Hey guys! Thanks for clicking on this, I loved World of Light but the whole time my brother and I were playing it we both kept making up different stories and plots for it. The actual story was pretty open ended without many cutscenes, and so this fanfiction is just one of my interpretations of the actual plot. Of course, I added my own little spin to some of the concepts. It's a little angsty at times, but I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 1: Greetings
If there was one thing Mario was best at, it was experiencing the world slowly. With every step he felt the ground move beneath him, every bite he tasted each ingredient, and he'd have a name for every star in the sky. At night, he liked to stroll past every home and enjoy the cool breeze of autumn, the warm spells of spring. The quietness of the night was his favorite part of his little 'Smash Ville,' as the children liked to call it. In the very center of town was where the moon shone the brightest, and so often he'd rest by the plaza fountain and watch the stars and moon. Alone, a quiet recharge, though once or twice he found Luigi by his side. It was beautiful, seeing how this little town grew over the years. The initial joy of watching Peach waltz through the gates, several toads helping her with all her bags, followed by the shock of Bowser storming through, he held tight onto those feelings. Every year the town was only getting bigger, closer.
The sting of losing fellow smashers was healed this year by everyone's sudden reunion. Though the official move in date was only three days ago, veterans and newcomers alike were still getting all their things together. The paved streets were littered with boxes and belongings, old guest mattresses thrown to the pavement now that so many smashers were returning to their old homes. Mario took it all in: Link happily introducing his younger incarnation to his toon iteration, pokemon trainer embracing an eager Pichu, Snake eyeing up every discarded box with a shine in his eyes. In the sudden rush, the ceremonies that blurred by to introduce everyone, and the excitement of new fighters, everyone found themselves scrambling to begin organizing tournaments. Frantic, quick paced tourneys, all in hopes of seeing one another's skills. Anyone could win, that was what Mario believed. Once the afternoon would come he'd always stop by the bulletin board and check the posted match ups. He hadn't won a single tourney since everyone's returned, though with each start up he found himself inching towards the semi-finals. Today, though, Mario found a different colored sheet. Instead of being greeted with the usual white printer paper he found hard purple card stock, names written sporadically in shades of blue, green, red, yellow... Ah! His eyes finally fell upon the bold text: Team Tourney. Well, at first he felt his heart stir. He couldn't recall the last time they had done anything like that. It was always exciting, getting to partner up with others you may not know so well. So he scanned the sheet with an eager gloved finger, going over every bracket, every name. Of course he was in the final bracket, he thought with a little laugh, and then he saw who he was partnered with.
[Team MARIO and GANONDORF]
"Oh," Mario muttered aloud, feeling his stomach drop. Rumors were just rumors of course, and there were plenty surrounding him just like anyone else, but his track record wasn't exactly clean. Now, no grudges, Mario reminded himself, both he and Bowser repented for the past. Even if everyone struggled to understand their actions, he was in the very front of the crowd, arms open and a smile on his face. He promised he believed them, he couldn't go back on his word. Even if Ganondorf had such an intense stare...
The tourney would be in a few days, and he knew little about his partner. Despite the past, despite how Mario made sure to speak with every neighbor every so often, he knew little about Ganondorf. How could they have synergy, fight in time to one another's beat, if they barely exchanged greetings? Fighting without teamwork was miserable, and so he woke up extra early that morning and headed straight for the Dinning Hall. It wasn't required for everyone to eat there, but it was easier to eat all together there so most people gathered there. The only types to avoid it were the quiet and the anxious, and Mario, who only ever truly saw Ganondorf on the battlefield, decided to trust his gut on who he was: loud. When he fought he was aggressive, powerful, so he probably enjoyed an area full of similar energy. Besides, from what he could remember Bowser and Dedede usually followed him around so they probably ate together here. He waited patiently with folded hands, smiling at the door. When Ganondorf comes in, he decided, they'd order together and slowly learn about themselves throughout the meal. In his pocket he glanced over a list of ice breakers and conversation starters. He might not be quick to open up, Mario knew that, and so he was sure to prepare for everything. Everything, of course, except that Ganondorf wouldn't actually come. He realized that as soon as 11 o'clock hit and the hall was empty. Ah, well, maybe Ganondorf was just a Skip Breakfast sort of guy. With newfound reassurance Mario ordered himself some eggs and continued to wait. Lunch was rolling around soon, some of the early birds were even returning already for their meal. Link and Pit, to be specific. They had a quick stride to them, Link always glancing back with a smile as they talked and swung the hall doors open.
"Oh, Mario! Back in here early, huh?" Pit greeted with a grin.
"Yup, I suppose you could say that."
"Did you check the bulletin board?" Link pulled up a chair by Mario's side. "Just noticed they posted a new tournament. I think it was put up yesterday."
"Yea, I saw it. So exciting, we're getting to try another team tourney! They're my favorite."
"I'm just as pumped!" With a dull thud Pit had sat himself down across the duo, finger wagging in both of their faces. "Link's on my team, we've been training all day! Lady Palutena was even kind enough to set up this obstacle course for me and Pitto to practice flying! I did wonderful." The lad leaned back far in his chair, a proud smile stretched across his face. Link could only shake his head.
"You nearly broke your arm."
"Just some small kinks in my style, I'll get it down in time for the tournament! Though the sky did feel weird today."
"Don't let Fox psych you out. He was probably just messing with you, making you paranoid. We're against him and Villager in the first round after all."
"Did Fox notice something wrong?" Mario finally chimed in.
"He said to me earlier that the sky looked off. I've had the jitters since."
"Oh," was all he could think to say. Just before silence could settle over them, Mario finally decided to ask, "have any of you seen Ganondorf around? Does he eat here, or does he prefer to eat at home? Or at all...?"
"Why do you care?" Link's voice became sharp, firm.
"Well, we're partners for the tourney and I was hoping to get to know him a little better? Even Bowser and I know each other like the back of our hands. Team tourneys are about getting to know each other, right?"
"I wouldn't waste your time. He won't open up," Pit said.
"You don't know till you've tried."
"True, but he's a different case." Link's gaze had fallen out the long hall windows. "Ganondorf just wasn't... I don't even know how to word this, he just wasn't made to be social. He's here to fight, and he's here to cause trouble. Like in my world. He's just there to be, you know, trouble."
"That doesn't sound right at all," Mario frowned. "He has King Dedede and Bowser. Bowser even mentioned to me off hand they all hang out sometimes."
"They're a delusional bunch, those three. Evil using evil using evil... and then calling it friendship. Even though I know Ganondorf would never call them his friends. He isn't capable of loving people that way."
Mario shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He should have expected an answer like that, it was Link after all. it was just strange, seeing their relationship, the hate in both their eyes whenever they had to cross paths. It was unfamiliar to Mario. Bowser was more than a foe. They were playful rivals, nothing ever as serious as what Hyrule dealt with.
"Either way, I should at least check that Ganondorf knows we're partners. He might want to train."
Link let out a low hum, sinking into his seat. "... Check his house. He never eats in the Dinning Hall. And don't waste your energy on him. If he isn't cooperating, just leave. He's stubborn..."
Unlike the quietness of night, daytime in Smash Ville was rather bustling. It had to be with so many faces. Everyone, or mostly everyone, would be up and about. He could faintly hear Fox's ship flying past. The children would blur past, sometimes with Olimar in tow, sometimes just him chasing them down with bundles of pikmin in his arms laughing. The world was always loud in the morning, but as he found himself inching closer and closer to where Ganondorf stayed he noticed everyone's voices were just a little softer here. His door was tall, his house plain. He barely added to what he was given. And Mario suddenly felt deep in his gut a strange feeling.
He had to knock, couldn't just stand there forever. Mario gently grazed his knuckle against the door, which was swiftly swung open and nearly knocked him off the steps.
"What, what's up?" Bowser was standing there, arms crossed in the doorway. Was he spending time with Ganondorf? Maybe what Link said was just untrue then. With newfound hope, Mario straightened himself up.
"Oh, um, is Ganondorf home? I need to talk with him."
"Why?" There was something in the blank way Bowser stared at him, eyebrow cocked and head tilted that only made Mario feel more worried.
"Well, in the Team Tourney, we're partners. I just wanted to make sure he knew."
"Oh, yea, I think he mentioned something like that."
"So, ah, can I come in, or...?"
"Just stay there, I'll see if he wants to talk."
He stood there for only about three minutes, door just cracked open a little. Voices, a groan, foot steps... Heavy foot steps. Mario put on a pleasant smile.
"Do you need something from me?" Seeing him now made Mario realize just how little he spoke with Ganondorf. Since moving in day, in fact, they haven't spoken a word. And his long, curled up hair was once again cut short, and Mario struggled to recall if this was the first time he had seen the old style back again.
"No, no, not at all," Mario said it quickly, a panicked look shining in his eyes. "I just wanted to say hi to my team mate, is all."
"Ah. Hello." He offered only a small wave before trying to close his door.
"And, well, actually," Mario went on, stuffing his foot in the doorway. "We don't really talk much, right? We should get to know each other so we can fight better."
"No need. I can take care of all the fighting."
"Eh?"
"I can carry the team fine. You won't have to bother yourself." Though his tone was rough he meant it with pride, a factual statement. He was strong, he could take two at once. Mario could just chip in now and then. "So, leave now."
"I know you're strong and all, but that isn't the point of the tournament! It isn't about winning."
"The description on the bulletin says it is to see who's the strongest victor."
"Well, pardon my French but that's a load of bologna. I really would like to be your friend, Ganondorf! This teaming up made me realize I talk to everyone in town except you, and I'd like to change that."
"Hm..." Ganondorf studied his face carefully, a crafted scowl on his own. "You've always been more sociable than your brother."
"You can't hold that against him, he still isn't that strong with his English."
"Even after all these years?"
"Italian'll always be our first language. He just isn't confident enough to practice his English and Japanese out loud."
"Hm." Another soft grunt. "... I'll consider it." He finally said, and Mario finally pulled his foot from the doorway.
The night was quick to come after that. Once the sun had set came the bustling of night, and once the moon was dimly lighting the streets came the silence Mario came to love. His spot by the water fountain had a storm of stars above him, and he recalled each name in silence. Stars, so many stars, so much light for the night sky. As his gloved finger traced the many constellations, a soft rustle just barely scratched at his ear drum. Soft, shuffling... He turned, peering down the path.
"Ganondorf?"
"Don't look so excited," he said sharply. "I'm simply here to ask a question."
He sat himself beside Mario, gazing up at the sky with furrowed brows.
"A question?"
"Yes, something's been bothering me, and you don't strike me the type to judge."
"Of course not." Tearing his gaze from the stars Mario smiled politely Ganondorf's way.
"It's about the sky... It looks off, doesn't it?"
Mario squinted up at each star, frowning. "If you mean more beautiful, than yes. Many new stars, I think."
"That's not normal."
"Nothing's normal in Smash Ville," Mario said with a laugh, but Pit's words were haunting him. Fox had noticed something off as well.
"I'll be blunt: I think something awful is going to happen tomorrow. The sky, it doesn't look right..."
Mario searched his face for a grin, a glimmer, any hint that this was simply a prank. But Ganondorf's eyes remained fixed on the sky, shining with morbid curiosity.
"Maybe we're just tired, seeing things."
"Maybe..."
They sat there for a long time, just gazing at every inch of the sky. Finally, Ganondorf rose.
"That was all. Thank you for answering."
"No problem." But before Ganondorf could make it out of sight, he called out, "Ganondorf?"
"Yes?"
He could still hear that soft, that casual Though the sky did feel weird today. At first he wanted to laugh. But now a second person felt quite strange. And soon a third would as well, Mario feared, his own gut finding the sky suddenly unnatural. He tried to push the odd feeling aside. Things were better now.
"Watch yourself tomorrow. Just in case."
Things were better now.
"I will. Goodnight."
Things were better now.
Weren't they?
