Chapter 44: Echoes of the Gauntlet
Police officers arrived at the power plant few minutes earlier. Unfortunately, they were ambushed by Heartless. Even with the best weaponry at their disposal, they posed little challenge to the unfathomable creatures that bathed in the shadows. Some tried to fend them off with riot shields, but the bull Heartless knocked them aside. Others tried bullets and lasers; they didn't penetrate the Heartless' cold, black skin.
It was a losing battle. A crevasse of hope didn't seem to form. Until the Blue Falcon arrived on the scene. The Heartless sensed the Keyblade's presences, and focused their hungry, yellow eyes on the blue machine. Everyone exited the cockpit, with their weapons already (except for Falcon. Unless you consider his fists as weapons) drawn.
Falcon cracked his knuckles. "Boy, you guys sure left this place in a mess. No worries. You're all about to become a part of it."
The group battled their way through the Heartless, assisting any other officer that was in trouble. Those who were able bodied started rounding up their injured comrades, and retreated to their machines. All of them watched in amazement as the famed Captain Falcon, along with three strangers, battled through the hordes of Heartless, taking them out with little issue.
Some officers left to get their comrades medical attention. Others stayed behind as either backup, or assisted in getting civilians to safety. It was all they could do. These creatures were enigma no amount of training could prepare them before. Falcon was nimble, able to avoid strikes from the Heartless, and retaliated with hard hitting kicks and punches.
Soon, the numbers waned, and they defeated the Heartless. But more would come unless they unplugged the beacon attracting them: Black Shadow. They hurried towards the power plant. The intense stench of smoke tickled their noses; they felt the warm flames breathe on their skin like a vicious animal. Hopefully a fire team would douse the flames. Or else Black Shadow's rein would begin with a victorious explosion, like unpleasant fireworks.
Ahead of them was the Black Bull. Standing on top was Black Shadow, admiring his handwork, basking in the arousing aroma of devastation.
"Ah, smell that air," Black Shadow said. "Life is so much grander when you add a concoction of unpredictability."
"Hey!" Sora said. "Who said you could have fun destroying things?"
Black Shadow turned to face the group; he was displeased that his moment of ataraxia was ruined by Sora's shout, which sounded like a jackhammer beating against concrete. His gaze soon met with Falcon's; their animosity for each other was as blistering as the flames behind them.
"Falcon," Black Shadow said. "How I've missed that scowl of yours. It's been too long. Looks like you and your little friends have come to die."
"Please don't say the 'D word' around me," Luigi said, as his knees started to buckle. "I'd rather not think about partaking in that once in a lifetime experience. Because there's no coming back from it, last I heard."
Ignoring Luigi, Sora got into his battle position. "Dream on! We know you're the one going around hurting those racers."
"Who, me?" Black Shadow asked, looking around, feigning innocence. "Now, now, boy. It's not nice to make harsh judgements. Why, I'm not doing a thing. But the Heartless – that's a whole other story."
"Heartless, huh? So that's what those creatures are called," Falcon said. "Annoying is a better description of them."
"Annoying is a rather subjective word for these mindless beasts," Black Shadow said. "I'd say they've been helpful, especially at stealing hearts from your fellow racers."
Falcon though he had misheard Black Shadow. Steal hearts? How was that possible? Every racer that fell victim was comatose; they couldn't live without one. This seemed like one of Black Shadow's crazy ramblings – a ploy to try and fill his thoughts with a pail of confusion. But Black Shadow didn't fabricate the Heartless. They were real; every claw mark induced pain.
Sometimes there are forces in life impossible to explain. Whether he believed the notion of someone existing without a heart or not, his goal was to revive his fallen racers.
"Then what are you planning to do with their hearts?" Falcon asked.
Black Shadow laughed like a mischievous child. "And spoil everything? Nonsense. You know me better than that. Besides, the idea of you going to your deaths with disappointment is such a gratifying feeling."
"Normally, I'm willing to settle our differences in the Grand Prix." Falcon stepped forward, clenching his fists. "But I won't let you destroy the hopes and aspirations of every racer you've captured!"
"Oh, dear!" Black Shadow said in a mocking tone, clasping both hands over his cheeks. "Perhaps my plans have gone too far this time. Even you're willing to cast aside your honor to face me the barbaric way."
Even though Falcon's eyes were concealed, Black Shadow could sense a fierce, righteous stare bursting through his pupils.
"No," Falcon said. "I'm still fighting for the honor of my fellow competitors!"
Black Shadow grimaced. "Noble as ever. Makes me sick. Shame I don't have time to deal with you myself."
"Big chicken!" Yoshi said, snorting with disdain.
"But you don't understand." Black Shadow formed a twisted smile. "I have a date with Officer Summers. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting. She is a woman of action, after all."
Falcon felt like a restless worm was squirming through his stomach. "No. You leave Jody out of this!"
"Oh, but are quite wrong," Black Shadow said. "She has everything to do with this. A puzzle piece that is a part of something much bigger." He conjured a dark sphere of energy. "Unfortunately, that doesn't include you."
Black Shadow launched the attack at the group, which they rolled out of the way to dodge. Falcon prepared to go on the offense, with an invitation in the form of his knuckles. But Black Shadow wouldn't let blood stain his immaculate apparel. He summoned a ring of dark energy, tossed it at Falcon like a frisbee, and it wrapped around his torso like a snake, eager to squeeze against every bone until they cracked.
"Captain!" Sora said.
Falcon grunted as he struggled against the ring. "What kind of cheap parlor trick is this?"
"Oh, this unique power goes far beyond anything your minuscule mind can comprehend," Black Shadow said. "Allow me to give you a small demonstration of what the darkness can do."
He tightened his fist; on command, the ring began crushing Falcon's body, making him scream with enough force to wake the entire city. The pain was excruciating. But he was tough; he wouldn't let even a hint of submission raise Black Shadow's ego like a proud flag. Falcon clinched his teeth to fight through the pain.
Black Shadow savored every agonizing moment. "Struggling will only accelerate the consumption of your heart. Just give in. Only then will your demise be less strenuous."
"Then I'll just have to outright stop it!" Sora said in a courageous voice. He and the others hurried over to help.
Black Shadow sighed in irritation. "Why do you continue to be a nuisance?" He looked over his shoulder. "Time for your grand entrance, Blood Falcon!"
A silhouette of man that looked just like Falcon leaped over the Black Bull. He charged his fist into a sphere of fire. Sora and friends noticed him at the last second, and they leaped back just as he slammed it into the ground, producing a ring of fire. The man stood up while flexing his fingers from the impact.
Thanks to the illumination from the fire, they were able to make out his details, and for a moment, thought the lighting had deceived their eyes. It was an exact clone of Captain Falcon: same body time, same facial features. If not for the different outfit, trying to distinguish the two would be impossible. Blood wore silver boots with skulls embedded on them, a red outfit, purple gloves, and a purple helmet (which also had a skull on it).
Although there was one other distinct difference between the two: Blood had a wicked smile that craved inflicting harm; to listen with amusement as their screams traveled throughout every alley of the city.
"Another Falcon?" Luigi asked, blinking in bewilderment.
"Except he must be Bad Falcon," Yoshi said, glaring at him. "Big meanies almost always wear red."
Sora was a bit upset by that remark. In a small voice, he said, "But I wear red."
"Well, if you must know," Blood said, his grin widening to uncomfortable lengths, "I choose this color so that blood of my victims doesn't ruin my clothes."
Luigi reeled back, shivering in fear. "Boy, I'm looking forward to crying in the shower with that thought later."
"Forgive Blood Falcon," Black Shadow said, as he opened the cockpit to his machine. "He's blunt, but very honest. Is it wrong for him to deny his victims the truth about his profession?" He leaped into the driver's seat, and turned to Blood. "Now, dispose of these meddlers. Make sure to leave a huge mess. Want everyone to see your exquisite handywork."
"With pleasure," Blood said, cracking his fists with morbid joy.
Falcon tried to free himself from the ring, but, as Black Shadow said, struggling only made the pain worse. His insides felt like they were being compressed into a can; it was unbearable. But he had to focus on escaping. Complaining didn't yield results; actions did. But a small sensation of shame hardened his shoulders as he watched the Black Bull leave.
He hadn't experienced failure in ages. Such a disheartening thing to experience. But he reminded himself that everyone fails at some point in their life. Even the racers he defeated had to drag along that glacier of loss. It was a heavy weight. But it would eventually melt, and you'd find a lustrous diamond of success inside.
That's what he needed to do – move on from failure if he planned to rescue Jody.
Blood wasted no time in running straight for Sora, throwing a left punch. Sora jerked his head to dodge. Then, Blood threw a right punch, and Sora used the palm of his hand to deflect it. Next, Blood threw a kick; Sora brought his Keyblade up to block it, but the force sent him sliding backwards.
He tried elbowing Sora, but the boy twirled right, and tried countering with a horizontal slash. Blood leaped away from the attack, flipped through the air, and landed on the edge of the bridge. Sora took a deep breath. Blood was just as nimble as Falcon; he would need full concentration to find a misstep in his movement.
Sora launched Blizzard at Blood, but he deflected it with a fire kick, turning the spell into frail water droplets. He leaped into the air, preparing to deliver a fire kick to Sora. Yoshi caught it with his shield, forcing Blood to do a backflip, and land on the ground.
The dinosaur swung his shield at a vertical angle; Blood leaned back, spun to the side, and kicked Yoshi in the hip, knocking him over. Luigi swung his hammer downward, but Blood side stepped left; he tried countering with a punch, and Luigi held the hammer at a horizontal angle to block it.
It was Luigi's turn to strike, as he swung his hammer inward. Blood rose both arms to catch it, taking the force of the hit. For a moment, his body shook from the impact, but shrugged it off like a minor slap on the humerus. He then rammed a knee straight into Luigi's diaphragm, forcing a burst of sharp air to be released from his mouth.
Blood grabbed Luigi by the shirt collar, lifted him up, and then slammed his back on the edge of the bridge. Luigi winced from the pain orbiting around his body. Blood clasped both hands together, brought them over his head, and formed a glowing, flaming orb. Before he could strike, a long tongue grabbed his wrists, restricting movement. Furious, he looked over his shoulder to see Yoshi trying to pull him backwards.
However, Blood was too strong; it didn't take him long to loosen Yoshi's tongue. But that was enough time for Luigi to recover. Just as Blood brought both fists down, Luigi rolled to his right. The attack smashed right through the edge, leaving a giant crack in its wake. Luigi gulped; he was that close to be becoming a part of the pavement.
Fortunately, Blood spared him for the moment. And, unfortunately, it was because Yoshi owed him retribution for intervening. He sprinted towards Yoshi, delivering a powerful punch. The dinosaur brought his shield up in time, but the force from the attack knocked him onto his backside. However, Yoshi was quick to recover, as he tried delivering a sweep kick.
Blood hopped over it, and then raised his foot high, preparing to stomp on the dinosaur. Yoshi curled into an egg, then rolled backwards a good distance, just missing the strike. Blood tried to pursue Yoshi, but a lightning bolt stopped him right in his place. He saw Sora running right for him, no doubt responsible for distracting him.
Blood's temper grew unstable, as if someone were tampering with nitroglycerin; one more delicate touch and it would fulminate into pure, unstoppable rage. He wouldn't let some nobodies (two of them being children) sew shame into his pride. No one could match his strength.
Sora thrusted the Keyblade, but Blood brought an arm up to his face, blocking the attack. He swung a fist with the opposite hand at the boy, who ducked underneath it. Sora swung the Keyblade upward, and Blood knocked it down with his other hand. Seeing an opening, Blood punched Sora in the chest, and delivered a side kick to his shoulder.
Sora stumbled backwards; he was losing his footing, but managed to recover quickly. Blood materialized fire on both fists, and ran at the boy with incredible speeds. This was a predicament, as Sora didn't have enough time to move.
But he wasn't concerned: the boundless vitality of the Star Spirits' magic kept his strength from drifting downstream with imperishable canoes.
"Wind!" A barrier of visible air spiraled around Sora's body. Once Blood made contact, the sharp air started slashing at his clothes; some even manage to leave small cuts. Reacting to the pain, he leaped away from the boy.
Sora transferred the magic wind into his Keyblade, and thrusted it forward. All Blood could do was brace himself as the wind hit him with the force of multiple arrows. Fabrics from his clothes were torn apart, floating gently down to the ground. Some strikes left cuts on his face. A painful, bloody tear emerged from the open wound.
Before Blood could recover, Luigi and Yoshi delivered a hammer strike and a headbutt, which sent him sliding backwards. But he regained control by pressing a livid foot against the ground. Everyone noticed he was clenching his jaw in pure anger. If there's one thing he despised, it was the feeling of his own blood trickle. And whoever delivered the wound would payback with double the amount.
Although their attacks did damage, it wouldn't be enough to defeat Blood alone. Sora focused on Falcon; he was still struggling to break free. They were going to need his help. Sora instructed Luigi and Yoshi to keep Blood busy; but he wasn't about to let his dominance flip onto its backside like a helpless turtle.
Heartless appeared in Sora's path, and he fought his way through them. At one point, he locked his blade against a bull Heartless.
"I'll be right there!" Sora said.
"Forget me!" Falcon continued pushing his arms against the ring. "I can get out of this! Once I do, Blood is history!"
But the ring would not budge an inch. Instead, it responded by squeezing Falcon's body again. Muscles trembled from exertion. His bones felt like they were being grinded. Fatigue started to leak from his body like a damaged faucet. A sudden pressure started squeezing inside his chest. He didn't know why. Was it a result of the ring, too?
Either way, he remained obstinate in escaping himself.
Sora frowned, because he could see that stubborn aura eclipse the roaring, orange flames. "Let me put this more delicately than Black Shadow - you haven't dealt with the darkness yet. It's a lot stronger than you think. But my Keyblade can destroy it! Please! Let me help!"
Falcon fell to his knees. Breathing became a chore. Weakness was dragging his lifeforce into an inescapable ditch. He hated feeling helpless. But then, Black Shadow's threat hissed in his mind. Jody…his one and only friend. The only person outside of competition that lifted his spirits – a person who inspired him to fight against injustice. If something horrid befell upon her, his conscience would take the center spotlight of blame.
Luigi dodged an incoming high kick from Blood. He leaped backwards, landing nearby Falcon. He overhead the conversation. "We understand you're a loner, but you're with us now. Our approach is a lot more teamwork oriented. Afraid you're part of that team for the long haul."
Falcon smirked at the ironic echo. He needed to put his pride aside. Black Shadow's new power may succeed in bringing his morbid desires to fruition. He refused to live in a world where no rules dictated their lives – to watch as the city he loved deteriorate into a nightmarish wasteland.
"Alright," Falcon said. "Do what needs to be done!"
Sora knocked a Heartless away, and turned to Falcon with a grin. "You got it!"
He cut the ring in half, making it disintegrate into tiny orbs of darkness before vanishing. Falcon leaned over to catch his breath. The fatigue withered away over time. He felt light again.
"You okay?" Sora asked, helping him to his feet.
Falcon rolled his shoulders. The numbness in his body was gone. It was time to take control of the situation. "Never been better. Stand aside! Let old Falcon deliver the coup de grace."
He dashed right towards Blood.
"Yeah, you're welcome," Sora said, annoyed. He placed a hand in his pocket, grumbling. "Such compliments always make a person feel good."
Falcon delivered a powerful knee to Blood's chin, knocking him back a fair distance. Once he recovered, he glared at his inverted reflection – an inferior shadow that needed to vanish. Falcon stood for everything that was right with humanity. It made him sick. Planted a stigma on his values to cause suffering.
"Not surprised you escaped," Blood said, restraining his rage for the moment. "Your persistence never diminishes. Can't say the same for your life. I prefer beating it out of you instead of Black Shadow's drawn-out method."
Falcon smirked. "Careful. You might end up preferring the latter."
While Sora and his friends battled the Heartless, the two Falcons traded blows. It was an elegant display of agile kicks and fierce punches. Falcon threw a punch; Blood blocked it with his opposite arm. Falcon threw a punch from the opposite arm, same results. Blood swung his arm inward, and Falcon leaned back to avoid it.
Next, Falcon tried an outward swing; Blood brought an arm up to block, and then tried kneeing Falcon in the stomach, but he knocked it down with a slap. Seeing an opening, Falcon elbowed Blood in the chest, startling him, and followed up with a punch in the face. Falcon tried for another punch, but Blood blocked his face with an arm.
Then, Blood countered with a kick to the chest, making Falcon stumble backwards, but he recovered in an instant. Blood charged his fist with fire, leaped into the air, and tried punching from overhead. Falcon moved aside to avoid the strike. Blood spun around, swinging an arm, and Falcon ducked underneath it.
Blood tried a kick to the stomach; Falcon reversed his hands, lowered them to the abdomen, and caught the kick with his palms. He smacked Blood with the side of his fist, and kicked him in the shoulder. Blood's aggravation grew unstable like a tremor, mixed with a landslide of puzzlement; how was Falcon still able to fight? Better yet, why had the advantage been packaged for him, leaving him to struggle at tearing open the cardboard?
This wasn't right. He was superior – the genuine article. Only he could breathe this air, and experience the gratification of praise and victory.
Falcon tried a roundhouse kick; Blood ducked underneath it. Falcon then tried a roundhouse with his other foot; Blood leaned back to avoid it. He rammed into Falcon, pushing him right into his own machine. Then, he prepared to deliver an axe kick. Falcon rolled away just in time, but his ears were forced to witness the most horrid noise: something hitting his precious Blue Falcon. Angered, Falcon kicked the back of Blood's leg, which swept him onto the ground.
"There better not be a dent on there!" Falcon said. He sounded like an irate father berating a kid for bullying his son. "Lord help your bank account!"
Blood was pleased to have ruptured his rival's aloof demeanor. "Threat not. The money I'll inherit from your death will make it good as new."
Falcon threw a punch, and Blood rolled left to avoid it. He sat up, kicked Falcon in the face, and knocked him onto the ground. Blood could sense he was close to purloining the advantage from Falcon's fatigued, battered body. But Falcon refused to quit. Black Shadow was out there – Jody was in danger; those thoughts continued spinning like a propeller. And it wouldn't stutter a bit until he was at peace.
Blood tried to kick towards Falcon's lower region, but he spread his legs open, allowing his foot to land in the middle; then, Falcon closed them like a steel trap around the foot, sat up, and delivered strong, quick strikes to Blood's leg as if it were a punching bag. Blood hopped back, rubbing the pain drizzling down his leg.
Falcon leaped to his feet; he was going to win. His motivation was far stronger than Blood's. The feeling supported his strength like beams. Blood had nothing. Only his pitiful desires to please Black Shadow. Blood tried throwing punches, but Falcon continued dodging them. When an opening presented itself, he did not hesitate in punching it.
Blood's entire face clenched like a raisin. The pain was cultivating over time. It became intense. All he could do was defend himself. How did he plummet into this nightmare? He was supposed to be stronger and faster, not a second-rate amateur. Blood continued blocking, leaning left and right, but Falcon pursued him. Blood threw a punch; Falcon ducked underneath it, and countered with an uppercut to the chin. Then, he squeezed both hands together, slamming them into Blood's side, and finished off the combo with a kick to the chest.
Blood ended up crashing into the edge of the bridge. His loud panting disturbed the calm, omnipresent echoes of the cackling fire. Looking over the edge, a pitch-black maw waited to consume him. How did he end up in this predicament? He foresaw his victory. But he would continue to view it through a telescope of hope.
"This isn't over yet," Blood said, tired. "For far too long I've been nothing more than your shadow. Now, I plan to take the namesake of Falcon for myself. Your entire legacy will be a part of me."
Falcon couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Forever stuck on an endless loop. "Just because you're a clone of me, doesn't mean you have to be EXACTLY like me. Every person is different in their own unique way. Instead of being a shadow, why not take your own form? Be your own person. Don't blindly follow the orders of Black Shadow."
"No." The idea of change made Blood's mind run faster on that loop. This was his life. He couldn't be anyone else. Nor knew how to make his own decisions. The thought was kind of daunting. There were too many avenues to traverse; too many decisions riddled with wrong answers. "Black Shadow created me. He is my life. Only someone as ingenious as him knows the right answer to everything."
Falcon sighed; sometimes it was impossible for people to accept change. He tightened his fists, prepared to push through the final turnstile of this conflict – a point of no return.
Regaining his strength through sheer will, Blood tried to attack again. Falcon delivered a fire kick straight in the stomach; it had enough force to knock Blood over the bridge, sending him plummeting into the pit of darkness. A screaming echo trailed behind him until they both vanished into the abyss.
Along with the hopes and desires he had to be his own person; they would be lost forever.
Disaster struck the heart of the city. Black Shadow hunted down the team of Galactic Space Federation members that were escorting the championship belt to the Mute City racetrack for tomorrow's F-Zero Championship Cup; it was being held within an armored machine. Unfortunately, its metal body couldn't withstand the impact of the Black Bull. The machine tipped onto its side, sliding across the ground with screeches of agony, emitting sparks. Its painful ride ceased upon colliding with a lamppost.
Security sprung from their vehicles; some went to assist civilians, while others prepared to defend the belt from Black Shadow and his men. Well, he did bring his own brigade, but they were in the form of strange creatures with dark skin and yellow eyes. Everyone was taken aback by their presence: how were they supposed to fight these things?
It didn't matter. The cogs of justice continued spinning perpetually through their chests. They had a commitment to protect and serve, regardless of the situation. Try as they might, though, their will couldn't compete with the frightening, ethereal power of the Heartless; many were left injured or unconscious.
And Officer Jody Summer was a witness to the mayhem strewn throughout the streets. But she remained composed despite the opposition. Panicking would impair her judgement like a thick fog.
She hurried over to her machine and shouted into the car radio, "We need backup! I repeat, we need backup!"
"I'm afraid your cries for help will only bring about more death, Officer Summers," a familiar, patronizing voice said.
Jody's chin tensed with contempt. Just hearing his callous tone inflated her stomach with enraged air. She spun around to see Black Shadow approaching her with a dark grin.
"Black Shadow, what a surprise," Jody said, glaring at him. "What, has it been like ten days since the last time we've had a run in with you? Why not give other criminals a chance to be busted?"
"Such a smart mouth." Black Shadow's grin widened. "I remember your father quite well. You have his quick wit, that's for sure. Shame it couldn't save him from his untimely death."
Jody kept her expression stone cold. His venomous words would not sting at her emotions, making them swell into anger. Her father invented the anti-gravity system used to make machines airborne. He was a well-respected induvial amongst the people of Mute City, and Jody honored his legacy by using his invention for a force of good.
No amount of hateful words from this deplorable individual's tongue could ruin her father's unsullied reputation.
"If petty insults are all you've got," Jody said, with a small smirk, "then bringing you in will be all the more satisfying."
Black Shadow laughed. ""Even in your darkest hours to do not flinch. Your outstanding attributes is why you're the perfect candidate."
"Candidate for what?" Jody asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Minor details you best not concern yourself with. Just know that you and your fellow racers are about to serve the greater good."
His declaration was met with a fist right in the face. He stumbled backwards, somewhat startled from the attack, and rubbed his cheek. A strong hit. Jody's strength matched her intractable resolve.
"Sorry, your melodramatic monologue means nothing to me," Jody said. "Less talking, more fighting."
"If you insist," Black Shadow said with menace in his voice.
Black Shadow went on the offense, but Jody's agility proved too quick for him to land a single hit. She was able to expose his restrained movement and land more blows. Even Black Shadow was becoming vexed by her persistence. But he didn't show the slightest sign of concern.
For he knew Jody was relying on nothing but borrowed time.
Two diametric sounds clamored for Falcon's attention: one was the calm, yet virulent cackling of the flames encircling the power plant. While the other was the hysterical wailing of emergency vehicles. And he subdued both sounds with a sympathetic cork. He stared over the edge of darkness that consumed his clone, pondering over his fate.
"Captain Falcon gonna be okay?" Yoshi asked.
Falcon turned to see the others approaching him. "Yeah. Hard not to feel bad, ya know?"
"I'll say," Luigi said, shuttering at the idea. "What a way to go."
"Is it true?" Sora asked. "Was he really your clone?"
"Yes." Falcon glanced at the edge. "But he could've been so much more."
Sora could understand why remorse tainted the polished plaque of victory. Blood was a mindless puppet, unable to make his own decisions, unable to understand the joys of being human. It reminded him of Riku to some extent: letting a powerful force dictate your existence. Never feeling like your own master. Every day he hoped Riku would come to that realization, and reconcile with him.
For now, all Sora could do was move forward instead of wallowing in a corner of pity. He was a bit surprised that people could clone themselves in this world. But he had become desensitized to every bizarre encounter on this journey (you could introduce him to a person made of bologna and he would just reply with a 'hello.'). Inquiring about it right now was meaningless.
Falcon closed the chapter on his clone; there were more dire circumstances that took precedence. "No time to waste. Black Shadow is after another racer. We have to stop him! Are you three up for this? This whole rescue mission has gotten complicated."
"Eh, we're used to it," Sora said, shrugging.
Luigi replayed the last nerve-wracking hour in his head. "Again, differences in opinions."
"Got news for ya: your opinion's going to be invalid when we end up leaving you here. Hurry up." Falcon left for his machine.
"Can't I just follow you guys in a cab?" Luigi asked with an awkward smile.
Sora and Yoshi (with flat, tired expressions) responded by grabbing both of his arms, and pulled him towards the Blue Falcon.
Luigi sighed in aggravation. "At least say no to my face instead of dragging me off every time!"
The Blue Falcon arrived on the scene of Black Shadow's attack a few minutes later. As everyone exited, they were able to gander at the trail of destruction left behind. Machines flipped over, civilians receiving medical assistance – Sora's spine was encased in a block of disquieted ice. He had never seen such brutality before. It was disgusting.
"Man, calling this guy a monster would be flattering!" Sora said.
Falcon gave a grim nod. "He delights in spreading chaos throughout our city. I hope we're not too late to help Jody."
"You mean save, right?" Luigi asked.
Falcon smiled. "She's not the one that needs saving."
Jody was confident in her victory. She managed to corner the feared Black Shadow like a feeble rodent. Everything was under control. She foresaw a dazzling sunlight of peace on the horizon, diminishing the gloom that ran rampant through the streets.
"As much as damaging your pride amuses me, I think you'd be better off in prison right now," Jody said, cracking her neck.
To her irritation, Black Shadow just laughed in response. ""You're just as ignorant as Falcon."
"F-Falcon?" Jody asked, as a hint of worry lowered her tough exterior. "What about him?"
"Never mind him. You'll be joining him soon enough."
Black Shadow focused on the darkness lingering in his heart, and lets it flow through every vein. His entire body was enveloped in a black aura, which soon exploded into a burst of wind. Jody braced herself as the violent wind pecked at her skin.
For the first time in the fight, she was nervous. Anyone would be against the unknown. She didn't know what this power signified, but one thing was transparent: he had gained a massive advantage. And her assessment was proven true as Black Shadow vanished, reappeared in front of her, and delivered a powerful punch to the stomach.
Jody's entire body trembled from the impact; it felt like her insides were going to turn into sand. She flew right into a machine, and collapsed onto the ground. Black Shadow wiggled his fingers in satisfaction. Her time of mindless flailing came to an end. He waited long enough to bring his plan to fruition.
As he approached Jody, Black Shadow noticed she was trying to stand up, much to his displeasure. "Stubborn girl!"
A tendril of darkness manifested itself around his arm. He swung it right into Jody's chest. She gasped from the sudden pain. The tendril wrapped itself around her heart, and pulled it out with full force like a fishing line, with a zealous fisherman at the handle.
Breathing became difficult; her body started to shut down like a machine missing its engine. Her muscles were limp. Everything became dark. And soon, she drifted off into a permeant sleep, forced to carry the burden of failure with her. Black Shadow watched in elation as she collapsed onto the ground. Her beating heart floated over to his hand, and he encased it in a purple barrier; that way, her heart couldn't ascend into the sky, where its final resting place would be among the mournful stars.
Excitement tickled Black Shadow's skin. The day of reckoning is upon us, he thought. He turned his attention to the armored machine. One more piece was needed to complete his plan; his dreams were about to step across that line into the real, breathing world. He walked over to the machine, but came to an unfortunate halt when a Thunder spell hindered his process.
Soon, the irksome sound of running raddled his inner ear, and he turned to see Sora's group approaching him. "Why do you pests deny death!?"
Falcon hurried over to the comatose Jody, riddled with concern. His heart started pounding faster. This wasn't real. The strong-willed, respected Officer Jody Summers was now an empty shell devoid of her bright spirit.
"Jody! Jody! Wake up! Please!" Falcon said, giving her a gentle shake.
No response. Her skin was blanched. There wasn't even a sign of movement. She was gone. Falcon started to tremble from the sudden implosion of sadness. This was why he hated forming relationships with people. He would be forced to carry the grief forever. Why go through the trouble? And yet, human nature craved companionship; to never be alone.
He wanted to strike up a conversation with someone. Jody's attitude matched his own. They formed a connection.
And now, the cufflinks that linked the connection were shattered. The brave, self-assured Falcon had bowed before the painful sensation of heartache. Sora and the others sympathized with him. Yoshi let out crestfallen whimper.
Falcon lowered his head, whispering, "I I...I'm sorry...I failed you. You were...my one and only friend..." His anguish had a source, and he was staring at him with wicked satisfaction.
Falcon placed Jody down, stood up, and glowered at Black Shadow; every emotion was drenched in hot, furious acid. His body trembled with vengeful desire to inflict harm.
"What's this?" Black Shadow asked. "Actual anger from the calm and collected Falcon? So you are nothing more than a worthless man after all."
Falcon stormed towards his nemesis, fists clenched, prepared to unleash a whirlwind of hurt upon him. His honor had been buried beneath uncontrollable fury. But Black Shadow wasn't intimidated in the slightest; right now, he had Falcon at his mercy. He held up the robust beating heart of Jody. Falcon stopped before lifting a finger, astonished. He was telling the truth. The Heartless were stealing hearts from his fellow racers.
Including Jody's. Sweat revealed itself on his neck, glistening from the streetlights.
"What happened?" Black Shadow asked in a mocking tone. "You're free to clobber me anytime now."
Falcon clenched his teeth together, restraining the monstrous anger from lunging out of its cage. "I promise you - with every ounce of blood pumping through my veins - that you're going to regret every single decision you've ever made!"
"Sure," Black Shadow said, indifferent. "Whatever. Threatening me is pointless. One small mistake and I'll squeeze the life out of her heart until it withers away into fragments on the pavement."
Falcon stepped back, realizing Black Shadow held the advantage. He felt hopeless; it was horrible to experience. Nothing you did would make a difference. You're just forced to stand by and watch disaster unfurl into the streets. He became somewhat flustered by the situation.
Black Shadow relished in his misery. "I love this. Seeing you powerless just made my day better. With the strongest racing hearts in my possession, this world will soon plummet into chaos."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked.
"Hand over the championship belt and I'll show you," Black Shadow said.
Sora knelt into his battle position. He didn't know anything about a championship belt, but assumed it was integral to Black Shadow's plan. "Make us!"
"You have very little choice, boy," Black Shadow said, filled with arrogance. "I make the demands here!"
Falcon closed his eyes; he took slow breaths, feeling his stomach undulate like curtains in the gentle breeze. His anger evaporated into a tranquil steam. Jody wouldn't want him to be stuck in a state of consternation. In fact, she'd yell at him to, "get a grip and use your head!" She'd want him to carry on her mission of maintaining peace in Mute City; not doing so would be a disservice to her.
His mind was clear; he analyzed the situation, and formed a solution. "Not as much as you think."
"Is that so?" Black Shadow asked, amused. "Please, enlighten me."
Falcon drew the pistol from the holster on his belt (something Sora completely forgot about; his punches and kicks had been sufficient) A tiny bit of concern pressed against Black Shadow's ribcage as Falcon pointed the gun at the truck carrying the championship belt.
"I know the exact spot on this vehicle to aim at." Falcon smirked. "Guess what happens when I pull the trigger?"
"It go kablooy?" Yoshi asked.
"Precisely," Falcon said.
Black Shadow's confidence was abated by sudden panic. "Y-You wouldn't!"
"Why not?" Falcon asked. "The belt seems pretty valuable to you, right? Wouldn't that put a dent in your plan?"
"But if you do, I'll crush her heart!" Black Shadow said, holding it out in a hostile manner. "You'd throw away Officer Summer's life!?"
Falcon glanced at Jody's comatose body. "It's what she'd want. She'd sacrifice her own life just to make sure injustice doesn't plague our city."
"You're…you're insane!" Black Shadow was losing his composure. How did everything fall apart so fast!? Falcon had become a submissive canine; it was such a gratifying sensation. And now, he had outsmarted him again.
"Says the man wearing a bull costume," Luigi said.
Sora grinned. "Hey, guys. That outfit must be super-hot. Someone's sweating bullets under that mask."
"I am not!" Black Shadow said, blushing in embarrassment.
"So it's true: without this belt, your entire plan will be for naught," Falcon said. "Wouldn't that be disappointing? Guess that leaves us at a standstill."
"That's not fair!" Black Shadow said, booming with anger.
Falcon scoffed. "Please. Since when do you complain about fairness? Tell you what. Why don't we settle the score at the Grand Prix tomorrow? You always prat on and on about how you're going to crush me in front of my fans. This might be your chance."
Black Shadow thought over his words. It wasn't a bad idea. Along with enjoying a morning constitutional through a city brimming with mass hysteria, he did pine for the chance to defeat Captain Falcon in the F-Zero Races. Racing was the glue that bound Falcon's spirit together. Dousing it in hot water would weaken the glue, dealing the most damage.
He would love to see him fail. But he wasn't thickhead; Falcon was the greatest racer who ever existed. Defeating him would be onerous, like trying to outrun a cheetah. What Black Shadow needed to do was keep that animal preoccupied with bait if he were to go in for the kill.
And the solution floated above his hand.
"Alright, big shot," Black Shadow said, reinvigorated with poise. "You want to lose both your life AND reputation? Then I'm all for it! I can't wait to spit on your undefeated record. Oh, but you probably want to practice for your final race in peace, don't you? Well, I'll just hold onto Officer Summer's heart, then."
"No!" Falcon said.
Black Shadow rushed back to his machine, leaped inside, and waved. "See you tomorrow! Happy training!"
He drove off towards the streets with a derisive roar of his engine, having obtained minor victory over the group.
"Should we go after him?" Sora asked.
"Probably not," Luigi said, dispirited. "We don't want to risk damaging that heart."
Sora sighed through his lips, aggravated. "Just when things were starting to look up for us."
Falcon focused his attention on Jody's body. He knew what Black Shadow was planning: to make him worry over her heart, so that it would hinder his concentration in tomorrow's race. He found himself at a crossroad, unsure of what direction to traverse. While a good race always kept him focused, that image of Jody's heart would glide across his vision like unwanted eye floaters.
For the first time in his adult life, the future seemed intimidating.
But Sora sought to help him step through the rough morass. And it wasn't just because of Falcon's assistance in locating the Star Spirit. It was because they were both fighting for a friend. Without Luigi and Yoshi by his side, the task would've been overwhelming. But they encouraged him to never quit. He wanted to instill that same sentiment in Falcon.
"Captain," Sora said with a firm, reassuring look. "We'll get her heart back. I promise."
"How?" Falcon asked, a bit skeptical.
Sora paused for a moment. He rubbed his head, ashamed. "Haven't thought that far ahead yet."
"What we should do is go somewhere quiet to clear our heads from the insanity," Luigi said. "Then we'll brainstorm ideas."
Falcon was taken aback by their gesture. "Y-You guys are willing to help me? I haven't even rescued your friend yet."
"Why should that matter?" Sora asked. "It's always important to do the right thing. That's what makes us human."
Yoshi cleared his throat.
Sora chuckled while rolling his eyes. "And dinosaur."
Falcon was stunned for a moment. Even after being apathetic towards them, they still wanted to assist him in defeating Black Shadow. No one had ever extended their kindness towards him before. While he had a plethora of adoring fans, Falcon never took the time to interact with them. And even when someone tried speaking with him, they were intimated by aloof demeanor.
Yet these three saw a compassionate flame behind the fogged lantern.
"I seldom say this, but thanks." They had reignited his determined to stop Black Shadow at any cost. Sirens interrupted their conversation. "Let's go. My secret hideout isn't too far from here."
Everyone boarded the Blue Falcon, and they left just as emergency vehicles arrived. One of the people that exited them was John Tanaka, having heard about the attack. He gasped in horror upon seeing Jody's lifeless body, and hurried over, hoisting her into his arms. John tried waking her up, but she remained limp. Her vibrant blue eyes were sealed away forever behind the lids. The strong voice that instilled confidence in her squad was silenced.
John pressed his face into her chest, crying along with the forlorn sirens that echoed throughout the evening streets.
Hidden behind an old building on the outskirts of the city was Black Shadow's lair. He arrived, drained, but pleased with his handiwork. Everything had been set in motion. After traversing a hallway, he entered a large storage area. Normally, miscellaneous supplies accumulated in this room, but they have been transferred to other parts of the lair.
He needed to make room for a giant, ring shaped transporter. Adjacent to each side of it were tables holding containers. Imprisoned within them were the hearts of comatose racers. One container's lid, however, was still open, prepared to consume a fresh heart. Black Shadow granted its wish by placing Jody's inside.
After closing the lid, he attached wires to it, and started the machine. An uplifting, whirring noise broke the silence of the room. A red transparent, spiraling portal appeared within the center of the ring.
"Yes!" Black Shadow extended his arms in excitement. "Hearts of the mightiest racers – lead me to the fiery depths of the underworld!"
The red spiral spun faster than a wheel, regurgitating electricity out from its unstable mouth. Black Shadow enjoyed every chaotic moment of the ritual. He was so close to pulling a small pin out of Mute City, making it collapse into an incomprehensible, destructive mess. His eyes lit up in delight (and fear) as a looming figure stepped out of the portal donning a long, flowing cape.
Falcon also had a secret hideout; the entrance was hidden in an alleyway. Sora and his friends were impressed by the sleek, futuristic design of each room. Of course, most of them were built out of necessity. Falcon's true home was in the garage, where he'd devote sleepless hours to tuning up the Blue Falcon. He loved being lost in the atmosphere, listening to the harsh grinding sounds of machinery. Or smelling the potent scent of oil flowing through his machine.
The garage was massive; ahead of them was a door for the Blue Falcon to exit. To their left was a workstation that housed tools and gadgets. While on the right was a computer terminal with monitors of various size (used to perform a variety of tests on the Blue Falcon, no doubt). Luigi wished he had a sumptuous garage to work on his Go-Karts (the backyard wasn't too bad, if Mario actually cut the grass once in while!).
For the next half hour, everyone was in discussion over a feasible plan to reclaim Jody's heart. It was weird being part of a group conversation, but something about it felt invigorating to Falcon; he enjoyed chiming in, offering suggestions on how to refine their ideas. And after experimenting with different blocks, they snapped together to form a solid foundation.
Falcon was hopeful that they'd succeed
Sora took Yoshi from the garage (because he did have a commitment to fulfill, much to his reluctance), while Luigi meandered around, admiring its sophisticated design. Falcon kept himself busy by fine tuning the undercarriage of his machine. It was comforting to be tightening bolts with his wrench, hearing the gentle creaking with each turn.
He had a TV on the background, which kept him updated on the latest news. Hopefully, Black Shadow was done with his tumultuous joyride tonight. Luigi noticed the next news report was on Jody. Falcon paused, pushed himself out from under the Blue Falcon, and focused on the TV.
"Should I—?" Luigi started to ask.
"No," Falcon said, somewhat saddened. "Leave it on."
An awkward silence permeated throughout the room. Luigi needed to change the subject. "This really is a nice garage. You must get a lot of mileage out of the prize money you win from races."
"Comes in handy when you own more than one location," Falcon said, standing up, wiping the sweat from his neck.
Luigi stared at him in amazement. "Really?" He tried to appear cool. "Well, I'm friends with a princess, so that technically means I have a castle."
"Keep telling yourself that." After grabbing some tools from his desk, he opened the hood of the Blue Falcon, and began adjusting its innards. "Think this plan'll work?"
"Sure it will," Luigi said with an assuring smile. "The three of us have come up with crazier. We'll leave later tonight, use the radar to track Black Shadow down, camp out until we see him leave, sneak in, and cause some havoc. So you've got nothing to worry about."
"That's good." Falcon stopped tinkering for a moment. He looked pensive. "I'm still thinking about her."
"Worried he might try to harm her heart?"
Falcon sighed. "Yeah. You see now why I don't like getting involved with others."
"Right. I know." Luigi sat down in a chair, resting both hands on his knees; his fingers started drumming on them. "Things can get complicated. But that's just life. We all have commitments to something, right?"
"That's true," Falcon said, resuming his work. "Having all of this freedom made me forget about that."
"But, you know, having at one person in your life is never a bad thing. I know that all too well."
Falcon leaned his head out to face Luigi. "What do you mean?"
"Never really had any friends growing up," Luigi said, sighing. Although his childhood was fine, there were some minute, somber puddles he had to step through. "My shyness always prevented me from speaking to people. And they knew that. They always avoided me. Who'd want to be friends with such a shy, timid kid? But my brother was always there for me. Always giving me encouragement. Always being supportive. One person in your life is enough to make you say: 'yeah, I matter.'"
Hearing his own anecdote just reminded him of Mario again. The puddles returned; they were deeper this time, making it harder to escape. He worried about his big brother every day. How he longed for the old days, where they were just kids going to school, playing together in the backyard, and wishing each other goodnight at bedtime.
Mario was always nearby, and they were never separated by the inevitable ruler of adult responsibilities. But we can never reclaim the past; all we can do is seek out a new prosperous future. Luigi had every right to miss Mario, but yearning for the past wouldn't make their reunion come soon enough.
Falcon noticed the wistful highlights in Luigi's eyes. "Sounds like your brother means the world to you."
"Absolutely," Luigi said, pinching off the small threads of sorrow from his chest. He needed to take his mind off Mario for now. "And I'm sure you must feel the same way about your lady friend."
Falcon slammed the hood down with a steel-hard resolve. "I do. Which is why I'll do whatever it takes to save her."
"Good." Luigi rose to his feet, uplifted from Falcon's attitude. He walked over to him. "Just try not to worry and leave it to us. Focus on giving Black Shadow a humiliating defeat. Seeing him cry in that ridiculous outfit would be the highlight of my day."
Falcon couldn't help but grin at the notion of Black Shadow blubbering as he crossed the finish line. That was one mental video worth rewinding nonstop. He was in a good mood again. All the hesitation and worry had been disposed by his new friends' reassurance. He had learned to trust them, and knew they would rescue Jody's heart.
Right now, his mind drifted down a long, twisted road, seeing the finish line in sight. He couldn't wait to wrap that belt around his waist, gaining a few more pounds for both his body and pride. Before the two could partake in trivial conversation, they heard a loud noise from the hallway, opened the door, and peered down it.
They saw Yoshi running out from the corner, raising his arms in joy. "Me as free as a bee!"
And he had tempted fate, as Sora tackled him to the ground. After the two fought against each other, Sora managed to pick Yoshi up, bring him into a bear hug, and drag the poor dinosaur back towards the bathroom.
"Oh, no!" Sora said, struggling with all his might. "You're getting in that tub, even if I have to sacrifice the gel in my hair to do so!"
"Sora, why!?" Yoshi asked, distraught.
"The heck is going on?" Falcon asked, staring at the scene in complete confusion.
Luigi gave a huge, satisfied smirk. "That's MY highlight for the evening."
Although Sora and his friends were reliable, the good captain had many questions about their stability that would continue to stump him.
But, right now, having unusual company made this rough evening a little more bearable.
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