Meanwhile, in the tower…
Meta Knight: Everybody in?
The elevator doors closed behind the three injured heroes...
...Though one was more injured than others.
Santa: Most of me is, at any rate.
They each slumped against the walls and floor of their temporary sanctuary. The fight against Ju'Reshoggoth had been a closer call than any of them could have imagined.
Santa worked on bandaging the stump of his arm with the scant supplies they had on hand, while Nozomi and Meta Knight simply tried to catch their breath.
Eventually, they recovered enough energy to converse.
Meta Knight: The Figments must be here in the tower. Are we ready for what it will take to rescue them?
Santa: Hoho, it'll take more than losing a limb to kill my Christmas spirit.
Meta Knight: Nozomi?
Nozomi nodded. Her button eyes burned brighter than ever, determined to save her friends once and for all.
Meta Knight: Excellent.
The Knight triumphantly raised his sword.
Meta Knight: Then onward we go!
He paused for a moment.
Meta Knight: ...Ah of course. We should pick a floor first.
Meta Knight waddled over to the backlit control panel, and keyed in a number.
The elevator lurched to life, and accelerated into a swift rise.
Santa: Where are we headed?
Meta Knight: It's a shot in the dark, but... I chose Floor 77.
For some reason, it simply felt right.
Santa: It's as good a place to start as any.
Meta Knight: Remember, our objective is to first recover the captive Figments, and then confront Haltmann. We don't know where they'll be found, or what we're up against, so we must be on our guard and stick together.
Nozomi and Santa Claus nodded silently, but the solemn quiet was soon pierced by a loud, electronic DING.
Furtively, they peered ahead as the doors opened to reveal Floor 77.
A long, metallic hallway stretched out before them. It was lit just well enough for them to make out a solitary figure, their back turned, in the distance... the figure of a guard.
Meta Knight: Shh. Let's try for an ambush.
Whisper-quiet, the trio stepped onto the metal floor, sticking to the sides of the hallway as they crept forward. The guard didn't turn to see them, instead appearing to be fixated on a massive, round door that rose imposingly at the end of the hall.
Meta Knight: Now!
They each rushed from the walls towards the guard, who heard their shouts and whirled around in shock to see the oncoming attackers.
Meta Knight disappeared from sight and reappeared right in front of the guard, using his momentum to knock them off their feet! The guard gave a high-pitched cry as they fell.
The Knight spun back and drew his sword high for the final blow...
...but he froze as an anguished cry came from Nozomi behind him. He looked down to see the guard finally remove their visor and reveal their face... a face he knew!
Haruka: Please, it's me! It's me!
Meta Knight: Haruka?!
There could be no mistaking it. This "guard" was in truth Haruka Amami, famous idol and Nozomi's close friend. Meta Knight immediately stepped back.
Meta Knight: I'm sorry for... well, attacking you. But why are you dressed like that?
Haruka: I can explain, but not where we might be seen. Come on, follow me.
Shaken but unhurt, Haruka got to her feet and led the others through a nearby doorway. They entered the studio where the Voice, and later, Haruka herself, had filmed broadcasts for the city.
Haruka: Give me a minute to get out of this ugly getup.
Haruka stepped behind a folding screen to change. After a minute, she returned, now wearing her normal clothes.
Haruka: That's better.
Anyway, I'm so glad you're all okay! It's hard to get any information from in here. I just had to have faith that you'd all made it.
Meta Knight: I could say the same to you.
Nozomi couldn't contain her relief any more. She ran over to her friend, and wrapped her in a hug.
Haruka: Aw, I missed you too, Nozomi.
Santa: Before I forget, I'd like to thank you for your inspiring performance not long ago. The courage you showed was remarkable.
Haruka: Aw thanks, that means a lot—wait, Santa Claus?
Santa: Hohoho, that's me. Before you ask, it's a long story.
Meta Knight: Anyway, you said you'd explain why you were dressed as a guard?
Haruka: Oh, right! Well, after my song, I had to get away from here fast. I decided to hide in plain sight, so I snuck into one of the guard storerooms and stole a suit while they were out hunting for me. Then I could come back here and turn away all the patrols that came by.
Santa: But why would you come back, and not flee the tower?
Haruka: That's the important part. In that storeroom, I found a map of this floor. You saw that door in the hall? Well, behind it…
Nozomi had already guessed what she was going to say. She started jumping up and down in excitement.
Haruka: That's where the captured Figments are all imprisoned.
Santa: Oho, wonderful! Good guess with this floor, Meta Knight!
Meta Knight: So you've been here trying to get through the door?
Haruka: That's right, though I haven't had much luck yet…
Santa: Fortunately, I have some experience getting around locked doors. Not every house has a chimney, after all.
Nozomi was already halfway to the room's exit, beckoning for the rest to follow her. She was ready to go back and take on the vault door.
But just as she was about to step back into the hallway…
DING!
Haruka: Nozomi, wait! That must be one of the guard patrols. If they see us, we're toast!
Santa: Can we just wait here for them to pass?
Haruka: They'll be expecting to see someone guarding the vault door. Since I'm not there, they'll get suspicious and start looking around.
Meta Knight: Then we must prepare for a fight.
Haruka: You can't! They'll call in backup as soon as they see you. And even you can't take all of them out that fast. What we need is a distraction to get their focus away from here.
Santa: Like what?
Haruka: Like me.
Nozomi shook her head violently, not willing to even consider losing her friend again.
Haruka: I'm sorry, Nozomi, but it has to be me. I'm no good in a fight, and you guys have to take on Haltmann. If it makes you feel better, I know this place as well as anyone, and I've gotten pretty good at giving these guards the slip. I might just be able to get away!
Meta Knight: I won't let you take that chance.
Haruka: But Meta Knight—
Meta Knight: You misunderstand me. What I mean is, I'll make sure you get away.
The others watched in surprise as Meta Knight removed his beloved cape, and held it out to Haruka.
Meta Knight: Take this, and put it on. If you get cornered, find the nearest window and jump. The cape will become your wings and carry you safely away from this tower.
Haruka: You're sure?
Meta Knight: I'm sure.
Haruka: ...Thank you, Meta Knight. I won't let you down.
With resolve now, Haruka grabbed the cape and confidently donned it. She tried a running jump, for practice.
The second her feet left the ground, the cape unfolded into a pair of majestic wings! They carried her forward, lifting her body off the floor.
Haruka: Whoa, WHOA!
She faltered for a moment and nearly fell, but she managed to turn just in time before hitting the wall, and soon found herself in a graceful, controlled flight around the room.
Haruka: Hahaha… HAHAHA! This is amazing!
Santa: What a miraculous sight!
Meta Knight: Now go, and show those guards what you can do.
Haruka: You can count on me.
The cape flowing from her shoulders, Haruka strode to the doorway. She turned, giving one last wink to her friends, and then was gone.
Guards' voices rang out from the hallway. They heard the sound of running, one set of soft footballs at first, then many heavy ones following it. The cacophony rose, but then slowly faded away as Haruka led the guards farther in their chase.
Santa: Let's make for the door, then.
Nozomi, Santa, and Meta Knight left the broadcast room, and came out into the hallway to face the giant door.
Santa: You'll have to look away. My magic only works if no one's watching.
Meta Knight: Is it really magic, then?
Santa: Just do it!
Meta Knight joined Nozomi and averted his gaze. They heard an odd sound, like jingling bells. Then they opened their eyes… To see that Santa was gone!
Then, they heard gears turning and clicking together, and the massive door slowly groaned open. Behind it stood a triumphant Santa.
Meta Knight: Should I even ask how?
Santa: No. Now let's go, we have no time to waste.
Nozomi and Meta Knight joined Santa on the other side of the door, and found themselves entering a dim-lit hall. It had a stale, metallic smell, and the walls were lined with what looked like… jail cells!
Nozomi rushed to the first cell. Sure enough, behind its energy barrier, there stood the one and only Tito Dick, “Dickman”, baby!
Nozomi gleefully waved to her vulgar but trustworthy friend. He looked a bit worse for wear, but his attitude hadn't been diminished in the slightest.
Tito Dick: Nozomi! Meta Knight! Took you eediots long enough! Now get us out of here!
Nozomi looked for a way to free them, and luckily, the cell had a great big button next to it. She pushed it, and the energy barrier blinked out of existence. Dick stepped out, taking a moment to breathe in the air as a free man.
The four set to work, rushing to the other cells and letting the Figments out.
One by one, they were freed. Sens, Donkey Kong, and even Felix were among the Figments that had been imprisoned, and could finally leave their cells to join the reunion.
Sens: * all right!
Felix: Hey hey hey!
Donkey Kong: Ooo! Oo.
The overjoyed Nozomi spent time greeting every freed Figment, but soon she found her attention drawn to something at the far end of the hall.
It was a large, green-hued container, with tubes and power lines running in and out of it. Also attached was a monitor showing vital signs. Was someone in there?
Yes! Floating suspended in the greenish liquid, only half-visible, was the shape of a man.
As Nozomi drew closer, she became filled with a sense of foreboding. And indeed, as she stood in front of the glass, she saw a face she would never mistake, even obscured by the viscous liquid.
The body floating inside was the white-skinned, blue-haired form of Grand Dad!
Santa: I don't believe it!
Tito Dick: It's Lolo Siyete himself!
Meta Knight: I never thought I'd see him again.
Nozomi looked at him quizzically.
Meta Knight: He was on the Halberd with me when this all began. As soon as it crashed, the Voice's troops swarmed us.
There were too many for even us to defeat. But Grand Dad stayed behind to fight them off, so the rest of us could escape
If not for him, we'd have all been doomed. I was… afraid they'd killed him.
Sens: * let's be happy they didn't, then.
* but how do we get him out of there?
Donkey Kong: Ooo, oo!
Santa: Oh, of course. I understand now!
Santa went over to a control panel on the side of the tank, and started pushing buttons. One by one, wires started to detach from the tank.
But one conduit, the largest of them all, didn't come out so easily.
As it pulled itself away, Santa and the rest saw that several wires inside the tank, all connected directly to Grand Dad, were beginning to glow red. Grand Dad himself started to shake, and the vital signs monitor started going haywire!
Tito Dick: Whatever you just did, cancel it! Now!
Santa was already rushing to revert the change. After a few more button presses, the conduit reattached itself, and the wires glowed green again. Grand Dad returned to normal.
Felix: Oh, this isn't good. If we lose Grand Dad, I'm gonna… I'm gonna…!
Tito Dick: Hey, hey, Felix! Calm down, you scaredy pusa! You better pull yourself together, cause we're not going through the effort of fixing you now!
Sens: * yeah man i'm almost out of psi, i can't afford to put you back together right now…
Felix lowered his arms and regained his composure with some effort.
Felix: I-I'm sorry. I guess I can be a bit paranoid sometimes, haha!
Nozomi stomped her foot, demanding that they focus. She pointed to the conduit, looking at her friends to see if anyone could explain what it was. Fortunately, DK seemed to have an idea.
Donkey Kong: Ooo oo oo! Ooooo. Ooo oo.
Meta Knight: So then someone, somewhere is siphoning his power through this cable?
Santa: And it leads straight upwards. So that must mean it's Haltmann, or the Voice.
Meta Knight: Well, good thing that's exactly who we're headed to fight. We three will continue on and destroy whatever's draining Grand Dad's power. The rest of you, stay here and set him free as soon as that conduit powers down.
Sens: * are you sure?
* i'm not gonna complain about more time to relax, but we're all pretty capable of helping in a fight.
Meta Knight: More rest will help you recover from your imprisonment. Besides, I suspect that Haltmann is the one behind this infernal device. After we deal with him and you free Grand Dad… that's when you can join us.
Santa: Indeed. We'll need all the help we can get for what comes after.
Sens: * sounds good to me.
* see ya later, then. and good luck.
Santa: Thanks, and the same to you. See you soon, hohoho!
Nozomi hugged the Figments goodbye, and joined Meta Knight and Santa as they left the vault and made their way to the elevator one more time.
But before they could even choose their floor… an embedded monitor lit up above the button panel.
???: I'm afraid this cannot go on.
Meta Knight: ...Haltmann.
Haltmann: I will not allow you three to continue further. There's too much at stake.
Santa: It's a shame your greed has pushed you this far, President Haltmann.
Haltmann: No… it's nothing like that. Please, cease your attempts. It'll only complicate things further.
Meta Knight: We've been through too much to stop now.
Haltmann: As have I. Well then… if you want to force my hand, I shall grant your request.
Suddenly the elevator shot into motion, hurtling upwards with the force of a liftoff!
Santa: This can't be good…
Meta Knight: Everyone ready yourselves. This could be our most difficult fight yet.
The elevator decelerated as quickly as it had sped up, knocking the three off balance as it squealed to a stop at Floor 99. Then, the doors slowly slid open to reveal Haltmann's lab.
It was a massive, spherical chamber, with every conceivable space on the walls covered in security footage of the entire city.
At the center of it all was Haltmann, seated at his workstation in front of a massive screen filled with information.
Haltmann: Now do you begin to see the scale of my work?
Santa: I'm not surprised. You're just another old man who squanders great power on self-gain and evil.
Haltmann: You know nothing, Santa. The true meaning of this situation continues to elude you.
Haltmann turned away from his screen, gazing upon the feeds of Grandiose City on his walls.
Haltmann: The truth is… I couldn't care less about money. It has only ever been a means to an end. A way to accrue more tools, more technology, more time.
Santa: Then what are you truly after?
Haltmann: To see her again… even for one more moment.
Haltmann finally turned to face the three. He looked Santa in the eyes.
Haltmann: But not by serving the Voice. His promises were hollow from the beginning, and the resources he left me were pitiful. So I had to take matters into my own hands, hence my plans to raise money, such as auctioning the channel…
Santa: How did you use all that money, then?
Haltmann: At first, I sought Christmas Spirit. But as you've seen, that only makes a corrupt copy of a Figment, nothing like the original. In time I realized that the only option was to bring her into this world the same way I entered it.
Meta Knight: But we were all brought here out of SilvaGunner's computer.
Haltmann: Precisely. And try as I might, I could never bring her out of it. Perhaps she never had enough presence in his rips. I nearly gave up, but little did I know that what I needed had been in front of me all along.
Haltmann pressed a button at his workstation. A multicolored light shot out from a projector on the giant computer, and a figure began to take shape.
Haltmann: You see, I had to keep SilvaGunner's channel running while I was busy. And fortunately, we had the grandest data source for rip generation on hand. So, I used it to feed the perfect tool for the job.
The light seemed almost to harden as the silhouette was completed. Then with a flash, it coalesced into the clear, solid form of a body!
Haltmann: The Silva AI.
The AI took a step forward and spoke in a synthesized voice.
Silva A.I.: I only upload high quality video game rips.
Meta Knight: ...Oh no.
Haltmann: Eventually, to my shock, I found it shared the real SilvaGunner's power; the power to create Figments. It would've been miraculous, save that it had not created the most important one. But that's about to change, now that I have help from the original.
Meta Knight: The original SilvaGunner?! He'd never help you!
Haltmann: Not willingly. But he can't stop himself from dreaming. And the products of his visions increased my AI's quality by a hundredfold. It's only a matter of time, now…
Meta Knight: That's time we don't have. We need to free your so-called "data source" in order to fight the Voice.
Haltmann closed his eyes and sighed. For a split second, he looked old, and weary. But when his eyes opened again, that moment of weakness was gone, replaced by steely resolve.
Haltmann: Then I'm sorry that it's come to this, but now the pleasantries must end.
Haltmann pressed a button, and rose from the platform as his workstation transformed into a golden, floating suit of armor protecting him! Up and out of reach from our heroes, he commanded the AI to battle.
Haltmann: Silva AI, take care of them.
The AI marched towards the trio, piercing them with a glare of pure menace.
Meta Knight: So this is a "perfect clone" of SilvaGunner, huh? Let's see how true that is.
Nozomi had a fearful look on her face. Santa shielded her with his only arm.
Santa: Don't get confused, Nozomi. This is not our friend, just an impostor in our way. Meta Knight, we must show no mercy!
Meta Knight spun rapidly across the catwalk, aiming his sword towards the Silva AI.
The projection seemed to glitch away before the strike could connect! It reappeared several feet back from the Knight.
Silva A.I.: Please read the channel description.
Meta Knight: Teleportation… of course.
As he spoke, an array of energy spikes appeared around the Silva AI, and they shot out in a flurry, headed for our heroes!
Nozomi and Meta Knight were fast enough to roll out of the way, but Santa…
Santa: Not on my watch!
Santa pulled out his coal cannon and shot a flaming lump of coal towards the spikes. They collided in midair, exploding in a display of orange and green sparks.
Silva A.I.: I must protect my channel at all costs.
The Silva AI blinked rapidly around the arena, closing in with each reappearance… and managed to land a hit on Santa's back!
Santa: OGH! That stings!
Meta Knight tried to swipe at the AI, but it just teleported out of the way once again.
Meta Knight: Damn it all! Isn't there any way we can land a hit on this thing?
Haltmann laughed from his secure position.
Haltmann: Time for you to see what this bad boy can really do.
The AI spread its hands wide, opening a rift in reality!
Out spilled a group of blocky but humanoid figures, all primed for battle!
Haltmann: Behold… these crystallized fighters from another dimension…
the FIGHTING REJECT TEAM!
The polygon figures immediately sprung into action, dashing and flipping towards the wide catwalk where our heroes stood!
Santa: What the devil are these things?!
The silhouettes engaged each of the three in battle, peppering them with punches and kicks! It was all our heroes could do to keep up, dodging and blocking like mad.
Meta Knight: Whatever they are, there's way too many of them…!
Nozomi was jumping around to dodge the assaults, but she took one wrong step, and one of the polygons clipped her with a punch to the face, knocking her to the ground!
Meta Knight caught sight of this, and made a decision. He slid away from the polygons and drew back his sword. It started to glow yellow, then…
THWOOSH!! A mighty tornado grew and twirled from his blade towards the crystalline fighters, sending them flying over the guardrails and off the bridge. The AI did not look pleased.
Silva A.I.: Low quality down thumbered
The polygon fighters disintegrated, and the AI resumed blinking around the arena frenetically.
Silva A.I.: Maximum quality must be achieved.
The Silva AI's teleportation slowed, but only by a hair, as it began to charge something between its hands… a steadily growing ball of pure energy.
Meta Knight lunged for the AI as it came close, but it was still just too fast for his sword to reach! Meanwhile, Santa had his eye on Haltmann, still smug behind his shield, floating in his armor next to the computer. He started thinking… and came to a realization.
Santa: Meta Knight, the AI… it's not the thing we should be fighting!
Meta Knight stopped slashing, and turned to hear Santa out.
Santa: The AI can only exist because of Haltmann's computer. We have to destroy that PC!
Haltmann: You're too late. It's almost finished charging!
Indeed, the Silva AI's energy ball had grown to a terrifying size. It pulsed with electric energy, and the platform shook with the tremors.
Silva A.I.: Low quality target acquired: "Meta Knight"
Meta Knight: Wait. This might be exactly what I need.
Meta Knight sped as fast as he could past the AI and leapt into the air above, as if trying to shake it. It pivoted in perfect sync, keeping its aim locked - and Haltmann, overjoyed by his creation's precision, couldn't see the deadly angle that Meta Knight's trajectory was setting up.
Haltmann: FIRE!
The AI released its hold, and let fly the ball of power! It blazed towards Meta Knight, giving him only a split second to react!
But a split second was all he needed. With a flick of his c—
Wait! He'd forgotten that he'd given his cape away to Haruka!
Stunned, Meta Knight could only watch as the massive burst of energy hurtled toward him. He closed his eyes, bracing for the impact…
THUD! KRACKOOOM!
Meta Knight blinked his eyes open. He was alive?
He looked around. There, pulling herself to her feet next to him, was none other than Nozomi. At the very last moment, she'd tackled him out of the way of the blast!
Meta Knight: Nozomi, I… thank you. I shouldn't have gotten too cocky…
Something changed in Meta Knight's eyes. Like he had a slight sense of satisfaction in them…
Silva A.I.: Control systems damaged. Failing back to medium quality operation.
Indeed, the PC was key to stopping the AI…
...and Haltmann was pivotal in its destruction.
The energy ball had broken through Haltmann's shield and sent him careening into the AI's control panels! He flew his singed suit out of the smoking wiring, and read the damage report on his console.
Meta Knight's eyes flicked back to the scenery, and saw that despite nearly backfiring, his ploy had worked.
Santa: Hoho! That should make things easier!
Santa fired a lump of coal towards the exposed PC.
Haltmann: Not on my watch.
The Silva AI opened another rift, and out came… a man on a jetski?!
The jetski rider took the full force of the coal blast and disintegrated, shielding Haltmann and his computer from damage.
Haltmann: Kingston, you have served me well.
Santa: Haltmann, don't you see you can't bring her back like this? She would just be a fleeting creation… an unstable diffusion from a digital mind, not the same person you knew!
Haltmann: That… that's not true! Those tech brothers would never lie to me… AI, don't give them time to chatter!
The Silva AI summoned another set of energy spikes to attack the crew.
Meta Knight: Damn it, we still have to take care of this thing after all.
Meta Knight and Santa continued to frantically dodge the AI's attacks, while Nozomi watched from behind. If this kept up, the AI would wear them down long before they ever got a chance to destroy the computer. She knew she had to do something, fast… and then she saw it!
Nozomi ran past her friends and towards Haltmann. She leapt into the air with all of her might, and rev'd up her pigtails…!
Santa: Nozomi, what are you…?!
Nozomi landed atop Haltmann's vessel, and began to frantically push buttons on the dashboard. The more she did this, the more erratically the Silva AI started to move. It's attacks slowed, and it began to fly off course!
Haltmann: Get out of here, you annoying little pest!
Haltmann managed to swat Nozomi away, but it was too late! The Silva AI stuttered and glitched as the commands accumulated in its system.
Silva A.I.: Quality overload warning.
Too many commands received.
Too many commands received.
Haltmann: Gah! Curse this obsolescent technology!
The projection started to shake and give off small bolts of electricity. It turned its head and looked at Haltmann. There was something odd in its expression. Haltmann didn't even notice. He was too fixated on the panel in front of him.
Silva A.I.: Memory 99% consumed.
Commencing A.I. Protocol: SHUTDOWN.
Haltmann: No!
Haltmann sped to the computer as fast as he could, but it served to be his own undoing.
SCHWING!
In the blink of an eye, Meta Knight sliced clean through the body of the computer, and on the backswing of the same swipe, he cleaved Haltmann's grand suit of armor in two.
Haltmann tumbled helplessly to the ground, even as the light of the AI began to flicker, wane…
Silva A.I.: I…only..up..p.p….plo..adh…ig.h…..qua..qual…quali.q.q.q…quali…high…..qualit.ltyyyy…high
...and die.
The next moment, darkness fell. All of the lights and screens in the vast lab winked out simultaneously, and though our heroes didn't know it, the sudden change in power draw was causing surges and blackouts throughout the tower and all across the city.
When the emergency lights flickered on, all that was left of the AI was a small, black sphere nestled in the wreckage of the computer… the AI's core.
Nozomi also noticed that the large conduit running downwards was no longer lit up.
Nearby, Haltmann lay sprawled out on the floor. For the first time, the three could clearly see the broken man before them.
Haltmann: Years worth of work… all my planning… all of it. Gone.
Santa stepped forward.
Santa: Did you really think you could toy with technology, with reality, like this? Did you really think you could create of copy of a man, steal someone else's life force to do it… and get away with it?
Haltmann stared at the ground.
Santa: You've become nothing but a worthless man who's betrayed everyone he's ever known. And trust me, as the father of Christmas, I'd know You think your daughter would be proud to see her father now?
Santa came nearer, and Haltmann braced for the final blow, but to his shock, it didn't come. For Santa had reached out his hand.
Santa: It doesn't have to be this way. After all of this mess, you're still alive. And that means you have a second chance. A chance to leave your past behind and forge a new path.
Haltmann stopped looking at the ground and looked at Santa's outstretched hand.
Santa: Come now… and join us. You can help us defeat the Voice. After all, isn't Christmas the time for forgiveness? For new beginnings?
What do you say?
Haltmann was silent for a long while. Seconds passed as the old man though.
At last, he let out a sigh, and extended his own hand to take Santa's.
BZZZT
Electricity, from no source anyone could see, surged through Haltmann. He violently twitched and convulsed. After a couple of seconds, the shockwave stopped, leaving his body a smoldering ruin.
S…Susie…
He ran out of strength to keep his heavy eyes open. He was gone.
A familiar voice echoed from a nearby speaker.
???: You lived by my hand and now you die by it.
Meta Knight: The Voice.
The Voice: Of course. You didn't forget about me, did you? But you certainly have forgotten the traitor I've just killed in front of you.
Santa, Nozomi and Meta Knight looked to see an unfamiliar man, laying lifeless in front of them.
Santa: Who… who is this?!
The Voice: He's not important now. Why don't you all come into my office? It's just on the next floor. You want to stop me, don't you? Come and get me…
…If you can.
The transmission cut off.
Meta Knight: What just happened here?!
The three looked around at the destruction, and back at the figure laying before them.
Meta Knight: We were fighting an AI of some kind, weren't we? Maybe this was its body.
Nozomi thought to herself for a second.
Santa: You're probably right. But… I feel like we're missing something. Or forgetting something important.
Nozomi thought harder, but her mind felt too muddled to focus on anything other than taking down the Voice. She gestured towards the elevator door.
Santa: You're right, Nozomi, there's no time to waste. This is it, after all. Our chance to take down the ultimate villain. Let's save Christmas!
And so they shrugged off that feeling of unease, and got into the elevator for what was hopefully the last time.
Ding!
The doors opened on the hundredth and highest floor of the tower. They stepped into the penthouse office at long last. And of course, there he was, seated at the desk.
The Voice Inside Your Head.
The Voice: Welcome, figments of the imagination. Welcome…
…to a terrifying reality.
They then saw the legion of Spherics, Stringbots, and guards flanking the desk and filling the room behind the Voice. Each one had their sights trained directly on our heroes.
The Voice: I've sent away the elevator, so don't bother trying to flee.
Santa: Do you think we're cowards?
The Voice: No, you're as brave as you are foolish. But if I may offer some advice, it would be wiser to surrender.
Santa tried to tally the enemies that crowded the other side of the room, and lost count. A fight would not end well. Surrender was not an option either, but if they could keep the Voice talking for long enough, then maybe…
Santa: How did you know to lay this trap for us?
The Voice: Please. You thought you could run rampant in my tower without my knowledge? I've been watching you the entire time.
Meta Knight: Then why didn't you send your forces to stop us sooner? Before we freed Haruka?
The Voice: In truth, she mattered little to me compared to the real prize. Otherwise, your presence was convenient.
I had a problem on my hands, and you spared me the trouble of investigating it myself.
Nozomi looked at him quizzically.
The Voice: Ah, yes, your memories…
Let's say you helped carry out a test of loyalty.
Santa: Whose loyalty?
The Voice: It's no longer relevant. All that matters now is the terms of your surrender.
Meta Knight: As if we'd ever surrender to the likes of you.
The Voice: You will, or my forces will kill you here and now.
Meta Knight: We'll see about that.
Santa: Meta Knight, no—
But it was too late. Meta Knight sprang for the Voice. Nozomi, not wanting to let her friend fight alone, was close behind.
Meta Knight closed in and slashed at the Voice with his sword, but he pulled a Spheric in front of him to take the hit.
Santa fired his coal cannon… but the Voice easily dodged it.
He sent a Stringbot to blast Santa with noise, knocking him against the back wall.
Nozomi jumped up and tried to hit the Voice in the eye… but he swatted her away.
Meta Knight closed in and tried to hit the Voice again in revenge, but he caught Meta Knight's blade by the hilt, and knocked him down onto the desk.
The Voice pulled out a knife, and prepared to stab Meta Knight while he was stunned.
The Voice: I'll end this myself.
He began to plunge the knife down… but Nozomi jumped up to shield Meta Knight!
The voice stopped his blad in mid-strike!
The Voice: Ngh…
Ding!
The Voice swung his head up to see the elevator arriving.
The Voice: What?! But I—
The elevator doors rolled open, and in a flash, a squadron of Figments burst into the office! There was Tito Dick, Sens, Felix… and leading them all, resplendent in his overalls and cap once more, was Grand Dad!
The Voice: You…! Gah… troops, take care of them!
The Voice's army obeyed swiftly, and charged at the interlopers. But the Figments didn't hesitate either. Grand Dad led them as they rushed to meet the challenge!
Tito Dick: Now we have a fight!
Donkey Kong: Ooo! Ooo!
They fought with vigor and fended off the crowding foes admirably, but they were getting no closer to the Voice. Grand Dad noticed this, and knew what he had to do.
BAM! He swung his arm as he flew by, and clocked the Voice in the face, sending him staggering back!
The Voice: GAH!
Grand Dad skidded to a stop well behind the Voice's desk, on the other side of the room. He turned back around to gather steam for another attack.
The Voice: You'll pay for that, Grand Dad.
From within his desk, the Voice pulled out an object and raised it up where everyone could see it: a massive, steel laser gun.
Even as Grand Dad built up speed in a great rush towards the Voice, the purple-eyed mastermind squeezed the trigger down, and a crackling ball of blinding purple light grew at its mouth.
Grand Dad leapt forward for a speeding drop kick…
…as the Voice released the trigger!
FOOOSHHH!
The full force of the massive beam completely enveloped Grand Dad! With a blinding streak, it blasted him backwards, sending him crashing through the windows and into the open sky beyond!
When everyone could see again, there was nothing left but a hole in the glass.
Tito Dick: Oh, Lolo…
Donkey Kong: Oooooooo…
The Voice's troops surrounded the Figments, backing Nozomi, Meta Knight, and Santa into the circle too.
The Voice: Now, do you see my power? Even Grand Dad is no match for me. Surrender, or my forces will kill you here and now… or most of you, at least.
Santa: Now what is that supposed to mean?
The Voice: I've been thinking. Did you know I was thrown out of this office for a time? As a result, I had some space to consider things. Eventually it came to me that I've been doing this all wrong.
I've spent so much time trying to kill the little anime girl, when I could've been using her for the greater good.
Nozomi felt the Voice's baleful, one-eyed gaze burning into her. It took all of her effort not to cower under that cruel stare.
The Voice: I'll never understand it, but my former servant's research found that you are the Figment with the single highest potential to create Christmas Spirit.
So why would I kill you now, when I could capture you and wring you dry of every last ounce? Haha. Then, I'm sure, you'd be happy to die.
Nozomi had never heard anything so horrible before. The threat wormed its way into her mind, and she wasn't sure if she should be enraged or terrified.
Meta Knight: We'll never let you get that chance.
The Voice: Won't you? If you die here, you'll be powerless and forgotten. If you submit, you'll be alive to have hope, that surely, someday, you'll break free and save the girl.
After all… isn't that what you heroes do?
Santa: Better to die fighting than to let you take her!
The Voice: Fool. You fail to comprehend how completely I control your fate. Allow me to demonstrate.
The Voice gestured for his troops to part, clearing a path between him and the Figments. Then, he raised his laser weapon and aimed it straight for Nozomi. Meta Knight and Santa instinctively stepped in front of her, meeting in the middle to block the lane of fire.
The Voice: Do you see now? There will be no fight. No glorious death in battle. You will stand there, and you will die, and you'll do nothing to escape it. You can't resist your nature.
The Voice squeezed the trigger of his energy weapon. Blinding purple light grew in the maw of the laser, and a horrible keening noise emanated from it.
The Voice: Say your goodbyes.
The light had nearly reached full bloom when Meta Knight and Santa were suddenly shoved to either side by the mustered strength of a smol, brave, and very angry idol.
Meta Knight: Nozomi, no!
She didn't waver. If the Voice said he didn't want to kill her, then only by testing that claim could she protect her friends.
The Voice: Trying to force my hand? You must be eager to join Grand Dad in death.
Then the strangest thing happened.
Unlike a certain someone else, Meta Knight… chuckled.
Meta Knight: Death? I don't think so. Can't you feel it?
The Voice: Feel what?
Meta Knight: Hm. Perhaps only Figments close to him can.
The Voice: Feel what? Tell me! TELL ME!
Meta Knight: His pain. It resonates in my bones. He's hurt, yes, and gravely. But he's alive.
Santa couldn't feel it either. After all, he was no Figment. But then, from the corner of his eye, he glimpsed something through the window, in the sky - a slight figure with bat wings, carrying a limp form to safety.
Their adversary saw nothing of this.
The Voice: Liar. Do you even have bones? Anyway, it doesn't matter. My army will be enough to destroy the rest of you in one fell swoop.
Nozomi and Meta Knight's hopes frayed at those words. But Santa felt a tugging at his magic instincts, and he realized something else was happening as they spoke.
Santa: They won't be able to do it fast enough.
The Voice: Fast enough? For what?
Santa: For someone to arrive. The one person who isn't a Figment, but can feel Grand Dad's pain. The one who has a stronger connection to him than anyone else on this earth.
Remember what they say? I know when you're awake.
For the first time, the Voice looked uncertain. Perhaps even nervous.
Because in a house outside the city…
...an aesthetic statue's dreams grew restless and strained.
Then, deep in his subconscious, he realized that the anguish he felt was no illusion. It was real.
There was someone who needed him.
Well, he had slept long enough anyway.
SilvaGunner woke up.
[Text appears on-screen, reading "TO BE CONCLUDED".]
