So, I hope you've enjoyed yourselves over Christmas Break... I know I have! In fact, it's giving me time to work on this story, which I've had in the works for a while. Since the first several chapters are kinda short, I'm gonna post a lot at once... and since I am, I'll post my endnotes at the end of the last chapter I choose to post as of now. So, I'll see you then.

…

C1: Out of Sight, Out of Time

…

The person you've heard legends of is no longer a legend.

The stories of saving his homeland are a thing of the past.

He is no longer revered nor feared.

No one stands at his side but the others who were forced to go.

Whether once-adversaries or once-allies, they join together.

Those who once shone ever brighter now descend deeper into the darkness of obscurity.

One thing is for sure: Those who no longer fight in the tournaments of Smash strive to return.

…

The Pokemon Trainer, a former Smash competitor, closed his eyes as he tore a Poke Ball in half. The Charizard he had cared for - no, raised from a Charmander, had to be released.

The Flame Pokemon looked back sadly at its former trainer.

"I'm sorry, buddy…" the Trainer said. "But the Smash reps say I can't stay here with Ivysaur and Squirtle… they say it'll cause too much trouble. Besides, the entire gimmick that allowed me to use you, Ivysaur, and Squirtle is banned in the next tournament." He stopped for a second, emotions welling inside of him. He then joked wryly, "I hear they had a large amount of trouble getting the Samus suit to function without a pilot…"

Charizard looked back at its former trainer, tears coming to the Pokemon's eyes. The Trainer just smiled. "No need for those… save them for when you need to save someone's life, okay?"

Charizard growled, its expression contorting into a scowl before the mighty fire-type closed its eyes, its strong arms wrapping around its former trainer as tears fell, regardless of the trainer's words.

The trainer smiled, tears coming to his eyes. "I'm going to miss you too… Incendius." Charizard tensed at the nickname the trainer wasn't allowed to use in the arena, but hugged its former trainer closer.

After the hug ended, the trainer's hat drooped low on his head, covering his eyes but not the tears that were falling. "Good… good luck in the next tournament, buddy… I'll see you around…"

As his former trainer walked away, Charizard gave one last, mournful roar, blasting a column of flames high into the air, filled with anguish and misery at the loss of one he had treasured most dearly. Though he had said goodbye to Squirtle and Ivysaur before, the loss of his trainer was almost too much to bear.

As if on cue, dark clouds began pouring rain as the Trainer moved further and further away from the Smash Bros. complex, further away from his former home… further away from his greatest friend.

…

The Pokemon Trainer stopped when he was outside the gates of the Smash Complex. The 50-acre, warp-filled, gated living complex began as a small holding area for an iteration of Nintendo's Finest. Now, however, it served as an anchor for fighters from various universes to warp to separate stages for battle. There were so many time- and space-bending portals involved in the fourth tournament that it took Nintendo nearly six years to upgrade the place- but, during that time, Pokemon Trainer Red had never felt more at home. Though he had forgotten his name a few times (due to everyone just calling him Pokemon Trainer while in the arena), he had friends there- Pit, the Ice Climbers, and even Toon Link were the ones he got pretty close to over the long years it took.

Red sighed. "So… What now?" The Smash Complex was in the middle of Wyoming, a place that no one would dare look for Smashers. The Nintendo-owned land around the complex was soon dubbed "Smash City" because, though still within the gates, it contained everything the smashers might need- a Wal-Mart, a Chipotle, a Starbucks, and various other venues.

Red groaned. Since he had Pokemon with him still and they couldn't just send him back to his homeland after six years without aging (though Nintendo was magical, it wasn't all-powerful— They could pull a Smasher from a different reality and time, but not return the Smasher to the exact instant they left. A lot of people wondered why, but Red just didn't argue with the Nintendo Staff still working at the arena), Nintendo forced him to live in a small lodge at the edge of town.

…

As soon as the still-moping Pokemon Trainer entered the lodge, he saw an envelope with the Smash Bros. seal in blue on the bed. He begrudgingly picked up the envelope and tore it open. As soon as he began reading, he called out both Squirtle and Ivysaur.

The Tiny Turtle Pokemon and the Seed Pokemon both frowned.

"Squirtle Squirt…" the Water-type lamented.

"Saur Ivysaur." Ivysaur also added his laments.

Red couldn't help but look away. "Listen, guys… I know we lost Incendius…" There was a pause as Ivysaur and Squirtle both looked down.

"But we have to make our own path. This is how it is now…" He sighed. "We're going to have to learn how to live in Smash City."

Red flung the letter down onto the bed. "The letter here says, 'Pkmn Trainer Red, we at Nintendo regretfully inform you that you have not been asked to rejoin the roster. Further than that, we are deeply sorry that you had to release your Charizard, Incendius, in order to have him participate in the next tournament. Despite the fact that you have been banned from the Smash Complex until you either return to the Smash Bros. Roster or a breakthrough is made in the time-space warps to return you to your own universe, you will stay in Smash City with another cut character as a roommate. Nintendo will provide accomodations and food for you, but you will have to earn any extra money on your own, working at one of the preexisting establishments (American money. Exchange rates are listed in the directory on the side table. Though this is Nintendo-owned, you may not bring your Pokemon outside the lodge, as there are some Wyoming-native citizens nearby). Since the Nintendo Everlasting System, created by Masayuki Uemura (Not to be confused with another of his accomplishments, the Nintendo Entertainment System) is still in place, you still will not age a day, physically. That is all for now. I hope you enjoy your stay in Smash City.

Please understand,

Reggie Fils-Aimé' "

Red groaned. "I have to have a roommate now?"

The door to his room was flung open, and Red blinked as he saw a red-haired boy wearing blue armor plating on his torso with a purple cape, khaki pants, and blue boots. Blue eyes met brown ones before the boy nodded to Red.

"You got cut from Smash, too?" he asked.

Red sighed. "Yup. The entire reason I was in Smash was banned in the fourth tournament, so they evicted me… and they took my best friend away from me in the process."

The red-haired boy sighed and sat down on a chair in the same room. "Well, we all have to deal with grief, here. I've been here for six years and I still haven't been sent back…"

Red blinked in shock. "You mean you're from the Melee tournament?"

The red-haired boy smiled. "Correct! My name is Roy, and it's certainly a pleasure to meet you."

Red grinned back. "Pokemon Trainer Red, at your service."

Roy's eyes widened in surprise. "A full-on trainer? We only had a few Pokemon back in Melee… Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo and-"

"Mewtwo?! They had a legendary pokemon on the roster?" Red spoke in disbelief.

Roy sighed. "Yup… and the fans of the Smash Tournaments felt the same way as you so… Mewtwo is going to rejoin the battle early next year."

Red cringed. "So THAT's who my spot is going to…"

Roy shrugged. "Hey, it could be worse. At least they didn't replace you with a clone character…" Roy's expression turned dark. "Lucina is exactly like Marth in every way, shape, and form, except for the fact that her attacks don't have a sweet spot. I mean, come on! I had fire damage! I had-"

Red put a hand on Roy's shoulder. "We were all our own characters, Roy… we were all in…"

Roy sighed, then gave a small smile. "I guess I shouldn't dwell on the past."

He walked to the fridge in the center of the lodge and opened the door. "You want something to drink, too?"

Red nodded. "A Sprite, if you have it."

Roy grabbed a green bottle and tossed it in the trainer's general direction. Ivysaur, who had been lounging to the side of the bed, used its vines to catch the drink and handed it to its trainer. Roy immediately gaped, dropping the (fortunately, still closed) bottle of Coca-Cola and dashed over to Ivysaur and Squirtle, who smiled warmly at the red-haired boy.

Roy grinned at the sight. "I've never seen these two before… but I guess you live up to your name as Pokemon Trainer. These are the only two you had?"

Red shifted uneasily. "Can you keep a secret?"

Roy nodded. "That, I can do."

Red took a deep breath before speaking quickly. "I may have brought the Pokemon that controls time outside of the Smash Complex."