This is a new series I think I'm gonna start. It's going to be a collection of one-shots focusing on the more minor video game characters. I plan to have collections like this in other categories, like Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong, Kirby, and possibly even more other obscure games (anyone remember Commander Keen?)
Anyway, the genres will probably shift depending on the story. I'm kind of experimenting with different ideas right now.
So this first chapter is called "Trouble Bug," which according to Smash Bros DOJO is what the flames in the arcade Donkey Kong were called. I figure, might as well start it with one of the oldest Mario characters.
Life. He felt the feeling of life. What once had been nothing was now something. Which is a rather redundant thing to say, come to think of it. But it didn't matter. The flame was too young to know what "redundant" meant.
What DID he know? That was the question. What had sank in about his environment around him? He hopped forward, for he had no feet to walk on. He took another hop.
The flame looked around. Above him were piles and piles of construction materials. He could make out a small man hopping around overhead, dodging barrels that came barreling down (if you will pardon the pun). At the very top, the flame could barely make out a hulking figure throwing the barrels down.
At that moment, a barrel barreled by (once again, excuse the pun), barely missing the flame. It fell into an oil barrel and out popped...another flame! It looked around, just as the first one had, equally taken aback.
It was then that it occurred to the first flame what had just happened. Whatever that strange being at the top was, the one throwing the barrels, he was the one who had given them life! They had to serve him!
Perhaps it was merely instinct, but the flames both realized something. The small "jumpman" who was moving towards the barrels...he was the enemy. He was trying to hurt their creator. They couldn't let him do that.
Slowly but steadily the flames inched up the site, somehow managing to climb ladders to get higher. More flames were following them, all born from barrels joining the parade to burn the evil "jumpman." They could have worked together in an attempt to burn down the steel structure, but they might hurt their leader, the mysterious barrel-thrower. And so they continued towards the "jumpman."
The first flame was the first to reach him and see what an ugly little thing the "jumpman" was. He was short and pudgy and had the world's most ridiculous moustache. He was the most repulsive person the flame had ever seen, albeit the only person the flame had ever seen as well.
The flame bounced (or hovered or hopped or however it managed to move itself about, which it had not quite figured out, having existed for only a few minutes) closer and closer towards its enemy. He felt himself sparking with anticipation. The "jumpman" had not noticed him. He was busy jumping over barrels, which seemed to have no effect on the line of progressing flames.
But then something happened. The "jumpman" found a hammer. Oddly enough, the hammer just seemed to floating in midair. Strange as it was, this was also a world of living flames and giant apes...one of whom, as the flames could now make out, was apparently their leader. This was off-putting for a split-second, but not as off-putting as what happened next.
The "jumpman" smashed his hammer down onto the barrel---and it broke open! It shattered! Fragments of wood splintered everywhere! That was one less flame! The "jumpman" had a weapon!
The first flame, being the closest, knew he had the responsibility and privilege to rid his companions of this foe. Closer and closer he got as the "jumpman" continued to smash barrels. At this point, he sort of wished he could move a little faster. Still, he was just INCHES away from burning this enemy, this ugly creature! He could just lick the man's feet and watch him topple down to the flames below! He could do it all himself! He could do it with the others! He would be the ape's favorite!
The flame was not an evil flame; merely a loyal one. In fact, in his young and inexperienced eyes, he was doing a good thing. And that is why what happened next I personally consider to be a tragedy, and the fall of a hero. For as the flame was ready to reach an appendage-like spark out and heat things up for the "jumpman," it turned out he wasn't fast enough. The "jumpman" felt the heat behind him, turned around, and POOF! He brought the hammer down and snuffed out the light.
And yet, when the battle was done, when the girl was rescued and the ape was carted off to the zoo, the flame was not really gone.
A spark remained.
It shimmered a bit and then blew away in the wind.
A little bit of the flame was in that spark.
And it was followed by a line of other sparks.
What happened to the sparks after that? I like to think they flew in the breeze, enjoying things, as innocent creatures should be able to do. Yes. I think that's what happened.
Too cheesy? Too sweet at the end? Honestly, my original idea was to end it right at the flame getting snuffed out, but I just couldn't. I had grown to love the little guy. It wasn't his fault he was on the wrong side. So I figured to give all the little sparks a break. Besides, I really like the WAFF endings.