Clash of the Smashers

Chapter Forty: Terrors of the Mind

Samus was running. She wasn't sure from what, or why…she only knew she had to. Her suit enhanced her speed and endurance, so she should be able to run very fast for a very long time, but for some reason she was exhausted.

Wait…her suit? That was with her ship, and that wasn't even in this dimension. How could she be…

This dimension? Where is that? This didn't look familiar.

Not ceasing in her running she looked around, and was not happy with what she saw. A long blank grayish black tunnel. It was very craggy, looking like it was formed by natural forces rather than by machine, and the footing was tricky. Several times Samus almost tripped over an awkwardly placed rock or hole.

The tunnel was very similar to others she's been in. It looked like the place where she fought Metroid Prime the first time. Actually it looked like several places, over which several battles took place. The tunnel look was pretty familiar to Samus, although the feeling coursing through her at this moment was entirely alien.

It was terror.

She'd felt fear before, even horror, usually when she was battling something really disgusting…but never pure terror. It was not a pleasant feeling. It was like someone had taken her, stripped her naked and shoved her into an ocean made of ice while needles jabbed into her bare flesh.

Course she didn't have a lot of time to think of how it felt because she was far too busy running.

Soon she reached the end of the tunnel, and found herself…on the outside of a space station?
Samus looked behind her, but instead of seeing the opening of a tunnel she just saw faint pinpricks of light. Stars. She stopped running, the terror temporarily abating.

She recognized the station as one the Galactic Federation used often, usually as a military base. It was basically just a cluster of large gray buildings held together by long hollow cylinders that not only connected the buildings, but also allowed for travel between them.

She was on the "roof" of one of these buildings, the artificial gravity preventing her from flying off into space. Each of these buildings had relatively flat roofs, and breathable air was held in by the use of an orange force field. It was maintained in a twenty foot radius around the entire station.

She recalled that the roof was designed this way to train soldiers. In the depths of space, and with the armored hull of the station, they could fire their weapons around wildly without fear of hitting anything. They kept breathable air and maintained a comfortable environment so they could train without bulky suits, and the gravity could be turned off for weightless combat training.

She knew what this place was for…she just didn't know why she was here.

She looked around again, but whatever had filled her with such dread was nowhere in sight, and no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to remember why she was so afraid in the first place.

Suddenly she heard a noise behind her. Startled, she spun around, certain that nothing was there…nothing could be there, she just checked and…something was there.

Or rather, it was starting to be there. Materializing out of nothing was…her. A second Samus just kind of…faded into existence. As Samus stared in confusion at the second her, it started to shift and change. The armor became a dark blue, parts of it transformed and in moments the second Samus had become…Dark Samus.

"You!" Samus said in shock, raising her arm cannon, "But I killed you! I killed you like six times!"
Dark Samus slowly walked towards Samus, her armored feet clanking loudly on the gray metal. She stopped several feet away and looked at Samus. If the armored warrior didn't know better…she would say Dark Samus was smiling.

"That you did…but then again, I am not truly Dark Samus," the being said, her voice similar to Samus's own, only slightly deeper and it had a strange echo effect.

"What? Than who are you?" Samus said, surprised to see the creature speak.

"A better question would be…what am I?"
There was an awkward pause.

"You're going to make me ask you aren't you?"
"Yes."
"I just met you and already I think you're a jerk."

"I don't care."

"Fine. What are you?"
"I am your inner self Samus, the subconscious, the "dark" part of you that you generally ignore. Usually I am merely a small voice in your head that gives you advice. Advice that you mostly choose not to heed."

"Well, if that's what you usually are…than why are you approaching me like this?" Samus asked, while she lowered her arm cannon.

"Because, I have something important to tell you and I can't risk it being ignored. You are in great danger."
"When am I not?"
"NO!" "Dark" Samus said, her vehemence startling Samus, "You don't understand! This is a danger far beyond anything you've ever faced before."

"What are you talking about?"
"Something is coming. Something far more evil and powerful than the beings and foes you've battled against before."

"Wait, if you're me…or I'm you…argh! It doesn't matter! How come you know about this and I don't?"

"Because Samus, I am a part of you that is more in touch with your mind than the main "you" is, and something is trying to affect your mind."
"This is really confusing."
"I know."
"Is this even possible?"
"Samus, after everything you've seen and done are you really going to question the validity of your subconscious warning about a terrible evil?"
"Touché."

"As I was saying, that tunnel you were in was part of a trap designed by this being, and I just managed to move your consciousness to another part of your mind. I'm hoping to buy enough time to warn you and wake you up before it finds you again."

"Alright," Samus said, "I get that…what I don't get is how there's two of me. Are you going to like try and take over me?"

Dark Samus sighed and shook her head.

"That's really not an issue. Samus, I'm not your inner darkness, I'm not evil, and I can not and will not "take over." This is just a conversation you're having with yourself, and you've chosen this representation to converse with. I am just telling you what you have subconsciously noticed or felt in a way that you will understand and react to."
"Oh. Carry on."

"Actually, that was pretty much all I had. Watch out, evil thing, messing with your mind, etc."
"Great, do you have any other advice?"
"You mean, do YOU have any other advice."
"You…I…whatever, answer the question!"
"What do you want?"

"Something more helpful than 'Look out for the most evil thing you'll ever face in your lifetime,' would be nice. Jeez, could my subconscious be anymore cryptic or vague?"

"Well considering you only have a vague knowledge of the situation…"

Before Samus could respond…to herself, she heard shouting and a panel opened up in the center of the roof she was on.

"What's going on?" Samus asked.

"Looks like you're dreaming," Dark Samus responded.

"I don't want to be dreaming! Oh crap! I almost forgot, something was coming at us! Now is not the time to be dreaming!" Samus said, smacking her helmet, "Why can't I wake up?"
"I don't know."
Samus turned back to the new opening in the floor, the shouting getting louder. As she watched a dozen Galactic Federation Troops, with their guns ready come charging out of the entrance.

The troops were wearing their gray armor with its thick glass-like faceplate. The weapons they were holding were just the standard energy guns…at least they weren't using the Phazon powered stuff anymore.

They surrounded the entrance and as one aimed their weapons towards space. While Samus watched in confusion, a final person emerged from the station.

"What? That's impossible!" Samus said, completely shocked.

It was Link.

He had his sword out, but his shield rested on his back. He was yelling at the soldiers, giving them orders and generally doing that whole inspirational speech military guys often do to their men, but Samus didn't hear a word of what he was saying, so shocked was she by him being there.

"I don't understand…how?"
"Dream, Samus," Dark Samus said.

"Oh yeah…but…why am I dreaming this? What does it mean?"

"How should I know? It probably doesn't mean anything. Most of the time dreams are just random things fluttering through your mind; this is probably just a few things that have been on your mind lately."

Suddenly there was a change in the mood. Link stopped talking, and turned his head towards the sky. The Federation troops aimed their weapons at one point, the point where Link was staring with an angry look. He slowly pulled off his shield and raised his sword.

Before Samus could say anything she saw what they were looking at…and it was not pleasant.
A massive field of dark purple ooze was floating down towards the force field. Link told the troops to stand firm, while Samus stared in disgust.

"What is that?"
"Honestly…I don't know. Have we ever seen anything like that?" Dark Samus asked.

"Definitely not. I couldn't even imagine that thing!"
"Than that means…the thing found you again," Dark Samus said.
"What do you…ah!" Samus said, stopping as the bone-chilling terror returned.

The purple ooze slowly spread around the top of the force field and for a second it seemed like the field would be enough to stop it…but that would be far too simple. With scarcely any effort at all the ooze simple…bled through the field.
As soon as it was through the soldiers started firing at it, their energy weapons discharging vast quantities of energy at the evil goo…but they might as well have been shooting kittens for all the good it did.

The goo's counter-attack however, was far more effective.
A dozen long, thin and very pointy tentacles erupted from it as continued its slow descent and shot through the faceplates of the soldiers, killing them instantly. With a burst of purple fire their bodies were vaporized, and both Samus and Link were horrified.

The goo then sent all dozen of the tentacles flying at Link, but between his sword and shield he managed to block or deflect all of them.
The tentacles formed back into the ooze as it landed on the ground, its form changing even as they watched.

The ooze faded in color, changing from a purple that was almost black to a considerably lighter purple. The goo than started to coalesce into a humanoid form, bigger than Link, but not by much. The goo than became an aura surrounding the armored figure, making it appear like it was wreathed in violet flame.

The figure was decidedly masculine, and clearly armored, although its features were blanked out by the aura.

Link charged for it, sword raised and brought it down in a mighty arc that looked like it would cleave the evil figure in two…until it raised an arm insanely quickly and deflected the blow.

Judging by the clang, the armor on the being extended to its arm, but Link was undeterred. Thrusting his shield forward he slammed it in the chest of the being, pushing it back and holding its arms in place. Link than jabbed his sword point-first towards the creatures face…and he missed.

Well, rather, he didn't miss so much as he just failed to hit his target. Because the armored purple warrior had vanished.

Before Link could try and discover it again, the being materialized behind him and in one swift movement he shoved a hand into Link's back.
Link screamed and tried to turn around, but the being sent a pulse of energy into Link so powerful that he dropped his sword and shield. A second pulse sent Link to his knees.

"NOOOOO!" Samus said, sick of watching, not caring if it was a dream or not. She fired four missiles in rapid succession. They flew towards the unsuspecting figure, but before they hit he raised a hand and deflected them harmless into the force field.

"Damn! What's he doing?" Samus demanded.

"Clearly he's killing Link. I don't think your friend has much time." Dark Samus responded.

"Isn't there anything I can do?"
"Don't forget Samus, this is a dream. This isn't actually happening. That's not really Link. That thing is just messing with you. At best, you can think of this as a test of what you would do in a similar situation."

"I don't care! What can I do?"
"You can destroy that," Dark Samus said, pointing to a panel on a stand near the northwest corner of the building they were on.

Samus followed her subconscious's avatar's finger and stared for a second, not comprehending. When she did comprehend however, she recoiled in shock and disgust.

"No! Not that! Do you know what it'll do?"
"Well, considering that you know, and I am you, then yes, I do know what it will do."
"But it will…it will…" Samus said, trailing off.

"Cut the force field, allowing the cold vacuum of space to reach in here. It probably won't kill that thing, but it will at least spare Link whatever horrible fate it has planned for him."
"But Link would die!"
"His other alternative appears far worse."

"But this isn't real! I'm just dreaming! Come on! Come on! Wake up!" Samus said.

"You may just be dreaming, but if you can't make a hard decision now, here, than how can you expect yourself to make one when it does matter?"

Samus stared at Link as he continued to scream, his body becoming enveloped by purple flame.

"Samus?"

"Fine." Samus said, pulling off her helmet and letting it drop to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Dark Samus demanded.

"Making a hard decision," Samus said, firing her arm cannon.

There was an explosion, and white light shone, so white that Samus shut her eyes. Nothing happened for a while…and then, Samus opened her eyes again.

Samus found herself, in her Zero-Suit, floating in emptiness.

"What's going on?" Samus said.

The figure that Link had battled appeared before her, his features still impossible to make out.

"Interesting choice Samus," he said, his voice sounding somehow like everyone she knew, and no one she knew, "You will definitely be one to watch."

"Who are you?" Samus demanded, "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" The being said, "That's complicated. You're not ready to know. As for who I am…that's simple."
Samus felt shivers creep down her spine, and suddenly realized she didn't want to hear the answer.

"I am Kidar."

In the ruins of Dedede's Fortress…

Samus shot up, a scream bursting through her mouth…a scream echoed by two other people. Looking around she saw both Kirby and Bario looking around just as wildly as she was.

"What…was that?" Samus managed to gasp out.

"I have…no idea," Bario said, clearly as shaken as she was from a similar experience.

Kirby just shuddered.

"That nightmare…and wait…what happened?" Samus said, looking at the ruins of the fortress around her.

"Something attacked us," Bario muttered, a sheen of sweat covering his face.

The three stood up, and a quick look around revealed the other members of their party still unconscious and strewn around the fortress. As they watched, several of them groaned and started to move, although judging by the fact that none of them were screaming, they clearly had not gone through the same experience Kirby, Samus and Bario had.

A strange whooshing sound echoed over their heads, and the standing Smashers looked up. A strange ball was flying over their heads. It was a faint blue-purple color; actually it looked vaguely like the sky when the sun goes down. It even had large hollow five-pointed stars emblazoned on it.
"What the heck is that thing?" Samus asked.

Bario looked at Kirby, who was staring at it with a look of surprise.

"That's Nightmare…right Kirby?"
Kirby nodded at Bario and pulled out his Cutter.

"Nightmare…why am I thinking of a guy in armor?" Samus asked, a look of confusion on her face.

"Whoa!" Falco yelled, staggering to his feet, "Do we have another battle on our hands?"

"Looks like it," Raichu said, crackling with electricity.

The other Smashers, all now standing got into battle-ready positions as the sky darkened considerably. Nightmare swooped down lower, and then made a second, lower pass.

"All this fighting is starting to wear on me," Diddy said, pulling out his popgun.

"This is nothing," Link said.

"Guys…cut the chatter, because here it comes!" Bario said, diving to the side to avoid Nightmare's attack.

The attack came in the form of stars, identical in appearance to one's on Nightmare's body. They were white, and the internal part of the star was transparent, making them appear to be merely outlines. The stars stabbed into the ground where Bario was standing, and several others barely missed the other dodging Smashers. After hitting the ground, or a chunk of rubble the stars vanished.

The ball floated past, and that was when the Smashers counter-attacked. Every single projectile they had flew towards the thing, a few missing because of the Smashers still being unsteady from their strange unconsciousness, but most of the attacks hit. After all, Nightmare was a ball about six feet in diameter…it's not like it was a small target.

Since the shockwaves from the cutter wouldn't reach the ball, Kirby threw the blade like a boomerang. Link noticed it was similar to an attack some of Dedede's minions had used.

Nightmare shuddered violently as the attacks poured into it, and then flew even faster around the Smashers, firing stars and large crescent-shaped energy waves at the Smashers at a rapid pace.

This forced them to spend most of their time dodging, rather than attacking, although a few managed to get an attack or two off.

Meta Knight immediately stopped firing energy balls and snuck around portions of the ruined fortress, trying to avoid Nightmare's attention. When Raichu blasted Nightmare with a particularly powerful bolt of lightning, Meta Knight chose that moment to strike.

With an impressive burst of speed he flew straight towards Nightmare. It noticed him before he reached it and shot off some stars, but Meta evaded them, soon getting close enough to slash Nightmare straight down the middle.

The attack left a deep cut on the ball, but Meta spent too much time savoring his small victory and was blasted back to the ground by a crescent blast.

The Smashers attempted to resume the attack, but a burst of blinding light forced them to stop…as Nightmare began to change.

The ball erupted outwards. It twisted and turned, lengthened and…yeah, it pretty much did a bunch of stuff. There were noises, and all kinds of pretty lights. But since it was not a particularly impressive transformation, let's just skip all that.

When the lights faded the Smashers turned to Nightmare…and saw something completely different.

The ball had transformed into something that looked vaguely humanoid. It had a large gray face with a prominent cleft chin. It, or rather he was clad in a purple cloak that tapered down in a cylindrical fashion that looked vaguely like a tornado. His eyes were pure white and seemed to be connected.
He had on shoulder pads and a necklace with a red jewel of some type. Rounding out this strange looking creature were a pair of long curling horns on its head. Oh and it was fifteen feet tall and floating.

Kirby threw his Cutter at Nightmare, but the blade merely bounced off its cloak. Nightmare let out a deep throaty laugh, raised a large hand out from under its cloak and extended one long, thin finger towards Kirby.

Immediately several stars flew from the finger towards Kirby. He rolled, but got skimmed by some.

Not wasting any time, the Smashers opened fire on the new Nightmare, and while the attacks didn't seem to be doing much in the way of damage they clearly were hurting the guy enough for him to start flying rapidly around.

He fired off some more stars, forcing the group to dive for cover, and after half a minute, he tried something new.

His cloak billowed upwards revealing that beneath the tornado shaped cloak was a…tornado. Yeah, like an actual tornado. Freaking weird.

Laughing maniacally he flew over their heads, pieces of rubble being flung about by the wind as he continued firing stars from both hands. He seemed pretty confident in his victory…until the Smashers blasted him in the…tornado.

Well, to be honest, it was really the bomb arrow, and a well tossed orange grenade that caused the most damage, but everything else did a good job of causing extreme pain to Nightmare…and it turned out that tornado thing was his weak spot. Cool.

Nightmare cried out, and glared at all of them…but clearly the attacks were too much for him, and he exploded into the pink dust, healing…or at least rejuvenating the Smashers.
They were silent for a moment until Link turned to Kirby.

"Was that it? That guy was pretty easy."
Kirby shrugged, apparently pretty surprised himself.

"Well, we all have gotten a lot stronger, I don't think there's really much of anything that could stand against us now," Bario said.

"Hmph," Samus said, "Well before we continue doing whatever it is we're doing I want to talk about the nightmares."

"We just killed him," Falco said.

"Not Nightmare! Nightmares!" Samus said angrily.

"What?" Link said, his voice dropping a few degrees of warmth.

"Did you say nightmares?" Diddy said, thinking back to just a little while ago.

"Why?" Bario said.

"Because I had one," Link said, shuddering at the memory.

"Me too," Diddy answered.

"Looks like something seriously messed up is going on here," Falco said.

"We should probably…what?" Bario started to say, before the area around them trembled. Yes, the actual air, ground, rubble, visibly trembled.

"What was that?" Raichu asked.

Before anyone could answer, the entire area vanished, being replaced by something completely different…and in the distance, something laughed.