[A/N] Thirty views! Consider my mind blown! *Explosions* Thank you, one and all!

... and I'm not being sarcastic. I'm really ecstatic. :D (Hey, that rhymed!)

[DISCLAIMER] I do not own SSBB or any of its characters or related trademarks, etc., etc. If I did, I would make the soundtrack available.


CHAPTER II - Speeches and Suspicions

Peach felt incredibly gorgeous in her new dress. And incredibly nervous. As she walked unsteadily to her waiting friends, she was more concentrated on not falling over because of her impractical footwear than the fact that every male Smasher in the ballroom was staring at her in rapt attention.

"Hi," she said with a small smile, sitting carefully beside Samus and smoothing her skirt out. "Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything?"

"Peach, you look wonderful!" Zelda exclaimed. "That dress is lovely on you!"

"Thanks, Zelda," Peach said, blushing faintly. "Well, what do you think, Samus? Is this far enough from my usual style?" she asked, her azure eyes sparkling mischievously.

Samus laughed. "You shocked me into silence. That should be all the answer you need."

The two princesses joined in, but they all quieted as soon as Master Hand floated to the microphone and tapped it with one finger.

"Testing... testing..." the giant white glove muttered. There were some impolite snickers from the audience and he decided to start his spiel.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Smashers one and all, welcome to tonight's festivities. Tonight marks the end of another successful tournament season. We all had a great time, didn't we?" The applause answered his half-question affirmatively. "But there can only be three who walk home with a trophy. So let's get this show on the road so we can all attack the buffet table and dance the night away later!" More applause and some cheers.

"Let's all give a big welcome to our presenter tonight: Link, the Hero of Time!"

The applause reached a peak as Master Hand moved to one side. The blonde Hylian stumbled onto the platform and took the microphone. He wore a richly embroidered green tunic and new leather boots that would have looked nicer if he hadn't been wearing his customary hat.

"Good evening, everyone. Now, this season's third-place winner hails from a country that's named after him and a long legacy of Smashing. In third place is… Donkey Kong!"

The huge ape lumbered up to the platform, grabbed his trophy from Link's hands, grunted something that could have been an acceptance speech into the microphone, and jumped off again.

"This season's second-place winner may be a newcomer, but he's the speediest of all Smashers. In second place is… Sonic the Hedgehog!"

The cocky hedgehog dashed up to claim the trophy – and to commandeer the microphone from an astonished Link. "Wow, wow, wow! I simply cannot say how incredible it feels to win a Smash Tournament Trophy! But even champions don't win alone. There are so many awesome people who helped me and supported me and cheered me on…"

Sonic began to rattle off a long list of names of various Smashers and then the names of all of his friends back home. By the time he started in on the inspirational portion of his speech, most had stopped listening and started eyeing the buffet table. Fox was seriously considering pulling the plug on the speakers.

Sonic got the hint. "It's a really great honor to hold this trophy. So thank you all and better luck catching up to me next year!" He winked broadly and did an elaborate aerial flip off of the platform and into the politely clapping crowd.

("Finally," Samus snorted. "He really doesn't know how to shut up once he gets going.")

"And now, for this season's champion." Link waited for the audience's attention before continuing. "To many Smashers, he is considered the second fiddle to his significantly more famous brother. But he finally proved himself in a fierce battle for the final trophy… and this is why he is here tonight. Ladies and gentlemen: Luigi!"

The applause was thunderous as a furiously blushing Luigi, clad in a forest green tuxedo, ascended the platform to receive his trophy. Link shook his hand and then relinquished the microphone to the first-place winner.

"Uh, I – I don't really know what to say," Mario's brother admitted in a thick Italian accent. "I didn't prepare anything… and I'm not all that great at public speaking." Laughter. "I'm really not! So I'll keep this kinda short.

"Um, I'm grateful to the organizers of the tournament – and, er, I'm really happy that I was able to participate. So… thanks a lot." His face looking like an overripe tomato, Luigi clipped the microphone on its stand and beat a hasty retreat. A beaming Mario clapped him on the back as he seated himself again.

"Great speeches tonight, champions," Master Hand praised as he floated back to center stage. "Let's all give them another round of applause, shall we?" The response was immediate. "Now – let the festivities commence!"

There was the sound of many chairs being pushed back as the Smashers rose to stretch their legs, accompanied by a sudden burst of loud music from the DJ's booth. Yoshi and Kirby made mad dashes for the buffet table with most others forming a semi-orderly line behind them.

Peach excused herself and then delicately made her way over to the table in front of hers. "Congratulations, Luigi!" She leaned over and gave the champion a half-hug. "How does it feel to win first place?"

"Er… great. Really great." Luigi's face flushed anew and he looked away in embarrassment. The princess couldn't help but wonder why he was so mortified. "I've never really… won a tournament before, so this is kinda overwhelming."

"There's no need to be so bashful, fratello," Mario laughed, leaning back in his seat. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Peach. "I guess Zelda's addendum to the invites really brought out the best in everyone. You look great tonight."

Mentally, Peach squirmed uncomfortably. She had ended her relationship with Mario around the beginning of last year's tournament because it just hadn't been working for her anymore. Sure, she had liked him, mainly because the stout Italian hero had saved her from Bowser and countless other enemies of the Mushroom Kingdom too many times to count. But around the time of the breakup, he had been pushing for them to become more... intimate. She grimaced inwardly. She hadn't been ready then – and she still wasn't completely prepared to give up her virginity now.

But the blonde princess merely smiled and thanked him for the compliment, while mentioning how much she liked his tailored scarlet suit. "And Luigi, you're also looking very handsome tonight."

The redness of Luigi's face reached a peak. "Th-thank you. And you do too. Well, you know," he floundered. "You look... pretty."

Peach, blushing a little herself and figuring it was about time to leave, thanked him and left for her own table. Poor Luigi. He's such a sweet guy, but his social skills need work.

"There you are!" Zelda held out a small china bowl of grapes and sliced plums to Peach as she sat. "I was wondering why you weren't risking your life over Kirby's fruit salad like the rest of us."

Peach giggled and spooned some of the appetizer into her mouth. "I was just talking with Mario and Luigi. I think Luigi's still in shock over his victory against Sonic."

"I thought I saw you over there while I was in the buffet line." Samus expertly twirled the decorative toothpick from her cucumber sandwich between her fingers. "Luigi was blushing like anything."

"He hasn't quite gotten over his awkwardness yet," agreed Peach.

"That has nothing do with it. He was being exceptionally shy because he was around youand that dress of yours."

The diminutive blonde nearly choked on a piece of apricot. "What?"

Samus shrugged. "Just a thought."

"Hey, everyone!" Link pulled out the seat next to Zelda and plopped into it, running a hand through his messy bangs. "Just a heads-up for all of you: never do an announcing gig. It's more stressful and frustrating than an infinite amount of Water Temples."

Zelda gave him a slight peck on the cheek. "You did perfectly fine."

"Only because Master Hand wrote all of my introductions. I should have just stuck with your decorating committee, Zel."

"What exactly would you have helped with?" Zelda teased. "You're more of a jack-of-all-trades than a specialist."

"Er... caught some chickens to add to the assortment of deli meats on the buffet table?" Link offered lamely.

The Hylian princess laughed. "Are you serious?"

"I was! At least let me contribute something to the reception!"

"I might have that thing." Samus eyed the hero's eclectic getup amusedly. "How good of a judge of fashion are you?"

Link grimaced. "About as far from 'good' as you can get."

"I agree. What about male behavior?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Just answer the damn question." She downed her glass of punch and set it aside.

"Considering I am male, I'm kind of an expert."

"Excellent." Samus ignored his sarcasm. "Now, what would you say about a guy who blushes and has trouble speaking around a girl? Or for that matter, a guy who comments on how amazing that girl looks?"

"In the first scenario, he's either shy or a terrible conversationalist," the Hylian answered immediately. "But for both situations, the guys concerned clearly find said girl appealing. Why do you ask?"

"Just a confirmation of what I already knew," the bounty huntress responded in a mysterious manner.

Link glanced at Peach, understanding dawning on him. "I see. If you don't mind me asking, who were they?"

"Mario and Luigi," the blonde princess said in a small voice. She suddenly remembered that while her dress was not incredibly low-cut, it was strapless. No wonder why Luigi was being more timid than usual. And why Mario was so... appreciative.

The Hylian hero nodded thoughtfully. "Not the Smashers I was expecting, but understandable, nevertheless. I remember this one time when –"

"Link!" Ike approached their table, still looking formidable even without his armor and Ragnell. "How'd the announcing gig work out?"

"You weren't here to witness its awkward glory in person?" Link joked, rising from his seat. "Shame on you."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Marth said it wasn't that bad." Ike surveyed the company at the table. It seemed to Peach that his gaze settled on her for a little too long. "In any case, we've both been looking for you."

His fellow Smasher shrugged. "Very well then." The two of them headed towards Marth and Toon Link, waiting by a window with an excellent view of the sunset.

As Peach watched, the friends greeted each other cheerfully. Toon Link started chattering wildly to his older counterpart. Ike clapped the Altean prince on the shoulder and said something to him. Both of them looked towards her with undisguised interest and she felt another blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Zelda noticed her discomfort. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm just not used to this much attention."

"You mean how every eligible male Smasher in this room is completely enamored with you – because of a dress?" Samus clarified. "It's pretty fascinating. I bet that you could even charm Snake if he were here."

Peach shuddered. "Why would I want to? He gives me the creeps."

Zelda regarded her, a questioning look on her face. "Why don't you like him? I realize that he is not very personable or circumspect, but I feel that he is an exceptionally skilled soldier and can be gentlemanly when he wishes. Besides, he saved our lives aboard the Halberd."

"I know, I know. It's just – I – he – there are a lot of reasons." She began to mentally compile what she felt would be a long list.

His constantly grim expression. His greasy-looking brown mullet and that unwashed bandanna. His low, raspy voice that made everything he said sound incredibly perverted. His keen green-grey eyes that seemed to see through everything. His general lack of personal hygiene.

His smelly cigarettes. His sneaky battlefield tactics. His sheer power, speed, and agility. His bluntness and aggressiveness.

And, of course, that one incident…