Sorry for the long wait, I've been really busy lately, but I WILL finish this story! Thanks for being patient! Also, I apologize for any confusion between Mewtwo speaking telepathically and my comments before and after each chapter. I'll skip a few lines so it will be more obvious. Anyway, enjoy!
Tabuu led the Smashers down the hallway, muttering to himself. As the group rounded a corner, they found the forgotten Smashers waiting for them.
"We're coming with you," said Dr. Mario simply. "We're not going to let you face Crazy Hand alone."
But you can't! You've been...forgotten.
"What does that matter?" asked Young Link. "If Tabuu can take you back, he can take us too."
"Irrelevant," snapped Tabuu. "I'll help the loser crowd here get back, but nothing will make me take the forgotten ones as well."
"Loser crowd?" Pit frowned. "We're...somewhat better than that."
Tabuu laughed. "You fools. You can't manipulate me into doing your bidding. I've come to grips with being locked up here until the end of time. I'll help you get back to the World of Trophies, but only because I've realized that I can't let anyone else succeed where I failed, not even Crazy Hand. You people have been forgotten for a reason, and you're the ones who made sure I stayed locked up. I won't bring you back."
"Give us a chance," said Young Link defiantly.
Tabuu scowled. "You don't deserve a chance. These seven relevant Smashers here were able to defeat me! Have you ever done anything like that? Have you every gone up against someone like me?" Tabuu's voice shook. "I'm the only real monster in the world, and I only respect those who have killed me. Considering you haven't done that, and never will, I'm not taking you to the World of Trophies. I will not change the terms of our deal. I go free, they go back."
Silence followed Tabuu's words. Pichu stared, trembling. Roy looked about ready to draw his sword and attack Tabuu, but Mewtwo beat him to it.
Then I'll never have to deal with the consequences of my actions.
And with that, Mewtwo unleashed a bolt of psychic energy. The bolt slammed into Tabuu, knocking him to the floor. Tabuu groaned, but sprang upwards, spreading his wings.
"Time to play," he hissed.
You can't fight anymore, Tabuu. Do you really think you can stand against me?
Tabuu roared, launching a glowing golden bracket through the air. The bracket caught Mewtwo in the chest and expanded until it trapped his whole body. Tabuu snapped his fingers, and the golden bracket exploded into Mewtwo. Mewtwo screamed and writhed, falling to the ground, where he lay still.
"You're nothing compared to what you once were, Mewtwo," Tabuu rasped. "I'm more than you could ever hope to be!"
Mewtwo staggered to his feet, his eyes glowing with psychic power.
I'm more than enough to crush you!
"I'll never help you!" screamed Tabuu. "You've made my existence a nightmare ever since I died, and I've waited long enough to give you the agony you deserve!
"Stop!" yelled Sonic. "Don't do this, guys. We need you."
"Tabuu, the forgotten Smashers have to come back," said Link. "We can't stop Crazy Hand without them."
"This isn't the way," said Mario.
"This is bigger than any of us," added Pit.
Ike sighed. "I never thought I'd say this, but...please, Tabuu. Please help us."
"All of us," corrected Samus.
Tabuu, Mewtwo...do the right thing.
Tabuu folded his wings. Mewtwo looked at the forgotten Smashers. Dr. Mario, Young Link, Roy, and Pichu smiled at him. Mewtwo and Tabuu turned toward each other.
"I'm not going to apologize," Tabuu warned, holding out his hand. Mewtwo shook it.
I won't either.
"Heartwarming," said Link. "Now, can we please get going."
"Yes," said Tabuu quietly. "The way back to the World of Trophies is through Subspace. I can take us there."
"All right," said Mario. "We're going to win. I know we are."
"And why's that?" asked Roy, somewhat curiously.
"Because we're a team now," replied Mario. "We weren't really united before, but we are now. The final battle is upon us, and we have to be a real team to pull through."
"I agree," said Samus. Tabuu and the other Smashers, forgotten or otherwise, murmured their assent.
Mario looked around him at Link, Ike, Samus, Sonic, Lucario, Pit, Young Link, Pichu, Roy, Dr. Mario, Mewtwo, and Tabuu. "We're more than a group of Smashers," he said. "We're the last hope of saving the World of Trophies and all of its inhabitants from oblivion, of stopping Crazy Hand, and of overcoming the darkness. We're..."
Mario smiled.
"We're the Defenders of Light," he said. "And we're going to bring hope to the darkest corners of despair."
"Crazy Hand won't know what hit him," laughed Pit. "On second thought...I'll make sure he does."
Just a few chapters left in the story! Here's hoping the next wait won't be quite so unbelievably long. Please review if you have any comments, and thank you!
