A.N. Whew, sorry for the long wait guys, I just transferred colleges to one where I actually live on campus instead of commuting. So to say the least I've been busy, but I finally found some time in between classwork to edit up this chapter and finally give you lovely people something. With that enjoy^^!
Chapter 22
Despite Samus claiming to feel better than ever soon after putting Zelda down the hunter began to collapse again hand going over the sizable hole in her armor. Zelda immediately helped the hunter lean against the wall while she looked at the wound. Whatever stabbed the hunter must have missed any major organs, or else the hunter might not be standing right now.
It took a few moments, but Zelda managed to stop the wound from bleeding further. If circumstances were different she would demand the hunter rest, but that was a luxury neither of them could afford right now. The ship shook, a loud rumbling echoing through the hull.
Samus put her helmet back on, the lights on the armor returning to their normal green coloring. Which Zelda took as a sign the hunter's life wasn't in immediate danger. The hunter straightened up, and if it wasn't for the obvious damage to the armor and blood. One would think she was absolutely fine. The hunter looked at Zelda and gave her a nod showing she was ready to go.
The ship gave another loud groan as the two made their way through the ship to catch up with the other fighters. Peach had already left the two sensing the other needed help.
The halls were mostly clear of pirates now, the other three fighters making sure it was clear for when the former teammates made their way through.
Eventually they made it to the outer hull of the ship, and it became clear why the ship continued to shake and groan. The other three fighters were dodging blasts of plasma fire coming from the sky.
Leaving the inside of the ship Zelda's heart clenched looking up in the sky to see the dark dragon like leader of the space pirates circling above. Ridley flew high above far out of the swordsmen and Peach's reach, raining plasma fire down upon them from his great maw.
"Why don't you come down here and do that you overgrown lizalfos!" Link shouted dodging out of the way before he was burned alive. Ridley let out a roar circling above avoiding any range attacks the hero could throw at him. Zelda looked to Samus to see if the hunter had a plan since the monster was from her realm. The hunter didn't return the look though, her visor was trained on the pirate leader circling above.
The pirate leader circled again, and this time he caught sight of the hunter. Their eyes locked and Ridley let out a vicious roar.
"HUNTER!" Ridley came barreling down from the sky, landing on the ship with a bang. He whipped his tail around keeping Link and Meta Knight from charging in with their swords.
"Surprised?" The pirate leader smirked his eyes never leaving Samus. The hunter didn't waste time sending a missile flying at the beast, but the pirate leader let out a blast of plasma from his mouth stopping the missile from reaching its target. There was a pause and then Ridley sprung into the air again rushing forward straight at them.
Zelda jumped to the side out of the way while Samus rolled into morphball avoiding Ridley as he slammed into the ship. He let out a vicious screech whipping around to face the hunter. Energy charged in the creature's maw, but before he let it loose. Ridley turned his head changing his target at the last second. A blast of plasma fire came hurling at the hylian royal.
Using Farore's wind Zelda teleported away, the plasma burning a small melted hole in the ship's hull instead. Ridley jumped into the air attempting to intercept the royal midair, but a boomerang hit him square in the face. Then several missiles exploded around the pirate leader. Followed up by Meta Knight's sword slashing Ridley's back. Roaring in pain, the pirate leader flapped his wings forcing Meta Knight back. Glancing around the space dragon saw his mistake getting close. Alone he may have a chance against Samus but the hunter was far from alone right now.
Flapping his wings again the pirate leader began to fly up high in order to retreat. He let out a loud screech though when the hunter's grapple beam took hold of his leg. Soon after he felt a chain wrap around his other leg, and Ridley saw Sheik standing next to Samus helping her keep the dragon from running away. Link pulled out a bomb lobbing it at the pirate. The primitive explosive blowing up fairly close to Ridley, not enough to hurt him though.
"Pull him closer!" The green clad hero shouted pulling out another bomb. There was a sharp tug, and the former teammates slowly began to pull the pirate leader back towards the ship. Ridley's eyes narrowed letting out a blast of plasma fire he didn't aim directly at the two. Only close enough to allow him to knock them off their feet, and drag them off the ship and into the air with him.
Sheik didn't have time to let go of her chain before they were already too far up for her to fall safely. The sheikah looked over to Samus who kept her grapple beam connected either to not to let the dragon escape or because Sheik herself was stilled tied to the beast.
Ridley quickly rose higher into the air roughly shaking his body to try to get the two off.
"Hate to cut this short, but I don't give free rides!" Smirking the space dragon ceased climbing high, and he reached down grabbing the chain wrapped around his leg. Bringing it up to his jaws the chain broke, shattered links scattering everywhere.
The next thing Sheik knew she was falling the world passing by dizzily fast. Thinking fast Sheik tried to focus, looking the ship was a fair distance away. However even if Sheik could land on it, it was highly possible she would break several bones in her body.
Sheik startled feeling something wrap around her arm, but it was a familiar cool metal. The hunter must have let go of Ridley as soon Sheik began falling. Looking at the damaged suit the sheikah knew that even Samus wouldn't be able to break their fall enough to save them both. A glare told the hunter if she even dare try to sacrifice herself for the royal's sake she would be in for it, even in death.
Quickly scanning the air, the ground was approaching terrifyingly fast. It was then Sheik spotted their chance, not to far from them a portal was opened flickering in the air under them. As if the very world had a tear in it. Palutena had said the worlds were becoming increasingly unstable, it was to be expected that portals like the one that brought Samus to Hyrule would be opening up everywhere. There was no way to tell where the portal would take them, but it was better than taking a chance falling to the ground.
Apparently Samus had seen the portal too, quickly the hunter adjusted herself in the air wrapping her arms around Sheik. The sheikah shifted back into Zelda, snapping her fingers a blast of fire spawned next to them. Zelda held onto Samus as the blast gave them the momentum to get close to the portal. With a rush of air Subspace disappeared the two falling through the portal.
"Squirtle use water gun!" The young boy shouted, adjusting his hat he watched as the blue turtle pokemon let out a blast of water sending the purple creature flying. Squirtle let out a cry of triumph running back to his training jumping into the boy's arms.
"Good job Squirtle, you sure showed them!" The pokemon trainer, also known as Red sat his excitable pokemon back down. While he wasn't completely sure what was going on at this tournament he was certain of one thing. During a fight with some of these sludge born creatures, his two other pokemon were stolen from his belt. Red wasn't going to rest until he had rescued his beloved friends.
He was on the outskirts of an abandoned town trying to follow the trail of the monsters that took his pokemon. Red looked at Squirtle who was keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.
"Lucas look! It's one of the other fighter!" Red spun around towards the voice that just called out. Racing towards him was what looked like a boy around his age with...wings? Behind him was another kid with curly blonde hair, and running with him was what Red could only describe as the strangest jigglypuff he's ever seen.
Squirtle stepped defensively in front of his trainer eyes narrowing. The small group stopped upon reaching him, and Red relaxed a little seeing the friendly grin the winged boy sported.
"Whew! We almost didn't catch up to you! I'm Pit nice to meet you! You're new to the tournament right?" Red blinked at Pit's cheerful greeting, but he shook his confusion away nodding.
"Ya, is this normal for the tournament?" Pit gave him a bashful grin shaking his head.
"Uhh no, all our worlds are actually in pretty big danger right now, but that's why we're trying to get everyone back together so we can kick some bad guy butt!" As if to prove his point the angel boy gave the air a few punches before grinning widely. Red frowned as Pit went on to explain what really was going on. How the villains across dimensions were united in tearing apart all their worlds. Red gulped hoping everything was alright back in Kanto. He left most of his pokemon back home. Now Red was regretting that decision, he could really use his other pokemon's strength right about now.
When Pit finished explaining it was then that the blonde boy decided to speak up, his voice was soft and uncertain.
"Excuse me, have you seen a tall woman wearing a fancy dress?" Red was pretty sure he hasn't seen anyone meeting that description, maybe before the tournament really began and everything went bad. After that though the only others he's seen are the monsters attacking him.
"Sorry no, are you looking for someone?" The boy looked disheartened, but Pit clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Lucas! Lady Palutena said she sensed that Zelda is fine. I bet she showed that dragon what's what! We'll catch up to her later." His last sentence had a reassuring tone to it that Lucas made nod. Pit then jumped realizing he hadn't introduced his companions.
"Oh right sorry this here is Lucas, and the adorable little puff ball is Kirby." The pink being in question gave a friendly wave to Red. Squirtle seemed to like him returning the wave in earnest.
"We should all stick together until we find some of the other fighters. You with us Red?" Adjusting his hat Red nodded, having some company would definitely be preferable to roughing it alone.
"You bet, but I do have to find my pokemon. Some monsters stole them from me before I could stop them." Despite Red's serious tone Pit grinned.
"No worries, Lady Palutena can lead us to them no problem!" Before Red could say anything Pit was rushing off. Red blinked, glancing at the others Kirby was already running after him a smile on the pink hero's face. Lucas shrugged, moving to follow the others.
"Hey wait up! Who's Lady Palutena?"
Zelda was now certain by this point that if any of them survived this. She was never coming to Subspace again. The royal felt Samus shift under her, telling the royal that both of them were still alive. They had landed with a thud, and Zelda could feel cool metal under them. Passing through the portal must have slowed their descent enough however.
Ears twitching the sound of a dozen clicks brought Zelda back to reality. Pushing herself up Zelda looked around to see several metal clad being surrounding her, and Samus who remained lying on the ground under her prone. Zelda was quickly on her feet staring at the people around her. At least six were surrounding them, with metal armor that Zelda thought looked vaguely similar to Samus'. Though these suits were gray with blue visors and their weapons looked less advance than Samus' arm cannon.
The hunter still seemed to be getting her bearings, she must have taken the brunt of the fall. Already injured as she was Zelda would stale until the hunter could get back up.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met? I'd rather not resort to violence, so could all of you please lower your weapons." The armored beings, soldiers Zelda assumed from the matching armor looked at each other. They appeared confused by Zelda's presence even more from her calm almost friendly demeanor. Anyone who knew Zelda would know it was a false politeness. If any of these men decided to fire the royal could reflect back the projectiles easily. Not that they knew that of course, Zelda must appear very nonthreatening standing there in a dress surrounded by people covered by steel.
"Ma'am please step back there is a wanted fugitive next to you." The man trained his weapon on Samus, and Zelda's eyes narrowed. Looking around metal structures rose high in the air surrounding them, and down below a lush forest covered the ground. This must be a place in Samus' world.
"Ma'am step back, or we will use force." The one soldier commanded, aiming his gun at Zelda. Unfortunately for him Samus seemed to snap back into it just in time to see a gun aiming at Zelda. In a flash the hunter was up standing in front of the gun, metal hand gripping the weapon keeping it pointed at herself rather than Zelda.
All the soldiers seemed too shocked to do anything watching as Samus glared the soldier down. The message was clear though, don't aim their weapons at Zelda. The soldier seemed to gather his courage, though Zelda could hear him audibly swallowed inside his helmet.
"Samus Aran, you...you are under arrest by the order of the Galactic Federation of Planets….Please stand down and surrender…." He didn't get to finish because Samus shoved the soldier away the others jumped training their weapons on Samus. One behind them opened fire, but Zelda simply stepped in front of the shot using Nayru's Love to send it flying back. The man had to throw himself to the ground to avoid getting blasted by his own gun. Things may have escalated even further if the soldiers weren't so shocked that Zelda so easily dispatched the attack. Instead they stood dumbfounded at the seemingly non threatening woman glaring them down.
"We don't want to fight," Zelda said looking at the solider who was picking himself up off the ground.
"Did any of you see the portal we came out of?" Zelda questioned seeing as the soldiers were still too dumbfounded to ask anything themselves. One off to the right answered lowering his weapon.
"Of course, they've been popping up all over the place. All kinds of monsters and creatures have been coming through. We thought another one was coming through, that's why we surrounded the portal you came through Ma'am." That didn't sound good it looked like whatever force was trying to tear their dimensions apart was already succeeding in that.
"Point us to the closest portal then. We know how to put a stop to this." It wasn't a complete lie, after all Zelda was sure if they defeated whoever was causing this would end it. The problem was getting to the source of the problem. One soldier looked ready to answer Zelda when the one Samus pushed snapped at them.
"Stow it Lieutenant! We can't just let a wanted criminal go." Samus crossed her arms green visor bore into the man. He took a step back as if afraid the hunter would kill him on the spot. Another soldier spoke up though stopping any potential violence.
"You're crazy sir if you think I'm going to fight Samus Aran. The elf lady maybe, but I'm not dying today." He lowered his weapon as if to prove the point, others followed suit not wanting to pick a fight with the strongest person in their universe. Zelda smiled slightly, definitely not how she would have gotten them to lower their weapons, but Samus' intimidating reputation certainly was useful in the hunter's own world. The remaining solider still ready to pick a fight was cut short when a loud rumbling shook the metal platform they stood on.
"Shit! Another portal is opening up!" Everyone's eyes turned to a large crackling spot above them. Purple electricity crackled in the air, and the world seemed to tear open. Zelda felt Samus pick the royal up jumping out of the way before a rushing tide of water came down from above. Several of the soldiers weren't so lucky though, like a waterfall they washed the men off the metal platform their screams echoing as they fell.
There was a large thump and through the tide of water still falling a large figure made itself known. Samus jumped out of the way again as a tentacle came from the falling water lashing out at the former teammates.
Zelda could see the shadow of whatever monster hide in the water, but the beast clearly knew its chances were better if it remained hidden. Samus let Zelda back down while the hidden creature seemed to turn its attention to the remaining soldiers.
The Federation troopers hurried taking cover in one of the metal structures that was connected to the platform. Another tentacle came lashing out at them, wrapping around one of the soldiers the tentacle began thrashing around throwing the poor man in every direction.
A missile nailing the tentacle force the creature to let go with a screech coming from the water. The man went falling, but before he got too far Zelda was beside him using Farore's Wind to bring them both back to safety. The two landed next to Samus, the soldier sitting on the ground rubbing the back of his helmet.
"Uhh thanks," The soldier awkwardly thanked the royal getting back up. Zelda gave him a passive look before turning to face the monster hidden in the water.
"You and your fellows should take cover. Samus and I will handle this." Zelda didn't wait for an answer turning back to the tide of water. Up above the portal was sparkling again, and the two knew it would be closing momentarily. The last of the water fell, and finally the mystery monster revealed itself.
A Octorok, Zelda realized though far bigger than any Zelda had ever seen. Its massive size dwarfed the two fighters, and its eyes narrowed upon noticing the water stopped flowing. Its tentacles thrashed about angrily, and Samus and Zelda easily dodged out of the way. Zelda glanced at Samus whose visor was glowing brightly scanning the creature. The hunter returned the look though giving Zelda a nod. Zelda's magic sparkled in her hands, with Samus by her side her confidence renewed. The Octorok didn't stand a chance.
"Where did you go Hylia," Palutena mumbled to herself, watching the pool of water in front of her with interest. The pool reflected a scene before the goddess. It showed her an aircraft made of metal flying high in the sky. The large flying beast known as Ridley had just flown off retreating like the coward he was.
Waving her hand the water rippled, and the scene changed. Palutena's eyes narrowed looking at the fields of Hyrule, but no sign of Hylia, or Zelda as the hylian woman would no doubt remind her.
Frowning this was hopeless, there was no way she could check every dimension for them. The lines between dimensions were becoming way too thin. Already Palutena watched as Goombas and Koopa Troopers matched through Corneria. Lizalfos were ransacking the Mushroom Kingdom, and Palutena didn't want to think about the chaos the space pirates were causing.
This was bad, as a goddess herself. Palutena was trying to strengthen the barriers that kept all the dimensions separate. She was only one god though, she only had the power to keep her own dimension stable. Everywhere else tears were forming where the the dimensions were bleeding together. If this continued one by one each dimension would collapse until nothing was left.
Palutena flinched letting out a small gasp of air. Something was trying to enter her dimension, and by the way it felt it wasn't just some accidental tear. Taking a deep breath the goddess focused strengthening the barrier keeping whatever was trying to enter out.
It were times like this Palutena wished she did have the original Hylia around. The patron god of Hyrule would be useful right about now. Centuries ago even before Pit's time, Palutena had met the goddess. Back then most dimensions were still only in their humble beginnings. The Mushroom Kingdom was still just a tiny village of Toads, the Chozo flew high in the skies on their glorious wings, and Hyrule was at war the demon Demise waging battle against Hylia. One could say Hylia was one of Palutena's first friends.
While Palutena joked, she knew Zelda was not Hylia. Though Palutena could see the similarities in the royal that were reminiscent of the old goddess. Zelda was more like Hylia's child, and using that logic Palutena felt a spark of protectiveness rush through her. Hylia had been a dear friend, Palutena had argued endlessly about Hylia's foolhardy plan to renounce her god status to become mortal. She still did think it was foolish, but Palutena couldn't change the past.
Hence why she was searching for the hylian now. Zelda could be in any dimension right now. Palutena's only consolation was that Samus was with her. The chozo's prodigy child was a near unstoppable force, and Palutena doubted she would tolerate anything threatening Zelda's life. That didn't mean Palutena didn't have to find them, she knew approximately the location of all the fighters right now. Separated like this surely they would all fall they needed to stand together if they were going to stop whatever was causing all this.
This couldn't all be Master Hand's doing, the master of Subspace was powerful yes. However he did not have this level of power to tear every dimension apart. Palutena didn't know of any being in any dimension with such strength.
Palutena felt something bang on the barrier between her world and Subspace, so strong that the goddess stumbled grabbing hold of the rim of the pool to steady herself. She spun around hearing the air crackle and shift.
"Your meddling is over." A thousand voices came from the portal. Palutena summoned her staff and shield, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
A.N. I gave the Pokemon Trainer the name Red, one because I can't see a lot of the other smash characters not asking for his actual name, and two it'd be a pain to write him with no name and just called pokemon trainer. Nothing really else to say about this chapter again sorry for the long wait. Updates on all my stories are going to be delayed a bit at least until break. With that reviews are loved and I'll see you guys next chapter^^!