Author's Note:
I wanted to wait a little while longer before I gave up this first chapter but alas, I couldn't help it. A new story launch on the same day as the Wii U release of the Super Smash Bros. 4 game was too great a chance to pass up.
Welcome back everyone! This is the sequel to 'Pick Your Battles' which, of course, is the sequel to 'Love Scorned'! I hope you all are enjoying the new games (3DS and Wii U versions respectively). You will most definitely need to have read the first two stories to understand some of what's happening in this story. If you choose to go it alone, that's ok too! You will probably get confused at some points or maybe even just feel like something's missing but hey! It's your choice!
For 'copy characters' such as Dr. Mario or Sheik I decided that those 'versions' will not be separated people in this series. They will remain as transformations as they always have up until now in the games themselves. This is just to avoid any confusion and any split characters. I mean, how weird would it be to have two Samus'? Zelda sure would get confused as to who to be with, am I right?
Warnings: male/male, female/female, swearing, sometimes violence, et cetera will all be included in this story. If you've read the prequels, you know what to expect. If not...well, that's what the warnings are for haha!
And now for the first chapter! Hope you enjoy!
'Another Door Will Open'
'Welcome to Boot Camp'
He looked up at the doors, his eyes scanning them as memories flashed through his head. Faintly, he heard the sounds of laughter and voices. He recognized them, they were voices from the past.
He let out a sigh, a tired yet relieved sort of sigh. Slowly, he took a few steps forward and reached out, his hand covered in a gray, fingerless gauntlet. In fact, his hand stuck out just enough to show the rough lines on them from hard work. He smiled to himself. He felt the cold steel of the giant doors. These doors were the entrance to the now renowned 'Smash Mansion', and he had long since missed it's walls.
With a gentle push and a peek inside, he was hit with nostalgia. Faces he'd seen before, seen every day in this place, turned to look back at him. Smiles appeared, hands waved. He felt at home.
"Ike!"
Ike looked ahead, past the large crowd of smashers, and immediately a cheerful expression took over his face.
"My lady." Ike greeted, bowing as the woman who'd called out to him ran to him. She stopped short, placing her hands on her hips as a frown upset her features.
"How many times must I tell you? Call me Zelda." the young blonde princess scolded as she placed a hand on her chest as if reintroducing herself. "I swear, I have to remind Link of this at every turn! Do not make me have to reprimand you for it as well! We are friends, Ike!"
Ike chuckled. "I know, I'm sorry Zelda. I can't help it."
Zelda's frown disappeared, transforming into a gorgeous smile as she leapt forward. Her arms wrapped around her friend's neck as she squealed. "It's wonderful to see you again Ike!"
Ike returned the hug, still laughing. "It's great to be back. Wow, a whole new set of adventures and battles is here at last. I felt like I was away for more than just a year!"
He let go of Zelda and turned his head to the side, catching another friend approaching with a smug smile on his face.
"You again, eh? I should've known I'd have to fight you once more!" Ike joked as he reached out to shake his old companion's hand. Zelda's eyebrows furrowed as her mouth dropped open.
"You would dare to ignore my request for equal treatment and claim you cannot help it yet...yet you would greet another member of royalty so informally!" Zelda complained, her arms folded across her chest as her mood began to sour again. Ike scratched the back of his head nervously, a sheepish smile across his face.
"I-I'm sorry Zelda, honest! It's just...well I hate to admit it but...I sort of forgot Marth was royalty!" he said, wincing as he heard himself say it. Zelda growled, turning up her index finger to Ike's face as if she were punishing a naughty puppy.
"You'd best remember for the future! Honestly, of all the things to forget!" she exclaimed. The two were so mixed up in their private skirmish that they missed the glazed over look in Marth's eyes at the mention of his past. Quickly, he let it drop and changed the subject to avoid further discussion.
"So, how did you spend your time away?" Marth asked, replacing his solemn expression with a much more bright and happy one. Ike immediately fired off a detailed account of his past year.
"I couldn't believe all the things I got to experience! I mean, after roaming all over the place I felt like I had only barely scratched the surface." Ike said animatedly. He was more than excited.
"Hmph, sounds as if your descendants might turn out to become wanderers as well if you keep it up!" Zelda observed. Ike looked at her confused, wondering if he should remind her of last term's events. Marth shook his head and Ike shrugged, taking the joke light heartedly.
"So, where are the bounty hunter and royal knight of Hyrule?" Ike wondered aloud as he looked around the room. Zelda giggled, pointing to two sets of glossy wooden doors.
"Did you really forget that too? They're inside that room, taking part in the newcomers orientation!"
"I'd like to welcome you all to our glorious mansion. A spectacular battle will occur on these stages and a show of might and skill will amaze and transcend. I give you, the newest additions to our widely diverse roster, the Super Smash Brothers year-long event! It is a highly anticipated battle against friend and foe alike; it is a chance to show who you are and what power you have in your arsenal!"
Murmurs erupted throughout the room as clapping began. Samus looked over her left shoulder at a few of her veteran companions and cleared her throat. Her Hylian ally didn't seem to visibly respond, but she could tell he was listening. His eyes seemed to grow distant and unfocused indicating he was concentrating on what she had to say.
"Quite a turn-out, huh? Don't worry, we'll be alright." she said. Her eyes flickered from the blonde to the crowd of audience members. They ranged from visitors to smashers to others.
"I know." she heard him speak back, his voice low and quiet so as not to attract attention. "Thank you."
"Of course." Samus said back, still clapping her hands as part of the routine. Before all of her experiences here at the Smash mansion she wouldn't have given a single thought to a comrade's worries. Now though, she cared. She'd grown to be concerned over her friend's peace of mind.
"There are a few new additions to this year's events and I'm going to let you all figure them out for yourselves. Aside from that, there are a few things I do want to point out to you all now: every second you spend here in the mansion, every mini-game, every battle, every score will count towards your end goal. The ones with the highest scores will be allowed a chance to return here anytime they wish for any reason. This can open up a whole new range of possibilities from extra training to catching up with old friends." Master Hand announced to his shocked onlookers.
Samus' eyes widened a fraction. "An unexpected turn of events..." she murmured. Link nodded.
"Next, I am going to allow all of our assists, the trophy members, to coexist beside the Smashers."
"Wow, that's pretty interesting." whispered Fox who stood on the other side of Link.
Link swallowed hard.
"I knew something was up." Samus scoffed, rolling her eyes as another round of clapping filled the room.
"I am allowing this because of the potential for strategy that can be fulfilled. I want you all to mingle and come up with new possibilities for success on the stage. Now, this does not give everyone the same privileges. As Smashers, you are all granted special allowances. You may go outside the mansion and do as you please. There is also no restriction for you at any place in the mansion, but a few places are closed off for your privacy. Some rooms can be won as rewards in battle in order to give yourself your own meeting room with allies. I will open all rooms to you today to explore but tomorrow they will be closed off."
Master Hand paused as he let all of this information sink in.
"Assists may go into these rooms as permitted by the room's owner. This mechanic was included to encourage factions amongst you all, and I hope to see great strategies to come from it! I will also differentiate Assists from Smashers by housing them in separate bedrooms to sleep in and by placing a bronze badge on the Assist's left shoulder. Newcomers will receive a silver badge, and veterans will receive a gold badge. Our very first veterans, the Smashers you see standing before you on stage, will have their badges in the shape of a star. All others will have a generic 'Smash Symbol' for theirs."
Master Hand's fingers snapped and each member of the audience suddenly wore badges each in the corresponding color of their status. Master Hand gestured towards the two stages situated on opposite sides of the room.
All the oldest veterans stood facing the audience. They each wore capes of a deep red color along with their normal clothes.
"I'd like to introduce our most beloved Smashers: the very first to step on the stage!"
More clapping. A few shuffled in place.
"And now, I introduce the winner of last term and the one with the highest performance skills: Samus Aran!"
Samus bowed her head as she turned and made her way past her friends to the stage in the middle. She faced the crowd with a stone-faced stare, her eyes staring past them. The sound in the room was incredibly loud with all the applause and talking.
"She is the Smasher to beat this year! With her winnings, she had earned the right to choose her own room to meet with fellow smashers should she see fit. She also has immediate access to any and all tournaments held, being instantly added to the list of contenders and thus boosting her score higher. It is truly an honor!" Master Hand shouted ecstatically.
Samus continued to stand motionless before the crowd, her face portraying nothing despite the smugness she felt. She would put good use to these winnings.
"Now, go out and meet your housemates. Get settled, get acquainted, get comfortable. Tomorrow I will hold our first tournament, the preliminaries. This tournament will take up the entire day and will gauge your overall prowess on the field. It is not a mark of your true potential, only a measure of your skill. It will allow us to rate you on a scale amongst your peers and place you in the best battles later on in the year. Now, have fun! Oh! And welcome to your first year at the Smash mansion!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd. Samus, who had since returned to her place next to Link and the others, turned to her left. She placed a heavy hand on Link's shoulder and nodded towards the door as she locked eyes with Fox. Link stared ahead, catching eyes with Mario on the other side of the room, and the two seemed to make a silent agreement.
"Let's go. They're waiting for us." Samus said. Fox jumped, chuckling to himself, and patted Link on the back.
"Let's go buddy!"
Link nodded. "Right."
Zelda's face lit up once she noticed the others walking out of the room. Samus, Fox, Mario and Link all walked side by side. They seemed to be discussing something though all over them looked like they totally agreed with each other.
"Hey, it's our old chums from last time!" Pit shouted, his arm draped over Falco's shoulders. They showed up shortly after Ike's arrival.
Mario walked forward, pointing toward some stairs leading up the the 'Veteran's Quarters'. "Samus has a plan. We're-a heading up with-a her to check out a few of the-a rooms." he announced. "Come-a with us."
Zelda giggled at her lover. "How sweet. Well Sam, lead the way!"
Samus rolled her eyes at the nickname but obliged. She began leading the way, her friends following. Ike talked incessantly with Pit and Falco as he walked behind her, his hands resting nonchalantly behind his head. Fox and Zelda teased Samus as she walked with them, the last thing everyone hearing before they disappeared up the stairs being the sound of Samus promising to kill them if they didn't stop.
Marth turned to Link, a wicked smile on his face. "Come on!" he said as he leaned forward, grabbing Link's forearm before running to catch up with the others. Link finally began to laugh as Marth dragged him away. They never noticed the other two Smashers staring after them as they ran.
"Who do you think that was?"
"I have only one guess."
"Perhaps we're not alone then after all. Someone else from our world has come here with us."
"Should we...should we introduce ourselves?"
"...not yet."
"Ahhh! It feels so good to be back!" Fox declared as he stretched.
"You said it." Ike agreed as he plopped down in a big comfy recliner. Samus looked around the room slowly as she sized it up. It appeared to be rather decent.
"Hm, I guess this is acceptable...for now." Samus said. She flinched when Pit patted her on the back.
"Hey, if what Master Hand said is true then if you don't like it one of us can always get us a new room to meet up in!" he assured her.
"But hey! That was pretty awesome for you to let us in on your reward Samus!" Fox said, thanking her. Samus nodded as she sat down next to Zelda. Said princess placed a hand lightly on Samus' lap and smiled.
"So, what's with this 'factions' thing?" Falco asked, folding his wings over his chest. Ike leaned forward.
"Yah, do you really think we're going to have to create our own group or whatever away from the others?"
Samus shrugged, her eyes closed as she thought about it. "Who knows. At this point, though, with all the changes being made I'd rather be on the safer side and just do it."
"What? Is Samus the great bounty hunter stooping to helping comrades?" Fox teased. Samus bristled.
"Hmph, think what you want. I'm not doing it for you guys, I'm doing it for myself. Strength in numbers as they say. But go on, suit yourself. In fact, maybe I'll just throw you out and feed you to the wolves outside those doors." she retaliated. Zelda shook her head at Samus' nonsense as Fox raised his hands in defense.
"Just kidding Sam!"
"Ugh! What is with that ridiculous nickname?"
"Better get used to it!"
Pit sighed as he sat down on the back of a couch, he shared with Falco, Mario and Fox. "So, I'm worried about the others out there. I mean, what if they do end up making their own factions? What are we supposed to do?" Pit asked.
Marth looked at Link who sat quietly next to him. His fists were clinched so hard his knuckles had turned white.
"Listen, we can take on any of those idiots out there." Samus insisted as she slammed a fist on the coffee table in front of her. She was addressing everyone, but her eyes were specifically trained on Link.
"You're right. We're not going to let them scare us off." Link said, returning her gaze with determination. She smiled a rare smile, glad the old Link was coming back. Marth draped an arm across the Hylian's shoulders and squeezed him closer.
"So, what about expanding the business, huh? Should we recruit anyone else?" Ike asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
"I-a suggest coming-a back here each day after the-a battles and regrouping! We can-a decide who we want to-a add from-a there!" Mario offered. Ike shrugged and Samus nodded.
"Right. Well, perhaps we'll do that then. For right now I think we're good as we are. But, I do want to make note of a few that I have in mind for consideration." Samus said, folding her hands together as she copied Ike's position, leaning forward on her elbows.
"I propose Peach as an option."
Fox scratched his chin. "Hm, well, ya got my vote. I think we should consider making a list of bans as well."
Zelda nodded. "I agree. 100 percent."
"Ghirahim."
Everyone turned their heads to Link who sat scowling deeply from his seat next to Marth. "We should ban Ghirahim."
Zelda shared a look of worry with her longtime ally as Samus nodded.
"Accepted. I presume you mean to exclude Ganondorf as well?" she said. Zelda spoke up instead.
"Yes. Most definitely."
Ike rolled his tongue around in his mouth as he thought about it. "Well then we need to add Bowser, the Juniors, Wario and the others." he said. "If we're going to exclude rivals then it's important to remember just who is in that category."
"I'm gonna have to offer up Phosphora and the doppelganger." Pit said.
"You're not actually enemies with either of them though, right?" Ike asked curiously. Pit shrugged.
"Depends on your definition of enemy. To be honest, they'd cause more chaos than anything."
Samus sighed. "I'd have to agree. Dark Pit and Phosphora are out."
"What about Dark Samus?" Fox chirped.
"Also excluded for obvious reasons."
Ike leaned back. "Well sounds good to me."
Samus stood up and began walking towards the door. "Very well then. Only those currently in this room are allowed to come back. We will discuss the possibility of Peach joining us after the battles tomorrow. I would hope it would go without saying, but let's keep what we've talked about here a secret."
She opened the door as everyone murmured their agreement and left, Zelda following close behind. She stopped for a moment, waving at her friends and saying, again, how great it was to see them before disappearing behind the door.
"I completely forgot! We've gotta see our new rooms!" Fox exclaimed. He, Falco, Ike, and Pit all exchanged shocked looks at the realization before they jumped up and went running. Mario stood up and reached out to Link.
"We're-a here if you need-a anything. Just-a call us." Mario said, smiling at his old friend. Link returned the smile and took Mario's hand, shaking it firmly.
"Thank you."
They waited until the door had shut behind Mario before relaxing.
"Hey you."
Link chuckled, turning to look at Marth. "Hey yourself."
He shrank back, a bit intimidated by the look on Marth's face. Marth's eyes were narrowed but his mouth was set in a wide smile. He looked like he'd just won the whole damn competition. They sat there staring at each other just like that for several minutes before they spoke again.
"I've missed you you know." Marth said, his eyes still staring directly into Link's. Link's cheeks darkened.
"Yes well, the sentiment is shared."
Marth continued to smile, his expression exuding extreme confidence. It made Link suddenly feel self-conscious. His heart fluttered and he smiled without realizing it.
"So, let's go check out our new room."
Link nodded. "I can't wait."
"They sure have put a lot of effort into remodeling this place, huh?" Marth observed as he walked down the stairs. Link stood at the top, watching the crowd of newcomers who still hadn't left from their spot in front of the entrance.
"Marth, I think the bedrooms are back up the stairs." Link said, suddenly beginning to chuckle. Marth smiled, turning and looking back up at Link.
"Yah well what if I wanted another look at the lobby? I'm just curious is all." he said. But he did relent, trudging back up the stairs.
He followed Link, the two talking about the things they were expecting this round and the fun things they experienced the last time they were here.
"Oof!" Link stopped short as he ran right into another Smasher.
Marth was quick to support him, placing a firm hand on his back so he didn't fall as Link looked up at the other Smasher.
"I'm terribly sorry. We...sort of got lost." he muttered as he bowed at Link. His companion watched with a solemn look on her face.
Link frowned. He didn't know why, but something about this guy really put him off. "You're a newcomer. You shouldn't be up here in the first place." he said, his tone low and cold. Marth would've scolded him for the nasty attitude had he not been so concerned about the other Smasher staring right at him and not at Link. It was a stare that did not go unnoticed by Link.
"I apologize. You're absolutely right." he answered.
"Then get out." Link demanded bluntly. That caught Marth's attention.
"Link!" he exclaimed, shocked.
"Again, I apologize. Perhaps when we next meet it won't be under such hostile circumstances."
Link seemed to be looking down his nose at the other, his anger visibly boiling just under the surface. "Perhaps we will...erm, sir..."
"Robin" the other man clarified, extending his right hand to shake. Normally he had his sleeves covering the top of his hands and obscuring everyone's view, but today they were pulled back. Link stared at it with a sense of disdain. On his hand was a strange pinkish purple 'sigil' or 'mark' with six eyes and a line connecting them with a twist at the end. He didn't recognize it, but it did remind him of his own mark. Robin sighed, none the wiser about Link's musings, deciding to drop it.
"Well, see you both tomorrow." Robin said, looking at Link before turning his gaze back to Marth as if scrutinizing him. Marth said nothing though his hand slid up Link's back and squeezed his shoulder. Link subtly leaned back into it.
"Lucina, let's go." Robin said. He turned back to walk away. Lucina verbally agreed before exchanging another glance with Marth and hurrying after Robin.
Marth turned to watch them leave. "Did you...see that?"
He felt Link grab his hand and looked back down.
"Yah." Link answered. He pulled at Marth's hand and the two began walking the other way again. "Forget about them for right now."
A few minutes later they arrived at their own room. They exchanged excited glances, both forgetting about the awkward run-in with Robin and Lucina for now.
"I wonder what it looks like." Marth wondered as he stared at the door. Link chuckled, pushing the door open.
"We're about to find out."
The door swung open and immediately a torch on the other side of the room lit up.
"W-wow." Marth breathed, amazed.
A large bed sat near a beautiful window. In front of the bed on the wall was a television for which Marth assumed was to watch other battles. How convenient. Televisions didn't appear in the world he came from...of course neither did they come from Link's. But having been in the Smash mansion before they were used to such interesting gadgets.
"Look, it's a note from Master Hand." Link said as he picked up a piece of paper from the bed. He sat down on it, Marth joining him after shutting the door behind him.
"To Link and Marth. This room is locked to everyone but the two of you although you may make exceptions if you wish. Over the course of the year gifts, rewards, and tools will be sent to everyone's rooms depending on future events or past winnings. I hope you both enjoy your stay and welcome back.
P.S. Veterans get first choice in food and extra activities outside the tournaments." Link read aloud. He blinked.
"That's pretty neat!"
Marth nodded. "Yah, sounds like a blast." he said. He looked down at Link who of course was a bit shorter. Absentmindedly he stroked his blonde hair.
Link laughed, tossing the paper aside and grabbing Marth by his tunic. He fell back on the bed, yanking the prince with him.
"The others were right...it's good to be back." Link whispered. He leaned up, capturing his lover's lips for the first time in months since Marth had left Hyrule. He'd come back to his homeland to visit with his sister just as he'd discussed with Link before.
Marth broke the kiss, that confident smile reappearing again. "It sure is."
Author's Note:
It's good to be back as Link says! And I'm happy to be back with this series! Woohoo!
Let me know what you think of the new Smash Bros. games as well as this first chapter if you have to time! Thanks everyone and again, I hope you are enjoying the games as much as I am!