Chapter Thirty-Six: The Revelation
All around the battlefield, enemy forces began to retreat. Thanks to the arrival of the old assist trophies, the tide of the battle had turned drastically. Everywhere Toon Link looked, he could see various villains being hounded by bikers, angry little girls with giant drills, blue flying machines, and blond guys with laser weapons. He, Epona, Pikachu, and the last two remaining mushroom companions had gathered in the center of the field with King Dedede, the mastermind of this assist trophy assault, as well as his two lieutenants: the lanky and purple-clad Waluigi, and a short, muscular man wearing a pair of green boxing gloves.
"Thanks for the help," Toon Link said.
King Dedede nodded. "I'm glad we were able to do so," he said. The pudgy penguin had always had an uncertain relationship with the heroes over the years, mainly because of his reputation as a villain, but they had since learned that he could be counted on to come through in the end.
A group of knights rode up to the group, led by Marth. The warrior was injured and bloody, with a deep gash across his cheek. "Ganondorf got away," he reported bitterly. "He took off as soon as things started to turn in our favor. Much of my army has fallen in the course of battle."
He didn't say it, but Marth had taken the loss of his wife and many of his comrades very hard. He bit down the pain he felt and forced himself to continue to act the role of a general. "Kain, Abel," he shouted, "Go after those retreating. Try to head them off and apprehend their leaders. We don't want them regrouping and formulating another strategy."
A red-headed warrior on a horse nearby bit his lip. "Abel's dead, sir. He fell to a dodongo."
Marth looked at his soldier, his face falling. In lieu of so many troops falling, he had almost forgotten the death of one of his longest-serving comrade. "Right," he said. "Take Oguma then. And be careful."
Kain nodded to one of his fellows and the two hurried off. Marth turned to a younger-looking archer standing near him. "Gordin, take some archers and set up a perimeter around the outer gates."
"Yes, sir," the archer said, waving to a group of other archers and heading out.
"Lena, Julian, are you both still alive?"
"Yes, sir."
A red-headed couple came to the front of the army, clutching each other's hand. "Good," Marth said, "I want you both to go through what's left of our forces. Lena, do your best to heal everyone you can. Julian, scavenge for weapons and artillery."
The couple nodded and hurried away. Marth turned his attention back to the group. "Is everyone accounted for?" he asked Toon Link.
Toon Link shook his head. "We haven't seen Pit or Samus. Luigi, Peach, and Toad were fighting Bowser some time ago. I don't know where Fox and Donkey Kong are."
"I'm sure they're fine," Waluigi said. "They're Smash Fighters after all. They're pretty tough."
"Hey, there's two of them," the short boxer said, pointing out a figure running toward them. Toad had an unconscious Princess Peach slung over his shoulder, and he was running towards them at top speed, a look of desperate fear on his face.
"Guys!" Toad panted, skidding to a stop in front of them. "Luigi! He . . . he . . . there was this metal, and . . . he . . . Bowser!"
"Whoa, slow down there, boy," King Dedede said, "Calm down and tell us what happened."
"I don't know what happened!" Toad shouted, flustered. "We were fighting Bowser, and Peach got knocked out, and Luigi told me to take the princess and run. Then he turned to Bowser and all this metal started coming out of him!"
"Out of Bowser?" Marth asked.
"No, Luigi! It was like liquid, but it was still metal. It . . . it kinda looked like when Mario uses the metal box, you know. But bigger. It picked up Bowser and wrapped around him. I thought it had killed him, but when it let him go, he was just fine. Except his eyes were weird and silvery, and he started acting like he was Luigi's servant."
The heroes looked at each other. "Okay," Toon Link said slowly, "Are you sure that's what you saw? Things are a little hectic around here."
"Have you been hitting the shrooms again, buddy?" the purple mushroom person asked. "I know you're disappointed that you haven't gotten into the tournament yet, but—"
"This is not a joke!" Toad said, "I didn't imagine it, and I'm not on shrooms! I know what I saw. I don't know what it was or how he did it, but it was real."
"Look, I believe you, Toad," Toon Link said, "But I don't know why you're so worried. This is Luigi we're talking about. Maybe he just found some new item or something."
Toad looked Toon Link in the eye. "Not this time. I don't know what that was, but it wasn't the Luigi I know. We have got to get out of here now."
"What's all the ruckus?"
The heroes turned to see Fox and Donkey Kong walking toward them across the battlefield. Although they had just been through combat, both seemed oddly unscathed.
"Toad says Luigi's discovered some new metal-based powers," Toon Link explained.
Fox turned to look at Toad. "Really? What kind of metal powers?"
"He made this, like, giant wave of metal come out of his body and crush Bowser," Toad said, "And then Bowser's eyes turned all funny."
"Funny?" Fox said, glancing at Donkey Kong. The two grinned. Turning back to Toad, Fox's eyes started to ooze metal. "Something like this?"
Toad jumped back in surprise, nearly dropping the princess. "How did—!"
"Look out!" the short boxer lashed out, striking a yellow-spotted mushroom person that had been slowly approaching Toad from behind. The mushroom person went flying ten feet away.
"Alagold?"Buckenberry asked, "But he died."
"There was metal in his eyes," the boxer said. He looked over at Fox and Donkey Kong. "I'm guessing that it's the same variety coming out of you two now."
Fox tilted his head sideways to look at the boxer. "Very astute. Little Mac of the Punch-Out! Championship, am I correct?"
The boxer nodded sharply, stepping in between Toad and Fox.
"I seem to remember seeing your name on our list of recruits for the tournament this year. Have you gotten your letter yet?"
Little Mac still didn't answer. He held his fists up defensively.
"What's going on Fox?" Toon Link asked. "What's all this about?"
Fox grinned at Toon Link. "It's actually pretty simple, really. The Smash Grounds are now under new management. Our leader has extended an invitation for all of you to join in."
Fox snapped his fingers. All around the small group, liquid metal rose up and formed into different shapes. Soon they were surrounded by a host of their fallen friends. Conductor Link, Caeda, Abel, the fallen Toad Brigade members, Akaneian soldiers, centurions, even a few fallen villains, all with glowing metallic eyes.
Fox cocked his gun as Donkey Kong pounded his fists together. "I'm afraid you're battle is not quite over yet."
The heroes grouped together, standing back to back. Toad laid Princess Peach down in the center of the circle. Marth, Toon Link, and the remaining soldiers brandished their swords. King Dedede hefted his giant hammer. Sparks flew from Pikachu's cheeks. Little Mac pumped the air with his fists in anticipation.
"Ah yeah," he said cheerfully. "Now this is the kind of action I'd been hoping for."
Not waiting for the enemy to make the first move, he lunged forward, landing a bonebreaking punch in Donkey Kong's face.