Chapter 15: Favour of the Stars
Super Smash Bros. [Super Smash Bros.,Nindrasol space, Dusk Templar Carrier-class warship Holocaust; Legend of Zelda, Castle Town Hyrule Castle]
In the deep expanses of space in the very galaxy containing our favorite Nintendo based denizens, one of such creatures was going along on his signature Warpstar gliding amongst the tranquil beauty of space without as much care as he would typically have. "Poyo!" The puffy pink hero cheered as he had travelled to a distant world where he sampled food from a culinary school, especially from a red headed boy who was all too happy to serve Kirby's judge-less appetite. After the vacation was over (and almost being run off for his extreme eating habits) Kirby was heading home to his Popstar planet but decided he had time, taking the more scenic route. [play I Will Find Him, Man Of Steel Ost] Over a pair of planets nearing the system of Nindrasol, Kirby felt some huge shadow overtake him. He looked around with a raised eyebrow, looking up to see just what obstruction was blocking off more light in the deep dark. Zooming up, our vision gawks at the monstrously menacing vessel currently housing armies of the evil Dusk Templar under the ruthless Knightscourge's command. Venx fly here and there, maintaining routine exercises acting as lookout for any attackers nearing the carrier. This well protected ship held few defenses relying more on the heavy armor and support from a surrounding fleet. However, as seen before, the opposite side of the great engine for the colossus was equipped with a devastating beam of death energy wrought to existence from the middle of the front hulls, powered up by the Macabre Null converter systems. The hangars held a surplus in Venx fighters, bombers, and tractors, next to Arcani transports to drop off Templar ground troops. Pharsdel and Gulemon Corvettes took up large spaces, but they weren't the main sources for the invasion. Those very fighters glided around the expansive two hulls, holding innumerable Gerrags, Zelguums, Griders, Siphons, Retalgasts, and more varieties of foot warriors given the command to ride gargantuan machines into battle, flying or not. Several monsters like the Verruts and Xrocs were held in cages, ready to be unleashed upon the world of Knightscourge's choosing. Weapons and ammo were stockpiled for assaults and sieges ensuing that the Templar forces were prepared to accommodate for every soldiers ammunition need in times of prolonged combat. The very carrier was designed to lay waste to the planet they were invading, with the occasional battle fleet of cruisers, destroyers, and battleships to provide hellfire while the carrier released ground assaults too much for the defenders to handle. And forget about dealing with two of these. So many zako mechs were in stasis, waiting for the opportunity of war and mayhem to begin, with the rest monitoring the ship and it's prisoners. The knights travelled the interiors of the Holocaust, socializing, and training for combat on their superiors whim. The activities partaken were violent and war-like, fitting the Dusk Templar's savage, hateful attitudes toward foreign life with hatchet throwing and target practice to name some examples. They may be evil, but they understand that the only good living thing is their own kind. That deals with cooperation for the greater cause. Little Kirby must've been too small for the Templar to catch on their radars, or that they didn't care to look hard enough, considering themselves untouchable from the punin's attempts. [BGM should end by now, so stop] Their galactic defences were crippled from the last Dusk Templar assault, but they never thought that one assault carrier would have been lost, then repurposed for a certain someone's personal trophy carrier. The heroic pink puffball slayer looked for an entrance, but actually sensing some danger from the surveying Venx and atmosphere of the strange ship, decided it would be best to sneak in without notice. With his sense of curiosity overwhelming his other reason, Kirby successfully entered the Holocaust, current command centre of Knightscourge, unseen by any of the guards or Venx.
[play Master Fortress: First Wave, SSB4] Per the norm, upon landing the Warpstar Kirby travelled on burst away leaving Kirby alone against the entire Dusk Templar Holocaust. Within the hangar, the troops were busy going through the drills in preparation for warfare around the corner. It was quite spacious for giant warriors that the Dusk Templar made up, fully stacked with weapons and ships hanging from where they were ready for battle. Venx came in to end their scouting runs, but others replaced their position in surveillance. The shade of blue within the great carrier was, to say the least, not very cozy for Kirby feeling more like a futuristic slaughterhouse than a space ship. He's never felt this disturbed by the atmosphere of a location not since his last tangle with the 02 struggle, and that didn't even get the presence of being captured and slowly mutilated, only to be kept alive to witness their own torture like here. It made the utmost importance that Kirby not be seen by any of the troops so he started his investigation by sneaking through some open ducts beyond the Templar's reach. The further he travelled in, he found innumerable halls with the occasional Gerrag or other knight walking through speaking in alien tongue. Getting anything from them is a lost cause, so he exited through the nearest vent. Once again lucky no one discovered his presence, all of the noise of the nearby machinery hid his tiny foot boinks (judging on the way Kirby's adorable stubs of feet make when stepping) all the while roaming about the huge space that made up a hall. Hiding in a thin crevice in the wall when some Templar warriors came around, Kirby edged deeper into the Holocaust, making his way over a bestiary where on a narrow beam, Verruts from below instantly smelled the Dreamlander's scent, snarling and leaping up with hungry maws lined with shearing teeth. Looking to the other side, Kirby puffed over still above the predators onto the opposite beam. "*SKRAWLL*!" Kirby avoided a Xrocs bite, running toward the hole the beam led to in the direction he was heading.
After leaving the bestiary, Kirby hopped around the inner workings of the Holocaust not entirely sure how it works so sabotage will have to wait for a professional. Climbing and crawling through the large wires and hollows in the walls, the pink hero stumbled into a massive chamber filled with cages of various sizes. It was as well lit as the other corridors in this beast, yet far too spacious for any form of storage. It would have been useful for any ol' stockpile of munitions or vehicles, which must have meant that this very room was clearly re-purposed. But what really got Kirby's hard to get attention was what was in the cages. [end last BGM; play The Knight Ship, Transformers 4 ost] Across the distance of hanging cages, creatures of various sizes were encased within. Some were filled with items one would find from places where Mario and Luigi stomp about. Others included legendary weapons and even common items that helped out in heroic escapades from Hyrule, Animal Crossing, or downright basic objects like a soccerball, some grass ready to be plucked, and a banana peel. What's worse was that their were heroes and other innocent creatures imprisoned in hopelessness. They may have struggled for some time, finally giving up after the futile effort to break through. Others like DK or some other stubborn ones like Chain Chomps refused to keep quiet, shaking their cages in desperation. Edging closer in the masses of cages and displays Kirby, found Pokemon, humans, Animal Villagers, denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, Hyrule, and Dreamland in tight cells hanging or on the floor. He found that the other Smashers have been here too, in the same sorry state. Mario was kept in a big box with a glass face like some animal on exhibit. Peach was elsewhere, hanging in her cage in dejection. She's a fun bubbly princess who cares deeply for her friends and family, but in this spiked cage she had her life drained from her. Kirby was saddened by his companions condition. Link and Zelda, in a act of mockery, were placed far from anyone at all; Bowser was in his shell either planning some escape or as dispirited as the atmosphere itself; Marth (dressed differently) sat to himself in his display; Olimar sleeping, but definitely not comfortable; some Yoshi's of different colors, sans the green one, depressed as well; Lucario meditating to it's aura training, trying not to let the Dusk Templar see it break; Charizard spewing a few flames and slamming into the bars restraining it; even the notorious King Dedede has been captured in the depriving cell; DK was mentioned before, sorry. Kirby couldn't handle seeing his own friends in this prison with no freedom or natural right, probably abused like how circus' abuse their animals. Waddling about the numerous cages, Kirby kept himself a secret when he saw that the cages and displays had been enveloped in a layer of electrical pulses followed by the opening of a set of doors. The pink gummyball made himself scarce immediately when the man of the hour had come in to his trophy room.
Knightscourge came in, looking on at the spoils being tortured by the shocking bars they would come into contact with. Oh the treasures he has obtained. Not many folks can say they have the esteemed Smash Brothers on display at their leisure. The pride of keeping well preserved specimens is an accomplishment for a discerning collector like himself. Even if he doesn't have the entire set, having them all in his clutches would definitely make his hunting trip a little less ardous, however they make up quite the hunt. He touched the cages he walked past after the disciplinary measures were enacted to calm the specimens. All this hard work was paying off well. All that needed to be done is track down any last of the Super Smash Bros. and preserve them for an everlasting display then finish off any other unique findings worthy for his trophy collection. "Oo?" Kirby did not understand this unknown being or why he relished on the imprisonment of his friends or any of the others trapped against their will. He followed Knighscourge's path of admiring his trophies, seen by a Pokemon or two. Luckily they did not want to expose the free puffball and kept quiet, knowing their was no escape. Stopping as the giant did, Kirby peeked from a box with Jirachi in it, the Wish Pokemon. [BGM should end by now] The poor critter has been sleep deprived from the harsh Dusk Templar and is heavily overdue for it's long nap. Kirby took the time to smile at the tortured Pokemon, giving it just enough hope to smile back at him. Knightscourge took the time to gaze into the box of one of his greater achievements, Mario.
"Geheheh. Glorious. How does it feel to be in my collection plumber?" Mario didn't look at Knightscourge, not to give him any satisfaction. "Hahahaha! Ah what pride I have in my keepsakes. Not one being could say that they have anything as good as I have it." The cages remained contemptuously silent. They knew speaking up to him would cause shocking pain, not that it would matter. The disciplinary treatment they endure happens periodically to bring down their spirits, along with doubling if any captives attempted to use their weapons to force open their cells. "You pitiful creatures should really rejoice, after-all, who would ever pass up the opportunity to be preserved free of charge." This attitude really disgusted many of those detained. He spoke to them as if they were animals, using a one-sided mentality to their situation, not considering their sapience or sentience. This peeved off Zelda in particular. "Of course who would want to deal with all the howling, and bellowing, and snarling of you punins?" Finally someone had to speak up.
"You are a despicable creature you know that?" Zelda scowled from her sitting position. Knightscourge did not turn to face her, not in the mood to acknowledge her.
"Once I've found the last of the game, I'll have to consider moving the lot to the main display room to commemorate my glory in this momentous hunting trip!"
"I know you can hear me. Don't try to block us out because of your twisted belief on higher intelligence."
"What planning will be made for the departure. Restraints would have to be secured to assure absolute authenticity."
"Of course, with such greater knowledge and better meaning you would have to be done with your delusions by now." Alright, now he was getting a little irked by the female punin and her inability to shut her trap. He froze for a bit, waiting for more unwanted comments. Which is what he got eventually. "Of course such simple tactics would be such a surprise when facing an outworldly force, one would have assumed a more practical approach to...*gasp*" Zelda's remark was cut off by Knightscourge's sudden approach to her cage, riveted to hear more on her two cents.
"You know, for one holding wisdom as a key feature, you're not wise to speak up against a captor so." His sarcastic remark had her at a lost for a while, until she regained her composure.
"Well, it came to my knowledge, that it would be a chance to test your limits." Said Zelda, a matter of factly. "You do say that it would be below you to talk to such dull creatures."
"Well even the sane man must acknowledge a beast attempting at language. So, wax to me your perspective on your current position. I'll be glad to play along for a given time." This condescending bastard. He awaited Zelda's words, hoping this would be good just for the hell of it. Maybe it would shut the punin up quicker. She worked past the arrogance to actually talk to their enemy a chance to see what's his deal and motives.
"Very well, great Knightscourge." That gave him a bit of a surprise. Only his troops would refer to him by that title. She must have heard it from a foolish soldier (most likely Viperion). "I must know, what is the reason behind this nefarious scheme of 'trophy hunting'? What is the motive behind you? Revenge? Orders from a higher authority?"
"Hmph. You make it sound as if I work under someone's foot?" Knightscourge responded with the same heavy ego. "Nah, this is no plan of the Dusk Templar. Just orders from myself working, reporting to me. In other words, this is as high on the pyramid as you see. My ship, my warriors, my weapons, MY RULE."
"Is that right."
Knightscourge snickered toward the stoic princess' reply. "Yes. Unlike any of these smart punin, you have pestered me enough to the edge of madness, to make me speak to my trophies. Alas, it's better than conversing with the simpletons following my command." He really is some sort of pompous. Believing talking to inanimate objects the more appealing path than speaking with those below him. Bleh-wait a sec!
"Kch. You really are some piece of work Knightscourge." Zelda said to her captor with a cross expression. "How do you command those brutish rogues out there?"
Now this must have reached out to the malevolent being inside. How does one so charismatic, frighteningly powerful, and cunningly smart take charge of the bloodthirsty legions of the Dusk Templar? "By surviving as the fittest." Oh... that's how. "One does not simply just march up on the high ground and start babbling out orders out of wisdom, power, or downright courageous acts in the battlefield. A true leader has to prove he has authority. Any potential, organized band of mutineers need to be swiftly cut down to show some example. A leader must face on daunting numbers of those wishing treason, only to come out on top through skill and ruthlessness. I just so happen to be the best of the best upon this vessel, any who stood in my way fell as inferior to me."
"So your society runs under strongest and most vile on top?"
"No. Only the most cunning can lead the legions. You have to take assumptions as reality. Say you suspect a certain underling being unusually suspicious and shady with their dealings. Well you confront him and butcher 'im to many pieces. Hell! Outright go forward and lay on a challenge for anyone brave enough to come forward and stupidly expose their traitorous hides for all to see. So none follow suit."
"That's not how one should rule over others! A proper leader must put their subjects before them! Give respect for the individual and see them eye to eye, not as a rival!" She shouted, clearly disgusted by Knightscourge's apathy to his own kind.
"You think they'd do the same for me? Those single-minded clunks wouldn't know how lay siege to an open gate. Oh that reminds me, how's that ideal working with your kingdom?" Zelda had nothing to say. He should know exactly what that answer is. "I guess that's redundant especially in your current position. Hahahahahahaaaa!" Knightscourge guffawed. It was as if that entire incursion had happened some days ago.
*Flashback*
Hyrule Castle Town. In the midst of a great invasion from a technologically superior force of bloodthirsty knights that came out from the sky, the towering invaders ripped through the region, raining down hell from their flying machines bombarding the countryside with massive blasts and endless amounts of bolts. Hyrule is quite savvy on the concept that their are other kingdoms and worlds with varying prowess and technology beyond them for some time, but none have taken the appearance and ferocity that these vandals partake in. Not one race dwelling in the land stood a ghost of a chance fending off the giants, with the help of their air superiority tipping the scales in the invader's favor. The hero of the land, best known as Link, gave such villains a good challenge. After dispatching some hunters and their support single handedly, guerilla style in the Kokiri Forest, he rushed out to see his homeland already on the brink of total defeat. They sky was starting to darken on the behalf of the smoke rising from multiple parts of Hyrule. The assault started mid-morning, when the over the Gerudo dunes, squadrons of Venx lead an air raid over the Kingdom of Hyrule, decimating the off guard defenses. Then the Arcani dropships followed the Phasdel in suit to release scores of Dusk Templar infantry to butcher the disoriented populace. The inhabitants rallied together in a union not seen since ages ago to fend off the demonic forces of the beyond. So many unnecessary losses were made on the Hyrulian forces in contrast to the gigantic warriors they fought against. They fought with little to lose, unrestricted in the savagery released on the smaller foe.
On his journey to the Hyrule Castle, Link rode Epona into the ruins of the once prosperous market, now a bloody chaos. Some Gerrag attempted to ambush him in the square, but thanks to Links experience in killing titanic monsters, these unruly brutes underestimated the courageous will Link had. One swung a hatchet down toward the hero, who sidestepped, pulling out his bow n arrow out, releasing one into an eye of his assailant. "Grraaall!" Pulling back from losing it's eye, another Gerrag took it's place to lay some rifle fire at point blank range. Link effortlessly hopped away from the beams, equipping his clawshot to grab onto the combatants right arm, swinging onto it to sever the fingers at the trigger with his Master Sword. Link pushed off the screeching marauder to lacerate the Scaths edging closer with guns itching to fire a few rounds into the green warrior. The Gerrag with one eye returned to pay Link back for it's injury but it hit away a Didratur in it's rage, swinging it's weapon into it's own mechs to hit Link. The smaller, agile warrior jumped around the foolhardy Gerrag into sinking the throwing pickaxe into the Gerrag accompanying it. Trying to pull the axe out it's fellows chest, Link took this opportunity to clawshot onto it's head, stabbing his sword as far as he can into the back of it's head, landing safely when the foe fell stone cold. Another Gerrag leapt over a broken building followed by more Zako mechs. Link pulled out a bomb from his arsenal, laid it in front of himself and the enemy mechs, clawshooting himself to the top of a building on his right. Upon their approach the bomb set off blasting apart the Flivburns and Scath striking at where Link previously stood. The Gerrag shielded itself from said blast to glare over at the Hyrulian champion who in turn gave it a stern look. The ferocious giant climbed over to get Link, so the green hero prepared his weapons for the attack. Suddenly a Verrut pounced from in back of him, scratching his left arm.
"Urgh!" The beast landed on the ground, salivating on it's strike and returning for a deathblow whereas the knight climbed ever closer to the Hylian. Returning his attention to the Gerrag nearing, Link jumped down to the unsuspecting Gerrag, stabbing downward with his sword. The foe moved it's head away but got struck in it's shoulder that made it lose it's grip, pulling some building down with it's fall, along with Link getting back to the ground as well. The Verrut came around again, but this time Link flipped past the monster, getting the time to light the fuse on another bomb. The Verrut pounced once more to catch Link, so Link chucked the bomb into the beast's throat which momentarily burst apart it's upper chest cavity. The Gerrag attacking picked itself up to resume the battle with the punin prey. Link held his ground, not faltering to the giant enemy, when suddenly a hulking Templar knight stampeded through a building adjacent to Link wielding a large net and a four pronged pike. It glanced about the battlefield, seeing it's own lying in corpses, spying a little punin supposedly responsible for such feat. Link sneered over at the abominable sight, who took disgust at the presence of the invaders capable of such wanton depravities until the Dusk Templar Grider walked over to punish the uppity Trophy for his master's collection. Link geared up to go, triggering his massive opponent to start off. However he had not intended that knight trick attack him by feigning a strike from overhead, not seeing his free arm jab below the legs (which is at Link's height) flinging the Hylian back. The Grider stabbed toward the ground Link stood at, missing just under the hero, but Link had not known the Grider would lift the lance from beneath him, catapulting the small Hylian in back of it. The strength exhibited from the swing launched Link far away, onto the path to the castle grounds. For only a moment had our hero been immobile, working through the pain of being thrown some meters through the air, he finally got up and made to the castle with a slight limp, for the princess' safety.
Eventually losing the Dusk Templar pursuing not far behind, Link edged into Hyrule Castle now devastated from a short defense against the vile conquerers, went further in the broken keep. Slowly reaching the throne room, he had found numerous holes from destructive weapons from you-know-who with the occasional guard either deceased in one piece or a part of one strewn about the castle. Upon arrival to the throne room, several bodies of the royal guard laid in the wreckage whereas at the end of the hall, Princess Zelda was held at knife point by Dusk Templar warriors in the midst of their horrendous work.
"Tch. Princess!" Link called out to his princess, striding ever closer to the monsters holding her close to the blade. One of them snarled at him, daring him to step closer toward them, while two held Zelda in a great grip, one brandishing a knife closer to her throat.
"*growl* Surrender punin, or the bitch dies!" The Gerrag holding the knife choked out word understandable to Link, letting him know some form of negociation could be made. Link hesitated. Looking to Zelda, her usual wise and composed expression now beheld one of fright, so close to losing her life in barbarian captivity. She gazed to her kingdoms hero tears running down her face.
"Not a chance swine! Unhand her!"
"Link, wait!" Her hero desisted from rushing closer to the knights. Zelda knew that these marauders would not bluff when they put their minds to it, something she found out first-hand. "Do as they say!" [play Star Wars Ep. 3 soundtrack: the immolation scene] She moved her eyes to her detainer. "Please we will lower arms if you swear to spare the survivors." Even in the face of defeat, Princess Zelda could only bargain the welfare of her subjects if she is the price for such an invasion (like when Zant struck with his Twilight Forces by surprise). With not much else to sway the giants, they gave no need to kill her like the numerous people of her kingdom, stomped under the Dusk Templar. If she and Link are still alive right now, they must be crucial for these barbaric warriors. "I give my word to go peacefully."
Not really sure why, but the knife wielding one looked to the other Gerrag holding Zelda, merely snorting something to the one supposedly in command there. "*GAArrllL* We shall consider this proposition." The grip on her loosened along with the knife separating from her throat fairly. Turning back to Link, she hoped he would make the right decision and put his weapons down. If they were to surrender themselves now, the Dusk Templar would have no reason to continue razing what is left of Hyrule. Link swore his life and honor in service to the Hyrulian royal line (which has been this way through the many incarnations for the bearer of the Triforce of Courage bound to those bearing the Triforce of Wisdom and Power), yet this risk still got him to stall, not at all trusting the evil knights holding the princess with a knife to her head.
"Please." What more could he do but falter to Zelda's dilemma. He could not allow to risk her safety with the odds against him, but he still felt uneasy surrendering to those filth. Link did as Zelda had begged, dropping his Master Sword and Hylian Shield. He held both his arms away from his body so that all can see that they were far from a quick reach to his inventory. Out of nowhere, from a signal from the Gerrag with a knife, two Zelguum restrained Link to the ground, pulling out blades to adhere any struggle. Seeing the hero immobilized the lead Gerrag glanced to a third Gerrag near the throne.
"Excellent. Now go out and continue the search for any stragglers." Zelda looked appalled to the order given out.
"But you said you were to spare my people! We had an understanding!" It pulled the knife closer to her face giving her a real good view on her terrified expression.
"I remember saying we would consider such action. And by the way, you mean to look for our leader, the one truly calling the shots around here. You there! Alert Shockduress that the choice punin are bagged! More for his collection to mount." The deception. Zelda should've known these treacherous assailants could not be expected to keep a bargain. But now at this moment, they are getting what they came for and are clearing the environment of life since they have the time.
*end flashback*
Not one moment from the incursion had been forgotten from what her perspective saw. "Yes. You laugh now, but this is only a short lived victory for you." Knightscourge did not let up laughing at the punin attempting at striking doubt in his cavernous, dark heart. "Individuals on the surface are rallying what they could to bring you down to our level." [BGM should end by now, so stop]
"Haheh! You, you have *chuckle* nothing to pressure me. Nothing to doubt that any damn pests burrowing beneath the dirt, has a strategy worthy enough to topple my machinations." Knightscourge had no real response besides holding his sides on the absolute comedy. "Wha-what can they do but look awestruck upon the Holocaust's majesty and await a swift end as I salvage the spoils from the wilderness."
"How callous can such a loathesome clod be?! If you are in authority of these brutes, then you must have responsibility for all the atrocities done to my land!" Zelda raised her voice to the shipmaster, still unfazed by her little talk. "You WILL answer for all the inhumanity abused on not jus..."
"WHO HAS GIVEN YOU SUPREMACY OVER ME!" Knightscourge slammed a fist onto Zelda's cage yelling at her, shocking her to shield herself to any potential abuse. "DO YOU NOT FORGET WHO IS IN A CAGE AND WHO ISN'T! Little punin, you forget who is higher in the living hierarchy! One does not have to put up with such a talkative thing! I decide how you will be preserved, whether it's as a living specimen, or forever stuffed to save the appearance!" Zelda held her arms against the giant angered outside the cage bars. After a short pause, enough to know Knightscourge has calmed, Zelda looked over to him tears flowing out of fear. "You contemptible beast. Believing you have aspiration and meaning. This, this all right here, right in front of your vision, this is your greatest meaning. You would not be here if this is not what you and all your punin race were made for. Made to be my achievements, my trophies."
"None of what you are doing. NONE OF THIS... this bloodsport you are committed to. It won't come to fruition. All this pain and suffering will come back to plague you. And all your work done to hold us up like hunting trophies, will come tumbling down in a mess. Right in front of you." Knightscourge, now tired of humouring the punin princess, stepped back dismissive of her ultimatum.
"It's been a ravishing good blather. But our time is up. However, let's not end it off like this." He walked back to an exit. "No one is leaving my grasp. I will leave not one prize from my case. Not you, not him, not anyone of you. Their is no prospect of escape, so I suggest you get comfortable slag. I come to hunt, and accomplish that I will. That is my guarantee to you." Knightscourge pointed to Zelda. After giving out a gruff breath, the atrocious Dusk Templar leader left the room with his prisoners even more disheartened than before. He promised them that no one is coming to rescue them. That escape from the Holocaust is beyond thought and their inevitable fate as his hunting accomplishments is now their only future. Maybe if Zelda had not tried his patience, maybe a sliver of hope could have been kept amongst the captives. Link saw what control console had been activated to periodically shock all the trapped, so it's safe to assume that must be the controls for the locks as well. The problem with that is that no Dusk Templar aboard the vessel has the nerve to take out any of them for a first step of an escape.
"Nice job riling him up." Dedede snarked from his bars. Zelda composed herself, wiping away the tears from before.
"It was a good way to expose his limits. Which even he has." She replied to her penguiny companion.
"It doesn't matter." Moped Chrom from some distance in his own prison. "Their is no hope for escape." Suddenly Kirby popped his round body from the corner of Chrom's cage.
"Hiii!"
"HOLY NAGA WHAT's THAT!" The prisoners glance to see what had gotten the man jumpy, upon seeing the pink powerhouse outside of the cages restricting them. The ones known for being Smash Bros. saw their old friend ever so ecstatic in his presence. Some even shed a tear a joy on this moment.
"Kirby?" Peach murmured. "Is that you? You found us!"
Mario's interest peaked, he looked back from his laying position, catching a gaze upon his oldest ally from the Super smash Bros.. "Kirby?" He got up, growing more excited upon the revelation. "Kirby! We're here! Mama mia, am I glad you're here." But at the same time, it proved dangerous for the young Dreamlander to be in the midst of the Dusk Templar. "What're you doing here? It's far too dangerous to be seen here."
"What the heck are you talkin' about? He's come to break us out!" Shouted King Dedede. "Hey! Kirbeh! Do us a favor an' shake a leg! Get us outta here!"
"Their's no way the marshmallow's gonna bust us out!" Bowser interjected from his cell. "Too stupid to find out anyhow!" Kirby wasn't fazed by the insult, just as oblivious as always.
"Kirby!" Marth called from the cell he was imprisoned in, prompting said puffball to speed over to it. "Kirby listen. To your left, far in the room, a console controlling the locks on our cages is found high above. Please fly up there and pull on the pry bar on it. It should release a number of us." Kirby looked like he didn't understand at first, but seeing his friend needed something got him excited.
"Poyo! Poyo!" In total bliss, Kirby stubbed his way over to the left until he came face to face with the wall. He looked around for any abnormalities on said wall when a jutting section came in sight.
"I, uuuuhh. You people sure seem familiar to know one another". Chrom expressed his wonder, along with the obvious uncertainty. "Are any of you from the Outrealms?"
"I can vouch for that!" Prince Marth exclaimed.
"Is that...?" Marth gave Chrom a smile, getting the feeling this blue haired man knew about him and his ventures.
"Marth, or as some say 'Hero King' Marth. Yes. In the flesh."
"How is this possible! Not that I do not find this a privilege to be in your company, Sir Hero King!"
"It's fine my fellow. Though I take it you must have a worried daughter. She and her bodyguards are with my colleague, hopefully in Arceus' care." Upon mention of the godly Pokemon, many mons perked up, with the most zealous crossing an "x" then a "()" sign on themselves with whatever appendage they had. Chrom was overjoyed on his grown daughters activity.
"Lucina! You've met! She's alright, and so must be the Robins. And so, noone else...?"
"No. Not all of us come from the same world, or worlds in your case, from where you originate." Said a blue Pokemon, not moving his mouth but clearly speaking to the Ylissean prince. "Unless you've been living under a blasted rock, we're members of the elite fighting tournament, the Super Smash Brothers."
"... like, the Smash Brethren?"
"Close enough. But who really thinks that little miss bubblegum will successfully open our cages." Argued Bowser, ever so doubtful. "Bunch of morons are giving the twerp too much cred."
"I for one still hold onto some hope that we can escape. And Kirby being here only reinforces our odds." Marth interjected to the Koopa King.
"You'd be surprised what that lump could do." Dedede agreed, reluctantly, but not even he could deny that Kirby definitely has a long streak of underdog successes, with all the mind-bendingly lucky circumstances of him coming out victorious to not only he, the king of Dreamland, but also absolute terrors of the world, galaxy, or universe itself!
"Yeah, but judging by his sheer stupidity to the place he's in, this must his first time dealing with these maniacs." Bowser continued. "He's got no idea what they're capable of. Not only that, but he happens to be personally delivering himself to the freak holding us here. He's obviously one of the others he's hunting fer."
"Bowser, must you be such a downer." Peach said. "This is the best chance we have to be free. It's not like Kirby would haplessly let himself be captured."
"Sorry to be down to earth, but optimism hasn't gotten us loose from these damn cages now has it?" Peach huffed away from her usual kidnapper, upset with his ignorance. Guess that's why their relationship won't go any further than what they have... or will it!?
"That aside, Kirby isn't a complete dunderhead. A little easily distracted, but not stupid." Added Mario. "It won't be easy, but Kirby will pull through.
"But how long exactly?" Asked Olimar.
"Well that depends." Marth too began to question if assigning Kirby to look over the control console was the brightest idea conceived at the moment. Let's face it. Kirby has a below average attention span, and some new thing could pull his fancy if illuminated enough. Link looked from out of his cage. He could actually see the overhead room with the console to their locks, and at good enough angle at that. Moving uncomfortably against the jagged bars, Link saw Kirby puffing himself up toward the glass of the construct jutting from the wall.
"Hey! Everyone, Kirby's ascending to the key!" After Link announced Kirby's action, almost all of the imprisoned turned to look at the event of the pink round thing flying towards the controls, landing inside the small but still spacious room. A console sticking out toward the catwalk leading to said room is what stood out, so it would seem a wee difficult for Kirby to miss. The only problem, how is Kirby going to find which thing to do set everyone free. "Right now! Kirby can you hear us from up there?!" A faint 'poyo' could be heard. "Good! Now pull the pry bar back, that's all you have to do!"
"Oh what's the point! Little worm has no idea what to pull, let alone understand what things he could set up. For all we know he could press something that will add inner spikes or electrocute us even more!" Bellowed king of the Koopas.
"Well your one ray of sunshine." Peach commented, Mario and a Goomba trapped alongside, nearby, agreed.
"Excuse me princess, but let's face facts! We're talkin' about Kirby, and he probably doesn't even know what a pry bar is! How do we even know he understands us...!" Suddenly, a sound of great power leaving the room echoed throughout the chamber. The cages the prisoners had been locked up in fell lower, with the boxes yellow hardlight glass disintegrating away, leaving no obstacle for escape. Unfortunately, not all the cages and prisons had been lowered and unlocked. The Smashers were lucky enough that they had their enclosures lifted. This resulted in groans and complaints from those not lowered and given the opportunity to be free. Marth looked to Bowser with a knowing smirk. Kirby had found the lever allowing the power to be removed from the cages, but not unlocking all of them, for the setting was set for a few cages in particular. "...well... it's not a pry bar."
"What's happening!?" Cordelia of the Shepherds called out as her cage was lowering to the floor. She was one of the lucky ones to be captured and not other things.
"What's happening?" Gaius replied from his own cage. "It's a bloody jail break!" Several others from the Shepherds had also been imprisoned with Chrom, joining the Smash crew in freedom. Owain burst from his confinement next to Inigo's.
"Ah, freedom my comrades! Perhaps now would be a good time to rise against the evil forces intent on our short-while imprisonment."
"Are you mad?!" Inigo spouted out. "We are hopelessly outnumbered in enemy territory! Why in..." He peeked about in the foreboding environment, getting a shiver from how solemn and vile it is to be in a ship with the Dusk Templar lurking anywhere. "...wherever we are, decide to hunker down and fight a fruitless last stand?
"But my Sword-Hand thirsts for vengeance." In another dropped cage, a small seafaring frog dude stepped out stretching his arms liberated.
"Yarr." Said the frog. Lon'qu stepped from his former prison, surveying the surroundings for potential danger. Divine Dragon Tiki had previously taken a long nap before reawakening from her cage being lowered to the floor. Behind her, another small Villager, this time a fox, carefully exited his confinement. Other prisoners unleashed were a Birdo, a sloth Villager, a croc, chameleon dude, a bee boy, a sweep-crazy Broom Hatter, and some weirdo that looks like a black rectangle with arms and legs with a white stripe meant to be his eyes I suppose.
"Oi, never thought karma would hit me this hard." Said the fox Villager, Redd. "Time to make like a sweater and zip."
"This place gives me the creeps." Cried Leif, the sloth Villager.
"Whoa! What a ride!" Said Vector the Crocodile, ally of Sonic the Hedgehog. "Are you two okay?" His compatriots, Chaotix members Charmy the Bee, and Espio the Chameleon (weirdest chameleon I've ever seen) had also been bagged by the nefarious Templar warriors for whatever benefit.
"I'm okay. We should get out of here fast Vector." Replied Charmy.
"That must be on everyone's mind." Espio said. "But how is the question in need of an answer." A Broom Hatter swept vigorously, just as it would any situation no matter what, whereas the escaped Birdo wandered over next to Mario and Peach, familiar with them.
Another cage in particular harbored puppies and a kitten. "Lissa!" Her big brother went over to her cage to inspect on his sister. "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you too bad did they?" She responded by pushing him out of the way, streamlining to the cage where the squeaking of the baby animals cried from. (Knightscourge must've understood the frailty of the babies, and not wanting to sully his collection, exempting them from the disciplinary shock. However the gaps between the bars were sealed so that they would not climb over/slip through and fall off. The puppies were of different breeds: a Toy Poodle, a Shiba Inu, a Beagle, a Jack Russel, and a Golden Retriever. The only kitten amongst the young was of Calico origin, most definitely a female if anyone cares. Lissa grabbed up the furry bundles of joy with a giddy sqeal.
"*Girly sqeal*! Chrom! Look at this! Puppies and a kitty, so fricken cuute!" Peach approached the squirming babies held by the other princess.
"Aaawww! How adorable! I wanna just pack them in a bag and carry them everywhere I go!"
"Oooooh, that's a good idea! I'd totally play with these furballs in a field back in Ylisse." Despite not formally knowing each other, both princesses instantly agreed on the prospect of the endearing little animals, a pack of utter cuteness.
"Excuse me ladies." Link interrupted the squeeing girls. "But now is not the time nor place for snuggling those." [play Master Fortress: Second Wave, SSB4] A moment after Kirby had pulled the lever on the console to release the number of prisoners, a blaring alarm sounded off in the room. The voice spoke in the very same language their captors spoke in, but here's a translation: *Prisoners on Cell Auditorium D are loose, warning to all personnel on board* repeat. Kirby was in shock upon being revealed, looking back to see Scaths enter the area, priming their guns upon him. Just in the niche of time, Kirby hopped off the catwalk down to the prisoners in a confusion upon the alarms.
"Listen everyone! There's gotta be a way to get off this blasted ship!" Announced Marth.
"We're not leaving without the others trapped!" Zelda contended.
"Maybe you haven't heard the alarms calling out the armies on this crazy train, but if we don't leave asap we'll never get an chance like this." Bowser countered. "Sides, none of these scrubs are given the chance anyhow. Might as well make good of this." Zelda would not let up. Everyone had to get out less they be punished for their escape. Not that she would know exactly that, but Knightscourge is not going to appreciate having a jailbreak happen to his precious collection. Who knows if he'll take out his wrath upon the remaining left behind.
"No! I'm not a cruel despot like yourself Koopa. No one is being left behind!" Link suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Zelda, it can't be helped. Look!" Out of some small openings, Flivburns by the dozens scurried into the Cell Auditorium, claws honed and ready to rend flesh. Charizard being released with the others dove into the hordes in a bellowing roar, crashing some Flivs into the air. "Either we escape to fight another day or make the effort in vain?"
Dedede sprung into action, in hopes of getting some enemy pickings before the rest join Charizards killing spree. "AW YEAEAH! Suck on this, sissy bunnies!" The king swung his mighty hammer (kept with him, because the cages that held the Smashers and escaped prisoners were impervious too any attacks inside. Bad move on the Dusk Templar.) clearing droves of Flivburns out of sight. Next was Bowser, bum rushing into the hostiles, swinging left and right, smashing through as much as the other two could, followed by DK and Lon'qu joining the fray. Now the more sensible members marched into battle, holding back the Flivburns from breaking through their line. Kirby sped to a door opened by a sentry Gerrag arriving to quell the escape. Being alerted by Kirby, Link, Chrom, and Marth ran into the lone Gerrag cutting into it's legs to lower it down to their level. The trio leapt onto the fallen giant thrusting their swords into the chest and throat of it.
"HaaaaaaaaaaaHhh!" The Gerrag gurgled the last of it's life, so that the heroes withdrew their weapons from the massive corpse. Now with that brute out of the way Kirby waved to all the freed folk, leading them to escape to the hangar he had arrived in.
"Look, Kirby is trying to lead us somewhere! Maybe to some escape!" Marth hollered out.
"Do not worry the rest of you." Mario called to the remaining unlucky prisoners going to be left behind, speaking for the good hearted amongst them reluctant to leave. "We will return to free everyone! Don't you forget!"
"Hurry Mario!" Yelled Olimar from the giant doorway. DK whacked another Fliv leaping to the escapees allowing all of them to finally leave the Cell Auditorium. Being lead by Kirby down to the lower ducts, the group looked above as the warriors ran the opposite direction to them.
"Commander Chrom," Spoke up Lon'qu beside his captain. "Are we truly letting some unknown pink thing lead our salvation from this hell-ship? To gamble our lives in it's hands?"
"This strange life form, whatever it's origin may be, has seemingly gotten on board unnoticed until now, freeing us from imprisonment." Lady Tiki said beside them. "It must hold good intentions to risk its self for our liberation. So I'm putting my trust on it to lead us off." That was enough for Chrom to agree, from the daughter of Naga herself.
"Good enough for me. Let's move on until we can escape!"
"Wowee." Said Leif beside the foreign folks he's accompanying. "These guys look awfully similar to those stories Charles has been talking about."
"Yeah that's grand. But can we share campfire stories after we get away from those giants." Rebutted Redd. Trekking closer to the hangar Kirby landed in, the ducts came to a stop, forcing the party to exit out into the open, where no Dusk Templar guards were near.
"Well it all seems safe. How much farther Kirby?" Kirby pointed and bounced about, guiding the rest to the hangar. But then a gnarly clawed tentacle rose out of a hatch in the floor, making a grab for them.
"Kyaaah!" Exchanging a blow against the arm for Peach, Donkey punched the grabber, in turn grabbing it's attention. Several qualified fighters leapt to strike at the beast, but two more arrived out of some more hatches.
"Their trying to surround us! Kirby, let's go!" Yelled to Link, following Kirby with the others, out of the reach of the Holocaust's security claws. Bowser looked down to the black weirdo running to his left.
"Hey can't this guy turn off his rainbow trail? He's going to lead them to us!"
"Just carry him or something!" Called back Olimar, checking to see that none were lost from the group. Not wanting to be caught too soon, the Koopa King begrudgingly grabbed up Commander Video to prevent his rainbow trail from giving away their position.
"Don't get too comfortable scrub." He irksomely bellowed. "This is only temporary." At last in the hangar, our group assembles amongst the unused ships, hiding away from the evil knights currently on the hunt for them. Kirby found his Warpstar awaiting for him, yet the people he brought with him couldn't believe what exactly they were seeing.
"... hold up." Gaius started with a hand up. "You're not expecting all of us here, ALL OF US, to fit on this star, and is it made out of sugar?" The last part was not important, but if Kirby could hold up to ten little hims then maybe it could hold all 31 of them on. Of course he didn't really think this whole thing through just coming around on his way to Popstar.
"This isn't good.' Worried Cordelia. "Now how are we going to get off this?
"It's no use!" Cowered Inigo falling to the despair. "They're going to catch us and abuse us for this!" Mario grabbed at the young lad, slapping him a few times.
"Get a hold of yourself man! We're not out options yet!"
"Let's face it." King Dedede sat down. "This is all for nothing. That there Knightface sir is going to get us back, and he's not going to be jolly about this here prison break."
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Announced Olimar.
"Huh! Olimar, is their something you can do?" Asked Peach to the Hocotatian adventurer. He gave it some thought, but it was the only possibility that was being given.
"Perhaps if I tweak one of those transports there, maybe we could fly it back to the surface away from this abominable ship. As far as we know, it seems to be the best choice here." Entering the hangar, the Dusk Templar searched for the trophies high and low.
"Well we better hurry, those monsters are going to catch on soon!" Said Link. "Let's take this one!" He pointed to the nearest Acani transport beside them.
"Aye, letsa move out!" Nearing the conveniently opened vessel, the group discreetly entered without drawing the attention of the knights hunting close by.
"So how are we gonna make this work?" Asked Lissa. "I doubt anyone here knows how to work their stuff." Luckily Olimar was on that. Thank goodness they had a veteran space traveller.
"Arr, can't be any harder than steering a ship." Proclaimed Kap'n. "How tough could it be?"
"For your information, river kidnapper, this mother-hubber isn't some seafaring boat found in the boonies!" Snapped Bowser. "It's got a lot more to it than moving a wheel here n' there."
"If anything, flying ships afta' be designed like the ones built in the water. Don't pass off me expertise like you know any better friend."
"In actuality, I HAVE driven flying ships! The likes you would never believe! And I'm not your friend, buddy!"
"Well I be not yer buddy, chap!"
"Well, Long John, I ain't your chap, amigo!" "Well I be not yer amigo, chum!" "Well I'm certainly not your chum, pal!"
"Can we not do this!" Peach separated the two before the cycle could get any worse.
"Perhaps if we rewire the the translation settings on this. My kind's ships have something like it to help translate with those being delivered to the other cosmos. But it will take some time without aid. Does anyone here know how to work with mechanics?" Alas, not many could prove to have some degree in space sciences, not even Mario (he left those details to Rosalina).
"You can count on us!" Vector the crocodile exclaimed. "The Chaotix are ready for anything, for the right price."
"The price is we don't die by those Templar creeps!" Bowser's offer was the only offer here. and no one else saw that bargaining was appropriate for the situation.
"You drive a hard bargain. For you, it's on the house!"
"That's how it always is." Espio snarked.
"Shut yer face you!"
"Whatever you need us to do, just lead on!" Charmy enthusiastically chimed to Olimar.
"Very well, come here. We must rewire a few things." Olimar lead the Chaotix to help hack the Arcani systems, but just outside, some Gerrags and a Grider approached to see if the punin were taking refuge in the very same transport. Seeing this Kirby reacted heroically and took off to the air on his Warpstar to draw their attention. Seeing the non-Dusk Templar punin flying about, the savage knights raced off to capture and maybe maim the poor little puffball. Buying the others more time, avoiding the gunfire and the huge killer hammer swung by the Grider, some reinforcements came in to help catch Kirby. Zelda looked out, seeing Kirby risk his life to keep them safe sending the enemy into a confusion.
"Please hurry! I don't know how long Kirby can hold out for our sake." Mario heard this and took a gander at Kirby's heroics.
"I've got to help Kirby!" Before he could leap to his aid, Link grabbed at his arm.
"What're you doing? If we expose ourselves right now, his actions will be in vain!"
"Then you can stay behind. I'm-a not letting him get killed for me. Let go!"
"You don't understand! Don't be so reckless!"
"No, you don't understand! What sort of courageous friend are you? Sitting back and letting your friend-a take rounds as you watch idly by!"
"I trust Kirby can take care of himself. He wouldn't want my sacrifice to be for nothing if need be!" The two heroes exchanged daggers in their gaze, hoping one would try and force the other to agree. At least until Peach and Zelda had to hold back their champions.
"Guys, please stop!" Princess Toadstool pleaded, grabbing at Mario's other arm.
"What's their to accomplish bickering against each other?" Zelda chided, but they continued their glare.
"It's ready!" At last Olimar and the Chaotix had gotten the controls to the Arcani. Everyone hold something heavy and tight!" In a flash, many of the of the occupants grabbed onto Bowser for dear life.
"Oh tee-to-the-hee, all." The Koopa remarked. "Would've thought the jokes would be kept back in this dire sitch." Charizard looked out some window which Kirby looked to for a moment as he avoided the Dusk Templar's gave him the thumbs up, letting the Popstar hero know they were ready to depart. Nodding in agreement, Kirby soared out of the hangar, with the knights realizing too soon one of their transports was being stolen before them. In it's take off, a Gerrag attempted to leap onto the transport. DK, King Dedede, Olimar, Commander Video, Vector, Charmy, Espio, and Birdo took the helm, steering as best as they could the completely new aircraft. Amidst the controlling of the Arcani, Birdo and Charmy found the controls to the frontal cannons, shooting a blast into the Dusk Templar coming to stop them. Finding out the controls to this offence, they proceeded to launch more fire-power into the hangar, destroying a few Venx and other Arcani in the process of their escape. Crushing a few Didraturs in their exit, the groups Arcani finally left the Holocaust with a few dents and cracks in the durable ship. Kirby awaited for the transport, wishing to accompany his friends in freedom away from the evil force. [end BGM]
[play Arcade, Man Of Steel Ost] In another hangar on the Holocaust, another fighter ship was being launched out to pursue the escapees. This was no ordinary Venx though. This fighter, a Glazzmonger, was an interceptor excelling in dogfighting and harassing space/aircraft, known by the Dusk Templar as 'Knives in the Sky'. A pilot prepared for his mission, answering a transmission from his shipmaster.
"Intercept targets. Do not let them escape!" Knightscourge ordered, clearly enraged upon the escape of some of his most prized trophies.
"It will be done." Replied the pilot, taking to space, in pursuit of the punin. The sheer speed of the Glazzmonger was unparalleled to any Dusk Templar craft built, soaring past the Arcani effortlessly, circling back on it's first run.
"Umm, we're not out of the frying pan yet folks. That's one fast ship!" Olimar's observation got the passengers riled up, fearful that this dreaded interceptor would blast them down, ending their path to freedom.
"Damn! I didn't think they could react that fast." Marth said under his breath. "Try to lose him!"
"We're riding at the maximum speed here!" Vector called back. "This thing will run laps around us with no effort!" The Glazzmonger open fired upon the transport, leaving out of range of the front Arcani guns.
"Don't scratch my trophies, slag! I want them brought back alive!" Knightscourge barked. The pilot didn't know any other ways to deal with the punin. What was Knightscourge expecting him to do, shepherd the Arcani back to the Holocaust?
"You're not making this easy on me Great Knightscourge. But I will try." Now the Glazzmonger resumed firing at the hull of the Arcani, finally blasting at it's only defensive weapons.
"At this rate, we'll not have a ship to ride in!" Cried out Dedede.
Kirby saw this monstrosity threatening his friends. So he headed back to confront the Glazzmonger, streaking the Warpstar against the cockpit.
"Grrr!" The pilot did not like being harassed by the tiny punin challenging his ships performance. It seemed Kirby's Warpstar and the Dusk Templar Glazzmonger would go up in a showdown to see who rules the cosmos.
"That you can kill." Knightscourge commanded, seeing this puny star annoyingly flying about. "That little gnat has been a bother far too long!"
"With pleasure." Drawing the Glazzmonger away from the Arcani, Kirby lead the Templar interceptor to a chase in a local asteroid field in the system.
"That little pink hero is leading them off our trail!" Owain called from looking out a big window at the ensuing chase.
"That little twerp, trying to act all cool, leading them off in a goose chase." King Dedede jealously whined. "He better come back from that so I can clobber 'em for being dumb." Chrom looked on at the Smash Bros. his ancestor is a part of, instilled with a privilege to be amongst such selfless heroes.
"Thank you Kirby. If you are to fall, we will avenge your sacrifice. You can count on that."
The battle between Kirby and the villianous Glazzmonger brought on a game of cat and mouse between the dwarfing Warpstar and the interceptor. Kirby spun through the gaps between the space rocks dodging the Glazzmongers main gunfire. Swirling through the hazardous fields, the Warpstar shot about, trying not to be consumed by the bolts that were large enough for just one to engulf him completely. With no way of fighting back, Kirby could only hope to either lose the mechanical monster off his tail, or force it to collide with an asteroid with Warpstar skills. With such a tiny target, the Glazzmonger resorted to firing out cyber missiles. The quick launched missiles shot out in a straight trajectory at Kirby, blasting against the asteroids unlucky enough to take the shot. The debris scattered more rocks in the environment, too small to harm the Glazzmonger, but big enough to get in Kirby's way. Kirby desperately took turn after turn to evade the homicidal Glazzmonger, growing more worried on the fire power used upon him. They soared through dangerously slim passes, narrowly avoiding getting hit by or being crushed between asteroids floating into one another. Kirby inhaled a small rock then shooting out a star toward the enemy ship. The little star did nothing but deflect off the armored interceptor. The pilot in the Glazzmonger scoffed at the pathetic excuse of a rival shooting back with sorry excuses of ammunition. Retaliating with more primary laser fire, Kirby was given no chance to inhale and shoot again without being torched by the bolts. The two craft followed about in the asteroid field, sooner to get lost in the debris field before one could dispatch the other.
Kirby decided to take a risk and work his way through the tunnels inside of a rather large asteroid floating in front of him, with the Glazzmonger heavily in pursuit. Inside the darkened catacombs, Kirby had to rely on the brightness off his star to illuminate the way, however the Glazzmonger had headlights to get a better view on the Warpstar ahead of it, shooting more rounds in front. Kirby couldn't do much but fear the possible outcome of being obliterated by the harmful bolts aimed to kill him. Something is telling him that the fire power from these aliens are far more severe than anything he's encountered. The Glazzmonger, losing it's patience, aimed the cyber missiles to finish this punin, with the enclosed space seemingly promising to collapse the caverns on the puffball. With a launch of twin missiles darting toward the Warpstar, Kirby looked back in time to narrowly dodge the danger, bursting through the explosion that covered the exit of the tunnels.
It was only a moment that Kirby had realized no more bolts and explosions were dogging him through the asteroids. It's possible the explosion from the missiles collapsed the tunnel on the Glazzmonger, thus ending the dispute on who could best the other. "Poyo!" Kirby waved on his victory. However, unaware that he was actually wrong, in the surrounding asteroid field, the Glazzmonger watched the little star fly haplessly. With the punin in it's sights, the pilot switched his cyber missile option for the last of his armament choices on the Glazzmonger, the homing torpedoes, sure to hunt down the star until even it's remains were annihilated. Flicking the touchscreen to activate the torpedoes, Kirby was given a brief notice of the incoming fire, lowering the Warpstar to avoid them. But when he looked back at the supposed explosion, the torpedoes looped back to their target. Now in deep trouble, Kirby fled from the torpedoes, scared out of his mind on the homing ballistics dogging him at every turn. He turned right beneath a big rock, they followed him accurately through sharp corner after loop-de-loop. He couldn't believe how stubborn such torpedoes would be. Another arc over a larger asteroid would lose the dangers right? No. The torpedoes insisted on the hunt, fixated on the puffballs destruction. Kirby could not do this forever if he wanted to lose to Glazzmonger for good. Tough times called for tough decisions, and being an asteroid in a hard place couldn't compare what situation the young fighter was going through. Seeing no choice left, he took one last turn behind an asteroid, followed by the torpedoes. After a brief moment, the entire asteroid Kirby hid behind scattered from the ensuing explosion, no signs of the Warpstar or Kirby leading any trail of escape. The torpedoes would have followed their target for a light-year, never once relenting on the hunt. Seeing that the asteroid field lacked any life left after the punin, the Glazzmonger turned back, navigating back to the Holocaust. The pilot once more retrieved a transmission from Knightscourge.
"How goes the chase? Was the target detained?" This is news to the pilot.
"Forgive me Great Knightcsourge, but information on 'capturing my target was not given to me at the time. The punin spacecraft was utterly decimated in the end." Perhaps Knightscourge could have let the pilot know how important this target was to the collection, but his moment of anger blinded him of what was important.
"*Sigh* It can't be helped now. And what of my trophies?"
"They seemed to have escaped, taking the Arcani to the surface. I could not pursue, due the enemy craft." A moment of silence. This was not good for Knightscourge to be giving such a pause. He must be really pissed.
"Get back to the ship immediately. I will not order again." Yep. He must be seething with rage. Perhaps he'll go easy on him for the failure on both punin targets. ...Nope. Someone's losing their head. It certainly didn't help the poor guy after that comment he made earlier, which must be a factor for his future punishment.
Inside the Holocaust, the embarrassment of being struck against by prisoners was raging amongst the Dusk Templar troops, Knightscourge booming through the halls to get back to the Captains seat. Viperion approached his side.
"Great Knightscourge! A catastrophe has erupted with your gallery! What a shame that the punin we placed there had succeeded in the break-out. Maybe they would've been better off crippled with not much hope on any sort of escape." Knightscourge grabbed at the minions throat, shoving him against the wall. [BGM should end by now]
"It was I who placed them there!" Yelled Knightscourge to the knight.
"So you admit you may be at fault?" Rasped Viperion holding at his afflicted throat.
"Are you insinuating that I am the cause of this mishap?"
"No, no! Great Knightscourge. I do not intend to put up misundertsandings." He cowered before his shipmaster.
"I do not misunderstand, frelp. If anything, the punin are to blame with their underhanded trickery. If they wish to play around, the warriors are far too happy to stoop down to their level." The orange streamed knight got up, secure enough to ask what is the next set of actions.
"So, what is our next directive, o great one?"
"Set a course to this location." He handed Viperion the coordinates to a punin land.
"These coordinates. They were given by the informant, aren't they?"
"Yes." Knightscourge answered. "Alert the war parties, we're going for a visit in a reserve. Be sure to bring in some loud ones. Got it?!"
"Yes, Great Knightscourge! With utmost relish!" Viperion went off to fulfill his master's wish, to assemble an assault force to strike down on a punin settlement just like the first armada did in the past. The Holocaust was on it's way, to lay waste to the particular land with intentions to chastise the resistance and burn the ground to glass. With the remaining Super Smash Bros. now on the world's surface and out of Knightscourge's grasp, thanks to Kirby's noble sacrifice, how long will it take until the team is assembled to a showdown with the malignant Dusk Templar for the fate of their world. Can they truly match up against the the onslaught of such a massive army? It's safe to say, alone they stand no chance, but maybe together, they can liberate the galaxy from Knightscourge and his looming terror.
Trophy Description: Dusk Templar Grider
The heavy beserkers for the Dusk Templar Infantry, Griders show their superior strength and size by wielding the biggest weapons. Hammers and more blunt battering weapons are a must for the lugs, but flaming flails are not too rare. Massive chainguns are utilized for shredding through barriers and huge armies, but sometimes cannons found attached to Arcani are also used. It times attacks well, for if they get a chance, they will clear away close fighters to get some room. Just like any brutish muscle-head, their size and equipment certainly makes them slow, so take that to the highest advantage.
Dusk Templar Type-87 Glazzmonger
Interceptors who are the best at what they do, and what they do is take down any sort of aircraft challenging them. They boast armaments of frontal bolt shooter, much like the primary Venx, cyber missiles and homing torpedoes for ships that try to show them up. The best way to deal with these slick fighters is with surface-to-air fire-power. They excel at downing various types of aircraft in the sky or space, but maybe turrets of surface rockets can deal with them good.
Dusk Templar Carrier-class Warship Holocaust
One of the primary vessels mobolized to lay siege on planetary scales, these hulking behemoths rival the size of cities, carrying massive armies on board with weapons and even deadlier war machines. After the great armada that laid wast to the Lylat Alliance and Galactic Federation fleets and several allies made a hasty retreat, one fresh Carrier not so damaged faced off numerous mutinies in the confines of space, until one powerful Templar knight rose above the rest took over. Guess who that was. Put the power of a siege engine capable of toppling planets alone in the hands of a mad hunter, and you're just begging for disaster. Now this particular ship is razing the worlds of the Super Smash Bros. in fire, forcing the team to reunite for a call to arms!
Smasher appearances: Kirby, Donkey Kong, Mario, Peach, Link, Zelda, Bowser, Marth, Olimar, Lucario, Charizard,
Feat.: Chrom, Lissa, Lon'qu, Cordelia, Gaius, Inigo, Owain, Tiki, 3 puppies and a kitten, Leif, Redd, Vector, Charmy, Espio, Birdo, Broom Hatter, Commander Video