Chapter 20: Searching and Arriving
Bass moved silently through the shadows, his eyes scanning the ruins of Dr. Wily's old lab. It had been months of following dead-end clues, whispers of sightings, and rumors that led nowhere. He'd scoured every hidden bunker, every secret hideout he could think of, but there had been no sign of Wily. Until now.
The lab was exactly as he remembered it—dusty, cluttered, and full of half-finished machines. But it was eerily still, almost frozen in time. As he stepped deeper inside, his gaze fell on Guts Man's body, still slumped in a corner, mangled and destroyed. Bass clenched his fists, the sight bringing back memories of their last battle. Wily had abandoned so many of his creations, just like this. And in the end, he had abandoned Bass too.
As Bass pushed past the scattered remnants of old battles, he couldn't help but feel a familiar bitterness creeping up. Wily had always treated him like he was nothing more than a backup plan, a tool to be used and discarded. But Bass wasn't scrap. He was stronger than Wily gave him credit for, and finding Wily now was his way of proving it. Not just to Wily, but to himself. He would confront the old man, and this time, he would show him who really had the power.
Pushing aside his thoughts, Bass began to dig through the mess of notepads, data drives, and tablets piled on the workbenches. It was a chaotic jumble, and most of the notes were either useless or encrypted. Frustration built as he swiped through screen after screen of meaningless data. Then, something caught his eye—a tablet with a faint, flickering light.
Bass picked up the tablet and activated it. The screen lit up, displaying a series of coordinates and a live transmission. The feed was coming from a location far from here, in a cold, desolate region on the other side of the world. Bass's eyes narrowed as he realized what he'd found. It wasn't just data—this was a direct link to where Dr. Wily was hiding. He hesitated, his mind flashing back to the last time he faced Wily. A strange mix of anger and dread twisted inside him.
Without hesitation, he activated his communicator. "Proto Man, I found him," he said, his voice low but resolute. "I'm sending you the coordinates now." A few taps on the tablet, and the transmission was on its way. "Meet me there. It's time to end this."
As the signal pulsed through the communicator, Bass stood still, his eyes fixed on the darkened screens around him. The room was silent, but the message was clear: time was running out. Whatever Wily was planning, it was close to reaching its climax. Somewhere far beyond this cold, abandoned lab, the world was bracing for its own battles. A distant storm was gathering, and it would soon reach them all.
However, far away from Dr. Wilys abandoned lab, the calm before the storm had settled over the Mushroom Kingdom. A few days had passed since Princess Peach last spoke to Fox, when Samus made her unexpected return. In those days, the situation hadn't improved; if anything, it had only become more concerning. On one of the screens in her chamber, a message had been repeating—an automated notice of a bounty. The bounty was on Samus, Fox, Falco, Slippy, and someone named Krystal, and the reward was staggeringly high, even greater than the entire treasury of the Mushroom Kingdom could afford to pay. Peach knew that kind of price would attract dangerous people, people who might not stop until the job was done.
Peach sighed, turning her gaze out the window. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the courtyard below. In the distance, Donkey Kong, Link, and Zelda had arrived the night before, their presence a reminder of how serious the situation had become. The decision to plan their defenses together was a necessary one; Robotnik's ambitions were becoming clearer, and his attack on Angel Island had proven he would not hesitate to strike. She needed their strength, their wisdom, and their strategies, especially if Robotnik's forces turned their sights on the Mushroom Kingdom.
A sudden shadow swept over her, darkening the room. Peach looked up, her heart skipping a beat as she saw The Great Fox slowly descending outside, its massive frame blocking out the sun. It had been days of uncertainty, and now, finally, she might get the answers she needed. But those answers also meant one thing—Samus was here.
Peach stepped outside, trying to prepare herself for what was to come. She took a moment, gripping the edge of the window frame as her eyes followed the ship's slow descent. Memories of past conversations with Samus flashed through her mind—moments of trust, and the abrupt end of their last encounter. She forced herself to breathe, pushing those thoughts aside. Whatever history lay between them, it would have to wait.
The courtyard was filled with a mix of anxiety and anticipation, her friends gathered and ready for whatever news Fox would bring. She saw Donkey Kong, Zelda, Link, Roll, and Sonic already waiting, their eyes fixed on the ship as it touched down. She could feel the tension in the air, like the calm before a storm.
The ramp lowered, and before anyone could move, Falco and Slippy rushed out, carrying a stretcher with Rosalina lying unconscious on it. "Move! Get out of the way!" Falco shouted, urgency in his voice. Peach gasped as the group quickly parted, allowing them to pass. Peach looked at Roll, who immediately understood the wordless message, she immediately followed, her eyes full of concern, and hurried alongside them to the infirmary.
Peach's eyes widened as she saw Daisy walking slowly down the ramp, leaning on someone for support. Krystal, a face unfamiliar to most of the group, held Daisy steady, guiding her carefully. Daisy's face was pale, her clothes torn and battered, her steps weak, but her determination kept her moving. She had to speak to her friends, no matter how much she hurt. Fox walked a few steps behind them, his expression stoic.
Donkey Kong was the first to speak, his deep voice echoing across the courtyard. "What happened?" he asked, the worry evident in his tone.
Daisy took a slow breath, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Robotnik attacked us. He... destroyed the Comet Observatory," she said, the words heavy with pain. "We were left for dead, until Fox showed up. Rosalina needed help... this was the only place to bring her." Her voice cracked, but she pressed on, refusing to let herself break down. "Before we left, Robotnik demanded the Power Star," Daisy added, her voice barely above a whisper. "But... Rosalina destroyed it. She destroyed the Power Star."
Daisy's gaze hardened, and she looked up at Peach, her eyes filled with urgency. "And before we escaped, Robotnik said he was coming for the Mushroom Kingdom's Power Star next."
Peach's eyes widened, a sharp intake of breath betraying her alarm. The thought of Robotnik targeting their most powerful relic sent a shiver down her spine. She forced herself to steady her voice, the weight of leadership pressing heavily on her. "Then we have to be ready. We can't let him get that Power Star."
Zelda stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Daisy's shoulder. "You need to rest, too," she said softly. "Let's get you to the infirmary."
"No," Daisy said, pushing Zelda's hand away and shaking her head. "Not yet. Rosalina is more important. Take care of her first."
Sonic's ears perked up, and he took a step forward, his eyes sharp. "Did you see Tails?" he asked, his voice tense, as if he was bracing himself for bad news. "Was he with Robotnik?"
Daisy shook her head, her expression pained. "No... I didn't see him. I'm sorry, Sonic."
Zelda hesitated but eventually nodded, understanding the resolve in Daisy's eyes. Donkey Kong stepped closer, his brow furrowed. "Where's Luigi?" he asked, his voice low. "He should be here."
Daisy's eyes flickered, and she looked down, unable to meet Donkey Kong's gaze. "I don't know," she whispered. "Robotnik... he threw him through a portal. I don't know where it sent him."
Sonic's shoulders slumped, and he crossed his arms, frowning. "He could be anywhere," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "There's no way to know where he is."
Peach's heart sank. Luigi, her friend, lost somewhere out there—lost and alone, and there was nothing she could do to bring him back. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to think clearly, even as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. After a moment, she opened her eyes, a painful decision taking shape in her mind. She tightened her grip on the window frame, her knuckles white. "We'll have to wait on Luigi," she said quietly, her voice steady but strained. "We can't lose focus... not with Robotnik still out there. He'll have to find his own way, for now" The words felt like a betrayal, but she knew it was the only choice.
Zelda bit her lip, her eyes glistening, but she nodded. She knew Peach was right, even if it hurt to admit it.
Peach turned her gaze to Fox, her mind filled with questions. There was something gnawing at her, a question that she needed to ask. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Fox raised a hand, stopping her.
"I know what you're going to ask," Fox said, his voice calm but firm. "Yes, Samus is on board. I didn't want to push her, but you and her need to talk. Because whether we like it or not, you need each other right now."
Peach felt her breath hitch at the mention of Samus, her emotions a mix of relief, anger, and something she couldn't quite place. But she knew Fox was right. They couldn't afford to let old wounds and personal conflicts get in the way, not when the stakes were this high.
"All right," Peach said, her voice resolute. "Then let's talk. We need to be ready, for whatever comes next."
As they stood in the courtyard, the air heavy with unspoken fears and lingering hope, The Great Fox loomed over them like a silent sentinel, a symbol of the uncertain alliance they were about to forge. Whatever battles lay ahead, they would face them together, whether they were ready or not.