---

Yeah, get 'em, Blue! Show that menace what's what!

While Joe seems to be watching one of the movies on the DVD player, something phases through one of the walls.

Okay, where'd that voice come from?
Dude, shhh. Trying to watch a flick here.
Right, sorry, was just looking for someone. I'll just go then...

Wanda phases through the wall she came from... before coming back three seconds later.

WAITWAITWAITHOLDONASECO

Meddy is a bit taken aback by Star’s words, but doesn’t say or do anything.
—-/—/—/——//——/—-/——/——-/————/
Heat Man uses his turn to charge up Atomic Fire.

I don't know about you guys, but this doesn't sit well with me.

Wanda begins to fly off.

I'm gonna go look for him. You guys can take anything that comes your way. Well, not anymore considering I just jinxed it but good luck anyway.

Wanda disappears into the sky, but everyone can still hear a faint noise;

BY THE WAY! I AM NOT A CHILD! I AM AN ADULT!

---

---

---

...
..."Extreme"? "Unheard of"? Utter nonsense. I have let that little troll survive for far too long for my methods to be considered despicable.
As a matter of fact... I'm beginning to lose my patience. By now the World Flare must have been averted, correct?
Maybe, but--
Then all that's left to do is what we started. Knack!

In an zeptosecond Knack arrives, elbow against the wall.

Remember when Foreman Spike was relevant again?
Incapacitate the trash.
Can do... But just so you know... I might just end up taking a little bit of frustration on them...
Your aggression does little to my concern as long as it does not lie in the way of your objective.
Whatever you say, big man.

Nap zips off.

...Hohohohohoh. HOHOHOH. HAHAHAHAHAH!
Evil laughs don't suit you.
They really don't.

Wanda, Black, Red and Yellow fly (the latter three float) down, meeting Wario and co.

Real quick. Anyone here see Joe lately?
Joe? Who in the--
Hah! Nice try, bub! I use the internet! I'm not fallin' for that one!
No, nimrod, I mean the guy who was with us this entire time. With the red and white costume.
...
Ugh.
I wouldn't be surprised if he went off to do his own thing. That fight with Knack certainly took a toll on his attitude.
You mean like how Shake King turned you into a little wuss?
HUH!? WHA-- HOW COULD-- DID NOT!
Seriously. I have a bad feeling that something's happened, but I can't put my finger on it...
That aside... what the hell happened to you?
I only realized that my real physique is too much of a godsend to be looked upon, and thus must be limited by a tiny form!
He's training his body by adjusting to fighting in his midget form. He believes if he can do that, his regular state'll become stronger by proxy.
Did you just-- read his mind?
You can read minds!? Why don't you do that all the time?
For one, the emotions that come with the thoughts get transferred onto me as well.
But mostly because some of the thoughts I find in people's heads are.... unsettling......
Do we... uh... need to talk about something?
So many fans...

Cluelessly confused--->

Meddy pretend nods and "mmhmms" for the eleventy-seventh time at a poor attempt to fit in.

---

Heat Man turns around.

I'm not going anywhere without a warrant.

Ugh!
Ouchies!

Wave is knocked down onto the ground. Storm soon follows.

UUUUUUUGH! That little prick!
Just what's the deal with that cuuuuuuhuhuhuhohohoh!

Storm's attention is quickly redirected towards a Gray Crystalline Orb.

Ooh-lah-lah! Looks like we found one of 'em things after all!
Storm, what the hell are you ta--haaaaah--hold on...

Wave pulls a beeping device from her pocket, which seems to be alerted by the Orb's presence.

Really? You're not even going to introduce these in order?
Huh?
Nothing, but this whole setup feels kinda... forced.
Well, sayin' it doesn't make it any less true.
Shut up, stupid! You think I don't know that!?
Yeesh, I'm just sayin'...

Alright, I've got you all figured out, you little Blue Devil! Prepare to taste my--
Hey, boss!

Jet rears his head to his fellow Rogues. Storm holds up the orb.

Hah! Jackpot, just like I pla---

Jet immediately takes another hit Rocket Metal's rocket form square in the face.

AAAAAAGH!

Jet is launched into the bushes.

.-.. -- .- --- / -.. ..- -- -... .- ... ...

...Ah, crap.
What?
What happened to Waluigi?

---

---

Now all that's left is to mark Waluigi's territory! ...Where did he put that Piranha Plant, now...?...

As Waluigi walks away, the large figure plops back down on the ground.

Ugh, more complications. Shows what that guy knows, anyway. I found this housing first!

The figure begins planting bombs down.

Heheheheh... We'll see how he likes his new friends when he gets back.

The figure continues chuckling, not noticing he has essentially trapped himself in the path that he has set bombs with.

Aw, dude! You even got a DVD set and everything! This is poggers!

Joe chuckles before actually being serious.

Dante... thanks.

What... doc?

---

Defteros blocks both attacks from Scale and Proteus, cancelling them out.

I think that's quite enough for now.
What!? But it's his scrawny ass that decided to pick a fight with us in the first place!!
Yes. And by engaging, you were the one who enabled this attitude and further amplified it, no?
*mumble mumble* enable and amplify your FACE *mumble* *mumble*

Proteus backs off. Defteros directs his attention to Scale.

The truth is that we didn't come looking for a fight. We found our way here because we assumed that your resources could help us learn more about an underlying threat.
...
If our presence is unwelcome here, then we'll leave. But we're also willing to abide by any terms you might have planned.
YOU DUMBASS!
...
...Heh.

---

---

---

---

---

A very, very bandaged Joe lies in an infirmary.


Ugh...

Joe (who is definitely depowered at this point) weakly tries to give the man a thumbs up, but drops his arm down halfway before coughing up more of his internal bleeding.

---

Another Joe faceplants the ground, his costume notably damaged.

Darn! I should've been prepared for that!
...Oh well. At his rate, he should think of this as one last chance... for the ultimate battle.
Anyway, it seems like I won't need this out-of-style getup anymore.

Another Joe suddenly shapeshifts... into a much more familiar costume.

That rotten... Who does he think he is!? He think he can just abandon me for some new fancy weapons and then come back to bother me when I'm minding my own business!? If I see him again, I am totally stabbing him another time!
We'll meet again... Joe. Don't let me down again.

The figure flies away.

Another Joe tries his best to block, but is nonetheless overwhelmed.

Damn it!

Another Joe attempts to slice at the enigmatic gunslinger with Voomerangs in his hands!

However, due to Slow-Mo, he narrowly dodges the bullet, grazing his shoulder! This does distract him for long enough to dispel his Dou Ki, however.

What the--!?

Another Joe jumps back.

All right, who the hell decided now would be a good time to interfere!?

Joe, who at this point is struggling almost as much not to choke on his own blood as he is enduring Another Joe's attacks, crumples as Another Joe walks towards him, pulling him up by the costume.

Oh, right. Your girlfriend. I wonder how she'd love someone who cares more about video games and sci-fi movies than her!

Another Joe slaps Joe across the face!

But don't worry... Silvia, your father, your sister, and your little sidekick... I'll find them. And when I do, they'll end up as the same type of mutilated carcasses as you will!

Another Joe repeatedly slaps Joe with hard, heavy hits across the face. For every slap, Another Joe seems to become more and more crazed!

AHAHAHAHAHAH! HAHAHAHAHAHAH! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

The kick actually momentarily gets Joe off the ground, bringing him to his knees.

...
Well, would you look at that? You just seem to be in the perfect kicking position. Allow me!

Another Joe kicks joe in the chest, the shoulder, and then follows up with a rattling punch to the face. Internally, Joe swears his soul temporarily leaves his body, though the kicks still continue during and after this revelation.

For the longest time! All I ever did! It was all motivated by you! You caused this! So why don't you go ahead and tell me how proud you are of me, huh!? Come on, rival!
AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!

Finally, Joe snaps, hitting Another Joe with a Groovy Uppercut in the jaw (though Another Joe's body still doesn't leave the ground)!

...

Joe, too strained to even stick the landing property, falls back on the ground.

...Hah! That wasn't half bad! if we were still back in Movieland like the old days, that move would've-- quite literally-- taken my head off....
...But that's the thing, Joe. This isn't 15 years ago. And for you? Happily Ever After will be what it was always meant to be... Fiction.
...S-slvia..

Another Joe begins to once again approach Joe.

---

Groovy Uppercut (Speed/Impact)- Viewtiful Joe does a quick (and stylish) rising uppercut. Can be used in midair.

You'd better get used to this pain... because it's going All. O--

Suddenly, an explosion blows Joe's body away, and forces Another Joe back!

What the...?
...Oh. Heh. Heheheh.

He watches as Joe falls flat on his face.

That was pretty clever. Hiding away an explosive to release my hold on you by force.
Ugh...
Although smart, it was incredibly reckless. The tradeoff was that you'd take even more damage.

Another Joe calmly walks towards Joe.

How sad. This is so one-sided I'm not sure we should even qualify this as a fight anymore!

Another Joe kicks Joe in the stomach!

Augh!