Disclaimer: I don't own Smash Bros. The series itself belongs to Nintendo.
Author's Note: Look out for a new scene in this chapter.
Super Smash Bros. 3D
Royal Battle in 3D
The morning of New York City was shattered when a massive fireball ripped off a chunk of a high-level skyscraper. Citizens' screams followed.
Pit suddenly flew over the towering skycrapers, fully aware that he was being chased by flying minion dragons. The dragons spewed fire and Pit dodged every blow they could unleash. Their fire struck more skyscrapers, causing more screaming and more people to evacuate.
"The Underworld Army is attacking the city!" Pit shouted over the skies. He sported to his left ear a wireless Bluetooth earpiece.
An Arwing was then spotted, moving toward the angel from behind, "And so are the skies, kid! So are the skies!" Fox Mc. Cloud was heard from inside the Arwing.
"Well then, let us keep destroying them." The voice of Samus Aran was heard from Pit's earpiece, "What we do not want to catch is the people's attention."
Too late. The battle in the sky not only caught the citizens' attentions but drew them closer to it like bees to honeycombs. Mass squads of NYPD police cruisers and motorbikes, FDNY's fire trucks, and ambulances came rushing in pursuit. Even the news crew showed up.
"Man, there sure are a lotta people out there." Falco said. "Place looks nothing like Cornelia."
Fox ignored the distraction and repetitively pushed on his laser button, firing at many of the flying Underworld creatures. Pit summoned his Blade and fired rapid-plasma shots. The two Nintendo characters moved in sync, blasting their enemies sky-high with assaults of lasers and gunblade energy blasts.
"Falco. What of the status of the White Knight?" Samus spoke to Falco's Bluetooth earpiece.
Falco pushed on his earpiece and a small tiny holographic screen covered his eyes like sunglasses. He stared down below the city.
"White Knight is tracked and locked." Falco replied, zeroing in on a figure running through a blocked traffic on Fifth Avenue. It looked a lot like Jace Riders.
Fifth Avenue had to stay jam-packed by traffic with the city skies lighting up with explosions and fireworks above the panicky citizens, running and avoiding rains of defeated 3D-animated Nintendo monsters. They thought it was yet another terrorist attack but then when they saw these monsters coming down on them, they began questioning what the hell was going on.
Only Jace knew what was going on. And the answer was obvious: Super Smash Bros. 3D… in real life!
Ever since he stole the Nintendo 3DS, he had accidentally unleashed the Smash Bros. 3D world into his own world. And now like a viral infection, the colorful Nintendo characters—heroes, monsters and villains—were spreading out across the city and there was no way he alone could stop this.
He ran across the blocked traffic, leapt from cars to cars, soared over people, and dodged over the crashing monsters.
Suddenly a Shadow Beast from Zelda Twilight Princess came down on two taxis, crushing their tops with their massive black feet. The startled Jace almost lost his balance by the beast's appearance. Drivers and passengers evacuated their vehicles and sped off the streets joining the fleeing pedestrians at the sight of the black menace.
The Shadow Beast swung its arms at Jace. Jace bent back, dodging the attack. The Beast then swung under and Jace jumped. Jace quickly grabbed an umbrella from a fleeing middle-aged gentleman and right when the Beast brought two arms down at him, he blocked upward with the umbrella. The Beast pushed its arms down, forcing Jace on his knees. The beast snarled.
"AAaah—! M-MAN, you're freakishly strong!" he exclaimed.
The beast snarled again.
Jace managed to push the Shadow Beast back and swung the umbrella. The Beast back-flipped and melted into the cab's top. Jace froze. The Shadow Beast re-emerged from behind; its hissing caught his attention. Jace pulled the umbrella open, pushing the Shadow Beast back once more. But the force pushed him back also, and he let go off the umbrella, tripped off from the car to land on another.
The Shadow Beast jumped and landed on top of Jace, its feet spread apart crushed the car's top and framed his chest; its humane fingers ran through the car's top near his face. Jace gasped, sweats poured down on his forehead. The Beast tauntingly closed its face at him, letting its tentacles tickle his smooth face. Jace sputtered. "Aww, man… this is worse than being pinned down by a roach…!"
The Beast pulled its hands off the broken car top and raised its arms ready to bring it down on him. A bright light suddenly came charging at the creature and struck it hard on its plate-shaped chest. It flew off Jace and back 20 feet, hissing in pain before crashing to a lamp post. Jace turned away from the beast and faced Pit descending besides him, wielding a cannon on hand.
"Somebody called for a guardian angel?" Pit asked.
"Pit?" Jace blinked, "Pit of Skyworld?"
"In the flesh!" Pit pulled Jace up to his feet, "Well, not exactly in the flesh. More like in a form not like yours, but cooler." He beamed, "Boy! Am I glad to see you're still alive!"
Pheeeewww…
The number of running citizens suddenly increased, and so was the hissing noise behind Jace and Pit. The duo narrowed their eyes suspiciously.
"Is someone whistling?" Pit asked.
Jace looked over Pit and watched a Bullet Bill coming straight toward them. "That's no whistling!"
Pit looked back and his blue eyes widened. The Bullet Bill was closing in, its shark teeth ready to devour its prey.
"OH SNAP!" Pit left the car's top and immediately whisked Jace into the air by the colon seconds before the Bullet Bill struck down the car they were standing on. "WHOA!"
Pit and Jace watched the rain of Bullet Bills traversing the streets and taking down all the cars out of the way and at their pursuit. The running crowd picked up pace.
One cabdriver who came through an intersection got out of his vehicle and watched the panicked citizens. He looked to his left and watched the Bullet Bill coming toward him. "Uh-oh..."
The Bullet Bill struck the vehicle and he went flying from the billowing explosion.
"Oh, NOW we got Bullet Bills?" Jace complained, as thousands of Bullet Bills continued its pursuit.
"Be thankful that they're NOT Ganewmedes!" Pit exclaimed, "Now these guys are scary."
"Oooh… yeah, tell me about it." Jace exclaimed, "I once had a nightmare of them, almost wet my bed!"
"No kidding?"
"Yeah, no chi…OHHH!" Jace screamed, watching a Bullet Bill speeding at them from the front. Pit twirled down with Jace, avoiding the bullet. The bullet ripped through more vacant cars along the way. More explosions ignited the streets.
Fox and Falco were airborne, crossing the streets and watching the Bullet Bills razing through the avenue.
"Pit and Jace, pick up pace!" Samus was heard on Fox's earpiece, "Fox and Falco, you guys deal with the Bullet Bills."
"On it!" Fox yelled out. His Arwing and Falco's went apart and started firing lasers at the Bullet Bills. The Bills exploded, causing more explosive chaos in the air.
More Bullet Bills flew toward the city. So were more of the Underworld dragons. Falco's Arwing descended until it was now on target to the enemies and the Bullet Bills. The Arwing twirled facing the enemies, "Eat cheese, creeps!" Falco exclaimed and fired a powerful cannonball-shaped laser, wiping out the creatures and bombs. More explosive clouds ripped the city skies.
One of the Underworld dragon flew past Falco and went at Jace and Pit's pursuit. "HEEY!" Falco barked.
"Guys! Pick up paces! Pick up paces! " Fox shouted, addressing to Pit via his earpiece. Pit cocked his head on the side, not understanding the message. Jace saw the dragon at full pursuit and his eyes stretched out wide, "Watch out! Watch out! WATCH OUT!"
Pit finally took notice of the dragon behind. The Dragon spewed a tree-size blue beam, "WHOOAA!" Pit let go off Jace and flew upward. The screaming Jace tumbled on the cars like a ragged doll. The Dragon's beam vanished and Pit rushed to grab Jace again.
"Oops! Sorry!" the angel grinned nervously, "You're okay?"
"I'll be f-fine…!" Jace slurred.
The dragon charged and shot another beam. Pit and Jace kept on dodging the beast's attack. The pursuit went on till the duo reached Washington Square Park. The chaos of the city was behind them, but its noises still lingered from the dragon. Luckily there was not many witnesses in sight.
"I'll take it from here Pit!" Jace said.
"Y'sure pal?" Pit asked, making for a landing.
Jace landed firmly on solid concrete, "Yeah!" he faced the dragon, ready to charge another beam. He pulled out his Nintendo 3DS—the magical limited-edition Smash Bros Nintendo 3DS—from his side pockets and pulled out its stylus, "Watch the magic!"
The dragon shot another beam. He pointed the stylus at the Dragon like a wand and a spark of electricity shot out of the stylus, cut through the dragon's beam and surged through the dragon. The dragon roared in pain until its massive size shrank down to a mini-figurine form before Pit and a few onlookers. Some of the onlookers fainted. Some of them were frozen solid in utter shock.
Pit beamed, "ALL RIGHT! Thanks buddy!" Pit grabbed the dragon by the tail before it could flee; "Now I got a play date!"
Jace blew on the stylus and took off halfway down the block, running, and nearing NYU's entrance. He then saw Mario and Luigi before him. He skidded to a complete stop.
"You're-a getting late." Mario said to him.
Jace huffed, "Boy, you have-a no idea."
"Only thirty seconds left!" Mario announced, "Here's-a your duffel bag." He handed Jace's bag to him. Jace slipped his bag over his shoulder.
"And your books!" Luigi slammed down heavy books to Jace's arms.
"Thanks!" Jace was about to take off when he stopped, "Wait a minute, thirty seconds?! I won't make it."
"Shortcut!" Luigi pointed on the ground on cue for Mario to raise his arm up. A Green Pipe pulled out of the concrete floor before Jace.
"Sweet!" Jace grinned, "Thanks!" He jumped onto the pipe and quickly the platform he was in sank him deep into the pipe. Everything went dark for a brief second and he felt the same platform take him up out of the pipe like an elevator.
He saw the hallway before him and his classroom was right beside him. Luckily, nobody was in the hallway to see this little Nintendo trick. He jumped off the pipe and the pipe vanished back into the slick tile floor. He dashed into the classroom. It looked like a typical student classroom with rows of tables and students' seats following down the steps like at a small stadium and facing a large white overhead and a podium where the professor was. The professor was taking roll.
Jace quickly went down the steps, catching nearby students' attention besides him. He made sure he wasn't making too much noise but was quick enough to reach his seat. He saw Hunt in the middle. Hunt pointed him a spot next to him and Jace went for it, squeezing past complaining students.
"Jacen Riders?" the professor finally said his name.
Jace landed on his seat and dropped his duffel bag on the ground, "HERE!" he shouted with a heavy sigh.
"Emma Stevenson?" The professor went on with the roll call. Hunt smiled at his friend, "So, you're right on time. How was your marathon?" he joked.
Jace fought to speak through his labored wheezing, but couldn't get the words out. "…j…just… peachy… wake me up when the stars are done dancing will ya?" his eyes rolled up like slot machines and everything went black afterward.
All students turned to the attention of the fainted student. Even the professor stopped taking roll call. Hunt threw a dismissive hand, smiling ear to ear, "he'll be fine."
xXx
-New York University, Quad-
"Monsters Onslaught in New York City! Nintendo's Biggest All-Stars Spotted! "
This was the biggest news headline that was sweeping the nation and the world.
TVs, radios, and the Internet were at a blasting buzz on the battle in Manhattan, New York City that happened earlier that morning. Details emerged on flying Underworld monsters and Bullet Bills, and Nintendo characters flying over the city taking them down one by one. If it wasn't the sudden sky battle, their lively 3D appearances were quite shocking as well. So shocking that the people began to speculate that this was one of Nintendo's brilliant P.R. and Marketing attempt to promote their upcoming Super Smash Bros. 3D game for the Nintendo 3DS, soon to be released in a couple of months to attract gamers, fans, and beyond. That speculation turned to rumor and thousands of news media wanted confirmation from Nintendo. It was the biggest news since Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and the SuperBowl 2004 scandal, so not a single person missed out.
Jace and Hunt were on the university quad among the crowd full of students and teachers when a group of male students—two Caucasians and one African American—were passing by.
"Yo, guys!" one of the Caucasian students said, "You've seen the Smash Bros. Battle in New York City?!"
"It's all over the news man!" the second Caucasian student said.
Jace looked surprised. Hunt however had a huge smile on his face, "Really?"
"Yeah. YouTube is trending!" the African-American student was checking on his Droid phone, "Eight million views in one hour!"
Jace gaped. Hunt's smile widened. "Wow!"
"Wait… so it's all over the Internet?" Jace exclaimed.
"Yeah man." The first student said, "What part of YouTube is trending don't you understand? You should check it out." The rest of the group all said in agreement.
"He doesn't have to." Hunt informed the guys, "He was there!"
Jace cut him off with one arm wrapped around his neck and a hand over his mouth. "…Uhh!" he smiled back at the posse who looked on suspiciously. "We'll check it out. So that to make it look like we were there. Y'know what I'm sayin'?"
"A'ight man. Peace out." The guys took off, on their way to their next class.
Jace let go off Hunt and stared at his friend brushing off dusts from his tongue and gagging. He then shook his head, "I don't believe this is happening."
Hunt finished brushing his tongue to scowl at his friend, "Yeah but I'm still mad at you!"
Jace threw a hand in dismissal, "Oh please, it's only my hand."
"No. not that!" Hunt exclaime, gagged again briefly, then went on, "You were on the very streets of Manhattan when it happened and you didn't even record it on your iPhone?"
"I would've," Jace said, "but with heavy traffic and all the explosions raining down on me, I'd rather run for my life than to film monsters that'll take away my life!"
Hunt cocked his head on one side, noticing Jace was practically losing his breath just by talking, "Okay, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing!" Jace said dismissively, shaking his head. He then suddenly closed in on Hunt, "Let's go to the Nintendo World Store! Maybe we'll find something interesting."
"Hey! Great ide—whoa!" before Hunt could finish, Jace shoved him out the school quad.
xXx
Nintendo World Store
The Nintendo World Store was swarming with reporters, those of the national hard-hitting news to those from the entertainment and videogame industry. Cameras flickered in millions lights, microphones were shoved toward a Nintendo representative who was standing behind a table with two more Nintendo executives besides him on their seats: Noir Deroi and Mr. Oiji. A flood of jabbers shot across the store demanding explanation to NYC's sudden attack. Was it really viral marketing purposes… or was it too real and beyond Nintendo's control? How will it affect Smash Bros. 3D upcoming release? Upon that topic, questions about the theft of the limited-edition 3DS console in Japan surfaced as well, and Jace and Hunt were just in time to hear it as they entered the store.
"Hey, are those the two executives from Japan?" Hunt pointed, recognizing the executives. The surprised Jace also recognized them. He quickly pulled Hunt away from the crowd and they hid behind a wall before the executives could spot them.
The Nintendo rep spoke with a heavy Italian accent, causing silence to fall on the crowd; but the cameras kept on flashing its lights. The man was scruffy-looking with a short white beard and white hair combed to one side. He was heavy-looking and sported a four-piece Armani suit, a fancy trenchcoat attached behind like a cape, a ruby ring on his right pinkie finger, and a cane with a gold snakehead at the top. For a Nintendo rep, he looked rather spiffy. Almost too fashionable.
"To be honest, ladies and gentlemen," he said, "The rumors on what happened this morning are true. It was all part of our Marketing strategy to bring the hype of Super Smash Bros. 3D to the world."
More questions and exclamations came surging out from the journalism audience. More cameras flashed across the store. Jace was surprised by the man's statement. But he wasn't done yet, "You've seen the buildings and streets been repaired in a flash, right? Our intention was to entertain, not to hurt people in the process. Now for those who were hurt in the incident, our company will pay for your medical attentions at full charge. Consider it our condolences. Oh! And a free Nintendo 3DS-shaped desk to all accountable!"
Another reporter exclaimed, "Mr. Vermichello, sir!"
"It's Signore Vermichello." He corrected with a smile.
"R-right. Sir." The reporter went on, "Would we be expecting more of these viral actions from you guys? 'Cuz my 6-year old son just came back from school and told me that he saw a trail of ExciteBike riders causing trouble at his schoolyard during Recess."
The reporters and the fans turned their attention toward Vermichello, murmuring upon hearing this. Signore Vermichello glanced over his two comrades sitting beside him and they all secretly shrugged. This was apparently brand-new information for them and for everyone else. Jace and Hunt looked on interested.
"There will be more." Vermichello smiled, "In fact, don't be surprised when Solid Snake sneaks up from your bathtub."
The crowd turned uncomfortable as Vermichello laughed, and so were Deroi and Oiji, "Ahh, just kidding! Anymore questions?"
More questions continued to pour down on the executives.
"Never in my entire life would I have imagined the world of Smash Bros. unleashed into my own world, like in a city like New York City." Jace said to Hunt before muttering, "…all I had to do was steal a 3DS."
Hunt looked confused, "Okay, what does that have to do with—?"
"Nothing!" Jace dismissively said again. "Hey don't you have to go to the Pokémon Center? Don't you have a Shiny Zekrom to trade for?"
"Well, actu—whoa!" Jace cut him off again by twirling him to face the Pokémon Center and shoved him toward it. Seconds later, Jace suddenly felt a hand grab him from behind. It went on so fast he didn't see who it was and found himself sitting on a chrome-colored bean bag chair.
"WHOA! HEY! Wha—!" he noticed Falco, Samus, and Fox towering before him. Once again he was speechless by their presences: Samus looked quite hot without her helmet on. But Fox and Falco were beyond belief. They were like, cooler than the Muppets or Looney Tunes in.
"What's the matter, boy?" Falco asked him rudely. "Looks like you've seen a ghost."
Jace shook his head, snapping out of his frozen state, "Okay, this whole me-getting-surprised deal is gonna take some getting used to it. I'd say two years top. Since I'm still shocked at SEEING YOU IN REAL LIFE!"
"But are you shocked seeing me?" spoke a voice Jace recognized all too well. The Nintendo characters stepped back and Jace was shocked to see who it was.
"Ojisan !"
Dimentio's eyes narrowed. His face flushed dark red in absolute fury.
"Hey, what a pleasant sur—!" Jace suddenly felt a hand run across his face so fast, his head twisted sideways and his left cheek was on fire. Dimentio had slapped him.
"What were you thinking, nipote?" Nephew in Italian, Dimentio barked, "Steal a powerful device like this. Do you realize what you just did?"
Jace tried to speak but the furious Dimentio went on ranting, "You've unleashed complete catastrophe on the planet! Completo catastrofe! By unleashing the Nintendo World into the Real World, you've caused two great dimensions in the history of mankind to collide into one billowing intergalactic cosmos that cannot be undone! That could threaten the very foundation of the planet, that could—!"
Jace had stopped listening to his uncle at ' completo', as his eyes wandered across his surroundings. He slowly pushed himself off the beanbag chair to stare in awe of where he was: It was a massive spacious lounge made of fine glass and ivory and sapphire structures. There were lots and lots of tall tables surrounded by tall stools, and some small tables surrounded by beanbag chairs. All were occupied by the many faces of Nintendo characters from various Nintendo World. At the farthest side of the chamber were thousand of small screens, some graced in midair, while some graced into one large widescreen HDTV. The place was like a major coffeehouse/Apple Store, with a combination of the Challenge Screen from Smash Brawl and the Home Menu of the WiiU. Heck, it looked like he was inside a WiiU !
Jace couldn't take his eyes off this beautiful scenery… plus the echoing sound of people's feet, scuffing the ivory mirror-like floor that made the place sound like at an airport. That smooth sound feeling was of course broken by the loud hand clap in his ears by his uncle.
"Ow!"
"Focus when I'm talking to you, kid!" Dimentio barked.
"…do you have to be this loud, Ojisan?" Jace whined, rubbing on his sore ear.
"YESS!" Dimentio barked; his voice rang across the room once more, "If I want my stubborn nipote to listen, I might as well be as LOUD as a DUMBBELL slammed on a METAL POLE!"
Jace squinted, slowly shrinking back. His Ojisan was really mad at him for what he did. Stealing was one thing, but unleashing a new world onto an old one was another. That counted for double the punishment.
"I don't think you should be mad at him, Dr. Dimentio." Samus said, her blue eyes gave the doctor a gentle reassurance, "He didn't know about the Nintendo World or the Legend of Old."
"Yeah," said Fox cheerfully, "besides he was late for class this morning and monsters were after him… well, after us. After all, he is the White Knight!"
"Yeah… a White Knight who doesn't know how to think!" Dimentio mumbled.
Jace straightened, "Now wait a minute here, Ojisan." He said, turning an accusing eye at his uncle, "I apparently am not the only one who doesn't know how to think. You knew about the Nintendo World being real all this time now did you? And you didn't even warn me!"
"Okay, what are you talking about?"
"…and you knew that this Nintendo 3DS," he waved the limited-edition 3DS to his uncle, "was the only key to unleash it to our world, if not just used to travel into it." Jace said, "But in the case of traveling into the game, all I had to do was to put a game inside it and voila… instant 3D. Like actually being there!"
The small Smash Bros. crowd all spoke amongst themselves, somehow agreeing to Jace's statement.
"Okay, you speak nonsense!" Dimentio said; his voice picking up tempo and sounded dismissive, giving Jace the sense that his uncle was lying.
The young man crossed his arms, smirking. "Really? The Nintendog you entrusted to Jenn." He swept his arms across his surroundings, "…this place? Does all of this ring a bell, Uncle Liar?"
Falco approached Dr. Dimentio and wrapped an arm around him, "Sir, you might as well tell him. He is the White Knight."
Dimentio paused uncomfortably. "Allright, fine!" he hissed, pulling Falco's arm off him, "I knew about the Nintendo World before."
"Ha-Ah!" Jace gloated.
"But that doesn't mean you're off the hook, nipote!" Dimentio angrily pointed at his nephew, "Not only you stole the Nintendo 3DS, you unleashed its world into our own, and your actions puts you into a really tough spot!"
"Yes I know." Jace sighed. "I'm now the White Knight."
"Chosen hero to free the Nintendo world." Mario said as he stepped over to join the group.
Jace once again looked across his surroundings, "…seriously, what is this place? It looks better than the Plaza."
"This… is the MiiVerse Lounge." Dr. Dimentio said, his arms sweeping across the grand room, "Designed by the 3rd Dimensional Screen to form a hub of reprieve for all Nintendo residents, seeking to communicate with both the Nintendo world and the world it has been connected into."
"MiiVerse ?" Jace laughed at the name, "Hey that sounds like the WiiU Home Screen!"
"That's because it is the MiiVerse, nipote!" Dr. Dimentio replied with a huge haughty smile on his face as he studied his nephew's eyes widening in shock and awe, "Redesigned from the Nintendo Network into a real-life social universe! You can get coffee, talk to friends; do all kind of fun stuffs…"
"You… can get coffee in here?" Jace blinked.
"And," Fox further explained, "You can figure out what's happening anywhere in our world and yours without having to stress out. Through this big screen and all these other screens floating by."
Jace examined again the tiny screens flying by.
"As a White Knight," Dimentio went on, "you will use the 3 rd Dimensional Screen to communicate with these Nintendo characters, and travel in and out of the Nintendo world to defeat any potential threat to our environment. With what happened with the monsters recently, our enemies are on the move."
"Bowser, right?" Jace said.
"No, the Nintendo Villains." Fox said, "Bowser, Ganondorf, Mewtwo, Dedede, Black Knight, Nergal and Medusa."
Fox blew a whistle and one of the flying monitor screens came to the group. Fox approached and tapped on the screen to display a holographic image of the Empire State Building, "Only the first three got spotted inside this Building, waiting for a chance for you to slip up so that they can destroy you and take advantage of the 3rd Dimensional Screen."
"Think of it like they're having a birthday party, only with the people trying to kill you." Falco said to Jace.
"Hey, that's my line!" Pit complained to Falco. Falco threw a hand in dismissal.
"But don't-a worry, buddy!" Mario said, "We'll-a help you battle them all."
"I hope so!" Dimentio sounded worried, "The last thing I want is my nephew dying on me just because of something he did…!"
He paused, noticing all eyes on him, "…or something I did also." He shook his head, "No, you know what, it's something we did!"
He glared back at Jace, "I ain't taking all the blame now mister! And can we like make sure no living soul gets affected by this again, like this morning?! That means don't tell anyone you know! Not even Hunt!"
"Wait, whoa! Not even Hunt?" Jace exclaimed, "I can understand keeping this from my mom, since she's halfway across the country, but Hunt? He's nosy! He'll figure this out and know what's up before I can even say TUMOR!"
The characters and Dimentio exchanged puzzled glances. "Tumor?" they mumbled.
Jace ignored them, "I can't keep this a secret from Hunt!"
"Then tell him the secret already." Falco complained.
"I can't do that either. He's too chicken when it comes to stuff like that." He then faced Mario, "Remember how freaked out I was when I saw you the first time?"
"Like it's-a was yesterday." Mario replied with a grin.
"Right. Hunt is like ten times that freak show! He'll NEVER let this go! Worse, he'll report it to the FBI."
The group gasped. "nooo…"
"FBI?" Falco exhaled, "What is he, on special medicine?"
"That's Hunt to ya. Cool guy but… we had a close call with the fiasco of this morning and I'm not gonna risk it by telling Hunt this. The Nintendo reps are actually taking the blame for this, so I'll make sure they keep it that way." He turned to leave the MiiVerse Lounge but then stopped to face them again, "Oh, and can you guys make sure that these villains don't attack the city again, OR catch any more attention? They're YOUR enemies, not mine!"
He was off. The Smash Bros. and Dr. Dimentio exchanged glances.
"Okay, WHY on Earth would these Nintendo reps take all the credits for something WE did?" Falco scoffed.
Mario looked up in thought, "What's FBI?"
xXx
"This is the craziest news story ever! Nintendo… characters… ALIVE in this city!"
Maple slammed the New York Times in front of Patricia, her face gleamed just by the sight of the caught-on-camera pic of the Smash Bros. battling the monsters above the city skyscrapers.
Jenn was passing by when she saw that newspaper and the highlight in big century letters.
"Monsters Onslaught in New York City! Nintendo's Biggest All-Stars Spotted! "
Her heart skipped a beat.
"I know right?" Patricia who was on her iPhone 4S replied to Maple, "Biggest news story since 9/11! Over twelve millions views so far, and the comments are flowing!"
Jenn's eyes widened. She was expecting the Smash Bros. appearance in New York to make national headlines ever since Jace stole that magical 3DS, but she never expected it to be this soon.
"Aunt Claris read this earlier and she thought it was the end of the world." Maple said to Pat.
"Ahh, old people and their oh-so-wise judgments." Pat commented.
The Japanese guy in the boxing outfit noticed Jenn frozen in place as he came past her from behind. He paused briefly.
"Okay, what's wrong with you?"
She gasped sharply, startled by his presence. "Ohh." She exhaled and laughed nervously, "Oh, nothing! Nothing that concerns you… or me… I'm… I'm sorry."
"Is this about the whole Smash Bros. Battle in New York thing?" he asked her, "You can't miss such big news like this."
"I know." Jenn said, "It's just that…! Well…"
"Hey Jenn!" Pat called her. Jenn jumped once more. She turned to the two girls who approached her and forged a smile. "H-hi."
"You're Jenn right?" Pat clarified, "Jace's cousin?"
Before Jenn could respond, Maple rudely interrupted her, "Ugh… you again."
Jenn frowned and was about to say something rude to Maple, when she noticed Maple's attention wasn't on her but on the young stranger instead.
Pat's eyes however glowed at his sights, "No-no!" she said, "No-no. He ain't ugh . He is famous."
Maple looked back at Pat, stunned. Jenn and the young stranger raised eyebrows. "Really?" Maple said.
"Oh yeah!" Maple then approached him, "You're Featherweight boxing champion Hans right? Hans from Japan?"
A faint smile appeared on Hans' lips, "I see you follow boxing."
Pat shook her head, "Nah, my dad's a boxing fanatic. He watched your last matches on our DVR."
"Right on."
Jenn noticed Hunt coming in and rushed up to him, "HUNT!"
That caught the group's attention and they followed. Hunt noticed Jenn approaching him, "Hey Jenn!" he smiled at her, "What's—!"
Before Hunt could finish, Jenn grabbed him by the shoulder and pinned him to a nearby pillar so fast that he didn't even realize his predicament until he saw her ticked-off glare.
"Wh-what the—?!" he gasped.
"Where's Jace?" she hissed threateningly.
"J…Jace said he had to stick around the Nintendo World Store for awhile!" Hunt stammered, "See if he can get some Nintendo inside info so he said… what's wrong with you? You're all freaked out! You're freaking ME out!"
Jenn released Hunt and stepped back.
"I see you haven't seen the headlines!" Maple enlightened Hunt with the newspaper headlines. Pat waved her iPhone with the picture on display, and Hans said nothing.
"Oh you mean that Battle in New York that Nintendo pulled up earlier this morning?" Hunt then grinned widely, "Man, the things Nintendo do sometimes ALWAYS amaze me!"
"Wait… so you don't KNOW?" Jenn exclaimed. She froze up, suddenly realizing she said that out loud as all heads turned suspiciously to her direction.
Hunt looked bewildered, "Know?" he asked, "Know what?"
"What's going on?" Pat asked with concern. But Jenn didn't answer. She was too preoccupied with worries.
xXx
The interview about the Battle in New York ended, and so were all the other financial and business plans for Nintendo Corp., and Jace watched as a few journalists, bloggers, guest gamers and employees within the store exchanged polite conversations with the Nintendo execs over coffees, teas, and pastries.
Jace was planning to talk to the execs about the lies concerning them being responsible for what happened this morning, and persuading them on keeping up with that lie in the future to prevent further suspicions. To actually go for it was nerve-racking, especially since he stole a precious product from them, but in the end it should pay off for everyone's sake.
His biggest worry was Noir Deroi. He was successful, professional… and Jace was quite wary of him. But then again they were about the same age. So talking to him privately could benefit in the situation at play here.
The execs finished and gathered over to the stage to talk to each other some more, leaving the rest of the crowd in their businesses. Jace seized that chance to approach them and quickly walked past the crowd.
He found his way to them, stepped onto the large podium and approached. The execs shifted their attention to him. He froze in place and let out a deep breath.
"Well!" Noir barely formed a faint smile at Jace's presence. But that didn't stop Jace from smiling broadly at him, "if it isn't Dimentio's little boy."
Jace frowned, eyebrow rose, "Uh… dude. We're the same age."
Noir said nothing, appearing listless as if he hadn't heard him. He quietly sipped his coffee.
"Ahh!" Signore Vermichello clasped his hands and approached Jace with open arms, "Well, if it isn't that one of our engineering sons, Dr. Dimentio."
"No, that's his nephew." Mr. Oiji corrected the Italian exec. "He's very nice boy."
Jace smiled at that compliment, though he was still nervous with his shoulders up and his hands stuffed in his pockets. "I… guess I am…"
"Is there something I can help you with, young man?" asked the Signore. Jace turned his focus on Noir who was quietly walking away from the place through the backdoor without bothering looking back.
"Well, actually," he faced the Signore again; "I wanted to talk to Noir. It's…" he paused, gesturing, "…kinda urgent. So… I'm gonna go…" He started toward the young exec when the Signore pulled him back. "Oh-Hoh! I don't-a think so, young man."
Jace looked back at the two executives. Mr. Oiji was still quiet and Noir was now leaving behind his shadow. The Signore had his arm lovingly wrapped around Jace's shoulder.
"You know, we may not-a be related, but I see your uncle as…" the Signore looked up the skylight ceiling and proudly said, "Mio Figlio."
My son in Italian, Jace translated in his mind. "Ohh… kay…"
"So as mio figlio , we share a bond. And that bond, like blood, is so precious and connected to one another that no deep dark secret can cut through it, as it is liquid. It'll drrrrrown onto it."
Jace no longer smiled. He looked lost. "Wait… so the bond will… drown in blood?"
The Signore suddenly spun Jace around and stared deeply into his eyes, "What do you know about the stolen Nintendo 3DS?" he quickly interjected.
Jace paled up at that forceful tone in the Signore's voice. "The stolen 3DS?" he repeated then shook his head, "Wh-what are you talking about sir? I don't know anything about…" He laughed nervously, feeling that icy aura of dread falling on him by his sight, "…about a stolen… 3DS…!" he shook his head and his nervous tone suddenly forged into shock, "Stolen?!"
The Signore let go off Jace. Jace stumbled back a bit, stunningly gazing back. The Signore was onto him.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!" the Signore laughed, looking back at Mr. Oiji and then back at Jace. Oiji laughed along, his laughter full of cheers. Jace's laugh was nerve-racking.
"Wh-why are we laughing?" he asked.
"Oh, right!" the Signore said, "Why are-a we laughing? A good-a question." He cleared his throat, rubbing his bearded chin, "Remember the Battle in New York? Well… everrryone should remember the Battle of New York, no? Well, I remember it verrrry well."
"That's because it just happened." Jace said, "Y'know? You guys made it happen, remember?"
The Signore shook his head, "I don't-a think so. Emm… please step back and watch this."
On cue he clapped his hands and the podium shifted. Jace noticed the floor beneath him opening up and he jumped back. Out of that floor came out a mechanical 3D form of robot, shaped like Donkey Kong. Weighing more than 500-pound and standing about 12 feet tall, it caught the attention of many within the Nintendo World Store.
"We at Nintendo," the Signore began, "took this advantage of having our rrrreal-life 3D animated hybrids you called Nintendo characters, take yet another role. And that is the role of law enforcement. BeHOLD, ladies and gentlemen. I present you, the Giant Donkey Kong!"
Cameras of all shapes and sizes flicked open and flashed across the store, capturing into pixels what could yet be another historical New York and gaming memory. Jace couldn't fathom the splendor of that DK also. It was in 3D animated, but it wasn't quite as authentic as the actual Smash Brothers. Its body was covered in steel.
Mario, Luigi, Fox, Falco and Dr. Dimentio showed up just in time to see the manmade creature.
"Holy mother of Beef…" Falco breathed. "Mamamiiiaaa…" Mario breathed. "Noooo waaaay…" Fox exhaled.
"This creature," Stefano announced, "has been made to set sight on our corporate crook! Recently one of our Nintendo 3DS units, a special one to come with the Smash Bros. 3D bundle, has been stolen last week and so far we have yet to catch this criminal. What we know so far is that this criminal lives in Manhattan, New York, USA."
"So!" the Signore went on, just in time for Hunt, Jenn, Pat, Maple and Hans to show up as well, "On behalf of Mr. Oiji and Mr. Deroi who…" the Signore paused, "…apparently has left the building… we will use that device to catch the crook…"
Jace's eyes went wide and his mouth hung open.
"…and have him crushed…"
Jace startled at that tone alone.
"…into Giant Donkey Kong's hands."
Jace knew he was being watched. Not only by his friends, but by these sneaky executives and the whole public. But then again, he didn't have the Nintendo 3DS at that very moment! He gave it to Hunt before the young geek left to return home at the Plaza. That could very well put his best friend in danger. Panic flooded his mind as he turned to Hunt's attention. Hunt simply shrugged, still having no clue on what was going on.
"Now allow us to demonstrate." The Signore pulled out his Wii Remote Plus and pressed the Home-Button. The Giant Donkey Kong's eyelids shifted open like a set of portals. The crowd was amazed. The giant apparition quickly drew thousands—then millions of witnesses outside the store—to set their sights on the colossal 3D animated robot.
"This… was just a little slice of the pie. But now, with a GPS tracking device now installed on all 3DS, including this one, watch the magic on what that thing can really do, when the culprit is found." The Signore said with a smile before facing the Giant DK, "Donkey Kong! Find the culprit!"
The Signore pressed the A-button on his Wii Remote Plus. That's when Jace made his move.
He turned around and jumped off the podium. The DK raised his fist up and aimed it straight at Hunt! Hunt blinked.
Mega DK fired his punch. The flying punch cut through the crowd. All who were near the colossal's fist either jumped or ducked out of the way, screaming. Jace was still running ahead of the punch, heading straight for his best friend.
"LOOK OUT!"
Just when Hunt's eyes went wide open, realizing what was going on, Jace pinned him to the ground with a sheer brutal force. Crowd full of customers, reporters and witnesses jumped back, startled as the flying punch swam past them and nimbly went past Jace and Hunt. But the punch wasn't slowing down. It headed straight for Jenn.
The fist uncurled its fingers and with a firm grasp, scooped Jenn off her feet and crashed through the Nintendo World Store's doors, forcing everyone watching from outside to jump back. Jenn's scream echoed into the cityscape and more media attention turned to the captured young teen. Jace helplessly watched his cousin vanishing into the sky.
The Mega DK raised his other arm up to the sky and his entire body shot through the store's rooftop, through the skyscraper and into the sky he went also. The whole city watched the Mega DK disappearing into a speck.
Jace pulled Hunt up to his feet. "Phew!" Hunt smiled broadly, "Thank you man! That was…!"
"Yeah-yeah-yeah, that's nice!" the preoccupied Jace briefly searched through Hunt before facing him, "where's the 3DS?" he asked.
"Gave it to Jenn."
"WHAAAT?!" The Smash Brothers exclaimed. Hunt noticed the Smash Bros before him.
"Oh my gosh…" he articulated, "I am staring… right at the Smash Brothers… and I am so... not... fainting…"
"Hunt!" Jace's frantic shout startled him, "Focus man! Why did you do that for? Now that Donkey Kong is gonna kill Jenn!" he took off in a mad dash, leaving Hunt completely bewildered.
"Kill Jenn?!" Dr. Dimentio screamed, and went after Jace. Then the Smash Brothers, and finally the crowd after.
xXx
Navi: HEY! LISTEN! How about we take a short break, ya? And then we can get back to the adventure!
xXx
Jace's DC skate shoes pounded the pavement of the busy streets of New York. He swung past incoming traffics; leaping over cars hoods, swerving past bikes and motorbikes, stepping back from screeching trucks and ignoring the angry shouts of drivers. He even crossed five green lights, some were turning red. He didn't care once for his safety as all of his attention was on saving his cousin, once again captured by a Nintendo villain… or robot.
He quickly made a sharp turn to a corner down the NY Public Library when he finally skidded to a full stop. He crouched, resting his hands on his knees with sweats streaming down his face and his wheezing escalating. His bones ached from all that running and his vision blurred, helplessly observing the colossal monster heading straight for the Empire State Building.
"Jace!"
Jace heard Dr. Dimentio call out to him. He turned to see the paranoid uncle and the Smash Brothers approaching him. Hunt, Pat, Maple and Hans also followed behind. He straightened with a low painful groan.
"Where's my daughter?!" Dimentio demanded.
"Unhh…"
"You need to get my daughter out of harm's way!" he snapped, pointing a finger at him, "Do you understand me?!"
"Now now Dr. Dimentio, everything's gonna be okay." Fox said to him with a reassuring tone. Just hearing Fox talked made Maple and Pat silently squealed in delight. The Smash Brothers were actually alive and talking, all 3D-like. Hunt didn't squeal in delight. Instead his eyes gleamed under his specs, shocked and amazed to stand in front of them in the flesh. It was like being with celebrities in a dream.
"And how do you know that exactly?" Dimentio argued with Fox.
"If you calm the bloody heck down for once," Falco argued with the doctor, "Then everything IS gonna be okay!"
"Gee, Falco." Luigi mumbled sarcastically, "I wonder how well you'll do as a customer service rep."
"Jace," Hunt turned to his best friend, suddenly turning impatient, "I asked you a question and you didn't answer me man! How is giving Jenn the 3DS is gonna kill her? Why is that Giant DK captured Jenn, and oh my gosh, can I get these guys' autographs and pictures or something? Because I'm like, dreaming!"
"Wait," Maple looked shocked, "someone's getting killed?"
"That's messed up." Hans shook his head.
"Okay what the heck is going on?" Pat demanded.
"Can't you Nintendo guys do something?" Maple asked the Smash Brothers. It's your job to save the world y'know!"
Jace regained his strength, "Guys…!" he shouted out but the group continued to talk over one another, bombarding him with all kinds of questions. Quickly he noticed more media crew and the NYPD coming toward them, seeking answers from witnesses.
Jace turned to Hunt, "Look man, I can't talk now, all right?" he exclaimed, "I'll explain everything when the time's right. But right now I gotta get to Jenn!" And once again he was off.
"And what?" Hunt shouted out as Jace vanished into the crowded streets of New York, "Leave us hangin'?"
"I want my daughter back, Jace!" Dr. Dimentio cried out.
Flashes of cameras alerted the group that the media and crew has reached them and blocked their way. Now they were the ones getting bombarded with questions.
"Mr. Dimentio, sir! Tell us...!"
"What's happening with Nintendo right now...?"
"Care to comment on the Mega DK!"
"Where is that robot going?"
"Please share!"
"Mario, do the jump!"
"Luigi, do the frightened cry!"
"Fox, do the Barrel Roll!"
"GRRRAAAAAAWWWWL!"
Falco screamed as he unleashed a powerful force that quickly sent the media, the police, and everyone else except the Smash Brothers flying off the curbs.
Falco angrily approached a reporter on the ground, grabbed the microphone and pointed, "You want a barrel roll? Here's a barrel roll for ya!" Falco turned around and was about to shove his pants down when Fox grabbed him by the arm. "HEEY!"
"No time for your barrel roll, buddy! Let's roll!" Fox commanded and the Nintendo characters took off running after Jace. More camera flashed up and some reporters got up their feet and still went after them.
xXx
Empire State Building
Jace skidded to a full stop, the scuffing sound of his shoes shrieked across the Empire State Building's interior. The inside of the building was beautiful, its golden walls illuminated by its faint lights, and the two American flags perfectly framed the Building's designed portrait carved in fine gold and metal.
The panicked teen looked around and over the crowded tourists who were minding their own business.
"Hey yo! Ev'ryone! Can I have your attention please?"
All heads turned to Jace's attention and silence befell on them.
"Have you guys seen a giant gorilla about 10-foot, yea big?"
The beautiful Empire's portrait suddenly crumbled down to rocks and dirts, and everyone ran out of the way screaming at the sight of the Mega Donkey Kong, grasping hard on the panicked Jenn. Jace stood there, in fear and awe of the giant casting its shadow upon him and everyone else.
"Found it!" he muttered.
"JAAAAAAACEE!" Jenn was screaming through to top of her lungs, wiggling and trying to break free from the colossal gorilla's grasp. The dispersed crowd got out the door and into the streets away from the menacing giant that was pounding on its chest nefariously.
"Just hang on, Jenn! I'm gonna save you!" Jace shouted.
"YOU BETTER OR I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THIS!" Jenn yelped before screaming high again.
The Mega DK shifted to its left and crossed the hall. Jace peered across the evacuating hall and noticed a coat rack. What would a coat rack be doing in the middle of the Empire State Lobby? He didn't know and didn't care. He went for it, grabbed it and ran toward the menacing creature.
"HEY! Monkey Breath!"
The Mega DK shifted its head toward Jace.
"EAT THIS!" Jace swung the coat rack, aiming for the leg. But the coat rack bended on contact. Jace stared at the broken metal then at the gorilla, eyelids raised.
"JAAAACE!" Jenn screamed just as the giant beast swung its arm across him. A heavy blow landed on his entire left side as he sped headlong through a wall, crushing his neck and spine onto it. His vision flashed violently red before his limped body toppled on the silk floor. Crumbled rocks and dirts pelted him at the impact and he immediately blacked out.
"NOOOO!" Jenn screamed for her buried cousin under the pile of rocks. She struggled to break free but her colossal captor tightened its grip. She squealed at the cracking sound of her bones. The Mega Kong proceeded for an elevator and threw a fist through its sliding doors and briefly watched its occupants flee in tears at its sight. The menace got inside and thrust another fist in the air, forcing the elevator to take flight.
Right at that moment, Fox, Falco, Mario and Luigi showed up.
"Mamamia, where is he?" Luigi asked, looking around for Jace and unsure of whether or not this is a good idea to face a massive Kong.
"He's-a gotta be here somewhere." Mario said, his face instead of his brother's was tightened with determination to defeat the gorilla.
"Allright, boy!" Falco shouted, "Where are you?"
Jace let out a faint painful sound, letting the Nintendo characters know that he was under the pile of rocks besides them. They ran to him and quickly dug through the pile. As the others did all the digging Mario and Luigi dragged Jace's battered body out of the rumbles, loose gravel embedded itself to his flesh. Jace winced in pain.
"All right Jace." Fox crossed his arms with an amused visage, "Do you really think now is time for you to be sleeping in on the job?"
Jace who was fighting for his breath could only throw a cold glance at Fox. Fox's smirk slowly faded, "No?" he shook his head, "okay."
"Don't-a worry, Jace." Mario said to him, "You stay still! While the StarFox Team and I deal with the mega giant and rescue your princess!"
"Let's achieve that mission folks!" Fox said out loud and the characters took off in haste.
"You all go ahead." Luigi said, trailing behind, "I'm-a staying here, taking-a good care of Jace. I'm-a not a fight—!"
Fox, Falco and Mario were already up to the fire escape stairs, completely ignoring Luigi, "…ohh, okay." Luigi went on, "…y-you go do that!"
Jace stretched out to them, "G-Guys… wait—!" He hissed, shutting his eyes tightly in pain. His dislocated legs trembled and his right arm and shoulder were throbbing, "…Aahh!"
"Hey, hey, HEY! No-no time-a to whine!" Luigi argued.
"But…" he winced, "…ahh… but I can't stay here… man!" Jace argued, "Jenn needs me!" he huffed, "…ohh man, I'm in so much pain."
Luigi escorted the limping Jace to a sit, "Don't-a worry about it." Luigi massaged Jace's leg, " Mi fratello and the others will-a deal with the menace terrorizing the city right now."
He twisted the legs, then his spine and shoulders, each causing a cracking sound. Jace yowled but he suddenly felt fine again. He blinked in surprise.
"And here." Luigi opened the palm of his hands to reveal a 1UP Mushroom. "Eat this. You'll feel better."
Jace picked up the mushroom and took a bite. The 1UP tune echoed in the hall and his eyes flew wide open, suddenly feeling energized.
"Whoa." he tossed the rest of the mushroom over his shoulder, "I feel better already!"
"Hey don't waste it!" Luigi ran for the mushroom.
"Taste sugary. Like Eureopean candy... or caffeine." Jace wondered at the taste of that 1UP Mushroom. No wonder it was an important item. Luigi returned to his side.
"You rest!" He said, "While I get to stay danger-free! It's-a win-win, thank you very much! A win-win!"
Jace briefly glanced back at Luigi before sighing in defeat, "You're right."
Luigi smiled, "Good."
But then Jace briefly turned to him, as if he had an idea, "You still have your Poltergeist 3000 vacuum cleaner right? This place needs to get cleaned up if you know what I mean."
"Hmm?" Luigi blinked. "Ohhhh yeah!" Luigi pulled up from his back, as if by cartoon magic, his vacuum. "The Poltergeist 3000. Now with 3G technology. Check out this-a baby! It's-a my latest version."
Jace took the vacuum from Luigi's hands and briefly admired it. A faint smirk appeared on his lips, "Beautiful."
Jace flicked the On-switch and aimed the vacuum tube at Luigi. A powerful gust of wind started pulling him off his feet and everything else in his path.
"H…hey what are you…? HEEEEYY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Luigi screamed through the wailing of the machine.
"Sorry to disappoint you buddy, but I'm trying to save a life here!" Jace exclaimed.
"DON'T YOU MEAN SUCK A LIFE?! STOP IT! THAT VAC AIN'T A TOY! STOOOHHP!"
The Poltergeist yanked Luigi off balance and gulped him whole inside. Jace dropped the machine, "Sorry buddy, but I gotta go." He took off running for the stairs. Luigi screamed from inside the vacuum, "HEEEEY! So I relocate your limbs and this is how you repay me? LET ME OUTTA HERE PAL! YOU OWE ME A MEDICAL BILL!"
Jace crossed three… five… seven floors up, and once again he was losing his breath. He was inches to the eighth floor when a Wire Frame warped before him and swung a spin hook kick at him. Jace bent back, avoiding the strike but almost lost his balance, "Whoa!" He grabbed on the stairs railing to break his fall with one hand but swung a punch at the Wire Frame with the other. The Wire Frame flew headlong over the railing, plummeting to its death.
Another Wire Frame descended before Jace and holding on the railings leapt and pounded a double-kick on the Wire Frame's chest, sending it to a wall. The Wire Frame slipped to the ground. Jace climbed the last two steps of the stairs and threw another punch. The Wire Frame retaliated, blocking the punch with one free hand and twisted Jace's arm. Jace yowled, finding himself at its mercy with his back before it.
The Wire Frame slammed its palm on Jace's right shoulder and pressed him down on his knees. Jace's vision blurred again. Another Wire Frame, a female one, descended before him and seized her chance. She pounded on his chest, one time, two times to six times too many. Jace arched, his legs trembled and his eyes rolled up.
The Female Wire Frame tightened her grip and was ready to swing the final blow when a bright ray of light poured on the gang. The Wire Frames watched a magical portal opening up before them and saw Pit skidding to a brief stop before leaping out of the portal.
"Sorry to keep y'all waiting!" he shouted as he came headlong to the Wire Frames with his twin swords on hand. He ran his weapons through the Female Wire Frame and she vanished in a million digital lights. Jace seized his chance. With one free arm he connected an elbow blow to the Male Wire Frame's stomach. The Wire Frame let go off Jace and arched backward, hissing. The freed Jace turned around and tossed a Roundhouse Kick. The Wire Frame vanished on contact in million digital lights. Jace stumbled back in recoil.
Jace turned to Pit, exhausted and wincing. The pain wasn't going away. "Phew…th-thanks, bud—!" his eyes shut again and he cried out, "Aaah!" he lay a hand on his right shoulder and sulked to the ground.
The cheerful Pit winced, "Ohh man…" he approached Jace, "Look at you and all of your wounds. You sure you're gonna make it?"
"Dude…" Jace's vision blurred, "Ahh… don't worry about me…" he gasped, "Jenn needs me…"
"Say no more."
Pit laid hand on Jace's forehead and a shimmering warm light tingled all over his body. Before Jace knew it he felt no pain, his visions no longer blurring and his wounds were completely closed up. He stood back up.
Pit smiled, "How you feeling now?"
Jace examined his shirt, his pants, his skins… everything was back anew again. He turned to Pit, "I feel… I feel great!" a wide smile spread across his face, "Thanks man! I'm all new again!"
"That's what we're here for!"
Loud steps were heard closing in. The alerted Jace and Pit turned to face Luigi, breathless and out of shape. He struggled to the last steps and went on his knees, sweat pouring on his forehead.
"Luigi?!" Pit and Jace exclaimed together.
"Dude, how did you escape your vac?" Jace asked.
Luigi moved his limped arm toward the teen, attempting to point. "Sh-shut… up!" he gasped, "You… are not… allowed… to get in t…t…trouble…!"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll talk later. Now there's no time!" Jace grabbed Luigi and swung one arm over his shoulder for support. Pit does the same.
"A princess is in distress and she needs saving!" Pit said.
"Appreciate the gesture, but Jenn ain't a princess." Jace replied.
Pit and Luigi looked on puzzlingly at Jace, "Maiden?" Pit asked.
"Not even close."
They went through the door of the eighth floor and the gang suddenly found themselves inside an exquisite temple. The floor was marred with a silver and dark-brown laminate framing a fine large mirror glass, reflecting the bright sunlight that poured through the many windows and a skylight covering its ancient walls. Torches were at each corner of the new scenery, surrounding it with its burning light, quiet and undisturbed. Jace looked to his left and noticed an ancient door with the Triforce right above its rim. He immediately recognized that temple.
"The Temple of Time?"
Pit and Luigi whizzed toward him, "Huh?" they said.
Jace returned their gazes, "What the hell am I doing here in the Temple of Time and not the Empire State Building?"
A loud crash rocked the entire temple. Jace, Pit and Luigi felt their hearts jumped out of their skins as they watched a billow of rocks and debris rained before them and a massive spider the size of a house hissed before them also. Its strident squeal rang their ears temporarily deaf and shattered the windows into thousand bits.
"Ay mamiiiia!" Luigi jumped behind Jace in hiding.
"What the heck is that?!" Jace shouted.
"That's a m-m-m-m-monster!" Pit shouted.
The spider closed in on them.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
xXx
We're interrupt this program to give you breaking news on the Battle of New York coverage, as witnesses and our camera crew via Air-8 just caught a glimpse of a giant Donkey Kong perched on top of the Empire State Building, carrying with him an innocent young girl. That girl is identified as 18-year old Jennifer Dimentio. Little is known about Ms. Dimentio right now but she is in need of some serious help. The Police and the SWAT teams via helicopters are reported to be on their way to stop this colossal menace.
xXx
The Mega Donkey Kong's colossal size spread across the city skies from atop the Empire State Building. Dozens of enforcers' team on helicopters came at him like bees to a honey comb, and all attempted to bombard the colossal gorilla with their bullets. The gorilla barely felt the shots like pathetic pinches. With the screaming Jenn in tow, he angrily swung its massive arms and twirled like a propeller, sending the helicopters skyhigh. Jenn groaned, dots swirling over her dizzy vision.
Citizens of New York watched the gorilla causing terror. Tablets, cameras and smartphones flashed across the streets, capturing any pictures and footages possible. The entire scene felt like a parody to a King Kong movie scene. Both terrifying and entertaining.
"Is it not beautiful how innovations these days are always engaging our customers?" Stefano cooed, marveling over the chaotic scenario as he was surrounded by thousand of reporters and presses before him.
Dr. Dimentio whizzed his angry head at him. "You're talking about innovation?" all microphones and cameras turned to the angry doctor, "My daughter is up there TERRIFIED for her life!"
"Oh Signore Dimentio, please spare us the drama." The Signore threw a dismissive hand. All microphones turned back to the Signore, "Your daughter is gonna be just fine and in really good hands." he reassuringly said, "But as for your nephew…" he chuckled slightly, "…well… just be thankful that he's a strong athlete and an acrobat."
The reporters once again bombarded the Signore with all kinds of questions, "Signore Vermichello? What are you saying? Is that young man Jace the thief?" "What are the criminal charges against him?" "What's gonna be his fate?" "Are you saying that he's not gonna make it?"
The Signore was already distance from the chaos of the mega Kong, but the reporters didn't give up and followed him for further inquiries.
Dimentio stared back up at the gorilla, "Okay, this…is a disaster…"
"Wait…" Patricia furrowed her brow, "What?"
"Wait," Maple grabbed Hunt's shoulder, directing his attention toward her, "That Jace guy is the thief?" she asked him, "The one who stole that Nintendo 3DS Smash Edition? Is he really your friend?"
Hunt looked like a frozen deer before squinting and forcing a smile, "I dunno what you talking about! Who's friend? Never heard about him before in my life! HEY LOOK! Big monkey!"
"Boy, stop playin'!" Pat complained, "We ALL know there's a big monkey here and we all know that there's—!"
Hunt took off into the building.
"H-HEEY!" Pat screamed.
"He's running away!" Maple screamed as well. "Stop him!"
Hunt skidded before policemen, firemen and medical units blocking the building entry. One police officer approached Hunt, "Hey!" he shouted, but Hunt didn't stop approaching, "What are you doing kid? This is a no-crossing—!"
"YAAH!" Hunt struck a blow to the officer's chest. "OOOH!" the crowd hissed, witnessing the officer hunched forward with a sharp gasp.
"AYYY—!" He then grabbed the officer by the arm and swung him over his shoulder to the concrete street, WAA!"
"AAOHHH!" the crowd gasped once again.
Hunt took off into the building and immediately more police officers and SWAT teams ran back inside in his pursuit before the downed officer could sharply blow his whistle. Their feet thundered the ground like a drum, and the crowd cheerful cries filled the blocked street.
A great gasp of commotion followed from the crowd as they all watched Arwings making their approach toward the Giant DK. the Arwings somehow came out of nowhere, like randomly planes soaring over the city skies.
The Mega DK once again swung his arm over the Arwing, but the aircrafts dodged the attack.
"Are you all ready gentlemen?" Fox asked over his Bluetooth headset.
"Super ready!" Falco replied.
Mario said nothing. He was on top of Falco's Arwing maintaining balance and his focus on the Mega DK. Mega DK fixed his eyes toward Falco and Mario charging toward him.
"HEEELP!" Jenn screamed at their sight.
Mario leapt off the Arwing. The Arwing charged straight for the Mega DK who got distracted by Mario's move. The Arwing impaled through the Mega DK's left eye and through his skull it went. The gorilla roared sharply, jolting sparks flew off its damaged eye like they were blood. The Mega DK covered one hand over the damaged eye, but still did not let go off Jenn. Falco escaped the explosion and flew down in parachute.
"Your turn, Mario!" the falcon shouted.
Mario was still airborne, heading for the building's sharp peak. He spread his arms out wide and a golden cape streamed out from his overall's neck. The super plumber took flight in his new adorned cape and went toward the Mega DK again. The crowd below cheered out loud.
More reporters and news crew came to the scene. "What did we miss? What did we miss?" One female reporter shouted over the cheering crowd, trying hard to run on her high heel but doing her best not to break them.
"This is amazing!" one of the MSNBC news reporter replied, "You should have seen it! One of these Nintendo aircraft flew right into that mega gorilla's eyes and now Mario is airborne, flying over Donkey Kong like a dizzy bird! This is epic!"
"THIS IS NOT EPIC!" Dr. Dimentio screamed at the reporters, "My daughter is in there! And so is my nephew!" he looked back up with his hands clasped together, "Ohh come on Jace. You have to save my daughter and yourself."
xXx
The spider moved toward the trio at swift speed. They spread out, jumping out of the spider's way. The spider then fixed its attention toward Jace and went at him. Jace went for the stairs, leading up to a dark corridor. He turned around just as the spider brought down its two front legs at him. The impact forced an explosion of rocks and debris to fly out across the Temple and forced Jace to lose his balance and fall back. The terrified Jace was on the ground, gazing at the creature. It raised its legs upward once more. Jace quickly grabbed a stone next to him and flung it at the spider.
The spider staggered back but came charging again with another leg swing. Jace rolled out of the way and quickly got on his feet. The spider pursued him again with more leg attacks, but Jace continued to bob and weave.
"Guys, a little help here?!" he shouted.
"What do you think we're doing?!" Pit shouted, hovering over the spider and unsuccessfully pelting its hairy back with his gunblade. "It's not even dying! Why can't he die?"
The spider continued its assault on Jace and Jace continued to dodge its attack, until he felt the cold window on his back. He was trapped. The spider hissed, raising one more time its leg for another thrust.
"AAAAH!"
The spider suddenly hissed as it felt a blast of pain to its side. Jace and Pit watched Luigi's head connecting on the spider like a launching missile and sent the spider flying to a nearby wall. Blood spewed out of its abdomen, the color of mucus, and splashed before Luigi who just landed on the mirror floor.
"Ewwww…!" Luigi danced on his toes and flapped his hands in disgust, "Spider puke! Spider puke!" he took off, "Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew!" He quickly stood by a corner of the Temple.
"Seriously Luigi!" Pit and Jace exclaimed.
"HEYY! I don't-a do well with blood!" Luigi whined, "They're-a making me queasy!"
"Oh Luigi, give me a break." Jace grinned, "You need to stop acting all weak and take action here."
A reddish aura suddenly began to extract from Jace's body. He stared about, feeling uneasy all of the sudden. Luigi and Pit both cringed uncomfortably. "Uh-oh."
"What's happening?" Luigi asked, already knowing the answer won't be a pretty one.
"Uhh…" Pit drawled, "I don't know what you talking about?" he whizzed his attention away from Jace and Luigi and quickly walked away.
"What?" Jace fast-walked toward Pit, but he suddenly grew tired and his posture slowly shifted. Luigi was already ahead of Jace, pursuing Pit, "All right, Angel of Skyworld! What did you do to Jace?"
Pit stopped walking, turning eerily calm. He turned to Luigi, cringing, "I may have… done a little bit of angel magic on Jace… nothing special."
Luigi's jaws dropped, "What?!"
"It was only for a short period!" Pit exclaimed, "And he needed help and he—! Well, now…!"
Pit and Luigi slowly looked over to Jace. Jace was now covered in his old wounds. He gasped sharply at the horrendous infected sight.
"His five minutes are up." Pit finished.
Jace turned to Pit, "You can only maintain your healing powers for five minutes?!"
"Well, look who is-a weakling now." Luigi taunted.
A thunderous shake of the ground caught their attentions. The massive spider struggled back to its legs and steadied itself.
"And now the beast is alive!" Pit muttered.
The spider hissed and charged at the characters. Luigi and Pit jumped out of the way at the last minute and watched the spider send Jace soaring to the wall. Jace cried out as his spine shattered, and he went onto his stomach.
"JACE!" the two characters cried out. Jace slowly rolled over to his back. All of his muscles burned from that single effort.
Pit summoned his cannon and went for the spider. Luigi summoned his vacuum and followed.
"You're going down, freak of nature!" Pit aimed his weapon.
"YEAAH!" Luigi barked as well. Pit fired multiple shots from his cannon. Luigi turned on his vac and its powerful suction dragged the spider across the silk mirror floor, making its hair stand up. Blasts of Pit's cannon pelted its hairy back but the spider didn't flinch.
The spider pulled itself free from the suction and swung its two legs at the two characters. They went flying across the chamber and landed hard, unconscious.
"NO!" Jace tried to roll over to his stomach, spring to his feet and run for his comrades; but the spider dropped its front leg to Jace's chest, the sharp hairs on it pierced through him like a thousand needles. An agonizing cry escaped Jace. He groaned, breathing heavily and unable to move.
He grabbed the creature's leg, more of the leg hairs buried through his palms. But he didn't care. He had to escape the creature's grasp before it killed him. With all his exhausted force he tried pushing hard on the creature, only to push its leg barely two feet. The spider hissed again, its head lifted to the skylight before fixating its eight eyes at its victim before it. It charged. Jace screamed.
…then out of the blue a shining steel viciously snapped across the creature's legs, and the spider's green blood jetted from the wounds across the Temple and staining Jace's clothes. The creature wailed, on its hind legs before landing with a thunderous tremor. Jace composed himself before turning to the swordsman in a green tunic who just slain the monster.
"Link?" he let out a heavy sigh before coming up to his feet.
Link flashed and twirled his sword in the air before striking a pose. Navi, the shining fairy glimmered besides him. "Aye."
Navi glided toward Jace and swirled over his battered body, trailing behind sparkly dusts. The dusts stung on his wounds like salt, but they magically closed them up and rejuvenated his form again.
"Do not worry anymore. You are completely rejuvenated."
"Oh my gosh, thank you. Thank you… thank you!" He grabbed Navi, kissed her hard, then pulled a startled Link into a firm tight hug. "Ohh man, I love you so much guys! You just saved my life!"
"Okay, I'm getting uncomfortable." Link muttered. Jace released his grip.
Link looked over Jace's shoulder, "Go. Now." He pointed him the way, "Up the stairs to your maiden!"
"W-wait, what about you?" Jace asked, "And Pit and Luigi?"
Link noticed Pit and Luigi unconscious and seeing stars to the corner of the temple. "I'll deal with them." He turned back to Jace, "Now go to your maiden, White Knight, and save the world!"
"You the man, man!" Jace said, pointing his two fingers forward him, "And you too Navi!" he took off.
"Make sure you come back in one piece!" Link shouted.
Jace crossed over the hallway. He was now at another empty chamber of the Empire State Building closer to the balcony. Jace froze up, briefly looked back to see the dark tunnel, then went on.
Jace broke through the door, ending up on the building's rooftop. He could hear the crowd cheering wildly from below as if there was a mass protest. Helicopters and Arwings hovered before him. But the biggest sight he didn't fail to miss was the giant Donkey Kong, perched on the building with Jenn at his grasp.
"Jenn!" he cried out for her.
Jenn blinked at the call of her name. She knew it was Jace who came for him. She looked down but the grasp of the giant Donkey Kong blocked her view. "Jace... help!" she shouted anyway.
The giant DK turned to Jace's attention, a powerful steam shot out of his nostrils. Jace lingered toward the creature, "You'll never gonna get away with this, you big mon—!"
Jace got cut off when a heavy force swept him off the ground and into the sky over the giant creature, "—KEEEEEEY!"
He felt someone grasping on his collar. He looked up and there was Mario, soaring above him, "Hiya, Jace! Came to party?"
Jace stared at Mario, bug-eyed. He slowly looked down, suspended over a thousand feet in the air above the city. His face blanched, "Aahhh! Don't let me go! Don't let me go! Don't let me go!"
"Mamamia! Why would I let-a you go?" Mario exclaimed, "I wasn't stupid before!"
"What are you doing man?!" Jace cried out.
Maple watched Mario and Jace soaring around the giant Donkey Kong, "Oh my gosh! It's Jace!" she screamed and everyone in the city exclaimed in agreement. "With Mario!"
"It sure is." Hans replied.
"Boy, that man better give me Mario's autograph," Pat complained, "or I swear—!"
A pillar of light shot besides the group to reveal a sliding glass door, startling half of the crowd in the area. The glass door slid open and out of it came Samus in her Zero Suit, followed by Peach and Toad. The crowd gazed in awe of the vixen beauty, the princess and the Mushroom boy before them, with widened eyes and smiles. Maple and Pat's jaws hanged open, slapping each other ecstatically in their hands and not trying to scream.
Peach and Toad saluted the audience, but Samus ignored the arousing crowd and the flashes and clicks of cameras and cellphones, "Where is Jace?" she asked the frantic doctor Dimentio.
"Where do you think?" Dimentio pointed her up the sky. She looked up, spotting Mario and Jace, still hovering and taunting the gorilla. Peach and Toad gasped. Samus' brow rose slightly. "Oh boy…" she sighed.
"Mario! Be careful!" Peach pleaded.
"You can do it Mario!" Toad shouted.
Mario and Jace still made circles around the Mega DK.
"Okaaay, what is the point of doing this Mario?" Jace exclaimed, "We've been soaring above that massive Donkey Kong for hours! And I'm getting airsick here!"
Mario went for the landing, "Just-a hold on!" The duo screamed, heading straight for the large Kong.
Hunt reached the building's rooftop, "WHOAAA!" he jumped back, aghast by the Mega DK's colossal's presence before him. "Oh my gosh! That's one massive creep!"
A thud caught Hunt's attention. He saw Falco who just landed on his knees with the parachute on his back. He looked back at Hunt, "Oh, so you think?" he said.
Hunt stared at Falco momentarily and formed a goofy grin. "Heeeheeheeheeheeheeheehee…" he waved with his squeezed shoulders to his neck, "…hi…!" his eyes rolled up and fell on the ground, unconscious. Falco blinked.
"GRAAAAAAWWWL!" Mega DK growled again, glaring its one good eye at Mario and Jace heading straight for him. With one ferocious roar, he tossed Jenn over his shoulder. "HAAAAA!" Jenn screamed, plummeting a thousand feet. Jace and Mario panicked. The whole city cried out at that horrific sight.
"JENNY NOOOO!" Jace screamed.
"GO AFTER HER!" Mario exclaimed.
"WHA—! WAI—!"
Mario let go off Jace. Jace screamed, following Jenn as they plummeted.
Mega DK formed a fist, stretched it back and swung at Mario. Mario went right past the fist and went straight into the Kong's other eye. The DK painfully roared, swinging his arms back, trying to keep momentum. He lost balance and went for the landing. His weight went right past Jace and Jenn in the air. The crowd dispersed out of the way, screaming as all three falling beings were getting closer and closer to the earth.
"IDON'TWANNADIE! IDON'TWANNADIE! IDON'TWANNADIE!" Jenn squealed.
"TUMMOOOOORRR!" Jace screamed.
"Now's your chance, Fox!" Falco barked through the Bluetooth.
"I'm on it!" Fox replied from his Arwing. The aircraft went for the three falling beings and fixed its target at the Mega DK. The Arwing fired a bullet at the Mega DK and a massive explosion engulfed the creature, shocking the air and almost taking the city off balance.
The Arwing then went for Jace and Jenn and they fell right for the passenger's seats from the roof. The duo looked around, sweating and trembling from this terrifying experience.
"How ya doing out there?" Fox gloated, "Having fun?"
"THAT'S NOT FUNNY!" Jenn screamed, tears literally coursed through her eyes, "I WAS ALMOST TURNED INTO A SQUISHY BANANA OUT THERE!"
Jace chuckled briefly. Jenn noticed and slapped his shoulder hard, "OW!"
"STOP LAUGHING!"
"Hey, forgive me for trying to save you!" Jace exclaimed, "…and that hurts."
"I'm sorry, it's just that…!" Jenn's lips quivered and her eyes watered again. Bawling she wrapped herself to Jace. Jace winced, his bones were still stiffed in pain, "…ngh…ow…" he glanced back at Fox with a faint smile, "…thanks Fox."
Fox winked.
The Arwing soared over the city. The crowd cheered on over the defeat of Mega DK. It felt like a celebration.
The Signore wrapped his arm around Dimentio, "Now you see, doctor Dimentio. Everybody's safe, everybody's happy, and everybody's entertained. Now that's what we call entertainment. Better than the LG 3D Mapping Show in Berlin, wouldn't you say? We shall do this again sometimes."
"There's nothing entertaining about the dangers my kids got put through, Stefano." Dr. Dimentio hissed.
"Except when it comes to entertainment." The Signore patted Dimentio affectively on the chest, "Now remember that…" he closed in on the doctor and threateningly furrowed his brow, "…the next time your kids try to harm my company."
He turned on his heels and left, half of the reporters followed him while the other half stuck around. Dimentio watched him disappear into the crowd, so was Samus.
"A worthy opponent I must say." Samus said.
"He's not the only one." Dimentio narrowed his eyes, "Trust me, he's not."
xXx
"And once again, we've been given a fantastic performance by the Nintendo characters of Super Smash Bros. 3DS on top of the Empire State Building! It was Mario vs. Donkey Kong, King-Kong style, which featured the Starfox team of Fox Mc. Cloud and Falco Lombardi! And you would NOT believe who was part of this whole ordeal! Two young kids by the name of Jacen Riders and Jennifer Dimentio, who apparently are also part of the Nintendo company. A fantastic viral marketing show it was, it felt oh-so real! It was terrifying! We'll give you more in-depth coverage on what went down in Manhattan on our latest news update!"
Noir Deroi flicked off the TV with the remote. He was sitting on an expensive chesterfield with his feet resting on a glass table with some magazines on one corner, and a glass of wine on the other side.
"I'll tell you this, kid." Ganondorf spoke, staring over the city from inside an expensive penthouse with top-to-bottom glass windows, "The next time you want to nail a thief… or someone who is hindering our dominating advancement, you'll need to earn more evil willpower."
He turned around and passed by Mewtwo, floating over the kitchen countertop while charging his Shadow Ball in deep concentration. He joined Bowser and Dedede who were standing behind Noir on the chesterfield.
"Ever since we've left our world to pursue the one with the 3 rd Dimentional Screen," he said, "we've been nothing but successful."
"You think?" Dedede barked. "We've lost half of our group since we got here," he glowered at Noir, "and we have to settle with a lowlife like you!"
Ganondorf clutched Dedede's throat. The Dreamland king gasped.
"Hush… little birdie." He slowly let go off the king's throat and walked past Bowser, "…I know you're frustrated. We're all frustrated. But you know what we need?" he stepped in front of the TV and faced Noir, "…we need victory. Absolute victory and control over the dimensions."
Ganondorf rest his palms on the coffee table, lingering at the silent Noir, "And you… want absolute respect. From anybody. From anywhere. From the one who never gained your respect. Isn't that right, kid?"
Noir slowly gazed back at Ganondorf. Most teens his age would've been either amazed or terrified by the Nintendo villains' presence. But his idea wasn't even there. It was on something else. Something personal. Something he actually wanted in his life but he never got. And Ganondorf was tampering on it with his taunting voice, causing his frown to deepen, his fists to tighten under his crossed arms, and his teeth to clench under his puckered lip.
With a furious jolt, he shoved the glass table at Ganondorf with one foot. Ganondorf descended his boot on the table, shattering it before it could strike his limb. Ganondorf smiled in response to Noir's anger. Noir didn't bother to even form a smirk.
"So you're in." Ganondorf chuckled.
xXx
New York University Hospital. Jace was on a wheelchair, sporting a hospital gown over his bandages crisscrossing his bare chest and around his arm, which was also hooked to an IV fluid. He cast a glance at Jenn who came through the door from the far left side of the room. Jenn too was on her hospital gown, but she wasn't on a wheelchair nor was she hooked on an IV fluid. The two cousins exchanged a smile.
"Hey." Jenn quietly closed the door behind her and approached, "How are you feeling?"
Jace shrugged, "I'm a'ight. Yourself?"
"The doctors might discharge me today." Jenn announced.
Jace's face lit up at the news, "That's great!" he put down the Nintendo 3DS he was holding on the bed next to him.
"Yeah but…" Jenn looked solemn, "…I kinda wish that we would've gone home together, y'know."
"Hey don't feel bad." Jace said, "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, I know." Jenn tried to scowl, but couldn't stop smiling, "It is your fault. Hope that'll teach you a lesson about stealing."
Jace rolled his eyes, "Yeah, like I've learned my lesson."
The two cousins laughed.
Jenn's smile faded once more, "Ohh, Jace." She knelt down before him and gently laid hands on his, "I can't believe you actually went through all of this trouble just to rescue me. I mean…" she sighed, "…you could've died out there. If I was a bit more careful…" she sighed, unable to continue on when she saw Jace's eyes twinkling. Seeing that made her smile again. "…you're like a brother to me."
Jace briefly looked down bashfully, his lips turned up in a smile.
"…and I wouldn't want anything bad happen to you."
Jace looked back at Jenn. He cupped one hand on top of hers, "Jenn, you're not like a sister. You're my sister. And I bet you would do the same for me if I was in trouble."
Jenn quickly shook her head, "Uh-uh. No. Too much trauma." She laughed and so did Jace.
Hunt slowly peeked into the room and knocked on the door. Jace and Jenn looked up.
"Mind if I come in?" he asked.
"Oh no, not at all." The two teens said. Jenn stood up and gave Jace one last look, "Don't keep me waiting."
"You know I won't." Jace replied.
Jenn left the room, leaving the two friends alone. Hunt shuffled his hands down his pockets and raised his shoulders up. He appeared nervous. "So…" he paused, "It… uhh… looks like you're feeling better." He tried to smile but couldn't.
Jace wasn't smiling at all. His eyes were instead filled with guilt. "All right." He sighed, beckoning with his two hands, "Lay it on me."
Hunt frowned, "Excuse me?"
"Look, what I did to you was wrong. Okay? I lied to you, and I'm sorry." Jace said, "So." He slowly stood up from his wheelchair, still wincing in pain, "how about…" he straightened, "…you give me your best shot?"
Hunt's eyes narrowed, "I'm not gonna punch you!"
"There you…!" Jace quickly looked back at Hunt, "…wait? What?"
Hunt chuckled, "Dude, I'm not gonna punch you. And especially in your condition."
Jace blinked. He slowly sat back to his chair, "Ohh…kay…"
"If I knew that the Nintendo 3DS you have stolen was a magical one and for some reason, you managed to bring out the Super Smash Bros. Nintendo characters to life…" he paused, "…well at first I wouldn't have believed you… but OHMYGOSH!"
"Wait! So you're not mad?!"
"Mad?!" Hunt exclaimed, laughing out loud, "I could just kiss you for making my dream come true, you troublemaking baka!" he closed in on his best friend but quickly backed away, "…but I'm not gonna do that, 'cause you're all hurt and that would… ahem… that would be weird."
"Yeah…! Totally weird." Jace muttered, "…Does anyone else know?"
Hunt stopped smiling. "Well… Pat and Maple know. And that Hans guy, and the police officer I punched…"
Jace arched forward, bug-eyed. Hunt nodded with a regretful scowl. "Yeah… went a little wild with my kung-fu. He now requires surgery."
"…you punched a police officer?" Jace's hung mouth slowly ebbed into a wide sinister smile, "Man! And I thought you were a wuss. You're HARDCORE!"
He leaned over to Hunt, "Can you do it again?"
"No." Hunt spat out, "Because of you, mister, I have to deal with either 64 hours of community service or spend one year in jail. And I am NOT spending 8,765 precious hours of my precious life in a jail cell with people who don't know how to wear their pants around their waist properly!"
Jace cocked his head on one side, "You're weird…"
Hunt went behind Jace and started pushing his wheelchair, escorting him out of the room, "…But c'mon! I wanna see it one more time!" Jace complained.
"No means no!"
"Just once!"
"Nyet!"
"At least a pinch!"
"Absolutely not!"
"You know I'm missing out right?"
"You won't be missing much if I deliver it to you!"
"No you won't."
"Yes I will."
"You really are a wuss."
"Stop it! I am NOT a man with low courage factor!"
xXx
Sneaks from Upcoming Episodes
Angry gorrillas are out to get Jace.
A fashion show at the Rockfeller Center is taken over by the Smash Bros... and Nergal.
Pat and Maple will help Link on his rescue mission for Zelda.
There's gonna be a wedding between a mortal and a Nintendo princess.
Warning! New Challenger Approaching!
Next Episode:: Monkey Business in 3D
