Clash of the Smashers

Chapter Nine: Wow…that's a really big hand.

Bario ran. Bowser could not be allowed to escape. Bario and the other Smashers were charging down a long dark tunnel that seemed to be sloping slightly upward. It was to dark to see more than a few feet in front of him, but Bario could hear Bowser's stomping footsteps and panting breath just a little ways down the tunnel. Bario knew that Bowser had something devious up his sleeve. He must, otherwise he wouldn't be leading them on this chase…he just hoped they could handle it…

Mario ran. Bowser had escaped just when Mario had beaten him. Bowser was getting quite annoying and Mario hoped that he could just hurry up and get to where he was trying to go so Mario can…finish him.

Link ran. His weapons were heavy and the tunnel was long but he pushed on. Bowser was just another tyrant. Like Ganondorf. Link hated Ganondorf. That scum. Link couldn't count how many times they've done battle…but it was definitely in the too freaking many range. Bowser won't get away. Not like Ganondorf always seems to do.

Kirby ran. He was hungry. There really wasn't a lot to eat inside this gloomy castle. He hoped they could just hurry up and finish Bowser so they could go to Peach's castle and get something yummy to eat. Mmm…food.

Samus ran. This world was strange…but it seemed to fit what she gathered from Mario and the other Mushroom Kingdom residents. She was surprised by the power and difficulty of the enemies…and ashamed. She is vastly more technologically advanced then any of the creatures here…yet those "Magikoopas" knocked her out easily. Could her weapons and armor really be that useless? Mario didn't use any of those things and yet he got along fine and even won the tournament that she fought hard in. But those are thoughts for later. Now she just needed to keep up with the others.

Falco ran. He missed the Star Fox crew. He didn't really like Slippy as he was kind of creepy, plus there was the whole…I think it's a guy, but it sounds like a girl thing going on, and Peppy was getting annoying but Fox…Fox was cool. They may have butted heads at times but Falco knew…deep down they were friends. He hadn't seen Fox since he left for the Mushroom Kingdom, by way of the portals that were set up for the Smash tournaments and he hoped he was okay.

Diddy ran. He suspected, strongly suspected, that even if Bowser wasn't Giga Bowser, which he was pretty sure he was although Diddy didn't know how Bowser could possibly transform, then at least Bowser would know where Giga was. He needed to catch up to Bowser so he could finally get started on the hunt for revenge.

Raichu ran. He was just glad that this little adventure was almost over. He had planned on something happening, that's why he signed up for guard duty since apparently all the Toads are completely useless…but he definitely wasn't expecting to be dragged into a siege on a castle owned by an evil tyrant. He just hoped that whatever Bowser has planned…it's not TOO bad.

Meta flapped along silently. Just like the fight against the Koopatrols he maintained his silent outlook as if he was thinking of something more important. He kept pace with the others with the steady beat of his wings providing a counter to their steady running.

The Smashers ran. Believing they were near the end of their adventure they pressed on, hoping to finally defeat and remove Bowser forever. Each Smasher has at least one big enemy in their home world. Bowser, Ganondorf, Mother Brain, King K. Rool, King Dedede, Andross…the list goes on and on. They've always done battle with these foes, and the heroes usually win…but the villains always come back. If they could somehow defeat Bowser for good… if there was a possibility of defeating the other baddies, well then they each had a hope of finally removing all the evil from their homeland. That was the hope that drove most of them as they neared the end of the tunnel. That was the hope that although it was foolish, idealistic and unrealistic, kept them running all the way to a door that Bowser had just dashed through. That was the hope that gave them the strength to slam down the door that Bowser had locked behind him in order to slow them down. This was what most of them were fighting for. And they were going to fight hard.

Of course, if they actually did get rid of all the evil, life would be rather boring wouldn't it?

When the Smashers burst through the door they found a room that was unlike any of the other chambers they have been in so far. It maintained the same dungeony atmosphere and size (It was about twice the size of the Koopaling chamber, making it the largest room they've been in so far); with gray stone walls and torches…but the thing that made it different was the massive skylight. It extended through half of the ceiling and was about fifty feet long and wide…at least. It let in the bright moonlight that bathed the chamber in an illuminating…if creepy light.
"It's night already?" Raichu wondered, not realizing that they have been traveling that long.

In the center of the room about twenty feet in diameter was a circular pedestal that rose about four feet off the ground. Bowser had clambered up to it and flashed the Smashers nervous glances as he stared at the skylight…

"So you followed me…heh…can't say I'm surprised…but you're too late! He's here!" Bowser said with hint of manic glee.

"Who's he-" Bario started before something large and white crashed through the skylight.

The glass sparkled and seemed unnaturally slow as it came down around the platform Bowser was on. Link raised his shield but it wasn't necessary as none of the glass came anywhere near the Smashers.

The white shape slowly unfolded into a humungous white-gloved hand about twice the size of Bowser. The hand floated several feet above the ground and it almost seemed to look around the room, even though it lacked eyes. It appeared to see the Smashers and after a moment a deep…evil laugh emanated from the hand, even though it lacked a mouth.

"Master Hand," echoed several Smashers as the supposedly most evil being in existence had revealed himself.

"Grr! Did you have to shatter the skylight? It opens up, you know!" Bowser whined.

At the sound of his voice Master Hand whirled around and if hands had looks, and looks could kill, Bowser would be a smoking pile of ash right about now.

"Uh…sorry," Bowser apologized.

"So Bowser…you have an alliance with Master Hand? Is that it?" Bario demanded.

"Heh! Oh Master Hand has more than just an alliance with ME! Why almost all of the villains are working for-HEY!" Bowser yelled as a blue laser shot from Master Hand's finger almost pierced his foot, "What was…oh. Not supposed to reveal the plan. Right."

"What?! The villains?! Do you mean Giga Bowser as well?" Diddy demanded.

At Diddy's words Bowser began to laugh.

"Oh man…this is great. You're the monkey right? The one that lived at Donkey Kong's? Oh…I know I've denied it for so long…but now I don't have to hide it!"

"What? What are you talking about?!" Diddy demanded looking quite unsettled.

"You idiot…I AM Giga Bowser!" Bowser said.

This revelation made several of the Smashers take a step back and Diddy was stunned…but Mario and Bario were not surprised.

"I always figured it was you. It was kind of obvious," Bario said.

"Gwa ha ha! Hit it Master Hand!" Bowser yelled.

Master Hand then created a large powerful dark ball of energy, which he dropped onto Bowser. When the ball made contact it encircled Bowser…and he began to change.

The Smashers stared in shock as Bowser grew…and grew…and grew. He towered over them and laughed as his horns lengthened and sharpened and his tail became longer and spiked. Soon Bowser was gone…and in his place stood the vile monstrosity known as…Giga Bowser.

"Gwa ha ha!" Giga Bowser laughed in his new booming voice as he stared at the Smashers with seemingly small eyes on his massive body, "You fools! You thought you would finish me off here…but instead it shall be your final resting place!"
At those words the chamber they came to this area through was suddenly closed off as a portion of the wall slid across it.

"I have a feeling that this may have been a bad idea Diddy…Diddy?" Raichu said as he looked for Diddy who WAS right next to him, "Where's Diddy?!"

The Smashers frantically looked around for Diddy when Falco spotted him. He had sneaked onto the platform with Giga Bowser.

"Diddy! NO!" Falco yelled.

Giga looked at the tiny monkey that was charging for him. There was no style or plan…it was just an angry charge. Giga easily swatted Diddy away and the airborne chimp slammed hard into a wall, barely hanging on to consciousness.

"Diddy!" Raichu yelled before running over to his fallen friend.

As Giga Bowser laughed in manic glee Master Hand again charged up a ball of energy. He released it and the ball floated down to just behind Giga. As it floated it expanded until it was a swirling vortex of black and blue. Giga laughed again as Master Hand flew into it and vanished.

"You're not getting away with this!" Bario shouted as he pulled out his two swords.

"Gwa ha ha! Oh no…it's you who aren't going to get out of here! So long!" Giga said before snapping his large fingers and jumping into the portal.

"NO!" Diddy screamed as his eyes snapped fully open and he saw the object of his rage escape, "I CAN'T LET HIM GET AWAY!"

"DIDDY!" Raichu yelled, "Chill! You can't beat him alone, he'll flatten you! We need to go together! Remember? I promised to help take down Giga…just like you promised to help me take out Mewtwo!"

Listening to Raichu's words seemed to calm Diddy as he and Raichu walked up to the other Smashers, the crack of Giga's fingers still echoing through the air.

"I don't like this…" Bario said.

Suddenly panels from the sides and the floor opened up and out poured…enemies. Gloombas, Hyper Goombas, Hammer Bros., Chomp Bros., dozens of enemies. And from the shattered skylight Lakitus, Paragoombas, Paratroopas and more spewed forth. Soon there were almost a hundred enemies…more as the Lakitus threw down Spiny Eggs with hatched into Spinies…that surrounded the Smashers who were forced to huddle in a small circle to avoid the rapidly closing in enemies. Throughout all of this none of the Smashers appeared to notice the portal change from black and blue to a bright green color…

"Oh man…this is really…really bad," Bario said.

"Yeah, just a bit!" Falco said in a tense voice.

"There's no way that even all of us could kill all these enemies…we have to go to that portal!" Bario said.

The other Smashers nodded and as one they all turned to the portal…and fired every single projectile weapon they had…Diddy's peanuts, Mario's fireballs, Raichu's electricity, Samus's missiles, Link's arrows, Falco's guns and even Kirby's shockwave. All these attacks flew forward and obliterated several of the enemies in their way. They ran forward just as several Hyper Goombas unleashed a charge attack from behind but Meta and Bario, who were staying in the back quickly and skillfully sliced them in half.

Three Spinies rolled into balls and charged for the Smashers. Mario jumped in their way and used his cape to spin them around. Confused and disoriented they continued moving and smacked down several of their allies. The Smashers continued moving, barely keeping the swarm of enemies back. Fortunately there were so many enemies that they couldn't move very well, and they kept getting in their own companions way.
Soon the Smashers were on the pedestal and only a dozen feet from the portal…and imagined temporary salvation. However as most of the other enemies struggled to attack and dodge the continued projectile attacks being thrown at them by the Smashers, five Hammer Bros and three massive Chomp Bros. managed to get in between the Smashers and the portal. The Hammer Bros. were strong Koopas with helmets with the ability to throw hammers while the Chomp Bros. were immensely buff Koopas carrying small throw-able Chomps that return after they are thrown.

The Hammer Bros. didn't say a word before rapidly flinging several hammers at the Smashers. Without even thinking, Falco jumped in their path and turned on his reflector which sent the hammers back at the attackers, taking out three of the Hammer Bros. A Chomp Bros. then threw a powerful Chomp at Falco, and although he managed to reflect it, the power of the Chomp and the previous assaults caused his reflector to shatter and stun him.
Bario ran up after Falco's heroic act, which surprised all the Smashers, and before the Hammer Bros. could do anything about it he removed the heads of the last two. The Chomp Bros, in a fit of anger, threw both their Chomps at Bario who rolled under them and stabbed a Chomp Bro in the stomach. Growling, the creature dealt Bario a mighty backhand, and accidentally sent him flying into the portal. He was immediately sucked up and disappeared.

"Bario!" Raichu said, as he shocked two Gloombas that were attacking.

"Don't worry about him! He was right! We need to get to that portal!" the recently recovered Falco said.

The three Chomp Bros., one with a large stomach wound, positioned themselves in front of the portal, while the other enemies surrounded the pedestal, prepared to attack the second the Smashers let down their guard.

"Giga…here I come!" Diddy yelled as he charged forward.

The Chomp Bros. smiled at his foolish charge and threw their Chomps at him.

"Diddy! NO!" Raichu yelled.

At the last second, before the Chomps hit him he activated his jetpack and flew right over their heads and into the portal.

While the Chomp Bros. looked around in confusion Mario ran up, hammered one in the face and then grabbed the other one and flung it into its companion. Mario then jumped into the portal and was whisked away.

Now that the Chomp Bros. were no longer around the other Smashers quickly ran forward as the massive army fought to climb up to the pedestal. The last one in, Kirby, was almost dragged back by some Koopas but as soon as he climbed in, the portal closed for some reason, blocking all the enemies from following…and now all the Smashers were being taken to an unknown place….