Chapter 18: Temple of Light
On the ship, Ike, Crono and Deedlit introduce themselves, then they tell them what they have learned about the Shadow Bugs, that they are somehow spawned by Subspace Bombs, when a bomb is deployed and the fact that two R.O.B.s are required to activate it. They explained the mechanics, and then the Subspace Army, the organization The Shadow Bug Monsters are a part of. Also that the Subspace Army is behind the corruption, explaining that they heard about Tabuu, who seems to them to be the leader of this organization. Once the Shadow Bugs emerge and that’s when the corruption of a reality begins. Nobody even saw that it happened in their worlds, but that everyone they knew turned evil all of a sudden, and this could be the explation of what's happening in the first place.
Sailor Venus asked a question on who even is Tabuu and what their motive is, but neither of the three knew. Homer complained that the details were boring, and even whined that he was the last in the ladder to hold on, but they shut him down after his complaints of being last on who latched on. The mystery behind this disturbed all of them, but they knew they had to continue and hopefully they will escape this corruption. Lupin III decided that he should tell Ike, Crono and Deedlit about the SCP Foundation, and they fact that they seem to be the only force curbing it. Crono did not really care for the SCP, but Ike and Deedlit were curious, and as Sailor Venus explained more about them. They would have the same specious attitude as Simon when it came to the organization, in the manner that it might be too good to be true, but they thought that it's better to give a try, as they don't have much of a choice in terms of survival.
Samus drove her Starship to another reality, and found there to be nothing but skies and clouds. Then they made towards what appears to be a temple right there floating. Samus lands the ship there, and everyone gets off. The temple seemed nice and beautiful, as Link said it reminds him of Skyloft from the legends he heard about as a child. They went in to find a community where refugees from all worlds of many shapes and sizes. Lupin III asked them who they serve, and then Rhea, the Archbishop of the temple came in, and the people pointed to her. They all bow down to her except for the fifteen fighters, who all have no idea who they even are.
Rhea was honored to have them come by, as it has been a while since anybody new came to the location. Upon Lucas asking the question of what the temple is supposed to be, Rhea acknowledged that the temple was a sanctuary for any people who come by from portal ball to rest, and she too was a refugee from when her world got corrupted. She told them about the hope in the one who can save them, in Shaggy Rogers. This caught everyone’s attention, as the interest of a savior brought them hope that maybe their friends and worlds can go back to normal. Rhea confirmed that is the case, as since Shaggy used to be a coward, he eventually gained so much power, he can just use 5% of it to cause the destruction of just 1000 realities. Then she said that he had a top enemy being Tabuu, the ruler of Subspace, and the one who started the whole Corruption of Realty. The two fought, as Shaggy had Kirby, the Star Warrior and the Doom Slayer as his allies in containing Tabuu, in an epic battle of Good vs. Evil. She claimed that the battle is still going on, and that the worlds taken over by Tabuu was simply a small percentage. Then Ike wanted to know if she even knew the SCP Foundation exists, Rhea in response would have a face suggesting that she's hiding something, but held it back, saying that they should rest after their long journey. The Two-handed swordsman already did not like this, as just from that face he thinks that she might be connected to the corruption.
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After explaining what everything, she decides to give a request before they take a rest from their struggles. The archbishop claims that the request will help Shaggy, Kirby and The Doom Slayer in defeating Tabuu and bringing purification to all of the multiverse once again. She asked for the “Key” which is in the underground of the temple. With the hope they just gained, the 15 agreed, except for Ike maybe that the SCP won’t be needed. When they were on their way, Ike started to say that something might be up, and the whole story that Rhea said might not be true, but he was quickly shot down when they decide to ignore him, and he said that he got a bad feeling right under his breath.
When they went to the underground, they fought against Primids and the rest of the Subspace Army were there. Lupin III starts to be suspicious of what Rhea may be up, that she could be the one leading the Subspace Army and everything about Tabuu was a lie. Ike and Mega Man X agreed with this statement, as they dealt with betrayal and knew it was not out of the question, as the former was starting to be glad that two people are starting to see things his way. But everyone else was blinded by hope that they can bring things back to the status quo, they disagreed, especially with those that lost someone like with Link, Terra, Sailor Venus, Mario and Homer as they thought that they are bringing down the group with their pessimistic attitudes. They found the Key, and reported right to Rhea.
Once they gave the Key, they saw that every person in the temple was gone, as Rhea started to giggle to herself. Ike demanded to know what’s going on as he took out the Ragnell. Rhea refused at first, until Lupin III backed him up, along with Pikachu sparking his red cheeks and Mega Man X pointing out his arm cannon. The Archbishop decided to give them the “reward” to reveal that while everything she said was true, she did not give the full story. Shaggy Rogers along with Kirby and the Doom Slayer were killed by Tabuu before he started the Corruption of Reality. This was to prevent opposition that could defeat him before he even began. After the death of Shaggy, Kirby and the Doom Slayer, he’s free to corrupt the many worlds. And the temple was not a refuge, but rather a magnet to collect escapees, and send them back to their escaped worlds to be tortured, enslaved, or to turn evil, explaining why the temple is empty by the time they came back.
Rhea reveals that she’s actually Tabuu’s second in command and the Pope of the Subspace Religion, which promotes evil ideals like discrimination. Below her are the many villains from different worlds, as she talked to the likes of Petey, Dracula, Ganon, Berthier, Porky, Mr. Burns, Mr. X and others and helped them out with the Army and their plans. The Key was meant to increase Tabuu’s power further, making him increasingly invincible. They collectively as a group were angry at the lies she made, but now all of this made sense, it’s about power and control that she wants Tabuu to rule. She mocks the team in their efforts, saying that she notices that Terra and Sailor Venus were both cured, as she says that they should try to say that way, because the Subspace Army already have plans to make sure the vital that was used to cure them will be ineffective in due time, as they both became afraid of this possibility. She said her motivations were unimportant, but she told everyone that it would be wise to leave, as she had a Subspace Bomb set up to create a portal to another world.
Knowing what to do, everyone soon ran out and boarded the Starship. Samus blasted off her ship as she stirred it out away as the bomb exploded, and another purple-blackish bubble opened up, as the Starship flew, it teleported to another reality in an instance. Now Simon, Ike and Deedlit are starting to wonder if they should really try to find the SCP Foundation for their survival, since the three powerful deities who could defeat Tabuu were destroyed, and with no veto everyone in the group immediately agreed with this statement.