The Subspace Emissary
The Nintendo War
The victor felt none of his usual emptiness as he lifted his opponent’s lifeless form. This time something stirred within him, unpleasant and halting. As the crowd cheered, he stood still, lost what humans might unwittingly call a daydream. Faces of those he felt he should know curled before him in a wide vortex. They were memories belonging to the one he represented. He had been an adventurer, a workman, a referee, a friend, a husband. He now knew the name, his own name: Mario.
As if his feelings commanded it, the cruel metal of the trophy gave way, and Mario’s pink puffball of an opponent sprang to his feet with a look of confusion.
“Kirby!” said Mario. “What happened? How are you back?”
For a moment Kirby looked shocked at hearing his own name. He replied, “M-Mario… I don’t understand. I remember you.”
“And I you. Something’s been a changed.”
All the while the crowd had not stopped cheering, nor could they; their purpose was to cheer. Kirby’s reappearance only made them louder. Mario and Kirby waved at them and fans rose to their feet, excited to be acknowledged.
Cheers turned to frightened screams as a shadow draped over Nintendo Stadium and the sky roared; turning blood red as if the long pointed ship which now emerged from the clouds had pierced it. A strange purple mist fell from the ship, raining in clumps all over the battlefield. Kirby gasped. Fans began to panic and rush the exits.
“I know what that is, Mario,” said Kirby. “That’s Metaknight’s ship, the Halberg.”
“Good. Now, do you a know what those are?” Mario tapped Kirby, urging him to look at the mass of creatures now watching them. Kirby looked away from the ship toward the legion of toy-like machinations stiffly approaching them. Their eyes were glossy and empty. They wore brown gloves and had red antennas in their heads.
“No, can’t say that I do…”
“Surrender to the Trespasser,” said a robotic voice.
There was slight whoosh. Mario turned around as saw that Zelda and Peach had joined them.
“Mind if we crash?” asked Peach.
“No, not at all,” said Mario. “Actually, I think athe party’s just about to start.”
“Surrender to the Trespasser.” The robot pulled out a helmet with a red antenna similar to the one that was on its own head. It started toward Mario. “Put it on and you will understand. You must understand. You must surrender to the Trespasser.”
“No, I’m a good, thanks. Already got a hat.”
“Physical persuasion program…initiating.”
“Uh, oh,” said Kirby.
The robot flew toward Mario, gloved fists menacingly outstretched. Mario sprang aside and let fly a volley of fireballs. The robot was engulfed, but it persisted. Kirby dropped down on it from above with his rock fall, smashing the robot to pieces. More of them came. Zelda exploded her Din’s fire in the midst of them. Peach was throwing her giant turnips rapidly. Flaming and destroyed metal arched into the sky and fell. Still more came. A fireball hit Kirby, seemingly from the mob.
“Watch it, Mario!”
“That wasn’t me!”
Fire exploded right in his face. Mario fell, reeling from the pain and clutching at his eyes. Through his blurred vision he saw Kirby rise up with his cutter and come down. The blade wave cut a swathe right through the robots. Moments later, it came back, hitting Zelda from behind.
“They’re a copying us!” cried Mario, still dazed, but now getting up.
“You think?” said Zelda, examining her frayed dress. The four of them were pressed back to back. Mario was caping furiously and Zelda had her Nayru shield, but the assault was becoming too much. The rapidly increasing robots formed a darkening waved that threatened to drown them all.
Just then a blue light appeared beneath them and they fell spinning through a blue tunnel. It was as soon as it began. They lay on soft grass outside what looked to be a large warehouse.
“Ugh…what happened?” asked Kirby, stretching his nubbly limbs.
“You narrowly escaped severe injury and capture thanks to Mewtwo here.”
“Metaknight!” Kirby leapt to his feet. “You have some nerve showing yourself right after you turned your goons on us.”
“Thank you will do,” said Metaknight.
“Meta didn’t send them,” said Mewtwo, his voice echoing in every mind.
“Then who is?” asked Zelda, looking as incredulous as Kirby, and clearly unnerved by Mewtwo’s appearance.
“The Trespasser, a master of subspace,” said Metaknight. “He is making a desperate bid to seize control of our world by flooding it with his followers, with the help of miscreants from this and other subspaces. Our world is Overworld, the region in which all subspaces are contained. However, he has managed to expand his subspaces almost enough to overwrite this world. He has sent four emissaries to engage the resistances of this world. Three to deal with the Masters, one to deal with the…heroes.”
“You’re the fourth,” said Mario.
“Very good. However, I was the fourth. Not anymore. That’s not to say I was ever under his command. I wasn’t. I accepted the position only to be able to moderate what happened here. Unfortunately, he mistrusted me and attempted to place me under mind control. I escaped and now and King Dedede now holds my former position…and my ship. ”
“You’re expecting us to buy this?” Kirby snarled.
“Buy? I am selling nothing! I offer only hope!”
“Who are the other three?” asked Zelda, swiftly diffusing the conflict.
Metaknight looked troubled at this. “I don’t know them. They each come from a different subspace. A tall man, a metal man with one hand, and a blue creature of great speed. They have been fooled into believing you are the enemies, that you threaten their worlds. We will need all the others to defeat them…even the pokemon. The Trespasser must be stopped before he acquires more emissaries. Already his legions are formidable…you’ve seen their powers. And he has made allies of your enemies and their legions as well.”
“Bowser?” said Mario.
“Boswer, his son Ludwig Von, Ganondorf, Eggplant Wizard, King Hippo, King Dedede, and Ridley.”
Mario sighed. “We’ll need a help, lots of it. I have a to get in touch with my brother.”
“No need,” said Metaknight, his voice suggested he might he grinning underneath his mask.
“What?”
“You’ll see,” and Metaknight opened the door.
The room was literally filled to the brim with familiar faces. Excite Biker and the paperboy were deep in conversation. Link, Pit, and bunch of other swordsmen were off to another side, comparing weapons and gear. Popo and Nana were playing tag with Lolo, Lala, and Diddy. Fox and company were hanging with the F-Zero crowd. Ness and his folk sat there, quietly watching. There were hockey players and wrestlers, random thugs and robots, beasts and beauties, animals and humans, and everything in between. Now and then there would be a pop followed by a balloon fighter shouting at someone, usually a pokemon.
Mario could hardly take it all in. It seemed everyone was here.
“They’ve all come a long way, though different perils to get here, Mario,” said Metaknight. “For some reason it was easier to get them to come when I told them you were involved.”
Everywhere Mario looked someone was watching him, some awed, with others it was hard to tell what they were thinking. All of them were clearly expecting him to do something. For a while he sat quietly with Peach in the corner, saying nothing, his head buried in his lap. Eventually Luigi came over.
“Maahrio, you have to a say something. They need you, my brother.”
Peach’s soft hand on his back gave him enough strength to stand up and stride to the front of the room. Dead silence. He took a deep breath.
“Wooo Mario, you rule!” someone said. There was a bit of laughter after this.
“Listen,” he said. “Metaknight has a brought you all a here. He put himself a in danger to make this a happen.” I am a very flattered that many of you a are willing to listen to me, but I am a simple a man. There are many people here a more capable that I. I’m just a plumber.”
Little Mac stood up, looking strong and ready to fight. “Yeah, and I’m just a runt,” he said, “and Kirby’s just a cream puff, and Pikachu’s just a rat, and Mewtwo is just…well, I dunno what he is. Point is we all beat the odds in the past, we all proved someone wrong. How many worlds are you gonna run across ‘fore you start to see what all of us here see in you? When’re you gonna realize you’re worth following? I’d go to the end with you, man.”
“As would I,” said Link, a hero of great reputation himself.
“And I,” said Pit, and he stood.
“A-rooooo!” exclaimed Donkey Kong, standing and nodding vigorously.
Mario’s nose turned deep red, and he looked down.
Soon the entire mob was on its feet, the air thick with words of encouragement. Everyone was standing except Wario, who became suddenly very conspicuous and all eyes fell on him.
“Well I ain’t getting up,” he said, “but I am SO in on this, pal!”
The cheers and laughter deafened.
“Great…” said Mario, rolling his eyes.
“Then it’s settled,” said Metaknight, effortlessly gathering the attention of all. “Mario will choose the team to take on the Trespasser directly in his domain. Choose wisely.”
Mario chose Luigi, Peach (because she insisted), Samus, Link, Pit, Zelda, Fox, Captain Falcon, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Mike Jones, Pikachu, Lucario, Mewtwo, Ness, B.F. (balloon fighter), Yoshi, Wario(chose himself), Mew, Marth, and finally, Little Mac.
Metaknight immediately drew Mario aside. “Why him?” he asked, jerking his head toward Mac. “There are others more…versatile left to choose from.”
“His heart more than makes up for it. Now if you’ll excuse me…” Mario turned and faced the crowd, and everyone at once fell silent. Peach came behind him and took his hand. “You all know what the Mimicks can do,” said Mario, “but you will also be faced with many minions, some you recognize, some you don’t. Most of them aren’t very strong, as you know, but don’t take any of them lightly, and don’t get careless. Once you are able to recover the Halberg you can use it as transport to areas infested with Mimicks and other minions. Who will command?”
Six stepped forward. Ike, Doc Louis, Toad, Krystal, Mr. Game and Watch, and R.O.B, who rolled.
“Doc, no! You’re--”
Doc Louis looked into Mac’s pleading eyes. “I’m what?” He held the stare.
Little Mac relented. “You’re the man.”
R.O.B gyrated happily and G.W made excited beeping noises. Everyone would be afraid soon, but for now a blissful exhilaration filled the room.
More cheers.
Metaknight waved them all down. “Mewtwo has prepared the portal. It will take you to Nintendo Stadium where the Halberg is currently grounded. Take care of my ship or I will take care of you later.”
Mewtwo moved his hands in a circular motion and a whirling blue vortex appeared as tall as the wall itself. There was much shaking of hands and hugging as the army passed through the portal into the unknown.
“What if they need to get back?” asked Mario.
“Alakazam and some of those psychic kids are with them,” said Metaknight. “Getting back is the least of their problems.”
Mewtwo then created another portal. “This one,” he said, “leads to The Crux, the central land between Overland and all subspaces. There the Masters are being held under a potent guard. A there you will meet the trespasser. It was I who awakened all of your memories, but by now you must know that you are only a shadow of the owner of those memories. Succeed for the ones you represent, and maybe your memories will become theirs as well.”
“Mew will stay behind to maintain the portal,” said Metaknight. “Just in case …something happens to out psychics.”
And with that the final twenty-three filed into the portal, and no one looked back as it closed behind them.
And this really looks like it's pointing to more 3rd-party char.s, as well as, with the way it looks, a possible nod to the KH games. I mean, honestly, if you're a KH fan, TELL me you've not wondered what KH + video games could be like. SSB is perfect for a KH-worlds-in-chaos scenario.
