Chapter 5: Can Hope Be Found…?

(Smash City)

It was total panic and chaos in Smash City. The entire place was jam packed with civilians from all over that Mario and the others were lucky enough to rescue in time. Kong's from Kongo Jungle, Hylians from Hyrule, Cappies from Popstar, Poke'mon Trainers from Kanto, civilians from Mobius, civilians from Buramudgee, centurions from Skyworld, Yoshi's from Yoshi Island, and civilians from Sequin Land, plus more, were all evacuated into Smash City while fleeing from Tabuu's forces. To make matters worse, Kyrin's followers, who were also in Smash City, were struggling to get everybody to calm down.

Richie- People, please! I know things are looking a little rough at moment…

Misty- Looking rough?! Our homes are being destroyed by Tabuu and his minions! Practically anyone caught on sight has been slaughtered by them and we're all forced to flee for our lives! And all because Tabuu has become too powerful for the Super Mario Brothers' Team to handle!

Magolor- I'm sorry about this situation, ma'am, but I'm sure we'll get things settled before long.

Then a bunch of Kong's began to pelt Magolor with several discarded banana peels. Magolor, Richie, and Sparky turned their heads back to look at Skull Kid who was standing behind them.

Magolor- Skull Kid…think you can give us a little hand over here?

Skull Kid- Nope! I'm staying out of this one! You deal with those monkeys. I'm struggling enough with the Hylians and Zora's.

Richie (sarcastic tone)- Gee…thanks a lot, Skull Kid!

Sparky- Pikachu!

As Kyrin's followers were trying to talk to everyone, Mario was sitting in front of the door that led to the meeting room and was holding a photo of Princess Peach in one hand.

Mario- Princess…I can't believe I just let Tabuu take you like that…

Then Mario tightened his grip and the photo also got crumpled a bit. Before Mario knew it, Goombario and Vivian approached him. In Vivian's hand was a mug with a warm drink inside of it.

Vivian- Hey Mario…you seemed a little tense.

Goombario- So Vivian thought a nice cup of tea might help.

Mario- Ok…thanks…

Mario took the glass and drank some of the tea.

Vivian- I should let you know that Kyrin's followers are at your command at the moment, Mario.

Mario- Are you sure about this?

Goombario- It's what Kyrin would've wanted. At least until we figure out how to free him from Subspace. We still need a leader to get us through this mess.

Mario- Me…a leader? Ha! Some leader I turned out to be. This is all my fault! I let Tabuu capture Kyrin…I let Tabuu turned Peach into a crystal statue…and I know it's just a matter of time before Tabuu and his pals figure out how to get into Smash City. And here I am…the man who's supposed to be the decedent of the great hero, Marco Mario. But all I've done is bring shame to his legacy.

Vivian- Hey, don't say that, Mario. You're the reason why we're all still in one piece. The other heroes on your team look up to you.

Mario- They only agreed to join my because Kyrin got us all to meet from the sidelines.

Goombario- That's only half true. Kyrin did set up events where you'd meet Donkey Kong, Link, Kirby, Ash, Sonic, Ty, Pit, and Shantae, but he did nothing more than that. You were the one who convinced them to join up with you in the fight against Tabuu. In fact, it's the reason why they're still standing with you even during this…desperate moment.

Then Luigi opened the door to the meeting room from the other side.

Luigi- Mario, we need you to here, now.

Mario- Just a minute, Luigi…

Then Mario turns to face all of Kyrin's followers.

Mario- Ok…I better get back there is see if we can put out heads together and figure out how to get out of this mess. In the meantime, try and keep everyone as calm as you can.

Mario walked into the meeting room and closed the door behind him. However, all of Kyrin's followers looked at each other with a worried look in their eye.

Pyrrhon- Keep them calm?! How?! We're already struggling with that!

Gooey nodded his head and so did Poochie.

Poochie- (ARF)

Gooboo Steve- I'm missing Kyrin already…

Snide- And I doubt Mario will be able to pay us as well as Kyrin did.

Squid Baron- Mommy…

Susie- Stop whining everyone! We won't stop Tabuu and rescue Kyrin if we do nothing! Mario's our only hope right now and we need to have faith he'll prevail like Marco did when he led his team against Tabuu.

Mighty- Easier said than done, but you do have a point. But let's just hope this crowd of panicking civilians will be willing to listen to us.

(In the meeting room)

Mario and Luigi walked into the waiting room. Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Kirby, Ash, Sonic, Ty, Pit, and Shantae were there waiting for him. But there was also Bowser, Kamek, King K. Rool, Ganondorf, King DeDeDe, Giovanni, Jessie, James, Meowth, Eggman, Boss Cass, Palutena, Viridi, Medusa, and Risky Boots.

Shantae- That guy in the suit is creeping me out a bit.

Ash- You mean Giovanni? He's the leader of Team Rocket, but yeah, he can be a little creepy.

Giovanni- You know I can hear you? But the only reason I'm here was because I was invited Bowser's castle right before this incident came upon us.

Ash- Why were you even at Bowser's castle anyway?

Giovanni- Bowser wanted to reach an agreement on a partnership with Team Rocket. Obviously, those three idiots weren't meeting his standards.

Bowser- Hey, you were agreeing to the terms we were coming up with!

Giovanni- That was before a destructive god broke free from his prison and is now on the loose while we're all fleeing for our lives.

Luigi- Please, can we stay on topic?

Sonic- Yeah, our homes are being taken over by Tabuu's troops. The Mushroom Kingdom, Kongo Jungle, my home on Mobius…

Pit- Even Skyworld and Popstar which are out of the way locations are overrun.

Viridi- Even my territory isn't safe. Which is why both me and Palutena are here in person instead of communicating with you all telepathically.

Meowth- Well, at least this secret base of you Mario Brothers is safe…right?

Everyone turned to look at Meowth after he said that.

Meowth- Right…?

Kamek- Afraid not. As much as I don't want to admit to this…it's only a matter of time before Tabuu figures out how to get in here. Soon this safehouse won't be so safe anymore.

Meowth- Me and my big mouth…

King K. Rool- And according to what you and Bowser have claimed…Tabuu was completely unphased by every attack you threw at him.

Bowser- I hate to admit it, but all I did was hurt myself every time I tried to hit him. Like punching into solid steel, but then again, I can smash through steel with my strength. But this was something entirely different.

Luigi- Actually, one attack managed to hurt him. Marco and Loewy's combined fireball trick actually got Tabuu.

Palutena- However, Tabuu anticipated it when you tried it a second time and he managed a counterattack.

Luigi rubs his neck, remembering the pain from when Tabuu chopped him there.

Luigi- Don't remind me.

Risky Boots- I'd say we all need more than some combo move that was developed by two brothers from a 1,000 years ago.

Medusa- And to make matters even worse, Tabuu isn't even using all of his full power yet.

Kirby- Uh…please tell me you were just joking there, Medusa…

Medusa quietly shook her head.

Medusa- Afraid not…he might have access to his full power now, but he's not using all of it.

Ho-Oh- She's right you know…

Ash- Ho-Oh…?

Pikachu- Pika…?

Ho-Oh- Tabuu has another form he's yet to show. As I told you before, I fought Tabuu with Master Calmly and the rest of the original team. When Tabuu uses all of his full power…his body changes in appearance. Sort of like how certain Poke'mon can Mega Evolve or how the blue hedgehog can change his appearance with the Chaos Emeralds and gain a power boost. And in that form, takes a more monstrous appearance and with a power that's even more intimidating than how he looks.

Link- (Sigh) And here I thought things couldn't get worse for us…

Sonic- Mario, you said Kyrin gave you a message before he walked into Subspace. What was it?

Mario- Hold on…give me a moment to remember…hmmm…I think he said…the tool I'll need…lies in the center of the Mushroom King's Forest and placed in the knight's grave…

King DeDeDe- And do you have any idea what that could mean?

Mario- I know there's forest called the Mushroom King's Forest just north of where Peach's castle used to be before Tabuu rebuilt his palace there.

Ty- North of where Peach's castle once was?

Yoshi- Ty know something?

Ty- I think I might, mate.

Boss Cass- Well don't just stand there! Spill it!

Ty- Well, before Hades made me and the rest of the Mario Brothers' team swap bodies…me surveillance drones did pick up an unusual weapon located in that forest. You think that's what Kyrin was referring to?

Mario- If it is, then we had best go to Mushroom King's Forest and find this weapon before Tabuu finds Smash City.

Jessie- You want to leave the safety of this place to go looking for some weapon?

James- I think we'd safer in Smash City for now.

Giovanni- You three can stay and hide if you want, but I for one am not gonna just wait around for Tabuu to eventually find us.

Meowth- Boss…you're actually going out there with all of Tabuu's creeps overrunning the outside world?

Jessie- Wait for us!

Mario- Bowser…you and your team are coming with us?

Bowser- You and your team is going to need all the help they can get with Tabuu all over the place. But let's get this straight, we're only helping because Tabuu poses a bigger threat than you heroes and because Tabuu has invaded our domains as well. Once Tabuu has been delt with, we go back to being enemies.

Mario- I know, Bowser. But let's just hope that we will be able to defeat Tabuu.