Author note: Hi guys! Here's chapter 2, I hope you enjoy it. This chapter isn't packed with action, but Shulk, Mac and the kids need to get to meet each other, right?

Gathering his courage, Shulk spoke loudly:

"What's going on here?"
"LUCAS, LEAVE HIM AL-"
"SHUT UP, NESS! PK FREEZE!"
"Children, I asked you-"
"Poyo!"
"Kirby, I don't think you should be eating the fireballs! Lucas, for the last time-"
"Hey! Why aren't you list-"
"PK FIRE!"

Shulk sighed loudly. Mac shook his head, and whispered to his friend :

"Let me try. Ahem. ALL OF YOU LITTLE DEVILS STOP RIGHT NOW AND LISTEN TO US!"

The Bronxite hadn't exactly yelled, but the firm tone of his voice was enough to stop Lucas in his tracks, and to get him the attention of the six kids. Mac felt a small wave of relief. He wasn't used to be in the posture of authority, and hated shouting or speaking dryly.

"Em- thank you. Now please sit down and explain what the hell that was."

The children obeyed and exchanged a nervous glare – save for Lucas, who was too busy crying, having apparently gone from full psycho to crybaby quite fast. Shulk instinctly walked towards him to calm him down, but Mac stopped him. Explanations first.

The boy who had tried to keep Lucas from attacking was the first one to speak, nervously tugging on the red cap resting on his lap.

"Well, uh, we all got here ten minutes ago as Rosalina asked us to. And we" he pointed to Lucas, Kirby, and the kid who was hiding behind the shelf "tried to introduce ourselves to the Villager and Megaman? But for some reason Lucas went insane and starting attacking Mega…"

The boy Lucas had been chasing nodded silently, his eyes focused on the ground.

"And why did you do that?" asked Shulk. "With psychic powers, nonetheless?"
"I-I-I…. I…"

And Lucas started crying even harder, as Ness patted him on the back. Mac and Shulk looked at each other, not expecting that at all. Six infernal children attacking them, yes, but trying to kill each other, no.

"Alright, here's what we're going to do." finally decided Shulk. "Lucas, you come with me, while Mac stays with your friends, alright? Come on."

Shulk took the crying boy in his arms before getting out of the room, leaving Mac alone with the five remaining children.

"Are you better now?"

Lucas nodded and sniffled miserably before finishing his glass of warm milk. He was sitting on the kitchen counter, in front of Shulk.

"Could you please tell me why you assaulted the other fellow?"

The blond boy mumbled something unintelligible.

"Er, can you repeat that, please? A bit louder?"
"Because… because he looks just like my… my dead brother."

Shulk felt all color draining from his face. But he didn't say a word, knowing that Lucas had more to tell but had to take his time.

"I had a t-twin- Claus. He-he was my best friend in the world, but things happened… and-and I was forced to fight him. He was brainwashed and all… he had been ho-horribly transformed too. It was horrible, the-the worst thing I ever had to... to do."

It made sense, Shulk thought. Lucas couldn't be much older than ten or so, and seeing someone looking like his beloved brother must have been stirring up some ugly memories of that traumatic fight.

"And in the end… he died. He- he died in my arms, and I tried to he-help him, but he wouldn't and-and…"

Lucas started crying again, but not as hysterically as before. Shulk took him in his arms, hugging his small figure. There wasn't much more he could do.

As soon as the door closed behind the blond duo, Ness spoke again:

"I hope he'll take good care of Lucas. He's very sensitive."

Mac grimaced a bit. "Sensitive" wasn't exactly the word that had crossed his mind upon seeing the kid for the first time.

"Don't worry, kiddo, Shulk's pretty sweet."
"So that's his name! I heard someone call him "Monado boy", but I had guessed this wasn't really how he was called." exclaimed Megaman.

Mac chuckled at his friend's nickname. He would have to use it some time.

"Speaking of names, why don't we all introduce ourselves. Without magic and all this time."
"It's not magic, actually it's-"
"Yeah, yeah, psychic powers, I know." grumbled Mac as he sat down with the kids. When he had been invited to the Smash tournament, he hadn't really expected to be put against people capable of summoning fire or having visions of the future and whatnot, since it wasn't even supposed to be possible in real life.

"My name is Ness." started the black haired kid. "I've been here since the first tournament! And I have the same sort of abilities than Lucas.
"Oh now that's just GREAT." mentally whined Mac.
"Here's Toon Link!" continued Ness. "He doesn't say much, but he's super nice and a skilled swordsman."

Toon Link, who had left his hiding spot and come to sit with them, smiled and said something no one understood, before scooting closer to Ness.

"This is Kirby. He makes pretty good food, and likes to eat it too."

Mac looked at the pink blob who'd been eating the stuff Lucas had been throwing to Megaman. He wasn't really sure he'd try his cooking.

"I'm Megaman, but you can call me Rock. This is my first time here. Oh, and I'm a robot."

Mac was already kind of blasé. In the end, a robot looking and acting just like a human child seemed sort of normal compared to a ten years old capable of throwing thunder in people's faces.

"And he's the Villager." concluded Rock. "You can call him Villy too. I think. We do it and he doesn't protest, so I guess it's safe?"

The last child turned his head just a little bit towards Mac, with the same smile plastered on his face. Creepy.

"Nice to meet all of you. I'm Mac, and-"
"I thought your name was Little Mac? innocently asked Ness.
"Yeah, no, that's sort of an alias. But you can call me that too, if you want."
"Suits you." someone whispered with a giggle.
"WHO SAID THAT?"

Mac's amiable smile had turned into a death glare, but he quickly reminded himself that his interlocutors were children teasing him a bit. Not fellow boxers outright mocking him for his height, as usual.

"… sorry 'bout that. So as I said, I'm Mac, or Little Mac, whatever floats your boat, and I'm a boxer."

Villager's eyes instantly lighted up, and without saying a word, he crawled next to Mac and firmly grasped his left arm.

"I think he likes you." remarked Ness.
"Uh… yeah…" hesitated Mac.

On one side, the Villager seemed to be one of the calmest and most normal kids. But on the other hand, there was something… odd with him, even though Mac couldn't exactly tell what.