Chapter 2: Warmth

The morning will come. Mario has said those words to Luigi countless times. Whenever his younger brother found himself in the midst of a panic attack, Mario always said in a gentle voice: La matina volera venire. Nights are never forever, the morning will come and the day can start again. Mario just never thought that the night could disappear.

Everything blurred together that day. It was tiresome yesterday. The night had left him sick, and so he wanted to sleep in. Just an extra hour, his mind needed the rest. Once or twice he awoke to voices, shuffling outside his window, but his body refused to move and so he'd plunge back into a deep sleep. Deep, buried in a dream where he stood by the fountain. The stars were so beautiful... They were falling, shining, crashing down... He awoke with a start as Luigi frantically shook him awake.

"M-Mario! Mario, abbiamo un problema..!" (Mario, we have a problem..!)

But Mario was still exhausted. He couldn't even remember what he said back. He just knew they were out the door, frantic and holding onto one another. Luigi was shaking, trembling, and his hands could barely grasp his brother's. There was too much going on in the world, it was overflowing. Everyone was rushing around, herding all towards the large gates leading outside of town. Up in arms, he could only assume they were all fleeing. He forced himself to gaze up. Somehow, for some reason, the stars were still in the morning sky. Shining, twinkling, taunting...

"Mario..."

"Sarà va bene," (It will be ok), Mario said with a reassuring smile, but his own voice had began to crack. He was right. As they blurred past Ganondorf's home the only thing on his mind was the night prior. Had he already fled? Would he truly keep safe? Even as confusion and fear weighed down his shoulders he pushed forward. He could hear Kirby above, flying past. Just another star in the sky. He could see Link just a little ways ahead, and so he ran to catch up.

"Link, wh-what's happened? Where are we all going?!"

But Link could only offer two simple words before he was out of ear shot: Master Hands. Plural. That was around the time Mario remembered finally feeling a mix of panic and relief. It was a problem, by the looks of it even a disaster, but a familiar disaster. They knew how to defeat Master Hand. Nearly everyone here had faced him and Crazy Hand countless times. Something awful was happening, but then it seemed much smaller than before. He could recall so vividly walking himself through the days to come. Everyone would get shelter, hide. They'd gather their resources and strength, and once it would be time to strike Luigi could stay with the children. After all, as strong as they were, the idea of losing such young lives, or even his gentle brother... They would win though. Maybe some small injuries, but all would return happy and drunk on joy. The team tourney would feel that much more special with this event. He and Ganondorf, they'd officially become friends through the ordeal and tournament. All would be well, perfect. And then Mario saw they were running towards the cliffs, that this was a now problem, not something to run from. All the children, all the more gentle and more robust, all were charging forward with gusto. They had a terrifying energy to them, like they were prepared to lose their lives for this. There's something about seeing someone so small and timid as Lucas charging in by Ness's side, that same shine in his eyes that made Mario start to sway. This wasn't normal. This wasn't familiar. Something awful had happened and Mario had missed the catalyst.

What followed was more or less a blur. He saw those leading moments in color though. Everyone gathered at the cliffs. Fox was saying something... But after that, all he could think of was warmth. Warmth, and blinding light, engulfing his body. He was knocked back so hard he could barely breathe, and Luigi's hand lost grip. Or maybe light had taken him over as well. He couldn't remember. Just warmth, the ground leaving his feet... He felt like he was drifting up, up, up... And then, the brightness dimmed. Suddenly the air cooled, the ground no longer rocky but soft like grass. He fell hard, his body skidding through the field before finally lying still and silent. As he slowly found himself regaining his senses what first struck him was the taste of blood in his mouth, sharp but somewhat familiar: someone had hit him hard, much harder than what he remembered sending him flying. His body jolted, gasping for air and frantically grasping at the ground, his vision too hazy to recognize the landscape fully. Fields like this couldn't be found anywhere near the cliffs... Now on his back, staring blanking at the sky while his lungs scrambled for oxygen, he found a certain ball of pink just in his peripheral.

"Kirby?" He forced himself to sit up, squinting to be sure. And just as he thought, Kirby stood just inches away, his little face an odd mix of guilt, concern, and joy.

"Poyo...!" He felt almost hesitant to approach, but Mario didn't care. He lunged, holding onto him tightly. Something familiar, something he remembered.

"Kirby, what even-?" Mario paled as Kirby went on with his little babble. Kirby couldn't tell him what happened. Kirby couldn't tell him a thing. His language of little sounds would never be able to answer what was on his mind. "Oh gosh..." With a shaky sigh he stood up and brushed off his overalls, head pounding. No matter how he racked his brain all he could think was the bright lights and warmth. Could Master Hand really have done something like this...? And why the sudden change in setting? He took a hard look at the rolling hills and plains, the sun shining brightly over patches of wild flowers. He played absentmindedly with a wild poppy as he tried to picture where in all of Smash this was? It was just as he was making a mental map he realized that it was just him and Kirby sitting in a field. Alone. He looked, and looked, hoping to see other fighters passed out like he was lying amongst the greenery, but not a soul was in sight. A lump had built in his throat now.

"Kirby... Where is everyone? Did I get separated?" Though he couldn't understand a word he was saying, Mario could tell from the shine in his eyes it wasn't good news.

"W-Was everyone separated? That can't be right... Unless we were all knocked unconscious and moved. But even then... There had to be survivors, right? You must've gotten away, right? Before the l-...light got you." He found himself stuttering over the very word, a smile on his face but eyes desperate for some kind of good news. Kirby shook his head. "No... Even the children? Even Luigi...?"

"Poh..."

"Oh g-gosh, oh, oh no..." There was a heavy feeling in his chest, like a weight on his lungs. It was a new feeling, utterly engulfing. He tried to ignore it and forced himself to look forward. "Well, if you got away, then I think someone else must have as well. And if you're waking us all up, I bet he is too."

"Poyo?"

"Ganondorf." Mario said it firm, staring out the horizon. "He was especially worried something like this would happen. He even promised he'd stay safe, he can't go back on his word. Even if he isn't helping the others, I... I know he would want to beat Master Hand for ruining everything like this. He'd be working hard to defeat him."

"Poh, poyo!" Kirby was suddenly jumping up and down, shaking his little head.

"Not Master Hand?" So it was a new foe then... Mario forced a grin. "That's alright. We've managed this before, right? And we have a little hope to look forward to now." He placed a warm hand atop Kirby's head. "Thank you for helping me, Kirby. Let's help everyone we can, ok?"

"Poyo!"

Though he was confused, afraid, he managed to look forward with a smile. Things would be ok. Things have to be ok.

And yet still, the horrible pit in his chest remained.

Hey guys, thanks for all the support just from chapter one! All the favorites, follows, its really brightened up my day! I hope I can keep up to everyone's expectations (: Can't wait to post chapter 3!