Forever Forest

*Cough* *Cough* No idea... That smokebomb seemed eerily to me familiar, though...
...It probably won't be the last we see of him, though. But in any case...
...I believe my, err... ex-partner went further down into the forest... I think we should look for him.
He may be a bit of a jerk, but at the very least he doesn't deserve to be lost out here.

Imajin proceeds to go further into the forest to search for Stanley.

---

End of Time

...What is this place...?
...This is known as the End of Time. A place that exists outside of the flow of time. ...It is also where we shall visit certain parts of your past, to find out how exactly you became the person you are today.
...This is what you dragged me out here for? To take a stroll down memory lane? You could've just asked, you know!
Perhaps I could've. ...But the events of the past within your mind are shrouded by the cloud that people would call your "bias".
To truly understand why you became the way you are, we need not one's perspective, but rather the story in full.

The two stop in front of what appears to be a pillar of light.

Here we are... One moment, please.

For a short moment, a faint glow envelops both the old man and Stanley.

Huh? What was that?
It is known as a Time Cloak. As long as it is active, we will be invisible to the past. Meaning that, as long as we do not touch anything, we should be incapable of making changes to the past, or causing Time Paradoxes... especially one that would come from you meeting your past self.
Right. Don't touch anything, got it.

The two enter the beacon of light, revealing it to be a portal through time...

---

Stanley's Greenhouse, 1983

Stanley and the old man appears, hidden to the people who live in the current time period.

...Hey, I remember this place...!
Indeed... this is the Greenhouse you used to* have worked in.
...Yeah... And if I'm not mistaken... This is the point in time when that menace of an ape showed up and ruined everything!
Indeed, this is where Donkey Kong Sr. showed up and caused trouble in your Greenhouse... But, perhaps, we should see this story from the point of view of your "Antagonist"...

Gaspar brings Stanley's attention to an approaching Donkey Kong Sr....

---

*Yes, used to. We'll get to that later, however...

(OOC: Oh this is gonna get juicey...)

@Ra Thor : Indeed.

By the way, I hope you realize that that was your cue.

You're Donkey Kong Sr., if I recall correctly. Nothing about that really changed, time travel or not.

(OOC: Oh, my mistake!)
DK Sr.: *groan* Ever since that dumb stupid red guy kidnapped me twice... I just wanna have SOME form of present for Juniors birthday... He then noticed past Stanley's greenhouse... Dk Sr.: Hm... wonder if that place has a good presemt for Junior...?

...That's what he snuck into my Greenhouse for!? A birthday present!?
Hmm. A strange purpose, indeed...
Wh- is this your first time seeing this, too!? I thought you already knew about this, and that is why you brought me here!?
Oh ho ho! Now, where did you get that idea from? I brought us here so I could better understand you.
And what was this about Jumpman kidnapping him twice...?
Well, I believe the first time was that who you refer to as "Jumpman" had mistaken DK Sr. here for an average zoo animal, and then let him go when he realized the connection between him and Jr. ...And also after being kicked away by DK Sr. himself.
So you knew about that, but not THIS!?
Oho! This wasn't my first trip to this part of history, you know!
Now, of course, the you of today would've chased him out in a heartbeat... But, time changes many things...

Huh...? A gorilla? What are you doing here...?
H-hey, where are you...? ...Wait, no, not up there!
H-hey! You're provoking the Buzzbees! Stop that!
No no no! The Buzzbees are attacking the flowers! I gotta stop this!
I need to get my bug spray... Wait, that ape, is he-
Hey! No! Don't steal those vegetables!* Those are for the market!

...I'm... I'm sorry, was I supposed to actually learn something from any of this?
Well, perhaps it's how everything has a reason behind it... I'm not quite sure, to be honest. This is more about me understanding you than it is teaching you a lesson.
Well, now you know how I came around to thinking that DK Sr. is nothing but a thief. Can we go now?
Hm, yes. I believe it is time we move ahead to the aftermath...

Stanley and the old man travels forwards in time...

---

*According to the Mario Wiki, the plot was that Donkey Kong (Sr.) is trying to eat Stanley's vegetables. Since HighTower decided to make this about getting Junior a gift, I decided to improvise. (...Also, who knows, maybe DK Sr. was also a little hungry.)

Forever Forest WAKA-WAKA. (Okay!)

Pac-Man follows suit.

---

Gritzy Desert Ouch... I'm gonna be feeling that in the morning... Wait a minute...

!!!!!!!

Game & Watch proceeds to go crazy, causing huge waves all around him!

No! Stop!

Lemmy tries to run over to him, but is slapped into the atmosphere by a tentacle.

---

Shiver City There seems to be a standstill, with Wario in a struggle against Roy, and Yoshles and Somari fighting the Hammer Gang.

Listen, if-a-you know what's-a-good for you, you'll-a-run away back to your-a-evil lair.
Run away!? Who do you think we are, some kinda amateur--

the Ice Bro is immediately struck by a familiar individual.

Yes. That is exactly what we take you for.
Shadwari?
And-a-company!

Shadwari, Tailigee and Viewtiful Joe arrive.

Uh, boss? Now it's 5 against 6!
Who cares!? We didn't come here for nothin'!

While he is talking, Roy receives a swift headbutt from Wario!

Trust me, I'd hardly call the can-kicking I'm currently delivering to you nothing!

Mao does a giga freeze to stop the waves! Hero Prinny: Oh this ain't good dood...

Little Papa Beta's

Suddenly, the sounds of someone bumping into the barrier shrouding Little Papa Beta's* catches the attention of Beta Shadow and the Beta Team B-Team.

... *Sigh* I'll handle it...

Ninja Man Z goes to see who tried to enter.

Really? We're the B-Team?

---

Little Papa Beta's - Outside

Ninja Man Z takes a look outside to see who could've possibly-

...Really? THIS guy?

...Oh. It's YOU.
Yes, it is me. So, if you don't mind me asking-
As a matter of fact, I DO mind. In fact, I'd rather not see your worthless face in my presence at all. But no, go ahead. By all means, tell me your idiotic request. Because I want to know the full reason why you want me to waste my time with a soulless hole like you.
R-right...
Well, I need your help with something rather important-
Oh! You want MY help, do you!? So even after all this time, you still think I'm just your little guinea pig for all of your stupid promotional stunts!?
Wh-what!? No, nono, that's not what I'm-
L-look. I made a promise to the Ajax people I've pulled from the Void for the Tournament, and now I can't keep it. Not unless I get back my Void Transporter from the Government.
As a ninja robot, you were designed for stealth missions like this. Please. Help me to make things right.

...Huh. You know, it takes a lot of guts to ask something like this of me...
...I probably would've agreed to help you, if you had actually DESERVED it. But the thing is, you DON'T.

---

*Since Page 48, Post #10, Little Papa Beta's- thanks to Mighty- has existed within a secret Pocket Dimension of which he and Beta Shadow are in control over. Beta Shadow has eventually made it to where the portal to this dimension (in the form of the building's exterior) exists throughout all planets and dimensions. Additionally, a "barrier" of sorts is placed so that only employees and customers- as well as people Beta Shadow considers to be friends, or at least trustworthy enough to let them hang around the building- can enter the Pizzeria. While this has been mentioned plenty of times over, this honestly feels like the first time this factor has been properly addressed.

You know what you are, Gemini? You are worse than Retro Pikachu*. You are worse than Phantom Man**. You are worse than Wily***. Hell, I'm even going to say it; You are worse than Proto MKII. And you wanna know WHY?
It's because those guys at least KNEW they were evil. They had egos, but they don't use it to hide how much of a villain they are... Unlike YOU.
You have your head so far up your own ass that you cannot even see through all the SHIT how much of a heartless bastard you are. MKII at least HAD an excuse because he doesn't BELIVE in morals. You? The only morals YOU have is that anything that makes money is good. You HAVE no excuses for how evil you are. You, as a person. Are absolute. Fucking. GARBAGE.

...You want to make things right? I'll tell you how.
Step 1: Go directly to Doppler Labs and apologize to Rumia. Hell, apologize to EVERYONE there. Even if they don't forgive you, just stop being a damn coward and apologize.
Step 2: Find Beta X and tell him to send you directly to Hell. Or, better yet, stay in Doppler Labs and let all of Brash Crew slaughter you like a pig. Both are VERY well valid options.
Finally, Step 3: If you see ANY Dead Zone Portals appear, do the entire world a favor and never cross through it. In other words, JUST STAY DEAD.

There, those are my suggestions to you. Now, fuck off.

Ninja Man Z shoves Primetime Gemini hard to the ground, then turns around to head back into the Pizzeria.

---

Stanley's Greenhouse, 1983 (Several hours later)

Bugs of different kinds begin to swarm all over Stanley.****

WAAAAAH!!!

Suddenly, a cloud of bug spray envelops the insects, killing them immediately! Stanley slowly gets up to see the person who saved him...

...Boss?
*BEEP* (Mr. Stanley, we need to talk.)

Fumigator*****
2-Dimensional Greenhouse Owner

---

...*BEEP* *BEEP* (...When I look at you, Stanley, I see a younger version of myself. Young and eager... It's the very reason I moved out of Flat Zone to here in your little town of New Donk City.)
... (...So you can imagine the sort of disappointment I am currently in after having seen such a lackluster performance out of you.)
Mr. Fumigator, please! It's not my fault, it was-
*BEEP* *BEEP* (It doesn't matter why such an outbreak of insects had started. I am disappointed in you not for the infestation that occurred, but rather how unprofessionally you handled it.)
*BEEP* (Why, if I were in your shoes, the Garden would still be intact.)
...*BEEP BEEP* (I'm afraid I'll have to let you go.)
Wh-what!? No, sir, please, give me another chance!
... (Sorry, Stanley. My mind's been made up.)

Defeated, Past Stanley leaves the Greenhouse.

---

*Character by Retrop
**Character by StupidStudiosN
***Characte- ...Wait, nevermind, you probably already know this one.
****...Yep. Donkey Kong 3 never had an official ending. It just goes on until you lose... So, lose, he did.
*****It has been rumored that the protagonist of the Game & Watch game Green House, known simply as "Fumigator", is actually Stanley. To reference this, I decided to make Fumigator Stanley's boss.

(OOC: Oh thats just heartbreaking for old Stan, but now I can see that Primetime... he's kinda going through a redemption arc.)

Rika leans into the radar, and recoils just after.The tank girl and the two Reploids analyze the large dot of Hyper Limited. Its shape is changing constantly, as if defying the radar's circular identification, or...

---

Li'l Miss Marshmallow teeters, totters, and topples from the onslaught of iX's Heliotrope!!
As she falls to the ground, two opposing doors open, revealing a pair of figures similar to the defeated maid robot...but also highly dissimilar. To the right, six legs emerge from the doorway, with the ends alternating between feet and various cleaning and self-care items, a different one for each limb. From the left, something floats in with no legs at all, but instead to gigantic devices attached to the machine's back.The right figure prepares four of its six legs, while the left opens up what appear to be vent flaps on its giant, blocky devices.

(Battle Theme) ♫ Grounseed - G. D. ♫

iX: If your here then... what did you do to the residents of this manor!? He readies the Heliotrope... waiting for his answer...

Gritzy Desert Game & Watch suddenly leaps in the air in his octopus form, about to create a huge sandstorm on impact!

---

Little Papa Beta's - Outside Speaking of Proto MKII-- oh. It's just Wildburn.

(Wildblade, thank you.) Damn. Someone call the local Fire Department, because I believe this man has been the victim of a B-U-R-N Burn!

What are you doing here?

Well, I was gonna grab some grub, but I didn't know Little Papa Beta's offered barbecued food as well! sheesh!
Moreover, now I just wonder what's gonna happen next. My main guy spent all his time trying to prepare for a successful tournament, only to be the victim of bankruptcy and ultimate rejection by the public & private. Will it prove to be a turning point in his morale for the better as he attempts to redeem himself? Or will his resolve multiply by his lack of anything to lose, revealing his true nature along the way?
Also stealing from the Government sounds nice. Then again, I don't do the ol' mercenary/thief business for free.

Little Papa Beta's - Outside

Beta Shadow decides to peer in through the door.

Well, you should try out our barbecue pizza at some point. Except, I hate to break it to you, Wildcard, but we here at Little Papa Beta's have decided to ban ALL versions of Proto MKII in the entire Omniverse from this restaurant due to particular recent seasons of events.
...Except for Defteros, he's cool.

---

Stanley's Greenhouse, 1983

...Invaded by a Gorilla, swarmed by insects, and swiftly fired from my dream job. Any OTHER old wounds you wanna open up, old geezer?
Well, if it takes opening up old wounds to find the source of all your problems, then that's just what we'll have to do, isn't it?

The two then leave the time era, moving on to the next.

Probably should've seen that coming. Oh, well, it's fair 'nuff. Your pizza joint, your rules. I've got no beef with that. Mmmm... beef.

Wildwood yawns, and prepares to leave before turning around.

Oh yeah. Word for the wise: Others might seem just like "Alternate MKII" to you, but if you judge us all by that same verdict, you are bound to be wrong. Take your Z-Team for example. Drastic experiences changed them into the people they are today. I bet they know better than anyone how-- for lack a better term-- unfair-- that is, to lump them in the same group as their newer counterparts.
Just food for thought! Later, 'gators! Speaking of beef...

Wildebeest Okay, now that one was just dumb! leaves.

Little Papa Beta's

...Honestly, this is moreso to be safe rather than quick judgement. As far as I'm concerned, Defteros is the only outlier; beyond him, I don't think there is such a thing as a "good" MKII. That's just how inherently evil he is.
...Now, I'll believe in a "good" MKII only if I actually see it. But as of right now, I'm having a hard time believing such a thing exists, Defteros aside.
...Which, for the record, I'm counting Prototype- and Anthem to an extent- as a separate entity from MKII, rather than an alternate of him.
There are just some risks you just can't take... Especially in a world like THIS.

---

New Donk City, 2015*

...So, THAT job was also a bust.**
Sorry to hear about that. I could've sworn that would've been the one.

Lady Pauline
(Soon-to-Be) Mayor of New Donk City

*Sigh* That's just the way things have been for me... Always down on my luck. I've tried branching out, and I've tried things I'm familiar with. But I just can't seem to find a lasting job... I'd be out on the streets, if it weren't for the fact that we live in a place where gold coins could be found just about anywhere. Even though the apartment I have to live in just plain stinks.
Well, it's good to know you're still alright... I still don't know why you didn't want to join the party we threw for Mario.***
...
...Wait a second... You're not still jealous of Mario, are you?
Wh-what? Jealous of ol' Jumpman? Heck no! Why would I be?
...Stanley, we both know lying is not a good look on you.
...Fine, you got me. I am jealous, very much so... It's just... He wasn't that kind of a person, you know? He had his fair share of... moments. And yet, EVERYONE seems to just praise him, and that brother of his! Heck, his brother even got a whole YEAR dedicated to him!****
And, heck, people seem to praise that Donkey Kong guy, too, despite how much he and his father kidnapped you. He even has his own ISLAND named after him!
All on top of Cranky being a deity, too...
He's a WHAT NOW!?
You haven't heard? I figured you would have by now.
*Sigh* And what do I have to show for everything I've done at this point? Nothing. I'm just another nobody in a sea of ordinary citizens...
And what's wrong with ordinary?
Nothing, really... It's just... I just feel like I'm meant for something more, you know?
...Well, I know where you're coming from, at least... In any case, I hope you get the happiness you deserve, Stanley.
Thanks, Lady Pauline. Good luck with the mayoral debate.

Pauline and Past Stanley go their separate ways.

...*Sigh* You know, it was nice to have a friend like Lady Pauline to talk to.
Hm, yes. A friend to rely on is always a nice thing... It's certainly something you shouldn't take for granted.
Yeah, I suppose you're right about-

Stanley suddenly realizes what the old man was referring to.

...Oh.

---

*Post-Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
**The colors used here are to differentiate Past Stanley with his Present counterpart.
***Ending of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
****2013: the Year of Luigi

Shiver City Overwhelmed, Roy and his crew are on the verge of being beaten, Roy being the victim of a relentless onslaught of fists from Wario.

You useless runts! Now look at us!!
That's it! It's time we kick *Urgh* things *Yow!* inta overdri--

As Roy tries to power up and tap into the same spell the other Koopalings used, nothing happens.

What the--!? What's *Ouch* goin' on!?
Apologies. You were trying to trigger a certain transformation, weren't you?
Wh-... What *Ow* happened?!
How gullible. When I hit you, I dispelled that foreign energy in you, preventing you from transforming. At least, long enough for you four to be defeated.
Oh, no...

Roy is Power Thrown into a nearby tree head-first, dizzying him!

U-ugh... J-joke's uhn yuh, Mughneto... this guhn wuz meide outtuh wood!

He is then hit by a Homing attack from Tailigee.

Hey! Hands off my prey, Green Stache!

Mao: Agh! There's sand in my eyes! Hero Prinny: Hol' up dood. I got this. He then starts digging around in his fanny pack...

As the diplomat considers each offer, another blade comes crashing down. In the ensuing silence, four troopers hop out of the transport, their boots leaving prints onto the grassy surface. With one look, Bladesmatter retreats from the window of the Halberd as the radar starts beeping like crazy.

Kilroy wants to call off the negotiations.
What? But I'm almost done.
Kilroy doesn't care. Tell your soldiers to ready their weapons. We've been order to initiate plan B.
But I'm in charge of this operati-
We are now taking charge. Either report back to base or risk PUNISHMENT.
I want to hear it from Kilroy himself. Besides, your uniform's unlike any I've seen. How do I know your-

The diplomat's face goes pale as the red soldier slowly peels away his face, revealing a protruding green eye. You could swear that the eye is smirking.
With a bang, one of the red troopers fires off a shotgun immune to the sabotage, striking the diplomat in the chest. As he slides down, the nearby soldiers look on in horror.
The unmasked soldier suddenly pulls out a detonator and activates it. As he starts to laugh in a monotone voice, the ship above explodes in a orange flash, causing debris to slowly rain down onto the field. While everyone's distracted, the area around Kirby's house is covered in a grey substance, preventing any means of entrance nor escape.

---

Bio Star Factory

---

The corks bounce off of the arms, sending two of them flying back. Biocut manages to cut one but misses the other. The creature seems to have retreated from whence it came.

Mighty keeps sitting for a few seconds, completely unresponsive to anything.
...

A flash of light covers the entirety of Popstar, which is now timefrozen. No exceptions besides Mighty in his Celestial Forme. To prevent any BS coming from Grey Matter or the Despair Troops, he also seems to be using the Love-Love Stick as a Hope Energy reservoir.

Fuck you, no.

Time is rewound to just before the Diplomat gets shot, and as it starts moving again the shot somehow hits the red soldier. A battalion of Chordroids teleports in to counterattack the Despair Troops, urging the UKR troops to do the same.