The portal opened, and Mario, Luigi, Sonic, and Shadow dashed out of the portal. Luigi was excited to have returned to Hyrule. However, almost immediately, he knew something was wrong.
"Shadow, you feel something? I've got a feeling..."
"Uh, guys? Is there supposed to be smoke over there?" Sonic asked, pointing to where there was a thick black cloud raising from the small town.
"Oh no."
"Come on! Let's move!" Shadow ordered. As they hurried along, they noticed the multiple fires that had been set. People running, screaming. They skidded to a stop after seeing a man laying in the road. Mario hurried to check on the man.
"Sir, are you okay?" Mario yelled, tapping the man on both shoulders.
"He's headed for the castle...," the man weakly said.
"Who?"
"The man in purple. He...," the man stopped talking. Mario, knowing what had just happened, closed the mans eyes.
"I'm sorry...," Mario whispered. He turned back to the group.
"A man in purple? You know anyone like that?" Sonic asked.
"Waluigi? Could it be him? No... it couldn't be... could it?" Luigi wondered to himself, I missing the entire conversation.
"Well he's headed for the castle. We need to move," Mario said. Luigi, Sonic, and Shadow nodded. Mario and Luigi lead to where the castle. To their surprise, the draw bridge was down.
"Huh? It wasn't like that last time, was it bro?" Luigi asked Mario.
"No. We had to fly in, remember?" Mario asked. They hurried through the castle. Mario and Luigi led to the throne room. There they got a nasty surprise.
"Wait, what? Is that...," Mario started.
"Waluigi?" Luigi said in shock. Waluigi turned around. Other than the same purple and black colors, he had a shiny golden gauntlet on his hand. He was levitating high in the air. And he was... choking Zelda!
"Waluigi! Let her go!" Luigi demanded, charging at his rival. He jumped up to attack his rival. However, with a flick of his gauntlet, Waluigi sent Luigi flying back.
"Mario Bros. Attempting to spoil my plan? Who are your new pets?" Waluigi sneered. Luigi looked at Zelda. She was trying to break to free, but to no avail. She also looked like she was struggling to breathe.
"Hey! We're not pets!" Sonic snapped. He dashed at Waluigi, and attempted a homing attack, only for the same result as Luigi.
"Well, if you wish. I will get the stone later. Finish the job," Waluigi ordered, then dropped Zelda to the ground. He then proceeded to disappear in a dark eerie portal, different than the one that Mario and Luigi used.
"Wait, stone? What's he talking about?" Shadow wondered.
"Hey, Shadow, look out!" Shadow's thoughts suddenly stopped upon hearing Sonic yell. Shadow was able to quickly dodge whatever attack that had been sent at him. Someone else was there. That was who Waluigi told to "finish the job."
"Wario. Of course you're with Waluigi. Why are you suddenly his new lackey? Isn't it usually the other way around?" Mario asked angrily. Meanwhile, Luigi saw that Wario wasn't focusing on him. Knowing this, he now had an opportunity to check in Zelda. Which is what he did.
"He was never my lackey. I'm not his. I'm pretty smart to be on his side. And besides, what do you know about being a lackey? If anyone should, it's your little brother!" Wario smugly shot back.
"How dare you! I'm taking you out!" Mario growled. He charged at his yellow rival, and the two began to battle. Like always, it was close, but this time, Wario seemed stronger than normal. Eventually, Wario got the upper hand, and used a punch that sent Mario flying against one of the throne room walls. Mario struggled to get to his feet. Wario stomped to him.
"Finally, I get to finish you once and for all! I almost feel bad!" Wario laughed. However, before he could approach the Mustachioed Marvel, a blue blur flew by him.
"Wha?" Wario said, confused. He tried to approach Mario again, only for the same result. It didn't take long for Wario to see Sonic running circles around him. However, what Wario wasn't expecting was to see Shadow appear right in his face, then kick him in the face, with a bit of rocket exhaust. Wario was sent flying before falling in his back.
"Maybe that's why Mario's better than you. Because you've got no friends!" Sonic taunted. Now angry, Wario got to his feet.
"Now I'll pound you!" Wario screamed, shoulder charging at Shadow. Shadow smiled evilly as he held up one of the Chaos Emeralds.
"Chaos Control!" Shadow yelled. Instantly, Wario froze in place.
"Wha-? What is this?" Wario demanded as he struggled to move.
"If you're so smart, you should know about Chaos Control. With it, I control time and space. Don't even think about moving," Shadow explained. In an instant, Shadow teleported behind Wario, before kicking him.
"Sonic! He's yours!" Shadow yelled.
"No problem!" Sonic called back, kicking Wario into the air. As Wario flew up into the air, Shadow teleported just above Wario, and axe kicked Wario to the ground. As Wario struggles to his feet, Shadow and Sonic appeared before Wario.
"You should think about this one," Shadow warned, holding the emerald in his hand. Wario thought about it.
"Fine then. I'll let you live long enough. Once Waluigi is finished, your Chaos Control won't help you," Wario scoffed. He turned and walked into an eerie portal, like Waluigi. With Wario gone, Shadow and Sonic went to check on Mario.
"You alright, Mario?" Sonic asked, as Mario tensely got to his feet.
"Yeah... ack, I think I'll manage," Mario said tensely. The three went to Luigi, with Zelda.
"Is she breathing?" Shadow asked.
"Barely. Waluigi really did a number in her."
"Wait, where's that one guy? Link, wasn't it? Where is he? He wouldn't have let this happen, would he?" Sonic questioned.
"You're right. He wouldn't. But I don't know where he is," Mario said.
"Well, what now?"
"She needs medical attention, ASAP."
"But where? Judging by the damage Waluigi made, I doubt there's a decent medic here."
"Hey, maybe Altea? I don't know if their medical practices are up to date, but Marth will no doubt help," Luigi suggested.
"That may be our only choice. Let's go!" Shadow. Mario took the device, and set it to Altea. Then Shadow, Sonic, Mario, and Luigi, who now had Zelda in his arms, headed to the portal, hoping Waluigi hadn't done anymore damage.