A Smash of Kings

Chapter 6: The Path to Sarasaland

After the Hylian-Toadstool's failure at the Gerudo Border, word spread quickly across the Realm that High King Mario's rebellion, once rolling through the faltering Gerudo and Koopa in the opening weeks of the war, was halted decisively directly in front of the Gerudo Valley. Along with the shocking news of the High King's first defeat, Lords Bowser and Mewtwo's unorthodox tactic of a so-called Pokemon Brigade spread like wildfire. In the chamber of the Small Council, Captain Falcon, Wolf, and Meta Knight sat waiting to start King Ganon's briefing on the battle. Captain Falcon cleared his throat in order to signify that he was ready to begin, and the King stretched his neck until he heard a crack.

"Your Grace, we have successfully repelled the Hylian-Toadstool host; we took heavy casualties, but they took even more," Captain Falcon told King Ganon after they sat around the table of the Small Council.

King Ganon, who sat at the head of the table as he always did, nodded and leaned back into his chair, "How did our Pokemon Brigade do?"

"It worked extremely effectively," Captain Falcon answered as he made eye-contact with Meta Knight, who sat directly across from him, "They inflicted most of the casualties, Your Grace. Lord Bowser waited until the False King was over-extended to unleash them. Lord Kirby rides for Dreamland now. Hopefully, he can invoke a sense of urgency amongst the Dreamlanders."

"Perfect," the King nodded, a small smile taking over his expression, "With the Pokemon, we should be able to put down this rebellion soon and focus on matters that actually matter to the Realm."

"Such as?" Meta Knight inquired distantly.

"Such as the famine affecting the city," King Ganon replied after a second of thinking, "Perhaps that is a little dramatic, but there are food shortages throughout the city. Once the war ends, I'd like to focus on more Kingly matters. Maybe I should appoint some lowly foot soldier to be the Master of Resource Management as thanks for their military service."

"Well, if you let me speak freely, Your Grace, you do have an abundance of food stored inside your keep," Meta Knight said, "You could sacrifice some of your own food, perhaps—"

"I will not," King Ganon quickly snapped, "There's a famine in the Smash Territory; why would I risk starving like the common folk? I'm a King, not a peasant. If anybody should be fed, when the realm is at war mind you, it should be the most important people in the Realm."

"I'm sure the people of Smashville would herald you as their hero, more so than they already do, if you do them this small gesture of good faith," Meta Knight suggested.

"The King can do as he likes," King Ganon responded coldly. He brushed off Meta Knight's challenge and changed the subject, "Now, in terms of our strategy going forward, are there any suggestions in the room?"

"Stay on the front foot," Wolf recommended confidently, "The lads on the front stalled a previous unstoppable force. There's no better time to advance; put the pressure on Lord Bowser and run those traitors right back to Castle Town. After that, arrest this High King and Lady Zelda and execute them like the dogs they are."

"I'm not so sure of that," Captain Falcon spoke up. Wolf leaned back, almost angry that Captain Falcon would speak differently to him, "Who's to say that the High King... The False King, pardon me, won't be able to rally? To leave the border and take the offensive is foolish; make those traitors besiege the border. Draw it out for as long as you can, then the Dreamland army can smash them from the back."

"That's assuming that Kirby can convince Dedede to publicly declare for King Ganon, and ensure they mobilize much faster than they currently are," Meta Knight sighed.

"Either way, we have to send a raven to the Border as soon as possible," King Ganon muttered. He brought his hands together and rested his chin on his thumbs, leaning forward onto the wooden table, "Their greatest warrior and General, Sir Link the Silent Knight, is out of commission. Now that we've struck back and broken their flying advances, I think Lord Bowser should see what the False King and the Lady of Hyrule are truly made of. We've weathered their initial onslaught. I wonder if they can outlast our counter punch?"