Fandom Super Smash Brothers: The Ten Pillars

[Kameron Esters-]

Bang! went the loud, metallic sound along the length of the stone corridor that they had temporally occupied. There stood the Legionnaire whom Cyan had failed earlier, in a nonchalant stance, expression unreadable from the low shadow of his helmet.

"Cyan. Peregrine. You are to accompany me ," he issued clipped orders of discipline. "In the name of Lord Zalunbar."

Eyebrow raised by Peregrine. "To where?" was the careful but curious inquiry.

"A tour of the city. His Radiance has taken an interest in you." The Legionnaire's gaze fell squarely on Cyan. "He wishes for you to see the core of the Legion's strength before arriving at the training grounds-where he intends to witness yours."

With that they stepped once again outside onto the streets, and dusk began washing over the city in its first warm amber and crimson flushes, stretching long shadows from the looming statues and towering colonnade. The disciplined rhythm of Darknut life moved around them: while Gymnatai went on practicing rigid spear drills in orderly formations, Hoplites patrolled in methodical circuits along the high walls, ever watchful. In the distance, Peltasts practiced volleys of javelins in synchronized rhythm, their throws arcing like flocking birds of prey before thudding into reinforced targets.

The Legionnaire guided them in silence, the weight of his earlier defeat not spoken of, yet heavy in the air between them. He spoke only to identify parts of the city: "This is the Hall of Devotion-where oaths are sworn and ranks bestowed." "That tower is the Bastion of the Red Watch-our night patrols convene there."

At last, they came to the training grounds: a vast hollow, darkened by stone and encircled by towering statues of the Legion deities past, gazing down on the scene with empty eyes like silent judges. Warriors were lined in rows, honing their craft within marked circles: iron striking iron in a relentless chorus of discipline. Sweat, incense, and the rhythmic cadence of war chants echoed in the background.

The Legionnaire turned to Cyan. "This is where we test resolve and mettle. Zalunbar himself will be watching."

He gestured toward the central sparring circle, the largest of them all-its floor was black marble and scarred with ancient runes, humming slightly beneath footfalls. A silhouette walked across the heights above, gilded and touched with crimson light.

Then Peregrine moved beside him, giving just a slight nod. "It looks like your moment's come, my friend. Let's see how deep this rabbit hole goes."
Kaiju Cat

 

[GrumpySwallow]

Pit
Location: A chocobo ranch in the Plains
Interactions: Ploegy , Shroomie

Well, so much for be able to avoid making a hard choice! Pit stared calmly at Mythra as she scoffed and looked away from him. "... What do you want me to say, Mythra? That you're right? Fine! You're right! You've been right about everything! We cannot keep getting caught up in everyone's problems, not while there is a much bigger threat to handle. The others may be fighting right now and need our help!"

Pit shut his eyes as he tried to gather his thoughts, not exactly an easy thing for an angel who preferred action over contemplation. "But... if this does give us a chance to see this Lunaris creep, we shouldn't pass it up!" He then grinned, brimming with confidence. "He's clearly scared of us; why else would he try to turn the whole world against us? He can't be any worse than Tabuu, Galeem, or Dharkon! I bet between the three of us we'll have Lunaris crushed before dinner time! Imagine the looks on everyone's faces when we show up and tell them the Realm is saved! Then we can finally have our party!"

One can always count on Pit to have his mind on food! The smile then disappeared, the angel's face suddenly serious. "I know the risks, Mythra, but if there is a chance I can take down the enemy Boss once and for all, I'm gonna take it." He shouldered his bow. "All I need is one good shot!"

Pit had made his decision. As much as he loathed the thought of their group splitting up, especially after Toon Link's disappearance, he was not going to judge Mythra nor stop her should she decide to take a different path.

The old chocobo rancher sighed and shook his head. "That's a grim thing yer speakin' of, and I'd rather my family not get caught up in that kind o' business. Still, if yer set on goin', at least take this with yer." He retrieved two full-faced headpieces that resembled a chocobo's head. "These're chocobo jockey hats. Maybe they'll keep folk from bein' suspicious."

"And we'll lend you our swiftest chocobo, Cirrus!" Christi added.

The solemn-faced chocobo with messy headfeathers uncannily similar to a certain blonde-haired, buster-sword-wielding swordsman looked to Christi upon hearing his name. "Wark!"

***​

At the Gorman Track, a horse ranch not too far from the Chocobo Ranch, Ingo slipped off his horse, the arrogance he displayed earlier replaced by pure distress.

"SHOOOOOOOOOOT!!!" Ingo shouted, hands clutching his head as he writhed in panic. "The Super Smash Brothers! Here! Of all the times for THEM to show up! And they're helping those chicken farmers!"

Ingo's twin brothers, who unlike their foppish triplet wore the simple overalls of stablemen, looked to each other and then at Ingo. The youngest triplet rubbed his hands together, round sunken eyes alight with greed.

"The Smash Brothers? Ho-ho! Lord Lunaris will richly reward us for their capture! Let's go after them, brothers!"

Ingo straightened and stomped over to his sibling, forcing him to wilt. His voice dripped sarcasm in the beginning then rose into a rant. "Yes, my clever little brother! A brrrrrilliant idea! Let us, a group of horse ranchers, go and capture the legendary Super Smash Brothers, the greatest warriors in all of the world and beyond! I can't possibly imagine how this will go wrong for us! Why, I'd bet they'll quake in their shoes the moment they lay eyes on us! Lead the charge, brother!"

Believing his point to have been made, he turned his back on his siblings, stroking his mustache as he plotted. "No, we cannot fight them. I cannot have ol' Graham winning those races and becoming an equal to me, the great Ingo! This will require cunning... and I have just the idea!"

Ingo turned to his brothers again, mustache crooked in a devious grin. "Do we still have those Bombchus?"