Chapter 8

Link stood in stunned silence as he took in the information Shadow had just given him. It didn't surprise him that his suspicions were right. What was surprising was the casual tone with which Shadow exposited this information. It's almost as though...oh. As Link thought on it, what would Shadow have to fear from revealing this information. What bothers me is that Shadow just admitted he helped him, yet he's just spilling this information like it's of no concern to him. Even more troubling, how many other people have helped Him? If he's the villain in this...

Shadow seemed to read his mind, for at that very moment, he said sharply, "You're right to think he's involved. But he's not the real villain behind this."

"Then who is?" Samus interjected.

Shadow's expression was grim as he spoke. "I don't know. I know that he's an even bigger darker force than the one whom I helped."

Samus, who didn't know all of Link's experiences, was lost. "Which is whom, exactly?"

Shadow gave Link an incredulous look. Link shrugged and looked rather sheepish despite himself. "She doesn't know everything I've been through. Just the major experiences."

Shadow nodded and turned back to Samus. "We're referring to Dark Link, a shadow specter created for the purpose of feeding off the darkness in the minds and souls of others."

Samus looked at Link, thinking hard. A very shrewd creation. Nigh on impossible to destroy, because very few life-forms have no inner darkness. And modeled after the Time Hero himself? Deadly. That's one diabolical clone.

Link brought her back to the present with his next question. "If he's not the villain and only an accomplice..."

Shadow laughed. "Accomplice? He's less than that. He's just a pawn. His only purpose, as far as I can tell, is to initiate discord amongst the Super Smash Brothers. It's what he does best. When one falls, the rest follow closely. What other purpose would he serve? He's as much a pawn as me."

Link was beginning to piece everything together. "So whoever this larger force is, he enlisted the services of Dark Link in order to gain entrance to the H.Q., and seeing as only a member of SSB can enter the Containment area, he needed to possess someone, which he can do easily. Yet even then, he needed access codes, so he came to you, a close friend...well," Link said quickly at Shadow's expression, "aquaintence, of Sonic the Hedgehog, a prominent member of SSB, for the codes, knowing that you would know the codes, because you needed to know them in order to be able to enter the facility to liase with us. In effect, you gave him the keys to his entrance in return for Sonic being blamed."

"Unfortunately," Shadow interrupted, "that part of the deal wasn't honored and Dark Link planted the suspicion of my involvement in the minds of all who believed I'm a villain. Sonic, naturally, and knowing my track record, was bound to believe I was the culprit, and seeing as I knew the access codes, what speculation was needed? You two, however, were smart enough to remember that I couldn't have unleashed the Frames to begin with, because, codes or no codes, only an SSB member can enter the area undetected. In that regard, Dark Link was the perfect infiltrator for the job."

Link stood in deep thought. Whoever this villain is, he's a lot smarter than Dark Link AND Shadow. He'd have to be to be able to predict their actions so accurately. And Dark Link is nigh on impossible to deceive He knows your deepest and darkest secrets. Yet instead of gleaning the codes from Captain Falcon, he sought out Shadow, a lower being than himself, whom is well known for his liaisons with SSB, for the information, knowing that Shadow's grudge towards Sonic would prompt him to ask for Sonic to be blamed, and he was able to deceive Shadow because Shadow was blinded by his grudge to think that Dark Link would only do that which he was asked and that anyone he does not serve recieves the opposite of what they ask for. As a result, the blame is pointed at Shadow, and away from Dark Link and, by extension, whoever used his services.

Again Shadow broke his thoughts. "The Wire Frames being unleashed is only the beginning."

"What do you mean, 'only the beginning?'" Samus demanded.

Shadow gave a mirthless laugh. "Do you really think that Loose Wire Frames is enough to cause true chaos? No, whoever this guy is, he's got something much larger-scaled planned for the SSB. Just look at what he's done already! He's fooled all but two of the SSB into thinking that I unleashed 476 Wire Frames, and fooled a perfect infiltrator into thinking he'll get some kind of profit from it. This can only be the beginning of something larger."

Link got right to the point. "Take us to Dark Link."

Shadow's expression hardened. "I don't do requests."

Link glared daggers into Shadow's black eyes. "It wasn't a request. You know how to find Dark Link. We know you're angry at him for crossing you. If you want any chance of getting back at him, then take us to him, and once we know what we need to know, We'll kill him. I know he can't be permanently killed, but we can make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble."

Shadow glared unblinkingly right back at Link. "How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you won't cross me just like he did?"

Samus cut in. "Because if you refuse to help, then we will force you."

Shadow laughed. "How the fuck would you force me?"

Shadow's laugh cut off as Samus's arm cannon charged and aimed right between his eyes. "Fair enough."

YESYESYESYESYES!

Chpater 8 is up. Review plz!