Hey guys! I'm back with the next chapter! Enjoy! :3

Chapter 2: Warm Welcomes

The slight screeching of the brakes snapped Hammer Bro out of his bored daze. He looked around to see all of the other Assist Trophies looking out the windows on the side of the bus he was on, talking to each other in amazement. He blinked a few times in confusion at this.

"What's going on?" He asked Lyn, who was peering out as well.

"We're here!" She replied with a wide smile.

Hammer Bro looked at her then toward the window. "We're...here?" He repeated quietly as he took a look out as well. Immediately, he was speechless as his eyes widened at what he saw. A very large mansion stood in front of where the bus stopped. It was very nice looking with a big front yard with fresh green grass and many tall trees. Finally, a sign stood at the front with words on it spelling "Smash Mansion."

"Wow..." Hammer Bro whispered, still breathless. The excited chatter that filled the bus was interrupted by a little intercom coming on.

"Everyone," Pikachu's voice spoke from it. "The building you see before you is the Smash Mansion. This is the very place where all of the Smashers reside. Now, if all newcomers could please gather your things and exit the bus so we may enter and get you all settled.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on a second!" Waluigig shouted loudly, standing up to look at the Pokemon at the front. "What about us Assist Trophies? Don't we stay there too?!"

"Um..." Pikachu mumbled nervously through the intercom. "I'm afraid not. The Smash Mansion was built for the Smashers only. Don't worry, we constructed another building for all Assist Trophies to stay in just down the street." Quiet groans spread among the Trophies as they all put on looks of disappointment...except Waluigi, who started to look enraged by this news.

"Okay, now all newcomers please follow me." Pikachu said once more and turned off the intercom. All of the Smashers were quick to get right up, begin to exit the bus, and follow the electric Pokemon to the mansion.

"Alright Assist Trophies," Fox now said through the intercom. "Just sit tight now and we'll be arriving at your destination shortly."

"Man, that's a bummer." Hammer Bro muttered, slumping back in his seat. "That place looked really nice to stay in."

"Yeah, it did." Lyn said then put on an encouraging smile. "But I'm pretty positive where ever we're staying at, it will be nice too." Hammer Bro considered her words and nodded in understanding. Across the bus isle, Shadow was sitting up in his seat and was still looking at the Smash Mansion through the windows on the opposite side. He saw all of the new Smashers walk up the steps as Pikachu led them. But what he couldn't help but notice was Sonic standing among them with the biggest, excited grin on his muzzle, knowing that he was going to enjoy living in that mansion. Knowing that he was now a competitor for one of the biggest fighting tournaments in the world. Knowing that he was recognized and admired for his skills and strengths.

Yet, Shadow wasn't.

More anger boiled within the dark hedgehog as he roughly slouched back in his seat. A low growl could be heard coming from his throat as his quills started to bristle a bit. Next to him, Little Mac took notice of his behavior and began to feel uneasy.

"Uh, you okay there?" He asked. Right then, a short man in a skin-tight green suit perched himself over the seat in front of the two and faced them.

"I see pouty faces." He stated then continued in a cheerful tone. "But let us remember to always lighten up and look on the bright side, my friends! Tingle, Tingle, kooloo-limpa!" As he finished his sentence, he threw a bunch of confetti over the boxer and the hedgehog.

Not a single word was spoken as Little Mac and Shadow only stared back at him in absolute what-the-fuckery.

(Page Break)

"Okay, everyone." Fox announced as he slowed the bus to a stop. "Here's your stop."

Hammer Bro looked up from the comic book he was reading and looked out the window once more. This time, he saw a large hotel standing tall before the bus with a sign outside of it saying "Assist Hotel." Granted it wasn't as big as the Smash Mansion, but it did look very welcoming, just like Lyn predicted. Some of the other Assist Trophies seemed to be impressed as well as their disappointed attitudes from earlier seemed to disappear. However, others still didn't look to be in joy. Fox opened the bus' door and spoke again.

"Please gather all of your belongings and start to exit the bus." He said. "Once you all get inside, just wait patiently for Master Hand to enter and give you his welcome." The Trophies gathering their bags and stood up from their seats, swiftly heading off the bus. Hammer Bro clutched his little bag to his chest again and walked among them, his heart beginning to beat fast. They had finally arrived at the very place that they're going to be living at for the tournament. From here on out, everything begins. The unpleasant thoughts now started to chew his mind as he drew his gaze to the ground. Everything begins from here. Soon the tournament will start and they'll all be there and ready to help the Smashers that summon them. Hammer Bro was still unsure what he'll do for his role as an Assist Trophy, or if he was even worthy of being one in the first place...

His thoughts were interrupted as he now realized that he was off the bus and was now walking through the entrance to the hotel. He gave a soft gasp as he looked around and the nice, clean lobby where the others before him were starting to gather. Once he reached the crowd, Hammer Bro stood in his spot and glanced all of the other Trophies as they made small talk with each other. However, he still took notice to the ones that were still looking pretty unhappy. Waluigi was muttering inaudible words under his breath, Mr Resetti had a frown on his face, Knuckle Joe was irritably tapping his foot, and Gray Fox and Samurai Goroh were looking at their surroundings with displeased expressions. Finally, he saw Shadow standing toward the back of the crowd. He had his arms crossed over his chest with a glare on his face as he kept his gaze on the floor.

Hammer Bro looked at all of them questioningly then turned away. Hopefully they'll all lighten up. He said to himself. Just then, all of the Trophies stopped conversing with each other as the doors to the hotel opened and a large, white floating hand came right inside. Everyone just stared at it in a confused and somewhat weirded out silence as it turned to face them.

"Greetings, Assist Trophies." It said in a deep, calm voice. "I am Master Hand, the founder of the Super Smash Bros tournament. I want to welcome you all to Smashville and the to tourney. For those who are unaware, this is the third tournament, also known as the Brawl tournament. There have been two more in the past, but for the new one starting soon, I had chosen more heroes from all around the Nintendo lands to become Smashers and for the first time ever, I have decided to invite more comrades from their lands and other Nintendo lands to be Assist Trophies, which is what you all are now. As said in the invitation and brochures, you all will be summoned in battles to aid the Smashers for a short period of time. Before I get into explaining about the hotel, are there any questions?"

Immediately, Waluigi's hand shot up. "Yeah, I'd like to ask something." He said, gaining the others' attention as well. "Are there any applications that I can fill out to become a Smasher instead of an Assist Trophy?"

If Master Hand had a face, he would've been giving the purple plumber a weird look. "Um...no. It doesn't work like that. I have to look upon your skills and strengths in combat and decide whether or not if you're worthy of being a Smasher. If I believe your skills are good, but not quite enough to be a Smasher I'll choose you to be an Assist Trophy instead." Shadow flattened his ears back after hearing the hand's last sentence, growling once more. As expected, Waluigi was not satisfied with this answer.

"What?!" He shouted loudly. "How am I 'not quite enough' to be a Smasher?! I am worthy of being a fighter and plus, who wouldn't love my handsome face?"

"Everyone except his mother..." Knuckle Joe said, causing the other Trophies to chuckle and laugh.

Waluigi spun around and scowled at the Dreamlander. "Hey, I heard that you little-"

"Ahem!" Master Hand cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention again. "Let us move forward, now. Here in the Assist Hotel, you all will receive and share rooms with one another. These rooms will contain beds and furniture and one bathroom that you'll all have to share." A bunch of "ewws" spread through the crowd at that last bit of info as he continued. "All of the rooms will be on the second floor and above. Here on the bottom is the lobby. If you need anything, you can just come here and talk to the Toad that will be attending at the counter.

"There is also a kitchen and cafeteria where meals will be prepared and eaten. There's a gym where practicing your fighting skills will take place, a lounging room with couches and tvs for you all to relax, an indoor swimming pool, a bowling ally, and a party room where special occasions will take place. Finally, you all can go down to Smashville where there are restaurants, shopping centers, and a park for many activities you can do in your free time."

All of the Assist Trophies talked among themselves at this information, now more impressed with the hotel's features and living styles. Hammer Bro was also feeling more comfortable and eager as well, his previous nervous thoughts forgotten for now. However, the unhappy Assist Trophies still weren't every amused. Sure, the hotel did sound nice with all of the different rooms that they can go to to enjoy themselves, but it still didn't really cover the one detail that still had them in a sour mood...

"Now that everything has been explained," Master Hand said once more. "I will pass out slips of paper that will tell you what room you will be staying in. Once you get there, your roommates' name, as well as your own, will be on the door. I wish you all good luck and hope you will enjoy living here as helpers for the Smash tournament."

(Page Break)

Footsteps echoed through the hall as Hammer Bro made his way down. Once Master Hand gave them their room numbers and left to address the Smashers at the mansion, all of the Assist Trophies dispersed to find their rooms. As of now, the young koopa was on the third floor of the hotel and was looking at the number on his slip of paper and at the doors he passed, drawing nearer to his destination.

"Room two-one-one, room two-one-two..." He said quietly then finally reached his room and smiled. "Ah, room two-one-three! Now, who am I sharing it with..." His gaze fell from the number on the door to a sign under it. Sure enough his name was on it and the other name under his was...

"Shadow the Hedgehog"

The hallway was in a dead silence as Hammer Bro stood rigid in his spot and stared at the name of his new roommate with wide, terrified eyes. It stayed this way for about fifteen seconds until another pair of footsteps began to sound and was drawing closer. Soon enough, Shadow had appeared and was glancing at the doors of the rooms as well until he found the one with his number and name. Without speaking, nor even looking at the young koopa standing there, he opened the door and walked right inside. When he passed him, Hammer Bro swore that the air around the him even felt cold and icy.

Feeling his legs again, he cautiously stepped in and watched as the dark hedgehog set his bag down on the floor next to a bed near a window. Hammer Bro kept his gaze on him for a second then started to make his way to the other bed and put his little bag on it as well. The atmosphere was tense as Shadow unpacked some of his things and Hammer Bro started to walk to the center of the room to inspect it. Not a word was spoken until Shadow walked past the koopa toward the bathroom holding what looked like a toothbrush. Once he placed a few things in there and walked out, that was when Hammer Bro finally decided to speak.

"U-Uh...So, do you wanna discuss some things, or..." He said in a shaky voice. "Since we're gonna be roommates and all, perhaps we should, I dunno, place some rules or get to know-"

"That sounds like a good idea." Shadow finally spoke in an obviously annoyed tone. "Rule one," Shadow continued, approaching the young koopa and causing him to shrink under his gaze. "The right side of the room is mine and the left is yours; stay on your side. Don't touch any of my things nor come near them without my say so. Rule two, no playing loud music and no watching tv at a high volume. One of the many things that I despise are obnoxious sounds. Is that understood?"

Hammer Bro smiled nervously and gave a thumbs up. "Gotcha." He squeaked. With that, Shadow backed away and started to head back to finish setting up his belongings. Once he was a good five feet away, Hammer Bro let out a stressful sigh and flopped back on his turtle shell.

This is gonna start pretty tough...

Well look who's being salty. Don't worry, Shadow will come around and start to brighten up a bit... ... ... ... ... evenutally... ... ...

Thank you guys for reading! The next chapter will be up soon! See ya!