The Smashers Unite!

by Cybat

As the title suggests, the Smashers unite (for once) to save the world (well, one world) from a sinister plot. Whose? You'll just have to r&r!

4. The Next Stop

Chapter 4: The Next Stop

Mario found himself on a very unfriendly planet when he emerged from the portal. The very ground that they were standing on seemed to be saying, "Get out! You don't belong here!" Mario was not looking forward to wandering around on this planet. He hoped he'd be able to find a guide.

"Any ideas?" Link wondered, looking around as anxiously as Mario.

"Nota really." Luigi replied. "Hey, what'sa that?"

Pointing to the air, they all noticed four blue and white ships flying around, shooting alien-looking ships. Behind them was a huge white ship, with a familiar red symbol adorned on both sides.

"Isa that-" Mario began.

"The Great Fox!" DK realized. "And Fox McCloud and his friends!"

Fox's ship maneuvered deftly around the attacking ships. The Great Fox fired on the larger ships, while Fox's friends seemed to be taking heavy damage.

Suddenly, a huge saucer-like vessel appeared. The Great Fox held back, and the other three ships flew around somewhat aimlessly, leaving Fox to determine the weaknesses of the huge opponent and take advantage of them.

"We could sure use Fox's help." Link pointed out.
"Yeah, but hea looks a bita busy." Luigi stated. "What isa that thing, anyway?"

Fox's ship fired a bomb, lighting up the sky like fireworks. The huge circular weapon flashed, indicating that it was taking damage, but it held strong. As the weapon disappeared, many small fighters appeared and attacked Fox and his friends. Suddenly, one of them pulled out, apparently too weak to continue. Fox swerved desperately to avoid massive tentacles, then suddenly flew as far to the side as he could.

Just after he did that, a huge rainbow beam erupted from the center of the weapon, annihilating any enemy ships that Fox did not destroy. It also seemed to have hit another of Fox's friends, as another ship left the battle to hide in the Great Fox.

Mario and Luigi could only stand and watch in amazement, seeing the battles that Fox had to win. Link was especially interested in the battle, staring at his most advanced weapon: a bow and arrow. Yoshi practiced his English, not really interested in the battle because he didn't remember Fox. DK cheered loudly for Fox, eliciting laughter from his companions. DK stopped cheering suddenly as Fox's last friend was picked off. Fox was alone against the weapon. His ship seemed to be a lot more cautious now, but he seemed to be doing fine.

Finally, Fox delivered the finishing blow with a well-aimed bomb. The weapon exploded violently, sending shockwaves throughout space. The vibrations were even felt on the planet's surface. Fox's ship dived down toward the surface, where Mario greeted him.

"Fox! Greata job!" Mario says kindly.

"Mario? What-what are you doing here? And is that DK, Yoshi, Link, and-"

"I'ma Luigi! Number one!" Luigi introduced himself braggingly.

"He'sa my younger brother." Mario whispered to Fox. Fox nodded and smiled in understanding.

"By the way, did you happen to see a wizard wearing all black and a big lizard run through here?" Link asked, getting right to business.

"Actually, no. But I've seen stranger things in this system." Fox replied, caught off guard by Link's question. "But here are some footprints that might help you."

"Hey, why don'ta you comea with us, Fox? Come ona out of youra ship and we cana attack them beforea they get us." Mario suggested.

"Normally, I'd love to, but after advancing past Area 6, I have to come here and defeat Andross."

"Who?" DK wondered.

"Andross. He's my archenemy."

"Oh, like Bowser and Ganon…" Link began, then gasped.

"I'ma beginning toa see a pattern." Luigi said solemnly.

"What do you mean?" Fox asked, his attention rapt.

"Well, Bowser went from my dimension to mine to recruit my archenemy to help him. Now he comes here." Link explained, leaving his implication unstated.

"Howa do youa get to – er – Andross froma here?" Mario asked urgently.

"Oh, he's this way. Let me tell ROB what I'm doing."

"Who?" DK asked.

"Oh, he's the robot pilot of the Great Fox."

"OK."

Fox jumped out of his ship and it flew on autopilot back to the Great Fox. Fox ran ahead of everyone, leading the way to Andross's citadel.

"He'sa fast." Mario commented to Luigi, out of breath.

"Yeah." Luigi agreed in the same condition.

"There!" Fox whispered, not even breathing hard. "He's usually in there."

Indeed, Andross was there. So were Bowser and Ganon.

"Andross looks like a monkey!" DK giggled. Fox glared at him.

"He is a monkey, and a very powerful one at that!"

"Fine, sorry."

"Wea were righta, though. Bowser anda Ganon are there."

"Let'sa see if we cana hear whata they are saying." Luigi suggested.

"A glove?" Andross asked, chuckling. "Ganon, do you believe this lizard?"

"Not entirely." Ganon replied honestly. "But after all these years of failing to defeat Link, what choice did I have?"

"It really happened! The glove came into my room and told me-"

"The glove talked to you, too?" Andross asked loudly. Ganon chuckled.

Mario and Luigi stared at each other. Everyone else looked around warily.

"Dida anyone else heara him say glove?" Mario whispered tensely.

Everyone nodded. "Master Hand?" Fox suggested.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted revenge." Link said, grinning. "Mario kicked his ass last time."

Everyone chuckled and turned back to the conversation.

"So, the glove told you it wanted revenge on these eight fighters. And I assume that one of them is Fox McCloud?"

"Yes, that's right." Bowser replied. "Hasn't he beaten you quite often, too?"

Andross snarled. "That's not of your business."

Bowser turned away, satisfied. "That's what I thought."

Ganon, who had been quiet for a while, spoke up again. "Look, Andross, I know it sounds a bit-different, but-"

"Different." Andross whirled to face Ganon. Bowser turned around again, staring at Andross. "Different is a great word for this situation. I tell you, I've never been in a situation this different."

"Well, considering the definition of the word different, that makes a lot of sense." Bowser pointed out.

"Guys, why don't we go in and beat up all three of them now?" Link asked. "I'm more than a match for Ganon alone, and Mario and Luigi can take Bowser…"

"No, you fool!" Fox replied angrily. "You don't think Andross would just let people walk into his citadel, do you? This building is heavily fortified and guarded. Look!"

Fox indicated a huge robot, marching back and forth in front of the door.

Link shrugged, defeated, and turned back to the conversation. Meanwhile, Andross was shouting at Bowser furiously.

"I don't know who you think you are, Bowser." Andross shouted. "Just because you have come to me doesn't mean I have to go with you."

Ganon shrugged. "That's true, Andross, but don't you think this could be your best chance to kill Fox?"

"Fox has friends. They'll want to avenge me."

"They are weaker than Fox is!" Bowser cut in, not really sure about whom he was talking. "They won't be able to defeat you like he did!"

Bowser sounds awfully intent on this revenge mission. Oh, well, what harm could it do? Andross was silent for a while, then he spoke up.

"All right, Bowser. I'll go with you for a while and see what you're really up to."

"Good. Now, is there an open area around here? We need to make one more stop."

"Recruiting another archenemy? Sounds good to me." Ganon stated. "That area out there looks open enough."

The team of three walked outside and Bowser activated the device again.

"Destination: Kanto. Viridian City."

The portal opened, and the three villains jumped in.

"Let'sa go, guys." Mario whispered, and the six heroes raced toward the portal. Fox got there first, and Mario, Link, and Luigi followed close behind. Yoshi made sure to push DK down so Yoshi could get in first. DK laughed and climbed in last.

"Did you all see that?" Slippy asked, concerned.

"Destination of portal as yet unknown." ROB informed the three concerned pilots.

"That's just great, Fox. Go around to different dimensions chasing Andross and hog all the glory!" Falco complained.

"Didn't you see him, Falco? He had five other people with him." Peppy pointed out scornfully.

"I just hope he's OK." Slippy said worriedly.