Chapter 17: Discovering the Eight
"Come on! Come on! We need to plant the Pikmin!" Olimar ordered. The Pikmin all carried their Onions onto the Comet Observatory. "I have always said the Observatory needed a garden," Rosalina said. "Not what you were expecting, were you?" Snake asked. "Did you?" Rosalina asked. "Not at all. No," Snake said.
Peppy's and Falco's Arwings arrive. "Alright. We're here," Falco said. "Oh boy. That was cramped," Luigi said. "These things weren't designed to hold three people at a time, let alone someone with so much vampire killing gear," Falco said. "Twas necessary equipment my aviary friend," Simon said, "Hark! Methinks this place is a completely different world." "And who is this?" Rosalina asked. "Your majesty. I am Simon Belmont, of the Belmont Clan and I have come to aid thou in this war," Simon said. "We gotta work on your English pal," Falco said. "I find it refreshing to talk to," Melia said.
Fox's Arwing arrived and Fox hopped off. "Fox! Where'd you leave the others?" Peppy asked. "Oh. They're with my friend, who likes to make a big entrance," Fox said. "Oh no! Not that hippie," Peppy said. Music began blaring as the Falcon Flier arrived. "Introducing the Fabulous, Powerful… CAPTAIN FAAAAAAAAAALCOOOOOOOON!" Captain Falcon yelled as he jumped off the Falcon Flier and landed with a cool pose. "Heyo! Captain Falcon! My man!" Falco yelled. "Falco! My favorite bird friend!" Captain Falcon said, "Oh, and Peppy! My rabbit! Still grumpy?!" "What do you think?" Peppy asked, "And I'm a Hare!" "Ha ha!" Captain Falcon laughed.
The Great Fox was arriving, but it was not stopping. "Slippy! Slippy! Put the breaks on!" Fox yelled. Slippy snored himself awake. "Huh? Wha?" Slippy asked as the Great Fox stopped inches away from the Comet Observatory. "Slippy! Were you sleeping while driving?! Again!" Peppy yelled. "No! Well yeah, but it wasn't my fault this time!" Slippy exclaimed. They opened the bay door and saw everyone asleep as Jiggypuff drew on their faces. "Man, I don't think I need an explanation for this," Fox said. After everyone woke up, cleaned their faces, and Jigglypuff fell asleep, things got down into business.
Lucario investigated the Convergence Crystals that were obtained. "Yes, the aura within them is strong. The other four seem to be clouded though. I cannot sense them," he said. "I had summoned them here using an ancient spell," Rosalina said. "The Converging Spell no doubt," Lucario said. "You are aware of it," Rosalina said. "Yes. I know it should only be used unless absolutely necessary. Yet, it seems that our enemies know how to block it," Lucario said, "No doubt Mewtwo's doing." "And of course this Dr. Eggman would be smart enough to implement it," Shulk said. "You seek the Crosses of Light and Darkness to prevent them from falling into the Subspace Army's hands?" Lucario asked. "Yes," Rosalina said. "Then we must discover the eight," Lucario said.
Lucario darted off towards Pikachu. "I need to read your aura," Lucario said. "Pika pika," Pikachu said. Lucario closed his eyes and sensed the will of the aura. "What are you doing?" Shulk asked. "If I can detect a difference in the aura, then I may be able to track the aura of the rest of the eight," Lucario said, "They'll either have the blessing, or be a descendant like Pikachu." Lucario formed an aura made up of Pikachu's aura. "Thank you," Lucario said. Pikachu nodded and darted off. "It will take time," Lucario said. Rosalina and Shulk nodded.
[Unknown Location]
M. Bison comes through a portal. "They got away," M. Bison said. "You underestimated them," Mewtwo said. "No one is more powerful than M. Bison!" M. Bison yelled. "Now now," Dr. Eggman said as he walked past them, "No need for bickering among each other." "Human! You know not what you talk about," Mewtwo said. "Oh please. I am fully aware of your distrust of humans, precisely why we'll gladly hand over a world without any, to your liking of course," Dr. Eggman said as he typed on a computer.
Inside glass cylinders were the other four Convergence Crystals. The one from the Mushroom Kingdom, Dreamland, Pokemon World, and the one from Zebes. "There, that should mask their energies. We don't want any unexpected visitors," Dr. Eggman said. Kamek appeared before them. "Ganondorf wishes to speak to all of you," he said. "Tell him we'll be there," M. Bison said. "Very well," Kamek said as he disappeared again.
They all walked towards the war room, where Bowser and Wolf were waiting. "About time," Wolf said. "Please, O'Donnell, no need for your bickering," M. Bison said. "And where is Ganondorf? We were told he wished to speak with us," Mewtwo said.
Eight chairs appeared, each having a name designated for a villain. Ridley had flown in from a dark skyline. "I was told revenge on Aran, and I have not encountered her!" Ridley complained. "Please. That Samus is weak," M. Bison said. "Said the one who managed to somehow allow her to escape," Dr. Eggman mocked. "And why are there only eight chairs? What of the others?" Mewtwo asked. "My psychic friend."
From a portal at the center chair of the table, Ganondorf appeared. "The other three members of the council are currently making preparations for the next phase of the plan," Ganondorf said. The ground shook as King K. Rool entered the room, out of breath. "Sorry I'm late. I was just gloating," King K. Rool said. "Enough of your foolery! Let us commence this meeting," Ganondorf said.
All the villains took their seats, except for Ridley who just stood up in the only part of the room that he fit in. "So, I anticipate many of you have failed," Ganondorf said. "No need to gloat on it," Dr. Eggman said. "Silence!" Ganondorf ordered. Ganondorf went ahead to individually note the failures of everyone.
"Bowser! Your children distract themselves with each other, allowing the enemy to gain the upper hand! Eggman! You failed to retrieve the fighters on Bionis! Wolf! You managed to allow the heroes to recruit Captain Falcon in your pettiness for revenge! K. Rool! You managed to allow the Mario brothers to escape with a Convergence Crystal! M. Bison! You managed to allow Star Fox and the mercenary known as Samus to escape with another Convergence Crystal! Ridley! You not only allowed the Convergence Crystal to escape, but allowed the dreaded Princess and Knight to escape with the only weapon that has a chance to defeat me!"
"Damn! No need to do that to us," King K. Rool. "SILENCE!" Ganondorf yelled, "It is time we think of a new plan. The Smash Orb will not be able to reform without all the Convergence Crystal and the Crosses of Light and Darkness. What is the update on the crosses?" he asked. "Well, it seems only eight individuals are able to light the path to their location," Dr. Eggman said, "These individuals were descendants of the eight or have the blessing of the eight." "Then this proves challenging," Ganondorf said. "Only Pikachu has been revealed as a descendant," Mewtwo said, "And someone failed to retrieve him." "Shut up!" M. Bison exclaimed.
"Enough! It seems we'll have to take a different approach," Ganondorf said as he stood up and walked away. "So, meeting dismissed?" King K. Rool asked.
[Comet Observatory]
"So Luigi. When the Convergence Crystal brought us here, did you have some sort of dream?" Mario asked. "Like what kind of dream bro?" Luigi asked. "So I saw this weird limbo space thingy and saw like eight trails of lights. Did you see that?" Mario said. "No Mario. Honestly, it all felt like I fell asleep and then appeared here," Luigi said. "Huh, maybe I should tell someone else. I don't think it was a convenience," Mario said. "Oh, alright Mario," Luigi said, "I just gotta… well get over the last adventure." "Let me guess. Haunted castle?" Mario guessed. "Yup," Luigi said. "Don't worry Lu. You take your time," Mario said.
Mario walked down the Comet Observatory and bumped into Link. "Oh. Sorry there," Mario said. Link nodded. "So. No sign language? Nada?" Mario asked. Link tilted his head. "Thought so. Maybe you can help me. Silently perhaps," Mario said. Link stood at Mario's attention. "So I've kinda been thinking about this dream or vision I had when I got here," Mario said, "So basically I saw like seven lights heading towards something. I'm not sure where they led to but…" Link's face is in shock. "Yeah, I know. I sound crazy," Mario said. Link shook his head and pointed to himself and his head. "Okay, I might be crazy but I get the feeling you're saying you had the same dream," Mario said. Link nodded. "Okay. Then maybe we gotta tell someone. Well, I gotta tell someone on the account you don't talk," Mario said. Link nodded in agreement. "Alright. Let's-a go," Mario said.
Samus checked the maps inside her gunship, alone. "Where are you, dragon?" Samus asked. "Pi. Pi," Pikachu said. "Pichu? Pichu. Pichu," Pichu said. "Pika," Pikachu said as he waved at the leaving Pichu. Pikachu walked into Samus' Gunship and found the bounty hunter putting her entire attention on the screens. "Pika?" Pikachu questioned. Samus didn't budge. She seemingly heard Pikachu but ignored him. "Pi?" Pikachu questioned. He got closer to Samus. Samus still tried to ignore him, but couldn't help but allow him to get closer. Samus sighed and tilted her head twice. Pikachu noticed the head tilt and jumped onto Samus' shoulder. Samus, even with her strong demeanor, just let Pikachu lay on her shoulder.
Fox was running diagnostics on the Great Fox. "Why do I let Slippy pilot it? Why?" he questioned. Olimar, being followed by some Pikmin, walked towards the Great Fox. "Wow, this ship looks great," he said. "Thanks. It belonged to my dad," Fox said. "Wow, he must've been a great captain from what it looks like," Olimar said. "He sure was," Fox said, "So, I heard you're building your own ship?" "Yes sir. The Dolphin may be in pieces, but I'll have it ready," Olimar said. "Well, it should come in handy," Fox said. "Of course, it is nothing compared to this ship, or Samus'. And Captain Falcon's ship," Olimar said. "Hey, any ship built with someone's own two hands, and a couple of sentient vegetables is great," Fox said. "Well I hope you're right," Olimar said. "Incoming!" Captain Falcon yelled. Captain Falcon jumped from the highest point in the observatory and did a knee kick on the Pikmins that had followed Olimar. "Hey!" Olimar exclaimed. "Ha ha!" Captain Falcon laughed, paying no attention, "That was great!" "Oi vei," Olimar said.
The Duck Hunt dog barked. The duck quacked. "Alright, c'mon! I got the ball!" Yoshi exclaimed. "Oh no you don't Yoshi!" Daisy yelled. "Thus game looks like a game of merriment," Simon said. "You mean soccer?" Slippy asked. "Precisely!" Simon yelled. "At least some of today's generation does some physical exercise, unlike Slippy," Peppy said. "Incineroar!" Incineroar yelled as he took the ball from Yoshi. "Hey!" Yoshi exclaimed. "C'mon! Score!" Daisy yelled. "Incineroar!" Incineroar yelled. "Oh no you don't," Snake said as he snuck in front of Incineroar and took the ball. "No fair! He's a spy!" Daisy complained.
Sharla and Reyn walked in to see how the game was going. "That ball looks awfully furry," Reyn said. "Yeah it, wait. Riki?" Sharla questioned. "Oh," Riki dizzily said as he was being kicked and rolled around. "I had told Riki it was a bad idea to be the ball for the game, but he didn't listen," Dunban said. "I'd say it was better than using Bandana Dee. Oh, she is quite a feisty one," Toad said. "Toad!" Toadette chastised. "Well, I mean, uh. Oh look, Daisy has the ball," Toad said as he quickly changed the subject.
Daisy kicked the ball and yelled, "Goal!" "Incineroar!" Incineroar yelled in excitement. "Well, that blows," Snake said. "Aw man. Yoshi wanted to win," Yoshi said. Revali walked in with his unwavering self-assurance. "Well well. Looks like we had fun, didn't we?" he asked sarcastically. "Oi, what's with the attitude?" Reyn asked. "While we all are goofing around. Playing with this…" he looked at Riki, "Thing." "Oh, Riki don't really like Bird Brain," Riki said. "It seems you are all distracted with asinine games," Revali said. "Yoshi thinks it's good to have fun every once in a while," Yoshi said. "Who asked?" Revali asked. "Hey, no need for rudeness," Toad said. "Please. With your smallness, I bet you can barely pick up a quiver of arrows," Revali said. "What is your deal?" Sharla asked. "Incineroar," Incineroar said. "Hm. Nothing much. Only that I am stuck here having to be entertained by unskilled warriors," Revali said. "I think you're stepping out of line," Reyn said. "Mhm? No, it seems I'm exactly where I am," Revali said. He scoffed, turned around dramatically, and walked off. "That guy's a douche," Toadette said.
Mario and Link walked past. "Hey, have any of you seen Rosalina?" Mario asked. "Last I checked, she was using his magic to help that blue dog," Reyn said. The Duck Hunt dog barked and the duck quacked. "Thanks. C'mon Link," Mario said. Link nodded. Mario and Link walked off. As they walked, they slightly stared out into space. "You wonder what else is out there?" Mario asked. Link nodded. "Yeah. So do I," Mario said. Mario and Link walked towards the Library. There they encountered Shulk and Zelda who were waiting outside. "Hey, is Rosalina in there?" Mario asked. "Yes. She asked for everyone to wait while she and Lucario did their work," Zelda said. "From what I know, it is a delicate process. They need to get it right," Shulk said. "Oh, alright," Mario said. Link grunted and nodded. `
Mario held some thought for a bit. "Say, none of you would've happened to see some sort of dream or vision when we were brought here?" he asked. "No. I'm afraid not," Zelda said. "Why do you ask?" Shulk asked. "Well apparently me and Link here had these visions of floating somewhere and trails of light leading somewhere," Mario explained. "What?!" Lucario exclaimed. "Wait! Don't!" Rosalina exclaimed. An explosion occurred inside the Library. Rosalina came out, covered in smoke. "I take it it didn't go well," Mario said. "What do you think?" Rosalina asked. Lucario came out, grabbed Mario by the shoulders, and shook him around. "What do you mean you saw trails of lights?" he asked. "Well- I can - tell - you - if you - let go," Mario said. "Right. Right. Apologies," Lucario said as he calmly put Mario down, "So tell me what you saw when these four Convergence Crystals came together?"
Mario explained the weird limbo he was in for the few seconds he was on board the Comet Observatory. He emphasized that a light beneath him and seven others were leading him somewhere. Link also agreed that he saw the same thing. "Pikachu had also witnessed this, around the same time when the Convergence Crystals came together," Lucario said. "Then what does this mean?" Rosalina asked. "Hm," Lucario mumbled, "Let us gather everyone."
Everyone gathered around the courtyard in front of the Grand Star. "I must ask a question. Has anyone had a vision of eight trails of light when the Convergence Crystals united?" Lucario asked. Everyone talked to each other, wondering what the heck Lucario was talking about. "Oh! Yoshi remembers! Yoshi had the same dweam," Yoshi said. "Now that I think of it, I also had that dream, but I thought it was nothing," Fox said. "I had that vision," Samus said briefly. "Poyo!" Kirby yelled as he jumped up. "Then it appears we have seven out of eight," Lucario said. "Seven out of eight what?" Fox asked. "Warriors of the Convergence Crystals," Lucario said.
Everyone began talking. "Mario, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu. You have been chosen," Lucario said, "All we are missing is one, and then we can search for the Crosses of Light and Darkness." "Wait a moment. Diddy, you didn't happen to have a dream, did you?" Mario asked. "Well I did have this dream about a paradise filled with bananas," Diddy Kong said. "Yeah, it's not him," Mario said, "I remember we found one of the crystals beneath the Kongo Isles, meaning," Mario said. "Meaning that the last member of the eight would have to be from the Kongo Isles," Peach said. "Which means," Luigi said. "It's Donkey Kong," Mario said. "Who is this Donkey Kong?" Lucario asked. "Well, I'll tell you," Diddy Kong said.
Diddy Kong got into a beat and sang:
"He's the leader of the bunch, you know him well
He's finally back to kick some tail
His coconut gun can fire in spurts
If he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!
He's bigger, faster, and stronger too
He's the first member of the D.K. Crew! HUH!
D.K. Donkey Kong!"
"Although, he doesn't use his coconut gun anymore," Diddy Kong said, "I actually never asked him why." "So where is Donkey Kong?" Rosalina asked. "He was taken by K. Rool. K. Rool uses some weapon to turn him into a statue," K. Rool said. "Y'know, I remember before I lost my castle, that Wolf guy used some cannon to turn Bandana Dee into a statue," King Dedede said. "Yeah, that was when you said that I may die but it is a sacrifice you'll be willing to make," Bandana Dee said. "Okay, there are so many problems with that sentence," Impa said.
"Subspace Cannons. The plans for them were hidden away, but, I suppose our enemies found them," Lucario said. "What do they do?" Shulk asked. "They can turn any being into a spirit or a statue with one hit," Lucario said. "I take it that's bad," Bandana Dee said. "If don't want to be defeated in one hit, then yes," Lucario said. "Our best chance is to find the crosses, and to do that we have to save Donkey Kong," Mario said. "We won't know where they'll be keeping your friend. We'll have to search every world we can," Shulk said. "Yeah, well DK has waited this long. I'm sure he can wait a little longer," Mario said as he looked towards the stars.
[Unknown Location]
The Ancient Minister stood beside Eggman as Ganondorf walked into the room. Seeing the statue of Donkey Kong inside a glass tube he asked, "Are the preparations complete?" "Yes. In theory, using the power of the shadow bugs, we can make a corrupted ape that will follow our orders until it turns into a statue," Eggman said. The Ancient Minister looked at Donkey Kong. "Proceed," Ganondorf said.
Dr. Eggman began the infusion. The shadow bugs covered the entirety of Donkey Kong. A violet light shined from the statue. Donkey Kong had reawakened. A dark smoke covered his entire body and his eyes were yellow. "It works," Dr. Eggman said. "Hm. Perfect," Ganondorf said. The Ancient Minister looked at the malevolent Donkey Kong, and his eyes were filled with melancholy for the fall of a hero.