Ness wasn't sure how it happened.

After defeating the hostile alien Giygas and safely returning back to human form, he definitely didn't have the appetite for any more adventure. At least not for this lifetime. It was about time he had a little peace and relaxation.

It goes without saying that he missed his own bed. After months of travelling abroad and living in hotels, one of the things Ness was looking forward to the most was plopping down on his bed in Onett. Unfortunately, he didn't get that chance. The moment he pulled a set of clean, warm covers over himself, he found his body being squeezed through space and time.

The next moment, he was standing in front of a blonde boy who claimed to know him. Ness had never seen him in his life. His name was Lucas.

"So, let me get this straight. I'm in a whole different world now."

"…yeah," Lucas replied.

"And I have to fight to stay alive."

"Pretty much," Lucas said gloomily.

"And… we're supposed to be best friends?"

Lucas stared at Ness. "Yeah," he said softly.

Ness frowned. "I don't believe you."

Lucas' heart sank. He felt his knees give out, and he crumpled into a heap on the floor, eyes beginning to get wet.

"No – I didn't mean it like that," Ness corrected himself. "I just- I just mean, like-" He felt terrible for making Lucas upset. "I just got here! One moment I'm in Onett, and the next thing I know, I'm here…"

Lucas stopped crying. "Yeah… I'm sorry." He wiped his eyes dry.

Ness extended a hand to help Lucas up. He took it. Suddenly, Lucas' eyes widened.

"Your stuff," Lucas said.

"What?"

"Your stuff! Your stuff is still in our dorm! It might help you remember, maybe…"

Lucas grabbed Ness hand dragged him out of the room.

The administrator spotted them. "All better, Lucas?"

Lucas didn't answer him.

"You still have to fight today, don't forget!" The administrator called out.

Lucas led Ness through the corridors of the dormitories, finally reaching their room. He yanked the door open and stepped inside.

Lucas let go of Ness' hand.

"Well?" Ness asked.

Ness' bed was empty. There was nothing on it. The bed was made. It did not look like it had a previous occupant

"…no." Lucas said.

"Is… is this our room, then?" Ness asked.

Lucas nodded. His head was pounding in his head.

"Fuck," he swore quietly, for the first time in his life.

/

They walked out of their room later that morning to head to the atrium. They passed a few brawlers. All of them gave Ness weird looks.

"Hey…" Ness said. "…is there something you forgot to tell me?"

"…sort of. I'll tell you later."

They reached the administrator's room. The well-dressed man got up when he spotted the two of them. "Ness, could I have a word with you? Just some … administrative issues."

"Sure," Ness said. "I'll catch up to you later," he said to Lucas.

Lucas left.

Lucas sat quietly in the atrium, trying to collect his thoughts. What happened to Ness? he thought. Is this the same Ness from before? The one I loved?

His bubble of thought was burst by Wario, who jumped on the other end of Lucas' sofa, causing the entire piece of furniture to shake.

Wario's appearance was more disgusting than ever. His hair and skin were singed at random spots on his face. A couple of white bandages wound their way around his head and left arm. Nevertheless, he was grinning from ear to ear.

"So young…" he began.

Lucas looked at him and scowled. "What do you want?"

"So young, and already widowed," Wario continued in flowing poetry. "They say love is the solution to everything… yet your husband chose to descend down the path of…" he leaned in towards Lucas, leering. "…violence."

The P.A. system went off. Lucas didn't pay attention to it.

At that moment, Lucas felt something hot well up in his heart. It consumed him, and with the manliest demeanour, he said, "Wario, go fuck yourself."

Wario almost jumped back. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I seemed to have touched a nerve."

While saying that, the atrium doors opened and Ness stepped in. A few brawlers made urgent whispers. There was commotion.

"The hell?"

"He's still in? I thought Tabuu…"

Wario turned his head. Ness was walking straight towards him. "Holy sh-," he jumped up hastily, backing off.

"Hiya," Ness said. His unscathed skin and smiling face looked completely out of place in the atrium. He spotted Wario. "Friend of Lucas?"

Wario opened his mouth. "Ah! I, uh, wow, shit man, I don't even-"

The P.A. system went off. "Free for all. Meta Knight, Mr. Game and Watch."

"I… I gotta go! Later dudes."

And he scurried off, with a wide-eyed look of confusion and fear on his face.

Lucas was almost laughing. "Hey, Ness. What did the administrator want?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just some stuff. Told me about the place. Gave me my keys. By the way, who was that badly-burnt man?"

"His name is Wario. And he's… he…"

Lucas stopped dead in his tracks. He what, exactly? He's our mortal enemy?

Ness wasn't paying attention. He was looking thoughtfully around the atrium. Everywhere he looked, people turned their heads away, as if they had just been staring at Ness.

"I believe you," Ness finally said.

"Huh?"

"I believe you. About everything. About me being here before. It's just that…"

"Just what?"

The P.A. system: "Free for All. Wario, Ness."

Lucas almost jumped out of his seat.

"Oh my, did they just call me?"

"Y-yeah. You go over… over there. To those tubes. Good luck," Lucas said mechanically.

"Thanks!" Ness called back. He paced towards the transport tubes, where a frightened looking Wario was waiting.

/

A familiar sensation gripped Ness, pulling him into a line. A voice rang in his ears: "Ness versus Wario. Three stock. Hyrule Temple."

He materialized into unfamiliar scenery. He and Wario were high in the air. What appeared to be the ruins of a beautiful building encompassed them.

"THREE!"

Ness looked around, taking in a deep breath. He noticed that his opponent, Wario, seemed … anxious?

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

"GO!"

Ness didn't move. Wario assumed some sloppy defensive position that might've passed as a karate pose.

"Are you okay?" Ness called out.

"Don't touch me!"

"Ah! I… I wasn't going to."

"I'm sorry, alright? Please don't hurt me!"

"Hey look…" Ness tried to approach Wario, but he fled, making a few jumps and hiding behind a nearby structure.

"I- I don't want to hurt you, alright?" Ness explained, exasperated. "I just got here, I'm new, or at least I think I am, It's just… I just want you to teach me about fighting, okay?"

Wario stopped trembling and relaxed a bit. "Wait… you're new here?"

"That's right. Well, Lucas tells me otherwise, but I really don't know who to trust…"

"Huh," Wario moved closer. His mind was reeling through numerous hypotheses. "Do you… know me?"

Ness shrugged. "Today's my first time meeting you, I guess."

Wario stepped closer. He cleared his throat. He put on a sincere smile. "Ah… well, I don't think I introduced myself properly. My name is Wario." He extended a hand.

"I'm Ness."

/

Wario and Ness returned to the atrium laughing and talking animatedly. Ness spotted Lucas and waved. Lucas waved back, slowly.

"Hey Lucas, look, I've already made a new friend! He taught me how to fight and everything."

Lucas looked between Ness' cheerful face and Wario's false smile. "That's… that's nice," Lucas replied.

A/N: Sorry for the slow updating! m(_ _)m