Tarryn: Greetings, and welcome to my crazy new Christmas story! I put this up as a sort of bonus present for Adella, so it has her favorite couple in it, as well as mine! On another note, I sort of cast Red as a cooler version of Ash, because it worked with the story, so please no flames on that! This story is going to come in 2-3 parts, but even so I'd appreciate a review! They make my day, and what better way to spread the Christmas spirit than to give someone a really nice review? Anyway, enjoy the story, and Happy Holidays!

Part 1: Staring off with a Bang! (Literally!)

Crazy Hand was going to regret this.
Nah.

Crazy Hand had his massive fist enclosed tightly around an equally huge rope, attached to a canon that was bigger than Smash Mansion itself. He gave a characteristically insane laugh, knowing that was going to be one of his greatest pranks ever, if not the greatest. It's time for a wake-up call! He thinks to himself just as dawn's earliest light peeked over the mountains that stood tall and proud against the endless sky behind the mansion. Crazy Hand makes sure everything is in place; one last check before Crazy Hand set the canon off, and sent Smash Mansion sky-high. Once everything was ready to go, Crazy Hand grips the tattered rope tightly between his fingers, and muffles a chuckle, trying to contain his excitement. A quick yank of the rope, and…

BOOM!

Confetti rains down like snow; the small pieces colored red and green, and was littered with lots of sparklers that ignited in the air, creating a small slew of fireworks that's looked like tiny fire balls. Mario's going to be so jealous of my fire; it's so much cooler than his! He merrily floats down the cobblestone path that lead back to the mansion; and if it was possible that you could jump with glee while floating in midair, Crazy Hand was doing it. He opens the rustic, heavily sealed doorway with a snap of his fingers, and then wanders into the common room. He gives a maniacal laugh as he enters the empty room. "MERRY CHRISTMAS BROS.!" He shouts as he watches all the Smashers file inside, some wide-eyed and shaking, and some looking at Crazy Hand like they were about to slash him up and serve him for dinner. He didn't want to names, but… Master Hand was definitely one of those people. "CRAZY!" His brother roars, as he points an accusing finger him. "Why did you do that?" Crazy giggles like a school-girl, and responds promptly. "Because, Bro.! It's Christmas!" He emphasizes, and then mutters under his breath. "And some people like to sleep in until noon!" He turns towards Zelda and Peach, and who look away sheepishly. Popo and Nana were some of the ones startled by the blast, but they come forward bravely, Popo holding Nana's hand as the bounce up and down once they come to the realization that today was Christmas! "Present, presents!" They chant, as they race towards the tree that had been set up weeks ago by the older Smashers to lift the smaller ones spirit's. Toon Link, Lucas and Pikachu join them around the tree, causing a ruckus with their cheering, Pikachu's electric sparks causing the lights to flicker and glow brighter each time he jumped, causing giggles to erupt from the raucous bunch, and smiles to cross the older ones faces.

At least until the lights popped out all together.

Screams could be heard from all sides of the once festive meeting place, and feelings of panic settle in as darkness covered the room. "Pikachu!" Red scolded his partner-in-crime, and Pikachu gave a saddened cry in return. "I know you didn't mean to Pikachu, but now we don't have any lights." Loud protests were made as the other Smashers grew agitated with the small electric mouse. They all started to gang up on Pikachu, narrowing him into a corner as their protests became an outright riot. Master Hand parted the crowd best he could, but everyone was still angry and cross with the Pokémon. After the crowd had parted, Pikachu felt a little better, but gave a spark of warning as he felt himself being cornered again, but it was only Red. He hushed his friend and then picked him up, placing him on his shoulder gently. "Come on buddy; let's go fix the lights so we can open presents." He says as the duo retreat deep into the mansion, heading for the power room.

Part 2: Friendly Rivalries

Back inside the dimly lit common room, everybody was discussing what should be done while they waited for the lights. While the sun had painted pastel orange streaks across the starry sky, it would be hours before they could make use of the daylight, and no one wanted to sit around doing nothing.

"We could play spin-the-bottle!" Suggested a few of the males, but everybody shut that idea down immediately. The little Smashers disappeared to play a few rounds of hide-and-seek in the dark, while most of the other Smashers departed for their rooms in search of candles or other battery-operated lights that could fix the problem.

The only ones left were Ike and Samus.

"This bites." Ike mutters as he sits down on the couch with a huff. "Awe, is wittle Ikey sad he can't get his pwesents?" Samus coos in a mocking tone, purposefully sounding like a child as she sat down on the other end of the couch, her Zero-Suit giving her a glow that illuminated her face. He grumbles and turns away, only to be meet with an eye-roll from the bounty hunter."And I thoughts Prince's were supposed to act mature." She mutters, hoping Ike had heard it. He tosses a pillow at her. "I am acting mature!" He shouts crossly at her, and she smirks. "Or course you are. Just like Marth. You two are in a relationship, right?" She holds back a chuckle when she sees his furious reaction. "For the last time: . !" Samus snorts her disbelief. "I'm serious! If you must know, Samus, I like someone." He leers at her from across the couch. "And it is NOT a guy!" She seems interested now, and puts an end to her teasing, her eyes suddenly serious. "Really? Who is it? Oh please tell me it's not Peach!" She says, stuffing a finger down her throat. Peach was nice enough, but the idea of her and Ike together made her sick. Of course it didn't help that ever she had first come to Smash Mansion, Ike had always been there for her, no matter what. She remembers her first day at the mansion, which had changed everything she had thought about her life.

FLASHBACK-

Samus, now clad in her armor and completely shielded from the outside world of the mansion, made her way through the cafeteria, wondering how everything in her life seemed to relate back to one of two things: The Army or High School. This time it was the latter, as she faced the cafeteria which was full of people, none of whom she knew. She sighed from behind the mask. She knew she would have to take off her mask, but it would be an understatement if she said that she didn't want to. She wanted to be judged as a fighter; strong, powerful and not someone to be reckoned with, rather than a prissy little flower that was easily broken, and even worse, easily beaten. She walks forward, taking a spot at an empty table. If no one sits over here, no one can see me, right? Samus thinks, uncharacteristically self-conscious. She immediately shuts that thought down. It doesn't even matter! If they think you're weak, they'll underestimate you, which will give you the advantage when it comes down to battling. You'll prove that you're not someone to be messed with if you have the mask or not, so don't be such a coward! Samus's thoughts begin to sound more and more like her Drill Sergeant's screaming voice as the inward conversation ends with Samus finally taking off her mask. She peers back over her shoulder, wondering if everybody was staring at her.

Much to her disappointment, they were.

Samus just sighs and turns around, not really caring anymore. Their just pathetic judgmental fools who think just because I wear armor, I must be a man. She glowers down at the sandwich before her as she thinks these thoughts, and then decides to pick it up and eat, figuring that she wouldn't get any company today.

But oh, was she wrong.

She was quickly joined by three males, and none of them seemed to want to talk about anything but the fact that she was a girl. Soon she shuts down all emotions that arose within her, and she twists her facial features into an expression of pure nothingness, devoid of anything but the slight sparkle in her eye that was caused by sunlight. This is just my luck . . . my first day here and I'm already wishing half the people here were in my Bingo Book. Finally, one of the jerk's audacious comments makes her snap like a twig, and she gives a low growl of warning. "Look, if you don't cut it out right now, I'm going to blast your freaking heads off. I really don't want to be kicked out on Day One, so if you gentlemen." She spat the word with disgust. "Don't mind, I'd really appreciate it if you leave me alone." She glares, and her words seemed to get to them, and they jolt up and scramble away from her. She smirks, proud to have gotten rid of the obnoxious leeches, but it they were quickly replaced by another man, with blue hair and eyes, a tall, lean figure, and a large blade at his side. Samus struggle to remember his name from orientation, and remembers it as he takes the place across from her, smirking. "I'm impressed, normally girls always let those losers drool all over them, no one has ever told them off before." Samus rolls her eyes. "Well I'm glad someone told them off. They seemed like real scumbags." She grumbles, and Ike unexpectedly laughs. "That they are. So you're Samus, right? I've heard you're a pretty good bounty hunter." Samus nods and mumbles her thanks, all the while trying to find any trace of deceit in his eyes, any sign that he might be lying . . .

But she found none.

And that's what started it; Samus and Ike's long-lasting friendship. Ike would come to visit her on her starship, and Samus would write him every week unless she was on a mission. They knew each other better than they knew themselves, and even Samus's walls had eventually crumbled around him. She felt safe around him, and knew that she could let her secrets out, and that Ike would never tell them to another human being.

And yes, she appreciated his secrecy very much, but she still didn't think she would use the L word yet.
Or would she?

Samus shakes her head to get back into reality. Realizing she probably hadn't spoken for awhile, she looks at Ike with fierce eyes. "Well then, who is it?" She demands, hoping that he hadn't already said who he liked, and she had missed it. Ike would call her out on it for weeks! But he seems oblivious to her spacing, and responds promptly. "Not telling." Ike responds with a smirk, deciding to leave her in the dark as payback for earlier. Samus gets out her plasma whip, and it sizzles as she traces the electric cord with her finger, and a deadly smile crosses her features. "Oh, I think you and I both know I have ways of making you talk." She gets up and Ike tries to stand his ground, but his eyes still flickered towards the door nervously. Samus inches closer to him now; two sets of blue eyes parallel to each other, the only thing differentiating the two was the hue of the magnificent color. Samus growls, her teeth forming a snarl. "Now tell me who it is." Ike gulps, and opens his mouth to speak, prepared to finally share his feelings about one girl. One very special girl . . . the same girl who was now about to burn Ike's face off with a plasma whip.

Yes, Ike loved the one and only Samus Aran.

But he wouldn't get to admit it to her just yet.

"What are you doing?" Popo asks curiously, as he and Nana tilt their heads in a synchronized manner. Ike shoves Samus off him, so as to not arouse suspicion from the icy mountain climbers. One slip-up and Samus and Ike would be the talk of the mansion, especially with the females, who loved to talk up a good romance. "Umm, nothing; Samus was just showing me her plasma whip." He responds distractedly, trying not to sound as flustered as he felt.

Popo and Nana regard him with little interest, and soon trot off down the hallway, babbling about where the Smashers playing hide and seek were hiding. They acted as if nothing had happened. Ike sighs, as Samus starts to charge towards him, unmasked furry flashing across her face; Ike groans.

Would he ever be able to tell Samus how he felt?
More importantly, would Samus ever realize she didn't have to use violence to display her feelings?\\

Part 3: The prefect gift?

Was it possible for one's heart to beat so fast it burst? Zelda certainly thought so.

The Hylian princess was shifting her heavy present between her arms with a sigh. Had she gone overboard? Definitely. Did she think she was going to regret getting this present? Not one bit. It was for Link, and she had worked hard to make sure it was perfect. Today is the day, Zelda thinks as she gazes up at the dark ceiling above her. It's just …not quite what I had imagined. Zelda smirks as she withholds a laugh. Her gaze drifts downward, glancing around her candle-lit room with a wistful sigh. Yes, the mishap that had left Smash Mansion in the dark wasn't in her plans, but she would deal with the cards she had been dealt. After all, today was one of the few days that people were permitted to go to such extremes as she had. Zelda thought about what she had done, and was rather pleased. She had been so clever! Not even Snake could deny her sneakiness if he'd known what she'd done. She remembers the day her plan had come to her as if it were yesterday.

THREE WEEKS EARLIER

Zelda was sitting on her bed, lounging in a very un-princess like manner as she contemplated what to get Link for Christmas. She wanted the gift to be something unique, that no one else would have thought of. Anyone could get him a simple power-up or Christmas card if they wanted (Smashers weren't necessarily forced to get something for each other) but friends normally got each other those kinds of trinkets; couples got each other more romantic gifts, with much more meaning put into them. So Zelda wanted to get him something that meant something. After all, she also planned on pronouncing her love for Link on the same day she gave him the special present; a "double-whammy" if you would, so this plan would have to work. But Zelda wasn't feeling at all nervous about the ordeal; he would have to accept her, right? After all, only Link and Zelda had such an extensive history with each other, rivaled only by Mario and Peach in how long they had known each other. Speaking of Peach, Zelda thought as she traced her finger over the Tri-Force shape on her bed-spread, she might be of some use to me. After all, her and Mario had been together for awhile, haven't they? Wouldn't she know something about what you would get for someone you care for? Of course, she might be facing the same dilemma with Mario, so it'd be best to tackle this one on my own. She frowned, not liking the idea of having to do something of such importance on her own, but she knew she had no other choice. Getting herself up off of her bed, she walked down the hallway, casting a long look behind her to make sure no one was around. Zelda then waved her hand in a series of odd gestures, until she creates one of her spells. Placing it on herself, she turns completely invisible. Smirking, she meanders down the maze of hallways that was Smash Mansion, making sure she didn't make a sound as she peers into Link's room. She can't help but give a giddy grin as she patiently stands by the door, listening for any sounds of life. Hearing none, she makes her way into Link's room.

Then she spots…it.
Link's Master Sword and the Hylian Shield!

Zelda grins as an idea pops into her mind. She dashes forward and grasps the two items, then rushes out the door. It's perfect! I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! I could polish his shield, and fix the dents and reinforce his sword with iron and magic! She quietly shuts the door behind her as she sneaks out of Link's room, and then let's out a big sigh of relief. She would have to replace the sword and shield, of course, but a simple duplication spell would fix that problem. She charms the two items with the same invisibility spell she had used on herself, and places them under her bed. This is going to be a Christmas to remember, that's for sure. It's my first Christmas at Smash Mansion, I have the perfect present for Link, and I'm telling Link that he is the one for me. How can this possibly go wrong?

END FLASHBACK

Zelda clasps her hands together and then adjusts her arms with the two heavy pieces of artillery. She shakes her head to get out of the flashback, and then once again heads for Link's room. Placing the now sparkling weapons behind her so they could not be seen, she knocks on Link's door, swallowing the butterflies that were fluttering around in her stomach like pestering fairies. "Link, it's me, Zelda. Are you in there?" She rolls her eyes at her foolish sounding words, but she's unable to take them back as Link appears before her, his blue eyes mere inches above her own. Her gaze drifts upward, and she is pleased to see his face break out into a grin upon seeing her. "Zelda, I'm so glad you're here! I want to show you something." Zelda's face heats as she hears his words, but before she can respond she is pulled harshly through the doorway, the door shutting violently behind her. Well, that wasn't what I expected…but at least he can't see his present now. She holds back chuckle as Link lets go off her hand, and then disappears behind into his closet. He reappears minutes later, holding a simple medium-sized black box with a red ribbon tied around it carefully placed in his hands. Her eyes widen with surprise. Did he…get me something too? She wonders as she places a hand over her mouth. Link opens it, and Zelda is at a loss for words. Inside was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen! It was silver, with little white crystals poking out at intervals, shaped like tiny daggers. But it was nothing compared to the extravagant black jewel in the middle of the necklace. It was obsidian black; oval shaped, and resembled a crystal ball, and if you stared into it for too long you could see your reflection.

"Oh Link..." Zelda says. "It's beautiful."

Link grins once again, and snaps the box shut. Zelda stares into his face through confused, hurt eyes. What was going on? Could he be tricking me? Zelda wonders, but as she stares at Link's dark blue eyes, she could see no change in expression; he wasn't glaring, and he didn't look disgusted with her reaction, but… what in Hyrule was he doing? "You think so? That's great! It's for Midna, and I wanted to get your opinion on it. Thanks, Zelda." She couldn't help it; Zelda's mouth fell open, and feelings of hurt flashed in her eyes, which grew wider than she thought possible.

It's for . . . Midna?

Part 4: From bad to worse

Red and Pikachu were lost…again.

Red sighs, and lowers the visor of his hat over his eyes. "I never was very good with directions…You should know that better than anyone, right Pikachu?" He asks the electric Pokémon, and Pikachu gives a cheerful chirp in reply. Red smiles, pats his friend's head, and then he decides to stop and take a break from their meaningless search, resting on a bench. "Then again, I might've gotten used to it eventually, if Crazy Hand would stop . . . redecorating the house." He laughs, and then smirks at his cleverness. Pikachu laughs, and sparks fizzle out of his two electric pouches. It was one of the cutest things that the Pokémon could do, and the female Smashers often swooned over it. Speaking of females . . . Red found himself missing one of his best friends, Misty, whom he cared about a lot. He had invited her to the mansion, but she hadn't come. A sad look flashed across his eyes, but it is quickly replaced with determination. Just because his Christmas wasn't going well, it didn't mean that everyone else's Christmas had to be ruined! He narrows his eyes and then rises, once again taking up the search for the generator room.

But that didn't mean they would find it any sooner.

"Ugh, not again . . . wait; I know exactly what we can do! Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard, come out!" He shouts as he tosses his three Pokéballs in the air. Three red beams of light streak through the air, and soon Red's three other Pokémon appeared, all happy to be out and ready to work. "Okay everybody, we need to find the generator room, so split up and holler if you find anything." He commands, and the Pokémon nod their heads and split off into different hallways, while Red and Pikachu went down one of the hallways together.

Opening every door in the large hallway, Red and Pikachu really weren't having much luck, but they had new hope that they would actually find what they were looking for with Red's other Pokémon also on the hunt for the elusive generator room. They look inside one of the Smashers room this time, and are quick to realize whose room it was. After all, who else would have charred carpet, a place to put a double-sided sword, but had an otherwise perfectly spit-and-span room? It could only be Ike. But one thing was rather curious about the blue-haired sword master's room: it had a huge present sitting squat in the middle of it. "I wonder who that could be for . . ." Red ponders aloud, and Pikachu murmurs his agreement. "Want to find out?" Red asks mischievously, and Pikachu eagerly nods. They approach the present apprehensively, just in case any bobby traps were on the floor, but for no reason, because they were quick to realize that they were safe. Pikachu gently cuts the dark blue wrapping paper with his claws, and the rip causes a tear in the paper that makes it big enough to look inside. "What is this . . . it looks a lot like . . . could it be?" Red examines the strange hunk of metal before him closer than before, and then takes a step back out of realization."It is! This must be Samus's armor! But what does Ike want with it? You think he fixed it up for her as a present?" He asks his comrade as he touches the armor, but then recoils as if it was a hot flame, not sure whether it would set off an alarm or worse, it would alert Ike. Once again he could ignore his apprehensions, because nothing happens. He shakes his head dismissively and then smirks, the glint in his eye making him look rather devious. "Looks like we know who Ike likes . . . Pikachu, I think we have ourselves a blackmailing opportunity." He chuckles and Pikachu does one of his famous slow motion rolls victoriously. They high-five and then they seal the present back, scurrying out the door and down the hall, closing the door with a soft click!

And that's when everything went downhill.
And boy, did it go downhill fast.

First, Red hears the frantic cries of his Squirtle, followed by Ivysaur and Charizard, all of which sounded panicked and surprised. Red turns around and shots down the hall, Pikachu following close at his heels. They make their way down the hallway where they had seen Squirtle disappear to earlier, and opens every door franticly, causing quite the commotion as they tear apart rooms faster than a tornado.

But Squirtle was nowhere to be found.

Red slams his fist into the wall angrily, but wastes no time as he hastily makes his way down the hallway where Ivysaur's cries had been coming from. Once again coming up empty, Red furiously glares and charges down the third hallway as he hears his Charizard still fighting it out with whatever was trying to hurt him. "Pikachu, use quick attack and get to Charizard as fast as you can, now!" He shouts, and the mouse barely nods before he speeds off like a bullet down the hallway. But is it fast enough? What's going on here? Whatever it is, they're going to regret messing with my Pokémon! Red thinks as his determination only makes him faster and more agile, his feet barely touching the ground as he follows the direction of Pikachu's dust trail. He makes it into the room, and his eyes go wide with shock. All of his Pokémon were trapped in a cage, and were being lifted out of the mansion before his very eyes.

"No!" Red screams as he leaps into the air, trying to catch up with them, but they had become a speck in the mockingly happy sky before he had even made it a few feet. He looks up into the sky, horrified and saddened at the same time, a tear making its way down his face. And I thought Christmas was bad enough already . . . now it's official: this is the worst Christmas ever. Red thinks gloomily as he stares up into the sky. It felt like a hole had been ripped through him; it was the worst possible pain, though he wasn't hurt at all. All that remained was the sad realization:

Red's Pokémon, his best friends, were gone.

Part 5: The Realization

Since everyone else was busy, Master Hand had placed it upon himself to go and check on the little Smashers. However, there was only one slight roadblock with his quest.

The little squirts were scary good at hide-and-seek!

Master Hand had yet to find any of the younger Smashers: Not Popo, Nana, Ness, Lucas, Toon Link or any of the Pokémon who had joined them. Also, he had yet to find Red and Pikachu, though he wouldn't be surprised if they had gotten lost on their way of to the generator room. Crazy Hand enjoyed changing around the order of the rooms and the positions of the wings in the mansion every year, and it had a way of confusing people for a few months until they got used to it. However, recently he had gotten into the bad habit of changing them around every week, and sometimes every day. Master Hand normally didn't raise complaints against his brother, but it might be time to have a talk with him about him about playing around with the rooms like they were the pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle, with which he could do whatever he pleased. Grumbling, he curls his body into a fist, and decides to get back to his search. He primarily looks inside the rooms of the younger Smashers, thinking that, logically, it would be where they would hide, since they knew they weren't allowed to go into the rooms of the older Smashers, and they were banned from the weapons room due to an . . . incident that had happened last year, involving Samus's bounty hunter suit and a very large hole in the wall.

Speaking of the weapons room . . .

Master Hand was now floating in front of the large door that lead into the weapons room, and he couldn't help but inwardly smile. The weapons were the best thing about Smash mansion, and each year he loved to research every single one and see how they worked. One of the best had been the laser guns and the Smash Balls, his own personal favorite. It gave each Smasher incredible power, so how could one not be interested in its mechanics? Master Hand enters the weapons room eagerly, his very presence daunting and proud. A wave of his hand, and the invisibility shield was lifted, and all you saw were the pretty little toys that were used during Brawls in the mansion.

At least you would, if any of them were there!

Master Hand gasps, and stares at the room in utter horror. Where had all of the weapons gone? He wonders, as he spastically searches the room, looking in every nook and cranny of the place, but he finds nothing. "Whatever kind of sick prank this is, it had better end now!" Master Hand roars out loud, as his hand curls into a fist into a fist of rage.

"Master Hand! Master Hand!"

Master Hand whiplashes around, expecting to find one of the smaller Smashers, but instead he sees Red, his face twisted into equally emotional looks, one look full of concern and one look filled with pure furry. "What is it, Red? Do you need help finding the generator?" He asks, calmer now as he turns away from the empty weapons room. "Sir, it's my Pokémon! They're all gone! They were taken while we were looking for the generator, and they were just taken away, by something in the sky!" Master Hand's worry increases as he starts to put two and two together.

Red's Pokémon were gone.
The little Smashers were nowhere to be found.
The weapons room was empty.
They had no power in the Mansion.

"Red, I need you to go and look in every room, to see if any of the Smasher' personal weapons are gone." He demands, and Red nods, not giving his request a second thought before he dashes off to the first room on the left. But Master Hand's assumptions would be proven correct, as he heard loud complaints from every room of weapons being stolen. This is worse than I thought. This is an all out attack! Master Hand tenses as he realizes that without weapons, Pokémon or the little Smashers, Smash Mansion was completely and utterly powerless. Only one person came to mind as far as who to blame, and it was perhaps the most terrifying fact of all.

Tabuu and the Subspace Army were back.