Hello! And welcome to the all-new, redone and re-written Smash: Emissary. For those unaware (as the old chapters will be gone when this goes up), this story has been in a limbo for me for a long time, due to both lack of motivation and a bad story on my part. However, I have overhauled the story completely and am much happier with how this version of it will turn out.
I'm sure this is news for my Ao3 and Wattpad readers, as I never put those updates on those platforms. So, surprise!
Those who have read the original before the posting of this new version will find that certain story ideas or character threads have carried over to this new version. I had good ideas before, but poor execution, and I didn't want the good ideas I had to go to waste. But there are also big changes from the initial story as well, ones I hope make it all the better. This story as a whole will be on the shorter side compared to my other stories, currently sitting at around 10-12 chapters potential, but I'm wanting to make those chapters count. I hope that across its run, this story is both entertaining and enjoyable. Thank you for supporting what I do, and enjoy the Pilot chapter of the all new, Smash: Emissary.
Smash: Emissary
Chapter 1: Pilot
When Princess Peach Toadstool wanted to prepare for the banquet and meeting she had planned, she wasn't expecting to face as many complications as she was here. The kitchens of her castle had been a chaotic, hectic scramble last she checked, and time was running out before the princess of Sarasaland arrived at the castle.
The event in question was a meeting Peach deemed as one of the most important in her royal tenure: negotiations to form a multi-kingdom alliance against those who would threaten their kingdoms. Primarily, the ever-looming and ever-consistent threat of the Koopa King Bowser, who has proven time and again to be an enemy of the people of almost every other kingdom in the land, especially her own Mushroom Kingdom. So her and Princess Daisy of Sarasaland had decided enough was enough, and they would be the beginning of a united front against Bowser. Previously, the lands have had to rely on the heroics of the Mario Brothers.
Brothers who had run late with a special gift that would be presented as a token of friendship and unity not just between the mushroom Kingdom and Sarasaland, but for any kingdom that would join their fold. And with the clock ticking until Daisy arrived, Peach began to become more and more stressed. As her subjects, the Toads, sprinted back and forth in order to finish prepping, she stopped one of them along the way and pulled them aside.
"Have you heard from the Captain yet? Daisy is due soon and the Brothers are transporting the gift!" She asked.
"No, princess," The Toad shook his head. "We haven't heard from Captain Toad since they crossed the kingdom's borders."
Peach sighed. "Thank you," The princess said gratefully. The Toad nodded and continued on his own business. Peach sighed and shook her head. Where are you, Mario?
"Princess, princess!" One of the other Toads began hopping frantically down the hall towards her. "They're here! They're here!" Peach perked up, and rushed through her castle's halls until she reached the front gate. The massive front doors swung open, held open by more of her loyal Toads, and a massive wooden crate five times her own size was hauled through the doorway, carried from below by none other than the Mario brothers: the shorter but elder Mario and the taller yet younger Luigi. Both seemed to have a stable hold on what they were carrying but they also seemed tired, having presumably carried it quite the long way.
"C'mon, Luigi, just a bit further…!" Mario strained.
"It's been… miles already…" Luigi sighed.
Peach shook her head with a small smile. "Toads, get that weight off the boys' shoulders," She commanded. A large group of Toads approached and took the massive, and clearly heavy, crate out of the brothers' hands. The two let out sighs of relief, and Luigi even plopped right down in the middle of the entryway.
"I gotta… catch my breath…" He said. Mario stayed on his feet, though, merely taking a few deep breaths before steadying himself. He then stood tall as Peach approached them, then bowed. Luigi quickly stood up and did the same.
"Princess," Mario greeted.
"Mario," Peach greeted simply. "It's good to see you both."
"You as well, Princess," Mario replied with a warm smile. Peach returned it, albeit lacking in some of the warmth Mario had provided. Her eyes darted to the side momentarily.
"Your help is appreciated. You're welcome to stay for the negotiations if you like. I'm sure you'll want to hear what I have planned."
"Yes, I'm sure we will," Mario said, slightly hurt by his lack of emotional reception, but not letting it show.
"Daisy will be here before long. I'm sure you remember where the conference hall is. I have some more preparations to see to. I'll meet the both of you there." Peach then turned on her heel and quickly left the brothers behind. Mario let out a disappointed sigh after she was gone.
"Still in the doghouse, huh?" Luigi asked.
"Yeah… I thought she'd be over what happened by now," Mario admitted.
"Maybe trying to one-up Bowser in marriage proposal's right after she was kidnapped for that exact reason wasn't the best idea," Luigi pointed out.
"Yeah, I know it was dumb now," Mario said. "Like they say, hindsight is twenty/twenty."
"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll get over it soon enough. You've saved the kingdom too many times to count. And look at the bright side: she doesn't hate you. Things are just awkward."
"Things could be worse, I guess. Just they could also be better," Mario said, then sighed. "C'mon, let's go."
The meeting hall, despite being a rather large room, was left mainly empty save for a small group: Mario, Peach, Luigi, Princess Daisy, and a handful of Toad guards standing at attention at the exits of the room. In the center of the room was a large round wooden table highlighted with gold. Molded in gold in the center of the table was the emblem for the Mushroom Kingdom. Seated at opposite ends of the table were Peach and Daisy, while each of the brothers stood a few feet behind each royalty's chair on guard, with Mario behind Peach's and Luigi behind Daisy's.
"Thank you for coming, Daisy," Peach said gratefully.
"Hey, anything for old friends, Peach," Daisy smiled.
"This is something I think we need. Bowser has threatened both of our kingdoms and more unchecked for years. Well no more of it," Peach declared. "This will be just the start of something new for the world, and it starts with us. Right here, right now."
"Y'know, I don't think I've ever seen you so serious about something before," Daisy remarked. "I mean, the bros have saved the day time and time again. Why the sudden change in attitude?"
"While, yes, Mario and Luigi have saved not just our kingdoms but us countless times, and I am grateful for that…" Peach glanced at Mario behind her as if to give him a reassuring glance, which eased the tension just a little, allowing the hero to smile a bit. "... this isn't just about saving the day. It's about ensuring that the day doesn't have to be saved in the first place. The Koopa Kingdom is the most powerful singular kingdom in the land. But it won't be stronger than every other kingdom united together. If we can create an alliance of kingdoms united to stand against Bowser next time he strikes, we can make sure he won't pose a threat to us again."
"You've really thought about this, haven't you?" Daisy asked.
Peach nodded. "It's time for something different, something new, something that ensures a future for everyone."
"Well, then I'm sold," Daisy replied.
Peach was stunned momentarily. She clearly wasn't expecting an answer so quickly. "Y-you are?"
"C'mon, Peach, how long have we known each other? 'Course I'll join ya! I'm just as sick of that stupid turtle as the rest of you!"
Peach let out a sigh of relief. "Good." She then stood from her chair and reached across the table. Daisy smiled and stood as well, leaning across the table to shake Peach's hand. "Then let this alliance formerly be recognized as the start of a new era for-"
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the entire castle to its very foundation. Everyone stumbled for a few moments before regaining their balance. "What was that?!" Daisy exclaimed. Before an answer could be hazarded, another explosion sounded right above them, and suddenly the ceiling above them caved in, with a massive amount of rubble threatening to drop down on their heads. The Mario Brothers acted quickly, each of them quickly grabbing hold of a princess and diving out of the way just before the table became buried under extreme amounts of scorched stone masonry. Daisy groaned as she looked up while being in Luigi's arms. "My hero," She said with a wink. Luigi's face flushed red, then he quickly helped her up to her feet. Mario did the same for Peach, then the four looked upward as none other than King Bowser himself came down in a floating white pod with a turbine at its base.
"Guess who's back!" The King Koopa howled. His pod descended until it was just above the other four.
"You think we said his name too many times?" Luigi remarked. He and his older brother quickly put the princesses behind them and stood before Bowser, ready for the oncoming battle.
"You just really want your shell kicked in, don't ya, big guy?" Mario smirked confidently.
"As much as I'd like to tear you apart, plumber, you aren't my biggest concern," Bowser snarled.
"What's wrong? Scared?"
"Yes. But not of you," Bowser said. The koopa snapped his fingers, and suddenly an entire platoon of robots came down from above as well. The robots were boxy in form, with rectangular heads with twin lens-like eyes behind plated glass, with a metal rod as their necks and spines. They had platforms instead of feet and claw-like pincer hands, and their bodies were plated with white metal.
"Uh, those aren't Koopa Troopas," Luigi said.
"No kidding," Mario replied. "But they'll be just as easy to beat!" Mario leapt forward and reeled his fist back to strike the first of the machines within reach, but the robot slid out of Mario's direct path and clamped it's claw hand onto his wrist, then began to spin violently before letting go, throwing Mario right into the rubble pile where the conference table used to be.
Bowser chuckled and hopped out of the flying pod, making the earth shake with the impact as he landed. In his hands was a large high-tech firearm just as bulky as Bowser himself, sleek black metal with glowing purple angular highlights stretching along the weapons barrel. Luigi wavered at first, but quickly leapt forward on top of one of the robot's heads and jumped from robot to robot, making his way to Bowser quickly. Luigi leapt off the final robot's head and lunged right for Bowser, but the massive King Koopa swatted him to the side. As Luigi hit the ground and tumbled, Bowser took aim with the weapon right at the green-clad plumber.
"I guess you'll be the first to find out what this does," Bowser smirked. He held the trigger of the firearm down, and purple energy began to fill up at the tip of the weapons barrel. Mario recovered from his initial tossing, and saw as Bowser aimed the strange weapon at his brother.
"Luigi!" He cried out. Before he could launch himself forward, though, three of the robots closed in on him, while the rest of the small army was dealing with the Toad guards around the room, seemingly almost effortlessly. Mario leapt upwards just before they snagged him in their pincers, then dropped down on one of their heads, smashing it into scrap, then jumped backwards to avoid being grabbed. He took the chance to glance back towards Bowser and his brother. The weapon's buildup of energy had reached its peak, and finally it fired a full, powerful energy blast that collided with the still-stunned Luigi head on. In a flash of harsh purple light, the energy subsided, and Luigi's form had taken that of a shining bronze metal, frozen in place like a statue, blankly looking forward. "No!" Mario exclaimed, only to then be hit in the gut by one of the robot's claws, then he was flattened out as another connected with his jaw. Quickly, two of the robots restrained Daisy and Peach as well.
"Hey, let go of me, you rusty tin can!" Daisy growled, squirming and kicking to get free, only hurting herself against its metal body. Peach was squirming just as much, to no avail. Bowser stomped over as two robots grabbed the frozen Luigi and blasted off into the air with him. Bowser aimed the strange weapon again, after only a few moments, Daisy was turned into a statue just as Luigi was. The robot holding her launched into the air just the same. Peach kept squirming, and wore an expression of fright as Bowser turned the weapon her way next.
"Mario!" Peach screamed, crying for her hero. Mario scrambled to his feet and rolled out of the way as one of the robots swung at him again.
"Peach!" Mario called and sprinted forward, narrowly avoiding being snagged by two more of the deadly machines. But just before he reached Peach and Bowser, he felt a searing white hot pain in his shoulder and collapsed onto the ground. He gritted his teeth tightly and held his injury, smelling the burnt part of his flesh. He glanced back and now saw the still-glowing bulb of a laser weapon placed under one of the robot's box heads, then noticed the same, albeit dull black, bulb on them all. Small and unnoticeable, but clearly dangerous. He looked at his wound and saw the laser had burned right through his arm. A small and nonlethal injury, but it burned badly. It felt like his nerves were set on fire, and it hurt to move that part of his body at all now. Quickly, a small group of the robots surrounded him, lighting up their now-revealed laser weapons on standby, as if simply waiting for the command.
He glanced up at his princess, still cradling his shoulder painfully. If Peach wasn't terrified before, she was now. Bowser let out a low, rumbly laugh, and then in a flash of purple light and energy, Peach was just as the others had become: a bronze-like statue. And before Mario knew it, the robot holding her blasted off into the sky. "Peach!" He cried again.
Bowser bellowed as the last of Mario's friends was taken away. "How simple this was. How easy! After all this time, I've finally beat you."
"It's… rrg, not over yet…" Mario groaned.
Bowser chuckled lowly. "I think it is. Goodbye, plumber. After we're gone, kill him." Bowser then turned around, climbed back into his pod, and flew off into the sky, out of sight. Mario furrowed his brow, and looked up at the robots surrounding him, gazing down at him with their primed lasers ready to tear right through him.
"Uh… don't suppose I could convince you guys to let me go?" Mario asked them. Their lasers began to fully charge, and Mario panicked, but then an idea struck him. He waited until the lasers reached their peak charge, then quickly got his feet back under him and leapt straight up just as the weapons fired. The robots' heads followed him, making them use their lasers on each other instead. Mario landed on his feet as the robots shot each other, leaving them no more than smoldering piles of metal. He wiped his hands clean, then suddenly gritted his teeth as his still-in-pain laser wound spiked in burning pain.
"Wonderful job, there," A voice suddenly said, "But it appears I'm too late." Mario snapped around as a figure wrapped in a green and purple cloak with a pointed green hat with peering yellow eyes hidden in darkness appeared before him.
"Who are you?!" Mario questioned.
"My apologies. You may call me the Ancient Minister. I was on my way to help prevent that attack that I clearly arrived at too late," the Ancient Minister replied. "You aren't the first attacked by these forces, and I've no doubt you won't be the last."
"Bowser's attacking more people?" Mario questioned.
"No. I'm afraid this is larger than just your Mushroom Kingdom. Much larger," The Minister said.
"So you know where they took my friends?" Mario asked.
"I'll explain everything to you. But first, I have one more place to visit."
The invading machines would be cut down one by one. They were deadly, and resilient, but even their metal forms were not strong enough against the power of the Master Sword in Link's hand. They had come from the sky, bearing down on Hateno Village without mercy, destroying anything in their path. Most of the residents of the village took the best shelter they could, barricading their homes in the hopes the machines couldn't get inside. Some had quickly fled the village. They turned out to be the safest, as the machines showed no interest in leaving the borders of Hateno Village, which meant they were here for a reason. A reason of which Link had yet to figure out.
As he cut down another full squad of the machines, the stress on his body began to sink in. He didn't know how long he'd been fighting these things for, but it was wearing him down, and the amount of the deadly robots didn't seem to stop.
"Link!" He heard a woman call. He glanced up as a woman took his side: Princess Zelda herself. "Everyone has taken shelter. They are safe."
"Why aren't you secure with them?" Link asked.
"I couldn't leave you out here alone. There are too many, even for you! Come take shelter with us until reinforcements arrive from the Goron!" Zelda insisted.
Link seemed hesitant at first, but nodded and rose back to his full height. Zelda began to lead him back the way she came, then suddenly robots still remaining in the village began to surround them. Link quickly grabbed Zelda by the arm and pulled her close, then raised his shield and sword high, ready to defend her. The machines closed in further. Link thrust his blade forward right through one of their heads, putting it out of commission, but right after he made the movement, one of the robots cut in between him and Zelda and struck them both in the back, pushing them both to the ground.
Link quickly rolled back over with his shield in front of him just before their metal claws struck, sending their hits sparking off the shield. He quickly popped up onto one knee, and holding his blade tightly, quickly spun around in a whirlwind fashion with his weapon outwards, bisecting every machine around him in one rapid movement. Their top halves slid off and hit the dirt while their platform bases stayed rooted to the spot.
Zelda wasn't so lucky. As the machines clawed at her, she squirmed and kicked at them to stay free, having no weapon of her own despite the circumstances. Eventually, though, their pincers snagged her limbs and hauled her up. "Link!" She cried. Link snapped up and then lunged at one of the robots holding her, ready to cleave it in two, when another robot zoomed into him, colliding with his torso and blasting through a wall into the abandoned inn across the path. They crashed into the front counter, smashing it into a thousand tiny splinters. Link choked to get air back into his lungs, hacking up from the harsh impact, but didn't have much time to recover, as the machine narrowed its lens-like eyes at the Hylian, then primed a strike with its pincer hand. Link scrambled for his shield and held it close to his chest just in time to protect himself from the blow. Link quickly pulled both feet inwards, then kicked out with both simultaneously to send the robot's own platform base out from under it. As it fell forward, Link swiped his shield upwards, connecting with its boxy head. The robot hit the floor with a clang! Link quickly took advantage of the moment by jumping up, then bringing the bottom point down onto the machines neck, decapitating it instantly.
Link took a passing moment to breathe, then recovered the Master Sword from the wreckage before sprinting back outside. When he returned to the outside village however, a flash of purple light came from the remaining group of machines, and Link saw Zelda's form as now a bronze-like statue, still and unmoving. His eyes rounded and he sprinted as fast as he could. It wasn't fast enough, however. The machines all grabbed hold of Zelda's new metal form and blasted off into the sky with the Hylian Princess.
"Zelda!" Link exclaimed. He watched as the machines flew off into the sky, and then with another flash of white light, were gone entirely.
Link panted heavily, his fatigue quickly catching up with him. He dropped to one knee, driving his sword into the ground and gripping tightly with what strength he had to keep from collapsing into the dirt. Sweat poured down his head, while a trickle of blood ran down his temple.
"It seems I'm late again. He really does have them working quickly, doesn't he?" Link glanced over his shoulder to see a short figure dressed in a purple an black cloak and green pointed hat. "I apologize I couldn't help. I am the Ancient Minister, and your aid is required, Link of Hyrule."
"What… happened here?" Link questioned between heavy breaths.
"Come with me, and I shall tell you," The Minister replied. Suddenly a rift opened in front of Link, like a doorway in space itself. "You are not the only one affected by these forces of darkness."
Link glanced up at the Minister, and reluctantly nodded. He forced himself to his feet and sheathes his blade, before slowly walking through the rift. He came through on the other side to a mostly destroyed meeting room. Smaller miles of rocks and dust signified where larger mounds of rubble used to be. As he entered, he saw a short pudgy man with a mustache in overalls and red cap with the letter M on it, and two other rifts open as well. Through one rift came a small being that was round and pink with bright blue eyes and stubby arms. Through the second rift came an anthropomorphic creature of some kind with blue fur and quills and emerald-green eyes, wearing only red and white shoes with golden buckles.
Needless to say, Link was left confused more than ever.
As the blue creature came through, he spotted the pudgy man and quickly wore a smile. "Well I'll be, didn't think I'd ever see you again, Mario!"
"Sonic the Hedgehog," Mario returned the smile, and the two shared a fist bump together. "Still rolling around, I see."
"At the speed of sound, as I do," Sonic replied.
"Poyo!" The two turned and looked down at the pink gumball of a being that had joined them as well.
"Who's this guy?" Sonic asked Mario, who just shrugged and shook his head.
"I believe it is time to answer all of your questions," The Minister said as he floated up into the air above the four of them. The four stood alongside each other and glanced up at the Minister. "You've all been introduced to me, now you must know each other. Mario Mario, savior of the Mushroom Kingdom. Sonic the Hedgehog, speedster of Mobius. Kirby, protector of Dreamland. Link, Hero of Hyrule. Your four worlds, as well as many others, are in grave danger. Mario and Link have experienced this firsthand."
"Yeah, what were those things?" Mario asked.
"The mechanical forces you faced are designated as ROBs. They were once a peaceful, even revolutionary people. Until a day came where their world was conquered by a force of power far stronger than anything you four have ever faced. This force, this conqueror is known by one name… Tabuu. He enslaved the ROBs to do his bidding once before, until he and his forces were sealed away in a dimension between dimensions, called Subspace. He's been trapped there for millennia. However, recently, his prison has somehow been breached. While it hasn't been broken enough for Tabuu himself to escape, you've already seen his forces in action, no doubt acting on their master's bidding."
"So why does this involve us?" Sonic asked.
"Conquest is his goal. But his methods have altered since before his imprisonment. I do not know why he kidnapped your friends, and due to the fact he cannot leave Subspace, he has employed the aid of many evildoers to lead his army and further his conquest, such as the Koopa King Bowser, as you have seen," The Minister answered. "I would hope that his full motive can be uncovered before his plans can unfold. That is why I have brought you four together. I believe that together, we can stop Tabuu's forces before Tabuu himself escapes Subspace and wreaks havoc upon every reality, as well as save your friends from his grasp."
"No one takes my friends and gets away with it," Mario said.
"Stop a bad guy from destroying the world? That's just another Tuesday for us," Sonic remarked. "I'm in."
Link didn't say anything, but after a few moments gave a firm nod to the Minister. He was in as well.
"Poyo!" Kirby beamed.
"Sounds like we got a team, Minister," Mario smirked.
"Indeed it does. I hope you four are ready for what is ahead of us," The Minister said.
The four heroes mentally prepared themselves. They had seen firsthand what kind of threat this Tabuu and his army posed. They knew from the next step forward, their lives, their worlds, whether for better or worse, were about to change forever.