Clash of the Smashers

Chapter Forty-Eight: Mecha Metal Mega Meta Mario Bros.!

As Link traveled through the portal he tried to avoid thinking about Ganondorf said. He was clearly lying in an attempt to put Link off balance…but when he thought about it, did he really want Zelda...? Did he really care if she wasn't his? Of course he cared if Ganondorf claimed her, he wouldn't want anyone subjected to that…but was Zelda the person he even wanted to be with now? And if she wasn't…who was?

He knew the answer to that question, and he was pretty sure she did too…that wasn't the issue now. What was the issue now was Ganondorf. Link fully understand how Diddy and Raichu felt about Mewtwo and Bowser…he felt the same helpless rage as they did, seeing his most hated foe escape time after time.

This time though, they would do all they could…to finally bring these guys down.

Faster than expected the portal dropped them down. Apparently traveling in worlds is faster than traveling to worlds.

A quick look around revealed that they were on some kind of floating platform, a faint swirling gray-black fog surrounded it, although the platform itself was easy to see. It was large, not as big as the bridge, but big enough for all of the Smashers to spread out comfortably. Crystalline structures littered the sides, and the center of the platform glowed a faint red, as if something was pulsating beneath the steely surface. Three platforms were elevated above this one, one about 12 feet in the air, and the two on either side were six up.

Ganondorf was nowhere to be found.

"Damn!" Link said, "He must have tricked us somehow! Hey…wait…"

"I recognize this place," Link, Samus and Falco said simultaneously, an action that created a few raised eyebrows.

"You do?" Meta asked.

"This is the Battlefield," Samus said, "In the last tournament a few matches were fought here."

"Interesting," Bario said, "I wonder why we've been led here?"
As if in answer to his question two decent sized objects slammed into the ground, shooting past the platforms and crashing just a few feet in front of the Smashers. Unfurling rapidly, the creatures gleamed a metallic gray and stood in a ready position. Although they had no facial features, and were a single uniform color, their stance and body shape were familiar enough to determine what they were.

"The Metal Mario Bros.," Link said.

At those words Diddy stole a quick look at Mario, who, for the normally cheerful plumber was looking pretty mad. Clearly he didn't like people using his image.

"More baddies from Master Hand?" Raichu asked.

"Yep," Falco said, "These guys aren't that tough…we'll finish them quickly."

"But not me," a bestial voice growled as a heavy object crashed onto the lower platform behind the Smashers.

Turning they were confronted with Bowser, his wide mouth made even larger by the evil grin he had.

"It's been a while…how have you been?"
With a cry of rage Diddy threw a grenade at Bowser, before running at him. Surprised, Bowser was hit by the grenade, the force knocking him back and hurting, but he reacted faster than the others would have expected: His claws slashed out as Diddy jumped at him and it was only the chimps quick reflexes that prevented him from being torn apart. As it was he was clawed along the chest, but he didn't let that stop him and he dashed forward again.

The other Smashers moved forward to help their friend, but several fireballs from the Metal Bros. hit them in the back, causing more surprise than pain. Angrily all but Raichu turned around and started to attack the Metal guys, while the mouse jumped up towards Bowser.

Link, Bario and Meta led the charge, the three stabbing at the Metal Mario Bros. and surprisingly…the swords made a sharp clanging noise before bouncing off, leaving four minor scratches in the metal skin. Wordlessly Metal Mario and Luigi landing several powerful punches and kicks on the startled swordsman, knocking them back to the others. Seeing their swords fail, Samus started to do something she's been wanting to do for a while…she started charging her Charge Beam.

"Looks like they've been upgraded," Link grumbled sheathing his sword…and pulling out his bow.
Mario didn't let the others get a shot off though. Quicker than even they expected he dashed forward and tackled Metal Mario. Metal Luigi started to turn, as if to help, but Link managed to hit it with a bomb arrow, staggering it, but not stopping it. Metal Luigi focused back onto Link and the ones around him…and charged.

Bowser hissed in pain as Raichu slammed him in the chest with a lightning bolt and then scampered out of the way of his furious swipes. Diddy stayed back and pelted him with peanuts. Realizing that staying on the platform was a bad idea, Bowser waited for Raichu to dash forward again before curling into his shell and whirling across the platform and into Raichu, before dropping off it with a loud thunk.

The blow sent Raichu tumbling towards the edge of the stage, the gaping abyss of gray fog the only thing between him and a fall that would never end. He staggered to his feet, clutching his head, dizzy and stumbled forward tripping…towards the edge.

Bowser uncurled out of his shell and slashed out at Diddy again. The monkey danced out of range, and started to reach for a grenade when Bowser surprised him by breathing a jet of fire. Diddy dived out of the way, but the backwash was strong enough to set his fur smoldering, and he quickly moved away from Bowser as the turtle prepared to fire again.

Laughing silently, Bowser sent Diddy scampering away and took a moment to glance at the Smashers fighting the Metals. Yep, all six were there, exchanging blows…wait…wasn't there seven?

Before Bowser could figure out where the seventh one was a hammer caught him beneath the chin and slammed his head back.

Diddy patted the embers off his shirt and fur, and was about to attack Bowser again, when he saw Raichu trip towards the edge. The mouse gave a strangled gasp of surprise as his body hit air instead of ground. He vanished from sight in seconds.

Diddy had a brief moment of indecision. Finally achieve vengeance on the monster that killed his girlfriend…or attempt to save the life of a friend who was probably already doomed? He didn't have to think twice.

Diddy ran for the edge.

Metal Luigi sent Falco tumbling with a metal right hook and was turning towards Link, when Samus caught it in the back with a fully charged shot that jerked it forward, almost falling. Meta and Link charged forward, throwing out a few stabs and pokes but mostly avoiding a counter-attack while Samus charged again. Bario stayed back, one of his swords sheathed and the other held out in front of him while his other hand ran up and down the blade.

Metal Luigi suddenly started spinning, an attack similar to Mario's Tornado, although Luigi normally called his version the Cyclone. Meta and Link tried to block the attack but Metal Luigi managed to batter aside their defenses and knock them away. Link rolled and jumped back up, but before he ran back to battle he glared at Bario.

"You going to help? Or just stand there mumbling?"
"I am helping," Bario said quietly.

Link shook his head and stepped forward just as Samus fired off a Super Missile that slammed into Metal Luigi. The metallic warrior jerked back, but seemed unperturbed by the large dent it created in his chest. Falco started firing with his machine gun from a safe distance, but a few fireballs sent his way made him dive for cover.

Mario was beating Metal Mario for all he was worth. The initial charge knocked him down hard, making a harsh sound as the metal clanged against the hard floor. Mario landed several powerful blows, not seeming to care about his fists hitting the hard surface of his doppelganger. Surprisingly several dents were appearing where the fists were hitting as Mario's incredible strength started to bend the metal.
Frantically Metal Mario kicked Mario off of him and fired some fireballs. They hit Mario in the face and he grunted…and retaliated with four firebombs, one's even more powerful than usual.

They were slightly larger and each one hit with enough force to knock Metal Mario back a step. Additionally upon contact with Metal Mario they exploded, sending blazing sparks flying. Metal Mario was knocked to the ground and for a moment Mario thought it might be over…but as he watched Metal Mario stood up again.

He was smoking, and certain parts of him appeared melted as the incredible heat from the attacks did the seemingly impossible…but Metal Mario didn't care about the damage and charged right for Mario, who ran straight towards him as well.

Bowser hissed in pain as his lower jaw clacked into his upper. Recoiling violently a second swing hit him in the soft part of his shell. He rolled with the blow, twisting his body and allowing one of his claw-filled hands to slash out, catching something. Seizing and pulling Bowser ripped the wooden hammer out of Kirby's hands.

Kirby cried out in surprise as Bowser glared at him, then rolled out of the way as Bowser tossed the hammer back at the puffball. Kirby yanked out his Cutter and his sword and ran at Bowser, but a jet of flame made him pull back

Bowser growled at Kirby as he hesitantly circled Bowser, who turned to keep him in sight. He stepped forward and Bowser shot out a ball of fire that narrowly missed him. Kirby circled again and dashed to the right, but stopped suddenly, causing the flame Bowser shot to miss. Surprised Bowser tried to turn back to Kirby just as he threw the Cutter at Bowser.

Bowser stepped to the side, the blade cutting him slightly along the jaw line. Furious Bowser started to belch some flames at Kirby, only to see that he had taken advantage of his momentary distraction to jump at Bowser, sword held high.
Bowser caught the downward swings on one of his spiky wrist gauntlets and then dealt a powerful punch to Kirby's face. The Cutter blade swung back like a boomerang but it hit harmlessly against Bowser's shell and clattered to the ground.

Diddy reached the edge quickly, the sounds of battle echoing meaninglessly behind him. He knew that at this point the dazed Raichu had probably fallen to an unhelpable fate, but Diddy didn't care.

He didn't quite know what to expect when he reached the edge…perhaps a small dot that was his friend tumbling forever in an endless abyss? But when he peered off the side the last thing he expected to see was Raichu's rather terrified face looking back up at him.

"Diddy?" Raichu said.

On closer inspection Diddy saw that Raichu had luckily landed on one of the crystals jutting out from the side of the stage. It was smooth and slick and even as Diddy watched he saw Raichu start to slide off.

"Don't worry, just come back up," Diddy said, reaching out for Raichu.

Raichu attempted to jump back, but a sudden mental spasm from the blow caused him to lose focus and made him trip and start to fall off the crystal. Diddy leapt off the edge and grabbed him and before they lost too much height Diddy activated his jetpack and they flew back onto the stage.

They paused there a moment, Diddy relieved that he made, at least in his mind, the right decision, and Raichu managed to get balanced again and remove the mental after-effects of being slammed by a massive turtle and sent flying twenty feet.

"You good?" Diddy said, retracting his jetpacks.

"Yeah," Raichu said, giving his head one last shake.

"Then let's get him," Diddy said, running for Bowser, followed closely by Raichu.

Metal Luigi seemed unstoppable and Link and Meta were sent flying again, while Falco and Samus's shots were ineffectual against the tank-like being.

With sudden violence Bario cut his hand on the blade, his blood spilling out over it. It quickly darkened from red to violet and was absorbed into the sword. The gray metal began to shimmer, reflecting the same purple hue it had just acquired from Bario's blood. He moved his already healing hand once more along the sides of the blade. The violet light followed his hand, gathering and darkening in the edge.

Metal Luigi ducked under Samus's missile and grabbed Link, hurling him into Falco. A powerful punch sent Meta flying, the clang of Metal on his mask painful to hear. Samus fired again but Metal Luigi charged through the explosion and rammed her with his shoulder. As he lifted his foot to stomp on her mid-section, Link stumbled to his feet and ran towards them when Bario dashed forward and did one long great slice across Metal Luigi's midsection.

The blade didn't make a sound. The expected clang of metal on metal was not heard and despite the brief flash of purple nothing appeared to have happened. Bario lowered his sword, the violet aura already fading away. Metal Luigi took one long look at Bario though…and then the top half of the metallic minion slid off the bottom, hitting the ground. As soon as it did both halves exploded into gray powder.

Mario and Metal Mario slammed into each other, both reaching out with their powerful hands hoping to grab and crush something on their opponent. They grappled for several seconds, neither able to get a satisfying hold on the other, until Mario whipped out his cape, spinning around Metal Mario.

Mario took advantage of that to slam him in the back with his hammer, sending him skidding towards the edge. He stopped before reaching it and started to step towards Mario again when Mario raised his hands, hammer already placed away. A bright orange glow started to emanate from them and the confused Metal Mario stopped.

From a distance of only a few feet Mario released a small concentrated beam of flame, about the thickness of a standard fireball. Despite its small size though it was clearly very damaging as it burrowed into Metal Mario's face and held him there. Tongues of fire licked out along the sides of the cylindrical beam that wasn't a solid orange. Yellow and gold, red and crimson rippled the surface of the fire and the air around it was drained of all moisture. The faint fog around the beam vanished. Like a force alive the beam continued pouring from Mario's hand while Metal Mario flailed.

After eight seconds Mario lowered his hands, breathing heavily. The beam continued its path into Metal Mario, not fading so much as diving into. When the steam of the charbroiled fog dissipated, Metal Mario could be seen. His face was gone. In fact, most of his head was gone, melted into mush, a shape that was rather off-putting since it still rested on top of a humanoid torso.
With faint disgust Mario walked over and grabbed his sizzling opponent and with a grunt of effort he hurled him off the edge of the stage. Wiping his hands together to remove any unwanted materials from his pristine gloves, Mario turned to rejoin his companions.

Kirby went rolling, yelping in pain from the punch. Bowser stomped after him but a bolt of lightning hitting the ground near his feet caused him to stop and look to his right, where Diddy and Raichu were standing, Diddy with his peanut popgun in one hand and guitar in the other and Raichu, crackling with electricity. Kirby managed to get to his feet and grab his forgotten hammer, pocketing his sword. The three spread out, surrounding Bowser…who grinned.

"Before we fight, Diddy, would you like to know something?" Bowser asked, turning to face the chimp.

"What?" Diddy hissed.

"The fate of your girl," Bowser said, flames leaking out the sides of his mouth.

Diddy's eyes widened and he gestured to the other two to hold back for a minute.

"What do you know? She's dead…isn't she?" Diddy said.

"Oh no. Everyone thinks she is…but she's imprisoned with the rest of your Smashing friends."
"Why? Why didn't you just kill her?"

"Why kill a valuable resource? We wanted her," Bowser said, eyes narrowed.

Diddy was willing to believe this…the very idea of Dixie being alive was intoxicating…but something held him back from fully accepting the words. Something was wrong…

"Take me to her!"

"Oh no…no. Not like that. First you must surrender and come with me," Bowser said, "Alone."

"Don't do it!" Raichu said, "He's lying!"

"Shh!" Diddy said harshly, "How can I trust you?"

"You can't," Bowser said gleefully, "That's the point."

While this conversation was going on Bario was being treated with some appraising looks from his companions.

"Didn't know you could do that," Link said, his lack of expression making it difficult to determine whether this had alleviated or deepened his dislike.

"Thanks," Samus said, "That would probably have hurt."

"It was pretty cool!" Falco said excitedly.

"No problem. I just knew we couldn't win easily that way so I tried some magic."

"Woohoo?" Mario said, walking towards them.

"No way…you beat Metal Mario?" Falco said, looking around and not seeing him, "Wow!"

"Now is not a good time to be congratulating ourselves," Meta Knight said, "Bowser is still here."

They turned and saw Bowser engaged in a conversation with Diddy. Quietly they agreed to let him talk, while they surreptitiously circled around the turtle.

"If I can't trust you, why would I risk going with you for what could be a lie?" Diddy demanded.

"That's the question…is the chance of finding the monkey alive worth trusting me? Or would you rather believe she's dead, like everyone else already thinks?"
Bowser's words were having a serious effect on Diddy. Should he trust the monster who he thought killed Dixie? If he didn't…if he refused to go with him then wasn't he condemning her to death? But he already had thought she was dead…but…but…but Funky said she was alive!
"Everyone thinks she's dead huh?" Diddy said, seizing an idea.

"Yes, I said that already!" Bowser said angrily. Diddy was showing far too much confidence.

"Sorry Bowser, but I've got good reason to believe that she is alive…and she's not anywhere you can get me to."
"What?" Bowser roared, "Impossible!"

"Prepare to die, you lying scumbag!" Diddy yelled, jumping towards Bowser.

"GRAAAGH!" Bowser shouted, breathing out a massive plume of fire that knocked Diddy back. Rotating rapidly he continued expelling fire, forcing the ones sneaking up behind him to back off.

The flames grew, blinding temporarily…and when they faded in a few seconds, Bowser was gone, the last remnants of the portal he used to escape disappearing into the void.

"Damn!" Diddy yelled, "Bario, make a portal! After him!"

"Right!"

Before Bario could make a portal the ground shook…and the crystals on the sides of Battlefield ripped off their perches and flew at the Smashers.