Author's Note:
Super Smash Flash 2 is based on the popular fighting franchise by Nintendo and is currently going through its beta stages. This story, which is based on version 0.6, takes the characters, unlockable and otherwise, and the stages as they are to form the map of the imaginary world of Smash Flash. Each update twists the story drastically. For those of you that are familiar with my earlier work, Smash Flash Chronicles Act 3: The Aftermath, this is the prequel to that saga. That is why it is based on version 0.6 and not 0.8 as the aforementioned story was. If you have not read that story, this is a prequel, do not feel pressured to go back and read it. You're fine for now. On to the story.
Long before The Great Fox Tournament, before Black Mage rose as a threat, before Mario's battle with Douglas Jay Falcon, I was a much more lenient guardian. But perhaps it was that leniency that gave rise to their first great threat. In the Battlefield Stage, Lloyd and Ichigo spar.
"Take it easy Ichigo. They call it sparring for a reason." Lloyd said as he just barely evaded a stab that could have seriously injured him.
"Relax." Ichigo replied while still in pursuit of Lloyd "It'll only make you stronger." The two clashed swords, Lloyd's smaller swords a match for Ichigo's one greater sword.
"Sword rage!" Lloyd shouted as he launched a barrage of stabs at his opponent. "How's this? It'll only make you stronger!" Ichigo shielded himself and stumbled back a safe distance. He stood up straight, sword now lowered. His sparring partner responded in kind as they began to talk.
"You know, you can be a real jerk sometimes." Ichigo said with a smirk.
"In a world of heroes, doesn't someone have to be?" Lloyd asked.
"I hate it when you're right. In fact I hate this place. Don't you think it's weird that the others just seem to be okay with it? I don't get it."
"You sound like you need to take a walk through Final Destination. It's right next door you know." Lloyd said teasingly.
"Hell no. I've been to some unusual places but even to me, that place is just strange."
"It's just mysterious. Not really scary. I see what you mean though. If I'm not mistaken, only Mario and Sonic go there on any sort of regular basis."
"What for?"
"What else? Their rivalry has gotten to the point where I'm sure neither remembers how it even started."
"Why do they always fight there?"
"It's supposed to be neutral ground. No one even knows the origin of that stage. It's supposed to make for a more fair fight."
"Who usually wins?"
"As I've heard from either rival, they're about neck and neck. Though they often tire before they can finish the fight."
"Are they trying to kill each other or something?"
"They're doing the same thing we're trying to do. Pass time. At least until we figure out what we're all doing here."
In the Dreamland stage, Kirby was awakened by a strong breeze that rolled him over. At this point, he was unaware of his intangible ability to sense what came. The abnormally strong breeze was not by chance.
"Something feels . . . strange. I can't sleep, that's unusual. I wonder what's going on."
The majority of Sonic's time was oft-spent training to take on his rival, Mario. In the Green Hill Zone, he ran in place, feet moving at high speed. He had to focus on finding a way to make himself even faster.
"I'll show you Mario. I'll show you all. They forgot about me. About all I can do. But once I beat you Mario, they'll remember. They'll love the name, Sonic."
Link and Naruto walked aimlessly about Hyrule Temple.
"Where do you think those random items come from?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know. It's likely that we'll never know. So why ask?" Link replied.
"Because dangerous things don't just fall from the sky!"
"Apparently they do. Can't you just accept that?"
"I can, but I won't. Neither should you."
"Look, if you really are gonna make a thing out of this, I have noticed that they only fall when we fight or spar. They aren't random."
"So you think someone's trying to kill us?"
"It would seem as though they want us to kill each other."
"But why would they-"
"Look, I said I wasn't gonna get into this now. Leave it be."
Outside Catle Wiley, Megaman charged up until he could no longer hold the blast in, aimed at a nearby boulder and released. Only half of the boulder blew to bits.
"Damn it!" Megaman said in frustration "Why can't I get any more than this?" He had been feeling just a little less powerful since he had gotten to this new world. In three "street fights" with his fellow heroes, he had gone 0-3. "I just have to find that old spark. I'll get it all back, somehow."
Mario gazed at the countless stars which he could view from the Comet Observatory. It was the last place he remembered going before he found himself in this strange new world. A star twinkled in the distance as a small smile began creeping its way onto his face. His smile faded and he turned around quickly as a slender shadowy figure flew past him.
"Who's there?" He said, startled "Show yourself!" Mario was standing on the uppermost platform of the stage. The figure came through the bottom of the platform and tripped him up. The figure looked down at him while he was sprawled on the ground. Blinded by the shadow of the tower, all Mario could make of the character were rows of very sharp teeth. The figure launched itself downward at its opponent. Mario put his hands in front of his face instinctively, closing his eyes. Suddenly, he felt a great power surging through him. His eyes turned red, a bright mixture of blood and hatred. Though it was his own larynx that flexed itself to produce sound, a darker, much deeper voice escaped his lips when he spoke.
"Mario, I am a friend. Listen to me. I know what you want. Peace of mind. For you and for your friends. And I will give it to you. I must leave you now. But when you awaken, you will know what you must do." Mario felt the power leaving. "We will meet again." Just then, Mario woke up and found himself lying on the upper platform.
"I must have dozed off. Oh well. I know what to do now." Mario said.
Lloyd made his way to Hyrule. Ichigo's pessimism was getting to be too much for him. He saw Link sitting on a damaged column when he arrived.
"Hey elf! Elf!" Lloyd shouted.
"For fuck's sake, I'm not an elf you dick!" Link replied, still irritated from his previous conversation.
"You seem as well as ever."
"I wish I could tell you the same."
"I've always wondered why your stage is so big. What's one elf to do with all this space?" Lloyd said walking up to his friend.
"Tell me, what makes you think I'm an elf?"
"A better question would be 'what doesn't'. With those ears and that outfit, take away the sword and shield and you could pass for Santa's little helper." Link snapped and thrust his sword at Lloyd. Lloyd blocked the attack with his own weapons and smiled. Link sighed and lowered his weapon.
"Lloyd, how do you have friends?"
"Your guess is as good as if not better than mine."
"But do you have to be a dick all the time?"
"People just don't understand the reality of what I see. Where we live isn't an ideal world, so I've no reason to try and be the ideal person."
"That's actually a really good answer. Now duck."
"What?" Lloyd said in confusion.
"I said duck!" Link shouted as he threw his boomerang in Lloyd's direction. Lloyd followed instructions and the boomerang continued on behind him. The incoming Mario reflected the boomerang back at its owner and leaped over Lloyd to get to Link. Link caught the boomerang and charged at the incoming opponent with his sword erect. Seeing this and not taking time to wonder why his friend was being attacked, Lloyd began to chase Mario. When Mario was close enough, Link attempted to stab his sword forward into his opponent. Mario leaped over his foe to dodge it and, consequently, Link nearly stabbed Lloyd who was running toward him. Lloyd blocked the stab with his swords. In a panic, Link tried to turn around quickly, but was grabbed and thrown at his partner. Their bodies collided and they both tumbled back. Getting up quickly, they were surprised to see Mario smiling.
"Excellent!" Mario said. "You're both scared, I get that. But wasn't that exciting?" Confused, Lloyd lowered his guard and asked:
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Our time spent here can oft-seem pointless. But I have the remedy. The Triple-T competition."
"The what?" Link asked.
"When the time is right, you will both meet me in Final Destination. I will explain everything then."
"Why not explain it now?" Lloyd asked. Mario smirked, turned around, and fled the scene.
Back at Castle Wiley, Megaman resumed his training process and began charging up his shot. This time the blast was just a little bit stronger than the last one. When he launched it, he watched it fly away, seeming to diminish in size as it got farther away. Watching it closely, he noticed that it began to grow in size again. He focused on this for a moment as the perceived phenomenon continued. When he finally realized what was happening, he quickly put up his reflective shield, bouncing the blast away from himself. As the blast bounced away, Mario leaped over it and landed a vicious gravity-supported punch to Megaman. The robot was smashed into the ground, creating a small crater around his body. The downed Megaman looked up at his attacker, raising his cannon as he threatened him.
"I'm tired of this shit. This'll be my first win. And your last battle."
"Hm." Mario replied, holding back a smile. "For obvious reasons, I think we both know that's not going to happen. But if you really insist on trying, meet me at Final Destination when you're ready. I trust you won't disappoint." With that, Mario left his downed victim.
"The fuck couldn't he just ask?" Megaman said to himself.
Naruto heard Mario coming and thus the plumber had no element of surprise. In Konoha Village, the two stared each other down.
"You know, of all the stages, this one is the closest there is to a community resemblance." Mario said "It reminds that we weren't always stuck in this world, you know? The sun always shines when I come here. It seems much happier that way. It's not at all like the Comet Observatory. Though I spend a great deal of time there, I wouldn't mind spending my last moments here."
"Cut the crap. I can tell you were trying to sneak up on me Mario. You're not looking to start anything are you?"
"I'm starting nothing. Nothing you could finish anyway. I'm only here to extend an invitation. A competition of elite fighters. Ninjas like that stuff, right?"
"I know there's not a whole lot to do here. But not interested in some silly competition. No disrespected intended to you, but I'm not sure a fighters competition hosted by you is legit."
"I'm not hosting it. But it appears I was right. It really is nothing you could finish."
"What?" Naruto said in irritation. Surely Mario didn't doubt his amazing athletic skill.
"I'm sure you'll come to your senses and at least give it a shot. When you do, meet me at Final Destination." Mario left the ninja to his village.
Though speed is a virtue, especially for Sonic the Hedgehog, even he knew it took strength to take down his foe. At the Green Hill Zone, his mind exhausted of ideas on how to train, he had resorted to pushups. In mid-push, Sonic placed one foot forward and used the four point stance to dash away. Thus, Mario had just missed the hedgehog with his downward torpedo kick. His shoes dug into the dirt, turning up earth.
"Sneak attack." Sonic said after he stopped, his arms folded as he faced his foe. "That's not like you plumber. I'm sure you knew that wouldn't have gotten to me in time. What are you here for?"
"Sonic" Mario said "I grow tired of this constant state of one-upmanship. It's about time we ended it, the only way I suppose you'd ever want to. The only way you know how."
"Are you trying to say something about me?"
"Your urge to fight me is uncontrollable and insatiable. Believe me; I've known the feeling before. You feel like beating me, perhaps destroying me would give you control, validation, and hence, power. And sometimes that's all we want. The power."
"You're Mario of the Mushroom Kingdom. Since when do you know of such lusts?"
"I've been a hero for a long time. I've done many things, not all of which I'm proud of. But that is beside the point. I have a proposal for you. An ending most fit for our rivalry. A competition. The winner shall be crowned the true champion."
"Is this a fight to the death?"
"No. It's only a matter of showing whose who. Who is the best."
"Where's all this inspiration coming from?"
"Let's just say a friend told me. I expect to see you in the final round of competition." Mario turned his back on Sonic and began walking toward the eastern nexus.
"What's the name of this competition?" Sonic asked. Mario, still walking, turned his head back slightly to answer.
"The Twilight Town Tournament."