Rebel Fleet Era

The Rebel Fleet Era is the fifth era of Legends of Stardown. Due to the use of verbal documenting, this era is partially missing.

Characters introduced in the Rebel Fleet Era include Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Amy Rose, Cream the Rabbit, Cheese, Roadrunner, Mark, Matthias, Martin the Warrior, Shmouse Captain Ann, Shmouse Soldier Jim, Thundra, the Okorans, the Robans, and Count Ponoko.

Raw Story
Sky above Toad Town, 2:34PM.

A small jet has been deployed from a sphere-shaped ship and is nearing the airport.


 * ??? 1: It is nearly time to elect a new ruler. That one Shy Guy has been gambling for too long now. It’s time for a change.
 * ??? 2: What are you thinking, sir?
 * ??? 1: What did you think I was thinking? I’m going to run for Mushroom Kingdom president!
 * ??? 2: Ah, yes.

''The ship lands and a man in his late forties emerges. An official walks up to him.''


 * Official: Welcome, Richard. We’ve been expecting you. Please step this way.

The three enter a large building.

Peach’s Castle, 6:14.

Peach and Toadsworth are watching the news.


 * Peach: I see the elections are coming soon.
 * Toadsworth: I don’t think you know this, but I’ve seriously been considering running.
 * Peach: You have, Toadsworth? Why, I didn’t know that!
 * Toadsworth: The Mushroom Kingdom needs guidance and protection from someone they all know and love.
 * Peach: You’re right. Best of luck, Toadsworth!

''Soon, it is time for the debates. On the Republican Party: Toadsworth and Goombella. On the Democratic Party: Richard, Gonzales Jr., and Gloomtail. On the Independent Party: the Nooklings, Wario, Ashley and Red, and Count Cannoli.''

'''Months later. 8:56PM.'''


 * News Anchor: And the next ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, with 47% of the vote, is our very own Toadsworth. The Nooklings have 46% of the vote, and Richard the villain has only 6%. Toadsworth is officially our next president!

Everywhere across the Mushroom Kingdom, residents are cheering for their new president.

Town Hall, 9:23PM.

Richard walks onto the debate stage and draws his lightsaber.


 * Richard: I can’t believe I lost to a fungus! It’s those two girls’ fault for exposing my secret!
 * ???: Well, don’t gossip about us when we’re right here!

''The two girls emerge and draws their lightsabers. They and Richard duel for a few moments.''


 * Richard: I don’t have time for this!

''He leaves. The girls high-five and return backstage.''

President’s House, 9:14PM.


 * Toadsworth: Oh, good show, Master Stardown! I’m glad you could visit me!
 * Stardown: Congratulations with your win, Toadsworth.
 * Toadsworth: Thank you, Master Stardown.

They chat for a while.

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Town Hall, 9:29PM.

Moments after Richard leaves, Arctic Tail walks on stage as people prepare to leave.

Arctic Tail: Stardown, if you are listening, brace yourself. You haven’t seen the last of me, not by a long shot. I am far from beaten.

Girls: So are we!

They emerge and battle Arctic Tail. Soon, Arctic Tail after Arctic Tail start spilling onto the stage.

Girls: That’s cheating!

Arctic Tail: Did I never tell you of my clones and relatives?

More Arctic Tails enter the stage. The girls continue fighting valiantly.

Arctic Tail: Your masters have taught you well.

Girls: We have no masters!

Arctic Tail: Master this.

Even more Arctic Tails enter the stage.

President’s House, 9:35PM.

As Stardown and Toadsworth continue chatting, a Toad in a business suit enters the room.

Toad: Mr. Stardown, we need you at the Presidential Hall. We got a report that Arctic Tail is attacking. All dozens of him.

Stardown: I’m on my way.

It is pouring outside. Stardown leaves the President’s house, waves in a taxi, and leaves.

Stardown: (to himself) All dozens of him?

Town Hall, 9:36PM.

Amy is one of the attendees who is leaving the presidential hall.

Amy: I hope Stardown comes in time. Just in case, I’ll call the Golden Warrior. (picks up cell phone) Francis! I need your help! Listen, Arctic Tail and his clones are here at the presidential hall!

Golden Warrior: I’d love to help, but I’ve got several of Arctic Tail’s Eagles on my tail. I’ll come ASAP.

Amy: Thank you. (hangs up) Wow, there are soooo many Arctic Tails in there…

30 minutes later…

Golden Warrior: I’m here, Amy. Wow, this place is packed. Yet all the attendees have left. (draws his lightsaber) Come at me, clones!

He and Amy fight heroically. The Golden Warrior eventually uses the Force to create a golden electric portal, and Force-shoves clones into it. They are zapped and then teleported away. Soon, every clone in the lobby is defeated.

Amy: Nice moves there, Francis.

Golden Warrior: Thanks.

Arctic Tail: Enough of this foolishness.

All of his clones teleport away as Arctic Tail uses the Force to tear apart the building.

Golden Warrior: RUN!!

The girls join Amy and the Golden Warrior as they flee the building. They escape as it finishes going to pieces.

Golden Warrior: Is everyone all right?

Amy: Yes, I’m fine.

Golden Warrior: You two, what are your names, please?

One of the girls: I’m Jessie Johnson, and this is my sister, Ashley.

Golden Warrior: Great job with your fight and exposing Richard and his campaign.

Ashley: Thanks.

A taxi arrives and Stardown emerges.

Stardown: Am I late?

Golden Warrior: Fashionably. You just missed Arctic Tail tearing this building apart.

Stardown: Is everyone okay?

Golden Warrior: Yes, fortunately.

The manager runs up.

Manager: Please! You must stop that crazy fox! As you can see, he just destroyed this building. Not to mention Richard has also been causing trouble.

Stardown: Don’t sweat it, sir! Just point the way!

Golden Warrior: I think he went over there.

As they investigate, there is a rustling sound from nearby.

Amy: Uhhh… Guys? Did anyone else hear that?

Stardown: Hear what, Amy?

Suddenly, he is grabbed from behind by someone powerfully built and is dragged into the shadows.

Amy: Stardown!

Jessie: We’ve got this, Amy! Don’t worry!

An unknown location, 9:59PM.

Stardown regains consciousness and sees several familiar-looking figures standing over him. Dominick the Donkey is playing in the background.

???1: What a lovely surprise!

???2: It's been too long since we last met, Stardown.

???3: I hope you don’t miss my spiders.

???4: And my rain!

???5: He-haw!

???6: Don’t-a you remember me? It’s-a me, the Italian Mouse!

???1: It’s-a me, the Hooded Jaw!

Italian Mouse: Grrr…

Stardown: What did you kidnap me for this time? No, let me guess… ransom?

Hooded Jaw: Give the man a rubber chicken!

Smack!

Stardown: Ransom? You've got to be kidding!

Italian Mouse: We don’t kid around here, kid! (Just kidding.)

Black Widow: Relax, Stardown. You’ll only be sold into slavery.

Rainmaker: It’s not so bad, isn’t it?

Stardown: *sigh* Minor villains these days…

Italian Mouse: What was that-a?

Stardown: Oh, it was nothing.

Golden Warrior: (from outside) We’re coming, Stardown!

Firius: Oh no, they’re coming. Let’s get out of here.

Hooded Jaw: Our bike isn’t big enough for all of us!

Italian Mouse: You-a know how to ride-a one of those-a things?

Hooded Jaw: Sure! I may crash a dozen or so times a day, but otherwise, I’m fine!

Italian Mouse: …

They all pile onto the bike with Stardown and fly away.

Soon, the Golden Warrior, Amy, and the Johnsons arrived, only to find the room empty.

Amy: *sigh*

They can hear the Hooded Jaw laughing as he flies away.

Golden Warrior: Sorry to leave you like this, but I can’t pass up a chance to rescue Stardown.

He flies away in his starfighter.

Amy: So what do we do now?

Ashley: I guess we just wait.

Amy: Um, for how long?

Jessie: Until he returns, I suppose.

Suddenly, they feel a cold chill run up their spines. They turn around to see Arctic Tail. Amy draws her hammer, and the Johnsons draw their lightsabers.

Arctic Tail: So we meet again, girls.

He draws his lightsaber.

Jessie: WHY? Why must you torment us so?

Amy charges forward, but Arctic Tail sidesteps and slices Amy’s hammer in two.

Amy: That’s not fair!

Jessie: Stay back, Amy. He’s disarmed you, and I don’t want you getting hurt.

Amy: Okay...

Ashley: Must you fight us now? Can’t you at least wait until Stardown returns?

Arctic Tail: What makes you think he will?

Jessie: Can’t you battle the Golden Warrior instead?

Arctic Tail: Nothing is guaranteed.

Ashley: Except taxes and death!

Jessie: And both will come to you!

Arctic Tail: Hmph. They will come to you too. Swifter than it will to me. You kids have a lot to learn.

Jessie: Yeah, like how to charbroil you with our lightsabers!

Ashley: And that lesson we know well! Shall we demonstrate?

Minor Villains’ woodshed, 10:09PM.

Hooded Jaw: What shall we do with him, boys?

Firius: Dress him up like a princess!

Everyone else but Stardown: Yeah!

Soon, Stardown is dressed as a princess as everyone else laughs.

Stardown: I don’t have time for this!

He flees the shed and narrowly avoids the lighting and fire that the minor villains use. He keeps running until he arrives at the beach, which isn’t too far away. He sees a beached Gerbilian rowboat.

Stardown: So the Gerbilians are back?

???: Indeed.

He is grabbed by behind and dragged into a small cave nearby.

Stardown: What do you want with me?

???: You are valuable to us, Stardown. You will tell the Gerbilians everything they want to know. Right now.

Stardown: You have no right to capture me!

???: Says you and what army?

Stardown: Says me and the army you’ll see in a moment. GUARDIANS!

???: Who are these “Guardians” you-

Several Guardian Fleet troops, led by Brian Phillips, march into the cave.

Brian: Freeze! Put your hands up!

???: Who are you?

Brian: I am Brian Phillips of the Guardian Fleet, and you are under arrest!

???: Brian Phillips? Guardian Fleet? Seriously, what is going on here?

Brian: You will know more about us once you're behind bars.

???: Ain't happenin' here. Get them!

Mark and Roadrunner draw their lightsabers as the Gerblians charge, but the Gerbilians are no match for the Guardian Fleet heroes, who lead them away. Soon, Stardown is released, and he decides to pay his butler a visit.

Stardown’s base, 10:41PM.

Butler: Hello, Stardown! I haven't seen you in a little while. Where have you been?

Stardown relates the events that occurred since his last visit.

Butler: Princess? Oh, yes, hehe, I see now. Now tell me, how many Gerbilians were there?

Stardown: About two dozen. Also, a rowboat with their insignia was a clue to their presense.

Butler: It's good to know you're finally safe, but why does everyone want you out of everyone?

Stardown: Apparently I'm a valuable prisoner to them.

Butler: Would you like some bodyguards for you?

Stardown: I don't think that will be necessary, but thanks for the thought. I can always call for backup by pressing this button.

Butler: Okay, but be careful out there!

Stardown: Did you hear that Toadsworth won the presidency?

Butler: Yes, I saw that on the news! I know that he will do our kingdom proud.

Stardown: Thanks for letting me visit you!

Butler: Come back soon, and take care!

The Medallion, 9:32AM.

Arnold: Welcome back, Stardown.

Amy: I'm so glad you're safe, Stardown! Was it bad out there?

Stardown: Not terribly. I did, however, stumble upon a Gerbilian remnant.

Anchor: Not them again...

Arnold: Would you like to have your suit, Stardown?

Stardown: I usually only wear my suit during dire situations.

An explosion rocks the ship.

Amy: Like now?!

Stardown: Oh no... I forgot I don't have a suit!

Arnold: What?!

Stardown: I've been suitless since total Shmouse dominion!

Tails: Take cover!

Amy: We should!

Stardown: What's it like out there?

Brian: It's the Horizon Squadron!

Tails: Not them again!

Stardown: We haven't seen them in a while. So long, in fact, that I forgot what their ships are like.

Arnold: Bullet-shaped cruisers and heavily armed starfighters. That's mostly it.

Brian: Guys... Don't look now, but the Auroras are upon us.

Amy: And the Gerbilians!

Tails: What?!

Agent S: The hyperdrive generator's down, sidekicks!

Luke: We can't get a force field going!

Milan: There go our deflector shields!

Lion 3: We've lost power in most of the ship!

Arnold: We're goners for sure this time.

Stardown: Everyone set up defenses!

Arnold: We need the hyperdrive fixed, on the double!

Tails: Yes, sir!

Suddenly, a bright golden light appears as three ships emerge from hyperspace. Stardown recognizes them as belonging to Francis, Ashley, and Jessie. They engage in fire with the enemies.

Shmouse Command Ship, 9:38AM.

Gerbilius: Don’t worry about them. We greatly outmatch them. Concentrate your fire on the fleet.

Jimmy: Must we work with the Gerbilians?

Joey: It is our only choice.

Outside their viewport, they can see the Jaywalker hyperdrive in.

Chief Exploding Ship: Jaywalkers fall for trap. We destroy them easily.

The Jaywalkers start firing at his cruisers.

The Medallion, 9:39AM.

Tails: The hyperdrive engine is back online!

Arnold: All ships with functional hyperdrive engines, please leave immediately!

Tails: But only a third of them are working!

Arnold: Then they will have to flee normally.

The ships with working hyperdrive engines flee as the other ships try to leave the scene. The Bullshark blows up another Gerbilian cruiser. The Jaywalkers supply the fleet with purple force fields as the Golden Warrior gives them gold force fields.

Amy: What’s going on?

Agent S: The Jaywalkers’ ships are popping like… er… popcorn!

Brian: Popping?

Tails: The Jaywalkers are losing a lot of ships!

Arnold: I’ve never seen anything like this.

Amy: This is bad. Really bad.

Brian: We’re losing too many ships!

Tails: They’re using spinning ships to tear the Bullshark apart!

Arnold: Time to settle this.

He establishes a communication with the villains.

Arnold: What do you want from us?

Chief Exploding Ship: You threat to to galactic peace.

Arnold: We PROMOTE galactic peace!

Chief Exploding Ship: That is lie. Must destroy you. Then there be galactic peace.

Arnold: First, prove we’re a threat.

Arctic Tail: *sigh* Must we? First of all, you stole from that poor innocent granny. She kindly asked you to leave, but nooo, you had to steal her most precious heirloom to create some kind of unstoppable monster. Now, what was it called… Werehog or something...

Sonic: You don’t know your Chaos Emeralds, Gerbilius. They turn me into Super Sonic, not the Werehog.

Arctic Tail: Whatever. I don’t care.

Arnold: How do you know about this?

Gerbilius: We spied on you. We caught you stealing, and you will not escape unpunished.

Arnold: We are world defenders, and we tried to negotiate with that granny, but she wouldn’t listen. Is she your servant?

Gerbilius: Of course not. Why would you ask?

Arctic Tail: Everyone, including yourselves, knows you’re world conquerors, you can’t hide that fact.

Jimmy: You never negotiated with her.

Joey: You just took it and ran off.

Gerbilius: That makes you a liar, Arnold. Admit it. You’re a liar and a thief.

Arnold: We fought a mechanical creature which contained the Chaos Emerald. That’s when the granny came out and scolded us.

Roadrunner: You guys have a warped sense of reality…

Arctic Tail: You’re just mad because we caught you right in the act.

Arnold: How would we have known that she owned a robot?

Jimmy: You found out first-hand when you stole that emerald. Now you’re going to pay.

Arnold: Wait. Knuckles, call the granny.

Soon, the granny is on the line.

Gerbilius: He had better pick his words carefully. Little does he know that we’re listening in!

Knuckles: Hello?

Granny: What do you thieves want now?

Knuckles: Listen, I’m sorry about the whole Chaos Emerald thing. I’ll return it to you right away.

He boards a shuttle and returns the emerald, paying her $2000. He senses the presence of an emerald in a bush, and finds one there. He soon heads back for the fleet.

Jimmy: Fire!

Arnold: Wait. Knuckles needs to return to the fleet.

Jimmy: Fine...

Soon, Knuckles returns to the fleet, and the villains begin to open fire.

Brian: Sir, there’s someone on the holocommunicator for you.

Arnold: Sir, we’re in a battle now. Can this wait until later?

???: I’m the owner of the museum from which the Chaos Emeralds were stolen. They belong to the museum.

Arnold: We’ve wanted to speak to you. Did your cameras pick up the thief?

Museum Owner: They caught a two-tailed fox and an echidna.

Gerbilius: Now we have something else to accuse them for.

Arnold: As far as I know, they were nowhere near the museum in the last month. Either you’re trying to stick the blame on us, or you have a slippery crook.

Museum Owner: Well? Do you have the gems?

Arnold: Not yet. Here, I’ll explain. Knuckles felt that the Chaos Emeralds were not at the museum where they should be, and that they were scattered across the galaxy. Thanks to him, we gathered them together. As soon as we defeat the invading armies that are upon us right now, we’ll give them back. How does that sound?

Museum Owner: Fine…

Arctic Tail: We’ll get them back for you.

Museum Owner: WHAT?!

Amy: Uh… guys? How are they getting through our force field?

Brian: The Chaos Emeralds… They’re gone!

Amy: What?!

Arctic Tail: I owe my gratitude to you, Shmice! Now we can beat them more easily! When we combine the Chaos Emeralds with the Force Laser… well… it would literally be the strongest laser ever made!

Chief Exploding Ship: Should we test laser on Bullshark?

Jimmy: Yes. Prepare the laser.

Just a minute later…

Arnold: Take cover!

Tails: We’re hit!

Amy: So is the Bullshark!

Suddenly, they find themselves on the Bullshark.

Tails: Wait, how did we get here?

Arnold: Our 1-Ups. Sigh… there isn’t a sign of the Medallion.

Bullshark Pilot: Evacuate ship! Evacuate ship!

Amy: No one should have this kind of power!

Jaywalker Captain: We lost half of our fleet!

Jaywalker Crew: The hyperdrive generator is down!

Jaywalker Pilot: There go our shields!

Roadrunner: That’s it! You’re going to take me on, all of you!

Arctic Tail: I accept, bird!

Roadrunner: What about the rest of you?

Gerbilius: One is all it takes, Roadrunner.

Roadrunner: I should say the same about you!

Gerbilius: Don’t make me laugh! Besides, Arctic Tail, is it even worth going? They’re going down anyway.

Arctic Tail: I’ll wait a little bit and then go.

Suddenly the 300-mile long Bullshark explodes.

Jimmy: Mission accomplished. After we finish off the rest of the fleet, no one will stop us from conquering the rest of the galaxy!

The Bullshark, 9:56AM.

Shortly before the Bullshark explodes…

Golden Warrior: Into my portal! Quick!

Stardown’s Kervatorako base, 9:57AM.

Everyone appears through the Golden Warrior’s portal.

Golden Warrior: Well, there goes the fleet.

Amy: And the Jaywalkers.

Stardown: There is still hope. I know it.

Stardown picks up a holocommunicator and calls his butler.

Butler: Hello, Stardown! Anything new?

Stardown: My worst enemies got together, magically stole the Chaos Emeralds from us, and used them to blow up the whole fleet! Only a few small ships got away.

Butler: What?! How?!

Stardown: Not to mention they took out the Jaywalkers as well.

Butler: ...I… I can’t believe it.

After a few more moments of chatting, Stardown hangs up.

Stardown: Now we have to find a new place to stay. *sigh*

Tails: What about right here?

Stardown: I suppose it will do, at least for now. We will need to rebuild the fleet.

Brian: It’s not going to be easy, with those villains out and about.

Arnold: At least they still think we’re dead.

Brian: True.

The Aurora Fleet’s flagship, 10:14AM.

Arctic Tail is speaking to the Museum Owner via holocommunicator.

Museum Owner: Will you give the emeralds back, Arctic Tail?

Arctic Tail: Maybe later, I guess.

Museum Owner: WHAT?! Ooh, you’ll pay for this!

Arctic Tail: Probably not. Well, I’m off to conquer Plit!

Gerbilius: No, that’s my job! Besides, the Gerbilians were the first world conquerors!

Chief Exploding Ship: No, conquering world is duty of Horizon Squadron.

Jimmy: All of you are such babies. The Shmice will do it, now that we have rid ourselves of those pesky rebels.

Aurora Crew: Where should we strike first?

Arctic Tail: Lamb Island. Prepare the fleet; we set our immediately!

Lamb Island, 10:57AM.

Lamb 1: We’re under attack!

Lamb 2: Nooooo! Not more world conquerors!

Lamb 3: We’re all gonna die!

Lamb 1: Don’t say that!

Lamb Leader: Stardown. We need to call Stardown.

He dials Stardown’s number.

Lamb Leader: Stardown, do you read me?

Stardown: Loud and clear. Is it more world conquerors?

Lamb Leader: Y-yes. How did you know?

Stardown: They demolished my fleet just recently. I had a feeling they’d come after Plit next.

Lamb Leader: We have poor military, so could you please help us?

Stardown: Sir, the conquerors think we’re dead. Maybe I can help from a distance.

Lamb Leader: Oh, okay.

Bartlett Island, 10:01AM.

Bartlett Leader: Arctic Tail has no right to attack the Lambs like that! This calls for action!

Bartlett Army: YEAH!

Bartlett Leader: Let’s see if we can beat Arctic Tail in one go.

The Aurora flagship, 10:39AM.

Aurora Pilot: Uh… boss?

Arctic Tail: What is it?

Aurora Pilot: This massive army just appeared out of nowhere and is destroying our fleet.

Aurora Captain: Yeah, we’re like… down to five cruisers.

Arctic Tail: FIVE?!

Aurora Captain: Oh, and our Force gem cannon thingy is... well…

Arctic Tail: Well, what?!

Aurora Captain: Well… They destroyed it.

Stardown’s Kervatorako base, 10:43AM.

Stardown: Calling Bartlett Leader! Arctic Tail has the Chaos Emeralds. Can you recover them for us?

Bartlett Leader: Okay.

Lamb Island, 11:06AM.

Bartlett Leader: Stardown! Those Chaos Emeralds you wanted were scattered when the ship they were in exploded!

Museum Owner: Where are my emeralds?!

Stardown: They were scattered again.

Museum Owner: I am suing you all! 7 million dollars for each group! Or gang! Or whatever! Rah!

An unknown location, 11:15AM.

???: I am going to become president, and nothing will stop me from doing it! In fact, with Stardown out of the way, there is no one between me and the presidency! Doctors, are you ready?

President’s House, 1:16PM.

Toadsworth: Doctor, it’s getting worse.

Doctor: Toadsworth, I’ve never heard of, let alone treated, this disease. You may have to forfeit the presidency.

Toadsworth: I don’t think I have a choice!

Peach: But Toadsworth, you have to be the president! You won!

Toadsworth: I’m sorry, Princess, but it may be contagious. It’s best to- wait a minute!

An unknown location, 1:25PM.

???: It worked, doctors! The old blundering fool is sick! Now I will seize the throne!

Toad Town, 1:44PM.

Mushroom Kingdom Citizen 1: Why is Richard our president? I thought Toadsworth won.

Mushroom Kingdom Citizen 2: That is strange.

??? 1: Hahahaha!

??? 2: Who said that?

??? 1: I am Richard, your new president. There has been much trickery in the polls, but, I, your hero, have overcome them. Now your reward will be great!

Stardown’s Kervatorako base, 12:03PM.

Brian: We didn’t stand a chance against the Shmice.

Arnold: I’m sorry, everyone. We tried to hold them off.

Amy: What are we going to do now?

Stardown: Things look grave, but we must not give up.

Mark: Guys! Check out this news headline!

Stardown: World Conquerors Return to Plit.

Brian: The Shmice are back?

Stardown: Yes. Why don’t we all get some rest. I can show you your rooms.

Arnold: Sounds good.

Stardown’s Kervatorako base, 9:37AM, next morning.

News Reporter: Breaking news: The Shmice have declared war on the Pear Empire.

Brian: Sigh… looks like their conquest has only begun.

News Reporter: We have new footage from the Shmouse camp.

Jimmy: We will make the Shmice great again!

Crowd: YEAH!

Joey: We will accept donations starting tomorrow.

Roadrunner: Supporting criminals that are guaranteed to take your land against your will?! That’s irrational!

Arnold: I know.

Agent S: Apparently the Shmice have their own TV station, sidekick.

Arnold: Really?

He turns on the guide, and, sure enough, there is a Shmouse channel. He switches to it briefly.

Jimmy: If you would like to learn how to support the Shmice, please call 1-800-SHMOUSE.

Off the air...

Jimmy: Stardown lives. I can feel it in the Force.

Joey: Really? Where is he?

Jimmy: In his other military base, countless miles away.

Joey: How can you sense something that far away?

Jimmy: I don’t know, I just can.

Joey: Shall we attack his base?

Jimmy: Yes.

Stardown’s Kervatorako base, 9:40AM.

Suddenly, Stardown freezes in fear.

Brian: Stardown? Are you okay?

Stardown: I feel a great disturbance in the Force.

Arnold: What is it?

Stardown: We’re not safe here.

Brian: Who could find us?

Amy: Maybe it’s the Shmice!

Stardown: It is them. We need to set up defenses and go.

Brian: Are our defense mechanisms sufficient?

Stardown: Probably not for a full onslaught, but yes.

Brian: Good.

Arnold: Stardown’s right. We won’t survive a full invasion, but they should be able to cover our escape.

Mark: The Shmice are already quite large, according to the news.

Stardown: I thought so. Does everyone have what they need?

Everyone gathers what they need, set up defenses, and leave in a light cruiser.

In the distance, they can see the Shmice arriving.

Stardown: Wow, look at them all! They mean business!

Shmouse flagship, 10:24AM.

Jimmy: They are obviously cowards… They already fled when they could have fought, and they left behind only a few ships to serve as a pitiful excuse for defenses.

Shmouse Soldier: Are you psychic or something?

Jimmy: No, it’s the Force.

Joey: Being rude to your superiors is six months in prison. Take him away.

Rebel light cruiser, 10:24AM.

Tails: That was close!

Agent S: Too close, sidekick! Let’s not do that again!

Brian: Now what?

Stardown: Now we need to find a place where they can’t get to.

Arnold: That’s a good idea, Stardown, but with the Force, they always know where we are.

Mark: What if we hid inside a group of rocks using Mini Mushrooms?

Arnold: They could easily blow up the rocks, and us, too.

Stardown: Not unless we get as deep as we can.

Lion 3: Guys… They’re after us.

Stardown: I thought so.

Brian: They’re certainly no fools.

Suddenly, the ship rattles.

Stardown: We’re hit!

Arnold: Launch the disencourager!

Lion 3: More ships are after us, and the disencourager isn’t working on them!

Stardown: I’ve got an idea, guys.

He pulls out of hyperspace, lets the Shmice pass over him, then steers in a different direction and jumps back into hyperspace.

Stardown: That’ll fool them for a while.

Everyone cheers, but they cease as the ship suddenly grinds to a halt.

Anchor: We’re being pulled out of hyperspace!

Stardown: *sigh* A gravity well...

He tries to hyperdrive again, but to no avail.

Brian: We need to prepare for a fight.

Stardown: Does everyone have 1-ups?

Arnold: They’re all in a chest in the back. There should be enough to go around.

Their ship is drawn into one of the Shmouse ships. About twenty Shmice enter, led by Shmouse Captain Ann.

Ann: You are under arrest in the name of the Shmouse Empire. Put your hands behind your head.

Stardown: Why us? We’re just space travellers.

Ann: Just space travellers? You practically destroyed our army in the past, and you have the nerve to call yourselves “space travellers.” How about twenty years in prison to start with?

Luigi: B-b-but I wasn’t involved.

Ann: That’s nice.

Stardown: Look, I’m sure we can discuss what’s going on. We’re peace promoters, and thinking otherwise would be irrational. Besides, we only own a tiny sliver of land on Plit. Also, ma’am, the only reason we attacked you is because you attacked us. Do you understand?

Ann: …

Shmouse Soldier: Ma’am?

Ann: You do have a point. But… you illegally freed prisoners without bail. There’s some evidence to frame you!

Stardown: That was then, this is now. Besides, these are innocent people that your army captured. I can pay you, if it makes you feel better.

Ann: No amount of money will restore all of those escaped prisoners to us. But we do accept another kind of payment. You can pay… in prison.

Stardown: Is this what we get for repaying you good for evil?

Shmouse Captain Luke: Do you need help concerning these rebels?

Ann: Thank you for the offer, but I have them under control.

Shmouse Soldier: You have NO right to put these innocent people in prison!

Luigi: I had nothing to do with this, I swear!

Luke: You do realize you are commiting treason?

Stardown: (Let’s just hope this goes well).

Shmouse Soldier: If this is what you think about these people, then yes, I am commiting treason.

Stardown is beaming.

Ann: Enough chit-chat. You’ll have time for that in prison. Take them away!

Stardown force shoves the guards.

Stardown: Will you be using that shuttle any time soon?

Ann: What shuttle!?

Stardown: The one we’re sitting in.

Kervo: Look! It’s Gerbilius!

Ann: Where?

They warm up the shuttle.

Ann: Get back here!

Stardown: Sorry about leaving the party so soon. We have things to do.

The shuttle flew off.

Ann receives a radio signal from Joey.

Joey: You are to report back to base immediately. I have a new assignment for you.

Ann: Lord Joey, the rebels have escaped.

Joey: They are of little concern to us. Jimmy can track them anywhere. They won’t be loose long.

Ann: Roger that, I’m on my way. *hangs up* Well, well… Now we have this cruiser all to ourselves…

Rebel shuttle, 10:34AM.

Mark: That was close.

Brian: But we’re not in the clear yet. Jimmy is probably sensing us with the Force as we speak.

Arnold: Their hyperdrive engines are more advanced than ours.

Stardown: At the moment, I don’t feel it is safe to return to either of our bases.

Brian: Then where can we go?

Amy: There’s a rock planet up ahead.

Arnold: That’s Mertokapaiko. I hear it’s a barren planet.

Stardown: Then maybe we should hide under its soil.

Brian: I don’t know about that.

They soon land, and discover small tunnels leading into the ground.

Arnold: Perfect.

Shmouse flagship, 11:00AM.

Jimmy: So the rebels got away.

Ann: That’s what happened, Lord Jimmy.

Jimmy: This does not surprise me in the least. Anyway, your assignment. The rebels have arrived on Mertokapaiko. They think they can escape us by digging into the planet. We will make that planet their grave.

Joey: You will lead this assignment, Ann. Bring plenty of bombers and Crushers, as well as various other ships of your choosing.

Jimmy: But do not fail us again, or you will be demoted.

Ann: Yes, Lord Jimmy.

Jimmy: There is one other thing you need.

He snaps his fingers, and a tall arctic fox enters. He is wearing jet black armor with glowing red eye slits.

Jimmy: This is Thundra. He will bring Stardown to me and destroy the others.

Ann: I’m already intimidated.

Joey: His victims will be more so.

Jimmy: Now go, and defeat the Rebellion for the Shmice!

Mertokapaiko, 11:02AM.

The rebels descend single file through the tunnel. Suddenly they see a mole carrying a spear.

Stardown: My friends and I are on the run from the Shmice, and-

Mole: The Shmice! You must come with me quickly!

They follow the mole, who has introduced himself as Mertoro, to an opaque force field. Mertoro presses a few buttons, and the force field fades,allowing the group to pass through. Once they do, the force field becomes opaque again, and they begin walking down several stone steps. At the bottom, the path opens out into a huge cavern. There are stone buildings and several personal transport ships. At the back of the cavern is a giant stone castle.

Mertoro: Welcome to Okora, our city.

He signals a royal taxi, and everyone gets in. Stardown cannot help but admire the beauty of Okora. Soon, the taxi lands at the royal airfield, and everyone gets out and enters the castle. A mole in rich clothing approaches them.

Mole: I am Kerarva, the queen’s adviser. Why do you wish to see her?

Mertoro: It concerns their flight from the Shmice, sir.

Kerarva: This is a matter of utmost urgency! I’m taking you to the queen immediately!

They are taken to the queen’s chamber. Queen Ikurva is sitting on the throne. Next to her is the beautiful Enerva, who is heir to the throne. Stardown and Arnold tell Ikurva the story from the beginning.

Ikurva: I see. Do not worry, you’re in safe hands here. We have not been invaded in 1,500 years.

Stardown: Do the moles ever leave here?

Ikurva: It’s very rare that we do. We have everything we need right here in Okora.

Later, Stardown and the rest of the rebellion check into the royal hotel.

Mertokapaiko, 11:16AM.

Meanwhile, several Shmouse ships hyperdrive to Mertokapaiko.

Ann: This is the moment that matters! See those tunnels down there? They will lead us right to Stardown!

Several Shmice leave the ships and crawl down the tunnels. They emerge a moment later.

Ann: Well?

Shmouse: There’s a force field blocking the way, ma’am.

Ann: You tried the force field cutters, right?

Shmouse: Barely made a dent.

Ann: Bring in the bombers.

Thirty minutes later, the bombers finish clearing the area of rocks, exposing the force field.

Ann: Excellent. Now we can see what we’re doing. Start bombing the force field.

They do, but to no avail.

Ann: This is getting ridiculous… now burrow through the force field!

A huge vehicle with a giant drill tries to burrow through the force field.

Ann: It’s not worth it!

Okora, 11:19AM.

Amy: The Shmice are trying to break in!

Stardown: Let them try. They can’t get through the force field.

Tails: They’re really making progress up there…

Amy: I don’t like the sound of this.

Stardown calls the queen, but Enerva answers.

Enerva: I wouldn’t worry too much. Drills are among the various weapons we have tested against the force field.

Stardown can hear her give the order to prepare the ships and defense weapons.

Mertokapaiko, 11:21AM.

Shmouse Soldier: Woohoo! I got through!

Ann: Everyone in!

Shmouse Soldier: But it closed again!

Ann: Impossible! Bring in the Dark Frilled Lizard.

Shmouse Soldier: If you think this force field is tough, imagine what their weapons are like!

A Dark Frilled Lizard appears and rips through the force field like butter, but it closes a few seconds later.

Ann: The problem here is that the force field closes again no matter what we try. But I do have an idea.

Thundra appears next to Ann as the Dark Frilled Lizard tries again. As the force field opens, he jumps in. As he advances, a mole Jedi by the name of Akurva appears from underneath Thundra, but he is Force-shoved aside. Thundra advances toward the hotel.

Stardown: I feel a great disturbance in the Force. The Shmice have a new weapon… and he’s headed this way.

Soon enough, Stardown and Thundra stand face-to-face in the hall. Thundra teleports both of them to the Shmouse ship Albatross. Mark bolts in, but he is too late.

Shmouse flagship, 11:31AM.

Jimmy: Now we finally have you… and there is no escape.

Okora, 3:34PM, one month later.

Mertoro: Well, we finally recovered after the Shmouse attack.

Tevaro: I get chills just thinking about their mega weapon, whoever he is…

Mavera: Does anyone know who or where he is?

Mertoro: I think he went into hiding. He is a very mysterious character. What’s Stardown up to these days?

Tevaro: I hear he has surprisingly quickly rebuilt his fleet. I don’t know how he did it, but he did. I wonder if he has a plan to beat the Shmice…

The Albatross, 3:46PM.

Shmouse Captain: Sir, there appears to be a new rebellion forming in Rogueport.

Jimmy: Can’t the local Shmice take care of it?

Shmouse Captain: Yes, I mean-

Jimmy: Good! Then why did you bother us?

Joey: Can’t you see we’re busy?

Shmouse Captain: What I’m trying to say is, the local Shmice tried, but were overcome-

Jimmy: Whoa! Overcome? How many rebels do they have?

Shmouse Captain: Almost a thousand. They managed to free all the local prisoners, and-

Jimmy: Whoa! Freed all the prisoners?! That does it! I’m calling reinforcements right now!

Rogueport, 3:59PM.

Rebel: They’re sure to bring backup, what do we do?

Shmouse Captain: Freeze!

Rebel: Sorry, don’t have time to chat, got work to do, y’know.

Elsewhere in Rogueport…

Shmouse Soldier: Captain, we need to bring in Zephilar. These rebels are too much for us!

Shmouse Captain: About how many rebels are out there?

Shmouse Soldier: Maybe a thousand?

Shmouse Captain: I’ll ask the twins if he’s available.

A little while later…

Rebel: Hey, the Shmice are starting to clear out. Wonder why…

Rebel: Uh-oh…

Momentarily, Zephilar’s ship, the Onyx, lands nearby, and he gets out.

Zephilar: It seems that too many someones are disturbing the peace around here.

Rebel Captain: Don’t move. We have you and your ship surrounded. Put your hands up.

Zephilar: Hmph.

He draws his saber.

Suddenly, Mark bolts like lightning from out of nowhere and starts hammering Zephilar with his heavily-reinforced sword. Even Zephilar was outmatched by Mark. He was backed into his own ship. Its door was slammed shut, and the ship was hurled into space, by the Golden Warrior.

Golden Warrior: So much for keeping the peace, haha…

Rebel Captain: Look alive, guys, here comes their backup!

The rebels ready their various weapons as several giant troop transports arrive and unleash four thousand Shmouse soldiers upon the rebels.

Suddenly, Stardown arrives in his jet and bombs the Shmice.

Shmouse General: Beat them at their own game! We have many more bombers!

As the bombers began taking off, Stardown fires chain lightning at them from his own ship.

Shmouse General: Bring out the rocket launchers!

Rebel Captain: We can’t take more of this!

Rebel: They’re coming with tanks! Lots of them!

Stardown radios the rebels to return to the fleet. As they leave, Stardown activates a purple force field.

Shmouse General: That won’t keep us out! Fire the anti-purple force field rockets!

The rockets hit the purple force field surrounding the rebel transport, destroying the force field. Another one appears a few seconds later.

Shmouse General: FIRE!

The tanks fire and destroy the transport, which fell and exploding, taking out a few Shmouse ranks.

Rebel: There are only two hundred of us left!

Shmouse Captain: You may as well give up now, since your transporter is destroyed. Put your hands up, all of you.

Stardown fires a mass teleporter beam, and he and all the rebels find themselves at the fleet.

Rebel: That was a nightmare and a half! Thanks a lot for for your help!

Stardown: Any time!

Arnold: But the danger is not over. Most likely the Shmice will come after us again.

Brian: I wonder where that nightmarish weapon of the Shmice went…

Mario: I forgot all about him!

Luigi: I hope we never see him again!

Stardown: I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him.

Arnold: Do you sense him in the Force?

Stardown: No.

Arnold: Is that good or bad?

They all laugh.

Stardown heads to his cabin and examines his lightsaber.

Stardown: Perhaps it could use an upgrade…

Brian enters.

Brian: Hey Stardown, working on something?

Stardown: It feels like my lightsaber is missing something…

Brian: Hmm… I can’t think of what it could be. It is a good saber.

Stardown: I’ll head to the workshop for some ideas.

They head for the workshop.

Stardown: It really is a good lightsaber. Maybe I could add a small jet in the core so I can fly farther without my jetpack and without igniting my saber. Maybe I should add that. But I haven’t worked on engines in a long time, and I’m not that good with nanotechnology. I wonder if Tails and Kervo are around to help?

Kervo: We’re here, Stardown!

Tails: What do you need help with?

Stardown tells them what he told Brian.

Kervo: We’ll see what we can do.

Stardown: I wonder what kind of tech the Shmouse weapon’s saber has…

Kervo: It must be very powerful, whatever it is…

Stardown: I wonder if he will work with the Shmice again…

Brian: Probably not. After that mistake of his, they probably don’t want him again.

Stardown: I wonder if I should have a second, identical lightsaber, just in case. Would that be recommended?

Kervo: I’m sure it would be easier to fight with two.

Tails: The only problem is, we’re out of Kyber crystals.

Brian: I think Mertokapaiko has some.

Stardown: Then that’s where we’ll go.

Soon, Stardown arrives at Okora with Mario, Luigi, Luke, and Anchor.

Mertoro: Welcome back, Stardown!

Tevaro: How can we help you?

Stardown: I’m working on a new lightsaber. Do you have any Kyber crystals I can buy?

Mertoro: We don’t normally sell them, but since you’ve been such a huge help to us in the past, we’ll be glad to give you one for free.

Stardown: Thank you very much! Since you’ve been a big help to us as well, you can have this powerful blaster-scanner hybrid for free.

Mertoro: Wow, thanks! I’m glad we could help!

Stardown: Any time!

They leave. But just as they were leaving, their ship was starting to be drawn into another ship with a tractor beam.

Stardown: I knew we wouldn’t be safe for long.

He radios the Medallion.

Stardown: SOS! Our ship has been captured!

Arnold: Roger that, we’ve got your location and we’re on our way.

Their ship is pulled into the other ship. Several robots with treads and square heads surround the ship and escort Stardown and friends out. One robot named Robob approaches them.

Robob: You are under arrest for disturbing intergalactic peace.

Luigi: Not again…

Stardown: Who are you?

Robob: We are the Robans.

Stardown: Just out of curiousity, who built you?

Robob: You do not need to know this. Take them away.

But before they can react, the wall explodes. Stardown’s backup has arrived.

Robob: Eradicate the support units.

Robans: Eradicate!

The Medallion activates a tractor beam, rescuing the heroes. Unfortunately, one of the Robans is taken in as well.

Robob: Activate vacuum.

Luke is sucked back onto the ship.

On the Medallion…

Roban: You were foolish to interfere in the Robans’ affairs. Your ship will now be confiscated. Summon reinforcements.

Twelve Robans appear in the room.

Robans: Eradicate!

Arnold presses a button that shuts down all Robans in the room.

Robob: The robots we sent shut down, make them self destruct!

Arnold presses a button that teleports the robots back onto their own ship.

Robob: Nooooo! Stop the self destruct! Stop the self destruct!

It is too late. The robots explode, destroying the ship.

Anchor: I’m glad those robots are out of the way!

Stardown: Not all of them, there’s still the fighters.

Luigi: Guys! Luke was in that thing!

Mario: Mama mia!

Stardown: Here comes two more cruisers, they look a little smaller.

Anchor: And a third which looks a bit smaller than the other two.

Luigi: Should we get out of here?

Anchor: Sounds like a good idea.

Milan: And leave Luke behind?

Luigi: Oh, right.

Anchor: Face it, he’s gone. Now let’s get out of here.

The Medallion hyperdrives back to the fleet.

Roboss: Follow them!

The three cruisers hyperdrive after the Medallion.

When the robots emerge from hyperspace, it is evident that they had greatly underestimated the size of the fleet.

Robot Captain: They outnumber us!

Roboss: Send out the Robeast Fighters while I call for backup.

Robot: This is a losing fight! Backup will do us no good!

Roboss: Silence! You have no right to contradict me!

Two of the cruisers are destroyed in five minutes. Then the Robeasts arrive.

Theodore: This looks bad.

Milan: Analyze the situation.

Tevaro: It looks like… robots. I don’t recognize them.

Stardown goes to the back room.

Stardown: Tails, Kervo, are my lightsabers ready?

Kervo: Just about… yes! Now they’re ready!

Stardown: Good. Here’s the Kyber crystal. Listen, there are robots attacking the fleet, and they have the ability to teleport.

Kervo: Hey, I have an idea!

2 minutes later…

Kervo: Even though I can’t clone Kyber Crystals-

The room shakes.

Kervo: -I cloned your lightsaber and put the new Kyber Crystal in it.

Stardown tests the new saber.

Stardown: It works!

Kervo: If Thundra had to pop up, now would be a good time! Heh heh!

Stardown gives him a playful shove.

Stardown: Heheh, now would not be the best time, though…

Tails: Why?

Stardown: We’re under attack by a group of robots. They ambushed me on the way back from the mole planet. I would have been captured by them if it were not for our skilled crew.

Tails: Oh, yes, sorry.

Intercom: All hands on deck! The Robeasts have arrived!

Kervo grabs his blaster and leaves the room.

Stardown: Tails, do you have a weapon?

Tails: No, but I’ll find one.

Stardown: Tails, take one of my sabers!

He rushes to the main room.

Suddenly about thirty Shmouse heavy war cruisers hyperdrive around them.

Lion 3: We’re surrounded!

Stardown: So my hunch is correct!

Jimmy: Wipe. Them. Out!

Stardown: I knew the robots were linked to the Shmice!

Roboss: Board their main ship! Board their main ship!

Stardown: They’re coming! Everyone, get ready!

Lion 1: Aaah! They’re teleporting behind us!

Lion 2: They just broke the main door!

Stardown draws his lightsaber and slices through the robots like butter.

Robots: Self destruct!

Arnold teleports them to the outside of the Shmouse cruisers.

Robot 30: Take over the ship! Take over the ship!

Robot 27: The Shmice will destroy it!

Robot 30: Oh… right.

Rebel fighters are deployed, and they fire proton torpedoes at the cruisers.

Shmouse General: Fire chain lightning.

His ship is destroyed by the torpedoes.

Suddenly, they all leave, even the robots on board the Medallion.

Stardown: W-what just happened?

Kervo: I don’t know.

Arnold: Something’s up… Watch your backs.

Tails: Here’s your lightsaber, Stardown.

Stardown: Thanks.

Stardown, Kervo, and Tails go back to the workshop.

Stardown: Well, that was fun.

Kervo: Did the ship take any damage?

Stardown: Not that I know of. I’ll need to ask the commander.

Tails: Did the robots mess with any computers?

Stardown: I don’t think so. What caused them all to disappear?

Kervo: Maybe they were teleported out by their leader.

Stardown: That’s probably the case. I personally believe that they are working for the Shmice. What about you?

Tails: They did all leave at the same time, so maybe.

Stardown: But cruisers don’t just disappear, especially not if they’re facing us.

Kervo: True.

Sonic enters.

Sonic: Hi, guys. What’s this I hear about robots?

Tails: The Shmice and some robots started attacking us, then suddenly disappeared.

Sonic: That sounds fishy. I wonder if those are Eggman’s bots?

Kervo: Does anyone have pictures?

Stardown finds a picture of a robot, and shows it to everyone.

Stardown hears something and turns around. There stands a robot.

Sonic: Hello, we were just talking about you!

Robot: Eradicate!

Stardown draws his lightsaber and begins slashing the robot.

Robot: Bye bye! Nyahahahahaha!

The robot runs off as fast as it can.

Robot: You can’t beat me!

Stardown: What…?

Tails: He’s getting away!

Sonic: I got him!

He reaches the robot and spin-dashes through it.

Robot: Noooooooo! I wanted Stardown to destroy meeeeee!

Stardown: Wish granted.

He beheads the robot with his blade.

Tails: No, Stardown! It’s a trap!

The robot explodes, knocking Stardown across the room.

Robots pour in and capture Sonic, Tails, and Kervo.

Anchor is walking past the workshop but he sees the commotion and fires his bazooka at the robots.

Stardown stands up, amazed at his fast recovery. He draws his lightsabers and joins the battle. Anchor frees the prisoners. Tails’ face is a look of pure horror.

Tails: Stardown! Look out!

Stardown whirls around. Like a flash of lightning, the one nicknamed the Shadow of Death, Red Eyes, and the Dark Menace, bolts at Stardown. Stardown hacks away with his lightsabers, but is far outmatched. After a little bit he is forced to turn and run. Then he draws his extra blades and flies in the air. He turns around and throws his blades at Thundra, who slashes them aside. Stardown lands nimbly.

Tails: Let the guards take care of him.

About a dozen guards enter, show momentary shock at Thundra, and then open fire.

Thundra Force-throws the guards at Stardown.

Stardown puts them down gently with the Force.

Thundra uses the Force to take Anchor’s bazooka.

Anchor: HEY! Give that back, weapon-kidnapper!

Brian Phillips enters.

Brian: What going- THUNDRA?!

Suddenly, Sonic bolts at him from behind.

Thundra side-steps and Sonic strikes Stardown.

He hits Stardown, knocking him out.

Amy: Stardown!

She drags him into another room.

Tails: Sonic! Catch!

He tosses a ring to Sonic, who uses it and ricochets around the room, hoping to hit Thundra.

Thundra Force-lifts Sonic, spins him in the air and throws him at Stardown and the rest.

He misses.

Thundra pulls Stardown back into the room and hurls him at Sonic.

Amy and Tails carry Stardown out of the room as the others distract Thundra.

Thundra does, however, see Stardown. He Force-throws everyone into a pile.

Arnold enters and grabs Thundra’s blade with the Force.

Thundra takes advantage of this. Arnold ends up pulling both the lightsaber and Thundra. Thundra knocks Arnold over and takes his book of passwords.

Arnold gets up and Force-shoves Thundra away. He drops the password book.

He lands nimbly, Force-grabs Sonic (again), throws him at Arnold, and gets the password book.

Arnold draws his lightsaber and duels Thundra. Brian’s Padawan, Max, Force-pulls everyone else into another room. Max is in the hallway, well out of view of Thundra.

Even Arnold is outmatched by Thundra’s skill. He uses the Force to get the bazooka.

Arnold: Don’t move or I’ll fire!

Thundra starts wandering.

Kaboom!

Arnold fires the bazooka. Thundra uses the Force to throw the shell at the wall, exposing Max.

Thundra sees Max, but not Stardown or the others. Max draws his saber and runs forward.

Intercom: All who are available, stop Thundra! He is in the workshop. I repeat, Thundra must be stopped!

Thundra uses the Force to throw Max at Arnold.

Max: Aaaagh! I-I grazed your blade.

The other room, 5:48PM.

Stardown wakes up before any of the others, grabs his saber, and fires a ghost blade through the wall. The wall is not damaged. The ghost blade grazes the top of Thundra’s helmet.

He didn’t take any damage, but he feels pain. Arnold has recovered and charges at Thundra, along with some backup.

Everyone else soon wakes up.

Tails: Is Thundra still there?

Stardown: (groggily) Yes. They’re still fighting.

Kervo: Shall we join the fight?

Stardown: No. We don’t want Thundra to know we’re here. Let’s keep our voices low.

Kervo: All right, then.

Stardown: Is everyone okay?

Sonic: I’m a little beat up.

Stardown: How about you, Amy?

Amy: No, not really. Are you okay?

Stardown: My side hurts. I’m glad I’m not one of Sonic’s enemies. How about you, Anchor and Tails?

Tails: Just a few bruises.

Anchor: Same here.

Stardown: Besides me, who needs the most medical attention?

Tails: Not me.

Anchor: Not me.

Amy: Not me.

Sonic: I may need some.

Stardown: Right, I’ll contact the nurses.

He does.

The workshop, 5:51PM.

Guard: Ungh… That guy’s sick…

Guard: Where… is Mark?

Guard: Not… here…

Soon, the Golden Warrior appears in the doorway.

Francis: Thundra again, huh? WHat do you want this time?

Thundra is looking over his shoulder.

Francis: What’s behind me?

He turns to look.

Thundra bolts forward and takes his lightsaber.

Francis: Hey!

He grabs his blaster and starts firing. Thundra blocks the beams with ease, then he used the Force and combines the two lightsabers.

Francis tries the same trick he used on the Arctic Tail clones: he opens a large portal directly underneath Thundra.

He uses his new lightsaber to destroy the portal.

Francis uses the Force to split the lightsaber.

Thundra throws Francis at Arnold.

The four warriors (Arnold, Francis, Brian, and Max) use their combined Force powers to throw Thundra through the ceiling.

Thundra’s armor is starting to crack, which isn’t normal. He can barely move.

Francis: Are we winning?

Arnold: Maybe, shall we go up to him?

Francis: That’s probably too risky.

Five minutes later…

The armor finishes cracking.

Thundra takes the pieces off, also removing any specks on his winter coat. He knows he is more vulnerable. He waits to see what the others would do.

Francis jumps through the hole, saber drawn.

Thundra uses the Force to grab Francis’ lightsaber.

Francis uses the Force to shove both lightsabers into Thundra.

Thundra snaps Francis’ lightsaber in two.

Francis does the same to Thundra’s blade, then Force-shoves him across the room. Arnold, Brian, and Max come through the hole.

Thundra uses the Force to put the lightsaber together, then Force-shoves Francis into the rest.

Francis grabs Thundra’s blade with the Force, opens a portal, and drops the lightsaber into it.

Thundra used the Force to take Arnold’s lightsaber.

Thundra: Where does that portal lead to?

Francis: I’ll let you find out firsthand.

He opens another portal underneath Thundra, and he falls in. Francis closes both portals.

Dry Dry Desert, 6:14PM.

Poof!

Thundra appears in Dry Dry Desert. He looks around for a ship. There is none.

???: Well hello there! What are you doing on such a fine day as this?

Thundra turns around.

Thundra: Who are you?

???: Me? I’m Mr. Blab, and you?

Thundra: Is there a-

Thundra almost forgets he has a teleporter from the robots. He presses a few buttons and teleports his lightsaber to him, then teleports back to the Medallion.

The Medallion, 6:15PM.

Francis is tracking Thundra. When Thundra returns to the Medallion, Francis draws his spare saber and climbs down from the hole, eventually finding Thundra.

Francis: And just what are you doing back here?

Thundra: You are a coward.

Francis: ANSWER ME!!!!!

Thundra: You think I would stay away just because some coward who couldn’t fight me in person sent me away with a portal? Nonsense!

Thundra​ ​isn’t​ ​dumb.​ ​He​ ​knows​ ​he​ ​probably​ ​enraged​ ​Francis.​ ​He​ ​braces​ ​himself.

Francis has a brilliant idea. He presses a button and the tracking device inside Thundra explodes.

Francis: NOW will you tell me why you’re here and dueling us?

Thundra falls from the explosion, half dead.

Thundra: You… further proved… that… you are… a… coward!

Francis: I’m not a coward; I’m a detective. Now tell me why you’re here, and I’ll send you safely to the hospital.

Thundra: Kill… me…

Francis: I’m so sorry, but…

He beheads Thundra and teleports him away.

Francis: What this ship needs is an anti-Thundra force field…

Francis falls for the trap. In a blur, Thundra Force-shoves the blade into Francis, takes his Super Mushroom, and points his blade at Francis. Thundra Force-shoves another Super Mushroom away.

Arnold leaves and radios Mark.

Arnold: Mark, we need you. Thundra is here!

Mark: Thundra, eh? What’s he doing this time?

Arnold: He’s pinned down Francis! Francis sent him away into a portal, but he came right back.

Mark: Which room?

Arnold: We’re directly below the workshop.

Mark: OK, thanks! I’m on my way!

Soon Mark arrives, a blur of fury.

Thundra begins dueling him, giving Francis a chance to escape.

The four heroes run down the hall, pausing when they saw Stardown and friends in hospital beds.

Stardown: How did you escape from Thundra?

Arnold: Mark took over.

Eradicate! Eradicate!

Tails: Uh-oh!

Arnold: We’ll handle this. Max, guard the door.

Robob: I lived, your lightsabers are no match for us.

Robot: Let’s get them!

Robob: I will deal with these alone! Go help Thundra.

Robot: Sir yes sir!

Anchor: Here, take my bazooka.

Francis takes the bazooka and starts blasting the robots.

Robob sidesteps, and the beam flies past. He fires a beam out of his chest. It hits the Golden Warrior and spreads to the rest, trapping them in strong bubbles.

Stardown: It’s not nice to imprison a wounded person, you know.

Robob: Farewell!

He presses a button and the heroes disappear.

Roadrunner sprints in and engages Robob, who is completely taken off guard.

Zap!

Roadrunner is zapped as he hits Robob.

Robob: Eradicate!

Roadrunner: How did you know I was here?!

Robob: I didn’t, but it doesn’t matter!

Roadrunner: Teleport them back now!

Robob: Why would I do that?

Roadrunner: Because most of them are injured!

Robob: Bruises are nothing! Eradicate!

Roadrunner: Before you get all eradicate-y, I want you to know that Thundra is responsible for all their injuries! Not to mention Stardown is heavily hit!

Robob draws his lightsaber.

Robob: Eradicate!

Roadrunner fights valiantly, aiming for the treads.

Robob: Come on, hit them.

He gets a piece of the treads with his saber.

Robob cannot drive properly, but he still fights.

He slices off the other tread.

Robob buzzes, and the treads quickly wrap around Roadrunner, binding him.

Robob: I overestimated you.

Suddenly there is a high frequency sound, too high-pitched for Roadrunner, that irritates Robob.

Robob: What’s, that, noise?

The sound causes Robob to shut down. Several guards rush in, carry him out of the room, and, with the rest of the crew’s help, change his programming. Roadrunner is freed.

A cave somewhere, 6:51PM.

Sonic: Where are we?

Amy: I don’t know… Ack! What is that?!

Stardown: I don’t see anything.

Amy: It was a large flying monster.

Anchor: Sure you ain’t seein’ things?

Amy: Positive.

Stardown: Was it like anything you’ve seen before?

Amy: No.

Tails: First of all, we need to find out where we are.

EEEEEHHAAAAARRR!

Amy: I hope we don’t have to ask those monsters.

Stardown: It’s probably best not to give ourselves away.

Sonic: Hey! I see one- uh-oh, I think it spotted us!

Stardown: Everyone stay still!

EEEHHAAA! EEEYAAAR!

Amy: Ooooh! I don’t like this!

Stardown bravely faces the creatures.

Only one monster is present when he arrived.

Stardown: Hello. I am Stardown, a friend.

The creature pauses.

Stardown: I will not hurt you. Could you please show us the exit to this place?

EEEEYAAR!

Stardown: Thanks anyway. Come on, gang, we’ll need to find an exit ourselves.

The creature slowly flies toward them, then stops.

The group keeps walking.

The creature follows.

Stardown waves at it.

It stops and turns around, making complex noises. Another creature enters.

EEYAR!

Stardown: Is there something you would like?

The first creature seems to stare at Stardown for a little bit, then starts making the complex noises, still facing Stardown.

Stardown: (to his friends) Do any of you have translators?

None of them do.

The first creature turns to the second and starts communicating. Soon the second creature leaves.

Stardown: I do not know what you are saying.

Amy: Maybe he knows something we don’t.

Stardown: Maybe.

The creature makes a few noises to Stardown, then shoots through the rock.

Stardown: Where is he going?

Kervo: Here comes the second one.

Stardown projects a hologram of Robob.

Stardown: Do you know who this is?

The creature flies toward the hologram, makes a few muffled noises, puts down the device he had in his mouth, then repeats himself. Soon the first creature comes back through the hole.

Stardown observes the device.

The first creature drops a Shmouse in front of Stardown.

EEEYAAR!

Stardown is surprised.

Shmouse: Aaack! Keep them away! Keep them away!

The second creature presses a few buttons on the device, glancing up a few times. Small beams come out of the device hitting everyone. The beams are harmless.

Stardown: (to the Shmouse) Do you know where we are?

Shmouse: I- I don’t know, but this place is huge!

He turns to the creatures.

Shmouse: Free me at once!

Creature 2: Why should we?

Shmouse: Because I said so!

Creature 2: Nice try.

Stardown: So you can speak our language?

Creature 2: Only with the translator.

Stardown tells the creatures about how they got there.

Creature 1: Teleported! Well that’s a first.

Stardown: I don’t know why Robob brought us here out of all places. Where are we, anyway?

Creature 1: This is one of the most little known places on Plit. The few who have seen it call it Cave Island.

Stardown: Have you heard of the fearsome Thundra?

Creature 1: Ah, Thundra! I know he’s a legend, they say he can freeze one with his stare. He is a powerful warrior who can appear and disappear at any time or place. Who believes this stuff? My mother used to say… Oh sorry! Getting off track… Did you have a question about him?

Stardown: He’s responsible for injuring most of us here. I think I took the heaviest hits.

Creature 2: What?!

Creature 1: Are you okay?

Stardown: Thanks to his unbelievable skills, Sonic tried to hit him but got me instead. I’m… already feeling… weak…

He faints.

Creature 1: But how is this possible? Thundra’s merely fiction.

Tails: Stardown!

Arnold: Are you able to help him?

Creature 2: Yes. I’ll take him to the hospital.

Brian: The rest of us will need care, too.

Kervo: Just out of curiousity, who is this Shmouse?

Creature 1: Ah, so you know who these are. He’s a prisoner, we caught him and a few others when they tried to take the island. Greedy little things!

Shmouse: I am not greedy!

Creature 1: Now is not the time for you to speak.

Creature 1: Oh yes, Stardown showed me a hologram of Robob, I don’t know much about him, but he is quite important among his group.

Arnold: He’s their second in command.

Brian: Do you have names?

Creature 1: Yes, but they can’t be translated. We tested.

Brian: Do you mind if we call you the cave creatures?

Creature 1: I don’t mind. Where do you come from?

Arnold: Most of us come from this planet, some from the Mushroom Kingdom. SOnic and his friends are from Mobius.

Creature 1: Did the Shmice take your land?

Arnold: They took over the whole world for a few months. That led me to start a rebel fleet in space.

Creature 1: What did they lose after those few months?

Arnold: Our fleet joined several others and liberated most of Plit. They still own several islands in the east, though.

Crash!

Eradicate! Eradicate!

Arnold: What…?

Brian: How did they…?

Sonic: I’ll take them!

Stardown: Did I miss-

Eradicate!

Creature 1 spits a few rocks at the robots.

Francis: Here’s your bazooka, Anchor.

Anchor: Let’s blast some buckets!

He fires at the robots.

Robots: Stop the weed! Stop the weed!

Sonic and the rocks barely make a dent in the robots’ metal.

Sonic: So much for “indestructible”!

Robots: Noooooo!

Creature 1 destroys three of the robots.

Stardown: I guess they underestimated you!

Robot: Retreat! Retreat!

The robots disappear.

Creature 1: The robots now know about our cave.

Stardown: And so will the Shmice and Drake. We’ve got to get out of here.

Creature 1: Shall we use the teleporter?

Stardown: Yes.

Arnold: How about back to the fleet?

Stardown: Sounds good.

Creature 1: Should I stay here?

Arnold: You’re very welcome to come with us.

Creature 1: Thank you! I’ll go tell the others.

He flies off.

Shortly, the other creatures arrive.

EEEYAAHR!

EEYARER!

EEEYEEE!

Creature 1: Farewell!

The rebel crew and the cave creature teleport to the fleet.

The Medallion, 7:20PM.

Stardown is surprised to see Robob.

Guard: Don’t worry - we reprogrammed him.

Stardown sees Mark dragging himself toward them.

Mark: I’m… hit.

Stardown: Take him to the infirmary. Is Thundra still here?

Mark: I, don’t know. He vanished.

Stardown: Welcome to the rebellion, Robob.

Robob: Unfamiliar programming. Unfamiliar programming. What is the password?

The programmers shut Robob down and programs the password out of him, as well as give him more awesome stuff.

Agent S: Ack! What is that thing, sidekick?

Stardown: What is what?

Agent S: That thing!

She points to the creature Stardown brought with him.

Stardown: Oh! This is my new friend, who is terrific at trashing robots.

Brian: That’s good to hear, because more are coming!

Eradicate!

The guards decide to hide Robob as the creature plows through the robots.

Shmouse flagship.

Joey: Stop wasting your robots. It’s no use.

Roboss: Don’t tell me what to do! I must have their ship!

Jimmy: I thought we were destroying their fleet!

Roboss: We were, but I want that ship, the Medallion, spared.

Joey: Do you realize that their ship is programmed to resist piloting from “bad guys” like us?

Roboss: How? That’s impossible!

Jimmy: Apparently you need to be reprogrammed, because it’s true.

Roboss: Then we’ll reprogram it!

Joey: Hey, I was looking around and I found this amazing solar system. It had a planet I thought would be great for conquering!

Roboss: Conquering… That is all you think about, isn’t it?

Joey: You’re starting to drive me crazy!

Roboss: Will the residents of this planet you speak of appreciate your conquering it?

Joey: Who knows? But it doesn’t really matter.

Roboss: Why do the Shmice need so much land?

Jimmy: Why do you enjoy being so rude? Anyway, what was the planet called?

Joey: Earth.

Roboss: You did not answer my question.

Jimmy: I don’t have to.

Roboss: You will.

Six robots appear in the room.

Eradicate!

Jimmy whistles and twenty Shmouse guards run in.

Jimmy: Destroy these robots.

The Shmice begin firing.

Roboss: Eradicate!

Chain lightning soon traps all the Shmice, even the Shmouse twins, in force bubbles.

Roboss: You are now at our mercy.

Joey smiles.

Joey: On the contrary.

He presses a button on his remote.

Roboss: What are you doing?!

Suddenly, several light cruisers and a Crusher-class cruiser hyperdrive in and starts attacking Roboss’ ship.

Roboss’ ship, the Fulcrum, pixelates and disappears.

Joey: He got away.

Jimmy: There will be no rest until he is found.

Shmouse Soldier: I’m tired.

Jimmy: That’s not what I meant!

The Medallion.

Amy: Uh, guys? Robob’s going nuts!

Guard: Did we really program it to act this way?

Eradicate!

The guards shut him down. Stardown heads to the workshop to tell Tails and Kervo about it.

Kervo: It’s turning on again!

Eradicate!

Tails: I’ve got this!

He grabs a neutralizer blaster from off the shelf and fires it at Robob.

Kervo: Phew!

Robob wakes up again.

Stardown: What’s going on?

Robob: I am invincible! I will turn you all to mac and cheese! Eradicate!

Stardown lightsabers Robob’s head off.

Robob’s head reattaches.

Robob: Your attacks are useless!

Amy: We must stop him!

Another high-frequency sound shuts Robob down. Tails and Kervo plug him into a computer and investigate his programming.

Robob woke up again.

Robob: I, will, not, be, stopped!!!

He rips the cord from the computer.

Francis walks in and traps Robob in a force field.

He teleports out of it.

Robob: Your programming is useless!

Amy: You’re hopeless, Robob!

Stardown: (using a Jedi mind trick) You will shut down now.

Robob: I will shut down never!

Stardown: Take us to your creator, Robob.

Amy: What are you doing, Stardown?!

Stardown: You’ll see.

Robob: I will not obey you!

Stardown slices off Robob’s arms and holds them so they do not remagnetize.

Stardown: Now will you?

The arms reconnect and he blasts Stardown off.

Robob: No! Eradicate!

Stardown: *sigh* What do you want? Besides eradicating us and taking this ship, of course.

Robob: Nothing!

Stardown: Robob, you probably don’t know it, but you have a virus that could probably wipe you out within hours. We found this out when we shut you down the first time. Please let us shut you down and remove it.

Robob: Ha, ha. Very funny.

Stardown: Or I could activate it in seconds with this remote.

Robob: Caring one second, threatening the next.

Stardown: Please, don’t you want to join us?

Robob: First, you were concerned about my programming, and wanted to help me, then you wanted to destroy me with the virus, and now you want me to join you?! You are insane! Truly insane!

Stardown: Look, I’m sorry about the whole virus thing, but why did you take it as a joke?

A captain walks in.

Captain: Sir, we’ve got word that the robots are rebelling against the Shmice.

Robob: You were not joking!

Stardown: I wasn’t, but it was because I was your enemy. Please let us remove the virus. But we would need to shut you down first.

Robob: You are a liar. I have no virus.

Stardown: How would you know this?

Robob: Shut me down.

Stardown presses a button on the remote and Robob shuts down. The “virus” is actually a chip installed in Robob when he was first shut down, and is activated and deactivated with the remote.

Fortunately, Robob does not rise again. Tails and Kervo plug him in and delete any code that would make him bad. They also delete his memory.

Kervo: Aah! The codes are coming back!

Tails: What?

Kervo: I got an idea! Let’s wipe out all his coding and give him custon coding!

Tails: Okay.

They do so, then wait half an hour to see if any of his original code returns.

Tails: It’s back.

Kervo: Let’s delete the code every time it appears, and scan the hardware for something that could be creating the code.

Soon they find the hardware.

Kervo: It says it’s from Password Pete, the code of the device is 94383.

Tails: Great. Why don’t you remove it while I contact Password Pete.

Worker: Hello, this is the Password Pete company. What can I do for you?

Tails: I’d like to report a faulty device. It’s number is 94383.

Worker: What do you mean by “faulty device”?

Tails: It keeps generating a code that makes it malfunction. Even after deleting all code from the system, the faulty code magically appears.

Worker: The only thing we have with the code of 94383 is a password book owned by Arnold Jenkins.

Tails: You know him?

Worker: No. Why?

Tails: How did you know he has a password book?

Worker: He bought it from us.

Tails: I should have thought of that. Well, thanks for the help.

Worker: Uh, you’re welcome.

Tails hangs up.

Tails: I need to go and speak to the commander.

He leaves.

Stardown: Now what?

Amy: I suppose we wait until he returns.

Stardown: Is the code returning, Kervo?

Kervo: Yes, it is.

Stardown: Keep deleting the code, and let’s wait for Tails to return.

Tails soon returns with Arnold.

Stardown: What is it, Commander?

Arnold: Thundra has the password book, and this device has one of our codes. I have ordered all passwords to be changed, Let’s change this device’s password.

Stardown: How do we change the password without the password book?

Arnold: First let’s set up a signal blocker.

Device: Please enter password.

Arnold: Let’s create a new device - one that does not require a password.

Soon, a passwordless signal blocker is built. A firewall is set up to prevent hacks from hacking the systems.

Eradicate!

Tails: It’s coming from above us!

Soon, Sonic is up there in a split second.

The robots trap him in a force bubble.

Sonic: Cowards! Let me go!

Robot: Never, hedgepig.

Sonic: It’s called hedgehog.

Robot: Whatever.

Stardown cuts a circle in the ceiling and jumps through.

They trap him as well.

Robot: Next!

Tails fires a powerful laser through the ceiling that hits all the robots.

Robot: Stop it! It tickles!

Robob: Hey, is that Robob down there? I’ll go report to Roboss.

He disappears.

The Fulcrum.

But Roboss is surrounded by Shmice.

Support Robans: Eradicate!

Robot: The Guardians have Robob! The Guardians have Robob!

Shmouse Platoon Leader: Do not answer or you will regret it.

Roboss buzzes and the Shmice started getting zapped.

Roboss: Do not underestimate the power of the Robans.

S.P.L.: What do you say, leaders?

Joey: Say what about what?

S.P.L.: The Robans are upon us! Woe is us!

Jimmy: You greatly outnumber them. What’s your deal? Can’t you fight?

S.P.L.: We had them until their breakdancing boss got into the act!

Jimmy: Excuse me?

S.P.L.: They’re toying with our troops!

Jimmy: Toy with theirs!

S.P.L.: Yes, sir!

Jimmy: *sigh* I hope it’s just a bad batch.

The Medallion.

The Robans are just being finished off by the creature.

EEEYAAR!

Robot: Eek! Let’s get out of here!

Tails rushes in.

Tails: Guys! Someone has been messing with the computer and Robob while we were gone!

Stardown: Robob… Is he gone?

Tails: No, thankfully.

Stardown: Is he up and about?

Tails: No, but things look changed.

Stardown: (shouting down the hole) Commander! How’s the signal blocker?

Arnold: The firewall’s removed, and a few settings have been changed.

Stardown: (quietly) Thundra…

Tails: You saw him?!

Stardown: Didn’t Arnold see him take the password book?

Tails: I’m pretty sure he did. Yes! He mentioned it earlier.

Stardown gets a new idea.

Stardown: Commander! How old is the Medallion’s tech?

Arnold: A few years old. Why?

Stardown: I think it’s time for an upgrade.

Arnold: Like what?

Stardown: (whispering once he comes back through the hole) Maybe new physical and security defenses, anti-Thundra security, an almost-impossible-to-breach password system - everything!

Tails: Robob’s gone!

Stardown: (whispering) Let’s get started. By the way, I’m whispering because Thundra might hear us.

Tails: The computer is completely messed up!

Stardown: I’ve got an idea. THUNDRA, COME OUT AND FIGHT!

He sees and hears nothing.

Stardown: That doesn’t mean he’s not on the ship. (whispering) Fortunately, the surveillance covers every square inch of the ship.

Arnold: I’ll check it.

Stardown: Is everyone ready for a possible fight with Thundra?

Max: No.

Sonic: After I get well.

Anchor: I wish I was!

Arnold: Well, you’d better be. I think I saw him on one of the cams. He isn’t dumb. I’m sure he knows he was spotted.

Several guards walk to the spot where Thundra had been spotted, under Arnold’s direction.

Guard: I don’t see him si-

A lightsaber slashes through the guards and Arnold is dragged into the darkness.

His capture has not gone unnoticed. Soon the darkness was lit up by lightsabers belonging to Mark and the Shadow of Death.

Mark chops the lightsaber in two.

Mark: It was a dummy.

Stardown hands a radio to Tails.

Stardown: Tails, can you please monitor the cameras?

Tails runs off to the monitors.

Stardown: (over radio) Do you see Thundra?

Tails: Not yet.

Mark comes in.

Mark: It was a fake.

Stardown: Don’t let your guard down.

Tails: He-

The message is cut off.

Stardown: I think I know what happened. Brian, could you check the archive of the surveillance room.

Brian: OK.

He leaves but comes back shortly later.

Brian: Tails is gone!

Stardown: I thought so. What did the video show you?

Brian: I didn’t get to checking that. I’ll be right back.

He does not return.

Stardown goes in himself, taking six guards with him to watch all directions.

He does not see or hear anything.

Stardown: I’ll check the video. Keep watch, guys.

He checks.

Stardown: Someone deleted it.

He turns around.

Stardown: Guys?

He is alone.

Stardown: All right, Thundra, come on out. I want to see you.

He is knocked unconscious, and dragged into the shadows.

Somewhere.

When Stardown regains consciousness…

???: Hey! Stardown woke up!

Arnold: What do you want from us?

???: Hey! His boss is awake too!

???: Awe-a-some!

???: He-haw!

Stardown: *sigh* What do you want?

Hooded Jaw: Your wallet! What else?

Firius: Your password for Facebook!

Black Widow: Your gold and silver!

Rainmaker: Your Cheez-its!

The villains stare at him.

Stardown starts chuckling.

Stardown: I’ll let you talk amongst yourselves.

Rainmaker: Oh, er, sorry, uuuh, we want your piggy bank!

Hooded Jaw: Er, where were we?

Stardown: You want my piggy bank.

Hooded Jaw: Yeah!

Firius: Do you even have a piggy bank?

Tails: Does it matter if he does or not?

Hooded Jaw: Of course!

Firius sneers in Stardown’s face.

Firius: Well, Stardown? Do you have a piggy bank?

Italian Mouse: Yeah-a! Do-a-you?

Stardown: Who needs a piggy bank when I’ve got my brain for mental calculations?

Hooded Jaw: Huh?

Firius: Stardown, you’re not making sense.

Hooded Jaw: Where do you put your money?

Italian Mouse: Your-a-wallet?

Stardown: Ever hear of an ATM?

Rainmaker: AT-what?

Black Widow: I think he said ATM. Whatever that is.

Arnold: He said Automatic Teller Machine.

Brian: Are these guys your friends, Stardown?

Italian Mouse: Yeah-a! We’re-a-friends!

Hooded Jaw: As thick as thieves!

Rainmaker: As thick as Cheez-its!

Firius: (whispering) Stop it! You’re going to make us look like fools!

Rainmaker: But we are! Aren’t we?

Black Widow: Stop!

The minor villains enter a whispered conversation on what to do with them.

Stardown: How did we get into this mess?

Hooded Jaw: Why don’t I put in a CD of cool music so you’ll see us as big boys!

Black Widow: Oh, you’re big all right…

Hooded Jaw: Here, want a Smartie? They’re the best in show!

Firius: Whoa! Did you say a Smartie? One of those things could knock a Yukon moose unconscious for three weeks! Or at least one of your Smarties…

Stardown: Smarties these days…

???: All of you, on the floor!

Everyone obeys for no reason. A tall female arctic fox enters the room.

Hooded Jaw: Waaa! We were just trying to have some fun!

Stardown: We all know that’s no fun.

???: Hmm, Common criminals, should’a known.

Rainmaker: Criminals?! But I donate my money to charity!

Firius: But we all know you’re your own charity, so nope.

???: Who are these people in the chairs?!

Arnold: We’re their captives.

Rainmaker: No they’re-

Italian Mouse: Shut-a-up!

???: Well, if they’re not captives, why are they tied up in those chairs?! Huh?!

Rainmaker: Uh…

???: Exactly.

???: Now, do any of you know - Ponoko?! What are you doing here?!

Ponoko: That’s Count Ponoko to you, Arctica. I finally found you, and now I will give you a permanent dose of my power.

Hooded Jaw: Er, we’re a little busy here-

Ponoko: I insist.

He sends everyone into a portal.

Stardown: Where are we?

Arctica: I know.

Tails: Why did Ponoko take us here?

Arctica: I know.

Brian: Who is Count Ponoko?

Arctica: I know.

Arnold: Who are you?

Arctica: I am Saharia.

Stardown: Saharia, we need your help. We’ve been fighting Thundra for years, and he’s overwhelmed us every time. He now has our book of passwords. Could you please help us?

Arctica: No.

Stardown: No?

Arctica: Yes.

Stardown: Are you joking?

Arctica: Yes.

Stardown: If Ponoko is Thundra’s enemy, then why did Thundra seem casual when Ponoko arrived?

Arctica: I know.

Stardown: Do you have the ability to take us back to the Medallion?

Arctica: I have the ability. It is boring, however.

Stardown: Why are we here?

Arctica: I know.

Brian: Wait, what did you mean by “boring”?

Arctica: Fun? I meant boring. I believe this portal is making us tell the truth.

Stardown: Can you get us out of here?

Arctica: I wish I couldn’t.

Stardown: Ponoko, get us out of here!

Arctica: I think he can hear us.

Stardown: Ponoko, answer!

Silence.

Arctica: He can hear us! I can easily hear myself!

Stardown: Are you by any chance Ponoko in disguise?

Arctica: Of course I am!

Stardown: I think this portal is twisting your words!

Arctica: No! It’s not!

Stardown: Tails, how tall is this realm? It feels like we’ve been falling forever.

Tails: I don’t know. I find it strange that we can tell the truth but she can’t.

Arctica: False.

Tails: See?

Stardown: Yes… Arnold, do you know how we can get out of here?

Arnold: No, it looks like a bottomless pit. I’m sure there’s more to this.

Arctica: There isn’t.

Hooded Jaw: I wanna get outta here!

Italian Mouse: I’m-a-scared!

Dominick: He-a-haw!

Italian Mouse: Grrr!

Rainmaker: Are we gonna be stuck in this forever?

Black Widow: Sure.

Brian: There’s a box down there.

It says: Enter password to access portal controls.

Stardown: Wait, how can there be a box down there if there’s no- oh.

He dives down and examines it.

Stardown: Nothing is working!

Arctica: I don’t know the password.

Black Widow: Thank you, Captain Obvious.

Stardown: Password?!

He enters every password he knows.

Stardown has an idea. He hands the box to Arctica.

She pulls out a paper, glances at it, and enters a password.

Arctica: It didn’t work!

Stardown: That means it worked!

Arctica: No.

Soon, they are are out of the portal and back in their original location.

Hooded Jaw: Quick, get the rope and chairs and tie ‘em up!

Rainmaker: What about Arctica, the one who can’t stop lying, should we kick her out?

Hooded Jaw: Sure.

Firius escorts Arctica to the door.

Firius: Bye!

She closes the door.

Hooded Jaw: Now, where were we?

Black Widow: You were about to make Tails eat your Smartie.

Tails: Nooooo!

The Hooded Jaw pops the Smartie into Tails’ open mouth.

Hooded Jaw: Enjoy!

Rainmaker: Good, isn’t it?

Dominick: He-haw!

There is a knocking at the door.

Hooded Jaw: Who is it?

???: It’s the maid.

Hooded Jaw opens the door and Arctica strolls in.

Firius: You fell for that?!

Italian Mouse: What do you-a want?

Arctica: Clear out.

They obey for no reason, and Arctica frees the prisoners.

Hooded Jaw: Aah! We fell for it! Get them!

The Italian Mouse throws his sombrero.

Rainmaker: Let it tornado!

Black Widow: Come on! Work on your English!

Arctica: …

Stardown and the others, Arctica included, flee the room.

Hooded Jaw: They’re getting away!

Thundra blocks them.

Arctica: Get out of our way, Thundra.

Thundra opens the door for them. Arctica was the first to leave. One she stepped out, Thundra closed the door. Stardown and the rest were soon tied up. Tails had passed out.

Hooded Jaw: Did you like your Smartie? I have more you know.

Arctica opens the door.

Arctica: Thundra! Mark is coming! You’d better get out there and fight him!

Thundra: I’m busy. Why don’t you do that.

He closes and locks the door.

Arctica: But he’s your enemy! Besides, I’ve never fought him before.

Thundra: Well, you can now!

Mark arrives, cuts the door down with his saber, and walks in.

Hooded Jaw: Welcome to the party!

He eats Mark’s lightsaber and ties him up. Then he rips the off its hinges and puts a new one in its place.

Stardown uses the Force to knock the old door onto the Hooded Jaw, which causes him to spit out the lightsaber, which ignites and cuts Mark free. Mark picks up the saber.

The Hooded Jaw eats the lightsaber again, opens the door, and kicks Mark out.

Hooded Jaw: Farewell! Have fun!

He slams the door.

Italian Mouse: Here-a-Stardown-a! Have a Smartie-a!

Dominick: He-a-haw-a!

Stardown uses the Force to make the Hooded Jaw eat the Smartie instead.

Rainmaker shoves an iPad with a funny video in Stardown’s face.

Stardown: Ha, ha, ha, very funny.

When Stardown’s mouth was open, the Hooded Jaw spat the Smartie into Stardown’s mouth.

Hooded Jaw: My mouth is metal, so I can’t taste anything.

Stardown faints.

Soon the door breaks down and thirty Guardian guards drive away the villains and free the prisoners. Soon they are back on the Medallion.

Tails and Stardown are taken to the infirmary.

Over a week later, an armor-clad mouse enters the realm of his unconsciousness.

Mouse: See out Krovanii.

Stardown wakes up.

He feels very weak. Tails is not yet awake.

Amy walks in.

Amy: Hi, Stardown! How are you feeling?

Stardown: I’ll be okay in a few days. Could you please get Matthias for me?

Amy: Sure!

Soon Matthias enters.

Matthias: Amy says you needed me.

Stardown: Do you know anything about an armor-clad mouse appearing in dreams?

Matthias: Yes! That’s Martin the Warrior. Did he speak to you?

Stardown: Yes! He told me to “seek out Krovanii.” Who is Krovanii?

Matthias: I don’t know. Are you sure it’s a person?

Stardown: No. Maybe Commander Arnold knows.

Matthias: Do you want me to ask him?

Stardown: Yes.

Soon, Arnold enters.

Stardown: Commander, who is Krovanii?

Arnold: It’s not a who, it’s a where. It’s a planet under Shmouse control. Why do you ask?

Stardown: I got a vision from Martin the Warrior directing me there.

Arnold: Ah. Martin is indeed an important figure.

He leaves.

Soon, Amy brings in a hovering TV. The news is on.

News Reporter: ...supervillain has recently been spotted in Rogueport, where…

Amy: I hear you got a vision from Martin the Warrior.

Stardown: You’ve heard of him?

Amy: I could hear you talking while I was getting the TV.

Soon, Tails wakes up.

Amy: Tails! You’re awake!

Stardown: How are you feeling?

Tails: Very weak.

Stardown: Hopefully you’ll feel better after a few days.

Tails: What did he put in that Smartie?

Stardown: It was much more that sleeping gas.

Tails: The taste… it was horrible. I hope we don’t see them for a long time.

Stardown: I hope so, too.

Two captains pass their room.

Captain 1: We’ll need to jump to hyperspace in order to get there.

Captain 2: This is crazy! Why couldn’t Stardown- *the rest is inaudible*

Amy: Did you see Robob?

Stardown: No.

Amy: Who knows what those guys could do to him?

Stardown: I’d hate to think about it.

There is a jolt as the Medallion makes the jump to hyperspace.

Tails: Where are we going?

Stardown: We’re going to Krovanii. Martin told me that we need to go there.

Tails: Who’s Martin?

Matthias: Martin the Warrior is a legendary mouse warrior who freed the land of Mossflower from the evil Tsarmina. He will sometimes appear in people’s dreams to give them guidance.

Tails: How did I never hear about him?

Aack! Help!

Amy: That sounded like Arnold!

Stardown: I’m sorry, but due to our weakness, Tails and I can’t come with you.

Amy leaves and returns a few minutes later.

Amy: I couldn’t find him.

Soon, the sounds of war can be heard outside, but the Medallion is not hit.

Intercom: Brace yourselves, everyone, it may be turbulent. The Shmice are in combat with the Jaywalkers, and we haven’t been detected yet.

Matthias: Was there anything else in your dream, Stardown?

Stardown: Yes. There was a young child fleeing capture by the Shmice. He seemed to be left behind by the others.

Matthias: That’s exactly what’s happening out there right now!

Amy: Where is the child?

Matthias: Not too far away. He was fleeing from a large Shmouse platoon.

Tails: Why do they want him?

Matthias: They want everyone in the town, but specifically because he was falling behind. You see, Brian told me this town has rebelled against the Shmice for a long time, and they had put up a good fight, but the Shmice are finally succeeding in taking over.

The ship is hit.

Tails: I think the Shmice found us!

A minute later, the Medallion hyperdrives away from the planet. The Shmice do not follow because they are occupied with the Jaywalkers, who seem to overwhelm them. The child is safe aboard the Medallion.

He is led to the infirmary, where he is laid down in a bed next to Tails.

Child: Where am I?

Stardown: You're safe aboard the rebel flagship Medallion.

Tails: What's your name, young one?

Child: John.

John: You're… You're the one Martin told me about!

Stardown: I am?

John: Yes! While I was running, I saw him off to the side. He smiled, and said “Stardown will help you.”

Stardown: I most certainly will help you.

Brian enters.

Brian: Has anyone seen Arnold?

Amy: No.

Brian: We've been searching for him for a while now. I don't think he's on the ship.

Tails: We did hear him call for help.

Stardown: Unfortunately, we can't leave our beds due to our weakness.

Brian: Call for help? Where was he?

Stardown: I don't know.

Brian leaves.

Soon, Stardown falls asleep to the news report of a supervillain ravaging through Plit. The alleged supervillain enters Stardown's dreams.

Supervillain: I am Von Calibra. Today you will fall, Stardown.

He draws his lightsaber, and after a lengthy fight, Force-shoves Stardown off the roof. He wakes up to John shouting. Fortunately he had been dreaming as well.

John: Nooooooo! That's impossible! I can't do it!

Amy: What's happening?

John: It can't be! I'm not ready!

Amy: For what?

Tails: What's wrong, John?

John: I had a nightmare… an evil figure called Von Calibra wanted me to fight him tonight at the Kordak Tower… he claimed to be the father I never knew!

News Reporter: The Mushroom Kingdom is in a state of emergengy. A large cloud and a bunch of green aliens were spotted kidnapping Peach and plundering her castle. They are now headed for Stardown’s base, destroying everything in their path. The Shmice have…

Stardown: That sounds bad… but at the moment there’s nothing I personally can do about it.

Max walks in.

Max: What happened?

Stardown: Something about a cloud and aliens attacking the Mushroom Kingdom.

Max freezes.

Max: I feel a great disturbance in the Force. Something big is about to happen.

Stardown: What is it?

Max: ...a group of powerful villains. A count. The Hooded Jaw’s gang…

Stardown: Are they coming here to the Medallion?

Max: ...No, but we’ll see them soon.

Stardown: I don’t have time for more woodsheds and Smarties!

Announcer: The Medallion is under attack! We have been spotted by the Shmice! Brace yourselves!

Tails: I was afraid this was going to happen.

Brian enters.

Stardown: I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we head to the Mushroom Kingdom now and hope that the aliens will fight the Shmice for us?

Brian: I’m taking control while Arnold’s gone, and yes, I do think it’s a good idea to head back to Plit.

Brian: I’ll be on the bridge if you need anything.

He leaves.

Stardown: John, what is the Kordak Tower?

John: My mother used to say it was the place where nightmares were made. She was captured by the Shmice two years ago, and I’ve been raised by my kind uncle ever since.

Stardown: Do you know where Kordak Tower is?

John: I think it’s on the far side of Kamino. But I can’t face the fact that I have to face him there tonight!

Tails: Don’t you worry, John. We’ll help you get ready!

Amy: Tails is right! You need proper training to take on this foe. Stardown, what do you know about him?

Stardown: Von Calibra? I’ve only just heard about him today.

Max: Do you know how to fight with a lightsaber yet?

John: I’ve never fought anyone in my life!

Max: Learning to fight with a lightsaber isn’t something that can be done in a few hours. Are you sure he is to be fought tonight?

John: Yes, Von Calibra said tonight.

Tails: Should we wait on heading for Plit?

Max: It’s only 1:00.

John: We have eleven hours.

Soon, they arrive at Plit, and Tails and Stardown begin to feel the after-effects of the Smarties.

In a hidden base in the Mushroom Kingdom…

Chant: O Krulo, thy power is great, all who stand in thy path shall quake, as they see the ruins in thy wake…

???: Mighty One, Stardown and his crew have landed.

Krulo: So they have, eh? I lost hope in them coming a while ago. Spearo?

Spearo: Yes, O Great One?

Krulo: I want you to find Star Kid and keep him occupied for a while, then I’ll take over.

Spearo: But he looks sick. I don’t think he can fight.

Krulo: Orders are orders!

Spearo: Yes, O Great One.

He leaves.

Hooded Jaw: I want Stardown and I want him now!

Firius: I know you want him, but it might be a while before he even comes back.

Hooded Jaw: Waaah!

Italian Mouse: He-a-just-a-landed-about-a-minute-a-ago.

Hooded Jaw: Weeee! Go find him!

Rainmaker: Do we have to?

Hooded Jaw: Don’t you want to see his face when he eats my latest Smartie?

Dominick: He-haw!

Joey: We need to capture Stardown sooner or later, who knows what he could be doing.

Jimmy: Well, he did fly back to Plit. We can send some guards out to capture him.

Joey: I hope he can’t clone like he did in the past.

Alien: There’s his base!

Alien: He should be inside!

Alien: Let’s capture him!

Alien: Yeah!

Suddenly, Stardown freezes in fear.

Max: What is it, Stardown?

Stardown: I feel a great disturbance in the Force. Everyone’s after me… even a group I’ve never heard of before.

Amy: What?!

Max: Why?

Stardown: Yes. Perhaps we should leave Plit and heavily guard this room.

A hole is cut in the ceiling and Shmice pour in.

Shmouse: There he is! Get him!

Shmouse: We’ll be happy to!

The infirmary door is broken open and the minor villains rush in.

Hooded Jaw: Get him!

Rainmaker: Let it hurricane!

Stardown: Get me out of here.

As Stardown’s bed is lifted out of the room, he sees Amy draw her hammer. He also sees Robob in the hall.

Robob: You are not safe here.

Stardown: He finally came through to us…

Krulo and Spearo arrive.

Krulo: Sorry, Spearo. You were late.

He is teleported away.

Robob: LOL He fell for it!

Stardown appears in the woodshed.

Italian Mouse: A-well-a-come-a!

Stardown: No!

As he flees the woodshed, Sonic arrives and carries him off.

Sonic: I got you, buddy!

Stardown: Thanks!

Sonic carried Stardown thousands of miles until they see the Jaywalkers.

Commander Jay: You will be safe here. We have some of the best security in the galaxy.

Joey: Sonic has taken Stardown to the Jaywalkers.

Jimmy: The Jaywalkers, eh? I almost forgot about them. Is their fleet any bigger than last time?

Joey: Yes, by quite a bit. Is it worth fighting them for Stardown?

Jimmy: Yes. We know secrets about him that even he doesn’t know.

Back on the Medallion…

Hooded Jaw: Blaaaast! We almost had him! Everyone get that robot!

Robob: Don’t worry. I sent him to our woodshed.

Hooded Jaw: Oh good.

Rainmaker: Let it lightning!

Zap!

Hooded Jaw: Ow! What was that for?

Rainmaker: Oops, sorry.

Shmouse: It’s not worth staying; let’s get out of here.

The Shmice leave.

Hooded Jaw: Leaving so soon?

Rainmaker: Let it rain!

Hooded Jaw: Ack! Stop! I’m going to rust! And, you just short-circuited Robob! We can’t go back to our woodshed! We’re doomed!

Hooded Jaw: Welcome to the minor villains! Here, have a Smartie!

He opens Robob’s mouth and pops the Smartie in.

Instantly Robob wakes up.

Robob: I love those Smarties! Gimme more!

Hooded Jaw: Sure!

Meanwhile, on the Jaywalker ship…

Stardown and Sonic were sitting at a table in the dining room.

Sonic: What’s wrong, Stardown?

Stardown: The minor villains partially immobilized Tails and me, and now everyone’s after me.

Sonic: Why?

Stardown: In my current state, they see me as weak. In fact, the Shmice and minor villains nearly got me.

The waiter brings them their orders.

Sonic: But why do they want to capture you?

Stardown: I’ve been a thorn in their side for years, and since I’m immobilized, they’re taking this as their golden opportunity.

Eradicate!

Sonic: What?!

Stardown: This is impossible. How did they find us?

Robot: There’s Stardown! Capture him!

Soon, an, anti-teleport force field is projected as Sonic eliminates the Roban.

Sonic: This is crazy! We’ve got to get you to safety!

Once deeper inside the ship, Stardown tells Sonic about John and Von Calibra.

Sonic: Von Calibra… where have I heard that name?

Stardown: I first heard about him on the news.

Suddenly, several Shmouse needlenose ships hyperdrive around them, destroying the support ships in the process.

Joey: Hand over Stardown and we will spare your ship.

Jaywalker Captain: Activate Warplode.

The flagship teleports away, causing an explosion that wipes out the Shmouse ships.

Joey: They destroyed the whole fleet we sent out!

Jimmy: They won’t get away with this!

Joey: They’re heading toward the Whale Shark, we have a chance!

Jimmy: Oooh! I forgot to tell you, the Whale Shark is a secret, we can’t let them see it. It can’t hyperdrive, so we’ll have to distract them away from it.

Stardown decides to call the Medallion.

Brian: Where are you?

Stardown: I’m safe aboard the Jaywalker’s flagship. How are Tails and John?

Brian: John is fine. Tails is still a little weak. How about you?

Stardown: I’m slowly starting to recover.

Brian: Where are you heading?

Stardown: I don’t know, but I think it’s to somewhere safe.

A Jaywalker runs in.

Jaywalker: I just spotted a Shmouse ship outside, with Arnold.

Stardown tells this to Brian.

Brian: Are you sure it’s not a fake?

Stardown: We don’t know.

Brian: Do you want to pursue it?

Soon, a tractor beam draws the ship into the Jaywalker’s ship. The Shmouse inside is extracted and taken to the prison for interrogation.

Zephilar ripped off his Arnold disguise.

Zephilar: Thank you for letting me in.

He draws his double lightsaber.

Sonic and the elite Jaywalker warriors engage him. Zephilar is outmatched by the two dozen warriors.

Zephilar: (to Jimmy and Joey, over radio) I’m outmatched. Get me out of here.

A Defense-class cruiser hyperdrives next to the Jaywalker’s ship.

Zephilar is arrested and his ship confiscated.

A second Defense-class cruiser hyperdrives in front of them.

The flagship Warplodes away to an area not too far away from the Whale Shark.

Ten Defense-class cruisers and five Crusher-class cruisers block their path.

Jaywalker: They’re obviously trying to hide something.

They Warplode to the other side of the Whale Shark. They can see it clearly. Pictures are taken.

Stardown: ...Wow.

Five thousand Eagle fighters attack their ship. A Defense-class cruiser traps their ship in an electric bubble.

Sonic: Uh-oh.

The Jaywalkers sacrifice their force field to eliminate the electric bubble, then Warplode one last time.

Commander Jay: Well, we learned two things: 1. The Shmice have Arnold, and 2. They’re working on something big. We saw what we needed to see.

Jaywalker Captain: They may attack our fleet. I don’t think they wanted us to see that ship.

At 11:00 PM, the Medallion is headed for Kordak Tower.

John: I don't know if I'm ready for this.

Amy: Don't worry, John. We'll be rooting for you!

John: There it is… and Von Calibra is waiting for me.

Tails: Should you fight him early?

John: What do you think?

Tails: Hmm… Calibra's waiting, but it's not quite midnight.

John: I should probably finish preparing first.

Amy: Good idea.

11:55 PM.

John steps off the Medallion ramp and onto the tower.

John: I'm ready to face you… Father…

Von Calibra: Let's see your skills, Son.

They clash sabers.

Back on the Medallion…

Crash!

???: Whoops!

Brian: What was that?

Amy: It’s Rainmaker in the other room. They never left!

Brian and several guards enter the room.

Hooded Jaw: Here!

He throws a giant Smartie at Brian.

Amy bats it back with her hammer.

Tails: Go, John! We know you can do it!

The Smartie crashes through the window and falls between John and Von Calibra.

Von Calibra: What is this nonsense?

He teleports it and the minor villains away, and they continue battling.

The woodshed.

The minor villains appear.

Hooded Jaw: Where’s Stardown?

Black Widow: Er, he ran off.

Hooded Jaw: Blaaast!

Italian Mouse: A-guess-a-what-a?

Hooded Jaw: Cut that out!

Dominick: A-he-a-haw-a!

Hooded Jaw: You too.

Firius: Even though Stardown is away, we did manage to capture Arnold from the Shmice.

Hooded Jaw: Tsaaalb!

Arnold: What do you want with me?

Hooded Jaw: Hmm… dunno. Here, have a smartie.

Arnold: Ack! No thanks!

Hooded Jaw: It’s really good for the brain! Are you sure?

Arnold: Yes, thank you!

Hooded Jaw: Have it anyway!

He stuffs it in Arnold’s mouth. He doesn’t move.

Hooded Jaw: I can’t wait this long.

He opens and closes Arnold’s mouth, making him chew it, but he doesn’t swallow it.

Hooded Jaw: Hey, guess what? A giant mecha ninja pony just ate the Medallion!

Arnold: …

Hooded Jaw: Er, a fire burned Toad Town down, uh… A pink elephant just fell on your house…

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Hooded Jaw: Aha! Oh, I mean, Oh dear! There’s a time bomb in your pocket!

Arnold: I know your plan.

Hooded Jaw: Here, have some Egg Smog.

He dumps the liquid in Arnold’s mouth. Arnold swallows it, along with the Smartie.

Arnold: Command me, O Hooded Jaw.

Hooded Jaw: Woohoo! It worked! I want you to go and bring Stardown to me… and anyone else you see is valuable.

Arnold: I hear and I obey.

Kordak Tower.

Von Calibra: You fought bravely, my son. Mark my words, I will return!

He flies away, and John returns to the Medallion.

Amy: Welcome back!

Tails: You did great out there!

Max: Did he say anything before he left?

John repeats what Von Calibra said.

Tails: Why did he want to fight you?

John: I don’t know.

Brian: You devoted a lot of energy to that fight, John. Why don’t you take a rest?

Amy: Should we head back to Plit?

Brian: Stardown isn’t with us, and we would take a big risk letting him back on the Medallion. Besides, I can’t think of any other reason we need to go there.

The next morning, Stardown decides to visit his parents on Bronco Island. Under the protection of the Jaywalkers, they soon arrive.

Mrs. Star: My, have you grown!

Ten minutes later, over cups of tea…

Stardown: ...and Sonic rescued me from the Shmice and brought me to the Jaywalkers.

Mrs. Star: My, Stardown, you’re getting into more and more danger lately! Be careful out there!

Stardown: I will, Mom.

Mr. Star: Remember that famous agent we saw on the news the other day? Unfortunately, his interest in genealogy overcame him, and he joined the dark side.

Stardown: No way!

After a few hours, Stardown returns to the Jaywalkers. Once in the cabin he currently shares with Sonic, Stardown starts pondering the case.

Stardown: So the agent’s name was Ace Calibra, and he became bad, and- I got it!

Sonic: What is it, Stardown?

Stardown: Ace Calibra is Von Calibra - why didn’t I think of that before?

Sonic: Yikes… that sounds bad. But why would he suddenly turn against us? And why would he fight his son?

Stardown: I wish I knew… even he didn’t know why they had to fight.

Shmouse: Your ship is surrounded, We will destroy you if you try to attack or Warplode.

Jay: If we Warplode, how can you destroy us if you don’t know where we are? Anyway, what do you want?

Shmouse: We want you for a number of reasons.

The Shmice trap their ship in a holding beam.

Shmouse: Teleporting in five.

The beam slides off the ship like water off a duck’s back.

Jay: You greatly underestimate us.

Shmouse: *sigh* Clone the metal. Look at it later.

The metal is cloned and teleported.

Shmouse: Come out. All of you. Or the Mushroom Kingdom will be destroyed.

Jay: Admit it. You can’t beat us. We don’t have time for this.

They Warplode to a very distant location, then changes appearance.

Jay: They cloned our metal… Is that all they got?

Shmouse: Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Twenty Crusher-class DX cruisers hyperdrive over the Mushroom Kingdom and start wreaking havoc.

The Pear Kingdoms see what’s happening and join the fight.

Stardown soon decides to take a nap. Sonic is reading about the history of the Shmice when there are groans from Stardown. It is evident that Stardown is having a nightmare.

Sonic begins to walk over to wake him.

Stardown wakes up.

Sonic: You OK?

Stardown: I’ll be fine. I dreamed that Von Calibra was not satisfied with last night’s fight, and wants to see me as well atop the Kordak Tower.

Sonic: Do you need to battle him?

Stardown: I believe I do. But Sonic, I still feel a little weak from that Smartie. How can I fight him if I might collapse from weakness?

Reporter: The Shmice have unexpectedly began attacking the Mushroom Kingdom in an attempt to destroy it. The Pear Kingdoms are helping to defend it, but are heavily outmatched. We don’t know why they are doing this, but we will let you know as soon as possible. Back to you, Greg.

Minutes later, the Jaywalkers hyperdrive in. The war was on.

On the Medallion…

Brian: Stardown just called. He too needs to fight with Von Calibra tonight.

Tails: What?!

Brian: I have no idea what Von Calibra is up to these days...

Tails: Why Stardown?

Brian: I wish I knew...

Amy: Is he going to join us?

Brian: I hope so. I understand it’s too risky for him to come to us, since the Shmice are probably still after him. But why don’t we meet him there?

Amy: I just can’t believe the Shmice would do this. The Mushroom Kingdom people did nothing wrong.

Max: There must be a reason for this. The Shmice aren’t dumb.

Brian: I don’t know. My colleague Kurt admits he saw this coming.

Shmouse: Did you think we were joking?

Jay: Don’t attack the Mushroom Kingdom. Attack us… if you can catch us.

Shmouse: No, we told you what we would do if you tried to resist.

Shmouse Captain: Why destroy a land you could conquer?

Shmouse: Dunno. Ask the leaders.

He does.

Jimmy: Why do you want to know? Don’t you have anything better to do other than question your superiors?

Shmouse Captain: You may eventually regret your decision.

Jimmy: How dare you talk like that to us! I’m dropping your rank to a patrol guard!

But before anything can be done, a Shmouse teleports into the room. He is Nicholas, previous leader of the Shmice.

Nicholas: This is not the way of the Shmice.

Jimmy: How did you get here?!

Joey: Why was the Shmouse Empire created?

Nicholas: To conquer and dominate, not destroy! You have taken the position that rightly belongs to me. I declare war on you.

He teleports away.

Jimmy: One Shmouse thinks he can beat us?!

Joey: I can see why many people are mad at our choice, but they don’t know the truth. They don’t know that this Commander Jay is a fake, and that he captured the real one. They don’t know that this Jay let us “destroy” the Mushroom Kingdom. They don’t know that this Mushroom Kingdom is a fake, and that we have the real one.

Jimmy: True.

That night, aboard the Medallion…

Brian: Are you ready for this?

Stardown: I’m ready.

Brian: Are you still weak?

Stardown: I’m quickly recovering, thank you. I’m on my way over there now.

At 11:58…

The Medallion arrives at Kordak Tower just in time to see the fight begin. Sonic is standing off to the side.

Von Calibra: Finally, a worthy opponent.

Amy: Go, Stardown!

Tails: We believe in you!

Brian: May the Force be with you, Stardown.

Von Calibra: I know your skills, Stardown, and I’m not going easy on you like I did with John.

Stardown: Have it your way, Von Calibra, or should I call you Ace Calibra?

Von Calibra: How did you know my real name?!

Stardown: Let’s just say a little birdie told me… better known as my father.

Despite wearing a helmet, Von Calibra takes on a surprised look.

Stardown sees a small Shmouse carrier in the distance.

Stardown: Don’t look now, but there’s a Shmouse carrier in the distance.

Von Calibra: I understand. We will finish this fight tomorrow. I shall return, my nephew!

He leaves. Stunned, Stardown and Sonic board the Medallion.

Sonic: He’s your uncle?!

Stardown is speechless in shock.

Amy: Sonic! You’re back! Where have you been?

Sonic: I was watching Stardown’s battle.

The ship shakes.

Lion 3: We’re hit!

Tails: The hyperdrive is down!

The crew begin manning the ship’s guns.

The Medallion pilots prepare to hyperdrive. Suddenly, several other Shmouse ships appear and attack the other Shmouse ships, allowing the Medallion to escape safely.

Brian: What is going on out there? I thought they were on the same side as each other!

Tails: The markings are different, but they’re not part of the Shmouse Republic.

Stardown begins getting weak. Soon he is forced to sit down.

Amy: Stardown, are you okay?

Stardown: I think I have… Mercuritis…

Amy: Mercuritis?! Are you sure it’s not the Smartie?

Stardown: Positive.

Stardown is taken to the infirmary.

Agent S: Here, take this. Try to get some rest, sidekick.

Mark is the only other patient in the room.

Mark: Did I hear something about a Shmouse civil war?

Stardown: Yes.

Mark: What happened?

Stardown: Nicholas returned and declared war on the Shmouse Twins for not conquering a land properly.

Mark: The Shmice have finished destroying the Mushroom Kindgom.

Stardown: I believe there is still hope...

Max enters.

Max: Stardown! What happened?

Mark: He has Mercuritis.

Max: How did he get it?

Mark: I don’t know. I think he needs to be sent to the Bullshark, just like the last time.

Max: Does he sense something in the Force?

Stardown: Yes.

Max: Ah, you’re awake. What is it?

Stardown: Bounty hunters are coming for me.

Max: Bounty hunters? How many?

Stardown: About five. Apparently Thundra is their inspiration.

Max: Thundra?

Stardown: Fortunately he is not with them.

Max: Are they coming for you right now?

Stardown: Yes. Is there enough time to hide me?

Max: I don’t know. I’ll tell Brian.

Max leaves.

Stardown is soon taken to a shuttle headed for the Bullshark.

Soon…

Brian: Be careful, Stardown.

As the shuttle leaves, Stardown soon locates a new hiding spot. He has brought his radio, some food, and some books with him. Soon, he is settled into his under-cabin hiding spot. Already the Mercuritis begins to worsen, and Stardown becomes weaker. He begins to read.

Stardown’s radio crackles.

Tails: Stardown?

Stardown: Yes?

Tails: You must be lonely out there. Could I come with you?

Stardown: It may be dangerous soon, but sure.

Ten minues later, Tails is with Stardown in his hiding spot.

Tails: When do you think the bounty hunters will come?

Stardown: Maybe in an hour or two.

Tails: Who are they, Stardown?

Stardown: I don’t know, but they seem to be fans of Thundra.

Tails: Thundra?!

Stardown: Yeah, that was Max’s reaction when I told him about it. … What should we do to pass the time?

Tails: Hmm… cards?

Stardown takes out two decks.

An hour later…

Stardown: Still nothing.

Tails: Could they be already on the ship?

Stardown: I would have felt something in the Force if they are.

They continue waiting.

Fifteen minutes later...

Tails: Are they here yet?

Stardown: Yes. Get ready in case they discover us.

???1 (Rich): Hahar! The lid be right below us! Yar!

???2 (Barry): There ain’t no hatch goin’ nowhere.

???3 (Luis): Oh well, I guess we’ll have to make our own.

Tails: We need to get out of here!

Stardown: I’ve been in this situation before. This way!

He opens another hatch, and they enter another cellar, taking their supplies with them.

The bounty hunters soon break into the room.

Rich: They be gettin’ away!

Luis: No they’re not. I can clearly see where they are on the tracker. Did you forget that?

Rich: Yar!

Luis: I want a yes or a no, no yars.

Phantoid: Target depth: 13 ft.

Zelle: You mean there’s another secret room underneath this one?

Phantoid: Affirmative.

Luis: You know the drill.

Zelle: Can I do it this time?

Luis: You do it all the time.

Zelle: No I don’t!

Luis: Yes you do!

Zelle: Sigh… Let’s just get it done.

She draws her twin blasters and fires through the floor.

Stardown: Tails, they’re coming. Do you have a weapon?

Tails: No.

Luis: The floor is too strong for that.

He places some dynamite on the ground.

KA-BOOM!

But they find that Stardown has disappeared down a tunnel.

Stardown: Here, take one of my sabers.

Phantoid: Who is behind this wall?

Zelle grabs some dynamite and blows up the wall.

Luis: Forward!

Barry: Wait. He’s not alone.

Luis aims a tranquilizer at Stardown.

Luis: You’re coming with us.

Stardown: Not without a fight!

He draws his saber.

Tails: Be careful, Stardown! You still have mercuritis!

Luis: Sigh… Put up your force fields.

He starts firing his tranquilizer like a machine gun.

Stardown and Tails block the laser darts with their sabers.

The lasers are bouncing off the wall behind them. Tails is hit.

Stardown: No!

He picks up Tails, darts down the tunnel, and emerges at the surface. Soon, he akes off running through the corridors of the Bullshark II.

Rich darts down the tunnel.

When he emerges, he does not see Stardown anywhere.

Phantoid is behind him.

Phantoid: This way.

Stardown keeps running, but he is growing weary. He picks up his radio.

Stardown: Stardown to Medallion. I’m being chased by the bounty hunters. Tails has been tranquilized.

Luis runs into Stardown.

Luis: I’ve got you now!

Rich: Yar!

Soon, rebels start pouring in.

Luis: This way!

They flee to a much larger room.

Barry: Where are we?

Luis: I don’t know. One way or another, we need to get out of here!

Zelle: What’s Thundra doing here?

Luis: Thundra? Where?

Zelle: He just left.

Luis: Well, let’s find him!

More rebels arrive, surrounding the bounty hunters. Among them is Kirby.

Luis: Uh-oh.

Suddenly they are hurled away with the Force. Thundra lands in the middle of the room. Kirby inhales a few rocks and becomes Stone Kirby. Stardown knew it was his destiny to fight Thundra. He draws his lightsaber. The closer he was to Thundra, the stronger he felt. Soon the Mercuritis is gone.

Luis: Stardown’s Mercuritis magnetized into Thundra!

Thundra draws his saber and the duel is on. King Dedede enters and carries Tails to safety.

At first, Thundra easily outmatches Stardown, but as the fight goes on, Stardown becomes stronger and stronger. Soon he is winning.

Luis: Let’s get out of here!

The bounty hunters try to leave, but are caught by the rebels.

Rebel: Hey, where’s the Roban?

King Dedede: What Roban?

Rebel: The one they call Phantoid.

Stardown strikes Thundra and he falls. He sees a bright flash of light before suddenly becoming weak again.

Stardown: Mercuritis 2.0…

The Mercutitis 2.0 from him and the others near him magnetizes into Thundra.

Stardown: I think our work here is done.

Suddenly there is a blinding flash from Thundra. Stardown whirls around. Instead of Thundra wearing black armor with red eyes, he is wearing gold armor with black eyes. Stardown draws his lightsaber again.

The duel is on.

Thundra draws an electric golden axe.

Kirby spits his Copy Ability star at Thundra, who easily blocks it. Kirby tries to inhale Thundra’s axe.

Thundra uses the Force to split Kirby into ten smaller Kirbys, then Force-shoves them away.

Kirby has a new idea. He becomes Stone Kirby again, then races away. Stardown tries to deactivate Thundra’s axe with the Force.

He knocks Stardown’s lightsaber away. He uses the Force on a few rebels and they disappear.

Stardown reclaims his saber with the Force.

???: Stop this at once, Thundra!

Arctica walks in.

King Dedede tries not to burst out laughing. Shmice begin to pour in. No one knows at the time, but a huge battle between the two Shmouse armies is waging. The real Mushroom Kingdom is back.

Arctica: I came as soon as we got your distress call, Stardown. Ooh, gold. You look gorgeous, Thundra. You’re going to have to make one of these for me someday.

Stardown is distracted by the Shmice. Thundra comes in for the kill.

Amy: Stardown! Look out!

Stardown backflips over Thundra as Arctica draws her electric staff and approaches Thundra.

Thundra uses the Force to make Arctica disappear. The Shmouse Twins’ army was losing.

Stardown attempts to cut the head off Thundra’s axe, but to no avail. A Shmouse affiliated with the Shmouse Twins enters.

Shmouse: Thundra, we’re losing. We need you back.

Thundra Force-throws the Shmouse at Stardown.

Shmouse: Waaaaa!

Suddenly Stardown feels a surge of energy. He is almost a blur as he fights.

Thundra gets too close to someone with Mercuritis. The Mercuritis magnetized into him and he bursts.

Nicholas Shmouse Soldier: We’re winning.

The Shmouse Twins’ army is wiped out, and Nicholas’ army is in bad shape.

Stardown leaves the room and finds Tails. He picks him up and makes his way to the hangars, where he finds the X-Tornado.

Stardown: So that’s how Tails got here…

He places Tails in the rear seat, revs the engine, and takes off for the Medallion.

They arrive safely back at the Medallion.

Brian: Stardown! You’re back!

Stardown and Tails are taken to the infirmary.

Josh, Krulo, Count Ponoko, and the Hooded Jaw sit in a room, waiting.

Krulo: He’s thirty minutes late!

Hooded Jaw: Blaaaast!

Josh: Or are we thirty minutes early?

Hooded Jaw: Tsaaaalb!

Ponoko: Here he comes!

???: Well, my students. What have you accomplished while I was gone?

Ponoko: I sent Stardown and some others into a lying portal, but they got away.

???: Got away?

Ponoko: Yes, Emperor, I won’t let that happen again.

Emperor: Josh?

Josh: All is going according to plan.

Emperor: Krulo?

Krulo: He got away.

Emperor: I knew I couldn’t trust you.

Hooded Jaw: I made Stardown eat a Smartie!

Emperor: Good! I will reward you greatly! Krulo, this was your last chance. Depart!

Krulo: Can I keep my hammer?

Emperor: No! Depart from me! Ponoko, I’m giving you another chance.

Ponoko: Thank you!

Emperor: I must return to my chamber. Make your report here at the same time in ten days. Do not fail me! Stardown will be mine!

Thus ends the era.-->