Through the mushroom gorge, Mario and his team wandered out of the strange location they were at, heading to some darkened woods.
"Hopefully the others are alright, mining for resources in that shaft we just visited," Marth said, looking back.
"They probably are," Joker answered. "From the sounds of things, it seems like these Spirits can handle themselves when Galeem's forces are not around…" Before the Hero-King and the Phantom Thief of Hearts ventured forth with Mario and Olimar, Faker ran towards them in her dragon armor. Panting, the brown-skinned warrior brushed her wavy black hair with her gloved hand, standing up straight.
"Permission to join your forces," Faker said, her dragon-tooth sword by her side.
"Are you sure?" Mario asked. "You certainly don't look like you have much experience in combat, and that armor definitely isn't helping with your skills either…"
"Please?" Faker asked. "I don't know squat about my past. I'd like to learn more about myself if I go with you guys! Just to be clear, I promise I won't flirt with any of the handsome members of the team, especially Joker…" Olimar, Marth, and Mario looked at Joker for his response, the Phantom Thief of Hearts watching Faker showing a tint of red in her face.
Sighing in defeat, Joker answered, "Fine. She can come along… but only if she promises not to flirt with me so much." Faker then ran towards the Phantom Thief of Hearts, hugging him from behind.
"Really?" Faker asked. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Joker managed to squirm out, continuing down the path Mario's gang was on. However, as soon as the gang first set foot in the forest, they came across two Supporters and one Primary: two tiny Mewtwos (one blue and the other pink) and PAC-MAN. An image flashed in front of the team sent by Galeem, revealing three legendary Pokémon known as Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. The three intruders glared at the adventurers with glowing-red eyes, triggering Mario and his friends.
This time, instead of grabbing a certain opponent while locking up the others in golden cages, the two Mewtwo Supporters approached the fighters while the PAC-MAN Primary grabbed Faker. The ground rumbled, and Uxie inside PAC-MAN teleported Faker somewhere else while Mesprit and Azelf in the bodies of the Mewtwo puppet fighters kept the four warriors on the ground as the dirt they were standing on shifted in color and form.
For Mario, Marth, Olimar, and Joker, they saw themselves on the Spear Pillar stage, where glowing-white crystals stuck out of the ground and legendary Pokémon were seen flying around. The two Mewtwo Supporters began charging up their Shadow Balls, watching the four warriors simply run up to them, their weapons and elemental powers in hands. Once the Shadow Balls were launched, Marth and Joker both jumped up and slashed straight down above the puppet fighters, with Olimar dodging and throwing his Pikmin while Mario pulled out a golden cape, reflecting the Shadow Balls back.
As soon as Marth and Joker both slashed down on the Mewtwo Supporters, the puppet fighters quickly got up to see their reflected Shadow Balls flying back at them. They both quickly used Confusion, tossing their projectiles back at the incoming fighters. Olimar, Joker, and Marth ended up behind the two Mewtwo Supporters, with Mario using his cape move again while his friends kept jabbing and unleashing powerful attacks behind the puppet fighters. The two Mewtwo Supporters managed to get up, but they weren't fast enough to avoid their Shadow Balls from before: ramming hard into the Pokémon clones. It launched them off the Spear Pillar stage, sending Mesprit in the pink Mewtwo Supporter into the blast zone but not Azelf in the blue one. However, as the one remaining puppet fighter attempted to float back into the stage, white Pikmin quickly grabbed onto his tail, inflicting poisonous damage. As the Mewtwo Supporter tried shaking them off, Marth slashed downward with his Exalted Falchion, preforming a meteor smash and knocking out the other Mewtwo Supporter much later. The Spear Pillar went dark, and the four fighters that emerged victorious felt themselves float into the air.
As for Faker, the brown-skinned warrior dressed in dragon armor saw that she was on a flattened stage, merely resembling that of a child's drawing and/or a simple painted picture on an old laptop in the late 90's and early 2000's. It was the Final Destination version of the PAC-LAND stage, and Uxie inside PAC-MAN's body was her opponent.
The PAC-MAN Primary first started charging up pixelated fruit, shifting between different forms. Faker began dashing towards the puppet fighter, slashing her dragon-fang sword rapidly. She then started jabbing rapidly with her fists, her knuckles slamming hard and fast into the PAC-MAN Primary's yellow skin. Once Uxie inside PAC-MAN's body dodged Faker's attack, he threw his fully-charged pixelated fruit in the form of a key, sending it flying fast in a straight direction. Faker noticed it thrown from feet in front of her, and she managed to catch the key in time. With enough power, the brown-skinned warrior threw the pixelated key back at the PAC-MAN Primary but the captured fighter himself managed to create a fire hydrant out of nothing in time. The psychic abilities from the legendary Pokemon taking control of the yellow bane of ghosts funneled into the fire hydrant, and it shot out powerful magic balls instead of water spurts. Faker then jumped up in the air, ready to slash again. However, she was above the captured fighter at the right distance, generating blue pixels from his gloved hand. It was all over for her, and Faker couldn't use anything other than her sword… or so she thought.
Quickly shutting her eyes, Faker managed to slip in her dragon-tooth sword back into her waist, and smoke was flickering out from the palms of her gloved hands. As soon as Inky, one of the ghosts from PAC-MAN's world generated as the captured fighter's up-smash, Faker generated a blast of fire, critically hitting Uxie inside the yellow bane's body. As soon as the brown-skinned warrior quickly got up on her feet, she slowly opened her eyes, looking at her hands.
I had no idea I could that… Faker thought. This might serve as a little advantage. She watched the PAC-MAN Primary transform into his signature yellow orb shape with the pizza-shaped wedge, about to devour her. Luckily, Faker pulled out fiery orbs from her hands, flinging them harshly and fast at the PAC-MAN Primary. With enough potential, the black-haired warrior managed to get the PAC-MAN Primary off the stage, and she dashed off. As soon as Faker pulled out her sword, she set the blade ablaze similar to Roy's and stabbed downward, sending the PAC-MAN Primary into the blast zone of PAC-LAND.
Mario and the other three fighters saw they were back at the forest's entrance, with the Normal Legendary Spirits of Azelf and Mesprit floating off, free from Galeem's capture. Meanwhile, for Faker, she felt herself levitating in the air, pointing a Spirit Sniper at PAC-MAN's rescued body, protected by an ever-spinning barrier generated from the Master Legendary Uxie Spirit. With a careful aim, Faker fired and hit PAC-MAN's unconscious body, freeing the yellow bane from his enslavement and breaking his Galeem Lock. White mist flew out of PAC-MAN's body before the Shadow Bug environment around Faker blinded her in white. A minute or two had passed, and Mario, Marth, Joker, and Olimar looked up to see Faker descending towards them in the air with PAC-MAN in her arms.
"Is he okay?" Marth asked, holding PAC-MAN's gloved hand.
"I still feel his heartbeat," Faker answered, slowly placing the yellow bane on the ground. PAC-MAN slowly began waking up, noticing he was back with his friends. Not saying a word, the yellow fighter quickly stood up, clenching his fists and ready to take on Galeem once they have reached at their destination.
"So all we gotta do is travel through this forest and hope we find something?" Joker asked.
"I think-a that's the idea," Mario answered, "unless we uncover traps, by which we're screwed…" The fighters looked at each other, confused.
"Better make the most of it," Marth said, running into the forest as he was being followed by his closest teammates.
At the mist-covered swamp, Kirby, Villager, Captain Falcon, Link, Sheik, Mii Swordfighter, and Piranha Plant noticed right next to the pipe they just entered was a path that led into the light. If the warriors continued further, they might as well end up lost since the violet fog was so thick you can barely see you hand in front of your face. Plus, there was so many roots and soggy leaves that they have covered and barricaded the path entirely.
"Might as well come back here later," Captain Falcon remarked. The others agreed with nods, walking off into the light. As soon as the group had left the swamp, they each uncovered a mountainside dotted with trees and luscious green. A stone path was leading them somewhere, and the warriors were determined to find out.
Walking on the side of the mountains, the warriors on Kirby's team had noticed next to them was a neighborhood, with the houses having red roofs like in the village. As they continued down the path, they suddenly came across a beautiful heart-shaped lake, dotted with cherry blossom trees on the sides and white-flowered lily pads on the crystal-clear water surface. At the center was a tiny island where a stone bridge connected, and on the island itself was some sort of magenta crystal with someone trapped inside. Kirby was the first one to notice, and the pink puffball was tugging on Link's tunic.
"We see it too, Kirby," Link answered, pointing at the magenta crystal. "Let's go and free whoever's trapped in there." However, before any of the warriors took a step on the bridge, a mysterious figure suddenly dropped onto the bridge, ambushing them. As the magenta crystal's reflected light flashed in front of Kirby and his team, the stranger that ambushed them was Fox McCloud, his blaster in his hand and his glowing-red eyes gleaming brightly.
"You would simply think you can just walk through here and take this beautiful fairy?" Fox asked in a voice completely different from his usual tone.
"We're dealing with what's most important to us," Sheik snarled, pulling out her needles. "Now let us pass…"
"Do you really think you can get past through Shadow the Hedgehog, the ultimate lifeform and master of Chaos Control?" Fox asked. As expected, an image flashed on Fox McCloud's body, revealing a hedgehog that looked similar to Sonic, but he had black, upright quills marked with red vertical stripes, different stylized gloves and shoes, and a completely different personality. As soon as the Master Legendary Spirit's image vanished, the Fox Primary quickly pointed his blaster at the traveling adventurers.
"You're one of the many missing Assist Trophies, aren't you?" the Mii Swordfighter asked.
"Correct you are," Shadow inside Fox's body snarled, "and you know I have far more potential than just slowing down time with Chaos Control. Now, we can do this the easy way, where you turn around and never come back, or we can do it the hard way, where I eradicate you completely if you attempt on saving that fairy…" The rest of the fighters were starting to feel a little questioned, but Kirby was the only one who stepped forward, confident on saving everyone he cared for over the ten years he was trapped on this planet, including Fox McCloud.
"I see you're choosing the hard way," Shadow growled. "Pathetic… Don't worry. The rest of you get to join your fairy friend too." Grabbing Kirby, the Fox Primary then spawned golden cages, throwing the rest of the fighters in them and locking them up. Floating up into the air, the captured fighter created a vortex and sucked both himself and Kirby in.
While Kirby was slowly waking up, he heard spaceships flying in the background. Arwings similar to Fox's and Falco's were flying around, and there were pieces of land covered in trees and dotted in futuristic buildings were spotted in an ocean. Kirby was in Corneria: Final Destination version. His opponent: Shadow the Hedgehog inside Fox McCloud.
"You scared yet, kid?" the Fox Primary snarled, clenching his stomach. Black quills marked with red began poking out through the captured fighter's clothes, and his blaster suddenly started twisting and shaping itself into a machine gun. After the transformation, the Fox Primary was surrounded by a white aura, his entire eyes engulfed with a red light.
"Bring it on!" Shadow the Hedgehog snarled, loading his machine gun. Once the Fox Primary began firing the machine gun, the fast-flying bullets were ricocheting off Kirby's bouncy skin, even though they were stinging harshly for him. Regardless, Kirby floated up into the air, heading up above the captured fighter and transforming into a pink stone. The sheer slam caused the Fox Primary to jump out of the way, beginning to use Fox Illusion. However, just when the captured fighter was beginning to glow blue, Kirby inhaled the Fox Primary and gained the Copy Ability. Like before, Kirby's mind shut down, and the Fighter Spirit based off his opponent took over. Two ears spawned on Kirby's head, and a metal headset with a green visor generated on the pink demon's face. The Smash Ball symbol gleamed in Kirby's eyes, signifying that Fox McCloud would be taking over for now.
"This feels a little awkward," Fox's voice spoke from Kirby. "But if I'm going to get my body back, I need to do it in the body of another…" The possessed Kirby then pulled out a blaster, firing lasers at the Fox Primary. The captured fighter, however, began using Chaos Control to teleport around the Corneria stage, sending bullets fly in all directions. Luckily, Fox inside Kirby's body knew what was going to happen and quickly pulled out his hexagon-shaped Reflector, sending the machine gun bullets flying back. Shadow quickly stopped teleporting and pulled out his own Reflector with Fox's body, sending the bullets back. Soon, it became a ping-pong game between the heavy rain of bullets. Thankfully, Shadow's Reflector broke, and few of the red-hot pellets pierced through his skin, fatally wounding the Fox Primary. Blood began staining the Fox Primary's white jacket, and Shadow inside the Star Fox leader began coughing up puddles of red, gagging as he limped and clenched his fist. This provided a chance for the real Fox McCloud within Kirby to walk up to the Fox Primary and charge up a powerful kick with the pink puffball's red foot. With a powerful thrust of Kirby's nonexistent leg, the Fighter Spirit within critically hit the Fox Primary into the blast zone, causing the Final Destination version of Corneria to disintegrate into Shadow Bugs.
Time had passed, and the rest of Kirby's friends were struggling in those golden cages of theirs. Just then, the confines quickly vanished, and the freed fighters quickly dropped onto the ground. A vortex appeared right in front of them, and both Fox's and Kirby's bodies were dropped out, with the pink puffball's eyes glowing white.
In Kirby's point-of-view, the pink puffball found himself back at the Sky Temple Training Arena, feeling the Smash Ball on his forehead. It was almost morning, and the moon itself was almost gone just over the horizon. Suddenly, the stadium itself was beginning to rumble, and it was shaking the new students up. Lots of young dragons were quickly woken up by the uncontrollable rumbling, and they were running out of their rooms to look out the hall's windows, including Ultima, Phoenix, and Galeem. According to what the young students saw, the Sky Temple Training Arena itself was levitating off the ground, powered by futuristic hovercraft to make the stadium into the air. As the young dragons were amazed by what they saw, another insect-like dragon appeared at the end of the hallway.
"Time to meet up at the central stage before breakfast!" the insect-like dragon spoke, his bug-shaped wings buzzing and his tail glowing faintly. "Your teachers would like a few words before we start training." Rushing as fast as they could to the central stage simply floating there and connected with quartz bridges, a large group of young dragons went in from different directions of the Sky Temple Training Arena, waiting to see who was going to appear in front of them. Galeem, Phoenix, and Ultima squeezed in to the front, curious about what was the big hold-up before breakfast.
"Look up in the sky!" one dragon cried. The group of students then looked up in the air, watching the two golden-armored dragons that were at the last Dragosmo Festival before. The two dragons glided down into the air, landing in front of the young students. Both teachers looked very similar to one another – with their bodies colored a velvety white and their silky wings and tails exposed through their golden armor. However, as they opened their eyes, one was revealed to have golden eyes while the other one had purple, the former moving more gracefully while the latter was feeling a little jittery in his posture. The one with golden eyes and graceful movement then walked up to the students, looking down upon them.
"Greetings, new comrades," the golden-eyed dragon spoke. "My name is Sozo, and next to me is my brother, Hakai. We are both the sons of Lord Ceresor and seconds-in-command of the Dragosmo Army. Welcome to your first year aboard the Sky Temple Training Arena."
"While you pipsqueaks are aboard the stadium, we'll be training you to be the best of the best for years to come!" Hakai interrupted, his long, skinny tongue flopping outside of his ever-smiling lips. Sozo merely sighed and continued with his speech to the students.
"Please forgive my brother," Sozo said. "He may be a professional general like me and yet he still does not know how to behave… Anyway, we will be keeping you under our custody for ten years. We will be traveling to different planets and fight tough and hard to awaken our powers within. There will be time for breaks, so no need to worry. Feel free to befriend your classmates and even write messages to your parents. For now, training begins immediately!" Sozo and Hakai then flew up into the air, breathing out powerful beams that surrounded the Sky Temple Training Arena. They created a blue forcefield as the arena floated higher into the sky, skyrocketing faster above the ground. The Sky Temple Training Arena then flew off the planet of Arcus into space, zooming at the speed of light. At first, the young dragons felt uncomfortable traveling to different planets, but then they realized the technology within the stadium was keeping them on their toes as if it was almost nothing.
"Breakfast is available at the dining room," Sozo finished. "Eat up as fast as you can for soon we will arrive at our destination…" With Hakai and Sozo flying off, the new students then walked back inside the stadium, with Kirby clearly invested in these visions of Galeem, Phoenix, and Ultima.
Later on, at the dining area, all sorts of young dragons were grabbing foods from special plastic bowls, where they were standing in front of special machines that gave their favorite grub, ranging from fruits to foreign meats. After Ultima and her brothers filled up on their meal, the three young dragons walked to white tables erecting from the quartz floor to sit and eat.
"This feels so fun!" Ultima giggled. "The fact that we get to travel to different planets for ten years seems amazing. I wonder what powers we're going to learn there…"
"Who knows?" Galeem asked, grabbing a tiny mouthful from his bowl with his jaws. "It might become harder the older we get…"
"Our behavior might change as well," Phoenix replied, pushing away his bowl and thinking. "I mean… what if one of us turns evil? What if one of us wants universal domination?" Ultima and Galeem looked away for a while, thinking about what might happen if what Phoenix said was true. Just then, a group of three female dragons walked up to Galeem, giggling. The white-armored dragon quickly turned around to see a pink, fluffy dragon, a light-yellow dragon with feathered wings, and a sky-blue dragon whose locks of hair looked like wispy clouds.
"You with the mismatching wings," the light-yellow dragon said, noticing the fiery-orange and space-blue colors within Galeem's wings. "Wanna sit with us?"
"Yeah," the fluffy-pink dragon replied, looking away bashfully. "The girls and I think you look really cute." Galeem was at first dumbfounded by this.
"…Me?" Galeem asked.
"Yeah," the sky-blue dragon remarked. "We think you're really special."
"Well… I've never had any other friends outside of my brother and sister, so…" Ultima nodded in agreement, excited with what was going to happen to the young dragon. After all, it didn't really hurt to make more friends.
"I… guess I can sit with you girls…" Galeem answered, getting up from his seat. The white-armored dragon then walked off with the three female dragons, and Ultima was pleased. However, when she looked back on Phoenix, she noticed something was wrong with his face.
"What's the matter?" Ultima asked, curious that her black-scaled brother with the flame-textured wings looked rather downcast.
"You're a bit jealous about Galeem, huh?" Ultima predicted, knowing that Galeem was chosen over Phoenix. Ultima then placed her front paw on Phoenix's, and the young dragon looked up to see his sister smiling at him.
"I was rejected too," Ultima continued. "Just because Galeem has a few friends doesn't mean you won't get any either. It's all for time to decide, and you're no different. You two are still equally my brothers, and I would make sure that everything in your life goes right…"
"Thank you for understanding, Ultima," Phoenix replied, touching his sister's paw and clasping it. While Kirby was watching, he felt a little moved, understanding the minor conflict the young dragons were going through. Just then, speakers started turning on, and the entire dining room went quiet for a minute.
"Attention, class," Sozo spoke. "We have arrived on Ignisu, the planet of the Fire Rainbolement. Each one of you head outside so we can get started with our training here." All of the students started heading to the entrance, waiting with Hakai and Sozo, who were with them this whole time. Ultima and Phoenix reunited with Galeem, and they were waiting for a signal.
"All we have to do is wait until we land," Sozo told all the young dragons. The rumbling of the futuristic engines that caused the Sky Temple Training Arena to fly in space was quickly followed by the barrier fading away as the building itself touched hard ground. Sozo and Hakai then placed each of their paws on the door handle.
"Just a little precaution: the planet you're about to see – Ignisu – it's a lot different from Arcus," Hakai butted. "Plus, it's hot… like, REALLY hot." As soon as Sozo and Hakai opened the door, the young dragons were surprised by what they saw: rough, rocky terrain with little vegetation, and even the plants themselves flickered like fire. Lava was flowing like rivers, and the sky itself was ash-polluted and red with the sun itself ballooning into a red giant, stretching across half of the sky and piercing through the ash clouds with its light, but it still was dim enough so that it didn't blind any living thing that looked directly at it.
"Welcome to Ignisu," Sozo spoke to the young students. "For about a year, we will be exploring the planet and overcoming all the challenges that oppose us, earning you the right to the Fire Rainbolement. I will explain what that is when we camp somewhere out there." Sozo and Hakai then took off into the sooty skies, followed by Galeem, Phoenix, and Ultima with all the other students flying into the air. Kirby watched the swarm of dragons fly off farther from the Sky Temple Training Arena, feeling the Smash Ball pulse brightly on his head again. Kirby then saw the light surrounding him, transporting his conscious back into his own body.
Kirby quickly woke up to the bright sun shining on his face, rubbing his cuddly pink body with his stubby arms. The pink puffball was quickly helped up by Link, and the rest of Kirby's friends surrounded him, concerned about his health.
"You okay?" Sheik asked.
"Poyo-poyo," Kirby answered, perfectly fine.
"What was going on there, Kirby?" the Mii Swordfighter asked, surprised. "Your body went limp and we saw your eyes glowing like the sun…" Fox McCloud then pushed inbetween Mii Swordfighter and Piranha Plant, looking down on Kirby with the usual emerald green eyes he always had. The leader of Star Fox was back.
"Thanks for saving me, kid," Fox spoke with his usual tone, rubbing the pink puffball's head.
"Looks like Fox McCloud is back in action," Captain Falcon responded, fist-bumping the Star Fox leader. The fighters were chatting with each other, but Kirby noticed the Mii Swordfighter staring at the pink demon in an interested expression.
"This is like the exact same riddle I spoke to Sonic…" the Mii Swordfighter spoke gently enough so that the others could not hear.
"Poyo…?" Kirby asked, tilting his nonexistent neck.
"Warrior untouched by the birth of Gallia, awaken the Ragnarokk's memories, redeliver the World of Trophies, and break the Lock," the ex-Swordfighter Ultimate Reborn remarked. "You know the words, don't you? The blue rodent told you the message didn't he?" Kirby suddenly got a flashback from Galeem's attack upon the multiverse, remembering the message from the blue blur, the heartbreaking tragedy of Sonic's ultimate sacrifice that saved the pink puffball. The Mii Fighter then sheathed his sword back in his cleavage, placing a hand on Kirby's back.
"Sonic's still gone, isn't he?" the Mii asked. Tears built up in Kirby's eyes, but the pink demon knew he was brave enough to go on as he gently wiped them out.
"Fa…Fa…Family," Kirby muttered, looking away. The Mii Swordfighter understood what Kirby meant by that, knowing they were far more than just friends, and families never lose one another's sight. The ex-Ultimate Reborn then stood up, looking back at the magenta crystal found at the center of the heart-shaped lake. After Fox was rescued, the fairy that was trapped within was freed. Kirby and the rest of the gang then ran across the bridge to see who they rescued. Lo and behold, it was another Mii, with green eyes and light-gray rectangle glasses with a dimple underneath her left eye, and she sported elflike ears with orange pixie wings, garmented with an orange long-sleeved dress, sunset-colored braids, and a large golden flower on the side of her head.
"Goodness gracious!" the fairy spoke with a sweet and sensitive voice, trying to get up. Once the fairy stood up, she was perfectly straight, with her hands placed in front of her chest.
"This is indeed quite worth the trouble," the fairy continued, rubbing her sore neck. Both Sheik and Piranha Plant then noticed something about who they rescued. For one, she was a Master Advanced Spirit, sporting the rainbow aura and green, transparent body, but it was as if they remembered something while back at the village.
"You wouldn't happen to be one of the Fab Fairies a companion named Raiden talked about before that tried defending a village, wouldn't you?" Sheik asked.
"Of course I am!" the Fab Fairy answered. "I am pretty much the middle sibling. My two other sisters were captured and sent off far away from each other."
"I guess we can help you reunite with your siblings," Fox replied, patting the blaster on the side of his waist.
"Wish it would be that simple," the Middle Fab Fairy remarked. "The problem is there is an island far off in the southeast, where a powerful monster has been responsible for scaring creatures of the light into this land. The only way across is through the fissure erupting geysers of light…"
"Yeah… about that…" the Mii Swordfighter groaned, "turns out the bridge is burning-hot to the touch. Anything that sets foot across is sure to catch fire."
"Which is why I'm counting on all of you to rescue my sisters!" the Middle Fab Fairy replied. "According to rumors, there is a temple in the far northwest, possibly sure to disintegrate the light fissure once you defeat all the captured fighters protecting it. However, you would need the magic of all three of us to open the way through."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Captain Falcon replied, running out to the east. Shortly after, Kirby, Villager, Sheik, Mii Swordfighter, Piranha Plant, Link, and Fox went with him, guided by the Middle Fab Fairy.
