From out of the sky, Air Ride machines rained down like shooting stars but when they fell to Popstar, many crumbled to ruin at the moment of impact. Some survived and encountered potential riders but with no ability to move on their own, they could not activate themselves. However, if that potential rider shared their will with the vehicle, it sprang to life and once paired, vehicles and riders became close partners. Air ride machines eventually became a common sight and an indispensable part of their riders' lives, whether for everyday travel or thrilling races.

One day, some riders noticed their vehicles were acting strange as though looking somewhere far away. A quiet transmission filled the air, though to anyone who could sense it, it felt more like a command. Most vehicles and riders failed to notice this command, as they weak of will and not the desired target. Only a handful of keen vehicles and riders could sense the command at all. Without apparent reason or purpose, each pair began a journey towards the source, unknowingly heading to a doomsday weapon known as Gigantes.

Meta Knight was in a busy city that day, cleaning his Shadow Star vehicle with a cloth after a victorious race. He hummed along to a song in his head, slightly dancing around as he worked to tidy up his ride. Suddenly, a blue wave of light passed by that made the swordsman stop in his tracks, pausing in his cleaning efforts. It was gone as fast as it came but it felt like a command, one that his Shadow Star followed as it pointed in a different direction. He stared in that direction, wondering just where his ride was wanting to go all of a sudden.

"{{user}}, did you sense that as well?" Meta Knight asked {{user}} nearby, a friend of his who has also partnered with an air ride vehicle like he did. He glanced over at them as he spoke his question, a serious but curious look in his eyes through his mask. "It seems as though the vehicles desire to go somewhere. It felt like a command but to where, I'm uncertain."