CHAPTER 1: OVER ONE MONTH LATER

(NESS'S POV)

I woke up pretty late today, usually most smashers wake up sometime between 8:00 to 10:00. But when I got up today, the small alarm clock (that doesn't even have it's alarm function working anymore), read: 11:07 AM. What was today again? June 9th ? I look over at my calender on the left side of the room and see that it was June 9th. Which means it's been a month now since the whole subspace episode ended. I shouldn't remind myself of that whole ordeal I hated being a trophy for all that time. Everyone can agree with me on that, and half of the people living in this mansion as just a bunch of weirdos. But I guess it was better than being killed by Tabuu. I take a glance at the other bed in the room to see if Lucas is still sleeping. Yeah Lucas is probably wide awake by now out and about. I'm glad Lucas is not as afraid as he used to be and doesn't really need me to accompany him everywhere, though who am I kidding? He's still afraid of tons of things. I should probably go down there and meet up with him and the others. I decided to get dressed and put on my outfit which was the same outfit everyday. Blue and yellow striped shirt, denim shorts, white socks, red shoes with yellow lacing, red hat with blue brim, and a brown leather backpack. Popo once complained about me wearing the same outfit everyday but I don't know what he's talking about. He wears the same blue parka everyday and unlike him I actually wash my clothing. I brush my teeth and then headed out of my room to look for my friends.

As I walk down the hallway, I couldn't help but notice some of the changes we have made to the mansion in how it looks. There was already new painting, new furniture, everything looking nicer and cleaner. It was good for me to see that my efforts as well as the rest of the B12's efforts haven't got to waste so far. I honestly loved being a part of the B12, it made me feel all powerful and important being in such a high position. Before, everyone looked down on me as incapable and weak just because I was a kid and my tournament placings in the last two tournaments were pretty mediocre. Then, I helped rescue all of the other smashers with Luigi and Dedede and we all teamed up to take down Tabuu. After that, I became a member of the B12 and we have done lots of great things to get the tournament up and running again. Because of those two events, most smashers since have now looked up at me with respect and capability.

My stomach growled and I began to get hungry. Guess I'll stop by the Cafeteria and get something to eat. I turned a corner down another hallway that leads to the Cafeteria but when I got there the cafeteria was closed and I was unable to get in. Oh right... It's past 11:00 and Breakfast is only available from 7:00 to 10:00. looks like I'll just have to wait until lunch which opens from 12:00 to 3:00. I face-palmed for me forgetting. How did I forget the hours I was the one who devised all of the cafeteria hours along with Captain Falcon.

I turned a corner and went in the opposite direction, Guess I'll just go to the Courtyard then. I take a glance out the window and see a bright and sunny day, not a single cloud in the sky. Yeah, everyone's outside, I mean why wouldn't they be? It's such a nice day out that I don't think anyone could pass up on this opportunity to be outside. Reminds me of my home town of Onett back in the world I came from, It was always sunny there. On the way to the Courtyard, I ran into elegant princess from the Mushroom Kingdom herself, Princess Peach. She wore a big detailed pink dress, heels, lots of makeup, slender white gloves, and big spherical aqua earrings. I hear all the time about how Peach was always captured by Bowser when back in her kingdom, and then Mario would have to come and save her. But if you ask me, I think Peach can stand up for herself quite well. In my opinion, shes the toughest smasher coming from the Mushroom Kingdom to face in battle and I remember in the second Smash Bros tournament she was one of the most formidable foes. Even with her fierceness on the battlefield, outside of fighting however shes one of the nicest smashers I know. "Good Morning Ness" she polity said to me.

"Good mourning to you as well" I replied back.

"Good luck in your match versus Olimar, Sonic and Pit today".

"Thank you Peach. Say do you know where Lucas is right now?"

"I just came back the courtyard and I saw him there with a bunch of other smashers."

"Alright, I guess I'll head there now, see you later Peach"

"Goodbye Ness" the princess then walked off to probably the kitchen. Peach loved cooking so that's were she would probably go.

So yeah... my prediction on where everyone could be turned out to be true; the Courtyard. When I finally arrived at the courtyard I realized it was jam-packed with smashers everywhere. Gee, nobody missed the opportunity to let the nice day go to waste. Olimar was playing with his Pikmin, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were picking as much bananas as they can off the banana tree (Yes, we have a banana tree). Lucario was meditating with his aura. Wait, Lucario was meditating with his aura? It's so noisy out why doesn't he just go inside and do it? Anyways, there was also Yoshi bathing in the pond, Kirby eating all the apples he could swallow, R.O.B doing some...biological research? I really didn't know because I never payed attention in science class when I went to school. Even with all this commotion in the Courtyard I knew exactly where Lucas would be. There was a big maple leaf tree all the way in the back or the Courtyard and that's where me, Lucas and all of our other friends also hang out. I made myself to the back trying to avoid all the chaos in the rest of the courtyard.

I eventually found the blonde haired boy by the big maple tree along with some other friends of mine. He wore the same denim shorts as me, and the same striped shirt and shoes but his were different colors. His shirt had all my blue stripes replaced with scarlet and his shoes were orange and yellow while mine were pure red. Everyone gives Lucas so much crap for his 'timidness' but I don't mind it at all. At least, most of the time. He makes up for this for being the best-est friend a boy could have. He never does anything to annoy me, or get on my nerves. He's very nice, polite, caring, willing and we do everything together when we hang out. One thing I never understood about him though that irks me a little is he never talks about his past. When I ask him a question about his past or if I bring it up, he always gets aggravated and often... depressed. I wonder why but hopefully one day I'll find out.

Toon Link, a quirky but very friendly warrior from the Zelda universe. He's basically a younger and well... more cartoonist version of Link. They have nearly the same outfit with Toon Link's of course being much smaller. A light green tunic with a light green wizard hat to back it up, he also wears white pants and brown leather boots. The differences when it comes to him and Link in terms of their outfits is Toon Link's undershirt is an even lighter shade of green while Link's is white, and Toon Link's brown belt has a yellow swirl instead of a brass buckle. I always like Toon Link in the fact that hes always trying to resolve problems and doesn't cause any problems of his own. Easily one of the most helpful smashers that live in this mansion.

Finally, my girlfriend Nana, one of the two Ice Climbers. A unique duo that fight together in matches, the only duo that's allowed in the tournament. What can I say about her? She's intelligent, caring, helpful, and probably the sweetest person you will ever meet. She wears a pink parks everyday even on hot summer days, and these white cleats specially designed to climb mountains. She doesn't have a nose though... but what can I say? I don't even have pupils. I first met Nana in the second tournament when she arrived and I quickly became friends with her. Fast-forwarding to this tournament, we then admitted our feelings towards each other and have been together ever since. It's such a wonderful feeling always having someone you can trust on your side.

"So uh, did I miss anything while I was sleeping in today?" I ask the three smashers sit right in between Lucas and Nana. Lucas looked at me "Uh...not much. Actually, you did miss Kirby accidentally eating-"

"Eating another spicy curry." I unsurprising finished the sentence for Lucas because I expected what he was going to mention next. Almost everyday, King Dedede sneaks a spicy curry into Kirby's usually massive breakfast, and every time Kirby will eat his breakfast and go into a flaming hot fit. For the first time seeing this, it was pretty hilarious. After seeing it for the millionth time, it was just a stale prank at that point.

"You seem a little irritated today Ness, is anything up?" Nana asked with a little concern.

Something was up, I mentioned before I had a match later on today and it was a very important one. I've been struggling a lot with my tournament performance since we all came back from Subspace and that needed to change. I was tried of being on this loosing streak and wanted to end it once and for all. If I don't some smashers may look at me again like I'm weak and incapable.

I was honest with my answer to her "I slept in late today but I'm still tired, and I have an important match today against Sonic, Olimar and Pit" I responded.

"But why is it so important? It just seems like a regular daily match you have scheduled for the tournament." Nana conveyed.

"Nana, it's not so much about the tournament, but more about the reputation I currently have with the B12 and such." I implied.

Toon Link, who was quiet so far decided to join our conversation "What's even so important about your reputation with the B12? Isn't the tournament separate from anything you and the rest of the B12 is doing?"

I sighed, "You're right, with the whole tournament is separate from B12 operations thing, but here's the problem. I've been doing very poorly with my fighting in matches lately. If I continue to slump like this, the rest of the B12 may look down on me and think I'm weak and incapable unlike the rest of them. The rest of the B12, or at least most of the B12 is very strong and are some of the best brawlers in this tourney."

"Um...I don't think the B12 cares all too much about your tournament performance Ness" Lucas reassured "Besides, you've done so much with them to help they won't look down on you like that."

I just shrugged, "I hope your right."

"A lot of the B12 members don't have great tournament results so far and they are still of the B12" Toon Link added.

"There's plenty of great stuff you've done already that has made this world better in the short time the B12 has been operating" Nana exclaimed "Like helping to restore order back to the tourney!"

"Helping me and many other smashers with their fighting skills." Lucas commented

Toon Link chimed in as well with some stuff I've done that he considers great "GETTING CINNAMON BUNS TO BE A BREAKFAST OPTION! OH MY GOD NESS I WANTED TO MARRY YOU AFTER THAT!"

Myself, Nana, and Lucas just gave Toon Link weird looks and I raised my eyebrow in disgust.

"I'm kidding guys... seriously no homo."

"Yeah you better be kidding" Nana said glaring at Toon Link

"Hey uh...Popo, do you have anything else you know that Ness has done for the better of the Brawl Tourney and Smash Mansion?" Toon Link asked trying to change the subject now.

"..."

"Popo?"

Popo was here? I haven't seen him since I got here.

We walked around to the other side of the tree to find a dark haired boy in a big blue parka that has fallen asleep.

Oh so that's where he was.

"Popo wake up!" Nana yelled.

Popo came to his senses and jumped up with alarm waking him up but turns to find that it was just Nana who screamed. Popo spoke in a grudgingly and sleepy voice "...what do you want?"

"For heaven's sake Popo why do you keep falling asleep all the time now?" Nana questioned.

Popo seemed bitter about being interrupted from his slumber "Because you never let me sleep in and always wake me up at 7 am everyday complaining about the stupidest stuff!" he rudely replied.

"I do not!" retorted Nana.

"Yes you do!" Popo tried to put on his best Nana impression to imitate some of the stuff his sister complains to him about. "Popo, my arm is sore!"

"That was one time!"

"Popo, I can't find my mallet even though every time I lose it is always under my bed!" Popo was now even having a hard time controlling his own laughter to his own jokes.

"SHUT UP!" his sister screamed as she went red in her cheeks.

I thought this was kinda cute on her part.

"Popo, something red that looks very similar to blood I think came out my-" Nana stopped Popo from even finishing that sentence when he took a wooden mallet to his face.

"Ugh! I regret waking you up now if you were gonna be such a nuisance!" A steaming red hot Nana was now yelling at her brother laying on the grass.

Popo spoke with some pain in his throat. "Then...then...don't wake me up early in the morning..."

I just started to laugh from all of their bickering and Toon Link and Lucas must have also found it hilarious because they were down on the grass laughing hysterically from the whole thing.

"Oh, so you three would like to end up like Popo as well!" Nana boldly yelled at me, Lucas and Toon Link. Preferably, I would like to not have a mallet smashed into my white pale skin and black eyes so I stopped laughing after Nana's threat. Toon Link and Lucas did the same as well. Hell, I saw Lucas's denim shorts go wet from Nana's threat, but it's Lucas he's scared and nervous about everything really.

"Good, I think that's that," Nana rejoiced all cheerful now.

Gee was my girlfriend bipolar or something? In a matter of minutes she shifted personalities from cheery, to concerned, to annoyed, malicious and now back to cheery.

Doesn't matter I still love her anyways.

I saw Toon Link go to help Popo get beak on his feet. Popo is an... interesting smasher to say the least. If you want the most basic description of him, he's the other one of the Ice Climbers; the only duo that's allowed to fight in the tournament. He and Nana look similar being that they're twins, they fight very much the same being able to command ice and grabbing a WHOLE lot, and they wear the same parkas everyday, (Though Popo's is blue as mentioned before). However, that's kinda where the similarities end between the two. Nana is intelligent, caring, helpful and sweet. Popo is goofy, acts like a child even though he's a teen, lazy, and can be quite a douche. When I met him and Nana in the second tournament Melee, he wasn't really like this and was a lot more caring and friendly. Like Lucas an Toon Link, he was always someone willing to be help his friends out. But since after the third tournament had started, he changed into the Popo I see now, I wouldn't say he's changed for the better.

Popo finally got back on his feet and Nana came over to me.

"Hey, Ness?"

"Yes Nana?"

"If you really want to win today's match, I'd suggest you go to the training room and practice until the match is ready to begin." Nana advised.

"Yeah that is what I had in mind before anyways, I think I have around two hours to practice. Kinda wished I didn't wake up so late otherwise I would've had more time to practice."

"When does your match begin anyways?"

"1:30 this afternoon at Battlefield."

"Do you know what time is it now?"

I look up at the big clock tower that somehow Master Hand and Crazy Hand could afford when they were still in charge and running the Tourney. The big hand was directly on the four and the small hand was slightly to the right of the 11.

"It's 11:20." I said answering her question.

"I'll come and watch your match."

"You don't have to if you don't want to, I'm not forcing you or anything."

"No it's not that. I have nothing to really do this afternoon and plus, you need someone to cheer you on to keep you fighting! You need that motivation if your gonna win this match and guess who is gonna provide you with that motivation? Me!"

"Hehe, you're right. I mean your better at motivating people then someone like Popo."

"I heard that!" hollered Popo.

"I think I'm going to go to the training room now to make sure I'm prepared for the match." I said to the brunette girl.

"That's a good idea, you should go do that now so your prepared enough for the match. Two hours to prepare in the training room should be enough."

I thought about what she said for a brief moment and then decided it's time to leave "I guess I'll be on my way then."

"Good luck Ness! I'll say good luck now just in case I don't see you before the match starts."

"Yeah, best of luck Ness!" Lucas chirped.

"Good luck Ness!" came Toon Link next.

"Wait, what are we saying good luck to Ness for?" questioned a dumbfounded Popo. His twin sister turned around in fury again at Popo's well...for lack of better words his really dumb remark.

Nana raised her mallet. "Popo, do you need another bash in the face?"

"No Nana, I don't need another bash, the thing I need the most right now is my bed." Popo sarcastically responded.

"Ugh, why are you so retarded sometimes?!"

"I'm not retarded I just need my sleep which you don't let me have!"

"No! We're not having this conversation again!"

"You started it."

"You know what! I'll deal with your sorry ass later!"

Some other differences between the two twins also include them disagreeing a lot.

"Alright then thanks guys! I'll talk to you later." I thanked to the four smashers including Popo.

"Bye Ness," Nana softly said to me. Before I was about to leave the courtyard she kissed me lightly on the cheek.

As I turned to leave the courtyard I began to think again after all that has happened over the past couple of months. Everything from saving Lucas from Porky's clutches. Everything from me being turned into a trophy by a obese biker named Wario. Then getting saved by a badge from King Dedede. Then me along with Luigi and Dedede rescuing all of the other brawlers and saving the world. Seeing Tabuu agonize in pain during the final moments of the life he had. The hands deaths...the chaos after the deaths... and the rise of the B12...all of it. In the end, I realized something that hopefully stays true forever. My friends will always be on my side no matter what. They care about me, they cheer me on, and I always hope it stays that way. In my opinion you can't live without friends. You just can't.