When our heroes arrived in Altea, the scenery looked similar to the last time they remembered; dark and dreary.
"You'd think that after the Master Hand fiasco, this place would look better," remarked Sonic.
"Time's short. Less time criticizing, more running!" Luigi urged. As the group saw Marth's castle in the distance, something pricked Shadow's mind.
"Incoming!" Shadow yelled, jumping in to block the random attack. It was a dark arrow, which Shadow blocked with some Chaos Spears.
"Why does this keep happening?" Mario groaned.
"Looks like you just don't know when to quit do you? Looks like he was right," a voice said. It happened to belong to a young man in dark with black hair, purple eyes. He wore black clothing and held a blue bow.
"Wait a minute... Pit?" Luigi gasped.
"Pfft. Don't compare me to that loser," the boy scoffed.
"Guys, go on ahead. We won't get anywhere if he's in our way. Go!" Shadow ordered.
"You heard him. Come on!" Mario said. Once Shadow was sure they were out of distance, he turned to the boy.
"Who are you? And what is Waluigi after?" Shadow demanded.
"What, you expect me to tell you about the glove?" smirked the kid.
"No, but I will beat the answers out of you if that's how you want it," Shadow growled.
"Okay. But that'll take one off the list,"  the kid laughed. He split his bow in two, making short swords. He charges at Shadow, who casually teleported behind him.
"Oh? Short, yellow, and fat didn't tell you about this?" Shadow joked, holding the green Chaos Emerald, which began to glow.
"Well, no wonder he didn't finish you."
"Now it's my turn. Chaos Spear!" Shadow cried, leaping in the air, firing the energy blasts. Upon seeing this, the kid put up a shield. The spears bounced off and headed back to Shadow! Seeing this, Shadow teleported out of the way with ease.
"He's got solid defenses. Time to turn it up a notch!" Shadow thought to himself. With the Chaos Emeralds, swirling around him, he quickly transformed into his super form. The kid saw this.
"W-w-what is this?" The kid cried, seeing Shadow now glowing yellow.
"Just a little something called a super form. This fight is finished!" Shadow roared. He moved in what appeared to be a flash. The kid barely moved out of the way.
"CHAOS LANCE!" Shadow yelled, throwing the powered up version of the Chaos Spear. The kid put the shields up, only for the the energy attacks to shatter them.
"What?" The kid looked in horror, but only for a little bit, as Shadow appeared right in front of him, before sending him into the air with a powerful kick. Using quick attacks while flying by, Shadow finished the beatdown with a powerful axe kick, sending the kid into the ground. The kid hit the ground, leaving a crater where he landed. Shadow landed in the ground walking to the kid, lifting him by his collar.
"Now, tell me all you know, or Waluigi will get your dead carcass in the mail," Shadow boldly said. The kid groaned in pain. It sounded like he was trying to say something, but couldn't. That was when Shadow noticed an orange glow from the kid's waist. Shadow noticed an glowing orange stone in the kids hand. It suddenly flashed, sending out a powerful laser. Shadow was unable to move and was struck.
"Gah!" Shadow yelled, jumping back, turning back to normal. He suddenly clutched his body. The laser had got him good. The kid was now back in his feet. Despite the beating he had taken, he was smiling, with the stone in his hand.
"Now you've had a taste of the power that my boss is searching for. And this is only one. Imagine what all six will do!" The kid was now laughing.
"Ack... you won't get away with this...," Shadow said, falling to his knees.
"I think that a date with the Mind Stone was enough today, so I'll let you live. Bye!" The kid said in a smug tone. He turned and disappeared into a dark portal, similar to how Wario and Waluigi had earlier. Shadow dragged himself to his feet. He suddenly winced in pain.
"Ack... that was bad... the Mind Stone, huh? Well, at least I have something to go off of. I'd better get going." Shadow said aloud. He headed back to the group who was just approaching Marth's castle.
"How'd it go? Did you get anything out of him?" Mario asked.
"Just a little bit. But what I do know is that this is much stronger than Master Hand. He did a number on me," Shadow said, disappointingly.
"Well, we'll take care of that later. Right now, let's see if Marth is taking visitors," Mario replies. Upon approaching the castle gates, the guard began to interrogate.
"We are friends of Prince Marth. We wish to speak with him on an important matter," Mario spoke boldly to the guard. The guard disappeared. Five minutes later, the gate opened.
"You best make this quick," the guard said harshly. "This is the second attack on the kingdom in less than a year, and we don't have time for guests."
"That means that kid was here for something," Sonic whispered to Mario. They walked through the castle and into the throne room. Marth noticed them immediately.
"Mario! It is good to see you!" The Hero King said, surprised.
"It is good to see you again, your Majesty. But I have to speak to you about something," Mario said, bowing.
"We've heard your kingdom was attacked again," Sonic said.
"Yes, I'm afraid so."
"If that is the case... your Majesty, I believe the worlds are in danger again. Something much stronger than before," Shadow said.
"But how could you be so sure?" Said the red headed boy who was with Marth.
"Calm down, Roy. But are you certain?" Marth asked.
"Yes. Earlier, I battled a young man in dark clothing. If I'm right, he attacked your kingdom, and ran into us before he could leave," Shadow explained.
"That... is a fitting description," Marth sighed.
"That young man, your majesty, may be working for someone else, who we've already seen. And there is undeniable evidence," Shadow said. He turned to Luigi and gave a nod. Luigi came forward, an unconscious Zelda in his arms.
"When we arrived at the kingdom of Hyrule, we found a man in purple, strangling Princess Zelda. We brought her for the hope we could get her proper medical attention," Shadow explained. "He had a golden gauntlet. It had a shiny blue stone. This boy that I encountered had an orange stone, very similar to the stone I saw on the gauntlet. I believe the young man I battled is working for someone much stronger, or in this case, the attacker of Princess Zelda."
"Yes...," Marth said, turning away from the group.
"Do you think they're telling the truth, your majesty?" Roy asked.
"Yes. I do, Roy. All that matters is that I protect the ones I care about," Marth said. He turned to Mario and the others.
"Well, your Majesty?" Mario asked.
"It's okay. I believe you. Follow me," Marth replied.
One hour later...
Marth had gotten Zelda into the sickbay, where she was receiving medical attention. Luigi had decided to stay in Zelda's room. Meanwhile, Marth and Roy and gone out to recruit some friends to help prepare to battle. Meanwhile, Mario, Sonic, and Shadow sat outside Zelda's room.
"Well, now what?" Mario asked.
"Well, Marth has the right idea. And that's recruiting," Shadow.
"Okay! Us three can do that no problem!" Sonic said, smile in his face.
"That'll have to be up to you two," Shadow said. "I have... some research... to do."
"What? You've got to be kidding. Shadow, you're not one of those guys," said a surprised Sonic.
"I'm still not. But I need to make something out of the limited info I've gotten. Plus, whatever that orange stone is, it made a mark. I'm still feeling it," Shadow explained.
"Are you sure? What are we going to do?" Mario asked.
"You can take care of yourselves, right?" Shadow asked, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, we'll be fine, Mario," Sonic piped up.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. First stop, Corneria. Knowing our luck, Waluigi is either attacking or already has attacked," Mario said. After setting the device, Mario and Sonic walked through the portal. Shadow watches as the two walked through, then as portal disappeared.
"I'm an idiot," Shadow said out loud. He hated the idea of not being in action. But he needed to know just what he and his allies were dealing with. With that he headed out. It was time to figure out if he could find a library.