A.N. I'm back once again! Normally I'd apologize for the long update wait, but that's getting rather repetitive isn't it since I do that about every chapterXD. So instead just enjoy the chapter you lovely readers^^
Chapter 24
Subspace, a place Lucario had never heard of until the small group of outsiders had come to Spear Pillar. To be honest Lucario had expected something bad when Zelda had described that their worlds were being tore apart by villains in Subspace. A calm wintery mountain was not something Lucario would have thought Subspace would include, but even still the fighting steel pokemon felt a bad feeling ripple through the aura in the air. Looking around the aura pokemon found himself on a mountain with his companions, snow falling gently from the sky. A small chill ran up from his feet that were ankle deep in snow.
"Why didn't Palkia warn us to bring a coat! It's freezing!" Lucario heard Link complain loudly, the young boy was kicking the snow away from himself. If things weren't so dire Lucario might find the sight of the boy nearly half buried in the deep snow humorous, but they had no time for this nonsense.
Samus seemed to agree with the sentiment as the hunter had offered Link a hand. Lifting him out of the snow, hoisting the boy onto her shoulders where Link gladly took hold. Easily settling in hanging onto the hunter's back his hands coming to rest on top Samus' head while his legs dangled on either side of her neck.
"Thanks Samus, sooooo we're in Subspace now? Doesn't look like much." Link noted looking around from his now high vantage point on the hunter's shoulders. Zelda stood next to Samus, Lucario noting the royal shiver unlike Link though she didn't make any mention of it.
"I've never been to this part of Subspace, Samus do you have any idea where we are?" The royal was scanning the horizon below them. Off in the distance expansive plains could be seen, and even farther Lucario could spot green perhaps a forest, and green gave way to dessert of some kind farther out. The hunter seemed to communicate with the royal through hand gestures, and while Lucario had no idea what they were saying Lucario was not idle.
The stoic pokemon took this chance to observe his new allies. Despite already having pledging his aid in saving their worlds. Lucario would not trust blindly, lucky for him he had the power of aura. In his world aura was an energy that everyone had, only some could manipulate it though. Lucario could manipulate this energy and use it to attack his foes, but he could also gauge a person by looking at their aura.
Concentrating first Lucario's mind eye was drawn to the gentle seafoam color of Link's aura. Aura manifested in different colors depending on the person, softer more gentle colors usually meant the person was generally good at heart. Harsher darker colors were what would make Lucario concerned, but Link's aura was a soft flowing seafoam color reminding Lucario much of the sea itself. The boy was young so his aura was especially bright, age and experience tended to weather one's aura. The world could be too cruel, and that bright soul could be rendered a pitiful mess easily.
Lucario sensed no ill coming off from the boy unsurprisingly, so he moved on focusing instead on the steel clad warrior under him. While Link's aura was bright, and Lucario would be able to spot it miles away. Samus' aura was a subdued red, the aura of someone who has seen the cruelties of the world first hand. Their aura still radiated with a silent strength though. Red was a violent color, it was rare to find someone with such a calm weathered red aura. He certainly hasn't seen an aura like it. The only red auras Lucario has seen, were people of less than moral character. Lucario would watch the steel warrior, they have not done anything wrong yet. He would watch however, humans could change their tune in an instance. Lucario would never understand how some pokemon freely gave their allegiance to humans when they were such fickle beings, but that was something Lucario didn't have time to think on now.
If Samus' aura was unique, then Zelda's was completely unheard of. At first glance the royal looking woman seemed normal. Her warm purple aura wasn't something Lucario hadn't seen before. Her right hand though was not right, it was a nearly blinding golden color. It wasn't right, people's aura could change color over time, but never change completely from their original hue. Samus' aura for example, Lucario could assume when they were younger it was probably a brighter more brilliant red. Auras didn't change color in this manner. It was almost like her hand was someone else's aura, and yet it was connected to her somehow. It made Lucario suspicious, the royal seemed like a kind person. Perhaps it was a farce however, she did look like a queen. Rulers were often two faced, and perhaps Zelda had managed to mutilate someone's aura and steal it. A damning accusation, but Lucario didn't know these people.
"This isn't fair! I want to be included in this secret conversation!" Link's outburst broke Lucario from his thoughts. The young boy was patting the hunter's helmet to gain their attention. Samus barely even flinched at the motions finishing the hand gesture they were making to Zelda. The royal nodded before giving a small smile to Link.
"Apologizes Link, Samus' throat is injured and she uses sign language to speak. Bear with us…" Before Zelda could continue her thought the boy's eyes had lite up.
"You can talk just by using your hands! That's so cool show me how to do it! Please!" Link was nearly vibrating with excitement. While Lucario couldn't tell what the hunter thought of his plea Zelda was quick to calm the young hero.
"Perhaps after we save the world?" she suggested patiently, it was a good thing too Lucario didn't want to waste time with their worlds in danger.
"Right! So where are we heading?" At this question Zelda clasped her hands together a small smile on her face.
"Samus has an idea where we originally started, but we're quite far…." the royal pause for a moment, Lucario noticing her pointed ears twitching. "Lucario look out!" The pokemon reacted quickly to the hylian's warning jumping he managed to dodge a large clawed paw coming down slamming into the snow instead of the pokemon. Landing next to his allies Lucario looked to see a large bear standing where he once was teeth bared and snarling.
"Is that bear wearing sunglasses?" Lucario heard Link point out, but he disregarded the boy's words. The bear roared about to charge another attack. Lucario heard Samus' arm cannon begin charging, and he heard the air sizzle from Zelda's magic. Lucario prepared to repel the beast when it charge, but he never got the chance. From above two humans had jumped down smashing twin hammers into the bear's skull.
The beast fell in a heap knocked out cold. Lucario gazed warily at the two humans, they were both wearing winter wear. A boy was wearing a blue parka, and a girl wearing a pink one. While their clothing obscured much, they couldn't be that much older than Link maybe early teen years. The boy hefted a large hammer over his shoulder while the girl rested hers on the ground keeping hold of the handle though.
"Popo! Nana!" Zelda sounded pleased so Lucario relaxed a little. These children must not be enemies at the very least. Both children smiled pleasantly turning their attention to the hylian royal who approached them.
"Miss Zelda," the two chimed in sync, they glanced at each other. The girl giggling while the boy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Are you two okay?" the royal asked concern covering her features, Samus trailed near her the steel warrior's visor glowing. Immediately both children eyes' went to the boy sitting on the warrior's shoulders.
"Hi I'm Link," he waved from his vantage point, a wide grin on his face. Lucario watched as a confused expression came to the boy's face, but the girl seemed to take the sight of the silly boy on the warrior's shoulders in stride.
"I'm Nana," the girl piped up looking ready to laugh.
"I'm Popo," the boy said, he glanced at Lucario with a curious look, but quickly the two spoke in unison once again.
"Nice to meet you," Link gave them a goofy grin clearly amused by their antics.
"We're fine though Miss Zelda, we've been clearing this mountain of monsters. They just keep popping up though." The one who called Popo spoke up a frown coming to his features when he spoke of the monsters. Zelda too frowned giving the knocked out bear a wary look.
"They're not going to stop anytime soon. Master Hand and the villains of our worlds are trying to destroy everything, or something along those lines. We're not entirely sure of their plan, but if it doesn't stop soon all our worlds are going to be in great danger." The winter clad children both startled at the grim news.
"We can't let that happen!" Nana spoke up this time, determination gleaming in her eyes as she hefted her hammer over her shoulder.
"Our thoughts exactly, you're the mountain climbing experts here. Do you know a quick way off this mountain?" Lucario's ears twitched watching the royal talk with the mountain climbers. Clearly Zelda was held in high regards with these heroes. It made Lucario wonder what other allies were with them in their quest to save their worlds. They certainly made an interesting group, they were still all humans though. Lucario's trust of humans was strained after one too many humans trying to use pokemon like Palkia for their own gain. Who's to say these humans wouldn't change their tunes at the slightest show of power.
Lucario continued his silent judgment, but soon sensed someone's eyes on him. Looking over Samus' visor was gazing at him steadily with almost the same intensity that he had been staring at the other heroes.
He could gauge nothing from that emotionless visor, and it unnerved the aura pokemon. It was so strange normally Lucario could sense danger with aura, but the metal warrior's aura was as silent as the warrior. Calm weathered red surrounded Samus giving off nothing. People's emotions reflected in their auras. Like in the way Zelda's amethyst aura surrounded the royal tensely showing the royal's worry, or Link's aura shifted restlessly around him despite the cheery grin the boy was worried.
Not wanting to think about the warrior's gaze on him Lucario looked at Popo and Nana's aura. Both held a cool blue aura that was so intertwine in one another's that Lucario could barely tell the difference between the two. Another oddity then, these people were nothing like Lucario had ever seen.
Being so wrapped in his thoughts Lucario jumped when a cold metal hand tapped his shoulder. Samus had tapped him to gain his attention. He had been so focused on trying to decipher his new allies that he hadn't noticed they were on the move once more. The ice climbers leading the group the safest route down the snowy mountain.
"Come on Lucario, we're gonna get left behind. Onward Samus!" Link announced still resting on Samus' shoulders. The metal clad warrior didn't seem to mind the boy's goofy order, and gave Lucario one last glance before moving to follow the others.
Lucario let out a breath of air he didn't realise he had been holding. Swallowing the aura pokemon followed his companions as well. He may not fully trust them yet, but if they had any hope of defeating their foes then cooperation was necessary. Gazing down at the world below the mountain even from here Lucario could see tears in space marring the landscape. Whatever monsters would face the full might of Lucario's power if they wished to continue to endanger the world as they were.
"The hunter will die by my hands and my hands alone! Stay out of our duel to the death you miserable troll!" Ganondorf bristled at Ridley's words, dark magic sparked in his hands that clenched into fists. Let the fool fum, as soon as Ridley had made it back to the bomb factory after retreating from the Halberd. The large gerudo man had begun ranting at the dragon for his failure.
"You left your post, and lost the Halberd! I highly doubt you could even beat your prey if you wanted to." Ganon taunted, Ridley snarled his tail whipping wildly behind him.
"Watch your tongue you primitive scum! At least my enemy is a trained warrior battle hardened since they were young. You were defeated by a boy with the help of some pampered princess." Ridley smirked at the way Ganon's face went red with rage. The dragon caught a glimpse of the man who defeated Ganon, and the space pirate leader wasn't impressed. If it weren't for his allies the space dragon was confident he could have killed him on that airship.
"That doesn't change the fact the heroes now control the Halberd again." It was disappointing that the gerudo lord wasn't going to bite back after Ridley's comment. It was the only entertainment the space dragon had at this point. If it wasn't for Master Hand pulling the strings here, the pirate leader would have killed the man already. He had never killed a member of Ganon's species before. He wondered if he had the same red blood as most humanoids.
"They were going to regain control of it anyway. The hunter had her sights on the vessel, it was as good as destroyed." Ridley's words didn't seem to please Ganon, as he crossed his arms glaring at Ridley. Currently the two were talking through a small computer monitor that was set up in the bomb factory. The space dragon wasn't sure where Ganon was operating from, but he did know that it was away from the action.
"Don't complain about losing assets that you didn't attempt to guard yourself." Ridley was under no disillusion that he was a good person, but at the very least he had his own code he went by. Ganon seemed to be the type of person to sit back and let others do his dirty work, it was pathetic. If you were going to kill someone look them in the eye when you did it was Ridley's philosophy. Not because it was the honorable thing to do no, but because the victim should know who it was who ended their life. That way even in death they will continue to know how they were killed, and who did it. Anything less and the person committing the murder was a coward who shied away from death.
Ganon was a coward Ridley was coming to realize. Nothing more than a snake, Ridley knew his game. He was waiting for Master Hand to take control of Subspace, then he would strike. At least Ridley didn't even pretend to have some form of loyalty. Whenever Master Hand took the time to give Ridley an order the space dragon made it clear that this partnership was one purely shared interests.
"Just guard the factory, and do as you're ordered! The hunter is lost in the dimensional tears. Even if she does make it back to Subspace, we will have already begun phase two. Once we have a stable portal into True Subspace, Master Hand can begin moving the most desirable dimensions together into his new world." The large space dragon let out a huff. Master Hand claimed to be doing this to create a perfect world. Unknown to the other fighters there were two layers of Subspace. The place the contestants of the tournament fought in was actually the second layer. The first layer from Ridley's understanding was a void where nothing but Master Hand existed. Which was why the ruler of Subspace wished to take the best parts of every universe and fuse them into his own perfect dimension. What a laugh as if any world would be perfect, Ridley thought. By Ganon's tone when he spoke of Master Hand's plan he must have found the idea as humorous as Ridley.
"No one will touch this factory." Ridley flicked a talon over the computer's controls and Ganon's face disappeared. He let out a vicious snarl, he wanted the hunter's head in his hands. Not to prowl these halls like some dog on a leash. Tail lashing around Ridley tore out of the communications room his talons clicking on the hard metal floors as he moved.
Ridley let a low roar come from his maw, and quickly a pirate commando was at Ridley's side. Before he could address the pirate leader growled noticing he now had a noticeable blind spot because of that pointed ear rat. She had burnt his eye completely charring it beyond repair. It was insulting that such a fragile being damaged him so.
The commando didn't flinch at Ridley's snarl. It was a common occurrence for the pirate leader to lash out when something angered him. In time when Ridley's rage reached its limits he would kill the nearest being next to him pirate or not. However the pirate's numbers were too thin already, every commando was needed.
"I want all pirates to regroup at the factory. Ganon's wants this factory secure, and we will provide the service he desires." The commando nodded, while he was no doubt wondering why Ridley would follow Ganon's command. He wouldn't question Ridley's orders lest he risk death.
"What of our forces on the Halberd? Should we stage a retrieval mission?" At least three squadrons of pirates had been placed on the Halberd. Mostly just some basic troopers and a few militia throw in for grunt work. Nothing that would have stood up against the hunter let alone the the hunter with allies assisting her. Ridley had told Ganon as such, but the gerudo lord had seemed confident that the pirates along side Master Hand's forces could hold the ship. It appeared whatever trump card Ganon thought he had on the ship had failed.
"Do any hold valuable information?" Ridley's good eye glanced at the pirate before turning ahead.
"No, we can confirm that the sole commando leading the troops was killed by the hunter." Ridley snarled, all commandos had failsafe in their suits that would delete any vital data from their systems when the unit perished. It also sent out a signal to warn other pirates that a commando was killed.
"They're as good as dead. The heroes are probably securing the vessel as we speak. Inform me as soon as all our troops have returned, I will give my orders out then." The commando gave one final nod before heading off to carrying out his orders. Ganon wasn't the only one preparing to betray Master Hand, or preparing to be betrayed was more like it. Ridley needed to prepare to take on both the heroes and Master Hand's forces if necessary. Once he had the hunter's blood coating his claws he would be free to end any partnership the pirates held with Master Hand.
"So is no one going to question why that polar bear had sunglasses?" Samus heard Link's question loud and clear but chose to make no response to it. Besides out of the many things Samus has seen in her life. A polar bear attacking them wearing sunglasses wasn't the oddest thing.
"Seriously we're all going to ignore this guys!" Link threw his hands up in mock disgust, but he quickly had to grab hold of Samus again to prevent himself from falling. The boy was as light as a feather so Samus had no qualms against carrying him. Plus Link was far too small to traverse the snow unaided, and the harsh cold could cause the young boy to become ill with his clothes that definitely weren't made for winter weather.
Speaking of clothes not made for this weather, Samus took note of the shivering coming from Zelda upon their arrival in this snowy landscape. Luckily Zelda had her magic to stave off freezing to death at least for now. The hylian royal summoned fire in her hands every so often to warm herself up, but that could only work for so long.
The ice climbers swore they could get them off the mountain within an hour, and Samus had no reason not to believe them. Though Samus had never talked to the two mountain climbers much before. They seemed to know what they were doing leading the group down a safe route, and slowly snow was making way for stone as they got closer to the bottom of the mountain.
"Warning vital suit breach! Critical damage to user detected, seek medical attention immediately." Samus ignored the warning flashing before her on her visor instead concentrating at the task at hand. The wounds she received from Zelda's double and the pirates couldn't have happened more than a few hours ago. Pain sharply ran through her chest reminding the hunter of the seriousness of her wound.
Samus panted, but inhaled sharply when the gash across her throat burned. The hunter had been injured countless times on missions. This was nothing, she would continue until their worlds' were safe. At least that's what Samus kept telling herself to keep her body moving.
"This wasn't here before," Nana pointed out as the group passed by an opening in the mountain. A cave that lead inside the mountain, darkness swallowed any idea of seeing where it lead.
"It wasn't?" Zelda questioned aloud, Samus could tell by the royal's expression she was considering whether it was worth investigating. With all the dimensions falling apart as they were the simple cave could be another tear into an entirely different world.
"Ya, this is the path we took up the mountain. This wasn't here before, it must have been behind the snow before…." Popo took a few steps inside the cave looking out in the darkness that prevaded forward.
"We should keep moving, this cave serves no purpose to us." Lucario's rough tone pointed out. Samus glance at the pokemon, and he looked away not meeting her gaze. Samus didn't care though, she was used to that kind of treatment, and she could tell the pokemon didn't fully trust them yet. That was fine, as long as their goals aligned he would see they were no enemies.
"I'm not so sure," Zelda said slowly taking a few steps the royal looked down on the ground. Kneeling down the royal was examining something. Samus approached her to see what she was looking at.
"Footprints," Zelda pointed out, and Samus shifted her vision to said prints. The ground was mostly frozen this far up, so whatever made them must have been heavy. Large and clawed by the looks of it the footprints headed deeper into the cave. Samus shook her head trying to recognize the footprints as something she knew of, but her vision swam for a moment. Luckily no one seemed to notice the hunter flauter.
"Samus," No one except for Zelda of course. The royal's voice was sharp scolding even, but there was concern in her eyes.
"Let's check it out, it can't hurt. Maybe someone else ended up on this mountain too." Popo spoke stopping any concerned words from leaving Zelda's lips. Zelda's gaze stayed on Samus for a moment longer before she looked away answering Popo.
"We should investigate, we still don't know the whole of what's going on here. Anything we can figure out will help us in the long run." Zelda said, her gaze giving Samus another concern look before the group started down into the cave.
Zelda summoned a small flame to settle in her palm lighting the small cavern ahead of them.
"At least it's slightly warmer in here." Link shivered slightly, still holding onto Samus not showing any of intention of asking to be put down. Samus herself tried to ignore the increasing dizzy feeling. She had lost quite a lot of blood, it seemed it was finally catching up with the bounty hunter.
"I sense something up ahead, several people to be exact." Lucario spoke up his eyes narrowing, the strange power he wielded gathering in his paws. Unseen Samus' eyebrow rose wondering how the pokemon managed that, but it wasn't important right now.
"There's some light up ahead," Nana pointed out, up ahead the light from what might be a few lanterns were up ahead. Zelda gave Samus a quick look, and Samus moved to her side raising her arm cannon. A fairly simple strategy on their part, with Samus close by Zelda could use magic to deflect any attacks while Samus dish out her own.
"Stop squirming this were be easier if you held still!" Samus heard a voice speaking up ahead. She glanced at Zelda to see if she recognized the voice, the royal held a confused expression moving forward.
"Youch! Stop hurting me and I wouldn't squirm! This is revenge for all the times I beat you in golf isn't it." A different voice this time, a lower one that Samus could recognize. The small group approached the light to find a strange sight before them.
Bowser was sitting by a lantern's light while Luigi sat next to him wrapping the koopa's king's arm with a bandage. Several green coop troopers were sitting about, along with a few goombas. They too looked worse for wear, all having at least one bandage on their bodies. All eyes immediately went to their small group, while Zelda extinguished the flame held in her palm relaxing slightly at seeing the familiar face of Luigi. Samus kept her arm cannon raised not willing to chance Bowser not attacking them. The two groups stared at each other in silence for a moment until Bowser broke it.
"Oh didn't expect to see you guys of all people out here." Bowser broke the silence with a nonchalant tone, but Samus could tell the koopa king was worried about getting attacked.
"Always a pleasure Bowser, now what in the world are you two doing here? Bowser are you not aiding Master Hand?" Zelda was gazing at the koopa king evenly, her expression passive. Samus could hear a hint of anger in her tone at one of the people who aided in causing all this mess. Bowser seemed to sense it, and he shifted awkwardly.
"I was, but...Ah I'm not really about destroying everything. That's nuts! I tried to ditch some shellhead named Ridley, but he didn't take it too well...I found scaredy pants over here while running, and we've been hiding out here for a bit." Luigi gave Bowser a look at being called scaredy pants, but he couldn't argue the name as he did feel rather scared.
"Do you know what's going on then? What's Master Hand's plan? What could he gain from destroying all our worlds?" Zelda asked urgency clear in her voice, Bowser shrugged though.
"I never even got to see Master Hand, I just did what Ganon and Ridley told me." The king koopa's admitted looking rather embarrassed about it. Zelda sighed shaking her head before looking to Luigi.
"Are you okay Luigi?" Luigi gave the royal a small grin rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh yes, I'm fine Miss Zelda…." Zelda and Luigi continued to speak, at least Samus was almost certain. Things were getting foggy, the hunter felt exhausted. Logically Samus knew she was going to pass out, she'd lost too much blood. The thought felt far away though everything seemed to slow down.
"Samus you're bleeding put me down! Zelda!" Vaguely she heard Link cry out, she felt something warm coating her throat. Reaching up Samus put her hand to her throat, bringing it in front of her afterwards yielding fresh blood coating her fingers. The next thing Samus knew she was on the ground hearing someone call her name.
A.N. Lucario was a fun one to write his point of view. I really like the idea of him being more weary of humans unlike the other pokemon like pikachu who happily trust the human fighters. Plus I had fun with the concept of aura, and while in the pokemon anime we've only seen blue aura I think its more interesting for them to be different colors.
Anyway fun fact this is the rewritten version of this chapter. I got to about to chapter 26 before I realize I didn't like how things were flowing. I swear I write and rewrite this story more than I do anything elseXD. Luckily though I'm now pleased with how things are going, and I should be back on track to getting this stuff done hopefully. With that reviews are loved and I'll see you guys next chapter!