Clash of the Smashers

Chapter Fifteen: Onox oscillates and originates overkill, while Veran ventures venomous vengeful verbal abuse. And so ends the awful, annoying, aggravating…Agh! Alliteration!

The Smashers walked through the next area, another small room with a long spiraling staircase leading to a non-descript door. The excitement of battle was starting to wear thin, and although morale was still high, they were quite happy to savor the time before their next life-or-death battle, and to look forward to finally defeating all the baddies and return home. Little did they know how far they were from completing their quest…or how dangerous the enemies they had to face would become…

The nine companions entered the next room, which was essentially the same as all the previous rooms they had been in and like the last room, two beings waited for them. However these two seemed considerably more dangerous than previous foes…

The first one was very large. An unnaturally tall and broad man, covered almost entirely in gold and dark gray armor, he had pointy toed gold shoes, that would have looked ridiculous on anyone else…on him they just heightened his fearsomeness. He wore a tall pointy helmet and in his massive gauntleted hands he carried a gigantic spiked mace that looked large enough to crush a normal person.

Next to him stood a person who seemed extremely bizarre as she looked completely different from the armored terror. A tall woman, although not as tall as the beast that loomed next to her, she would have been beautiful, despite her teal skin, if she didn't radiate an aura of sickening evil. She wore a strange hood that came over one side of her head, and covered most of her red hair. Beneath that she had on what could only be described as a "top", as it revealed more than it covered. She also had strangely massive shoulder pads and pointy spikes on her elbows. She wore the lower half of an elaborate dress, which covered her entire body below the waist.

Both of these beings were quite obviously evil, but evil in different ways. The armored man had an atmosphere of barely repressed almost bestial violence about him, while the scantily clad woman seemed sneaky and manipulating, like a snake, if snakes were capable of sentient thought. Both however looked with scorn at the Smashers, as if their previous accomplishments meant nothing to this duo.

"Bario…let me guess, big, bad and really good at causing pain?" Diddy asked.

"Yep…the tall guy is Onox, who can shoot tornados as well as bash people with his mace, and the woman is the sorceress Veran, with teleportation and energy ball attacks…"

The tall man spoke then, as Bario trailed off, in a massive booming voice that carried the unmistakable promise of bones being shattered.

"So you know me? You know of Onox, the General of Darkness? Interesting…"

The woman decided to speak as well, in a voice that was tantalizing, alluring, tempting…and incredibly dangerous.

"Yes, interesting, for I Veran, Sorceress of Shadows have never heard of or seen you before boy…but considering you'll be dead in minutes I doubt that matters…"

"Do you have any idea how many people have said that in the last two days?" Falco asked, "More than enough…and not one of them had been able to stop us, so I don't think you'll be any different, you wanna-be tin-can, and you old hag who isn't nearly as pretty as she thinks she is," he said scornfully to Onox and Veran.

Onox seemed to grow with anger, if that's even possible and flung several small tornados at the Smashers, powered by the force of his rage. Veran's face grew hard and furious and she fired a stream of magic energy balls at them as well.

The attack was surprising in its suddenness, but the Smashers had dealt with faster and more dangerous attacks, so it wasn't hard for them to dodge the assault. Falco fired several pistol shots at Onox, but the armor he wore caused Onox to not even notice. Onox did however decide that Falco was entirely too tall. So he swung his massive spiked ball at Falco.

Falco ducked and it whizzed over his head…jeez! The range he had on that thing was incredible. Falco didn't have time to reflect on that, as Onox was now bringing it down in a vertical swing. Falco rolled away and the mace slammed into the floor, creating a deep indent. Onox growled as he yanked it up and looked for the bird. He had to refocus his attentions though, when Kirby smashed him in his head with his hammer.

While Kirby covered Falco, Samus shot four missiles at Veran. She laughed and teleported behind Samus and hit her with an energy ball. Samus was knocked down, but the attack didn't seem to damaging. She was tricky…but not that strong. Veran laughed again and prepared to blast Samus when Bario dashed up and slashed at Veran. She saw him coming and teleported away, but didn't hit Samus. Bario helped her up while Mario and Link looked around for the witch.

They didn't have to spend a lot of time looking as she appeared behind them and fired an expanding ring of reddish orange magic balls that smacked both and caused them to fall to their knees. As he fell Link threw his boomerang behind him, and it clipped Veran in the side. Crying out in the sudden pain she teleported again…

Onox punched Kirby and sent the lightweight flying, and seeing Veran in trouble, he threw his mace at Link. Mario, seeing the attack dove and tackled Link out of the way. Onox grumbled about missing when Meta flew over and slashed at him. Onox's armor protected him, and he retaliated by rapidly bringing his mace back. The spiked ball flew towards Onox…and smashed into Meta's masked face, which caused the mace to fall to the ground.
Onox had little time to celebrate his small victory when Meta was sent careening into his head. The blow seemed to stun him, but Meta looked knocked out. Diddy then cart wheeled over and grabbed Meta, to protect him from Onox's retaliation. The armored warrior came to pretty quick, and tried to aim a kick at the fleeing monkey when Falco landed several kicks on Onox's midsection.

Onox grinned at the feeble attack and flung a kick of his own at Falco. Falco was trying to get feeling back in his leg as hitting the armor seemed to have numbed that area, when Onox's booted foot slammed him in the side of the head. He was sent flying…and sank into unconsciousness.

Bario finished checking Samus (she was fine) and was looking around for Veran. Link and Mario were also frantically searching…but it was Samus, who was still on the ground who spotted her…the sorceress had teleported behind Bario…a ways back and she was charging up a spell. Samus decided to do something…something explosive…

Link had his Bow out, figuring it would be easier to hit her with that than his sword when a missile erupted from Samus's arm cannon. Mario, Link and Bario tracked the projectile…and watched it slam into Veran. She squealed and disappeared again…and she looked severely injured…

Onox looked around for his next victim, and saw Veran getting attacked. He began to head over to the Smashers who were fighting her when he caught a small mouse-like creature running towards him. He swung his mace at Raichu, but he dashed to the side and the flying ball of metal barely missed him. Raichu then leaped for Onox.

Onox blinked and looked down. Was that it? Because…he didn't feel anything. He stared, confusion etched in what little of his face that was visible. Raichu looked up.

"Bye." He said.

He then fired every bolt of electricity he could at Onox. The metallic armor he wore conducted the attack and Onox quivered and shook as volt after volt hammered him. He managed to focus long enough to pry Raichu off of him and throw him to the ground. Onox then started panting heavily, trying to move.

Raichu rolled when he hit the ground…but it took every ounce of his strength not to fall unconscious. He looked up at Onox who was still twitching a bit as the electricity finished zapping him. Onox then let out a cry of rage and raised his black mace above his head.

The spikes shattered and the metallic dust they created flew around Onox and expanded. They formed a grayish six-foot tall and two-foot wide crystalloid object that floated in front of him. Onox flashed an evil grin at Raichu before magically sending all of the electricity out his armored body and into the crystal. It seemed to absorb the electrical current and became a light translucent blue color that floated in front of him.

Onox lowered his smaller, spike less metal ball. It seemed considerably lighter and even though Onox didn't have a problem swinging it before…now, it seemed he would be even more dangerous with it. He looked at Raichu and aimed his ball…when Diddy came charging for Onox.

Veran reappeared behind Mario, Link, Bario and Samus. They didn't see her at first, at least not until she started glowing. Samus leaped up and fired four missiles at her, but Veran blocked them with some kind of shield. The other three spun, but quickly realizing that attacking would be useless…at least for now.

Veran became covered in a glowing light, that despite its white color it remained evil looking in some indefinable way. As the light grew to blinding levels and everyone except Onox closed their eyes, it faded. And standing where Veran was, was a massive light bluish-green fairy like creature. As large as Onox, this new Veran had wings and looked considerably more dangerous.

As Bario raised his swords, Mario readied his hammer, Link prepared his projectiles and Samus aimed her Arm Cannon, Veran just smiled. Smiled…and waved her hand. Four creatures that were about the size and shape of Link, except for their glowing red eyes and completely black bodies appeared, in front of each of them.

"I thought we already killed you morons," Bario said.

Before anyone else could respond Veran laughed and pointed a finger at them.

"Attack," she calmly said. The Shadow Links charged.

Diddy ran at Onox, and still several feet away Diddy leapt at him, pulling out his peanut guns and fired away. All of them were deflected by his armor, but they did distract Onox. Right before Diddy landed on him the crystal moved. Not much, but enough for it to be in between Diddy and Onox. As soon as Diddy touched the light blue crystal an electric charge passed through him and sent him flying.

"Diddy!" Raichu yelled, incredibly guilty, as it was his own power that caused that to happen.

"What…did you like him little mouse? I'm going to have fun crushing him…right after I'm done with you!" Onox said.

Raichu stood up and fired a bolt of electricity at Onox. The crystal moved in front of the attack and absorbed the attack. Before Raichu could retaliate the crystal moved again…to let Onox throw his mace at Raichu. He tried to dodge but he was tired, and the attack was far faster. He got slammed hard in the chest and was sent flying.

He landed roughly on the ground fifteen feet away from where he was attacked. Onox reeled in his ball and chain and walked with great big plodding steps toward Raichu. He raised his mace again for the final blow as Raichu looked up at him with bleary and barely open eyes…he thinks that last attack may have broken a rib, not that it matters now, when death was at hand…

Bario ducked and rolled, hitting the knees of the Shadow Link before it ran into him. He slashed at it and the feeble, weaponless creature died. Mario easily destroyed his with a fireball and Link removed the head of the one attacking him. Samus just fired a missile at the Shadow Link that charged at her.

Veran looked upset when her minions were killed, but she looked even more upset when an arrow flew at her. She flew up, but the arrow still penetrated her side. She screeched and the arrow disintegrated, leaving a small wound. She didn't have time to whine about it as Samus started charging up a Power Beam shot and Link fired his boomerang at her. Veran smacked it with her hand, sending it back at Link. As he reached out to catch it she fired a large magic ball at him. He didn't have time to move and got slammed hard.
As Link fell to the ground and Veran cackled, Mario fired three fireballs at her. Frowning in disapproval she fired a ball at them as well, and it vaporized the fireballs, and would have smacked Mario if he didn't roll just out of the way. While Veran was distracted with Link and Mario, Samus fired her fully charged attack…

Onox threw his mace down at Raichu…but just before it hit, a thick wooden hammer smacked into it, sending it slightly off course. It slammed down, only a few inches away from the mouse and Onox turned to see who would dare try and stop him. It was a little pink puffball, standing only a few feet away, and carrying a massive hammer far bigger than it.
Onox sneered at the creature he had already beated and summoned three tornados and flung them at Kirby. Onox didn't get to see the results of his handiwork through as four laser shots pelted him from behind. He angrily spun around, his mace going with him, and it just barely missed Falco's head. Onox growled and whipped it at him again.

Falco ducked and fired again, wary of getting too close. Kirby, having avoided the tornados ran at Onox but stopped abruptly when the crystal moved in front of him. Onox grinned, knowing it was only a matter of time until victory was his…until Meta flew over his helmet and slashed over the crystal and connected with Onox's head. Sparks flew and little actual damage was caused…but Onox was starting to look worried as three fighters stood against him…

Veran squealed as the massive energy ball burst against her side. Temporarily losing control she fell to the ground. Bario, seeing a chance ran up and slashed her. A large cut opened on one of her legs, but she kicked out with that leg, catching Bario against the jaw and snapping his head back.
Veran flapped her wings and took off…but on her way up she grabbed Bario by the throat and carried him up with her. Link aimed an arrow but Samus pushed his bow down.

"NO! If you shoot from this angle, you may hit him! Wait!" she told him.

Bario struggled; his swords fell from his hands and clattered on the ground. He tore at Veran's grip, but her new form was to powerful. His legs kicked uselessly at the air, as his air began to dwindle. Suddenly he grabbed at Veran's arms. There was a brief flash and she screeched and let him go. He fell ten feet to the floor and rolled, grabbing his swords and breathing heavily. Veran glared at Bario in confusion and anger…and dived.

Onox flung his mace, along with three tornados at his foes. Meta flew over the attack, Falco and Kirby both rolled out of the way. Falco ran up and tried to physically attack Onox, but the crystal moved in front him and Falco barely managed to avoid getting zapped.
"We're not going to hurt him as long as he has that crystal!" Falco said as he leaped away from Onox's returning mace.

Kirby nodded and dashed forward. Onox grinned at his foolishness and threw his mace. Kirby rolled and it skimmed over his head. Kirby pulled out his hammer. His thick…wooden hammer. Onox's eyes widened and he yanked his mace back…but it was too late. Kirby's hammer slammed into the blue crystal. The electricity caused no damage to the wood…and the crystal shattered.

Kirby looked at Onox, just as the mace slammed into his back. Kirby flew forwards toward Onox…who stopped him. With his fist. Kirby crumpled like a piece of paper. However Meta dashed forward and sliced in Onox's direction. Onox jerked back…but it wasn't him Meta was aiming for…

Bario rolled out of the way of Veran's physical attack…but he missed the fact that it was a feint, and got blasted by one of her energy attacks. He was sent into Link and both fell hard to the ground. Veran flew up, dodging Samus's missiles, and summoned a large ball of energy. She threw it above her and it split into several small magic balls that careened toward to the ground.
Bario and Link scrambled to their feet, but had to duck and cover as magic energy slammed into the ground around them. Mario dodged a few and shot a few fireballs at Veran. She easily dodged them…but didn't dodge the two missiles that slammed solidly into her side.

She squealed and staggered-flew in the general direction of Onox, hoping that he would defend her from the viciousness of the Smashers, and help stop the ass-kicking she was receiving.

Meta's mysteriously powerful sword cut through the chain on Onox's mace. The ball fell to the ground with a loud THUD. Onox stared at Meta in shock before punching him hard into the ground. He then threw his mace's handle at Kirby, which smacked him pretty hard. Onox let out a roar of fury and stomped the ground, causing some chunks of the ceiling to fall down.

Falco rolled to avoid lumps of the ceiling and shot more laser shots at him. They didn't really hurt him…just angered the crap out of him. He fired tornadoes at Falco, who barely dodged. Falco decided that if he was going to stop this walking tank…he was going to have use the big guns.

He dashed again as Onox stomped a little bit harder, causing larger chunks to fall, and Falco became wreathed in fire as he used one of his most powerful attacks. Fire Falco. He shivered as the flames covered him thanks to some advanced technology, and then shot off for Onox. Onox was to busy being angry to notice Falco…until he slammed into his chest.

Onox teetered…hanging on to his footing by sheer will. Falco's attack faded and he stepped back, anticipating Onox's soon collapse. However Onox's massive gloved hand shot out and gripped Falco's shoulder. Falco whimpered in pain as the incredibly heavy Onox forced him to the ground as stood back up. Onox growled at Falco and shifted his grip to his throat. He squeezed a bit and then dismissively tossed him aside.

Onox then let out a loud roar, as he was furious that he was being fought against…and hurt. He jumped in the air, surprisingly high, and slammed down, bringing huge pieces of the ceiling down. He did it again and again…and finally a humongous pile came crashing down towards him…just as Veran flew overhead. They each let out one short scream before being buried by the rubble.
Amazingly, there was still ceiling above the Smashers and the pile of debris. The floors and ceilings must be incredibly thick. The Smashers slowly staggered to the front of the wreckage, although Raichu and Kirby were to beat up to really move but Diddy had recovered. They stared at the pile, before Falco asked the most pertinent question.

"Are they dead?"
Bario soon answered.

"Based on the fact that we're not healed…I'd have to say no."

Suddenly the pile of rubble flashed, and the Smashers covered their eyes. The large chunks of rock then crumbled into dust…and revealed Veran and Onox. Veran had become either a large turtle or some kind of beetle…it was hard to tell. All that was important was that it was big and had a huge shell. To add to its weirdness it still had Veran's face…admittedly altered and deformed, but still discernible.

However Veran paled in comparison to what Onox had become. He was some kind of massive dragon, with two huge horns, a large jewel in the center of his head and a snakelike tail. He had two wings that were too small to lift his massive body…but lift they did. He had large clawed hands that were attached to his long arms, and a boar-like mouth, with tusk-like teeth.

Verna made a loud rumbling noise before charging at the Smashers. Most dodged, but Samus wasn't fast enough and got clipped by the side of Veran's large shell. Samus rolled upon hitting the ground, and came up firing. Her missiles were ineffective though, and bounced off Veran's hard shell. Samus groaned, and she, Falco and Mario chased after the witch.

Link, Diddy, Bario and Meta stayed and faced off against Onox's new form…the Dark Dragon. He roared and swiped at Bario, who rolled and slashed at Onox's hand. The strike just bounced off of his thick scaled appendage, and Bario almost lost his grip on the sword.
Meta flew at Onox, dodging another hand swipe and sliced him in the chest. Again however, the attack was ineffective and Onox brought his hand in rapidly, squishing Meta against him, severely injuring the masked knight, but not enough to stop him. Meta fell to the ground and slashed at Onox's snake-like tail…but again, no effect, except of course for Onox punching him solidly in the head.

"Where is this guy's weak point?!" Diddy yelled while dodging some blue flames that were being shot from Onox's mouth.

"I don't…wait!" Bario said, spying the orange jewel on his head, "There! Hit the jewel!"

Veran had led the other three to the other side of the arena, considerably far from the others. She was proving remarkably difficult to damage, as the whole way over there they tried all manner of projectiles, but her hard shell prevented her from being damaged. She did make the mistake of looking back once, and then she got a fireball in the face.

Upon reaching a certain point Veran leapt high into the air. It was surprising that she could jump at all considering her current body, but the Smashers had little time to contemplate the logistics because she was coming down fast…on them. Mario, Falco and Samus ran out of the flight path, but soon fell to the ground as the massive shockwave hit them from her impressive girth.

She seemed to have cracked part of the floor and a greenish swamp-like substance was surrounding her…and there was a lot of her to surround. Part of the goo touched Falco and he hissed and jumped back…it was poisonous!
"Not good, not good!" he said.

Veran stuck her head out of her shell (Apparently she was a turtle) to see her handiwork, when Samus hit her with three missiles, and Mario smacked her with five fireballs, as they were waiting for her to do that. Veran screamed…and began to change form again…

Hitting the jewel was easier said than done. In Onox's new form he didn't move a lot, but not only was he very large, but his wings kept him even higher off the ground. It didn't help that the jewel was at the top of his head, so anything other than projectile attacks would fall short. How convenient for Onox that Meta had just fallen into unconsciousness…

Diddy fired some peanuts at Onox's orange jewel. They connected, and Onox winced, but they seemed too weak to be actually effective. Onox breathed some red fireballs at Diddy, who although he dodged, his fur got singed. Onox then swiped again at Bario, but didn't notice Link's arrow until it smacked into his jewel.

He yelled and spun towards Link, right when he threw a boomerang at him. The boomerang hit right where the arrow had, and it created a sizable crack. Onox let out a piercing squeal and blinked his large eyes rapidly, trying to block out the pain…but then Link threw a bomb at the jewel. It exploded, causing sizable damage and enlarging the crack even more.

Veran's new form was rapidly revealed…she had become a large wasp-like creature, complete with functional transparent wings. She flew at Falco, who dashed away from the attack and fired several laser shots at her. She didn't even seem to notice, and shot a stinger at Samus.

Samus dodged and fired missiles at Veran. She was too big to avoid them, and although she looked like it hurt, she just dived for Samus and slammed her hard. Samus was flung bodily to the ground, and had to side-roll to avoid Veran's stinger. Veran would have kept at it but Mario had jumped onto her back and was smacking her with his hammer. She flew into the air and tried to get him off, but he hung on.
Samus started charging up her Charge Shot, while Falco looked for an opening. Mario kept whaling on her…until seven clouds of smoke appeared around her, and they dispersed to reveal…wasps. Yes, Veran had summoned seven smaller wasps that quickly began stinging Mario. He swiped at them, and in the process fell off of the witch. He fell hard, but squished three beneath him. The other four he swatted easily enough.

Veran flew above the three, trying to figure out what to do, when Samus fired a fully charged Charge Shot at her. The attack slammed into her hard, and she crashed into the ground, only a few feet in front of Falco. He backed up quickly, when she began to glow…again.

Onox teetered, and it looked like he was about to fall when suddenly his clawed fist shot out and socked Link in the face. The blond elfin teen flew back twenty feet before sinking into a lifeless state.
Bario groaned and realized it was down to just him and Diddy against Onox, jeez this guy was brutal! Or so he thought…as a large ball of lightning hit Onox in the head. Onox shook and quivered as a visibly tired Raichu joined up with Diddy and Bario.

"Hey guys…did I miss anything?"

Bario flashed an appreciative smile at Raichu before suddenly sparking on a plan. He spoke quickly as Onox was starting to recover and then he ran off. Diddy squared his shoulders and pulled out one of his remaining orange grenades.
"I don't have a lot left…," he said morosely, before tossing the one he had at Onox.

Veran's final transformation was that of a large spider, again with her face. She shot a strand of webbing at Falco, and it hit him like a punch. He flew back, as Mario shot a fireball at Veran. Her new form didn't seem to like fire, and she rammed into Mario at a high velocity, extinguishing the flame with her speed.

Mario fell back as Samus opened up, firing missile after missile. Veran smacked her with one of her brittle legs, and Samus rolled across the ground, as Falco started firing. Veran, realizing that the fight was not going to go her way unless she did something spun around and grabbed Falco, bringing him close to her fangs.
Just before she bit into him he activated his Reflector, zapping her with a small shock, in her legs and fangs. She squealed in surprise more than pain and threw him. He flipped through the air and managed to land on his feet, a feat he did not intend, pure luck it was. Veran turned her attention towards Samus, when Mario dashed under her and kicked out one of her brittle and weak legs.

Veran stumbled and tried to retaliate, but she couldn't reach beneath her as Mario punched and hammered two more legs. Dangerously unsteady she jabbed at him with one leg while she tried to move away. Suddenly Falco slammed into her, with his fire Falco ability, just when Mario shot three fireballs at her soft belly. Mario ran out as Veran collapsed, flaming. She made one last reach for Falco when Samus hit her with two missiles.

The orange grenade exploded on Onox's chest. The blow didn't really hurt him, but it caused him to focus on Diddy. Onox tried to swipe at Diddy, but the chimp skillfully avoided the attack. Raichu then shocked the hand. Onox growled and tried to smash the mouse with his other hand when he felt a strange tickling on his scaled back. He started to reach behind him when Diddy started pelting his face with peanuts.
Onox roared and shot a burst of red flame at the monkey. Diddy cart-wheeled out of the way and Raichu shocked him again. Onox back-handed Raichu, who although he tried to dodge, he was really worn out and was hit a glancing blow. Onox turned all his attention onto Raichu, a fact Diddy tried to change by hitting him with peanuts.
Onox ignored the annoying attacks and raised his massive fist to smash Raichu.

"NO!" Diddy shouted as he ran towards Raichu, but it was obvious he wouldn't make it in time.

However, he didn't have to as Bario came up from the back side of Onox's head, where he was climbing and plunged both swords into Onox's jewel. Onox froze and then with a cry of rage shook. Bario fell off, and it seemed like it was over…

Onox and Veran exploded at the same time. The pink dust washed over everyone, awakening the many that were knocked unconscious. The bars over the door were unsealed and the Smashers congratulated themselves on taking out their newest foes. Link looked pensive though, and Falco soon raised a question he was trying to find an answer to.

"Hey, this is Hyrule Castle right?"
Bario told him that yes; this was Hyrule Castle, at least when Ganondorf didn't conquer it.

"Okay…then where's Zelda? She lives her right?"

"Zelda?" Bario clarified.

"Yeah! The chick that could turn into a guy! Or…was she a guy that could turn into a girl? Huh. What would that be like? Being able to change gender…confusing probably, but hey, at least you'd get to see naked girls all the time, but it would be yourself…unless you liked guys…Ew! Girls turning into guys! Bad image!"

"Shut up," Samus said.

"Shutting up."

"I don't know where she is…perhaps Ganondorf has her locked away somewhere," Bario said.

"Hope she's okay," Diddy said.
"Mutual," the normally quiet Link said, before sheathing his sword and walking through the door.
The others didn't have time to ponder Link's speaking, and they soon followed the swordsman, not knowing what horrors and insanity awaited them, behind door number…well, whichever one they're on…thirteen? Fourteen? Lost count…