Super Smash Bros adventures chapter 52
A few months later, the Smashers are eating lunch when the subject of Mario is brought up. No one really wanted to talk about it because it just made his friends worry, but every now and then, someone would voice their concerns and desire to know how Mario was doing with his training. "Mario's still not here yet." says Luigi, staring down into his cream of mushroom soup.
"It's already the end of November and he missed Thanksgiving." says Bowser.
"I hope he's ok." says Kirby, not having much of an appetite, which was unusual for the little pink puff.
"Mario is strong enough to take care of himself." says Shulk, pushing the vegetables around on his plate. "He has a good rhythm going."
"Even if he's not here," Robin says. "We've all gotten much stronger, too. If we have to, we'll be prepared to face Master and Crazy Hand without him, but hopefully he gets back on time."
"If this attack even happens." Cloud mutters under his breath.
"When is the event even happening?" asks Pit.
Suddenly, the room shakes, and glass plates and curtly clatter as a thunderous voice tears through the air. "It's happening now!"
Smashers jump to their feet as if they have been burned. Then, when the shock wares off, they draw their weapons, glancing around for the Hands. "My, my! Aren't we jumpy!" Crazy Hand's disembodied voice reverberates around them.
"Show yourselves!" Shulk commands furiously.
"All in good time, my friends." Master Hand says.
Booming laughter shakes the room once more as a blue vortex appears, drawing the Smashers screaming into its depths.
The portal spits all fifty-seven fighters to a platform engulfed in clouds. Three red and silver doors stand, all leading to another dimension. Some veterans shiver at the sight of this all-too-familiar place.
"No. It can't be…" Pit mutters. "Not this again."
Samus glares at the two hands floating ahead of the crowd. Pikachu's cheeks spark with angry volts. Sonic clenches his fists, not believing he is back here again. "I'm sure you recognize this place, especially those in the Brawl tournament…" Master Hand says. "We've filled the Great Maze with the strongest monsters and enemies from your worlds we could find. You must defeat them all to proceed."
"And if you don't, you'll all turn into trophies and we'll get to take over all of your worlds!" says Crazy Hand, as he laughs like crazy.
"How many enemies are we fighting?" asks Lucario.
"Hm. I don't know. We lost count after a million." Master Hand replies smugly, truly enjoying the shocked expressions on his victims' faces. "We didn't just get enemies from all of your worlds, but from Subspace, too."
Master and Crazy Hand create another portal, showing glimpses of all of the enemies they gathered. "There are so many." says Lucas.
"Don't worry. We can do this," says Villager.
"We've trained for this." Link reassures his comrades. "We'll stop these two and defeat Tabuu."
Master Hand clicks his fingers impatiently. "Well, let's see what you're made of!" The three doors open, and the Smashers have no choice but to enter their depths.
Smashers raise their weapons as the doors close behind them. One group arrives in a dense jungle, another steps out into a dark cave, and yet another is met with the wide expanse of the plains.
"What is this place?" asks Corrin, looking around the plains.
"Part of the Great Maze," Ike says. "We've got enemies to fight." He points to the hoard of enemies in front of them.
In the other parts of the maze, veterans fill the newcomers in on what's going on, then they rush in to fight the stampedes of enemies. Link, Little Mac, Pit, Pikachu, Kirby, and others slash and bash some Goombas and Koopas in the jungle, while Ness, Lucas, Zelda, Marth, and a few more fighters go toe to toe with monsters of the ruins. Samus, R.O.B., Fox, and Gannondorf lead a group through the subspace bomb factory fighting off waves of Primids, and still other Smashers fight their way through the caves, avoiding falling rocks and poison gas as well as monsters. Little by little, the fighters are getting exhausted, but the monsters and enemies keep coming. "Agh! Need a… Heart Container!" Link cries as he slashes down a Paratroopa.
"Can't stop… yet…" Pit pants.
They fight through the enemies, dodging lasers, fire, fists, and the barrages of attacks thrown at them, practically dragging themselves along. Tired, injured, and drenched in sweat, the Smashers reach the heart of Subspace, where the Hands wait.
"What a surprise. You actually beat all of the enemies." says Master Hand.
"You're next." says Link.
Suddenly, a ripple of energy spreads through the air and Tabuu hovers through the portal. His body glows with molecules of blue light, and his eyes glint with intelligence and superiority. "Ah! Tabuu, you finally arrived." says Crazy Hand. "Here are the Smashers, as we promised you."
Tabuu looks at the assembly gathered before him and smirks. "I remember many of these Smashers. There are even new ones…"
"Tabuu, we're not letting you take over our worlds." says Sonic.
The glowing entity eyes the blue hedgehog with distaste. "You. You're the hedgehog that destroyed my wings." A pair of multi-colored, crystalline wings appears on his back. "Care to try again?"
"I'll take them out again." says Sonic. He curls up into a ball and blue sparks fly as he Spin-Dashes towards Tabuu,
Quick as a flash, Tabuu unfurls his wings and knocks Sonic away. "Your resistance is futile," he says. The air hums with power, and Tabuu spreads his arms. Waves of red energy shoot out from his core.
The Smashers don't have time to dodge or run. But, to their surprise, they don't have to. Before they can eliminate a single Smasher, the energy waves are stopped by a being glowing with the power of an invincibility star. With three swipes of a Super Leaf, the man breaks the energy waves before they can reach his friends. "Sorry I'm late." apologizes Mario as the invincibility star fades from his body.
"Mario." happily says Palutena, as the other Smashers wonder what just happened.
"Where were you?" asks Bowser.
"I was heading back from the Galaxies in our world." replies Mario. "Then I followed the portal from the mansion."
Master Hand turns to his brother. "I thought I told you to close the portal!"
"Sorry! I forgot!" whined Crazy Hand.
Mario turns his attention to the glowing entity in front of him. "Tabuu. We finish this now! Just you and me!"
Tabuu hovers, arms crossed, and stares down at the plumber who dares challenge him. "How… amusing," he says, though his voice is devoid of emotion. "You believe you can defeat me all alone? Surely not after our last encounter."
Mario looks around at all of his friends, exhausted from their trip through the maze. "I will defeat you on my own."
The entity considers the matter. Defeating this one would hardly be a challenge, but he supposes he could use a warm-up before he destroyed the remaining Smashers "Very well. I accept your challenge."
"Are you crazy, Mario?" wonders Kirby.
"Let's all fight him together." says Pikachu.
"Sorry everyone, but I've gotta do this alone." apologizes Mario. He turns to Tabuu. "You've got yourself a challenge, but we'll fight somewhere else. I don't want-"
"Let me guess," Tabuu interrupts calmly. "You don't wants your friends to get hurt…" Tabuu waves a hand at Master Hand. "Prepare a portal for us."
Master and Crazy do as they are told. Master Hand faces the exhausted Smashers. "You still have enemies to fight, in case you've forgotten."
Link, Roy, Bowser, Robin, and a few others turn to see that another wave of enemies is on its way after them.
Hoping his friends can hold on, Mario follows Tabuu through the vortex.
Mario and Tabuu are in another dimension where there's nothing else except for a giant platform for them to fight on. "No hazards in here." says Mario.
"Hazards will only be a distraction from killing you." says Tabuu. "This is my type of place to fight you."
"This is going to be the last time I'll see you, Tabuu." says Mario, cracking his knuckles.
"We'll see about that." says Tabuu. "After I kill you, I'll kill all your friends and rule the World!"
Mario makes a Fireball in each hand and uses them to launch himself in high speed. He appeared in front of Tabuu and landed a Punch on his face, sending him moving back. "He's fast and he moved me with just a normal Punch." says Tabuu,.
"I'm not playing around." says Mario. "I'm going to stop you once and for all."
Tabuu attacks Mario with some Punches. Mario dodges each attack, grabs Tabuu's arm, and Tornado throws him. Mario throws his flaming Fireballs at Tabuu, Tabuu flies over them, turns his arm into an Energy Blade, and attacks Mario. Mario dodges some of his attacks, but Tabuu found an opening and hits him. Mario stood back on his feet and uses his Fireballs as boosters. Mario attacks Tabuu with a Flying Kick, Tabuu teleports behind Mario, and hits Mario straight down with his Energy Blade. "Ugh!" Mario cries in pain.
Mario gets up, and then Tabuu attacks Mario with his Diving Blade attack. Mario jumps up and stomps on Tabuu's back and continues stomping on to Tabuu's back, then Tabuu Teleports out. Tabuu turns into a Golden Bracket with a Motion Sensor Bomb on top and flies to Mario. Mario runs around Tabuu, but Tabuu continues chasing after him. Mario keeps on running and throws a Fireball at the Motion Sensor Bomb. Mario's Fireball hits the Motion Sensor Bomb and it exploded. "Aaarrrgh!" Tabuu cries in pain.
Tabuu turns back into his normal self. "You have improved a lot, Mario. This is the best battle since the last time I took on you and your friends."
Mario smirks at Tabuu. "This is nothing close to my true power."
Mario attacks Tabuu with Big Fireballs at Tabuu, Tabuu summons an Electrical Shield and charges at Mario. Mario runs from Tabuu, but Tabuu caught up, and starts shocking Mario. "Aaahhhhh!" Mario cries in pain.
Mario jumps back and throws more Fireballs at Tabuu. Tabuu's Electrical Shield didn't vanished and Tabuu charges at Mario. Mario puts his hands together and makes a Giant Fireball. Mario throws the Fireball at the Electrical Shield and it vanished. Tabuu changes his hand into an Energy Blade and flies to Mario. Mario turns surrounds his right hand with flames and clashed with Tabuu's Energy Blade. Mario overpowers Tabuu's Energy Blade and Mario landed a strong Fire Punch on Tabuu's stomach, sending him flying, Mario goes up to Tabuu, and landed more Fire Punches, and follows it with a Fire Jump Punch. Tabuu turns into a Dragon Head and fires a Dragon Laser. Mario got out his Super Leaf Cape, reflects it back, and hits Tabuu. Tabuu starts getting really angry. "Grrr!"
"What's wrong Tabuu? Can't handle the new me?" teases Mario.
Tabuu starts laughing evilly at Mario. "No. I'm really amused of how much stronger you've gotten." says Tabuu. "I want you now to experience my full power."
Tabuu charges up a lot of energy and unleashed his true form. He's now a more dark blue color and flaming lights surrounds his body. "I never thought I have to use my full power on you. Prepare yourself, Mario." says Tabuu.
Tabuu appeared in front of Mario and landed a strong Punch. Tabuu continues landing Punches, and sends Mario with a final Punch. "Tabuu's power is unbelievable." says Mario, slowly getting up. "I have to get serious now too."
Mario surrounds his hands with flames and attacks Tabuu. Tabuu grabs Mario's arms, throws him forward, and throws a Shuriken Boomerang at him. Mario jumps up, and then Tabuu's Shuriken Boomerang follows Mario. Mario reflects the Shuriken Boomerang with his Super Leaf Cape, then Tabuu Teleports to Mario, and ties him up with his Chain of Light. "Can't move!" says Mario, struggling to get free.
"This what happened when you get cocky." says Tabuu.
Tabuu shoots a lot of Bullets from his hands, and then throws Mario really far. While Mario's flying, Tabuu turns into a Shark Blade, and attacks Mario. Mario uses his Fireballs to boost himself up, and then Tabuu follows Mario upwards, and hits him downwards on the stomach. Mario is down on the floor. Tabuu Teleports to Mario, and landed multiple hits of his Rapid Chops. "Aaahhhhh!" Mario cries, and falls down on his back.
Tabuu stares down at the broken Smasher before him. "You've actually managed to put up a decent fight… but no more." He gathers his energy and prepares for one final Laser Beam.
"I'm sorry, everyone." apologizes Mario. He tries to lift his head, but fails. Every bone in his body aches with the weight of Tabuu's blows, but his heart is feeling the worst of it. He has failed to save his friends. All the Smashers in the mansion… Especially… "Mario!" a familiar voice calls.
Tabuu looks up, focusing on the White Energy he has massed. "This weak Goddess can't save you."
Mario opens his eyes and sees Palutena, who now stands between him and Tabuu. "Palutena? What are you doing here?" asks Mario.
"I'm here to protect you." says Palutena.
Tabuu's body glows brighter as the white energy grows larger and forms a massive ball. "What… do you mean?" asks Mario, struggling to look at her.
Palutena looks down at Mario for a moment. She was so tired from fighting Pyramids and monsters. She doesn't have the strength to warp them away, and she can't possibly lift Mario, even if she did have enough power to cast Light Weight. Palutena knows what she has to do, but she can't bring herself to tell him all of it. "I mean, I'm doing what I have to do to make sure you get back up and beat Tabuu." replies Palutena.
Mario looks at the goddess, who can barely stand. "Don't… say that! We're… all… going back together." He tries to struggle to his feet, but his arms and legs betray him. "I… I won't… lose you! I c-can't!"
Palutena looks down at her dearest friend. Seeing him so weak, barely able to move, confirms what she has to do to save him. "Mario, please stop." She says firmly, her jaw set with determination. "Just let me do what I have to."
She sounds confident, but her breathing is labored and Mario catches the tremor in her voice. "Mario. One of the best parts of this tournament was spending time with you… laughing with you…. Fighting alongside you… You always help me when I was in trouble. Now it's my turn to protect you."
The beam is ready, and all Tabuu has to do is fire. Mario feels a tear on his cheek, but it is not his own. His heart jolts inside him when he realizes that Palutena is crying… and if he is truly Super Mario, he can't let her go through with this. "Palutena… No! I-I can't… let you…"
The Goddess kneels down and leans closer to Mario. "I'm not afraid to die for you," she says.
Tabuu's beam is so large that Mario and Palutena feel the heat waves radiating from the energy. Palutena continues, heart pounding and skin tingling with the fear of what's about to happen to her, but also with joy at what she's about to do. "I'm doing this not just to help you and everyone else. I'm doing this because…" A smile forms on her lips and she says the four words she has been longing to say since last year. "I love you, Mario."
Tabuu says something, but it lost in the thoughts that flood Mario's mind. Palutena loves him? But… no! She couldn't stand up to Tabuu's beam. She'd be gone, and he was powerless to do a thing about it! Mario's head is swimming with Palutena's words and his own thoughts, so much so that he doesn't notice right away as Palutena gets to her feet and runs forward... just as Tabuu fires his beam.
"Palu…tena…" Mario struggles to shout. It seems as if time slows down. Mario sees the laser heading towards them, the energy crackles and the heat and power is as intense as a thousand explosions.
"Aahh!" Palutena screams as the beam envelops her body. It takes all her remaining power to keep it from Mario, and she falls to the ground, completely still, her cry echoing in Mario's ears.
Mario's eyes widen, looking at Palutena falling down on her back after a powerful attack. "Noo…"
Mario slowly crawls to Palutena and picks her up with his arms. He looks at the Goddess and tries waking her up. "Palutena… please… wake up…"
No response came from Palutena. Tears from Mario's eyes start falling down onto Palutena's face. "Don't worry Mario, you'll see her soon and everyone else right after I'm done with you." says Tabuu.
Suddenly, large amounts of Dark Energy start taking over Mario. He looks at Tabuu with a death stare. Tabuu sense the Dark Energy coming from Mario. "I sense something powerful coming from Mario." says Tabuu. "Is this the power Master and Crazy Hand were talking about?"
"Tabuu, you're going to pay what you did too Palutena. I'm not going to forgive you." angrily says Mario.
Mario's Dark Energy finishes takes over Mario. He now has a lot of Dark Energy surrounding him and his eyes are not blue, but dark purple now. "Mario changed." says Tabuu. "He's not the same as before."
"Get ready, Tabuu. I'm not going to hold back anymore." evilly says Mario.
Dark Mario throws Dark Fireballs at Tabuu. Tabuu summons his Electrical Shield, but Mario's Dark Fireballs went through, and hits Tabuu. "What?" surprisingly says Tabuu.
Mario attacks Tabuu with a Dark Fire Punches. Tabuu Teleports back, but Dark Mario got in front of him and landed a powerful Dark Fire Punch, sending Tabuu flying. "This isn't the same power he was using!" exclaims Tabuu.
Dark Mario throws a lot of Dark Fireballs at Tabuu. Tabuu flies around them, and throws his Shuriken Boomerang. Dark Mario stops it with his hand, covers it with Dark Flames, and throws it back at Tabuu. Tabuu dodges it, but the Shuriken Boomerang follows Tabuu, and hits him on the back. "Eerrgh!" Tabuu cries in pain.
Palutena slowly opens her eyes after hearing loud noises from Tabuu. She blinks a few times since her vision is blurry and sees Mario covered with Dark Energy like before. "M-Mario…"
While Tabuu is stunned, Dark Mario jumps up and landed a powerful Dark Fire Flying Kick, sending Tabuu down to the ground. Dark Mario continues his hitting Tabuu with a lot of Dark Fire Punches and follows it with a Dark Fire Palm attack. "Is that enough, Tabuu?" angrily wonders Dark Mario.
Tabuu Teleports somewhere faraway from Mario. "How did Mario get so powerful?" wonders Tabuu. "Where are you, Tabuu?" evilly asks Dark Mario. "Stop hiding like a coward!"
Tabuu comes out from hiding and made Ghost Projections of himself. Dark Mario took them all out with a Giant Dark Fireball, Tabuu ties up Dark Mario with his Chain of Light, and throws him down really hard. Mario gets up like nothing happened. "Is that all you got?" evilly teases Dark Mario.
Tabuu turns surprised. "How is he not hurt?" wonders Tabuu.
Tabuu flies up and summons his wings. Tabuu shoots out powerful Off Waves from his wings and hits Dark Mario. "That should finish you." says Tabuu.
Mario gets back up. "That actually hurt." evilly says Dark Mario.
Tabuu turns really surprised. "My strongest attack only stung him." surprisingly says Tabuu.
Dark Mario grabs Tabuu's legs and Tornado throw him to the ground. Dark Mario gathers up a lot of Dark Flames. "This is it, Tabuu." evilly says Dark Mario. Dark Mario finishes gathering up his Dark Flames and releases his Dark Mario Finale.
"Just what I'm waiting for." says Tabuu. Tabuu reflects Dark Mario's attack with his Reflector.
"Oh I knew you're going to do that." says Dark Mario.
Dark Mario takes out his Super Leaf Cape covered with Dark Energy and reflects his attack with more Dark Fire power. Tabuu tries flying away, but got hit from the attack. "AAAAaahhhhhhhHHHHHH!" Tabu cries and slowly losing his life.
"Well that's done." Dark Mario sneers, staring at the spot where Tabuu had been only moments before.
Palutena stands there, eyes wide with fright as she stares at the destruction Mario has just caused. Sure, it was to defeat an enemy that threatened her and her friends, but still… Mario wasn't himself. The goddess looks at Mario, waiting for his dark aura to fade, but the flame of evil burns hot inside of him still. "Mario? You have to stop now." Palutena says, her voice shaking. "You've defeated Tabuu. You have to stop the Dark Energy now!"
Mario, still reveling in his victory and power, turns to Palutena. "Why would I stop?" he asks. "I have absolute power in this form. No one can stand against me now. Not Tabuu, not those overgrown hands, not anyone!"
Palutena steps back. "Mario?" she asks timidly. Then, regaining her ground, she looks him straight in the eye. "Stop this now!"
The Dark Energy seems to twist Mario's mind as he stares at Palutena. "Oh, I forgot to destroy you, too. Let me finish you right now."
Slowly, Mario walks towards Palutena, who is too weak to do little more than plead to him. "Mario please, don't let that Dark Energy take over you like that. You're stronger than this. Snap out of it!"
There is a shift of power in the air as Mario raises his fist. His hand fills with dark energy, and his eyes are devoid of emotion as he points it at Palutena's heart. She tries once more to break through to her friend. "Please, Mario. This isn't you. This isn't the Mario I know. This isn't… this isn't the Mario I love!"
Inside his head, Mario is struggling. There is the seemingly blissful nothingness that the darkness has left in his mind. Nothing except the dark power sapping his will. But, then there is a voice. He feels he should recognize this person, but the dark clouds his mind, and he can't think straight. His soul tries to fight, but tendrils of evil energy impede him. And then he hears the voice's last word, 'love'.
It had been a whisper, but it was enough to break through the shadows. Mario gains courage. He remembers that earlier, Palutena had said that she loved him. Something snaps inside him, and the darkness flees as light explodes in his heart. Mario screams, and then falls to the ground, unconscious.
Palutena crawls over to Mario and listens to his chest. "...Still… alive." Palutena whispers with relief.
Then, a portal appears, and Cloud and Ryu burst through to where Mario and Palutena are. The two look around and see Palutena kneeling over Mario.
"Hey, you ok?" Cloud says as he and Ryu hurry over to them.
"Where's Tabuu?" asks Ryu.
"Mario just beat Tabuu, but with his Dark powers." Palutena explains.
"What?" Cloud asks, uncorking a healing potion and handing it to Palutena
The Goddess drank gratefully, then spoke, twisting the bottle in her hands. "I almost died from Tabuu's Giant Laser, then Mario got really angry and his Dark Energy took over." She shuddered. "I-I almost couldn't stop him."
"Reminds me of the Satsui No Hado." says Ryu, empathizing with Mario's currently position.
"We should go." Cloud says. "The others are probably back at the mansion.
Palutena straightens. "Wait. You defeated Master and Crazy Hand?"
"After you jumped through the portal, the rest of us fought the remaining enemies." Ryu explains. "But, the Hands disappeared."
"Don't know where they went." Cloud says as he and Ryu lift Mario. "But, they won't be coming back."
"How do you know?" Palutena asks, getting to her feet.
Cloud and Ryu look at each other and nod. "Just a feeling…" Ryu says. "Now come on. We've got to get this one to the emergency room."
Palutena smiles, knowing that help for Mario is on the way, and she and the others head back to Smash Mansion.