saw Galleom's red eyes staring back at him.

"The game's up," Galleom grated. He shifted a little and a golden trophy rolled toward him. It was Marth. "You lose."

Ike responded by stabbing him in the eye.

Galleom drew back, clawing at his face. Ike ducked under him and ran for the opposite wall. "Like my father always said..." He pointed his sword at the last beam. Galleom stared at him, frozen. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." He swung as hard as he could.

The ceiling came down with a roar.

Roy looked around him, and then whistled. "Impressive," was all he said.

Meta Knight stared stoically up at him. "I suppose it is. We had to do some upgrading after it was shot down."

The Halberd was more than impressive. It was magnificent. Every square inch of it had been replaced with something stronger and more durable. Meta Knight looked around at his sixteen companions. Their numbers had grown significantly with the joining of the other Smashers and other persons. But it still wasn't enough. Even Meta Knight knew that.

"Sir?" A Waddle Dee wearing a sailor's hat toddled over to them. "We're ready to take off."

Meta Knight glanced at the Waddle Dee. "Good. Set us off. Southwest."

The Waddle Dee saluted. "Yes, sah," he said, and waddled away.

The ship spread its mighty wings and took off so fast that almost everyone was knocked flat. Wario shakily got to his feet, clinging to the railing. "Why do we have to fly a damned battleship to Tabuu's base?" he groaned. "We're gonna get blasted outta the sky anyway!"

"Better safe than sorry," Mewtwo said. Toon Link was clinging to the Legendary's arm, a childish look of anger on his face. Mewtwo looked down and his eyes seemed to glow for a minute. Toon Link jumped.

"I'm not acting stubborn!" he shouted.

"Jiggly," Jigglypuff said, rolling her eyes.

"As if," R.O.B. translated cheerfully. Toon Link glared at the robot. R.O.B. looked down. "Apologies."

Midna watched this all impassively. The imp had her arms crossed and was floating lazily above the deck. Link cautiously approached her. She looked at him disdainfully, and then turned her head away. "Strange friends you have."

"They mean good," Link answered.

Midna snorted. "Sure they do. They always do. Especially the fat one." Her gaze shifted to Wario, who was whining to Dedede. She sneered.

"You're helping us. That counts for something."

"Right. Like I wanted to come back here willingly. You and Zelda are the only people I'd come back for."

The ship sailed on. Jigglypuff was shouting at Toon Link in the background. Link said, "It's good to have you back."

Midna dared to smile. "That's good to hear."

"Everything is going smoothly?"

Lucario didn't bother to look at the hologram image of Ganondorf when he answered. "Yes."

Ganondorf grinned. "Good. Tabuu will be pleased."

The Pokemon didn't answer. He leaned against the wall, eyes closed, using his psychic powers to steer the ship. "What will you do with them once I bring them into your care?" he asked.

"Do you still have feelings for them?" Ganondorf sneered. "It shouldn't matter to you. Tabuu will see to them... use them to power the Gate. And you'll get your reward."

Lucario opened his eyes and glanced at the hologram. "You are hiding something."

"You ask too many questions," came the calm reply. Lucario sensed the veiled threat and said nothing more. "Be ready when you land," Ganondorf continued, a trace of arrogant smugness in his voice. "The Gate is about to open." The hologram flickered off.

Lucario stared straight ahead through the window. Night had fallen, and the sky was bleakly dark without any stars. It seemed like the world knew what was about to happen and was holding its breath, waiting for the bomb to drop. The Pokemon shook his head and was about to return his focus back to driving the ship when he heard a soft clang.

Lucario's ears pricked up and he closed his eyes. He used his Aura, pushing the field of perception larger. He tensed, and jumped out of the way. A whirling metal sphere with spikes suddenly burst out of the wall behind him. Lucario twisted around and shot a powerful blast at it. The machine shattered instantly.

Lucario landed on his feet, turned around, and hit a surprised Pit in the face who had been sneaking up on him. "You had a good plan," Lucario said. "But you'll have to do better than that." He backflipped and shot multiple spheres of energy at the angel.

Somehow Pit managed to get out his shield. Lucario's spheres bounced off harmlessly.

Lucario looked out the window, then looked at his enemy. "You have chosen the wrong time to break out," he said. Before Pit could comprehend those words, Lucario shot a blast at the dashboard and then at the window. Wind came rushing in. Sirens began to wail. Lucario looked at him impassively before leaping out of the window.

He could hear the Ice Climber's startled cries as he fell. He could hear the dying motor of the ship as it struggled to stay afloat. He could see Pit preparing to fly, not knowing that the Primids were silently rising up from the crystalline base beneath them. Lucario kept a good distance away, floating, watching the scene unfold as the Primids attacked them, watching the Smashers fall. He closed his eyes once more, letting a sigh escape his lips.

Everything was going according to plan.