Hey. Sorry this took so long. I've been having a major case of writer's block. But now, I have a storyline planned in my head so (in theory), I shouldn't run out of stuff to write and by the way, I'm changing my style of writing. Instead of third person, I'll be writing in first person, but writing about the POVs of different characters, not the same one until the end of the story. Sorry I didn't start writing in first person since the first chapter. That idea just popped into my head. Also, I wanted to say that, let's face it, Smash has over 50 characters so I won't be focusing on each of them, specifically. If you want me to focus on any character you like, tell me through the reviews. I already got a request to focus on Lucas, which I will but that won't come until later :). If you have any questions or requests, don't hesitate to ask through either PMs or reviews! So now that that's done, enjoy :).
Chapter 3: Troubles among the Fighters
(Samus)
Mushroom City.
Whenever I would tell people I've been living here for the past five years, they would look at me, wondering why I am not in a mental hospital. Yes, I know that I'm the type of person who should be in a more…..modern place. Maybe somewhere on Tech Island, but Mushroom City has something other towns and cities don't have.
Peace.
No noisy traffic at night. No yelling and screaming on the streets. The Toads are all very friendly and Peach was kind enough to give me a room in the castle (even though it's excessively pink) and God knows that I could use some peace right now. Ever since what happened.
Ever since what happened five years ago.
I decided to slap on a pair of jeans and a shirt and go out to the Mushroom Square today. After all, I get bored from staying in the castle too long. The Mushroom Square was busy as ever. Toads bustling around, entering shops, and exiting them, trying to get their daily essentials. There were even a few other creatures around, but the Toads outnumbered them like 10 to 1. I saw Koopas, Goombas, and even a few human beings like myself. They were either natives to the Mushroom Kingdom or tourists from a distant land. Surprisingly, the Goombas and Koopas looked peaceful, unlike the ones who work under Bowser.
Pfft Bowser. That no-good traitor. He almost screwed us in the last war if he hadn't come to his senses that he was working for the wrong guy.
The Square wasn't much. It just shops and restaurants laid out in a square with a fountain in the middle. Four pathways, one on each side of the 'square', led in and out of the area.
So I walked to my favorite café at the Square. It was both quiet and delicious. The only two things I look in places nowadays! I ordered a cup of coffee and sat outside the café, looking out towards the whole Square.
Suddenly, all the people in the Square turned towards a pathway across from me and started clapping and cheering. All the Toads swarmed the pathway, making it impossible for anyone to see who is causing all this commotion. But I didn't have to see to know who it was.
And why they were here.
The crowd being to calm down and parted to make way for the smiling, blonde woman with a thick pink dress, looking and walking towards me.
"Good afternoon, Samus," said Peach in a cheerful tone as she took a seat across from me.
"Hey Peach," I said in a neutral tone, while taking a sip from my coffee. I was obviously suspicious. If Peach had to come all the way down here to talk to me, then she had something important to throw at me, "Would you like me to get you anything?'
"No I'm good," she replied, looking out towards the Square, "Beautiful day isn't it?"
"If it wasn't, then I wouldn't be out," I said, sounding a bit annoyed. Peach seemed to have noticed that. She moved her gaze to me.
"Um, is this a bad time?"
"Better time than any, I suppose," I said, putting my cup down, "What do you want?"
"Well, it's not what I want really," said Peach, her expression slowly changing from cheerful to concerned, "I was told that I needed to inform you about something that happened a few moments ago."
"I'm all ears."
"Fox's squad were recently sent to investigate some sort of planet," said Peach in a volume that no one could hear but me and her. She didn't really have to whisper since the noise in the Square was enough to keep us from being heard, "Unfortunately, they got swarmed by uhh what was their name? Hams? Hyms?"
"Hydras?!" I exclaimed, shocked. Some people turned to look at me for a few moments. Peach quickly shushed me and looked around, nervously.
"Err sorry," I said in a lower voice, "Anyways, they were attacked by Hydras?!"
"A large number of them," responded Peach, "They even had laser rifles. It was a real messy situation."
If there was one thing I hated, other than Metroids, it was those damned Hydras. Those big, red, scaly sons of bitches. Their species is spread all over the universe. Whenever they see someone who isn't a Hydra, they attack. Must be a reflex or something. They either attack bare-handed or with weapons. Worst case scenario, they attack in huge numbers with laser rifles.
"Well, what happened to them?" I asked, concerned. Back before the Tabuu war, I worked alongside the Star Fox squad. We explored planets together. We fought red freaks together. They even said if I was a Furry, they would have let me join their team! But I haven't done anything with them for five years now….
"They survived the ambush," replied Peach, "They called Jackson from Smash HQ and he deployed one of Smash's new recruits."
"Ugh, the new recruits," I said with a groan. I heard about how the new Smash Council were recruiting new fighters like crazy. It kind of changes our team's style from 'special squad fighters' to the equivalent of an army of simple soldiers all armed with the same weapons. It's only a matter of time before they start assigning Sergeants and Lieutenants.
"Well what newbie did they send?"
Peach smiled, "The only other fighter available in outer space, Rosalina."
"Rosalina?!" I asked in disbelief, "Our Rosalina?"
Peach nodded, with a smile. I met Rosalina when she came to visit the Mushroom Kingdom. She's pretty cool but a little…strange. I mean she was this young woman living on a flying magical space station and acting as a motherly figure to those little Luma creatures. I never knew anything about her past and neither did anyone who met her, including Peach.
"Wow I never expected her to get into Smash team," I said. Then a thought struck me. Peach came all the way out here to tell me this story? No, there has to be something else she wanted to say.
"So, is there anything else I need to know?" I asked, suspiciously.
Peach didn't respond immediately. She just looked out towards the people walking around the Square. "Busy day, huh?"
"Peach, spit it out," I said.
Peach sighed and turned to look at me, "If it wasn't for Rosalina, the Star Fox squad may have not survived because before Rosalina, there were only two units available in space. The Star Fox squad and….." Peach paused for a moment, "And you."
I should have seen that coming. "Peach," I said, slowly, "I told you over and over I don't want to talk about this ever."
"Listen to me Samus," said Peach, "You are needed there. You haven't left the Mushroom City in five years. I mean you can't stay here forever."
"Can't I take a vacation?" I said, starting to get annoyed and angry.
"This isn't a vacation, this is a permanent retirement," said Peach, with concern "You haven't even put on your Mech suit or your Zero suit in five years."
I looked down at my regular clothes. Usually, I would see a shiny blue suit down there so it always felt weird to wear these clothes.
I wish I could say this was the first I had this conversation with Peach. She is always urging me to go back to the Star Fox space station and continue my duties with them.
But they don't understand how I feel. Ever since that incident….
"Peach," I said in a low voice, "Drop this topic right now."
"Samus, please understand I'm trying to hel-"
"I had a nightmare last night," I interrupted, "I was reliving that day. I re-experienced every single detail of that day."
"I'm sure they will stop eventually but you can't just quit because of that inci-"
"I GOT PEOPLE KILLED, DAMNIT," I slammed my fist on the table and yelled. The volume in the Square dramatically dropped and all eyes were on me, "I GOT HIM KILLED AND I WILL NOT BE THE CAUSE OF ANY MORE DEATHS!"
"Samus calm down plea-"
I stood up. Tears were starting to form in my eyes, "THEN STOP BRINGING UP THIS DAMNED TOPIC!"
With that, I quickly stormed out of the Square, pushing past watching crowd and wiping tears off my cheeks. After I got out of the Square, I ran into the Mushroom Forest. A forest that's at the outskirts of Mushroom City. It's a place where I can't be disturbed. Once I was inside the forest, I collapsed in front of a tree and cried into my hands.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed, "I'm so sorry."
(Mario)
This sure is boring
Here I was, at Smash HQ, waiting for that idiot in his office. Sheesh these "Smash Council" people sure liked to keep us waiting.
The office wasn't that bad. There was the classic desk and chair. Some papers were scattered across the desk and a computer was on the far left. Behind the desk was a large window where you can look down at the Smash HQ compound, which was where I was at right now, or look across at the skyscrapers of Smash City.
Looking down at the compound, I could see some men running around the building. Smash troopers. While we, the Smash fighters, are doing all the major fighting, these guys are responsible for keeping civilians safe and keeping enemy forces away from them. I turned around and, on the west wall, was a huge trophy case. I stifled a laugh as I looked inside it. There, inside the case were all of the Smash fighters in 'trophy' form. None of the new ones were there though but I was there and I looked the coolest, since I had a fireball in my hand.
I turned around and on the wall across of me, was a map of the entire planet. It had all the islands of Earth.
Mushroom Kingdom, my sweet home.
Hyrule, home to Link and his friends.
Alkanei, home to Marth and co.
Mobius, home to the latecomer Sonic.
Eagleland, home to Ness and his PK friends.
Popstar Island, home to Kirby and his "frenemies".
Pokémon Island, an amazing huge island that is home to all the Pokémon.
Bionis? I heard this was the home of a new Smash fighters named Shulk. I never met him.
Retro Island, a large island that is home to many Retros, including Mr. Game and Watch and ROB.
There was also a cloud shaped island that had arrows going around the planet Earth. That was Cloud City, home to Pit. It's based on a large cloud that floats high in the sky and it moves around the Earth so it's pretty difficulty if anyone wants to take a vacation up there!
And last but definitely not least, there was the massive Tech Island, which was where I was at. Tech Island is like the superior nation in the planet. It is the founder of the Smash fighters and they are famous for their advanced technology.
As I began reading the city names marked on the islands, the door opened. I turned away from the map and looked at the man standing in the doorway and burst into laughter.
The man was middle aged and had black hair that had a few white strands in it. Usually I would see him in a suit but he was wearing a large white robe with the Smash logo on it.
"Nice robes, Becker." I laughed.
The man sneered, "Shut up Maria."
With that, I walked up to him and shook his hand, "Nice seeing you again John," I said.
John Becker. He was like the head of the Smash Council and was very close to Master Hand, until his death.
"Great seeing you too, Mario," John replied, "Sorry for being late, I had a few matters to deal with."
"Ah not a problem," I said as I walked towards the trophy case, "I was just entertaining myself with….these?"
"Ah, I see you found my collection," said John excitedly, as he joined me at the trophy case, "This toy company called Amiibo were making these for kids to enjoy but they are terrible at keeping up with stock and demand."
"What do you mean?"
"The trophies were extremely successful and it was hard for them to keeping making new stocks, so most of these trophies are rare."
"Then how did you get them?"
John looked at me funny, "I'm part of the Smash Council? I sent a private request to Amiibo to get me all of them."
"Really?" I said with a sneer, "And how much did they cost you?"
"That's…not important," said John as he turned away from the case and went to sit at his desk, "So what do you need, old friend?"
My smile disappeared as I walked in front of his desk, "It's been five years since the last war against Subspace and…"
"And you're concerned about another invasion happening." finished Becker, as he typed something into his computer.
Mario nodded.
"There is a reason why it's been five years since that incident," said John, as he turned his computer monitor to face me. The monitor was showing a blueprint of a huge antennae. The type that was circular with a rod sticking out in the middle. "This is the Portal Jammer, a project that was ordered since the first Subspace attack and recently finished."
"How does it work?" I asked with interest.
"The technology Subspace invaders uses to create portals to enter Earth is extraordinary," explained John, "A powerful entity has the ability to create portals which link up to him so when he dies or gets severely wounded, the portals disappear with him."
John pressed a key on his keyboard and the image on the monitor changed to a large blue humanoid creature and a large hand with twitchy fingers. "We saw this happen with Crazy Hand and Tabuu," John said the name 'Tabuu' with disgust. After all, Tabuu was responsible for Master Hand's death.
"At the first Subspace war, we fought Crazy Hand and his forces and once we 'theoretically' destroyed Crazy Hand, the portals he created disappeared and the same thing happened with that piece of shit, Tabuu."
"So what is the role of the antennae?"
"These are specially designed antennae that basically stops the creation of portals in the whole planet," he said, " I won't delve into the technology used to create these but we already have one built and set up at the Star Fox space station."
"The space station?" I said in disbelief, "Are you sure that's safe?"
"Well we helped Fox and his friends set up the space station in the first place so it's pretty secure," responded John, "Also, the Star Fox space station's position is perfect for the jammer since its up in space and it revolves around the planet so bottom line, it is now scientifically impossible for portals to be made on Earth."
Mario shook his head, "How do you know this is enough?"
"Look, I know you are worried after seeing," John paused for a second, "Him five years ago."
"You have no idea how powerful Master Core is," I said, starting to get frustrated, "The fact that he still alive with Crazy Hand on his side means that there will be another attack."
"Well, what do you want us to do, Mario," asked John, throwing his hands in the air, "We can't send a squad into Subspace to destroy those two. Subspace is a big place so it is practically impossible to navigate through it."
"I don't know when or how but those two will find a way to get past that Jammer," I said, "And if they do, we won't stand a chance."
"You were outnumber-"
"It was ONE against nine," I said, emphasizing the 'one', "Crazy Hand just watched as Master Core single handedly took us all out. You didn't see how strong Master Core was and me, Ness and Samus were lucky to escape alive."
Suddenly, a beep was heard. John reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a radio. He pressed the flashing red button and spoke, "Becker here."
"John, you are needed down at the Hearing Room," a woman's voice sounded through the radio. "Dr Mario's hearing is about to start,"
"I'll be right there," said John as he stopped pushing the button and put the radio back in his pocket, "Sorry Mario but I have to go."
"Is that the reason why you're wearing those stupid robes?"
"Yep," said John as he got up from his desk chair, "It's traditional to wear them during hearings."
"Do you think Dr Mario has a chance of rejoining the Smash fighters?" I asked. I have known Dr Mario for a long time. He lived in Mushroom City and I was surprised to find someone who looked extremely similar to me! He joined the Smash fighters before the first Subspace war but quit after that war was over. The poor guy was traumatized from all the shock of that war. Now, he wants to rejoin so the Smash Council are holding a hearing to determine whether he will become a Smash fighter again or not.
"To be honest, that hearing could go either way," said John, "He certainly won't win any points with Lockett and Dixon."
I rolled my eyes. Locket and Dixon, two other members of the Smash Council. Lockett was okay but she is concerned about the Smash fighter's willpower and I'm pretty sure she doesn't think Dr Mario has high willpower after his 'surprise resignation.'
As for Dixon, he was basically a complete dick. He despises weak fighters and lashes out at them.
"Well, what do you think?"
"I think he could work out," said Becker, "I mean, he does have pretty unique abilities."
Becker here doesn't like fighters having the same abilities. He wants each fighter to have their own unique abilities.
"What about Gould and Richardson?"
"Well, you know Gould, she's all about good hearted fighters," he said, rolling his eyes, "You should have seen how she reacted years ago when Master Hand let Bowser and Ganondorf join, but I think Gould thinks Dr Mario has a good heart."
"As for Richardson, it could go either way with him," he continued, "He's mostly quiet during hearings but he is concerned about fighters focusing on the job so he doesn't take a liking if some fighters have other things going on in their lives."
I smirked as Becker started walking towards his door, "So he's like your tie breaker?"
"Yep," said Becker as he grabbed the door knob, "To be honest, I'm more concerned about the next hearing."
"Wait what?" I asked, shocked, "I thought you were only having one hearing today,"
Becker turned to me, still holding the door knob, "You don't know?" he asked, "We called in Ness for a hearing?"
"WHAT?" I yelled, "You can't kick him out."
"It's not up to me and it might not come down to that," said Becker, "At our last council meeting, Dixon made a motion about Ness being 'too weak' now and he wanted him out."
I gritted my teeth, "That bastard Dixon. Why is he even in the council?"
"You know why," said Becker, "Master Hand wrote down five names in his will to take over the Smash project if something happened to him. Myself, Lockett, Gould, Richardson and Dixon."
I didn't say anything. I just quietly seethed with anger. Ness was here since the first initiative and he has done so much and sacrificed so much for Smash. Now, that ungrateful bastard, Dixon, wants him out.
"Look, it took a long debate but we decided to hold a hearing," Becker said, "Lockett and Richardson agreed to hold the hearing with Dixon but me and Gould were completely against it. I will try my best to change their minds though."
"I hope you do," I said, "Ness is powerful and the Smash fighters would be nothing without him."
"You aren't wrong friend," responded John, "You are welcome to come with me to the Hearing Room to observe the hearings."
I shook my head, "As much as I wish I could, I have a long journey back to Mushroom City. I was unable to find a direct flight back there so I have to transit to Eagleland and spend the night there."
Becker smirked, "I heard Eagleland is a nice place so don't worry," He pulled the door open.
"So what about what we were just discussing?"
He stepped through the doorway and turned to me, "I promise I'll talk to the rest of the council about it and we'll see what else we can do so, until next time, Maria."
"When will you stop calling me that?" I said as I followed him through the doorway and into the hallway.
He closed the door and smiled, "Until I get bored of it."
With that, he turned away and walked down the hallway to the elevator.
"I hope you know what you're doing Becker," I quietly said to myself as I walked down the opposite way of the hallway.
So there we have it. I'm already working on Chapter 4 and it should be out in a few days.
If you have anything to ask me, please do and I will answer them in the next chapter. Anyways, thanks for reading and see you next time :).
