Chapter 9: A Turncoat squeals
Super Smash Bros. [ Splatoon, Inkopolis; Kid Icarus, Palutena's Temple; Densetsu no Stafy, Pufftop; Wrecking Crew, Unknown city]
"Luigi had retold a time ago about during a break the Mario Bros. were in."
"OH I LOVE THOSE GAMES!"
" Yes. And during that time, Mr. Mario had encountered three teams of Inklings playing a game of Turf war in that very city, resulting in a brush between them."
" And it was rumble to remember! Inka and her team splattering the buildings and duelling against Fin's team. And all in the mix, Mario was spraying water with his hose-backpack, splatting Inklings here and there, jumping and doing his thang. Of course I never had a doubt Mario would prevail. He's an all time legend!"
"Too bad Inka and friends didn't know much about Mr. Mario and what he does."
"Guess their not adept to video games, like moi. Now let's be honest here. I love Turf battles and all the games here. But I personally like to just kick back and journey through the ye olde Nin10 classics. Am I right? Anyway, looks like Mario has been kidnapped by those Dusk Templar jerks. Charles and company better get the crew together, before everyone ends up captured as trophies, no way!"
"... um, Callie? How do we even know about any of this stuff to begin with or the people involved? It's not like we've even been through the previous chapters, let alone the last one?"
"Huh!? Dude! Nobody's supposed to know that much water-head!" Callie, the black and pink Inkling idol girl snapped at her cousin Marie, fellow Squid Sister in their commercial room.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I never meant to break any walls."
"Don't apologize! Just stick to the program!"
Marie, the Squid Sister favouring green on her outfit, was still oblivious of her mention of the story before in her deadpan stoic expression. "Sorry everyone. I didn't mean anything I said before. Nothing about chapters or the such."
"Shut Up! Your only making it Worse!" The temperamental Squid Sister shook Marie in an attempt to make her stop breaking the dreaded Fourth Wall with little success.
"Staaaay fresh." Marie finished off, while also trying to be silenced by Callie. [end BGM]
That whole featuring the Squid Sisters News announcement is a nod to Monsters Inc. with the two bumbling janitor monsters around the beginning and some other parts. For those of you who know of such, good. But for those who haven't seen it, I suggest you watch the movie if you like, or just watch up to the first part with those bozos. I implied that Callie be dubbed, as if in an anime of sorts, by voice actress Jamie Marchi (Like how ROB sounds similar to Baymax from Big Hero 6). Look her up online and see how she sounds I dare you. If noone likes, I can change it so that she sounds more like Cherami Leigh (best known for being Lucy -Fairy Tail- and Asuna -Sword Art Online- a few examples), for which I'll underline for the most feedback. As for Marie, I intended that she sound a lot like Fluttershy form MLP, and yes I know how she sounds like from some YTP. (I'm not a brony I promise you. Just assumed she would sound that way, what with her deadpan looks. For any bronies reading, this is for you, no hate, but no like. For those who aren't, tough nuts, if you have some suggestions for good imagined voice dubs, i'm all ears, or just use your imagination like I do. Any-which-way, let's get back to the story
"How is this possible, Luigi how in the world did you escape from the Templar?!" Rosalina was anxious on the news that the heroic plumbers sudden plight. It only makes sense that she worry about Mario since she aided him in some adventures most notably his quests to save the galaxy from the nefarious Bowser. She had met Luigi who assisted in the adventures later in them, but Mario stood out more for his more outgoing heroics.
"I guess it wasn't interested in-a me."Luigi brooded with great noticeable guilt. "Really can't blame 'em. Not like anyone would want a coward for their collection."
"You got that right." Agreed Wario. "Can't believe you let them take goody-two-shoes Mario, your own bro. Hell, I wouldn't even want a wussy like you in any prison of mine. If I had one."
"That's enough Wario!" Mr. Wii Fit would not tolerate the beratement of Luigi by Wario. "You shouldn't rub salt in the wounds. You have no right to discourage him."
Wario held his hands up defence when called out by the fitness trainer. "What? I was only agreeing with the sap."
"Don't you listen to him Luigi. Their was nothing you could do, especially to a warrior to that ranking." Rosalina wanted be sure that both plumbers were okay and insisted that both had joined them in their battle against Knightscourge. But she can't help feeling distressed from the absence of the Mushroom Kingdom hero and his predicament with being captured. She wanted to say she was glad to be alongside Luigi, it just wasn't the same without Mario.
"No he's right. It was my fault completely. I shoud've done something. At least..."
"No. If you had fought against that knight, he would've killed you." Rosalinas interruption sure did silence Luigi's next self loath. It also caught most of the fighters off guard, considering the cosmic watchers monotone demeanor was more or less constant, this change of tone was certainly out of character. "It's better to live to fight another day than die in vain for Mario."
"Don't worry Luigi." Charles said to comfort the green moustachio. "We'll find a way to bring back Mario one way or another." He ended his reassurance by sticking his thumb up to the Mario bro. He may not have shown it, but Luigi could inwardly feel more assured now that he had the alliance of Palutena and her forces alongside what they have of the Super Smash Bros..
"What's this about collections," Viridi urged wanting to know more of this news. "Is this what Knightscourge does to those he abducts?"
"Haven't you been listening to his little tale?" Dark Pit asked with annoyance to the little goddess. "He said they took Mario away in a ship that nobody around noticed conveniently."
"Yeah, well, he lost me at the cat part. I tried to think why a cat would associate with squid, with their fondness to seafood?"
Palitena also had that thought in her head, but she was mostly imagining how adorable those squid kids are. She definitely wanted one of those for herself to cuddle, now that Pit is a little older. " With that matter aside, every time Knightscourges attacked, I did notice some drop ships come down then fly off back to the main craft. And back at Smashville, Charles' hometown," Charles nodded, letting her know it's okay to discuss this subject, "he personally abducted some villagers and sent them in one of his drop ships. The ones he didn't..." Upon hearing the last words of the sentence, Charles shifted in fit of despair knowing that those lost that day were not going to return. Knightscourge, unless anyone hasn't, noticed had done an atrocious thing not commonly done in light-hearted genres. He and the Dusk Templar have invaded the planet and have destroyed homes and people alike. Killing is a concept seen in various worlds where it's allowed to be said, to be done. Of course the amount of the liquid soul and gore are not exactly exclusively visual but will be mentioned in dialogue, however Knightscourge changed those rules. He's killing those in his way, anyone who he is not capturing. Now Charles knows that he was not just breaking apart his town he helped build, but harming the residents as well. He been slaying innumerable amounts of creatures across their world without a second thought, an example of these horrific massacres is the razing of Yoshi's Island. The description of that event is far too gruesome to define, but if it wasn't for Palutena's involvement, the Yoshi species would be utterly extinct. Charles was holding in all the hateful rage inside from realizing what the Dusk Templar have done to his friends and many other innocents
"Geez. I'm so sorry for you Charles." Mrs. Wii Fit consoled the villager.
"It's alright." Charles feigned his upset state with calm. "We'll get him for this."
Palutena could see through this facade, but continued to not worsen the feeling. "So through this information we now know what Knightscourge is trying to achieve."
"A collection of the Smash Bros." Sonic concluded Palutena's statement. "But why?"
"That is an excellent question." Rosalina said. "Maybe he could be lost after the Galactic battle from long ago and found a pass time for him an his soldiers. Of course that's just an assumption."
"Why hasn't anyone done anything about this!?" Asked Megaman. "Shouldn't the worlds be resisting this combatant.
"Many have." Pit responded. "So many have tried, and tragically failed. And the Lylat and Galactic Federation are far too crippled to do anything since the last Dusk Templar Armada." Tis true. Skyworld has seen that The Tri-Force Realm was attacked and barely stood a chance against Knightscourge and his legions. A small portion of the World of Pipes is under flames, notable planets of the Metroid and Star Fox continuity are devastated, and news of the Kongo Isles are not known. Charles' world is just one of the lucky ones to not be majorly invaded by Knightscourge's Dusk Templar.
"We'll isn't their any officials who can help us? I mean is the Central rulership aware of this?" That was something Palutenas organization actually hasn't done. It should have been first priority to see what the official rulership of the world is doing with this incursion going on.
"Perhaps we should." Palutena said regarding the question. "I tried to contact Chancellor Shokora, but an emergency popped up so I couldn't pull through with it. Viridi since you're going to be here for a while why don't you watch the fort while I'm gone, just to be safe."
"What!" The immature goddess of Nature blurted. "Oh heck no! I'm not being stuck with house-sitting while you go willy-nilly across to the Capital! I've had enough standing around looking pretty in an 'Ivory palace'!" That last part made Megaman look to Dark Pit, who shook his head at the whole concept.
"Fine. Then you go and tell Shokora what's been going on across the worlds. You tell her the chaotic state Knightscourge has been blowing things into proportion and all the details on the destruction." Viridi had no comment on the duty that was to come in the journey to the Capital. "This is serious. Without the Encasing charm to protect us from death, we have to be extra cautious when Knightscourge is hunting."
The Encasing charm is a fail-safe enforced in their world so as to prevent real death, petrifying any inhabitants in a trophy-like state when fatally wounded. It was prominent during the Mellee and Brawl Tournaments and the Subspace Emissary arc dictating longevity in their world, but for some reason it has been fully nullified. Now if something is to die, it will die, not in regular combat die, Human-death die. In Amiibo, death is constantly duped to preserve infinite legends and scenarios for the respective world until their retirement forces them to withdraw from action at least. But ever since the Dusk Templar invaded the realm, death from the other Universe followed in the path of destruction and with their anti-celestial aura, even god-like entities of Amiibo are threatened by the murderous menace. It's almost like the Dusk Templar has arrived to eradicate the imagination of the people from the other side.
"She's right. We have to find help from an official stand point." Charles agreed. "Perhaps they have a mean to hold off the Dusk Templar until the Smash bros. are back."
"Very well." Spoke Doc Louis, whom was not forgotten. "Palutena should go visit this Shokora and see what she has to offer. Since she is the Chancellor after all." Little Mac approached the central area of the meeting room.
"I'll go with Palutena to lend a hand." He punched his boxing gloved fist out into the air. "In anyway to help get aid."
"As sweet as that is." Palutena was flattered that the small boxer would volunteer to escort her. "It would not be necessary to have myself an entourage. I can take care of myself." Palutena sure was one to be able to handle a sticky situation but at her state, that could be brought up to debate.
"That may be." Doc Louis wisely contended. "But maybe some examples of this situation could help in our favour, for if she doesn't believe us." Palutena thought this over. If the circumstance was to fall to a failure, maybe some proof a Knightscourge's ferocity would bolster the guilt factor in this predicament. Even if Princess Shokora is a benevolent ruler, she could be dealing with some other problem, what with politics and all that confusion. Palutena had to admit she was not as all-powerful as she was before Knightscourge and his ravagers pillaged their worlds, so an escort could be of use if things took a turn for the worse.
"I guess that's a good idea. Little mac." Hearing the lovely goddess call his name made Mac's stance shudder, since it's only natural for a guy to feel fuzzy when a beautiful woman says their name(a magical feeling indeed), and develop a hidden pink flush. "I would be honored to be accompanied by you." He straightened himself out, hoping to not embarrass himself in front of the Goddess of Light, and saluted like a soldier would for his lord.
"As you wish." Many of the crew could wonder what made the boxer act so strange, but for the more observant ones, like the wise Doc Louis or envious Viridi, they could tell what a hint of attraction looked like. This made Palutena giggle at the innocent gesture before looking out to the others.
"Anyone else?" Wario was keeping himself busy by grabbing a big book hiding a magazine titled 'Booty and Looty', which gives off the vibe that it's a sort of girlz magazine but had more pictures of riches and lost pirate booty, and some girls. Dark Pit looked away hoping to not get her attention and Greninja was still sitting absent-mindedly as if Ashley had not raged and not knocked down the Scrabble game. "I'll come with you guys.!" Ness wished to join too as he called out. "It's the least I can do, considering it's my first mission on the team."
"It's not much of a mission as it is a message." Explained Rosalina as she approached with a light blue Luma floating by her. "However I could be of help to evaluate what we're dealing with." R.O.B. came out of the hallway leading to the infirmary.
"May I be of assistance?"
"Sorry R.O.B.. But you need to watch over Toon Link while he's healing." Said Palutena. What Palutena hadn't realized is that a figure stood in the hallway R.O.B. had approached just about to reveal them self.
"Actually, I think he will be just fine." After R.O.B. moved to the left, Toon Link came out of the shade to greet all his surprised friends.
"You're alright!" Charles was absolutely overjoyed to see his team-mate alive and o.k..
"Yep. Palutena's treatment actually recovered my whole arm. Oh, and thanks for keeping my sword and shield safe guys. Really appreciate it." Toon Link grinned to everyone happy to see he is safe and sound.
"Well with your brain keeping a local history on what your arm was made of, I merely had a spell increase the healing factor that the body would take months or years to take. No biggy." She was explaining the whole process to let Toon know what it took to mend him, but it was more or less drowned out by the others approaching him and checking to see if he is completely okay with the new arm and welcoming him back. "However I have to let you stay here since me some others are going to meet someone very important. Better safe than sorry, okay?" Toon Link was okay with this. Besides, he wanted to meet some of the newer people and maybe rest up for the new mission. "So is that everyone who wants to go?" She counted herself, Little Mac, Ness, Rosalina, and R.O.B., since he wished to volunteer as well. "Hmm, how about you Charles? Want to join to?"
Charles was caught off guard by the offer, but thought if Princess Shokora can help in any way, his hands on experience against Knighscourge could persuade the doubt of the politician. "Yes. I would kindly join you."
"Great!" Palutena giggled, sitting upon her floating staff that turned to it's side to give the goddess a seat. "Now their was this other location I felt had some abnormal power to it, just multitasking, so maybe..." Before she could complete her sentence. Viridi held up her hand like a young schoolkid would when they wanted to answer the teachers question really badly. "Yes Viridi?" Palutena answered in a tone a teacher would to her knowledge yearning student.
"Let me do something! I want to go and do something! So let me lead this one! It's boring just standing up here and doing maintenance!" As far as anyone's concerned, Viridi hasn't done much than order her Forces of Nature on raids on human civilization in their world and the Separatists holding her warriors in brainwash, maybe this time she could actually show her stuff, more than she ever did in Uprising. "Please?!"
"Very well. You may lead a team to the location I have chosen. And you're going to love this, the place is located on DK Island."
"YES! A place filthy humans have not desecrated!" Viridi cheered. "If this wasn't a 'fate of the worlds deal', *sigh* I would totally consider this a vacation. If it weren't for those DK baddies and their industrialist motives, I would love to visit Donkey more often. Maybe lend a hand."
"Alright, calm your kicks there. I need you to enact a search and rescue there." Palutena explained to her fellow goddess. "Heavens know that any mission of ours will turn bad by the end of it. You may take whomever you want for the expedition."
"You can count on me Palutena!" Viridi wasn't one to take orders especially from her squabbling partner, the Goddess of Light, but if it's to take some time to swing around at Kongo Jungle along with the relatively eco friendly Kongs, she is willing to take this offer, even if she could've before but hadn't really thought about it. "Theirs no way it can go wrong with me in charge! Okay I want you two," As she pointed to Pikachu and Jigglypuff who were exchanging Yugioh cards, much to her surprise. "And you," Sonic fist pumped, knowing he was selected to go on his first mission. "...you, yeah you green stache." Luigi looked up from his sulking and gave her a foolish look as he responded to her order. "... aaaaaaand... Pit you're coming too." Dark Pit scoffed at this decision of the goddess. "Oh shut it! I made my decision, so let's move out!" Now that the preparation are through, Team 1, consisting with Palutena; R.O.B.; Rosalina and Luma; Ness, Little Mac; and Charles were heading to meet with Chancellor/Princess Shokora to discuss about Knightscourge; while Team 2, consisting of Viridi; Pikachu; Jigglypuff; Pit; Luigi; and Sonic were going to visit the domain of Donkey Kong and the Kong family and see who they can recruit to their aid.
"So you can teleport your team to island alright I presume?" Asked Mrs. Wii Fit to the little nature goddess.
"Of course I can! I can't believe you have doubt in me." Scoffed Viridi on her hurt pride. "If Palutena could do it, then so can I 2x." With that, Viridi, after assembling her team around her, she raised her staff above her and stated to the people of the temple, "Catch y'all on the flip side." before teleporting her entire team out of the temple to their destination.
"You think they'll be alright?" Charles asked Palutena.
"I judge they'll be just fine." R.O.B. answered the villagers question on how well Viridi could lead the search mission. Palutena and her party said their farewells to the remaining cast left at the temple until they came back. In a flash of light, Palutena warped her party to meet with the leading head of government of their worlds.
Viridi and her squad did teleport out of the temple. However, where they landed was not in the jungles of Kongo Jungle, but in a very poofy cloud kingdom above a blue majestic ocean. On said cloud stood a glorious castle overlooking the expansive body of water. Pit and the other confused members looked to a glamorous billboard sticking out of the clouds pointing to the castle and kingdom stating "Welcome to the kingdom of Pufftop."
"Umm, Viridi? I don't think this is DK Island." This contradicted with her last statement back at the temple, gaining unimpressed stares from the others. Viridi didn't look at her team and was madly blushing at her accidental folly.
"O.K., I know it's not Donkey Kong Island!" She yelled in frustration. Maybe the presence of the Dusk Templar is messing with her goddess-like powers, because she is sure as hell she isn't rusty at teleportation. "Get off my grill, alright! My mistake!" Nearby the castle, a lone yellow starfish(?) or star-like critter was spinning about and enjoying the beautiful day he was about to play in when it saw the unusual strangers in it's home. It waved to them and skipped and spun over to the potential friends.
"Um. It's coming near us?" Sonic exclaimed nervously at the unfamiliar creature. "It sorta looks friendly though?"
"Don't you remember him? He was an assist trophy in the Brawl Tournament!" Pit surly remembered the legendary Starfy's involvement in the past Super Smash Bros. Brawl games with his signature spin attacks.
"Yeah, yeah. Just hold on. We'll be out in a jiffy." After that Viridi teleported them out of Pufftop, leaving Starfy confused on where his buddies went off to when he arrived at their spot.
The greatest evil known through all history. He's been keeping himself busy by watching various shows and the news primarily to see how all the worlds have been shifted to chaos with a new invasion taking in by storm. He revelled in all the chaos and needless destruction, admiring the amount of malevolence and despair being thrown about. He munched on a food-item, watching with great interest the newscaster on the recent attacks made by the invaders and the loss of life at their hands. Inside, he felt that all of this was glorious, congratulating himself on a job well done. But surely he had no involvement in any of the Dusk Templars' actions, he's never even been a part of their carnage for one time. But he actually was. Ganondorf, the king of darkness, and the master of evil hailing from The Tri-Force Realm, has been aiding Knightscourge in all his raids ever since his homeworld was scoured by the invasive ravagers. Now he's decided to take the winning side and taken it upon himself to locate the strongest fighters on their planet for Knightscourge, the Super Smash Bros.. With them out of the way, Knightscourge can continue Ganondorf's great vision of total destruction across the lands, and rule after all the ruins to rebuild in his image. Unfortunately, he doesn't fully realize Knightscourge isn't compliant with Ganon's master plan. The Gerudo king left his destroyed goal, and fled to another world. Living on the borders of the city he's taken refuge to, he is occasionally visited by the dark entity himself, ruling over the remnants of the Dusk Templar, Knightscourge to help him find more worthy trophies to collect. He looked to his window and sensed a troubling presence. Knightscourge is here for his info-broker. Since Ganondorf was part of the Brawl Tournament before consisting of the Super Smash Bros., it was only natural of the other member to contact him to see if he was okay, what with the others mysteriously dissapearing. With that, he found out where they are hiding and was able to tell Knightscourge of their location.
The great King of evil exited his residence to meet with Knightscourge in private, outside the city. Their he found the hulking menace accompanied by two of the Dusk Templar knights and large heavily armored one too. "I came for my next target." The giant knight looked down on the Gerudo with contempt, even if he was helping him. "Care to grovel before me and sell out another."
"Don't make it seem like I care for those dirt." Ganondorf said to get things straight. "I am an emissary of darkness, and I am willing to sacrifice the lives of others for my survival. I have no need for them if I have everything left to take over."
One of the surrounding knights spat in disgust at the smaller being and his motives. Knightscourge looked back to ease his soldier, whereas Ganondorf glared at the dog. "I do not care for your selfish desires. I want my trophies. So talk, before I lose use out of you."
"All in due time. but for now, I've made contact with one of the Smash Bros.. They are hiding in the Kongo Isles."
"Looks like I'm going back to finish old business. Is that all?"
"No. I've heard that a large force has been building up in Skyworld to oppose you. Some of them are worthy game."
Knightscourge considered this bit of info until he summed it up to that woman who saved the one who made him bleed back in the past. "Skyworld? Where is this place?"
"I can give you the coordinates to the location, since I have fought their numerous times." Ganondorf handed an ordinance plaque to the giant, who in turn took it from the small hands. After he observed it, he motioned for his troops to depart with him.
"I may not care much about you punin, but I assume you're content with fruitless treachery." The gigantic knights left the Gerudo king to himself in the small wooded area. Even though with this agreement of selling out Knightscourge's prey in exchange for not being killed, Ganondorf still had the expression that Knightscourge is highly volatile and can easily swipe at him at the furthest notice. It takes all his strength to appease this hunter and not lose his patience in exchange for fighting another day. Unfortunately, Knightscourge and his warriors don't intend to keep this agreement and are merely toying around with the Gerudo until they choose to tag him. A rat to be slain after betraying his own.
For anyone wondering, an ordinance plaque is a piece of technology the Dusk Templar uses to store useful data such as coordinates or files when tracking their next victim. Next chapter will feature a trophy decription for Knightscourge like in the Super Smash Bros. games. Thanks for waiting, and my humble apologies to my readers for my absence.
Smasher appearances: Ganondorf (not officially part of team yet)