Fyras14: Hello, folks! Sorry for not updating sooner! I was concerned on how this chapter was going to look in the long shot and well, here it is...delays are delays...I will get working on the next chapter by either next week or on Sunday...but, I dont have guarantees...especially because this isnt the only story I'm working on for the time being.
Do hope you enjoy!
Summary: The Smashers thought it was all over after the Subspace Disaster,unfortunately, it was after said disaster that things got worse. A lot worse. Friends become foes, and time and space will probably destroy their world.
This story will have spoilers for the Subspace Emissary in SSBB, so if you haven't played the game, please be wary of them spoilers.
Please read or review, or criticize, whichever comes first. Flames are not accepted, frowned upon, and possibly deleted. And also, the characters included in this work belong to their respective owners, not me, so please be kind enough to not call a lawyer.
Fear grows in darkness; if you think there's a bogeyman around, turn on the light.
-Dorothy Thompson
Episode One: Twilight
-Chapter One-
-Lust, Dusk, and Shadows-
It was already getting a little dark when the small group finally made it out of the Kongo, all three of them sighing in relief, dirt-covered, and hungry.
"That's it! Next chance I take, I'm ste—I mean, buying a map of this place! Getting lost for almost a whole day is ridiculous!" Bowser Jr. cried out, as Blue and Young Link dusted their respective hats.
"At least we can see where we are going this time around," Young Link pointed out.
"But, we aren't out of the jungle yet, actually," the girl told him, glancing at the small path before them, trees on either side of it; the Kongo had yet to end.
"Well, we got a path…a path is as good as any map."
"Fine," Bowser Jr. muttered, irritably. "If we get lost, it will be your fault." Young Link gave the small koopa a look, before Blue suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Hey! What about if I use one of my Pokémon to find out if there is someone in the area?" she asked, excitedly. Both the young hero and the koopa had completely forgotten about the Charmeleon, Charles, that had aided them during their small trek, before his trainer had returned him back into his Pokéball after showing signs of exhaustion.
"And how are you gonna do that, exactly?" the koopa asked, looking skeptical.
"Little Billy can make a smell called Sweet Scent, I usually make her do that to attract Pokémon to my location…I was thinking that if Billy could use her sweet scent…"
"…then maybe, it would end up attracting one of the chimps around here!" Young Link finished, a small gleam of hope in his eyes.
"Wait a minute, and how do ya know that'll work?" Bowser Jr. asked, crossing his arms over his small chest. "What if your Pokémon attracts one of them giant bees or alligators?" (1)
"I take care of it, then," Young Link told him, giving the two of them a smile. Bowser Jr. looked back at the young hero, before he shrugged.
"No offense or anything, Link, but…things around here…there nothing like your guys back in that Hyrule or whatever…there are giant bees…about the size of that Donkey guy! Giant green lizards with swords and guns, and everything, too!"
"Don't worry, I got it," Young Link assured him, taking out something from behind. He showed a small brown mask at the two, a smirk coming to his face, "Tell me…have you ever seen a Goron in action?"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
On the other side of the Kongo, a pair of shadows circled around each other. They swept through the jungle floors with ace and speed, one shadow chasing the other.
"ZANT, YOU IDIOT!" came a loud female cry, this one coming from one of the shadows, as it chased its dark counterpart.
"Believe what you will, Midna!" the second shadow, Zant, cried out, as it moved through large trees, as the other shade, the one this one had called, Midna, followed suit. "With this power, I will become a god!"
"More like a moron, more likely!" Midna cried out, crashing against Zant, and sending the shadow bouncing off the ground, and into a nearby tree, where he finally took form, revealing his blue-skin and dark robes. Midna followed suit, her skin the color of water, wearing less clothes than her foe. Both shadow beings looked at each other, each with a glare decorating his or her face. "The Fused Shadows are not things to be meddled with, Zant, you know that!"
"Ha! What is it to you! Foolish woman! Don't you see? If we do not use its power, our kingdom will fall!" Zant cried out, putting his two hands in front of himself, as they began to glow in a purple light. "With this power, our people will become invincible! We will not be forced into the shadows any longer!" As he said those words, he let out a giant magic ball, heading straight for Midna. The redhead shadow scoffed at this, and with a flick of her head, sent a strand of her own hair against the magical attack, breaking it upon contact.
"There is a reason why we were punished for using that magic, Zant!" she cried, her hair still a menacing scythe above her head. "That magic is not something we should be blessed with, not now, not ever!"
"I shall not accept it! You don't understand! Our people were almost destroyed by the strange darkness that took over, and yet you stand aside and allow great power to be sealed? NEVER!" Zant quickly raised a hand, and in a matter of seconds, materialized what seemed to be a strange helmet with black markings all over it. "The Fused Shadows…our ancestors' power belongs only to a true ruler…me!"
"ZANT! DON'T YOU DARE!"
"BUT YOU CANNOT DO NOTHING NOW, TWILIGHT PRINCESS FOR I-"
"WATCH OUT!"
It took both Midna and Zant a couple of seconds to turn, only for Zant to be tackled by a large rock and a girl, being followed behind by a crocodile wearing a crown.
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"Wow…"
'Wow' couldn't even begin to cover what both Blue and Bowser Jr. were seeing. No longer was Young Link in their presence, but a rather strange bulky creature that seemed to be made out of rock. He wore little clothes, yet that strange green hat was still on his head, just like the swordsman's own. The sword and shield were gone, too, as if they had never been there before. A large scar appeared for the missing equipment, and that was something to catch attention; it was as if something had decided to put a spike on this bulky character and make a mark on purpose, but, despite the terrifying sight it made, appeared to not give the rock man any pain.
"So, what do you guys think?" the voice of the bulky rock came, causing both youngsters to blink. The voice was different, too! But…how?
"How you do that!" the young koopa royal cried, looking as confused as he was fascinated. "I've never seen you do that before! HECK! Even the other Link can't do that! Can he?"
"Pretty long story," the rock man answered, grinning.
"So…is this a Goron from your place, Link?" Blue asked, sounding a little less excited than her companion, who had his jaw wide opened, as he examined the new form their friend had taken.
"Yep. The mask I showed you guys earlier allows me to transform into this," he pointed at himself. "I had thought I lost the masks a couple of years back, but, thanks to that darkness that circled Hyrule, I had found the time to find them."
"Masks?" Bowser Jr. asked, looking even more excited than before. "You have more?"
"Yeah, like I said, long story."
"Yes, it must really be a long story if you have more than one," Blue said calmly, as she took out a small Pokeball from her belt, before letting it pop open in her hand, releasing a ray of light. "Right, now, though…it would be better if we did what we are supposed to be doing." Goron Link nodded, meanwhile Bowser Jr. shrugged, and observed as the ray of light took a small shape, before revealing what seemed to be a small dinosaur with a flower bulb on its back.
"Bulba!" it cried out, smiling back at its trainer, as she knelt next the small Pokémon.
"Hello, Billy…you think you can use Sweet Scent for me? We need to attract a few monkeys to our location…"
"Bulbasaur!" Billy said, nodding her head, before shaking a little. Both Goron and koopa looked on in wonder as the small creature let out a small, barely visible, powder from its bulb. The Pokémon let the powder let it spread all around the place, causing all three to sniff in the rather, wonderful smell, before it disperse itself through the trees and into the distance.
"Now…we just have to wait," the trainer said after the powder had made its escape, prompting Goron Link to go on the defensive, in case anything other than monkeys made their appearance. For a moment, nothing happened.
"…okay, now what?" Bowser Jr. asked, looking bored. "I thought you said…"
"It takes time, Junior, even Pokémon don't appear out of thin air, you know…" Blue explained serenely, but was looking around the place for any signs of either monkeys, bees, or crocodiles. (2)
"Yeah, but-"
"Bwahahaha!"
"Huh?" the koopa asked, sounding confused, as he and the others looked for the strange creature that had made the sound.
"Wha…what was that?" came Blue, looking a little shaky, seemingly surprised by the laugh.
"…that didn't sound like a monkey…" Goron Link commented, as he and Billy glanced back and forth, trying to figure out from where that laugh had come from. Even Goron Link, who had met Donkey Kong first hand, didn't remember him ever laughing him like that, nor had any other monkey he had met in the past. No, this laugh was strange, awful, wicked. It wasn't the laugh Ganondorf had offered him when about to take him out in the tournament a year ago, no, it wasn't terrifying…it was…it was…the Goron couldn't quite place it, but it definitely wasn't like Ganondorf's, not that it wasn't going to stop him from being on alert, even though silence had once again surrounded the group.
"Okay, who's the wise guy!" Bowser Jr. cried out, annoyed, taking out a tall brush from who-knows-where, and wielding it dangerously before him. "Come on out, or e-"
But, the koopa's threat died in his lips as a strange, black arrow hit the Bulbasaur straight in the face, sending it somersaulting in the air, before taking to the floor, as a trophy.
"Billy!" Blue cried out in panic, as both Goron Link and Bowser Jr. faced their foe. Unfortunately for them, the large green crocodile with a crown was no friend of theirs.
"Hello!" the crocodile cried out, smiling wickedly. "Darling! I have found you!" it cried again, pointed a strange cannon at Blue, one that both koopa and Goron took notice. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had caused Billy's dilemma. And if they didn't do something...
"RUN!" Goron Link cried, grabbing the still, shell-shocked Blue, as Bowser Jr. followed behind him. They had barely evaded the second arrow-like beam that cannon had sent their way, and even that hadn't been enough to stop the crocodile from following, and that was not the only thing that worried the group. This crocodile wasn't only threatening, but rather fast.
"We gotta lose that fatso!" the koopa cried, as he and Blue ran in front of Goron Link, the trainer worriedly glancing towards the site where her Pokemon lay…if only that crocodile hadn't started with that cannon, she would have been able to return her Pokémon to her Pokeball. But, now, she had no choice but to continue running along with the others. She wouldn't be doing much good to her Bulbasaur if she was turned into a trophy as well.
"DARLING!" the crocodile cried again, sending chills down her spine, but even that didn't compare to the stray arrow that struck down a tree she had passed by moments before.
"We gotta lose him, now!" Goron Link cried, barely keeping up with his lighter and much faster companions. "We can't attack him with that cannon of his, especially with that aim!"
"Then, what do you suggest? A counter-attack?" the koopa shot back, sounding as scared as he was angry.
"Well, we gotta do somethi-"
"ACK!"
"LOOK OUT!"
Bowser Jr. barely noticed when the crocodile jumped behind him, causing both Blue and Goron Link to face him and his cannon of doom. He didn't even see the crocodile grab him by his tail, and then, swing him in circles, before letting go of him. "Woohoho!" the koopa cried as he disappeared into the distance.
"Oh no!"
"Junior!" Goron Link growled, facing the crocodile as he gave them a toothy grin. The Goron knew he could take on the crocodile, but, what if he moved too slow? What if that crocodile's cannon got him and Blue was left all alone? Sure, she had her Pokémon, but her combat experience was one to zero, and she was panicked already, especially so because that crocodile seemed to be stalking her. "Come on!" the Goron cried, grabbing the girl's arm and dragging her away. Blue followed rather clumsily behind, trying to tune out the 'Darling, come back!' that came from the crocodile's mouth.
"I shall not accept it!" came a voice from somewhere nearby. "You don't undertstand! Our people were almost destroyed by the strange darkness that took over, and yet you stand aside and allow great power to be sealed? NEVER!" Goron Link narrowed his eyes at the voice. Whoever it was, they were getting closer, but they didn't have time to make enemies, they had to lose that crazy crocodile, and fast. "The Fused Shadows…our ancestors' power belongs only to a true ruler…me!"
"ZANT!" Another voice came, louder, closer now. "DON'T YOU DARE!" Blue and the Goron crashed against a couple of trees, where they spotted the two shadow beings facing against each other, one holding a strange thing on his hand.
Damn it! We are going to crash!
"BUT YOU CANNOT DO NOTHING NOW, TWILIGHT PRINCESS FOR I-"
"WATCH OUT!"
But it was too late, Blue and Goron Link collided against the shadow being holding the strange contraption on his hand, knocking him and the contraption to the ground. The Goron could only cry out in pain as his body crushed the strange thing, letting out a small piece that collided with Blue's back before she took collapsed.
"I got you, now!" the crocodile snickered, before sending an arrow straight into the fallen Blue. The girl barely glanced back, before being hit by the arrow-like beam; she became a trophy seconds later.
"What the?" the shadow woman cried, barely taking all that had just occurred.
"NO! The Fused Shadow!" the other cried, only for him to be hit hard by the crocodile, that slammed the latter against a tree. His own transformation to a trophy was instant. On the other hand, the shadow woman only blinked, before turning a concerned glance towards the still, fallen Goron, barely taking notice of the crocodile in the confusion….but, when she did, it was already too late. A blinding flash later, and another trophy lay on the ground, and the Goron had yet to move.
"Bwahahahaha! Finally!" the crocodile snickered, calmly walking towards Blue's trophy, who could only stare back at him with a smiling face, and emotionless eyes. "At last! My bride has come!" he cried out, giving the smiling trophy a grin, before it turned into a frown. "What in the world is this?" On the trophy's back, barely visible, was a small black thing sticking out of the girl's back. The crocodile tried to pull it out, but failed. "Hmm…whatever it is, I can simply cut it out when I get back to the ship…ah, but you," the crocodile said, calmly caressing the trophy girl's face with sick satisfaction. "you would make a fine bride…ah, the only thing that foolish monkey cannot take from me…even if he tried…now!" Turning around, he began to walk away from the place, leaving behind the two trophies and the fallen Goron. "Let us go to your new home, dear! You would so love it! BWAHAHAHA!" And then, he was gone.
Had he remained a bit longer, he would have noticed how the Goron's brown skin turned death gray, and an aura of doom circled around him, as he began to quiver...
…then, he got up, facing the world with bloody, red eyes.
Some things to point out!
1-As Mario and Donkey are…in a sense, close, each character might at least know something of each other, as I'm pretty sure Kremlings and koopas have interacted together in some Mario Games.
2-Untrue, as some of us have figured out…in games, mostly. Especially in the Pokemon games, where the caves are concerned.
Also, it may appear that Zant was defeated quite easily, but let me point out that this croc, if you already know who it is, is just as tough as Bowser in any good day, and because Zant was shown powered up by Ganon in TP, well, I thought, he must have been quite a weakling before getting his power, as long as physical attacks were concerened.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter...sorry for the long wait...but, believe me...the trouble is just starting.