Chapter 4: Shattered Sanctuary

[smashbro]

{smashrbo}
[smashbro's town]

smashrbo was at home. For a few days. And there were good and bad things about it, he enjoyed that people were paying more attention to him more, but then again, most people weren't. It was somewhat relaxing, somewhat boring, and yet he was working on tons of things, like all of his normal work, applying for National Honor Society, making a pasta bridge and more. Still looming over his head was the prospect of getting a job, applying for scholarships, and looking for colleges.

But there was still the one thing in the back of his mind.

His original friends, his original good ones.

He hadn't been able to think of a way to get back. He even became weak for a moment, going to the center of the basketball court and hoping it would bring him back, he didn't particularly care about what would happen to his world. But it would not let him through.

The only hint he got though, was one day when he checked the site, there was a smiple message, but he was confused when he saw the sender.

In 3 days, a messenger will be sent for you, to help you return.
-----X

[eiron]

[Nemeck, Arietta]
{Harsh Seas}

Nemeck stood on the deck of the mighty ship, swaying with the rocking of the treacherous waves, his talons gripping deep into the wood. His black cloaked whipped around him in a raging frenzy, the wind and rain pelting against his body like icy daggers, dripping down his gleaming mask as it blazed with light as the storm burst overhead.

He watched, somewhat entranced as the men on deck worked through the storm, wrestling with Mother Nature herself, cursing and swearing, heaving and hoeing, surviving by the skin of their teeth and the strength of their arms. It was an impressive sight, to see mere humans, insects upon the vast raging beast of the sea, curl their fists up towards the sky and scream in defiance, challenging the sky, the ocean, and the earth to swallow them up if it dared. Nemeck smiled from under his mask.

A soft, yellow glow of light flickered across the deck briefly as the door behind Nemeck opened and closed, the sound swallowed by the storm and the crashing waves. Nemeck turned to see Arietta leaving the cabin, her face dark and melancholy. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Nemeck, but she said nothing. He chuckled.

“What do you find so amusing?” She hissed, her voice barely audible over the storm.
“Just you, Bomolochus.” He said, still smiling. “You and the Alazon inside.”
Arietta stared up at him, her face hard but under control. “Old man…zip up that forked tongue of yours before I rip it out!”

Nemeck raised his arms out before him, his hands turned upright, fitting the ragged crew between them. “I told you before, Arietta. Power is meaningless. That man-Crehavos, has all the power in the world, yet he is a walking corpse. No man can kill him, but he is already dead and rotting. He lurks in the shadows, bored and obsessing over his game of chess, trying to fend off the growing certainty that he is losing at his own game.” Nemeck laughed out loud, his voice lost to the wind. “He wonders why only his pieces remain on the board, failing to grasp that the enemy has long since abandoned it to fight a war unrestricted by rules or order. A war fought among the shadows, among rocks and sticks and mud, a war of the weak, flitting from place to place like a virus until finally, the great grandmaster bleeds to death from the inside out.” Nemeck raised his arms further, enveloping the struggling crew before them, his smile disappearing.

“Look at these men, gripping their destiny with their own two hands, carving their existence with the iron resolve of their wills! See how they stare death in the face, see how they laugh, and triumph again and again! See how they live!

Lightning blazed across the sky, arcing overhead in a thunderous roar of sound and light. Nemeck was illuminated against the blazing sky, his arms outstretched, as if daring the lightning to strike him. Then, slowly, Nemeck lowered his arms, the folds of his robes clinging to his body in the icy rain.

“Adversity…the ability to die…the bliss, the gift, the revel of knowing that your blood can spill gloriously before your opponent’s eyes, that the icy cold grip of death may take you at any moment, that the waves can swallow you up and never spit you out, THAT is what Crehavos is missing. THAT is what he has cast aside, yet longs for more than anything else.”

[Mariomasher]

[DMM, Nemeck, Arietta, Crehavos]
Harsh Seas

DMM appeared on Crehavos's ship. The waves splashed over the sides of the massive and mighty ship. The ship rocked back and forth but everyone seemed to be undisturbed by it. DMM, Having been on land for the past 7 or so years, was a little shakey on the water. He put on his sea legs and approached Crehavos. He looked at Crehavos. "My lord," DMM spoke as he bowed before his lord. "I have identified the location of four SSS members. They apparently know of my origin. I remember Luca but the others are unknown to me. They are now easily identified for I have scarred their faces. On each of their cheeks is a slash. They are cautious and are looking everywhere for enemies since i left. I shall obey your command, my lord. What shall i do?" DMM knelt, looking down, waiting for a response.

[Rorschach]

[Sour, Kaemon, IOY, Green Hell Forest]

"Memories of the good, the bad, the future and the past", Sours voice uttered. "Is it all just a joke? Are we all just hallucinating what "life" really is not realizing the true essentials of the world? Is this all.....a dream?"

Sour shook his head wildly. He remembered he was back in reality. Suddenly, he had a different goal in mind. Suddenly, Sour reached his pocket to find an orb.

"What...what is this for?" Sour asked in confusion.

Kaemon and IOY stared at Sour with a look of confusion on their faces as well.

Sour shook the orb and it began to glow. Sour dropped it in suprise. The orb continued to glow. Sour had a feeling that this orb meant something so he waited right beside the orb until it finished glowing.

"Well Guys, I dont know what this orb is for but I have a feeling it will help us somehow," Sour explained. "So let us wait and find out what excitement it brings?"

[OOC: to BB who gave me the orb, I need someone to send "eiron" to come help us out plz. Eiron and I already set up the plans.]

[bobsnicket]

[Zel's Ship]

Snicket nodded in response to Kin. Both his and Ness Longworth's speeches had touched him deeply, although he was not one to often express emotions; he had not felt this kind of unity since the very first days he'd spent observing the SSS. And now, he was a part of it.

Bob first approached his good friend LGN. "Of course you can join us. I merely did not want to sound greedy by requesting too many high-ranked members on this quest. But it is my honor, rather than yours, to work alongside such a stalwart warrior."

Snicket addressed Kin and the other members of the expedition party. "Well, then, without further ado, let us depart hence. Professor, did you manage to salvage it?"

E. Gadd nodded and chuckled with a toothy grin, pulling out a mirror-like device out of his bulging lab coat. "Sure did, lad. Stand back, everyone. Wouldn't want to send someone to a random dimension by accident, would we?"

A circular space was cleared as members backed up to make room for the professor. Perhaps a little more excited than would have been proper, the diminutive scientist started fiddling with the device with an elliptical, reflective surface. "This little piece of work," he explained as he pressed switches and wound various knobs, "is what I like to call D.O.O.R.--Dimension-Opening Oval Reflector. And..." He twisted a final latch and placed it onto the metal ground of the meeting bay. "...you'll soon see why."

A deep humming resonated from the small invention, and it began vibrating like a cell phone, only without cease. The glass-like surface then went suddenly black. In a clear, loud voice, Elvin Gadd enunciated, "RED SUBSPACE." Then, a burst of electric blue light shot out from the round surface. It spread out until coming to a vertical halt a few yards away, looking much like a projected screen, only it was in the shape of an oval.

And through the oval, instead of looking into what should have been on the other side, namely Luigi, one saw swirling currents of scarlet intermingling within. A door in the dimensional fabric had been opened.

Gadd gave a bit of a bow, as if he were a performer, and nodded Snicket forward.

And so, the venturers stepped up before the portal, prepared to leave: Bob, Kin, Dobs, LGN, Yoshi, Snake, Samus, Diddy Kong, Banjo & Kazooie.

With a grim smile, eyes shining with hope, Snicket turned back to the SSS one last time. "Farewell, Super Smash Saviors. Good luck finding the new base. May the next time we meet be with the same numbers, plus Crehavos's polar opposite and only equal. May we meet being prepared to end his tyranny once and for all."

With that, he stepped through the blue ring first into the redness beyond, the others soon to follow.

[Big Boss]

Kin watched as Snicket was the first to go into the red abyss that was known as red subspace. "Well, its time to go now" The SSS leader said. Then he looked back to Erion. "Erion, I have a small favor to ask you, I would like you to find a person named Sour, last night i had an epiphany that he would need our help, and i want you to find him" Kin said.

Just then Veronica walked over to kin and grabbed him. "You better not leave for seven more years!" She said as she kissed him. "Don't worry, I made you a promise, and I also have a promise to the entire SSS." Kin said "I must end crehavoses entire rule, and this is the only way."

"Good Luck my Love" Veronica said as she backed away. One more person caught Kins left eye, it was MM. "MM!" Kin said. "I want you to have something." Kin reached in his pocket and took out an old headband that he had when he was doing a mission with snake years ago. "My father gave me this is the last thing i have that i can remember my father with before he and my mother died, it was his headband and I wear it every day., and i want you to have the one snake gave to me, this is a warriors item, and i want you to become more of a warrior than i will ever be."
*Kin handed MM his other headband*

Kin looked back and saluted the entire SSS, Snake watched and instantly had a flashback


Kin looked back at the portal, and looked at snake who was gazing at Kin. "My god snake, i never realized you had gotten older" he said as snake snapped back into reality. "uh, yea....dont worry about it" Snake said, but in the back of his mind he said *The poor kid, im dying and he will be heartbroken*

Kin then looked at the red portal and started walking with his old pal snake.

[eiron]

[Eiron and a ridiculous number of people]
{Zell’s Ship}

“Right. Pickup. I can do that.” Eiron said, leaning away from the wall he had been propping up. He stood, stretched for a minute, then walked towards the exit, stopping next to Dobs.

“Hey…” he started, “It’s been a long time, but…watch out for yourself.”
Dobs smiled “Don’t worry, I’ve got a friend on Elysia that’ll babysit you.” His smile faltered for a moment. “You take care too.”
They hugged briefly, the stepped apart. “I guess I’ll see you at the end of all this then.”
“Yeah,” Dobs said, his face darkening slightly. “At the end.” With that, he turned and walked into the fiery red portal, waving nonchalantly over his shoulder.

Eiron watched him depart, then turned on his heels and exited the bridge. In the hallway outside, he ran into U-Mos, who had been watching from afar.

“You’re returning to Aether?” Eiron asked.
“Shortly.” The alien replied. “I must return to my people. However, I have used this ship’s communications systems to contact my warriors in the Sanctuary Fortress, and they are holding the Horde at bay. I will briefly accompany you to Skytown, and do what I can to help our collective cause.”

Eiron nodded, not speaking. The Luminoth smiled, and said “Now, go fetch this Sour so that we may depart.” The human nodded again, and continued down the hallways and twisting corridors until he reached the ship’s exit. Sighing slightly, he closed his eyes and stretched out with his mind, feeling outwards for the faint humming and whirling of human consciousness. Finally, he found a cluster of three minds. Now, he thought, watch them up and leave while I’m gone.

He detached himself from the ground, floating motionless several inches the earth, then flew off in the direction on the presences he sensed. At length, he spotted the trio from above the tree cover, and dove directly down on top of them, flipping gracefully before reconnecting with the ground.

“Now,” he asked, smiling, “who called for a lift?”

[Mariomasher]

[MM and everyone at the HQ {too lazy to type all names}]
SSS HQ

MM accepted the gift. He hadn't seen Kin in a while. He then spoke, "I shall cherrish this until the end of me, which has happened a lot lately... How about this, I shall take this to my grave. Just make sure you come back in one piece. I don't want to go chasing after you." MM chuckled. "OH!" MM called to Kin before entering. "Take this." MM tossed Kin a saphire with Kin's rank and name engraved in it. "Just my way of saying thanks!"

Haylee and co. then entered the HQ. She glanced over to see Kin and Snake entering a portal. Then she saw exactly what she wanted to see, MM. "He's alive..." She ran to him.

"Who?" Rai looked and saw his brother. "MM!" Rai, Luca, and Necro pushed their way through the crowd. Haylee swung her arms around MM and kissed him.
"I knew you're alive! They didn't believe me." Haylee said in delight.

"For a while, neither did I. I was trapped in Tartarus for a year. I never saw Kin, Dobs, or Geo. Eventually, I snuck onto the bottom of a mysterious ship and it flew right back here... kind of strange, wouldn't you say?" MM replied.

"That could have been LGN or Samus's ship. They both returned here recently.'' Luca said, leaning against a wall.

"Is that so? well all that matters is that I'm back." MM said. He turned to Dobs. "Hey, dobs. How's it been? Haven't seen you in...well I couldn't tell you!''

[Angel]

[Harsh Seas]
[Kaimu]

He had watched that tribal looking man blast the spaceman looking creature and felt his presence go this way. Evil for once, had too much of a upper hand. He felt the good in the world slowly going away. As if they were abandoning this land. It was time to stall evil, even if it were just for a moment. They wouldn't be allowed to sit anymore.

This was going to take careful planning. He was sure this Crehavos could sense his presence here. That's why he had this. He was surfing on a metal platform, surrounded by a force field designed to give off a impression of deep evil energy. In fact, the exact same feeling of energy that the young blonde girl on the boat carried. Their interaction was proving useful to Kaimu, as he had taken quite a bit of it during their long stays with each other. He would only sense Arietta, all around.. sol it was too late, and then he would use his speed to his advantage. However.. lest his own thoughts betray him.. he knew exactly what to do.

Kaimu was a master of handling his own conscious. No one knew who he really was. It was easy to duplicate the thoughts and feelings of the young girl as well. He had spent a long time with her and knew her little quirks. They could easily become his own. After a moment of meditation, there it was. Arietta. For all intensive purpose, he was now the young girl mentally. His own self lay dormant, unthinking. He licked his lips and drew his sword. "Let's see how Cre-Cre enjoys a little reality check." he laughed, completely overcome by his new personality.

He instantly used his Majinken attack, sending it straight at the boat in the far off distance. The moment Arietta and Nemeck were now getting ready to take off.

[Arietta, Nemeck]
[Harsh Seas][/u]

"Argh.. let's just go again Nemeck. Would be nice if he would give us a hand, but we can do this on our own. I'll give you battles if that's what you wish." she smiled and gave a small chuckle, and took off. Little did she know that as she was doing so.. she was falling right into Kaimu's plans.

[Kaimu, Arietta, Nemeck (Crehavos is effected, but is not nearby) ]
[Harsh Seas]

They were flying so high and he was banking on them not noticing. He didn't really realize that Nemeck was with the girl, and whether or not this was going to play a part in the coming events he did not plan for. But at least this part was fool proof. The beam of energy hit the base of the boat after it's long travel, blasting a nice sized hole in it's rear. Water quickly started filling the base, they were going to have to get out of there soon. He then turned around and quickly zoomed straight under Arietta, keeping as close has he could to her position, perfecting his disguise. He had to start somewhere, and putting evil on the defensive, even for a moment.. was worth it. He laughed evilly, still with Arietta's personality. He couldn't help but love and hope that they were shrinking in fright, the pathetic monsters on that ship. Pain gave him such a escalating feeling..

[sasukess]

[Genesis, Voltage]
[Greenhell Forest]

Voltage dodged the blasts easily. Voltage gloated:"This battle is taking its toll on you, your aim is getting bad!"

( www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB9yU70iydk Between Angels and Insects by Papa Roach, Voltage's theme song)

"Its time for this to end!" Voltage yelled as he gathered electricity in his right hand.

"I agree." Genesis replied as he gathered ice energy in his hand.

Instantly they charged at each other. But right before they hit each other, they fell. Genesis said:"Heh, we tied again"

Voltage replied:"Not really. I held back."

With that they both passed out.

[Rorschach]

Sour watched the man right in front of him. The orb stopped glowing its bright colour. It seemed this man was here for a reason.

"Well since you asked, I was wondering where to find the SSS HQ," Sour conversed. "My friends and I are pretty lost haha."

Kaemon got up and stuck out his hand.

"Call me Kaemon," Kaemon introduced in a friendly tone.

the man shook Kaemons hand. IOY waved at the man while continuosly laying down.

"Thats IOY, he kind of just joined us," Sour laughed. "Im guessing hes either really shy or tired."

Sour stared at the man again. Something was different about him. He seemed calm, cool, unlike most people hes met. This man seemed to know what he lived for, what he needed to do, what was right.

Sour was at first intimidated at this man but soon became more calm and relaxed.

"Well, where do we go?"

[OOC: I really have to lengthen my posts but im still just preparing things with eiron so srry in advance to all]

[ManOfSteele]

[Steele]
[Steele's Dimension]

Steele breathed in a deep breath. His eyes were closed, but he could see all his surroundings. He could feel the 30 some targets all around his body, and their exact location to him. He felt his dimension like his own body part.

Lightning zapped out of Steele's body, zapping every target dead center in the bullseye. The targets all exploded simultaneously, as if on cue.

Steele exhaled his breath and dropped to the floor.

That's good enough to go back to work. Everything will improve with more time... he thought. What are the SSS doing.....

Steele conjured up a sphere from the floor. It acted as a crystal ball somewhat. In it he saw Bob, Kin, Dobs, LGN, Yoshi, Snake, Samus, Diddy Kong, Banjo & Kazooie, and Snicket stepping through a portal.

"So" he said. "They're up to something..... But where are they going?"

[eiron]

[Eiron, Sour, Kaemon, IOY]
{Greenhell Forest}

“A pleasure to meet you both. IOY, nice to see you again.” Eiron said as he shook Kaemon’s hand, bowing his head slightly. “And no worries, we will be rejoining the rest of the SSS momentarily.” With that, Eiron snapped his fingers, and the four of them were enveloped in white light. When it faded, they were standing outside a massive starship, nestled awkwardly between columns of bent and twisted trees.

“Teleportation,” Eiron said, smiling, “is so much nicer than walking.” IOY, who had not gotten up from his lounging, scrambled to his feet and wiped the newly accumulated leaves and twigs from his hair, grinning sheepishly. Eiron began moving up the entrance ramp, nodding to the guards posted there. “Come on, we’re about to leave.”

The others quickly followed, staring up in awe at the massive structure. “Wait,” Sour asked, “Where are we going?”

“To Elysia, on the edge of Galactic Federation space. We will be safe there for the time being.”

“Elysia? I’ve never even heard of that.”

Eiron turned back towards the trio, smiling. “Exactly.” He lead them down the winding corridors towards the bridge, standing to the sides to let columns of soldiers and officers pass by. “Elysia is part of a remote system at the edge of Federation Jurisdiction. It is home to floating research station called Skytown, which is where we will be establishing our new headquarters.”

They entered the bridge, where the SSS members were still gathered around the blood red portal. “What…what is that?” Kaemon asked, entranced by the swirling crimson gash in the air.

“That, gentlemen…” Eiron said, spreading his arms slightly, “Is the instrument with which we shall restore Balance to this world.”

[Nemeck, Arietta, Kaimu]
{Harsh Seas}

Nemeck whipped around in the air, his black wings straining against the violent winds, billowing open like dark sails in the night. Lightning illuminated the carnage below, the shattered hole in the ship’s side was pouring in water, and the crew scrambled over themselves trying to figure out where the blast had come from. The most powerful being in the Universe, the demon to whom Nemeck had offered his services, the supposed master and architect of this war-had just been attacked. And it was all completely irrelevant to Nemeck. His enemy was before him.

He screeched in laughter, spiraling upwards towards the blazing streaks of lightning, “KAIMU!” he roared, his face elated behind his gleaming mask. Swords appeared in his hands, shining brilliantly in the dark skies, reflecting the blistering bolts of lightning that lanced through the air around them. Kaimu looked up from his from his odd metal platform, spotting Nemeck in the dark sky. His face split into an evil grin, haughty and arrogant.

Nemeck folded his wings and dove, his blades and mask gleaming, raking through the raging storm towards his foe.

[Angel]

[Arietta, Kaimu, Nemeck]
{Harsh Seas}

He wasn't interested in engaging Nemeck one bit. Even though Kaimu's personality was a near double of the girl now following Nemeck confused, Arietta was a girl who knew when she was in over her head. He picked up the pace. His platform was a mere way to walk along with ocean surface. His felt his energy start focusing solely on his speed, desperate to keep ahead of them.

The actual Arietta however was confused at the entire situation. She was following as fast as she could, but Nemeck's intensity was giving him a lead she couldn't seem to stay completely on par with. She did however get a glimpse of who Nemeck was chasing and gasped with surprise. It was.. Hiteiteki? But.. it couldn't be. That was so long ago, the times she had spent with him.. what was this man's secret? How had he achieved eternal youth?

She instantly sensed the malice and urgency in Nemeck, but now had a similar urgency to match it. She had to stop Nemeck from making a grave mistake. This man was not their foe.. if anything she started thinking about how much he could help them.

"No! Wait, Hiteiteki! I won't let him kill you!" she cried out.

Kaimu looked back and saw her.. and decided that he could now risk engaging with them. Luckily, the shore was approaching. He lifted his arm up, trying to signal to them that he planned on stopping soon. He glided off the bank of the water and jumped off the spherical platform with a flip. Now that it was out of the water, a visible aura could be seen under it, and it soon crashed in a bit of upturned sand. He quickly turned around and saw them catching up behind him. He flipped around and landed behind the still in flight Arietta.

He was no longer possessed by the personality of the young girl, and instead was now the Hiteiteki that the Arietta knew. He could care less about keeping up appearances with Nemeck, they had only had a minor event with each other. The young bodied blonde girl was instrumental to his plans and ambitions. She won by default in his mind.

The girl in question spoke to Nemeck with a a slight annoyance in her voice now. "How many times do I need to tell you that this man is someone important to me, and has helped me become who I know am." She afterward stretched her arms out, trying to visibly create a human shield between the two men. She was not going to take no for a answer in this case. She had to get her answers.

[eiron]

[Nemeck, Arietta, Kaimu]
[Coastline]

Nemeck barely heard Arietta speaking. The child’s relationship to this man was irrelevant. Kaimu was a pariah, a wildcard. He was unpredictable, his motives shrouded in secrecy behind the ever shifting façades of his consciousness. He had made an attack. Now he was going to receive one. So many problems would be solved with the removal of his head from his shoulders.

Nemeck landed gently on the beach, his talons sinking lightly into the sand. His black raven wings seemed to disappear into the folds of his robes, becoming a part of the shadowy fabric. The Catachresis Blades in his hands gleamed in the pale light, splaying the shimmering reflection of the water dancing across the sand. Arietta stood between him and his quarry, her arms spread wide.

“How many times do I need to tell you that this man is someone important to me, and has helped me become who I now am?” She asked, annoyance etched across her face. Nemeck stared at the girl for a moment. This child, this ignorant, impish fool who had wandered the world for centuries but remained childish not only in body, but in mind as well. It was baffling. It was absurd to think that his will should be bent to the whims of such a being. Nevertheless…this child reminded him slightly of another. Another ignorant child, caught up in delusions of grandeur and power. One to whom a solemn promise had been made.

Nemeck slowly lowered his blades, and they faded from existence. “Very well.” He said, his voice hard and emotionless. “Do as you wish.”