"Well this is just perfect," I thought. "I've taken up enough of Master hand's time already and besides…why do I get the feeling there's something he's not telling me? There's just something…missing with whatever he's telling me about the other Robin and Lucina. That can wait. Now there are more pressing matters at hand; I'm just going to have to figure out where my room is by other means."
By 'other means' even I wasn't sure what I meant. I barely knew any of the smashers, let alone their names. Of the 3 I did I could only really ask 1: If I asked Captain Falcon then I'm sure that would annoy Samus for whatever reason and I got the feeling Samus was someone not to get on the bad side of.
Likewise if I went to Samus then I'd have to deal with his/her distant atmosphere. It hadn't gone unnoticed by me that Samus was shot some weird looks by the others for offering to help and I really didn't want to draw any more attention then I already had. Rule 1 of being a tactician: don't draw unnecessary attention.
That left me with Luigi. He was the first person to talk to me and was by far the nicest I'd met. I'm sure all the others were nice as well but it's good to build on what you know first and then try new things later.
My mind made up, I tugged my coat closer around me and set off left down the hall. I'd just reached the stairs when I saw a potential person I could I ask enter through the side door of the floor below. If I could ask him then I wouldn't have to go and find Luigi which could take hours considering the size of the place.
"Hey wait!" I yelled to the figure, running down the steps two at a time.
"Eh?" The first thing I noticed was the smell. I hadn't even gotten within a metre of him and was hit by a wall of decaying vegetable matter. This guy absolutely reeked of garlic for some reason but I couldn't very well back down now that I'd got his attention, could I? "What d'ya want girlie?"
"Umm…" No one ever called me that (probably for good reason) so I was taken aback by his rudeness. For someone wearing motorcycle goggles and was at least a foot shorter than me, he sure was intimidating.
"I-I was just wondering if you could…"
"D'ya got any money?" He cut me off whilst (I can't believe I'm saying this) PICKING HIS NOSE!
"No I don…"
"Or garlic?"
"Well no…"
"THEN SCRAM! I'm busy." And with that he continued walking but then stopping after a few feet. I wondered if he'd changed his mind, only for him to squat slightly and release the most abominable, noxious gas from his backside that instantly made me feel dizzy.
I hadn't even been planning to stick around and press him for answers to where my room was after his rudeness, but with that cloud of death rapidly approaching I knew it was time to go. With my coat on I'm not the fastest runner but I love this coat and would never abandon it, even in dire times.
Mind you, dire times doesn't even cover what was following me, however, and I could gradually feel the fumes engulfing me. "What the hell does this guy eat? Toxic waste?!" Though my eyes were starting to water I could just make out a side door in front of me. "20 metres. 10 metres. Almost there."
I would of got there too if the door hadn't opened outward from the other side and hit me straight in the face. I collapsed on the floor, feeling my Levin sword skitter away from me across the marble floor and into the oncoming wall of gas that was rapidly approaching. My vision hazy from the impact I could just make out a figure framed in the door way.
They quickly bent down and lifted me up, bridal style, and proceed to run as fast as they could in the opposite direction to the gas. After the first 3 doors, my vision returned enough to see who it was who was carrying me.
He wore dark combat trousers, clad in an army jacket of sorts with a futuristic looking gun strapped to his side. Oh yeah I forgot to say…he's a fox.
"He must be pretty strong to carry me like this." I thought as we raced down corridors, ignoring that this animal was running on two legs. Zig-zagging haphazardly in an effort to lose the smell, after some time he gradually slowed down to a jog before stopping to ask.
"Can you stand?" As shocked as I was at seeing the fox talking I didn't want to appear rude and so said:
"Y-yes I believe so." At this he gently set me down, letting me notice for the first time that he was quite a bit shorter than me, though he did stand tall, almost militarily so. "Thank you very much for saving me."
"No problem. You must forgive me for hitting you in the face beforehand." I'd completely forgotten but it was nice for him to apologise.
"I'm just glad you were there. What was that…that cloud?"
"Code 9." He said not missing a beat.
"Huh?"
"The man you just encountered was Wario. He isn't pleasant at the best of times but occasionally he can…get even more unpleasant. You're lucky I happened to be there when I was. That cloud would have taken you out of this tournament before you'd even started." Though he'd just admitted I could have been out before I'd even started, his manner was very formal like reading out of a text book. Strange.
"Well thank you Mr… I'm sorry I don't believe we've met."
"Fox."
"Well thank you Mr Fox for probably saving my chances while I'm here."
"No problem. And it's just Fox." After this I bowed, like the other Robin had done in Master hand's office as was customary to people we feel indebted, and turned to go back down the hall. Fox, however, grabbed my hand which was unsurprisingly furry. "Sorry Ma'am but it's best to leave that area clear for a few hours."
"But…but my sword is still in there. I dropped it when you bumped into me." I protested.
"I'm very sorry but I think you should wait until after tea. Besides no one here would take it. Except maybe Wario if he thought he could sell it."
"Well…alright."
"Good. Now you should come with me to warn the others. That cloud will hang around for a long time and we can't risk anyone else running into it."
"This could be my chance! With everybody gathered in one place I can ask about my room. If not I can at least get acquainted with everyone. It'll be a good start either way." As I walked down the hallway I began to exchange friendly small talk with Fox. I learned of his team 'Starfox' protecting the Lylat system and his team member Falco also taking part in the tournament.
He also told me of his desire to find his out about his father, something I could relate to. I had never had any parents of my own but had spent enough time around Chrom and Lucina to know of the importance of family. I was considering telling him about my past to pass the time but by the time I'd worked up the courage we'd already arrived back out in the courtyard.
The train was gone but some of the smashers were still out and about, some chatting to each other, some training over by the lake I hadn't noticed earlier. Some were just milling around aimlessly, seemingly content to just watch the clouds. I would've been happy to do the same but I knew I still had to find out where my room was.
Fox steered us over to a small group made up of 4 people. The one in the middle looked like some sort of angel, complete with wings, only he looked only about 15 and was joking around with another boy who wore a red baseball cap and stripy shirt.
The other two were deep in discussion and I recognised one of them as Luigi and the other was the lady with brown hair who'd corrected him on Marth's identity earlier. Seeing us approaching, they stopped and turned.
"Greetings Fox and…Robin wasn't it?" The woman said.
"Well at least someone knows my name. Yes it is…what's your name?" I asked, not one to pass up an opportunity to make friends.
"Zelda, princess of Hyrule," she replied, shaking my hand with surprising strength for one so delicate looking. "And this is Pit." She gestured to the angel boy.
"Hello there!"
"And that's Ness." She pointed to the cap wearing boy.
"Sup?"
What's with his accent? I can barely understand him.
"And I believe you'd already met Luigi."
"Ah yes just the person I wanted to see," I said.
"Y-you wanted to see m-me?" He stuttered, for some reason unable to meet my eye. "What's the matter with him? Has he just realised I'm a woman and therefore can't talk straight. Weird."
"Yes I was hoping you could help me find my…"
"Sorry but there are more pressing matters at hand," Fox interjected. Normally I'd have been taken aback at his discourtesy but I knew full well that whatever had transpired in the main hall was serious enough to warrant it.
"Cool down, Fox," Pit said, raising an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"
"Code 9. Mega Wario waft in the main hall." It was like a switch had been flipped. One second everyone was calm and the next…chaos. Luigi practically jumped out of his skin and hid behind Zelda while Ness and Pit covered their noses with their arms. Zelda remained calm but still looked utterly disgusted.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Robin and I witnessed it."
"And there was me thinking we could get through a tournament without this happening." Ness sighed, holding out his cap for Pit to consider vomiting into.
"So this has happened before?" I asked, almost afraid to know more.
"In the tournament where Wario joined us he farted all over us the second he decided to appear. The exact second!" Zelda fumed. "Samus said it took her 11 washes to get the smell out of her zero suit. We'd better warn the others."
"My thoughts exactly," Fox agreed. "Pit, Ness take east side. Zelda and I will take west."
"Yes 'boss'," Pit replied, not without a hint of sarcasm. Handing back Ness's hat (after deciding not thrown up in it) the two set off in the opposite direction to Fox who'd already left with Zelda.
"Well there goes my chances of finding my room." I turned to leave, resolving to find my own way to my room when small cough brought me back to my senses. "Luigi! You're…still here. Why?"
"Well um…Fox didn't tell me to do anything and I probably wouldn't be much help anyway. Plus you said you wanted help with something."
"Yes that's right. Thanks Luigi!" Despite his disturbing lack of self-belief I knew he was good person at heart. Not unlike Tharja. "Now…do you know where in the mansion my room is located?" He scratched the back of his head, looking around nervously.
"W-well there's an information board inside which'll probably tell you."
"Can you take me?" He looked at me like I'd just asked him to resurrect Grima and serve him.
"Um…no. The information board's in the main hall…"
"…Where all of that gas is," I finished. "Well that's just great. Is there anyone else who might know?"
"Your roommate will."
"ROOMMATE!?" The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. "Do you know who my roommate is?"
"No but you could find out from the inf…oh right…ummm." I was slowly realising why Fox had decided to leave Luigi behind. He was next to useless, even if he was nice.
"Well is there anyone who would know?"
"Pr-probably. Maybe."
"Well maybe you can help me look?" I said, gritting me teeth. This guy would no doubt make a terrible tactician.
"We'll ask Lucario." He said, giving me some actually useful information for once. "He's very well informed for…reasons."
"Great!" I beamed, causing him to look awkwardly down. "Where's this 'Lucario'."
"Here." A voice echoed, causing Luigi to look for cover. I went for my sword, only to remember it was no longer in my possession.
"Show yourself!" I said with not nearly as much confidence as I had.
"Do not be afraid." It said. A figure, standing on the roof of the lowest level somersaulted off and landed next to me, which Luigi jumped (unsurprisingly) at. Lucario (I assume this is who Luigi meant) was blue around the face and legs with a cream patch in the centre. The black eye mask was odd to say the least but I was willing to let it slide. "You require my help?"
"Yes…but how did you know? Were you spying on us?" I asked, possibly a bit too threateningly. Lucario was unfazed which relieved me greatly.
"No. Your aura told of questioning and I'm aware when my name is being mentioned."
"Well ok. Must be some kind of magic. I need help finding my roommate or my room. Whichever is easier."
"Objects are hard to trace but people are easy. Your roommate is Captain Olimar of the Hocotate freight company. He's around the back of the mansion tending to his garden." He said before I could ask of the location. "I wonder how long you'll last…the record is 2 nights."
"Huh?!"
"Don't thank me." And with that he vanished, quite literally into thin air. I actually had wanted to thank him as he'd done more in 30 seconds than Luigi had done…ever. I also wanted to ask what he'd said about not lasting long in a room with this 'Olimar'.
That small regret aside, I now had a lead on my room situation and was not going to let it slip through my fingers by wasting time: there was no guarantee Olimar would stay in his garden so I'd have to hurry. My mind made up, I ran back towards the mansion, leaving Luigi alone, confused and scratching his cap, trying to make sense of all the things that had just happened.
Let's respond to reviews!
Guest: Don't worry I'm planning to stick with this story for quite some time.
The composer: You must be psychic 'cos those are two of the things that will be main points of future chapters. The deal is that Master hand knows of Robin (M) and Lucina being together but didn't want t o antagonise Robin (F) anymore by telling her. Instead he used another fair argument but by not telling Robin (F)…let's just say that plan is going to blow up in his face at some point. Also the Robins will be interacting at some points (not all of it will be pleasant)
Mo hare: Don't you worry sir/madam! Shulk will appear soon but remember that he joined the battle at a later stage. I aim to have Robin battle at least 1 veteran before meeting him
General stuff: I like writing but the key part is interaction. I aim to create an environment you can picture so you can enjoy it more. This means the story may be slower paced than you're used to but this is just my style. After all it can't all be brawls and action right? The smashers interact with the characters and environment outside of the games right?
On the chapter. Anyone who watched brawls e3 trailer way back around 2007/08 will remember Wario using wario waft during his cutscene so that's what everyone was talking about. I also wanted to make a joke at Robin being slow with that coat (he/she is really slow in game!)
I used Fox simply because I rarely see him used in the fics on this site and I do like to use him for battles. Why did I put Ness and Pit as pals? Come on! Physically (as well as mentally) they're roughly the same age and I can definitely imagine them getting on like some sort of comedy duo. Pit being the energetic one with Ness being more deadpan.
Next chapter: Robin finally meets her roommate and discovers why sharing a dormitory with him can be…unnerving. See you there folks!
Guest: Don't worry I'm planning to stick with this story for quite some time.
The composer: You must be psychic 'cos those are two of the things that will be main points of future chapters. The deal is that Master hand knows of Robin (M) and Lucina being together but didn't want t o antagonise Robin (F) anymore by telling her. Instead he used another fair argument but by not telling Robin (F)…let's just say that plan is going to blow up in his face at some point. Also the Robins will be interacting at some points (not all of it will be pleasant)
Mo hare: Don't you worry sir/madam! Shulk will appear soon but remember that he joined the battle at a later stage. I aim to have Robin battle at least 1 veteran before meeting him
General stuff: I like writing but the key part is interaction. I aim to create an environment you can picture so you can enjoy it more. This means the story may be slower paced than you're used to but this is just my style. After all it can't all be brawls and action right? The smashers interact with the characters and environment outside of the games right?
On the chapter. Anyone who watched brawls e3 trailer way back around 2007/08 will remember Wario using wario waft during his cutscene so that's what everyone was talking about. I also wanted to make a joke at Robin being slow with that coat (he/she is really slow in game!)
I used Fox simply because I rarely see him used in the fics on this site and I do like to use him for battles. Why did I put Ness and Pit as pals? Come on! Physically (as well as mentally) they're roughly the same age and I can definitely imagine them getting on like some sort of comedy duo. Pit being the energetic one with Ness being more deadpan.
Next chapter: Robin finally meets her roommate and discovers why sharing a dormitory with him can be…unnerving. See you there folks!