Chapter 21: Too Close For Comfort

The ants made the first move, sprinting like horses as they unsheathed their swords and gathered explosive snot within their jaws. "WE GOTTA GO!" Shouted Snake, lining up his pistol to take a couple of shots. "NOW!" The Smashers ran back to the alleyway they came from, narrowly avoiding beams of 1's and 0's, which came from the data weapons that R.O.B. mentioned earlier.

The team thought they could evade the mob by outrunning them, but the fighters were shocked when they saw more ants exiting out of their homes, armed with a various blunt and sharp instruments. They didn't know it, but not all drones came out into town square; some of them stayed in their houses. Watching the broadcast on the TV.

The crew felt intimidated by the sight, frozen by fear until the canine spoke up. "We can't stay here! We need to move!"

Gunner, as if on instinct, immediately objected. "But Lucario, There's too many!"

"We got no other choice! Just push through them!" Upon hearing the command, the Smashers went into action, pulling out a variety of items out of their bags, making their great escape.

The civilians of Underground went on the attack, despite how large their numbers were, they had trouble catching the trophies; who were either getting thrown aside or being dodged by their enemies.

Two ants blindsided Fox and knocked the laser baster out of his hands; with one of his attackers pinning him down onto his back, strangling the life out of the pilot.

Fox tried to grab his gun that was laying right next to him, but it was out of reach. In the corner of his eye, he saw a guard approaching him, readying to smash his face in with digital hammer. Just when the vulpine thought he was done for, a rocket collided with the insect; blasting him away several feet on the ground.

Fox's strangler turned around to see Samus, pointing her cannon to its face. She blasted a ball of energy which launched the arthropod into a window of a house, knocking it out cold.

The armored woman lend a hand to the fallen Smasher but was shocked to see Fox aiming his pistol at her. He fired real close to Aran's helmet, her eye being partially blinded by the intense light.

She was confused, until the bounty hunter heard something slump to the ground behind her, Samus gave a quick glance to see an ant twitching slightly on the hard brick. The female fighter was about to respond, when she felt her being pulled along by a furry hand. "We have to catch up with others! Come on!" Said Fox as the both of them worked their legs to a pulp. When they caught up with the fighters, they were in awe to see what transpired in front of them.

R.O.B and Falcon were shooting down guards like no tomorrow, hitting with precise accuracy. The robot was using its laser eyes and Super Scope to take down targets from the right, whiles the male bounty hunter blasted everything on the left with his two ray guns.

Leading the team was Lucario and Snake. Both of the Veterans were in the process of clearing out the road, using a combination of punches, kicks, Aura Spheres, and grenades to make a clear path; with a frightened Gunner creeping up right behind the two; the fear making her shooting anything that moved.

"We're not out of the woods yet!" The solider shouted "Keep pushing!"

The Trophies took random turns to shake the dastardly foes off but to no success, things seemed to get worst when they found themselves corned in a dead-end.

"There's no way out!" Questioned the Fox. "This can't be happening!"

"We need to get out of here!" Stated Samus. "Does anyone see a potential exit?"

The Smashers took several seconds to investigate, but came empty handed, there was nothing significant in this area that even looks like an escape route. Nothing at all.

Nothing except…

"The Manhole!" Answered the Mii, pointing to a metal circle on the ground. "We can use that!"

The cover appeared to be mostly normal, the only part that was strange about it was an electronic device that was in the very center. It was keypad-based lock, hosting a set of buttons with unfamiliar symbols and letters. Which is unfortunate, considering none of them know the passcode.

"Great! This is just great!" Remarked the captain. "How are we going to get inside without a code!?"

Just as he finished speaking, R.O.B. ripped off the cover of the pad and plugged himself into the mainframe, leaving the group speechless.

"[I'm going to get it opened!]" He said. "[Guard me until I find the right answer! Our survival depends on it!]"

"But what if you can't unlock it in time?!" Asked Gunner.

"[Trust Me. I will.]" The robot said with confidence. To which he went to work.

"They're here!" Alerted Snake. A horde of ants were barging in the alleyway; screeching their war call. "Give it all you got!"

Captain Falcon broke away from the group by Falcon kicking to a guard, he then grabbed another enemy by the throat; performing a fiery punch to the gut as the insect went flying into a trio of drones.

This move put the bounty hunter wide-opened however; a solider ambushed the Veteran and hit his back with a strong swipe of a data sword. Because the Smasher was wearing a backpack, the captain was alright, but at the cost of his supplies; which spilled out onto the brick from the gaping hole in the bag.

The trophy tried to avenge his knapsack by throwing an uppercut to the ant's jaw, but the attacker caught his fist; diving his sword into the fighters chest. Due to his Smasher physiology, he won't be killed, or even be physically harmed by the blade; but his percentage will certainly rise from such an injury.

The insect pulled the weapon out of the bounty hunters chest and prepared the hit him again when all of a sudden, a jackal flying at the speed of sound kicked into the ant's abdomen; sending it flying into a brick wall.

Lucario growled as he fired the horde with his steel diver, he accompanied by fox; who alternated by throwing land mine and shooting his blaster.

"Falcon, are you alright?!"

"Ugh, a-okay." Groaned the fighter. "Just need a moment to regain my strength."

"YAHH!" Screamed Gunner. "THEY'RE COMING FROM ABOVE!"

Everyone looked upwards to see a handful of ant's coming down from the rooftops, climbing downwards on the building's architecture to reach their prey.

"Oh God!" Exclaimed the blue canine as he called out to his friend "SAMUS!-"

"On it!" Said the armored women as she shot down several ants, the female fighter was about to shoot another solider, but a green projectile beat her to it. The orange bounty hunter glanced to see it was the Mii who fired. The shooter panted sporadically as she projected a blue beam at another enemy.

'Seems like all that training had paid off.' Thought Samus as she continued her defending.

"We're losing leeway!" Stated Snake; being armed with his trusty pistol. "How long till it's opened!?"

"[It'll be opened soon!]" The robot told the solider.

"It has too be now R.O.B! We can't hold for much longer!" Replied Snake as he pulled the trigger.

"[I've almost got it!]" Answered the robot as he heard the beep of the number pad, indicating he got the code. "[I got it! We can get in!]"

"Alright, you guys go first! Lucario and I will cover you." Said Snake.

"But Snake-" Objected Gunner before being interrupted.

"Not up for discussion! Do it now!"

R.O.B took off the cover and allowed Captain Falcon to go first, who was closely followed by Gunner and Samus, who climbed down the ladder to the darkness below. The American solider and the Pokemon launched a series of bullets and aura spheres before they jumped down the hole as well.

The last one to go was the robot, who climbed down the ladder as he placed the manhole cover back on; frying the keypad so the horde can't follow them underground.

The ants howled in mindless rage as they banged on the metal circle. Leaving marks on the cover as they scratched it with their hands.

The sewer was dark, cold, and worst of all: pungent. The only source of light available was the flashlight built inside R.O.B.'s head; providing luminescence for the team. They were in a large tunnel, which had been corroded with age. Skeletons of small critters could be visible on the floor, and sounds of banging and howling could be heard form above.

"That was too close!" Said Falcon.

"Yeah, too close for comfort." Agreed Samus.

"So now that we escaped the mob, how do stop Rubrum and save the Newcomer?" Asked Fox. "We don't have a clue on what to do."

"We'll figure it out." Answered Lucario "We've been through worst before, if we put our heads together we will get through this." The canine then looked at Snake, who was looking at the branching paths that were up ahead. "Anything on your mind Snake?"

"I was thinking about our current position." Replied the solider. "What if we use the sewer system to reach Rubrum's palace? We'll have a better chance of being undetected if we go that route."

"What you know where he lives?" Asked Falcon.

"Oh yeah I forgot, this is your first time here in Underground." Remarked Lucario. "Yes we do know where he lives, he takes up residency in Redstone palace, it's basically a large standard mansion painted entirely red; apparently it's his favorite color."

"Okay, but how do we reach the palace?" Said Samus. "This sewer is like a maze."

"Hmm. We can possibly…uh, Gunner are you okay." The Pokemon asked the shooter, who is now shaking uncontrollably.

The Mii didn't feel the whole weight of the situation because of the adrenaline running throughout her system, but now that's it's worn off, the anxiety was controlling her mind, making her feel that's it's the end of the world. "We're gonna die, We're gonna die. Oh god we're gonna die! It's hopeless!"

"Gunner, calm dow-"

"NO!" Gunner interrupted Snake. "I can't calm down! How can I calm down when the worlds at stake! I can't believe it this happening! I can't do this! I CAN'T DO THIS!" Shouted the Mii as she slumped to the floor; her knees up to her chest as she sobbed uncontrollably into her hands.

Everyone stood silent, not knowing on what to till until Lucario knelt down to the Newcomer, grabbing her hands into his paws. "Gunner, I need you to listen to me."

"But I-'

"Trust me, it'll help." Said Lucario. "What's your name?"

The shooter blinked a couple of times, not understand what the jackal was doing but answered anyway.

"Gunner."

"What's your favorite color?"

"Orange."

"What's your favorite food?"

"Popcorn."

As the Mii answered the questions, Lucario had been secretly inputing a soothing aura into Gunner's body, calming her down.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I…I don't know. I don't know what I'm feeling to be honest."

"That's alright." Said the Pokémon; putting his paws on her shoulder. "You're under a lot of stress. You've never been in a situation like this before, it's understandable."

"But that doesn't change the fact that we're in danger!" Replied Gunner; sniffling her nose. "We're up against a psycho who wants to turn the world into robots! We can't let that happen but…How are we going to stop him? It's seven against an army of thousands. I fear that it's hopeless."

Gunner then felt an intangible pressure on her chin; Lucario was lifting her head up to meet his eyes. "It's never hopeless Gunner, thing may seem impossible now but that's all in the mind."

"But they are too powerful!"

"So was Tabuu, he thought he was unbeatable, but then we defeated him; putting an end to his quest to destroy the Omniverse. Rubrum may be a force of nature, but he's not invincible. We're the Smash Brothers." Stated Lucario, trying to encourage the girl. "We've been through hell n back, and lived to tell the tale. If we can stop a god, then a mad prince is no match for us."

"But I'm not strong as you guys!" Retorted Gunner. "I'm new to this world, the rest of you have been here way longer than me. I suck at fighting. I-"

"You did quite well when you tried to evade us at the mansion." Said Samus. "Even though you were captured, you put up quite a fight."

"Yeah I supposed I did, but-"

"[And back in the alleyway, even though you're still in training, you did a good job at protecting me from the ants.]"

"But that was different!" Said Gunner. "I was either running away or I had assistance. I'm not good at one-to-one combat. What if lose? What if I'm defeated and I become a trophy? What if-"

"That won't happen." Lucario Said firmly. "Gunner I swear on my existence that we won't let anything happen to you. You'll be protected."

"You promise?" Asked Gunner.

"Promise."

The Mii got up from the floor with the help of Lucario, feeling much better. "So what do we do now?'

"We have to find the Newcomer." Responded Fox. "Without him, Rubrum plan will fall to pieces."

"But how are we going to find the Newcomer?"

"[We can use Lucario's aura vision to help us find our guy.]" The robot told the group.

The canine shook his head. "My aura vision can only see at a certain distance. It'll mostly likely not work."

"It's worth a shot." Spoke Snake. "It's not like we have much options to go with anyway."

The jackal shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes, seeing the world with his sixth sense. He yelped in shock to what he discovered.

"What you find!" Asked Snake.

The canine stayed silent for a moment before answering. "I recognize this aura! This is the same aura that all Smashers have when they're born into this world! I think I just found the Newcomer."

"But I thought you just said that your aura vision can't go that far?" Questioned the Mii.

"It can't." Stated the Pokemon. "That means one of two things: The Newcomer must have a very strong life-force; or something is amplifying his aura, mostly caused by that damned prince!"

"Do you think we can reach him by using the tunnels?" Asked the armored woman.

"It's possible, but like you said earlier, this sewer is a maze. We have to use our wits if we're going to find the Newcomer in time."

"If that's the case, we have to go now! Time is of the essence!" Said Captain Falcon as he ran down the tunnel.

"I agree with the bounty hunter!" Declared Fox. "If we don't act soon, them the fate of the world is sealed! Let's get moving!"

The team nodded in agreement before running after the Veteran; venturing into the darkness beyond.

The seven smashers were running through the halls of the sewers for 20 minutes, just as morale was about to falter, Lucario alerted the group to a section of the wall that appeared to be weakened with age. The canine put his paws up the brick and concentrated with the power of his mind.

"Why are we stopping?" Questioned Captain Falcon. "Did you find something?"

The jackal stayed silent for several seconds before responding. "The Newcomer is here, behind the wall."

"Are you sure about that?" Gunner politely asked, looking over his shoulders.

"My aura sense has never failed me, I'm certain that he's here."

"Okay, we found the Newcomer, great. Now all we have to do is get to him." Stated Fox. "So how are we going to get through this wall?"

"We could mark this place, and try to find another entrance inside." Suggested Samus.

"[That'll take too much time, not to mention we'll most likely have to deal with the palace's security.]" Explained R.O.B.

"Well then, let's take a more direct approach." Said Falcon as he fist were covered in flames. "FALCON-"

"WAIT!" Someone had placed a hand on the captain's shoulder, the bounty hunter turned around to see that it was Snake who had stopped him from acting.

"I got a better solution." The solider took a pack of C4 from his belt. "This will be much more effective in taking that wall down."

Falcon was disappointed, not being allowed to do his signature special but allowed Snake to do his magic. Once he placed the charges, he directed the group away from the blast radius, with the Smashers taking cover behind some pipes.

"Is everyone ready?" Asked the solider.

They all nodded.

"Alright, here we go." He remarked, taking a deep breath as he pressed the button on the detonator. An explosion erupted in the tiny corridor, making the Smashers plug their ears from the echoing sounds. When the fighters opened their eyes, they saw that the bomb that Snake had set was now replace by a rather large hole.

"We have entry! Let's go!" Roared Lucario as the rest of the team followed him into the next area. "What kind of place is this?" Questioned Gunner.

"A really creepy one." Said Falcon as he observed his surroundings. The trophies found themselves in a large circular room, around the size of a school gym. The floor was entirely made of electric panels and wires, humming and beeping in a random order, TV screens and robotic claws hanged from the ceiling, and a large metal cylinder was placed in the center of the room; appearing well maintained and new.

North of them was a child attached to a steel wall, strapped down from the belts that held his body together, he winced in pain whiles the wire and cables had their way with him. He was truly defenseless.

"[There he is!]" Exclaimed R.O.B.

The gang ran to the Newcomer and tried to get him down but to no success.

"Hello! Can you hear me?!" Asked Samus.

"Ugh…What?" Said the child, opening his eyes. His heart jumped with joy when he saw the Smash Brothers, being hopefully that they could free him from this prison. "Oh thank my creator! Are you guys here to save me."

"That's why we're here." Answered Fox as he pulled on one of the belts. "We got wind of your presence and we decided to help you out. Do you think you can tell me what happened to you before you got captured?"

The child thought for a few seconds before replying. "I don't know, I just woke up here in a lab somewhere, I tried to find someone but I was attacked! I tried to fight back but they got me. I've been stuck on this wall ever since I got caught."

"Don't worry kid-"

"It's Mega Man."

"In that case, don't worry Mega Man, we'll get you out no time pronto!"

"[FOX WATCH OUT!]" Said the R.O.B.

"Huh?" The vulpine had no time to react when the robot pulled him away from the Newcomer, a laser grid was activated, turning on the lasers to block entry from the boy; missing the fox by a hair.

"What the-where did this came from?" Shouted Falcon.

"What's happening? Should I be worried?" Asked Mega Man.

The Lucario ignored his question. "Seems like a security mechanism! We're in a trap!"

"Right you are, you blue mutt." Beamed a voice around them, The Smashers looked up to see that the monitors have turned on, revealing the dastardly prince once again. "And you fell right into it, but I must say, I have to give you an A for your effort coming down here, no one else had the guts needed to do so."

Falcon's face scowled with fury, "Enjoy that smug whiles you can, you red son of a bitch! Because soon I'm going to rip it off with my bare fists!"

Rubrum did a fake exasperated gasp. "Oh such ferociousness! I just wanted to have a good friendly conversation."

"Like how friendly it went last time when you let your guards do the talking."

"Okay, okay." The prince rolled his eyes. "So I may have unleashed my army on you, my bad. I have bad impulses when it comes to my temper. But that's all in the past." Said the noble leaning over to the camera. "I hope to make peace with you."

"Peace?!" Shouted Samus "What do you mean?"

"I already know by now that you don't have a kind view of my plan." Replied the prince as he rubbed his staff with his hands. "But I'm here to tell you, it's really for the best. Everyone will be grateful to what I'm doing."

"I'm not feeling grateful." Strained Mega Man, struggling against his restraints.

"Trust me, my robotic friend; you'll learn to love it when it comes to pass." Replied the ant, tipping his crown. "But as I was saying, I would love it if we formed a partnership together."

"A partnership?!" Questioned Lucario. "Why would we do that?"

"I'm aware of your duty to save this world from impending disasters, I imagine it's quite stressful and dangerous to risk your live repeatedly over every single mission. One simple problem could lead the Omniverse in ruins. Don't you wish there was a better, more permeant solution to fix this once and for all?" The noble smiled lightly.

"You want us to help you turn everyone in the WOT into robots?" Said Gunner, catching on pretty quickly.

"I want to evolve them; there is a huge difference, but none the less you are correct Miss Sunshine." Answered Rubrum. "This deal will work for the both of us."

"I fail to see how." Commented Fox, pointing his blaster at the screen

"Think of it." Explained the prince. "This realm is very big, so big in fact that I bet even you have trouble keeping in track of the world, and guess what? It's still expanding." Said the noble as an image of a map was placed behind him. "I imagine that an abomination like Tabuu will have no problem hiding from the likes from the WOT's protectors. Just think of the chaos if someone like that came to fruition, would you the time and tools necessary to take them down?"

"Will can manage hunting down such monsters, like you." The bounty hunter told the tyrant. "I still don't see how this connects to your point."

"That's because you're not looking at the bigger picture." Spoke the prince. "If every living creature on this land became 'evolved' the WOT will have a better chance at defending itself from evil, as well as saving them from the cruel fate of death. It will be-"

"[No.]" Replied R.O.B.

"No?"

"[No, your plan won't save them. You say that this is the best thing to do but's it's not. Making them evolved as you so call it, turns them into empty husks of their former selves. They are just mindless cogs in a well-oiled machine. They may be alive in the flesh but they're dead in spirit. And that's coming from me, the robot!]"

"But they stay immortal forever!" Argued Rubrum "Surely that'll be a better fate than death."

"Death may be a pain, but living forever is a cruel fate." Responded Snake. "Watching the world change to constantly, watching everyone you loved and care become buried within the ground, having no end in sight for your life. It would be a nightmare for most people." The solider reloaded his gun. "We should know better than anyone of course, it's our curse after all. Death, as pain and grim as it may be, is the ultimate climax of life, the gateway to a better afterlife."

"I see." The noble nodded his head sternly. "I assume he speaks for all of you?"

The team stayed silent in solidarity, answering the tyrants question without even speaking a word.

"Well then, I you're not with me, you're against me. I won't let you disrupt my plans." Rubrum stated as he clenched his staff tightly, his sly personality deforming into a ruthless cold expression.

"So what now? You're going to send your drones after us?" Said Falcon.

"I would love to, but I'm afraid that's not possible." Spoke the ant. "After many incidents and complications with my guards patrolling my underground base, I programmed them to make them stay away from this area. The only protecting this place, is me."

"If that's how it's going to be, then show yourself." Demanded Fox, "hiding from combat is the coward's way."

"As you wish." The cylinder's metal casing started to open up, the shield peeled away like a blooming flower in the springtime, to reveal a large transparent capsule, inside was a brain with wires and cable running into it, being submerged in a familiar blue liquid.

"What the?" Spoke the canine.

"You're probably confused to why there's a brain inside a jar in front of you. Let you give me some context." The prince said clearing my throat. "I told you guys once that I survived a deadly disease that took out my entire linage. Correct?" The prince directing the question to the Veterans of the group.

"Yeah, so?" Replied the armored woman.

"What I neglected to mention, was that I actually became infected with the plague."

"You were infected?!" Blurted out Gunner.

"Oh yes I was." Rubrum nodded on the TV. "I was certain I'd be dead for sure, but I lived. I supposed it had to do with my unique genetic, but that doesn't matter. What matters is what happened after. When I was finally cured, I was horrified to find out that the disease had cause me to develop cancer within major parts of my body. Ensuring that my flesh was not long for this world, but I found a way to live, I had my brain removed and placed in that device over there." He stated, pointing to the transparent cylinder.

"What?!" Exclaimed the vulpine. "So that's why you look different." He said to himself before asking another question. "How did you manage to achieve this?! A machine of this caliber would be impossible to build!"

"I thought so too." The prince told the mammal "But I've met a guy who managed to get it done."

"Met a guy?" Snaked chimed in.

"Oh yes. A guy." Reaffirmed Rubrum "He came wandering in my palace, wanting to have a chat with me. I was about to arrest him for trespassing when he showed me the schematics to his new invention, the brain capsule. I forgave his crimes, he finished constructing the device, he requested 'something' from me, I gave him that 'something, and then he left; never to return.'"

"He was an odd yet charming lad, his body was entirely made from pink-colored lines; looking similar to a human, he wore a stupid scientist jacket, but he made up for it with his stylish shades. And he had the weirdest name: FW. I mean come on! FW!? Your parents must really hate you them to call you that!"

"YOU KNOW FW?!" Samus shouted in shock, not believing to what she's hearing.

The noble raised an eyebrow in intrigue, before giving out a devilish smile. "Indeed I have, have you guys met? Perhaps an old friend of yours?"

Gunner ignored him and spoke her own question "Do you know where we can find him?! It's really important!"

The prince shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry child, but FW wasn't courteous enough to leave his home address. Besides, even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you ruffians at all! It would be silly of me to tell you information that could be used against me!" Rubrum said as he snapped his fingers.

The claws came further down from the celling; they were activated with a purpose, ready to crush the fighters between their metal grips.

"Ha, doesn't matter. We'll get that info out of you one way or another." Captain Falcon cracked his knuckles with glee. "After all, it's seven against one, I doubt your gadgets will be able to save you from us."

"Oh trust me, pal." The tyrant chuckled heavily. "I have my ways to level out the playing field. Just. Like. THIS!" The prince snapped both of his hands at once; signaling a command to the brain capsule, which turned on a red light on the very top the machine.

Almost immediately, Snake and R.O.B. writhed in pain.

"[MY HEAD! I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT!]"

"I'm feeling numb! What's going on!?"

"What's happening to you two?!" Shouted Lucario.

"Just watch." The prince said plainly. When the robot and solider stopped their squirming, they quickly stood on either side of the cylinder. R.O.B's eyes was glowing red, a clear sign to say he's not himself, it was like a foreign influence had taken complete control over his mind. The Veteran stayed still as he await orders.

Snake was the complete opposite, instead of complying, he moved his head side to side in frustration whiles his body remain motionless. "My body won't listen to me! What did you do!?" The solider seethed to a nearby monitor.

"I saw an opportunity, and I went for it!" Said Rubrum, twirling around his staff. "Whiles we were talking, I took some scans on the seven of you, and found out that you and that buckets of bolts over there were able to be hacked into to. This makes senses because your friend is a robot, but I'm curious about you, you are an organic based lifeform, made completely of flesh and blood. How is it possible for me to control you?"

Snake eyes widen in realization, he cringed as he muttered "My nano-machines."

"Guess that explains it."

"NO!" Shouted Gunner. "You can't do this!"

"Actually, I can." The prince said softly. "I meant what I said earlier, I am dedicated to my cause, and I won't let anyone get in my way. You knew this might happened, but you did it anyway." He tapped his staff against the floor, cuing the controlled fighters to take their battling stance. "I gave you a chance to walk away, and you ignored it. So you'll have to deal with the consequences. Time to reap what you sow!"

The mad tyrant took a deep breath, inhaling the air into his lungs to speak out. The Smashers were put on edge from the moment he gave the command.

"ATTACK!"

Hey Guys, I found that my Finals end at the 26 of May, so I have keep my mind track on things.

Also, I wanted to hear your guy's opinion. Do you like the direction this story is taking so far, If you say yes or no, then tell me in the reviews. I'm always forward to see criticism.

Till next time.