Here's chapter nine; might as well type while I have ideas, right? XD

Falco: You better!

We'll be closing all flashbacks and move the plot forward, which means I get to do my kickass chapter next time. I really do have plans for that third situation, and they'll shock you! n.n

Dr. Mario: Let me guess…

Ganondorf: Shut up! You already know! XP

Dr. Mario: Right…sorry about that! (Sweatdrop)

Falco: Yeesh…anyways, RF doesn't own us or SSBM, but she does own Smash Island and everything on it, Planet Nintendo, the Hand Brother's human forms and names, Superior Hand and his fortress, the story plot, the Alter of Omega, and maybe a few other things as well.

Well, let's get this started, shall we? Away chapter!

"Okay guys, I think we can rest here."

The others were grateful when Link had finally spoken.

Pikachu immediately collapsed onto the ground. "I am TIRED! Any reason for the lack of rest until now?"

"The sooner we get to the fortress, the better," Link said darkly. "I want to get this over with."

"So do I," Young Link agreed. 'Although not for the same reason you want to…' He added mentally.

"I'm worried about the others just as much as you are," Roy said firmly. Ganondorf wondered if he sensed the small air of tension that he felt; it was there alright. "But I am relived to rest."

"It's almost dark," Ganondorf said, gesturing to the sky; the sun was starting to set. "Shall we call it a day?"

"I'm for it!" Pikachu shouted. "I'm worried about Pichu; really. But if we barge in there completely exhausted, then we'll only endanger ourselves."

"I suppose so," Roy agreed. Young Link hesitantly nodded, muttering an agreement.

"We continue tomorrow then," Link said firmly. "Get some rest; we wake before the sun rises."

Ganondorf almost felt envious of Link that day.

The Hero had done such a good job of being leader. While the long hours of trudging were a big annoyance, he knew if any of the others, himself included, had been leader, they wouldn't have disappeared.

Rising from his bed and walking to the window, he wondered where Superior Hand was right now, and what he was planning. Things were already so confusing and troubling for him; adding all of this was almost too much to bear.

Such was the responsibility of a king…

Ganondorf glared at the glass, spitting. Such was the responsibility of a king…that was his father's favorite saying. Killing people, leaving them behind to die, ignoring your personal life and feelings…everything was a king's responsibility. It sickened him to know that he at one point did feel that way. Comparing his life now to back then, he found that now was certainly better, despite all the troubles.

Deciding the best idea was to find and speak with others, the Gerudo left his room, slamming the door behind him.

"Luigi? Kirby? Game Watch? What are you guys doing here?"

Luigi ignored Roy's question and walked up to Ganondorf.

"We're here to reinforce," Luigi said. "The Hand Brothers are also here; they said they were going to head in first. We meet up, get up to speed, and charge in afterwards."

"Sounds like a plan to me," The Gerudo said. "Not much has been happening; we just scouted around."

"The best way in is through the front doors," Pikachu said. "All the secret entrances are booby trapped; it's almost as if he's expecting us."

"In a way, he is," Game Watch said. "But not with a plan; he expected us to just run in and attack."

"How were the propositions, anyway?" Link asked.

"We had to give Master and Crazy Hand up; then the guys would be freed," Kirby replied. "That was the plan. But Crazy caught our villain in a loop, and found out everything was just staged. It may look like we're following along, but we have plans of our own!"

"Any word about the five?" Luigi asked. "Is my bro okay?"

"They're part of this big thing, or at least, that's what it seems those frames are saying," Pikachu replied. "It seems Mario was the first to…do whatever the guy's planning to get this big thing. I doubt it's a good thing he has to do too."

"Before the ruckus Master and Crazy are probably the cause of, it seems Ness is the next to do whatever Mario had to do," Ganondorf said. "But I think the time to strike is now; if we wait any longer, someone else might suffer the same fate Mario and Ness did."

"I agree with Ganondorf," Game Watch said. "If there was a time to strike, it has to be now!"

"With that, we might as well charge," Roy said. "Let's do it!"

"Then we charge!" Link shouted, unsheathing the Master Sword. "Let's go!"

"So, what happened next?" Ganondorf stopped after hearing Popo speak. He was by the mansion's lounge door. Deciding the lounge was one of the best places to see more than one smasher, he entered the room.

Cluttered near the TV, though the appliance wasn't on, were Pichu, Yoshi, Popo, and Jigglypuff. Sitting around the table playing a game of seven card poker, yet listening to the group of smashers at the same time, were Falcon, Fox, Marth, and Luigi.

"Well, that was when we split," Pichu said. "Yoshi and Marth drew the frames' attention and sped down a hallway; I was still in the room where Mario and Ness were."

"I swear, all three of you owe us," Yoshi muttered. "If Crazy hadn't appeared, we'd both be like Mario and Ness!"

"That might be an understatement," Marth said, throwing a couple of coins into the growing pot. "But I agree; you guys do owe us."

"I'll discuss that with them," Pichu said. "In the meantime, we focus on stopping Superior Hand."

"What happened to you and Marth, Yoshi?" Popo asked. "Was it that bad?"

"You try dodging traps and throwing objects as those…frames…chased you," Yoshi replied, shuddering at the thought of the wireframes. "Those things scare the heck out of me! But other than that, nothing too eventful had happed. We ran, dodged, lost the frames, ran some more, then collided into ourselves."

"The decoys, to be more accurate," Marth said, now throwing his hand in.

"Not your round, eh?" Falcon asked. "Not mine either, I fold." He threw his cards in.

"I'm still in," Fox said, throwing a pair of coins into the pot

"Okay then, seventh card, seventh card," Luigi dealt himself and the kitsune their seventh card. "Face down, enjoy." He peeked at his.

"Hey Ganondorf!" Fox said, smiling at the Gerudo before checking his card. "Want to join the game? I'm just about to win!"

"Nah," The Gerudo said, shaking his head. "I'll sit with the shrimps." He sat down next to Popo, who punched him before shifting over. "So, what happened afterwards?"

"Well, we saw Crazy," Yoshi said. "He told us everything after sending the decoys out. Then the frames found us again and we ran. We went into that hallway we saw the rescue team in and lost the frames again. When they met the decoys, we went to find you."

"And we did," Marth added, as Luigi happily pushed the pile of smash coins towards himself.

"What happened Fox?" Falcon asked, laughing. "You said the pot was yours!"

"Lucky hand," The kitsune said, pouting. "Damn wild twos…"

"Then let's make threes wild instead," Marth suggested, throwing three coins into the center of the table. The other three players copied as the prince shuffled the cards.

"Threes and fives!" Fox shouted.

"Threes and fives it is," Marth said, dealing out two cards each. After that, he flipped a card over and threw it towards Falcon, Fox, Luigi, and placed his card above his two. "Ace of spades. Two of diamonds. Three of clubs. King of Hearts."

"Lucky wild!" Luigi said, grinning. "Ace starts."

"Let's go with one," Falcon said, throwing a coin in.

"So, what about you Pichu?" Jigglypuff asked as the card players got back into their game. "What happened?"

"I thought I was safe," Pichu replied. "But then five frames barged in, holding blaster guns. Superior Hand followed them in. I was really scared, but I didn't want Mario or Ness hurt, especially since we planned on retrieving their hearts. It was then the Rescue Team, minus Crazy, entered."

"I was traumatized," Luigi admitted. "Hmm…I take your two, and raise it to four!" He threw four coins in. "It was frightening to see Mario like that; I thought he was dead!"

"They're no better off," Yoshi muttered darkly. "The good thing is that we can bring them back."

"I never would've thought Master and Crazy's father would be our foe," Ganondorf said. "I was shocked to hear him say that. But then again, he did look like the two. And his voice sounded like Master's."

"I think we took it better than you did," Yoshi said as Falcon let out a moan. "Ah, shut up. It's only one hand!"

"I still can't believe you got a Royal Flush!" Falcon cried to Marth, who was pulling the pot towards him.

"Luck is strange," He said. "Sometimes it helps us when we need it most; other times it makes a bad situation already worse."

It was then the explosion took place. Everyone turned towards the door, one thing settling in their minds.

He's finally here…

Mario: That ends chapter nine! You know, I think I see a pattern…

Popo: What's that?

Mario: Well, the first chapter (prologue) was the first situation. The fifth chapter was the second situation, and the tenth chapter's going to be the third. XD

Jigglypuff: You're right! XD

Popo: That means we find out Superior Hand has finally decided to attack; and the next chapter is the aftermath of all that has happened! O.o

Jigglypuff: I know! XD

Mario: If anyone is curious; the game that Luigi, Marth, Falcon, and Fox were playing was Texas Hold'em. But since it's likely we've never heard of Texas, it's just seven card poker. If you don't know how it's played, there's always google, right? XD (Sweatdrop)

Popo: That's all from us! Until the next chapter, which should also be quick (knowing RoyalFanatic...), review!