After defeating the puppet Robin and freeing Sunset's spirit from Galeem's control, Starlight and her friends continued to make their way to the dark portal. Along the way, her party continued to defeat more and more puppet fighters and freeing spirits. They occasionally had to push different switches in order to get across large bodies of bubbling lava. But the more spirits they saved, the closer they got to the portal. Eventually they had navigated through most of the castle that they were almost near the portal. But before moving on, the party stopped to get a drink of water.
""How are you holding up Star?" asked Piranha Plant.
"I'm fine, thank you," said Starlight wiping her forehead.
"To think we'd come this far," said Twilight.
"Don't give in fellow allies," said Eleven. "We have nearly reached our destination!"
"Let's keep going," said Mario. The party got to their feet and was about to start walking when a loud roar echoed throughout the castle.
"What was that?" asked Villager.
"Something is coming," said Lucario.
"Brace yourselves," said Link. Just then something zoomed past them and flew over their heads. The beast stopped in front of them and let out an angry roar. It's large body was covered in red scales and seemed to resemble a large dragon. It had two large wings on it's back and a long tail that ended in a ball of flame. The beast came crashing down on the ground in front of them and growled, it's glowing red eyes burning the very anger in the party member's souls.
"What is that!?" yelped Twilight.
"It's Charizard, the fire flying type Pokemon," said Lucario.
"Is he another puppet?" asked Starlight.
"I assume so," said Lucario. "He has a different scale color than usual," Sure enough the spirit controlling Charizard came out of hiding. Except something felt different.
"Is that spirit glowing brighter than usual?" asked Starlight.
"Yes," answered Eleven.
"What does it mean?" asked Starlight.
"I can't say for sure, but it also looks more powerful compared to all the other spirits we've faced," said Mario.
"Poyo," said Kirby.
"He looks powerful indeed," said Eleven. "Which is why i ask permission to challenge him," He looked at Starlight. Smiling she nodded.
"Permission granted," said Starlight. Smiling Eleven drew his sword and held up his shield.
"Have at thee beast!" Eleven proclaimed. "Let us do battle!" Charizard growled as he pulled out a plate of food. He gulped down the entire plate and glared at Eleven. He inhaled as he blasted a stream of fire into the the air. "So fire is it?" asked Eleven. "Come, thy shall slay thou!" Eleven held his sword towards the heavens, then pointed the blade's tip at Charizard. Growling, Charizard jumped up and flew towards Eleven at great speed. Eleven held his shield readying for an attack. Charizard opened it's mouth and hurled a fire ball at Eleven which he blocked with his shield. Just as Charizard got close, Eleven slammed the shield into his face knocking him out of the air. Charizard clutched his face as he growled. Eleven then slashed Charizard and sent him sliding back several feet. Glaring at him, Charizard let out another angry roar as he blasted another stream of fire. Eleven held up his shield to block the attack and slowly approached Charizard. Charizard jumped and kicked his shield knocking Eleven back.
"Come on Eleven, beat his ass!" cheered Villager.
"Not bad, but thy shall not admit defeat!" proclaimed Eleven. Charizard growled as he sprang up and charged at Eleven. Smirking, Eleven lowered his blade and held up his hand as three small blue rings zipped past Charizard putting him to sleep.
"Whoa magic," said Starlight. Eleven walked over to Charizard and held his blade towards the heavens. "For Smash!" He declared. Then with all of his strength, he brought his blade down on Charizard with full force. Charizard let out a pained screech as light burst out of it's body. "Hmm, you have much to learn beast," said Eleven returning his sword to it's scabbard.
"Wow Eleven that was amazing," said Villager walking up to him.
"I appreciate your compliment young one," said Eleven.
"That last move looked extremely powerful too," said Piranha Plant.
"Ah you speak of my Critical Hit do you?" asked Eleven.
"Critical Hit?" asked Link.
"Yes, it's a move that will deal great amount of damage if I unleash my full power," said Eleven.
"Cool," said Twilight.
"Poyo," said Kirby. Starlight looked over to the crumbling Charizard statue as the glowing spirit emerged.
"Hey there need someplace to stay?" asked Starlight. She pulled out her album and opened it. "In you go," she said. The bright spirit quickly entered the album.
"So shall we continue?" she asked rejoining her party. Everyone nodded. So the party continued to make their way to the black portal. Not long after they defeated Charizard, they party came to a split path. One leading to a small platform where a fighter could be seen waiting while the other lead to the black portal.
"Which way?" asked Bowser.
"I would go to the portal first but there seems to be someone waiting for us on that platform," said Starlight pointing down the first path.
"SO then, the first path?" asked Piranha Plant. Starlight nodded and was about to start making her way down the first path when a voice boomed above their heads.
"Halt!" Starlight stopped and looked up along with the other members. Suddenly something flew over their heads and came crashing down in front of them. Starlight yelped as she jumped back. The dust cleared to reveal a tall and slender dragon with blue scales standing in front of them. The dragon, of course, had two wings on it's back and two horns sticking out from either side of it's head. Blue spines sprouted from it's head and ran down it's back. It's tail swayed back and forth and it's deep red eyes glared at the party. "Well, well look who we have here," growled the dragon.
"Who are you?" asked Link.
"Princess Ember?" Starlight asked walking up to her.
"Ah if it isn't Starlight," the dragon hissed.
"Star you know her?' asked Lucario.
"She was a friend of ours, but she seems different," said Twilight. That's when it hit her. She looked at Ember's eyes and noticed they were red with burning hatred. "Oh no, it can't be, those eyes," gasped Twilight. She looked towards Starlight who was trembling in fear. She stepped back as Ember stared down at her with her menacing eyes.
"No," whimpered Starlight. "No, no, not you too Ember!"
"Enough, I'm sick of hearing your cute little friendship stuff," hissed Ember. "You can't change who I am,"
"She doesn't look different compared to any of the other fighters, does that mean she isn't controlled by a spirit?" asked Twilight.
"Most likely yes," answered Starlight.
"From your reactions, I can tell that she's special to you two," said Lucario.
"Well not exactly, we see her more of a friend than family," said Twilight.
"Well either way she won't let us pass until we defeat her," said Mario.
"Let me handle this," said Bowser stepping forward.
"What are you sure?" asked Twilight.
'What you don't trust me?" growled Bowser.
"No we do," said Starlight.
"Geez since when did YOU become helpful Bowser?" asked Mario.
"Shut up, I still hate your guts," growled Bowser.
"You're my opponent?" asked Ember. "Fine but don't expect me to go easy on you," Bowser and Ember glared at each other for a moment, until Ember inhaled and blasted Bowser with a stream of pink flames. Bowser countered her attack with his own fire breath, which exploded into a cloud of smoke upon contact. Ember burst through the cloud of smoke and tackled into Bowser which he stopped by grabbing onto her. He chomped down on her several times before slamming her down onto the ground and dropping on top of her. He got off of her and back away, waiting for some sort of reaction. Eventually Ember burst out of the ground and extracted her claws. Angrily she charged towards Bowser ready to slash him. But Bowser quickly turned around causing Ember to crash into his spiky shell. He pushed her off before jumping up and slashing her in the face. Ember did a back flip before landing on the ground.
"How's that dragon girl?" laughed Bowser crossing his arms. Ember wiped the blood off her cheeks and glared at Bowser.
"You're going to pay for that," Ember growled.
"Come at me," snickered Bowser. Ember didn't need to be told twice.She inhaled and attempted to blast Bowser with another stream of fire. Catching his opportunity, Bowser charged towards Ember ready to attack. As he got close, Ember fired off her pink flames in his direction. Bowser smirked as he lept into the air right above Ember before he came crashing down on top of her with a ground pound. Ember noticed what he was trying to do and quickly shielded herself. However as Bowser came crashing down, Ember's shield shattered knocking her onto the ground. She got back onto her feet and swayed back and forth looking dazed. Bowser smirked as he crouched down. Just as Ember recovered, Bowser used his full force to drop kick Ember causing her to collapse on the ground. Light burst out of her body as she lay still on the ground. "Haha, that's what happens to anyone who messes with King Bowser," laughed Bowser.
"Aye that was awesome Bowser," said Piranha Plant.
'Yeah, yeah whatever," said Bowser rolling his eyes.
"I gotta admit, you really handed it to her with that brutal shield break," said Villager.
"Poyo," said Kirby.
"Ok that WAS pretty awesome," said Bowser. As the party congratulated Bowser, Ember groaned as she sat up.
"Ugh my head," she moaned.
"Aye look who's up," said Villager. Ember looked up as Starlight and Twilight walked up to her.
"Starlight, twilight what are you doing here?" asked Ember.
"It's a bit of a long story," said Starlight.
"Go on, let me hear it," said Ember. "I need an explanation," So Starlight and Twilight took turns explaining the whole situation to Ember. From the spirits to Galeem, they explained everything they had planned for the future. "Uh huh, so you're going after this so called lord of Light to beat him in order to return this world to it's original state?" asked Ember.
"Yeah that's pretty much the gist of it," said Twilight.
"That sounds awesome, mind if I come along?" asked Ember.
'Sure thing," said Starlight.
"Great," said Ember. So Starlight and Twilight introduced Ember to their party members after which they stood in front of the two paths.
"So you know which way you're going?" asked Lucario.
"Yes," answered Starlight. She looked in the direction of the fighter with eyes filled with determination. "Whoever you are, just wait, we'll save you,"