The sun beat down on the plains of the Bionis, giving its light and life for all to use. Not a cloud was in the sky. The trees gave their fruit to the animals. The grass grew to amazing heights to shelter (and possibly conceal) anyone who wanted some shade. A light breeze filled the air and rustled the greenery. If one had been particularly observant one might have seen someone, just for a second, move from within the long grass. Yes, this was a perfect day for all the inhabitants of the colonies…nothing could possibly go wrong. STOMP, STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!

"It isn't trying to conceal itself. An interesting tactic." Riki had spoken of a 'bad monster' that had appeared from nowhere and been terrorising the local settlements. It was again my job to protect the peace. STOMP, STOMP, STOMP! Though the ground shook, I could see no 'monster' as such so I was able to deduce it was heavy enough to cause tremors from quite a distance. STOMP, STOMP, STOMP! I was soon proved correct when an enormous beast with a mane of red hair half ran/ half stomped its way over the crest of the hill.

I got my first good look (which wasn't much when concealed within the grass) and could make out its features. It had sizeable claws that looked sharp enough to cut metal and horns to match. Its skin was rugged (I suspected from repeated exposure to high temperatures) and yellow hued, and on its back there was a shell whose spikes gave off the same sharp aura as its claws. It let out an almighty roar and the rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth that lay within confirmed my suspicions. This was the monster that had been terrorising the locals.

"Well not on my watch!" I readied the Monado, extending to its full length. The creature turned, hearing the slight disturbance the blade gave off, but it was far too late to do anything about it. "BACK SLASH!" I yelled, leaping up into the air and bringing the blade down inches from the monsters shell. I hadn't intended to harm it directly (I never kill unless absolutely necessary) but the blade still sent out a shockwave that blasted the creature far away from me which then landed in an undignified heap. I withdrew the extension and swung the Monado back around to my shoulder. I took a deep breath, letting the gentle breeze brush my face before I exhaled. The moment was so perfect I couldn't help saying: "I'm really feeling it!"

No sooner had I said this did the Monado grant me a vision. I span around and saw two men leap over the side of the hill where they'd been hiding. They both had their weapons drawn and before I could react they'd struck me across the chest. The weird thing was that they'd hit me with the flat of their blades so weren't aiming to kill me but the impact still sent me flying. "Not today. The future doesn't belong to you." I let the vision end and I immediately vaulted backwards using the palm of my hand as a springboard. The figures both missed by millimetres but that didn't stop them. The one with blue hair stabbed forwards, inches from where my head should have been before I ducked. His friend in green slashed sideways but I was ready, parrying the blow with the un-extended Monado. Their attacks were perfect complement to each other as in whenever the blue haired one slashed at my shins, the blond one would come down from above with a heavy swing. Seeing this was going nowhere good, I back flipped to safety a couple of metres away. To my surprise my attackers stopped and looked at each other. Even if they were done I sure wasn't. No one attacks me unprovoked and gets away with it. My eyes narrowed and I extended the Monado once more. "Now it's Shulk time!" I cycled through the arts until I found the one I needed. "Smash!" The light around the blade glowed red. "This is the Monado's power!" I surged forward, intent on striking first but was utterly stunned when I heard one say.

"Wait! We surrender!" The blond one with the green tunic planted his sword in the ground.

"We're sorry." The other one said with an accent I'd never heard before.

"Wait what?" I asked, suspiciously. "You were trying to kill me."

"Not kill, no. Test."

"Huh."

"Sorry." The blue haired one adjusted his headband before stepping forward a pace. "We had to be sure you were the one."

"…"

"Look," He gestured to his open palms. "I have no weapons. We just want to talk."

"Yeah, right." I said sarcastically. "I'll bet that monster is yours as well." I pointed over to where the horned beast was just starting to recover.

"Well not really," the blond one said, also setting his weapon down. "We were sent to recover him but it looks like you saved us the trouble of subduing him. Thanks."

"Um…you're welcome. But why're you actually here. If you don't want to kill me…are you after the Monado? I should warn you that may not work out in your favour."

"What?" The blond one starting laughing. "No, you've definitely earned the right to wield it. Besides Marth and I both have our own swords."

"Marth?"

"Yes that's me." The blue haired one explained, holding out a hand. Hesitantly I shook it, wondering how his grip was so weak when his sword skills were at the level they were.

"And I'm link," the other said, holding out his hand as well. I couldn't shake both of their hands and hold the Monado so I (somewhat sceptically) deactivated it and attached it to my shoulder grip.

"Good to meet you." I said, hoping this would invite more conversation into their purpose here. I wasn't disappointed. Marth turned to face link after releasing my hand.

"He's the one. I can feel it. This the person Master hand told us to find."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Warrior's instinct. Plus no one except the wielder of the mystic blade would be able to take both of us on at once and hold his own."

"Hm…" Link shrugged. "That does make sense. I too feel his power, now."

"Sorry to interrupt but who's this 'Master hand' you said? What does he want with me?" Link opened his mouth to reply but another voice beat him to it.

"Let's hope it's nothing too exciting." I knew that voice. I span around to see...

"Reyn?!"

"Sup, Shulk."

"And Fiora?!"

"Hey, Shulk!" I hugged her whilst Reyn made gagging noises (which I ignored.)

"Who's this bunch of jokers?" Reyn asked after composing himself.

"This is Link and Marth." Marth bowed deeply while Link just waved. "I don't think they're from Bionis. More to the point what're you both doing here?"

"Well I found this letter hanging around outside your house and it said it was waaaayyy urgent."

"Why were you hanging outside of my house, Reyn?"

"When have I not done that?"

"…Good point." I turned to the petite blonde girl. "And you, Fiora?"

"I saw Reyn leave in hurry so I figured it was pretty important and followed him."

"Any excuse to be near Shulk, eh Fiora?" Reyn said, nudging her. She turned bright red and turned away, blushing.

"Um…w-well…umm…"

"Nah, I'm kidding!" Reyn hooted. "But your face though…priceless."

"Ahem…" Link coughed slightly, bringing us back to our senses.

"Oh right the letter," Reyn said, rummaging around in his pocket. "Here ya go, buddy!" He handed me the letter which was slightly crumpled from being in Reyn's pocket. After reading and rereading it several times it appeared I'd been invited to some sort of fighting tournament called 'Super Smash Brothers' and that the person in charge was called Master hand.

"Well this is all very interesting if it's true." I exclaimed.

"Well of course their telling the truth!" Fiora said (apparently now recovered from her embarrassment). "Can't you see it?"

"You were always better at reading people then I was. If you trust them then so do I." She smiled at this.

"So you'll join?" Link said, a bit too hopeful not to be considered desperate. I looked between him and Marth then back to Reyn who gave me a thumbs up. Fiora gave me a small nod.

"Count me in!"

"Excellent!" Marth declared, shaking my hand a lot more firmly than before. "Then we should be off."

"What…as in right now?

"Master hand is expecting our report soon. Besides we still have to get Bowser back to the mansion." Link said, jerking his thumb back to where the spiked creature was now beginning to stir. "I don't want to be around when he wakes up."

"Agreed," Marth said. "Our teleport relay is back this way."

"But…this is a bit soon don't you think? Don't I need to train more?" I queried, alarmed at the pace this was taking.

"Shulk, if our brief fight was anything to go by then you're more than ready."

"And if you're worried about missing your friends here," Link gestured to Reyn and Fiora. "Then we've got communication systems back at the mansion that can allow you talk to them whenever you want."

"You make it sound so easy," I supposed. "Well alright. I'll come."

"Right choice, Shulk. Don't disappoint me!" Reyn said, nearly crushing my hand in one of his handshakes.

"Take care of yourself, Shulk." Fiora lent in to hug me, which I (of course) allowed. "Come back safely." She whispered in my ear.

"For you…always." We parted our hug and I turned to follow the other swordsmen who were walking towards the creature known as 'Bowser'. After they'd dragged him over to a silver disc on the ground (what I presumed was the teleport relay), they placed him on it and he promptly vanished in a flash of light. Link did the same thing after.

"Your turn, Shulk. Just stand on the disc." Marth said, noticing my hesitance.

"What's the worst that could happen?" I stepped on to the disc.

"Looks like Monado boy's found himself some new friends. It'd be a shame if…they were all cut into tiny pieces then vaporized! Just you wait, Monado boy…"

Robin(F) POV

I could get used to this. I was currently looking at the league table for the competition so far in the main hall. With me was Fox and Palutena who were also scanning the board. In first position was Meta knight (no surprise there.) He'd been one of the few people to actually beat me in a match. Ness was another as his PSI attacks were more than a match for my own spells. Plus his vortex could absorb Thoron which healed him in our first match.

Sonic was another as he was just so damn quick. I could never charge up my spells for long enough as he kept hitting me before I could fire. Mr Game and Watch was the only other. His attacks were just so…unpredictable it made my job as a tactician infinitely harder than it should have been. Plus his oil panic attack could absorb my spells in the same way Ness could.

Other than that I hadn't really had any trouble which is why I placed 7th overall on the board. Those in front were Meta knight, Wario (I suspect he bribed his way to the top), Samus (in her zero suit. I was seriously surprised to learn the robot suit and the woman were the same person but I guess it made sense), Sonic, Ness, and the hero king, Marth.

It made me feel even better that the other Robin was way down at 22nd and Lucina at 15th .

"I guess this proves we're not the same. I'm better after all." I murmured.

"Hm? Did you say something, Robin?" Palutena asked.

"…No, nothing."

"Oh, well now that we're talking might I ask who your next match is with?" In truth I didn't actually know. I knew he was a newcomer and that he was male but that was about it.

"I'm not sure," I admitted. "Some new guy." The goddess's green eyes went wide with shock.

"Wait as in the 'new' new guy?"

"Uh…yes. Is something the matter?" I queried.

"You mean you haven't heard?" A blank look from me told her otherwise. "Apparently he's incredibly powerful. Back when he was being recruited he took on Bowser before Link and Marth at the same time!" This caught my attention. "In fact he's currently playing his first match against Meta knight as we speak."

"WHAT?!" I shouted, letting loose an echo that surrounded the hall. "Why didn't anyone tell me? I should be watching it to gain tactical advantage!"

"Oh…we assumed you knew," Fox admitted. "And that you either didn't care enough or…" I had already left, running as fast as I could towards the courtyard where the massive plasma screen was still hanging.

"Maybe I can just catch the last few minutes." I rounded the corner into the plaza but I could see I was too late. The newcomer was nowhere to be seen and Meta knight was on the floor surrounded by the rest of the smashers. I dashed over and tried to push to the front but of course Donkey Kong had to be in the way. I instead called Olimar over and asked him what had happened (trying to ignore the ever present stares of his pikmin)

"I…I-I'm not sure," he stuttered.

"For whatever reason he's scared. How can he be scared?! Is this new guy really that good?"

"It all happened so fast. I'm pretty short so I didn't see most of it but what I did see was…I don't even know."

"Well do you at least know who…?" I didn't even get to finish my sentence.

"Meta knight lost if you can call it that." The spaceman scratched the back of his helmet nervously. "Personally I'd say he was absolutely wrecked. 3 stocks to nil in under 7 minutes. That must be some kind of record." Now I was scared. 3 stocks to nil! Even if it wasn't under 7 minutes it'd be impressive but with that kind of time limit it was just scary. And I was facing him next! If he could beat Meta knight who was said to be the best then what chance did I have? I didn't even realise I was sweating until it starting coming down in beads along my forehead. "Are you ok, Robin?"

"Um y-yeah." I lied. "What does this new guy look like? He doesn't seem to be around here." Olimar opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by an energetic Pit who'd left the circle around Meta knight.

"Yeah as soon as he teleported back he immediately left to go to his dorm," the angel said, waving his arms around frantically. "Said he needed some 'alone time'. You should have been here though, Robin. They were all like 'pew, pew' and 'smash' and…lots of other things too but it was amazing!"

"G-great. L-look if you can't give me a description then can I at least know his name." I asked, practically begging for any information on this guy. Anything to get an edge.

"Sure," Pit said. "His name's Shulk."

A/N: Well now Shulk has joined the battle and made quite the first impression. Robin feels more than a little scared to be facing him. I was originally going to have Dunban and Riki instead of Reyn and Fiora but then I realised they're going to be in his final smash anyway (plus writing as Reyn is way too fun). Anyway we see the circumstances Shulk joins and his reveal trailer is incorperated accordingly.

Next time it's the one we've all been waiting for... Robin meets Shulk in battle! Who'll win. Can the heroine of Ylisse overcome the power of the Monado. Does the homs boy have what it takes to beat a powerful sorceress? Find out next time!

As ever please review and what not if you're not too busy. I appreciate all of them! Until next time, see ya!