Reaching the top of the bypass area, the Eastern Town group found themselves staring at a long path ahead.
"Doesn't seem like much at the moment," Steven said aloud before eying a single pillar on their end.
"Best not to keep our guard down," Mason mentioned, clutching the Exalted Falchion in his hand.
Stephanie carefully watched for movement before pulling out her sais and matched an incoming claw swipe from a green-scaled Bowser puppet. Irene, Victor, and Violet jumped back upon seeing several Gryoids homing in. The Animal Crossing hosts evaded each before taking on the two Villager and Isabelle puppets. Mason narrowly avoided a Thoron from a male Robin puppet.
Steven was about to intervene when a rush of air caused the swordsman to turn his eyes behind him. A blue streak headed towards the top of the pillar before stopping. On top of the structure, a male teenager posed with his hands together and one foot on the pillar. He had blue hair, fur-like skin, muscle shirt, tail, with black combat gloves and combat boots. Opening his eyes open, the blue teenager began to generate blue flames in his hands.
"Cease your actions and rejoin Galeem's cause," Lewis, the host of Lucario, snarled towards his opponent.
"You mean after she messed with my head," Steven remarked before drawing his sword, "Not a chance."
"If you wish to continue with conflict," 'Lewis' jumped off the pillar, landed in on his feet and composed himself in a fighting stance, "So be it."
The host of Lucario manifested a Bone Rush and planned to combat the sword with his aura weapon. Steven repelled the attack and slashed but 'Lewis' landed a Poison Jab on the Mii host and a Sky Uppercut. The blonde was sent flying back but steadied himself and hurled a Shuriken of Light towards an Aura Sphere which was detonated upon impact.
'Lewis' rushed in with Close Combat, landing punches and kicks on the knight host until Blade Counter allowed Steven to retaliate then a Blurring Blade with Power Thrust. The two sword moves pushed 'Lewis' away and Steven landed a Hero's Spin on the aura user. 'Lewis' growled and let his palms unleash a dual Dark Pulse and Dragon Pulse which was reflected with Reversal Slash. The Dark and Dragon-type moves landed on the aura user, causing an explosion and sender to his knees. While on the ground, the blue teenager punched the ground and a Stone Edge erupted beneath the Mii host.
In the air, Steven righted his descent and saw 'Lewis' use Vacuum Wave, the air pressure avoided with the use of Stone Scabbard and dove right into the ground. 'Lewis' dodged it but knight host recovered quicker than he was possessed and swung the claymore sword in an arc. The aura user was hit in the face before another Blurring Blade rendered him unconscious. Laying on the floor, Lewis now lacked a Galeem-devoted spirit for his own will.
The puppet fighters had been defeated, each of them entering the Spirit Pouch, and the hosts waited for the Aura Pokémon host to recover. After a while, Lewis came to, groaning as he did.
Shaking his head, the blue teenager took notice with the gathered party. Not needing to be told what was at stake, Lewis answered for himself, "Let me guess. World saving?" The host confirmed his question and Lewis got to his feet.
"Can you use your aura?" Stephanie questioned, "It would be helpful in case there are any more surprise attacks."
Lewis nodded before closing his eyes, using Aura Sight. He felt the blue energy, signaling the good hosts, before feeling a wave of red energy, signaling evil-doers. "We have company."
All present host, par Lewis, turned around and saw an army led by a non Puppet fighter.
In the front was the leader: King Bulbin on his steed, Lord Bullbo. Behind was an army of Bublins and a few puppet fighter amidst. Four blue toga Pits hovered in the air with their Palutena Bows poised to strike.
"Puppet fighters?" Lewis questioned, pounding his fist together and let his aura erupt.
"Yep," Stephanie said, drawing needles. Mason and Steven brandished their swords before the three Animal Crossing drew their un-intimidating weapons.
"You are in the way of Galeem's conquest!" bellowed the King, "Cease your rebellion and we will spare you or we will use force!"
He was met with the hosts standing their ground.
A small, malevolent grin broke onto King Bulblin's face, "So be it!" He raised his axe before yelling, "CHARGE!" Lord Bullbo reared up before running head first like on the Bridge of Eldin simulation. With a blow of his horn, the Bulblins rallied behind and raised their weapons while the Pit puppets fired their arrows.
Weaving through the arrows, the host of Sheik took point. "Lewis, Mason," Stephanie ordered, "We'll keep the king busy. Steven, Victor, Violet, Irene, take the army down." They all charged themselves.
King Bulbin swung his axe but the three hosts dodged it. Mason rushed in, swiping the Exalted Falchion against the hide of Lord Bullbo but had no lasting damage. Lewis punched his fists together before punching outwards in a blue aura and rammed the steed with Meteor Mash. The Steel-type move caused King Bulblin to fall off but he swiped his axe outward, sending Lewis tumbling.
Stephanie brought out her whip, snaring the axe but King Bulblin had the strength and pulled the transgender. He flung her away before Mason approached with Dancing Blade. The sword attack proved ineffective against the Bulblin's skin and Mason ducked underneath a series of axe swings. A lucky axe swipe got the Hero-King host and skidded away into a pillar. King Bulblin was about to walk towards but a series of fiery explosions along the floor. Stephanie had played Bolero of Fire with the Goddess' Harp and strummed a quick Saria's Song to snare the king with fauna.
Lewis had recovered but was intercepted by Lord Bullbo. The steed roared and charged into an Iron Head, the impact pushing the two apart before the Aura host fired a Metal Sound, disorienting the Twilight creature. This allowed Lewis to unleash Bullet Punch along the hide and landed a Blaze Kick for a finisher. Taking a step back, the steed swung his tusks upward, knocking Lewis in the air. Righting himself, he landed on his feet and gave an Aura-boosted Force Palm that blasted the steed back. Shaking off the Fighting-type move, Lord Bullbo snorted and charged again.
The Saria's Song controlled forest failed as King Bulblin broke free and whacked Mason who Countered the blow. It did nothing again due to the thick skin and the royal evaded another axe swing. Stephanie swapped the harp for her bow and arrows. She aimed carefully and fired an arrow that managed to pierce the skin. King Bulblin pulled the arrow out and roared with anger before pointing to the transgender's position.
The four Pit puppets heard the roar and fired their arrows towards the Sheik host, who performed Vanish to avoid the incoming arrows. Stephanie cursed before arrows began to target her nonstop. The transgender took a peak to see if the army was dwelling by any chance.
With the army, the hosts were doing well at first but they were soon finding themselves overwhelmed. Steven was doing the best he can, performing Hero Spin and Power Thrust, but he soon was getting himself tired. The Animal Crossing hosts did the best they could but they lacked the proper weapons to deal with the army.
Stephanie cursed again, worried if they would be able to hold on.
A Bulblin knocked Steven back into the kid hosts. The Mii host gripped his sword before raising his sword and defending the kids with his life. This was interrupted when a spinning person with a silver ring around them and came to a stop.
The person was revealed to be Jordan. "Thought you guys might need some help," she winked before using a microphone-enhanced Hyper Voice, decimating a large portion of the army.
A Bulblin turned on his brothers-in-arms by bashing a few with his club. The Bulblin had an odd fashion choice: a red hat and a mustache. The hat soon got off and revealed Matt, who came down and shifted to a Rock Mushroom, turning him into Rock Matt and rolled through dozens of the Bulblin army. Daniel appeared and placed his palms to the floor, sending an enormous shockwave of electric. Luckily, he was able to control it and maneuvered around his allies.
In the air, Yen rammed into a Pit puppet, thanks to his wings from a Blue Shell. The three airborne puppets took their aim off of Stephanie, now onto the dinosaur host. Yen weaved through the arrows and breathed fire that burnt the angel minions.
With Lord Bullbo, he was about to charge again after tossing Lewis nonstop when Kyle appeared with his Suplex Copy Ability. The pink-haired host grabbed the tusk before using Body Slam and a followed up Back Breaker. The latter move caused Lord Bullbo to bellow in pain and Lewis added to the pain with a Cross Chop and Hi-Jump Kick into the section.
King Bulblin saw how the table had turned for his army and was about to order a retreat when two arrows strike his back. Stephanie smiled underneath her hijab and Mason pierced the backside with a Shield Breaker. The king roared with pain and the royal took his Falchion out before fleeing. King Bulblin rose to his feet, shaking steady...
and got ran into by Rock Matt.
The impact sent him into his steed, who laid in pain from the blows he received. The king couldn't find the strength to rise as he was surrounding by five hosts. Matt had discarded his Rock form and let fire dance on his palms, Stephanie drew her needles, Kyle had raised his sword alongside Mason, and Lewis readied a Shadow Claw and Ice Punch.
Behind them, Jordan, Daniel, and Yen had joined the recovered hosts -thanks to a quick Heal Pulse from the pop-star- in defeating the army.
"Heh," the king said in a defeated tone, "Well, I am impressed."
"Start talking," Matt threatened.
"You think I know Lord Galeem's motives?" King Bulblin asked before snorting, "I do not. I am just supposed to stop you."
"And you failed at that," Kyle emphasized and gestured to the fallen army that reverted back to one whole spirit that Yen scooped up with his Spirit Pouch.
"Even so, you will not be able to defeat her. She is powerful. Unstoppable," King Bulblin retorted.
"We can deal with this," Stephanie stated, "Wannabe gods aren't anything new to use."
"... Very well," King Bulblin spoke before feeling himself flicker in and out of existence, "... I hope you are right. She is nothing like you have seen before." With that, the king and his steed reformed into a spirit that had their likeness.
"That wasn't cryptic at all," Mason flatly said before sheathing his Falchion.
"If Galeem was more of these... 'bosses' out here, she must be stopped," Lewis remarked.
"Here's to that-a," Matt said before seeing an ominous structure in the distance of the branched path next the a series of rapids.
'Oh boy-a,' Mario said to his host, 'No doubt he's-a in there.'
Matt had a feeling of who Mario was talking about and be in there... which means he's in there as well. While he doesn't like him, he still agreed no one should have to serve the light goddess.
"Alright-a," Matt said to the gathered fighters, "Here's-a the plan. We are going to have to split again. There is a fortress by the rapid cliffs from what Yen saw. Half of us will take care of the rapids in case any hosts are there and other half will go through the fortress. No doubt there will be puppets so, no hesitation."
The gathered hosts nodded in agreement to the plan. Matt then divided the teams.
He, Steven, Daniel, Stephanie, Mason, and Yen would go to the fortress. And Kyle, Lewis, Jordan, Irene, Victor, and Violet would go through the rapids.
Matt also informed the latter group if they finish up to assist them in the fortress.
With their assignments given, they split and headed to their intended destinations.
Lewis fired double Aura Spheres that honed in on a black Sonic the Hedgehog puppet. The Fighting-type move hit the fastest rodent making him tumble away. From above, Jordan descended and landed an Ice Punch directly on the puppet hedgehog's spine, freezing him over.
Victor and Violet plowed through four small Jiggylpuffs each then jumped off and smack three turnips each onto a golden Donkey Kong puppet. The ape shook his head before Irene landed a double jab of her pom poms. Not doing much damage, Kyle came from behind and used Balloon Pop Art that sent the King of Swing away.
An immobile black-scaled King K. Rool stood his ground while Lewis unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks. Using Close Combat, the aura user hammered away then bounced back with a double Flash Cannon. The Steel-type move did nothing against the scaly king making the Aura Pokémon host growl with frustration. Jordan ran over, having finished the Silver the Hedgehog puppet.
"Let's try our new moves!" the popstar suggested and the aura user nodded along. They did a series of movements before posing as energy gathered in their systems. Lewis began to unleash a barrage of orange fists, palm strikes, kicks and over fighting techniques. The black crocodile got the All Out Pummeling before Jordan appeared and tackled him.
The impact sent the monarch into the air and twinkled into the sky. Jordan brushed her hair, smiling at the success of Twinkle Tackle.
Wheeling past the Balloon Pokémon host with his Wheel Copy Ability, Kyle Dashed into a large yellow Yoshi. The dinosaur snarled at the pink-haired teen who didn't back down at the challenge and became his Water Copy Ability. With the rapids by his side, the Fighter 06 host performed a Wave Surf plus the current body of water nearby. The Yoshi was swept away by the current, forceful waves crashing with him in it, and reverted back to his spirit, Plessie.
"Whew," Kyle wiped his brow and discarded the water crown he had on, "That was thrilling... minus us fighting." Lewis checked with the Animal Crossing hosts to make sure they are okay when Jordan took watch to find any remaining puppets. On the other side, she made out a rocky formation with the rapids around it.
As she looked further she could have sworn she saw a few traces of electricity on the formation.
"Go! Go! Go!"
Jordan was given no time to react as a green tailed Mewtwo appeared and casted some sort of spell from the looks of it onto the Lewis, Victor, Violet, and Irene. The spell made them gain a flower which meant their energy was being sapped away.
The Mewtwo puppet distracted the four other hosts before Jordan and Kyle barely dodged a Thunderbolt. From the rock formation two human figures with animalistic attributes appeared.
One was a teenager male with yellow outgoing hair. He had yellow ears and red cheek pouches. He wore a yellow pullover hoodie, yellow shorts, and yellow boots. The most bizarre trait was the fact that he had a yellow zigzag tail.
The other was a teenage female with the same appearance with the ears, cheek pouches, and tail. The only difference was she had an orange wrestling mask with a black and orange top, joggers, and combat boots.
Perri, the host of Pikachu Libre, barred her teeth at Kyle and Jordan, "Well, well, well. The resistance leader himself along with the popstar."
Phil, the host of Pikachu, just scoffed, "Save your petty banter for when we bring them to Galeem's domain for their brainwashing."
"No way, that's happening," Jordan retorted as the two pink hosts eyed the two Pikachu hosts. "I'm not going brainwashed to do someone else's bidding again!"
Perri crouched to all fours, cheeks charged with electricity, "Perhaps that can be rearranged," the female wrestler threatened before using Quick Attack off a nearby cliff and using Flying Press on Jordan.
The pop-star ran away, avoiding Libre's signature move and used Mimic for her own Flying Press onto Perri this time which crushed her. The cosplay female used this momentum for Submission and flung her away for their own fight.
Kyle just glared at Phil who was responding in vice versa. Both circled each other, the former thinking about which ability to use while the latter crawled on all fours and sparking menacingly.
"What? Not going attack first?" Kyle taunted.
"Sizing you up. I have some new tricks I want to try out. And you are the lucky target," Phil said before rushing with Wild Charge.
The Electric-type move hit Kyle in the chest, feeling the electricity course through his body but withheld the attack. Using his Suplex Copy Ability, the pink-haired male landed a German Suplex. Phil righten himself from the attack and fired several Thunder Jolts. Kyle inhaled them and spat them out as stars that the Pikachu host dodged before firing Hidden Power along his tail. Kyle gained the Needle Copy Ability and used Needle Attack to pierce the orbs but a Discharge zapped him again.
With the girls, Jordan fired a Tri-Attack. Perri dodged the three elemental attacks before using Thunder Punch on the ground which sent several cracks of electricity through the ground before shocking the pop-star. Cringing through the pain, the Balloon Pokémon host puffed herself up and floated away. She deflated and went for a dropkick-style Mega Kick straight on Perri's last minute Protect. Backflipping, Jordan used Fire Blast which engulfed the wrestler completely. Blown back, Perri skidded across the ground with anger in her eyes and placed her hands together for a Signal Beam to blast Jordan.
Kyle finished charging his Cutter Boomerangs and flung them after dodging a series of Electric-type moves. Phil used Quick Attack, dodged the two boomerangs, and went for a Skull Bash. Kyle swapped to his Cutter Copy Ability and went for his Animal Copy Ability and used Drill to match the Normal-type move. Meeting the stalemate, they parted before Phil appeared and smack his tail with a combination of Feint and Iron Tail into Kyle. While he was sent spinning, Kyle walloped a Hammer Flip onto the Pokémon host. Phil got knocked into a cliff formation, his body aching but he was 'encouraged' to fight on. Not wanting to put his friend through much more, Kyle gained a whip and used 100-Whip Slap and hit the yellow-haired male nonstop. And to cap it off, he grasp him by the wrist and performed Crash Typhoon which sent him over to Perri's fight.
Perri's fight had morphed great for the controlled host. After landing the Signal Beam, the female wrestler socked the pop-star in the gut with Focus Punch and a Brick Break. Jordan, feeling the wind knocked out of her, was then bind by Grass Knot. Perri nearly got the finishing blow but Phil's body was thrown in her direction which laid her to miss up her concentration. Now free from the Grass-type move, Jordan quickly retaliated with Gyro Ball and a Double Slap combo that put the cosplay Pikachu host in her place.
With the two Pikachu hosts unconscious, Kyle approached Jordan. Using Heal Pulse, she and Kyle set soothing energy heal them. They turned their attention over the Mewtwo puppet in case their friends needed help but they didn't require any.
The Animal Crossing hosts all landed a rabbit punch on the Genetic Pokémon puppet before Lewis slashed a series of Fury Cutters then a Dark Pulse. The attacks caused the spirit of Esna to be free and go into the spirit pouch and the flowers they wore had disappeared. The aura user generated his own Heal Pulse to give the hosts their energy back.
Phil was the first to open his eyes after getting hit hard. Rubbing the back of his head, he came across familiar faces. "Kyle? Jordan? Lewis? Victor? What happened?"
"What do you think happened?" Kyle rhetorically said before extending his hand. The electrician took the hand and got himself up.
"Don't tell me. Saving the world?"
"Yep."
"Because of the ball of light?"
"She calls herself Galeem."
"And everyone else is captured, aren't they?"
"Saved a few. Working on getting everyone right now. You in?"
Phil just smirked, "Like you have to ask... but maybe we should wait on my cousin to recover." The gathered hosts nodded in agreement to wait for the Pikachu Libre to recover.
Along the cliffside near the rapids, the other group of hosts travelled with ease and beat any spirits that came their way.
Five miniature Donkey Kongs received a Bolero of Fire courtesy of Stephanie's playing.
A red giant Charizard fell to the quick strikes of Mason's Exalted Falchion.
A green Ridley was smacked down by Yen's Feet of Fury before getting skewered by Steven's sword.
Daniel weaved around a gray Lucario's fist and landed an elbow strike. To finish the fight, the host of Doctor Mario grabbed the puppet for a German Suplex and dropped kicked the puppet into the spirit of Fei Long.
And finally Matt defeated a large Squirtle by using the Metal Cap's impervious ability to neglect each attack before jumping and use the extra weight to his stomp, taking the Tiny Turtle puppet out.
With the five spirits out of the way, the Italian looked up to the structure ahead. The ominous structure was more identifiable now. It was a dark fortress with a feeling of dread. But it just screamed like this would be a perfect place for his rival.
"... I bet I know what your thinking," Daniel said to his cousin.
"And-a what's that?" Matt asked but he already knew the answer.
"He's in there."
That was all Matt needed to hear. Shaking his head of the countless taunting that Matt endured from the real world until they eventually met on a mutual ground, the host of Mario entered the structure with his current team.