The air through the quarry was tense as the three groups stared each other down. An unspoken moment seemed to serve as a signal of sorts for everyone to spring into action. Red Ninjakoopa threw a shuriken towards the Neo Axem Rangers as his brothers retracted into their shells. Axem Black ducked to the side to avoid the sharp metal star before he and the other rangers charged towards the Koopa Bros. Ridley, Luigi, Samus and Roshi backed away quietly while their enemies were distracted.

Each member of the Neo Axem Rangers carried a large, powerful axe that a normal human would have trouble lifting, let alone using as a weapon. Neither size nor weight seemed to be an issue for the villainous robots, however, who somehow managed to swing their axes around with a level of grace and finesse. The Koopa Brothers, on the other hand, primarily fought by trying to slam into their opponents while in their shells. This was not a particularly ninja-like way of fighting, nor was it particularly effective against their current opponents.

Red Ninjakoopa launched himself off the ground towards Axem Red. The robot responded with a swing of his axe and sent the large turtle flying away like a baseball. The ninjakoopa emerged from his shell and tossed something at the ground.

"Shell tactics aren't working!" Red announced to his brothers as smoke suddenly filled the area. "Time for plan B!"

The other ninjakoopas backed away from the Neo Axem Rangers for a moment and stood up. Each member pulling out a different weapon that they had somehow concealed in their shells. Black wore a pair of metal claws on his hands, which he used to swipe at Axem Green as he charged back into the fray. Yellow, on the other hand, pulled out a retractable staff which he extended to its full length before using it to block an axe swing from Axem Yellow. Meanwhile Green pulled out a small scythe-like weapon with a weighted chain at one end, which he swung overhead as charged Axem Black. This left Red Ninjakoopa to fend off both Axem Red and Axem Pink using a pair of sai.

"What do-a we do now?" Luigi whispered from behind a large pile of rocks and stone.

"Wait until one group defeats the other." Samus replied. "It'll be easier to fight off one group of already weakened opponents than to fight off two groups of enemies at once."

The group watched their would-be attackers fight off their other would-be attackers while making sure to stay out of sight. The battle raged on for a while but remained relatively one-sided. While the Koopa Brothers were able to avoid getting to hurt by their opponents thanks to their shells, their attacks proved near-useless against the heavily armored Neo Axem Rangers.

"Looks like we've got no choice." Red Ninjakoopa relented after it became clear which side was going to wing the fight. "It's time to use our secret weapon!"

"Really, bro?" Green asked.

"Yes, really. Now move out!"

At Red's command, the Koopa Brothers made a strategic retreat and gathered together. All four ninjakoopa brothers reached up and pressed a large yellow button on the collars they each wore around their neck. A massive explosion erupted behind them, which created an even larger cloud of smoke. The Koopa Brothers backflipped into the smoke and out of view. When the smoke finally cleared away, it was to reveal a mechanical facsimile of King Bowser towering over everyone. Light reflected off the giant robot's metallic green and gold armor as it towered over the group menacingly.

"Behold the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II!" The red Koopa Brother's voice shouted through a built-in speaker system.

"Wait, where did that come from?" Ridley wondered aloud.

"Perhaps leaving might be in our best interest right now, after all." Samus noted. "Then again, that one looks like it's much smaller than that last one we fought."

"Probably easier to take down, too." Ridley agreed. "We should be fine."

The Axem Rangers looked up at the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II, then glanced at each other.

"That thing looks kind of familiar." Axem Yellow noted.

"No time to dwell on that." Axem Red pumped his fist into the air. "It's time to summon the Bows!"

"Right!" The other Axem Rangers nodded and followed his lead.

A sudden rumbling shook the area like Wario getting his hands on a new bag of gold. It soon became obvious what caused the sudden tremors as five distinct figures charged into battle.

"Spiny Bow Power!" Axem Red jumped into the first of the five giant robots, which resembled a large red turtle covered in spikes and crawling on all fours.

"Bullet Bill Bow Power!" Axem Black jumped into the second one, which looked like a large black missile with eyes and arms.

"Yoshi Bow Power!" Axem Green entered the third Bow, which true to its name looked like a giant mechanical Yoshi.

"Piranha Plant Bow Power!" Axem Pink jumped into one that resembled a large pink and white plant with teeth.

"Wiggler Bow Power!" Axem Yellow took the final, bug-like Bow.

"Oh, come on!" Red groaned exasperatedly. "Seriously?"

"Okay, that's it." Samus sighed. "We're leaving. Now."

"Right-a behind you." Luigi agreed as the four got up and starting to flee.

"Alright, Neo Axem Ranger!" Axem Red shouted. "Initiate Gigabow sequence!"

The five Bows each began to fold up into each other and rose into the air. The Bullet Bill and Wiggler Bows transformed into a pair of legs, which the Yoshi Bow locked onto to form a body with one arm. The Piranha Plant Bow formed the other arm, while the Spiny Bow settled on top to become the head of the newly formed Gigabow. The heads of the Yoshi and Piranha Plant Bows, which now formed the Gigabow's hands, opened up so that a giant axe could emerge from each. The Gigabow towered over the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II, which only reached up to its shoulders, as it assumed a battle stance.

"If the giant robots just turn into a larger robot, then why were they even separate to begin with?" Roshi asked as he ran away along with the others, for once actually keeping up with them.

"Don't know, don't care!" Ridley replied while sprinting along on all fours. "Getting out of here!"

"This just isn't our day." Red Ninjakoopa muttered, not realizing that he was still talking into the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II's speakers. "Alright, let's just try and get this over with. Fire!"

The Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II's mouth opened up and a gush of fire blasted out from the giant flamethrower held within. The Neo Axem Rangers replied by charging forward in the Gigabow, one axe held high over its head while the other was kept low to the ground. The Gigabow ran through the fire and swung its elevated axe down to strike the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II's head while swinging its lower axe into the mechanical dragon turtle's side. The Koopa Brothers managed to grab one of the Gigabow's arms with one of the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II's clawed hands, pulling the larger giant robot closer and decking it in the face. The Gigabow struck the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II with a rocket-propelled kick from its Bullet Bill leg, sending the smaller giant robot hurtling back.

"How are we supposed to beat this thing?" Black asked.

"I don't know." Red shook his head, trying to consider their rather limited options.

"Don't worry, brothers! I've got this!" A voice called from the distance.

"Oh, no." Red and his brothers groaned upon recognizing the voice.

A giant spiked ball hurtled through the air, crashing into the Gigazord and knocking the giant multicolored robot into the ground. The source of the attack quickly became apparent as yet another giant robot ran up to them, similar in design to the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II though smaller in size and with some stylistic differences as it was designed to resemble not Bowser himself but his son Bowser Jr.

"Sorry I'm late." The v Super Mecha Bowser Jr.'s pilot said.

"Go home, Blue!" Red called back.

"What, why?" Blue sounded offended. "I'm a part of the family, too!"

"Yeah, but we're the Koopa Brothers, not the Koopa Siblings." Red pointed out.

"What? Are you saying you don't want my help just because I'm a girl?" Blue shouted angrily.

"Yep, more or less." The four brothers all nodded in agreement.

"Ugh, you boys are so infuriating! Fine, see if I ever try saving your life again."

While the ninjakoopa siblings argued, the Neo Axem Rangers were able to get the Gigabow back onto its feet.

"Looks like they've got backup." Axem Pink pointed out.

"This could get difficult." Axem Black agreed.

"Looks like it's time to call in our own backup." Axem Red noted as he reached down to a button on his control panel.

"No need, I'm already here!" Another voice sounded from the top of a nearby rocky hill.

"Axem Silver!" The five Axem Rangers piloting the Gigabow called out in unison.

"That's right. I'm here now and ready to help." The silver Axem Ranger pulled out his axe and held it out above his head. "Now come to me, Silver Gigabow!"

Axem Silver flipped his axe around and raised the base of the handle up to his cylindrical mouth while placing his fingers along a series of small holes along the shaft. He then proceeded to play the axe like a saxophone to summon his personal Gigabow.

"How many times do we have to tell you that you can't join the Koopa Bros?" Red asked his sister with growing exasperation.

"I'm telling mom!" Blue whined. "Then you'll be sorry!"

"Yeah, go ahead. See if we care-huh?"

The bickering Koopa siblings turned their attention back to their opponent. Or rather, their opponents. A silver, winged Gigabow had just landed beside the first one and the sound of a saxophone filled the air. It was shorter than the first Gigabow, being closer to the Super Mecha Bowser X Mk. II in height, and had a more uniform appearance as it was not made from several smaller robots like the first Gigabow.

"Where did you come from?" Red wondered aloud.

"That doesn't matter to you." Axem Red replied. "Just know that you're going down in the name of our new boss!"

"Does that mean that you're not working for, uh, Smitty anymore?" Yellow asked.

"Smithy." Axem Black corrected him. "And that's a no. We work for the one who rebuilt and upgraded us now, Master Kamek!"

Silence filled the air, apart from the continued music of Axem Silver's s-axe-ophone.

"Did you just say… Kamek?" Red asked.

"That's right!" Axem Pink confirmed. "And we won't let anyone get in his way!"

"But, Kamek works for King Bowser." Black pointed out. Doesn't that mean that you work for Bowser?"

"I guess so." Axem Red replied, leading to another pause.

"But… we work for Bowser." Red Ninjakoopa said at last.

"You do?"

"Why do you think we have a giant robot designed to look like him?" Green asked.

"I knew it looked familiar." Axem Yellow replied.

"Wait, but if you work for Bowser, and we work for Bowser…" Axem Red started to put the pieces together. "Then that would mean that we're on the same side."

"Well, this is embarrassing." Axem Pink sighed.


"That was certainly something." Ridley remarked after he and the others managed to get out of sight from the giant fighting robots and slowed to a walk.

"Do-a you think the-a others will-a be alright?" Luigi asked.

"I'm sure that ADAM and Diesel can get the ship running again soon." Samus assured him. "I doubt they'll be in any trouble."

"But what happens if we get attacked again?" Roshi asked, sounding a bit panicked.

"I doubt that'll happen."

Samus was almost immediately proven wrong as they suddenly found themselves surrounded by four giant robots, all looking down at them menacingly.

"Well, frak."