(Path to the Ruins, Airspace)
"Do we really have to keep looking?" I hear Falco huff from the intercom of my Arwing. "We already found that puffball and the elf's mini-me; what are the chances that this one is going to be a trophy too?"
"Heh, we have to try all of them." I chuckle. "You never know who it might be; it could be Katt."
"Oh please; if she did get an invite she probably would've told me the second it happened. And how do you know it's not someone for you?" He laughs. "It could be Krystal waiting for you to save her."
"Right." I roll my eyes.
He always liked to bring her up, especially since he arrived with me for the second Smash Bros. Tournament; it seemed to have gotten worse since we got the third invitation, or maybe I just have a lower tolerance for it. After Krystal and I broke up, I guess I was pining for her for a while, but after everything was said and done I was too comfortable with not being with her. That's when I knew we shouldn't be together. It did hurt a little when I heard she was with Panther Caroso, but I didn't lose as much sleep as I thought I would have. I did appreciate that Falco wanted me to have someone, but it was really starting to bug me now.
"I'm picking up the signal in the Ruins." I quickly adjust my scouter and prepare to land. "You ready?"
"Ugh, do you think we could get someone else to do this one? Isn't there another team nearby?"
"The princesses, but do you really want Peach and Zelda to have one up on us?"
"Fine; I'm on it."
(Ruins – Entrance)
I growl as I dodge a wave of energy aimed for Falco. "Thanks for the heads up!"
The bird chuckles at me and activates his booster pack and charges the Floow. I figure out that his attack didn't finish off the apparition, so I quickly provide back up in the form of multiple flying kicks and a back flip kick.
"You would steal my kill, Fox." Falco holsters his blaster.
"We've been here for two minutes and I'm already sick of this place." I feel the frustration seeping out of my expression. "Let's just find the guy and get out."
It was another twenty minutes of blasting Primids, falling down holes and dodging spiked platforms before we finally reached an elevator shaft where the signal pulsed rapidly. Of course the way down was full of violet, crystalline spikes waiting to impale us and a pair of metal Primids were helping with the process. We finally reached the bottom and found a glowing red door suspended in midair.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Falco frowned. "What are the chances we won't be attacked if we go into that door?"
"There is less of a chance of us not even going through that door."
"Fine, but you're taking this one."
"Why me?" I feel my eyebrows shoot up to my ears.
"Rock, paper, scissors?"
"You're on."
I never know why I always agree to do this; I always lose at rock, paper, scissors, but there is always a one out of three chance that I'll win right? Maybe today will be the day...but of course it isn't. My rock is beaten by Falco's paper and a pang of annoyance hits the pit of my stomach.
"Two out of three!" I demand.
"Yeah right!" Falco's voice was full of victory. "You're up Fox."
My shoulders hung low, but I quickly rotate them and crack my neck. You gotta do what you gotta do I guess. I can feel my knees mechanically bend and I shoot up to the door before I'm sucked into a dark abyss.
(Lylat Cruise – Platform)
I land with a grunt and immediately take in my surroundings.
"What the…?" The words escape my muzzle before they actually register in my mind.
How the hell did I get here? Unless… Oh for the love of… Please don't be Krystal. My eyes quickly scan the platform for any sign of a trophy and a gold circular object caught my eye. Unfortunately it was only the base of the trophy so the actual figure was hidden by the stand. I take careful steps toward it before a wave of Shadow Bugs envelop the figure and crawl towards me. I jump into my fighting stance and watch the purple figure form and my eyes became very round when I realized who it was.
"Wolf?"
The Shadow Bug clone snarls at me and brandishes his claws. I quickly went on the offensive; if he was anything like the real Wolf, it would be better for me to not give him a chance to strike. My speed came in handy as I flipped over him and thrust my foot into his back. I followed up with a dash forward and a left, right combo and a flurry of kicks. Apparently, I had underestimated this one because I took a hard claw thrust to my chest. The adrenaline started pumping now and I ready my Reflector when I see him reach for his blaster. I guess he's stupider than Wolf since he takes a shot at me and almost immediately eats his laser blast. I charge up a kick and knock him back. He swept his claws along the ground to trip me up and, dammit, it worked. I rolled back to avoid another claw and jumped forward and a drill kick connected with the clone's chest and a strong splits kick finally knocked him out.
"Stubborn bastard…" I watch the purple bugs dissolve into nothingness and finger the holes in clothing. "Maybe Zelda can magically sew this up…"
My gaze turns skeptically to Wolf's trophy and I consider just leaving it here; I mean I really don't see any good coming from reviving him. But what choice did I have? If he's here, then he obviously got an invitation and how would it look if I just abandoned him? My paw grudgingly reaches out to pat the base of the trophy and my expression sours when a bright glow emanates from Wolf as he is reanimated. A clawed hand rises to nurse his aching head before he shakes it vigorously to clear his vision. I really hope he's in pain. Has he been working out? Wolf definitely looks… wait what? His uninjured eye focuses on me and a canine-like growl bursts from his throat.
"You." His voice is full of accusation. "What are you…?"
Fortunately for me a glowing red door appears beside us.
"What the fu—?!" He was cut short as the vortex proceeded to suck us into a dark abyss.
(Ruins – Lower Level)
I land hard on my back and it immediately arches in agony as several jagged stones pierce my skin. Falco's eyes hover over me and he blinks curiously.
"So how did it go?"
His answer came in the form of the vortex spitting out Wolf and crashing into me, which conveniently dug the stones deeper into my back. Oh yeah, he's been working out. My paws gripped his biceps and shoved his newly toned body off of me.
"Does that answer your question?" I spat and began pulling the rocks out of my skin.
"Wow." Falco responds. "I did not see this coming."
"What the hell?" An annoyed growl came from Wolf.
"You're welcome." I snarl.
"What are you two doing here?" The grey wolf demanded.
"We just saved your ass, you flea-bag." Falco gritted his teeth.
"Enough." I finished picking the last of the gravel out of my back. "He'll have to ride with one of us and…"
"Not it!" The azure bird blurted out.
"Hey…"
Dammit, why didn't I think of that?
"You are too slow Fox."
(Path to the Ruins)
I grimace as I watch Falco take off in his Arwing; he teasingly holds up the peace sign and his expression was split into a wide grin.
"Let's get moving." My shoulders fall at the sound of Wolf's voice.
I quickly jump into the pilot's seat and felt my Arwing sag slightly when Wolf's extra weight entered the back seat. I ignore his quiet shuffling behind me and powered up my ship. We sat in silence as I steered my Arwing over the depressing, deserted ruins and expertly maneuvered through the heavy foliage of the forests before I could sharply rise into the clear sky. Wolf let out a small chuckle of approval and, for some reason, I really liked that. I wanted to impress him. I really wanted to impress him. What is going on with me?
"So…" He rumbled. "How's Krystal?"
A pang of annoyance hit me.
"Oh wait…" Wolf laughed. "I guess that's supposed to be your line, isn't it?"
A quick barrel roll and the satisfying thud of Wolf's skull against metal brought a smile to my face.
"So how are you doing back there?"
"Cramped."
I see the Smash Bros. Mansion in the distance and am enormously relieved. I really need to get away from Wolf. It's only been twenty minutes and I'm thinking of ways to kill him and make it look like an accident; half of them didn't even look like accidents. Who does he think he is? Just because he's hot he thinks that gives him an excuse to be an ass. I mean seriously, doesn't he ever get tired of that? Man, I can't even punch him in the face until the tournament officially starts up again. Maybe I can just get my blaster to go off… wait… he's hot? Well, okay… I can't really deny that, but why am I thinking about it? I haven't thought about Wolf like that in years… not since I met Krystal. But do I feel guilty? I shouldn't; it's not like I'm cheating or anything but man Wolf is such an ass—
"Hey." Wolf said impatiently. "We landing or what?"
I swerve around the perimeter of the mansion and gently land my ship in between Falco's Arwing and Meta Knight's Halberd, which was currently under construction. The cockpit's windshield retracted and I jump out without paying any attention to Wolf. Maybe I should go take a nap? Today was more exhausting than I thought it would be and… oh joy; Falco is here to greet me.
"So how was it?" His tone annoyed me. "Fun, right?"
"Hardly." I grunt and push past him.
"Hey Fox!" Wolf's gruff voice called out. "You're not even going to show me to my room? What kind of host are you?"
The lupine matched my pace and caught up to me in the enormous foyer.
"Look." I turn around to face him. "I'm tired of talking to you so…" My brow furrows in confusion. "What?"
Wolf's face contorted into an angry glare and he jumped onto my shoulders, using me as a foot hold and pushing me down flat onto my face, and snarled. My head turns to find Wolf slashing furiously at Bowser. The Koopa King blocked each claw strike, mostly through the use of his spiked shell, but was knocked down by a harsh tackle. I brush myself off and notice that the sounds of collapsing furniture and breaking glass have attracted the other smashers from other rooms and down the stairs.
"Hey!" Zelda interjected regally. "What's going on here?"
I see an all too familiar spark in the back of her eyes as she threw a glowing orb of fiery energy at the wrestling beasts, effectively blowing them apart. Wolf growled when he recovered from the impact and launched himself again at the giant turtle. However, he was surrounded by magical energy and his trajectory was interrupted mid-jump.
"Let me go!" The lupine struggled wildly in the air. "He's the one that trapped me in the Ruins!"
All eyes went to Bowser and I couldn't help but snort when he gave a mirthless growl and a "whatever" kind of shrug.
"Hmm…" Peach chimed in next to me sweetly. "I think you should probably take him to his room Fox."
"Why me?" My voice almost cracks in bewilderment.
"You know him the best don't you?" Her head tilts to the side in a questioning manner.
"Well… I guess, technically, you could say that… but…"
"It's settled then." Zelda interrupted by placing Wolf beside me. "Explain the situation to him."
The lupine glared angrily at the Hylian princess and let out an intimidating snarl. Zelda, however, was hardly fazed and I pulled Wolf up the stairs to prevent another little brawl.
"Get off of me!" He snarled and yanked himself out of my grip.
"Hey! You're going to have to control yourself if you want to stay here. A lot of stuff has happened but it's just something we have to leave in the past."
"That's easy for you to say." The lupine glared at me.
"Come on."
I can hear my thoughts buzzing in my head but I can't really make them out as I lead Wolf toward the vacant room past mine.
"Well here's home sweet home for a while, so make yourself comfortable." My voice was slightly deadpan. "My room is just a couple doors down; you're not welcome to come by but since everybody seems to be avoiding you I guess it's your only choice. I'm going down to the pool if you need anything."
"And where is that?!" He called to my retreating form.
"Figure it out." I lazily wave my arm back.
(Smash Bros. Mansion, Pool)
I really wish the sun wasn't shining so brightly right now; it's getting too damn hot and my fur is sweating and my nose is starting to dry out. The pool was getting a little full, especially with Bowser and Donkey Kong trying to organize a chicken fight, so I made the decision to stay out of the pool for now. Popo and Nana had gotten their hands on a Smash Ball and were relaxing on the summit of a miniature glacier they had summoned. My mind was keeping itself occupied by fixating on Yoshi. The cheerful dinosaur seemed to be spending the hot day chasing butterflies in the shade. I can't really help but smile as I watch him; he's so carefree and innocent. I wish I could be more like that. My eyes follow him until he ran past Lucario. Our eyes connected and we both turned away from each other in embarrassment. Okay, that was a little awkward. I lift my head back up to find Wolf, clad in only his black swimming trucks, walking towards the pool. I suddenly start to feel a different kind of heat in my body when my eyes lock onto his body. It was thicker than mine, but it was still lean and deliciously, yet somewhat annoyingly, more muscular as well. May the gods bless the gym and the wonderful sun for making this vision possible. I shut my eyes tightly for a moment and shake my head to clear my thoughts, although it doesn't work; I wonder why people on TV do it? A splash drew my attention to the pool and it seems that Wolf had decided to take a swim. My eyes widen when I feel myself stiffen at the sight of the lupine's hard, wet, furry body. I immediately rush into the, hopefully cold, pool to avoid any kind of embarrassment. That point pretty much went out the window when I went barreling into Mario, who crashed into Bowser, which lead to the Koopa King smashing into Donkey Kong. The gorilla's large frame also brought down Ness, Lucas, Captain Falcon and the princesses. Wolf suddenly burst out of the water next to me and sputtered.
"Nice work, pup." He muttered in annoyance.
(Smash Bros. Mansion, Foyer)
We trudged back into the mansion soaking wet and irritated. I quickly fell onto all fours and shook violently from head to tail, effectively drying off.
"Fox! Wolf! Enough!" Samus growled.
Wolf? I turn my head to find the lupine in the same position and I suddenly feel awkward.
"Hehehe." Peach covered her mouth and giggled. "How cute!"
"Ugh." Wolf rolled his eye. "I think I need a shower."
"Pika…" A soft moan came from my left.
It turns out Pikachu took an impromptu shower when Wolf and I dried off and the water was setting off the electrical charges in his cheeks.
"Hey…" Samus murmured soothingly and picked up Pikachu. "It's okay…"
She gently padded him down with a towel and the sparks around his cheeks began to slowly dissipate. It was odd to see Samus act so motherly towards anybody. For the first two Smash tournaments the bounty hunter stayed pretty much encased in her Power Suit and it wasn't until this particular Pikachu came along that she became more comfortable outside of her armor. She had never been mean or anti-social, but I always felt this "cold-shoulder" kind of vibe coming from her. Samus was a little warmer now, and I can't help but think that Pikachu had something to do with it.
"Ugh…" I sigh, still reeling from embarrassment. "I think I'm going to skip dinner and just go to bed."
My feet feel heavy as I walk up the stairs, possibly following the swish of a grey tail turning the corner.
End of Chapter 1