(A/N: Thanks to the 4 (well…5…) who suggested names for the assistant. After much deliberation, I have chosen The Skiver's interesting name of Aelali. OK, on with the war.)

Chapter 9: Evening the Odds

Samus gasped for breath as she punched through the bricks on top of her. Mario rushed over worriedly.

"Are you OK?" he whispered. She nodded weakly. "Luckily my armor protected me – look out!" she shouted suddenly.

Mario ducked just as a blast flew over his head. Mario grabbed Samus's arm and pulled her out of the wreckage.

Wolverine and Master Hand were still largely unsuccessful at harming Morphshadow in tank mode. Luckily, it began to change again, but this time ended up as a huge hawk-like shadow. Screeching, it flew into the air and dive-bombed its opponents.

Link, Zelda, and Tails met up with Luigi and the others who had no Elite opponent.

"There aren't many shadows left!" Bowser noted.

"Maybe their magic is running out," Link said quietly.

"Magic?" Kirby wondered.

"It was Maska's idea-" Zelda began, then looked at the ground sadly. Everyone else got the point.

"He was a great guy." Fox offered comfortingly. Jigglypuff nodded.

"Enough of your moping, fools!" came a new voice from above.

Looking up, the eleven smashers saw another portal opening.

"Who-"

"Call me Aelali," answered the descending figure. "I am Anomaly's second in command."

"Wella, congratulations," Luigi said sarcastically.

"Do not take that tone with me!" Aelali threatened.

"OK, Mom," Luigi grinned. The smashers laughed.

Screaming in anger, Aelali raised his arm. A huge bolt of power emanated from it, striking Luigi in the head. Luigi cried in pain and collapsed. A black spot appeared at the wound and began sizzling and burning. Luigi moaned, holding his head helplessly.

"Stop it, you'll kill him!" Falco shouted.

"Of course I won't. That would be too easy." Aelali smiled sadistically. "He'll be out of the war for a while, though."

The smashers glared, assuming battle stances.

"You'll pay for that," Link menaced.

Clyne, Juvenor, and Gerick pulled out their weapons and assumed a battle stance.

"Hya!" Gerick shouted, raising his sword.

"What do you mean, hya? You're not actually going to fight that, are you?" Dr. Mario gasped.

But the spears were already descending. Clyne swung his staff magnificently, deflecting and breaking all of the spears threatening him. Gerick did the same with his sword, and Juvenor darted about with his gun.

Falcon and Pikachu shrugged, and leapt forward. Being quick and nimble, they were able to jump from wire to wire, using their arms to swing themselves around. Pikachu's Quick Attack also helped. The robot tried in vain to divert its spears to stab them, but Juvenor's gun and Gerick's crossbow provided enough distraction. DK, who was used to brachiating, swung almost gracefully from wire to wire, not really able to do any damage to the robot, but did break some spears.

Sonic's speed was put to the test as he tried to avoid all of the Shadowbots coming after him. Eventually, he just stopped trying to attack, hoping they'd run into each other in the confusion. Unfortunately, Roboshadow seemed to be very well able to control all of the Shadowbots along with the gargantuan Spearbot.

Falcon, swinging around a wire, hurled himself into the air and Falcon Punched Spearbot in the head. Pikachu used its quick attack to dart around Spearbot's attacks, and used thunder once he reached the head. Spearbot's eyes narrowed as he began swinging wildly.

Dr. Mario was at somewhat of a loss, being neither very good at swinging nor very fast. However, he tried his best to destroy any spear that came his way.

"Arrgh!"

The doctor looked around to see Clyne holding his arm in pain. A spear had slid down the arm, removing a significant amount of skin.

"Holda still." Dr. Mario said, running up to Clyne and pulling out a bandage.

"Doc…you're going to get yourself killed." Clyne managed to say, gasping for breath.

"Bettera you thana me," the doctor replied. "At leasta you cana fight this thinga."

Clyne had no answer to that. He extended his arm and allowed Dr. Mario to work.

Dr. Mario carefully wrapped the bandage around the arm as Juvenor and Gerick took care of the robot.

"Therea. It shoulda be fine for a whilea, just don't usea it too mucha…" Dr. Mario sighed, and looked around. "Nevera mind."

Clyne chuckled. "Thanks, Doc."

Clyne heard only a quick gasp in reply. Looking up, he saw blood fall onto his cape.

"No!"

A spear had gone right through the brave doctor's chest. He was still alive, but not for long.

"You're…" Dr. Mario struggled, "Welcome…"

He slumped over. Spearbot removed the spear, and Dr. Mario fell to the ground.

"NO!" Clyne repeated, ignoring the pain in his arm. He grabbed his staff and lunged at Spearbot.

Giga Bowser laughed evilly as Marth and Roy stood to oppose him. Peach was still in shock after her vegetable failed to poison the mutant, and the Ice Climbers were trying to comfort her.

"You think you can beat me?" Giga Bowser laughed.

"I can beat you myself." Roy replied, rushing forward and swinging his sword. His Double Edge Dance sent Giga Bowser to the ground, and his smash kept him there. Giga Bowser retaliated, though, with his own up-smash, sending Roy into the air.

Peach, recovered from her shock, swung a golf club at Giga Bowser, but to no avail. Giga Bowser barely felt the attack, and turned around to flash-fry Peach. However, her trusty companion, Toad, took the heat, and sent it back to Giga Bowser. Then, the Ice Climbers sent a pair of Freezies to slow the monster down. Giga Bowser looked at the Ice Climbers, and quickly reached forward and grabbed Popo.

"No!" Nana shouted.

Before anyone could react, Giga Bowser had thrown Popo with all his might into the wall of the faraway central building. Roy shook his head.

"No way he survived that," he whispered, but Nana heard.

"You killed my brother!" she shrieked, lunging forward with her hammer.

"Don't make me laugh, little girl." Giga Bowser sneered.

Marth came from behind Giga Bowser and pushed him forward with his Dolphin Slash, right into Nana's smash. Since Giga Bowser didn't move very far, Nana proceeded to grab him, hit him with her hammer, then throw him into Marth's waiting blade. Marth's fully charged Shield Breaker sent Giga Bowser to join Popo.

"Nice work, Nana." Marth said, impressed.

"He killed my brother!" she sobbed.

"Yeah…that bastard." Peach put in.

Ness wasn't too happy with his opponent either.

"I don't know why you don't talk, buddy, but you killed Mewtwo. Now you have to pay."

Leaping forward, Ness used his PK Fire to render the brute immobile. Then, he charged up his PK Flash. Just as the shadow broke free of the pyrokinetic pillar, he was blown away by the green ball of energy. Just then, the smashers saw Popo fly into the wall.

"Ouch. I guess they're not doing too well," Knuckles said sadly, lunging forward to deliver a knuckle sandwich. Balendin used his earth magic to create a powerful earthquake to get the shadow off balance, whereupon Knuckles punched powerfully.

"Why doesn't he talk?" Game & Watch wonders.

"Why don't you?" Ganondorf replied.

(A/N: Yes, I know, I haven't had many lines for G&W so far.)

G&W shrugged, and swung his hammer. "Damn…only a 6…" he sighed, as his opponent flew away, temporarily aflame.

Aelali grinned to see the brave smashers oppose him.

"Don't be fools," he warned. "You have no idea who I am, or how much power I have."

Fox glared, brandishing his gun. "We could say the same about you."

"On the contrary, I've been watching you all this time from our dimension! I know exactly what you are and aren't capable of!"

"We'll see about that." Yoshi scowled.

"Puff!"

"Pichu!"

Jigglypuff and Pichu voiced their agreements, and the others nodded.

"If you insist…" Aelali shrugged.

(A/N: Well, I guess I don't need name suggestions for the assistant anymore. And no, I don't need them for Mewtwo's brutish killer, I have one in mind. You'll see. Well, you'll just have to review, then.)