There was a distant clicking of boots on the tile floor as a figure drew closer. Flames licked against metal and an eerie glow was cast behind them across the northern sky. The figure stopped in a clearing. The fire didn't seem to flicker there.

Mario rubbed the blood from his cheek and coughed. He tried to push himself into a sitting position, ultimately failing when the sharp crack of a foot to his ribs sent him crumbling back down again.

"Are you done already?"

The voice was soft and barely audible over the frantic screeches of the audience members. The figure didn't seem to care. His attention was focused solely on the red-clad Italian below him.

He raised an arm. At the end of it was a laser gun that pulsed with the golden color of its owner's eyes. Mario's own widened and his lower lip quivered.

"Why…?"

No thought was necessary over this. The look of hatred and anger across the male's face was clearly evident of his cause. He had nothing to hide now.

"So you'll never forget… So you'll never throw me away again."

A booming noise raged over the stage, ear-shattering and terrifying. There was darkness. And there was fire.

Alone, in the seemingly never ending void, stood the figure. He dragged himself away through the hissing embers and disappeared.

...

"Oh, my…"

Something was near. It smelled of vanilla and had a kind, endearing voice.

Luminescent eyes sparked open, glancing frantically around.

"It's alright. You're alright." A hand placed itself on his shoulder.

He slowly calmed and made his tired gaze drag up to a woman seated next to him. She was a blonde, her dress a mix of seafoam and sky. She bore a silver crown. "Can you tell me your name?"

The boy raised his head. He was wrapped up tight on a bed in a hospital of some sort, and the place was deserted save for an athletic looking woman at the front desk. He studied her for a moment, then returned his attention to the person in the chair next to him.

"M-Megaman." He mumbled hoarsely. "Where am I? And who are you?"

The lady brushed a few strands of hair away from her face with a giggle. "I'm Rosalina. I found you towards the outskirts of the mansion grounds, and you looked dreadful after the race. So I brought you to the Pokemon Center."

Megaman twitched in pain and raised a brow. "Race?"

"Oh yes!" Rosalina clapped her hands together. "All of the possible Smashers, old and new competed in a race through the Great Cave Offensive to see who would be competing this season. Congratulations, my dear. You got in!"

The cyborg sat up straight and gasped. The woman next to him tried to lay him back down again to rest but he wouldn't have it. He threw his fists in the air and yelled some sort of cheer for himself. "I did it! I did… Huh." Mega suddenly stopped. His face held concentration. "I don't remember getting in."

Rosalina nodded. "You came in with a concussion. I'm surprised you're awake so soon, actually."

"Do you know what happened to me? Did you see anything?"

"No. I was accepted rather quickly, right after Luigi and Ike. You were behind most of us, darling." Rosalina held one of Mega's gloved hands and rubbed the back of it with a thumb. "You almost didn't make it, but you were on the fair ground. You're very lucky."

Megaman had to stare at the snowy white sheets that bunched up at his knees before speaking again.

"Lucky…" He somehow took offense to this. He had spent years upon years training his body and mind to gain enough strength to keep fighting. He had become strong through his incredible effort and dedication. When he found that letter on his doorstep, sealed officially with the emblem he never thought in a million years he would see with his own eyes, he cried. He knelt over the inked cursive flowing along the parchment and cried his heart out.

None of that was from luck. None of those tears or scars or screams were even derived from something close to that. It was the passion that Megaman had for peace that made him powerful.

In any case, he cast a smile of appreciation to Rosalina. He couldn't muster up enough anger to snap at her and tell her how he really felt. She didn't deserve that. She didn't know. "Thank you."

Rosalina hummed in delight and floated over to the other side of the room, rolling a wheelchair over to Megaman's bedside. "There is a celebratory festival for those of us who made it in. It should be starting soon, if you want to attend."

"Oh, no. I don't need that." The cyborg crawled out from under the covers and hoisted himself up, using the table next to him for stability. For a second he just stood there, seemingly adjusting to the feeling of having weight on his legs again. Letting his grip go, Megaman straightened his back and chuckled triumphantly.

"See? I'm fine."

Rosalina could only watch as this played out. The boy was strong willed, she gave him that. "I'm impressed. Please don't do anything rash at the festival though, Megaman. Even with that metal suit of yours, you still took quite a beating."

Megaman nodded in understanding. He was curious as to why this lady had such a close eye over him though he didn't want to question it. He liked that someone had his back.

The doors to the Pokemon Center flew open with a soft chime, a crisp breeze of autumn air flowing in from outside. The day was calm and clear. Different worlds could be observed moving across the sky. Some were dark and looming closer to the ground, while others were bright and higher up.

Megaman scanned the environment around him. The landscape was picturesque. From his place on the hill, the android could see everything.

A massive lake spanned most of the valley, its glimmering blue waters matching the baby blue sky. Figures could be seen diving and splashing around.

To the east, there was a complex of open buildings that looked as if it had been built during the times of Ancient Greece. The signs around it specified that it was the shopping district. Many fighters had part-time jobs at the shops and restaurants to make some extra income. They didn't necessarily need it, as living in this world was absolutely covered so long as the fighters battled it out for their keep.

Once Megaman saw the minor sights, his eyes fell on the crown jewel of the Smashverse; The Mansion.

The structure was monstrous. It housed every fighter, assist, Pokémon and Mii in its walls. The exterior was black and gilded with golden markings over the windows and doors. The emblem of the world shone above the large front doors.

There were so many rooms and hallways and dorms that it was easy to lose yourself in there.

The atrium took up most of the bottom floor of the main building. It was filled with trophies, reception desks and artifacts of all sorts. The floors were a creamy white linoleum that contrasted with the deep purple of the walls and black of the ceiling. Golden chandeliers hung gracefully from the darkness, flames flickering from the candles they bore. They weren't a normal flame, they were far too bright. They lit up the room with a warm glow.

All of the workout rooms were in the west wing. Weight training was done on the ground floor, aerobic and anaerobic training on the second, and running laps was on the top floor. Activities for relaxation were in the east wing. Spa visits and yoga classes were so common that pretty much the entire mansion attended them. There were also video games of all kinds to be found in a lounge right next to the kitchen and dining rooms so the younger fighters could easily travel back and forth while playing.

A garden decorated the backyard of the building. A maze of rosebushes went on for what seemed like miles. Fountains with statues of every fighter in the center, including the new arrivals, were peppered out over the expanse. A swimming pool was right in front of the rear entrance, stone paths winding around it and through the garden.

It was a majestic place. Nothing like Megaman had ever seen.

The cyborg made his way through the dormitories until he finally found the door with his name on the title board beside it.

Inside were two beds, one with sheets and comforters folded neatly at its end. The other had already been made perfectly.

"Fratellino! You're a sight for sore eyes!"

Megaman didn't have to see who was addressing him to know. His head turned to the doorframe and he gasped in delight.

"Mario!" He trotted over to the smaller Italian and embraced him. "It's been what, fifteen years? You've really made a name for yourself!"

Mario snickered, a flattered blush hinting at his features. "You're just as famous as me, Mega. You're far more kind."

The word 'famous' touched a nerve as it was spoken. Megaman looked down with furrowed brows. Though a compliment was threaded in after, he couldn't help but to twiddle his thumbs.

"Th-thank you. Really, I'm unsure as to why I was invited here." The cyborg shook his head. "I'm a pacifist."

"Listen," Mario gave a soft pat to his faux brother's shoulder and smiled warmly. "Master Hand finally realized how important you are. Instead of questioning it, I say be thankful! Uh, fratello? Where have you been for the past few years?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

The statement was blunt. It was as if Megaman wanted to end the conversation altogether at that point. He wandered over to the dorm's balcony and stared blankly over the valley. Mario watched him go with a deep frown. He knew that it was wrong of him to ask questions he already knew the answers to.

"Excuse me… I need to get in!"

The Italian glanced over his shoulder and found a short brunet almost glaring at him. Although it wasn't exactly a look of anger or annoyance, the boy was grinning. So this was the creepy fellow all of the newcomers were gossiping about.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Here." Mario stepped aside for the boy and allowed him entrance. "I'll talk to you later, Megaman." With that, he disappeared down the hallway.

The boy that had just walked in felt his jaw drop. He threw down the towel that was draped around his neck and dashed to the cyborg's side. His wide brown eyes took in the other's form like he was having a religious experience.

Megaman didn't notice this until the boy touched one of the cyborg's arms. His luminescent orbs caught sight of what was happening, making him quirk a brow.

"Uhm… What are you doing?"

"You're Megaman!" The kid shouted. "THE Megaman! Are you my roommate?"

Megaman nodded. "Yes. You know who I am?" He chewed his lip. At times he forgot that he had stopped an entire army of robots from destroying a planet. The years did go by. "What's your name?"

"I'm Villager! And I'm a huge fan of yours!" Villager bounced excitedly. His skin glinted from the water droplets coating him. He was in a diving suit and one of his pockets was bulging slightly. Megaman blinked at the sight and grinned sheepishly.

"Nice to meet you, Villager. What do you have there-?"

"Have? You mean this?" The kid yanked a small fish tank from the pocket. Inside was a fat koi fish that blew bubbles at the cyborg. "I caught it before I went swimming. You want it?"

Mega stared at the fish, then after a minute he took it from Villager's hands. The koi locked eyes with the cyborg before proceeding to swim around in circles. Mega seemed amazed by this.

"I can't swim. I'll short out." He set his new pet down on his bedside table. "I've always wanted to, though. I wonder if it feels anything like flying…" His voice faded as he lost himself in thought.

"If you dive deep enough," The boy commented, pulling the zipper to his suit down. "It could feel like that! Lots of pressure and really cold."

The two stopped their chatter when they heard a bell toll in the distance. Villager slapped his cheek. "I forgot! The ceremony! If we're late, Master Hand will kill us!" The boy threw on a fresh change of clothes and took Megaman by the forearm. He dragged him down the stairs and out into the valley.

Megaman sighed. He couldn't figure out why, but the spark plugs in his head were overheating just the slightest degree.

He'd wait until after the festivities to bring it up to anyone.