Hello all! I apologize for not posting a new chapter Friday like I always have. I was still working on the ending and doing some touch ups and I wasn't able to finish in time to post due to only being able to work on it for 3 hours Thursday, cuz you know, it was Thanksgiving an all.

I want to say thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who has left a review and followed and faved this story, and who also followed and faved me! Wow! You guys are awesome! Thank you so so much for all your kind words and for helping me to correct inconsistencies in the story. Even though I may not reply to all of you I have certainly read all of your reviews! ...More than once. A lot. Because they make me smile.

I know you guys have been waiting for the tournament to start and I know I take forever cuz I'm super-heavy with exposition but I promise the next chapters gonna be really exciting!

"An alliance?"

"A secret alliance, between some of the veterans and other competitors."

"Well well, the plot thickens."

Snake was in his apartment, a finger placed to his ear and an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth. It was starting to snow heavily outside in the darkening light. Snake had waited until he got back to his apartment to relay everything he'd heard to Otacon. The group that was meeting spoke quietly, obviously it was not something anyone was meant to hear, so he shouldn't say it all out in the open either. Well, most of them were quiet, one was rather loud and careless. Pretty bold of them to meet where there were so many alloys working.

Snake had pushed one of the bedside dressers into the small hallway leading to the front door and was currently standing on top of it. He was undoing the small screws to the face plate of his smoke detector that was on the ceiling.

"Bowser. Wolf. Wario. Ganon. That's all the names they threw out. Characters they called 'shady'" Snake repeated, "I've met Bowser, he was a real piece of work."

"If those others are anything like Bowser, they all have to be bad news too."

"So, what'd you find out?"

Otacon had been searching the Encyclopedia for information on the other three. Snake could hear a mouse clicking in his ear. "I've gathered up all the info I could find, but it's not much. This is all just general information and synopsis of their lives, mind you."

Snake cupped four tiny screws in his hand and popped off the face plate. "Let's hear it."

"First up is Wario. Age unknown. Short fat guy, bulbous pink nose, mustache like a '60s Bond villain. Seen anyone like that?" Otacon asked. When Snake grunted no, he continued, "Says here Wario runs his own small time video game making company. He is known for being conniving and greedy. He's apparently got a gigantic hoard of riches that he adds to by stealing from people, including his own friends."

"Hard to believe a guy like that could even have friends. If he runs a video game company, why would he need to steal?"

"Must not be very successful."

Snake pulled out the battery. The detector beeped once loudly, startling him, then it was silent.

"What was that?" Otacon asked.

"Nothing."

"That sounded like an alarm. What are you doing over there?"

Snake put the face plate back on the detector. He grumbled quietly to himself, "Can't even smoke in my own room..."

"...That was your smoke detector, wasn't it?"

"Maybe."

Otacon sighed. "You never change."

"Who's next?" Snake asked.

More mouse clicks. "Next up is Wolf. And...that's...exactly what he is. A wolf."

"Huh?"

"An anthropomorphic wolf, to be more precise. His full name is Wolf O'Donnell. Age thirty six. Gray fur. Mean looking. He's got an eyepatch over his left eye. Says here he's a pilot and the boss of his own mercenary group called Starwolf. Apparently he's a wanted criminal."

"A wolf, named Wolf, who runs a group of mercs called Starwolf?" Snake scoffed, carefully screwing the tiny screws back in, "That's not very imaginative..."

"Of course you're familiar with Bowser." Otacon continued. Snake grunted. "Apparently, Bowser really is a king. He causes regular chaos and civil disturbances in a place called Mushroom Kingdom. Either him or his children, the Koopalings."

Snake's voice was incredulous, "Bowser has children?"

"Eight of them. He also makes a habit of kidnapping one of the other competitors, that Princess Peach, pretty frequently."

Snake nearly dropped the last screw. "Kidnapping?! And Master Hand brought him here? Along with his victim?" He shook his head. "Must be traumatizing for her to see him here. That glove really is inhuman."

"Of course he's not human. He's a god, remember?"

Snake growled. "I didn't mean it literally..."

"Anyway, the princess is always rescued by a pair of brothers named Mario and Luigi. Only to be kidnapped again."

Snake scoffed. "Not sure if Bowser has nothing better to do or those brothers aren't very competent. Are they competitors too?"

"The brothers? Yeah. Mario Mario and Luigi Mario."

"Their last name is Mario?"

"That's what is says."

This place was ranking high on the weird names list. He got down from the nightstand, the smoke detector in one undisturbed piece again, and carried the little dresser back to it's place by the side of his bed. "I would say, 'well at least the brothers are here to protect her', but it's not like they were doing a good job of it in the first place."

Otacon went on. "Lastly is Ganon. His full name is Ganondorf Dragmire. Age unknown. The profile says Ganondorf is a sorcerer who was given divine power from a deity, and with it he seeks to bring death and destruction to a land called Hyrule, by way of overthrowing the current princess and her regime."

"A usurper, huh?"

"He recently took part in an uprising where he took control of another king, possessed the other princess, Zelda, and nearly succeeded in his destruction. But in the end, he was defeated."

"This one seems more ambitious than Bowser. Sounds more dangerous too, especially with that divine power. Does that mean he's a god too?"

"Not sure. But Ganondorf is a veteran."

Snake sat down on his bed. He placed the lamp back on top of the dresser without plugging it in. He took his Zippo out from his pants pocket and lit his cigarette at last. He inhaled a deep puff and sighed it out. "It's starting to make sense now. The alliance to stop the bad guys from winning."

"Defeat me and I'll grant you your one greatest desire in the whole world. Is there someone you loved once but lost? You can have them back. Is there a loved one or a dear friend that's passed on to the other side, quite too soon? I can bring them back. Or maybe there's something wrong with you. Something that no amount of money or all the doctors in the world it can buy can fix. I can fix it for you."

"The prizes are unlimited riches and a wish. Money can do a lot of harm." Otacon said.

"That wish could do a lot more. He'll grant anyone their one greatest desire, so long as they can beat him. I doubt Master Hand will discriminate against the nature of the winner's desire either."

"They could wish for great power. Or death."

"The plot thickens." Snake repeated, inhaling more fumes and blowing them out. "So, that's why she was following me. That woman Samus. She was scouting me."

"You said that group was listing off people they'd met and their impressions of them. It seems they've scouted every new face there."

Snake put a hand to his chin. "Falcon did the same thing too. He wasn't just saying hello when I first met him." He recalled the man's words about him at the secret meeting. "He doesn't believe I'm a threat. Maybe Samus doesn't either. But now, it seems they're moving onto phase two of their plan: recruitment."

"You think someone may approach you again? Get you to join their side?"

Snake smirked slyly through slight discomfort. "Well, I wouldn't mind seeing Samus again. Maybe she can convince me."

Otacon almost laughed. "What's that I hear? Crushing on one of the girls a little too early, aren't we Snake?"

Snake chuckled. Otacon had no idea. He'd been thinking about that woman Samus ever since they'd met. He brushed his fingers lightly across his sore jaw. Right after their meeting in the Courtyard, and his brief chat with the kids a couple of days ago, he stopped by the General Store again to purchase an icepack and a bottle of aspirin. He could tell the alloy cashier was giving him a funny look, even though she didn't have a face. He'd made up some convincing story to explain the growing red welt on his face and she believed him, she even offered her sympathies. Snake'd been icing his jaw, but man, did he have a HUGE bruise. He was reluctant to go outside with it. That woman sure could punch.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"About what?"

"The secret alliance. The recruitment."

Snake shrugged. "Nothing. It has nothing to do with me. I've been excluded as a target, at least. And there's no way in hell I'd join them either."

Otacon made some grunting noises, Snake guessed he was adjusting his position in his chair. "Guess you're right. You have your own goals to focus on, after all. If those people are found out, that's grounds for disqualification. And you don't want to go down with their club."

Snake suddenly remembered words along those lines being hurled at him by that ugly brute Bowser. He inhaled another puff and blew it out in thought. "You know, Bowser said something similar when I first met him. He'd asked Ness if I've been recruited into their club. I wonder, do the bad guys know they're being ganged up on?"

"If they do then why don't they report it?"

Snake took the cigarette out of his mouth and held it between his fingers. "I can't speak for the others, but Bowser doesn't seem like the type to tattle tell to Master Hand about it. He'd probably hatch his own scheme to get back at them."

"Like what?"

"Attacking them out in the open, maybe?"

Otacon sighed. "You've gotten yourself into a real mess, Snake."

He grumbled again and stuck the cigarette back in his mouth. Snake stood up from his bed and walked into the giant closet. He grabbed one of the many empty suitcases that were strewn on the floor and dug around inside. "I thought this was supposed to be a simple fighting Tournament. Ike was right, this is a lot more complicated that it looks." He pulled out an ashtray that he'd brought from home and smushed the cigarette ashes into it.

"Master Hand doesn't even know about a conspiracy right under his nose." Otacon responded.

Snake went back inside to the sunken living room and sat on his couch. He placed the ashtray on the coffee table. "In any case, none of it is my problem. The veterans can scheme it out between themselves if they want. I want no part of it. I've had enough of being someone's lackey." He took a deep puff on his cigarette. He snatched up the remote next to his empty food container from the Cafeteria to change to channel on the TV. "Which reminds me, I have a bone to pick with you, Otacon." Snake growled at him.

"Me? What did I do?" His friend sounded confused.

"You said Samus Aran was an android. But she was human."

Otacon adioubly grumbled. "How was I supposed to know she was wearing a powersuit?"

-Month 1, Day 15-

The new year finally rolled around. It was now just a month until the official start of the tournament and Snake's terminal was being flooded with emails, almost daily. They were mostly announcements about the shops finally opening in town, as well as the port town down by the coast. It seems interstellar travelers were arriving and setting up their businesses there.

Another email included a daily schedule for the buses that drove to and from the port town everyday. Snake hadn't yet been there, but he made a note to go and check it out sometime.

There was also a curious email from the staff, a warning of intruders spotted in the gated off area they all lived behind. Snake was alarmed at first until the intruders were described as small, furred creatures, only about a foot in height. They were not considered dangerous and were easily spooked. The email requested that if anyone spotted them to report it to security immediately. Snake wondered just what these creatures could be.

In the meantime, he had begun his preparation for the tournament. Snake went to one of the gyms in town and worked out everyday, lifting weights, punching the sandbags and working on his cardio. If there was anything that woman Samus had taught him, it was that the contestants here were not to be taken lightly. The invitation said Master Hand had gathered the universes' best after all. He was flattered to be counted among them.

Snake also began running. The alloys who worked in the gym recommended a few running trails to him. The shortest one was along the sidewalks in town. A longer trail ran through the expansive gardens and courtyards and it offered a more scenic view, the alloys said. But the longest, more rougher trail, ran outside of the gates, on the edge of the desert, through the plains, and curved back around into the gates through the dense forrest on the northern edge of the island. Snake was going to try that trail for the first time today.

After gulping two cups of gross, stale coffee, he put on his trench coat and threw his gym bag with his workout clothes over his shoulder. He'd exercise for a few hours and then go running.

Snake briefly ran a thumb over his jaw again. His bruise had long gone away. He could still recall the fierce look on Samus' face when she turned around and clocked him. He also remembered her very small smile in their conversation afterward. She was a gorgeous woman. Too bad he hadn't seen her again.

Locking up his apartment, Snake troped down the cobblestone road, which had been plowed and cleared of snow; the drifts were still piled high on the sides of the road. It wasn't snowing today, or had for the last couple of days, which had to be a nice break for the alloys. They'd been working non-stop to keep all the streets and the sidewalks clear.

He was going to get a nice hot breakfast first. The Cafeteria was too far away, but thankfully there were bus stops in town, especially the stop at the end of the road from the Complexes. He never had to wait long there before one came by.

He stood at the bus stop for only thirty seconds when a shuttle pulled up next to him. The doors slid open and the alloy driver kindly greeted him. "Hey there! Where can I take 'ya pal?"

"Cafeteria please." He replied. Snake boarded the shuttle and sank into the center seat of one of the two rows. Even though the alloys couldn't feel cold, he was glad the vehicles still came with heating. Not that it was too cold outside. Not for him. This was nothing compared to the minus zero degree temperatures of Alaska. The shuttle didn't leave just yet.

"Hey! Don't leave me behind!" Another voice called outside.

"Of course not. Where are you headed?" The driver asked, looking out of the open doors.

Another passenger got on the bus. It was that man Falcon. "Cafeteria, please." He said.

The alloy nodded. "I'll take you both there."

Falcon thanked the driver. He turned into the dark cabin and grinned when he spotted Snake. "Hey there! I thought it was you Snake. Good morning."

"Long time no see." Snake greeted, nodding to him.

The doors of the shuttle slid close and they drove off. Falcon sat down directly across from him. He still wore his dark shades and the same blue, striped racing jacket he'd had on before. "No kidding. It's been about what? A month? How have you been? Gotten used to this place yet?" He asked.

"Hardly notice the alloys aren't human anymore." Snake quipped.

The man laughed. "So, wher're you headed? Grabbing some breakfast too?"

"Need to fill up before my workout."

"Me too. I've got to grab breakfast before I start my run." Snake did notice Falcon had a gym bag around his shoulder too.

Snake wondered for a moment if Falcon had boarded the bus because he saw that he'd gotten on. He wondered if Falcon was keeping an eye on him, as he told that woman Samus he would. Was he socializing with him now to gauge him further? Asked what he was doing and where he was going to keep track of him?

"Why not just run all the way to the cafeteria?" Snake asked, part jokingly. He wanted to throw the man off, and it kind of worked. Falcon's expression froze for a millisecond before he laughed again.

"If I did that, I'd burn away all my breakfast before I even got started. Not a smart way to start the day Snake." He replied.

Snake shrugged. "Guess you're right."

It was worth a shot. The man could gauge him all he wanted, Snake didn't plan on sabotaging anybody or even associating with their group. If they got caught then that was their problem. He was there for one thing and one thing only, to fight like hell for that wish.

"Have you met any of the others yet?" Falcon asked him.

"Not lately. The last time I ran into anybody who wasn't an alloy was almost a month ago. And it was just the kids again. They were hanging around some pink creature. Strangest thing I've ever seen." Snake replied.

Falcon tilted his head. "Pink creature? Did it have red shoes, or ears?" He asked, gesturing to the top of his head.

Snake thought about it. He didn't remember that blob having any ears. "Red shoes." He answered.

"Ah. That was Kirby."

"Yeah, that thing."

"Kirby always hangs around and plays with the children. Either him or Yoshi."

"Yoshi?"

The man crossed his arms and sighed like he was thinking deeply, "Of course when Yoshi is around, he won't let Kirby anywhere near the children. He can be so aggressive sometimes, despite how adorable he is."

Snake didn't know what the man was talking about. "You know, I also met a friend of yours that same day. A woman named Samus Aran." Snake watched Falcon for his reaction. The man uncrossed his arms, looked at Snake and smiled a genuine smile.

"Ah, you did? Samus is one of my oldest friends here, and one of the kindest people you'll ever meet." He replied.

"She's also got the punch of a champion boxer." Snake commented.

"Punch? Did she hit you?" Falcon looked concerned. Snake thought it was almost convincing.

"She was stalking me, following me around town. I managed to slip out of her sight and get the jump on her. That's when she punched me." Snake pointed to the spot on his cheek where she hit him. "She make a habit out of following people?"

Falcon pushed his sunglasses up to look at him. Snake could see the scar on his head more clearly. It cut through the end of his left eyebrow. His eyes were brown. "You sure she was stalking you? Maybe she was just trying to say hello."

It was Snake's turn to cross his arms. "She admitted she was. Said she didn't know how to approach me. She also apologized for punching me. Said I'd scared her and it was just a reaction."

The man's concerned expression disappeared. He dropped his sunglasses back over his eyes and his winning smiled surfaced again. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Samus is a bounty hunter for a living, you know. You can't just sneak up on her like that. It's sort of her habit to gauge people first. Comes from the job." He chuckled. "You know, I didn't want to say anything because we don't know each other that well, but you do have a scary-looking face. I wasn't quite sure how to approach you either, to be honest."

Snake knew Falcon was covering for the woman. His reply was a smidge sarcastic. "Really?"

Falcon started to talk about Samus, about how he'd first met her and how they became friends. Then he started to talk about the trail he ran. The long trail that went outside of the gates, the same one Snake was going to try today. Apparently Falcon ran it every single day. Said he believed speed over power was a better strategy in combat. Snake had to agree with him.

The shuttle finally arrived at the Cafeteria. Both men thanked the alloy driver and disembarked.

Falcon didn't stick around for breakfast, he took his to go. Before he left, he gave Snake a warning about the long trail. "It runs into the forest and gets pretty close to the Ground Housing." He said.

"Ground Housing?"

"The Ground Housing is where all the non-human competitors stay. Including ones who possess near-human intelligence, like Kirby. They have fancy kennels out there with all the works built in. Even Kirby has his own little house but he never sleeps in it. The alloys are always finding him sleeping in the trees or on the roofs of buildings all around town." Falcon chuckled.

"In this weather?" Snake asked.

The man shrugged. "Don't know. This is the first time this island has had weather. Hopefully wherever he sleeps, it's warm and indoors." Falcon waved his hand. "Anyway, getting back to the subject, there's someone out there in the forest you should avoid. And well, avoid them anywhere, really." Snake listened, thinking he was going to talk about one of the shady characters. "You have to watch out for another pink creature. This one is about the same size as Kirby, but looks totally different. She has little ears and curly hair on her head. She's always carrying around a marker with her too."

Snake was confused. "She?"

"This creature is a Pokemon. Her name is Jigglypuff." Falcon pointed a stern finger at him. "Do not let her sing to you. No matter what. If you see her, run the other way. Immediately."

"Why?" Snake asked.

"Just run." Was all he would say. And with that, Falcon left the cafeteria with his to-go breakfast in a plastic bag.

Snake was left standing there to ponder the man's cryptic words. "Jiggly...puff?"

Hours later, his workout completed, Snake was dressed warmly for his run. The alloy receptionist at the gym didn't call this a rough trail for nothing. The short trail that ran in town comprise of concrete sidewalks. The medium trail was both sidewalks and a wide dirt path in the gardens. But the long trail was barely anything, just the ghost of a faint trail. This one wasn't used a whole lot.

The wind blew sharply over the desert and bit at his face as he ran. The plains, when he'd reached them, were a little less cold but the wind was still harsh. It blew over the miles and miles of tall, dead, frozen grass.

Running back through the giant iron gates that were the boundaries of their living area, the trail widened and became a more distinct, more well-traveled dirt path. Snake ran past a glass structure that was shaped like a huge pyramid. He wondered what this building could be. A few hundred feet away from that was yet another glass building. It was circular like the Super Dome, with dozens of vents covering the roof. Even from as far away as he was, he could hear the low hum of the numerous air filters. He wondered even more what this building could be.

It was here that Snake witnessed a peculiar scene. A brown colored creature came barreling out of the tall grass in front of him, causing Snake to skid to a stop. It tripped and face-planted in the mud. The furry creature got back up, wiped it's face with it's stubby, finger-less hands and that's when it spotted him. It was almost completely covered head to toe in brown hair and had huge brown eyes. It didn't have a nose or a mouth. Snake blinked. The little creature panicked and took off running into the tall grass on the other side of the trail. It didn't make any noise.

"What...the hell what that?" Snake said to himself.

He heard the snow crunching and seconds later, an orange alloy came running up to him. "Hey! Did you see which way that Waddle Dee went? Did you see it?" It asked.

"Waddle...Dee?"

"Little furry creature? Stumpy arms and legs?"

"Yeah. I think I saw it just now. It went that way." Snake pointed in the direction the little blob had ran.

The alloy thanked him and took off running. It zoomed off in fact. That alloy was fast.

"Waddle Dee?" He repeated to himself. Was that another competitor? Was it in trouble? He remembered the email that was sent this morning about little furry intruders spotted behind the gates. Was that one of them?

Snake continued his run. He came upon the forest at last, which was the halfway point of the long trail. He wondered how thick this forest would be whenever it was spring and all the leafage grew back. The trees were incredibly tall and loomed over head. They looked like redwoods.

At this point Snake was starting to get tired. None of the other trails were remotely this long. Falcon said he ran this trail every single day. How did the man do it? Snake told himself he was just getting old. Maybe it was time for a break.

Suddenly, something else jumped out in front of him. Snake stumbled to a stop, nearly falling over this time. He expected to see another brown blob being chased by another alloy, but it wasn't. It was a small animal with bright yellow fur. It shook snow and water vigorously out of it's coat then sat on it's haunches and started to groom it's little face. The animal stopped when it spotted him.

"Pika?" It chittered.

Snake looked at it. The creature had black tipped ears and an oddly shaped, jagged tail. It was about the size of a terrier. Snake recognized this animal. He'd seen one of these on those Pokemon Beauty Contest shows. But...what was it's name again?

"Pika...chuu." It chittered again.

The animal stood in it's spot, not moving. It looked up at him with beady, black eyes. Snake would have thought it'd run away upon seeing him, but it didn't. It just sat there and sniffed the air in his direction. The more Snake looked at the animal the more he realized it was...kind of cute.

He looked to his left, then to his right, then behind him. No one was around. He crouched down low and held out a hand to the animal, palm facing upwards. He clicked his tongue. The creature's long ears perked up.

"Pi?"

He beckoned the animal. It tilted it's head and instead took a step to the side. With dogs, this was an unsure sign, but...this creature wasn't a dog at all. He clicked his tongue again and waved his hand softly, speaking lightly. The critter took another step to the side, ears still up, still assessing if he was an enemy or a friend. Snake had to show the creature he meant no harm. He sat down on the cold ground and crossed his legs in front of him. He held out his hand again. This did the trick. The little creature began to slowly creep towards him.

"Come on. It's okay." He said softly.

Snake stayed absolutely still, letting the critter sniff his fingers. He scritched the animals' muzzle lightly. It must have tickled, for it shook it's head, stood on it's haunches again and rubbed it's face, letting out a, "Chuuu..."

The animal returned to sniffing his hand. Snake managed to scratch behind one ear, and then the other. It purred. Snake smiled a little as he stroked the animal's head.

ZAP!

Snake yelped. He'd brushed his hand over the critter's plump red cheeks and he felt a shock. It was only a tiny jolt, like sticking your finger in a light bulb socket for a second, but it surprised him. The animal didn't seem to be affected though. It looked up at him.

"Pika pi." It chittered happily.

Snake remembered then that this animal had the power to generate electricity. Did it come from those plump red cheeks? The critter wagged it's jagged tail a couple of times and got a little closer to him. "Pika...chuuu."

Snake put out his hand again. He'd be more careful when petting it this time.

"Jiggly!"

He heard a small voice. Still sitting on the ground, he turned to look behind him. Standing a few feet away was the pink blob Kirby.

"Puff puff?" He said.

"Oh, it's Kirby."

"Jiggly! Jiggly!" Kirby puffed up big and bounced happily towards him.

"Pika!"

Snake looked back at the yellow critter. It's ears and tail went straight up in alarm. It run and bounded quickly into the snow covered bushes.

"Hey..." Snake felt a little disappointed that the animal left. He turned around to look at Kirby. "Why did you scare it off?" He grumbled. But Kirby didn't answer him, he just stared back at Snake.

Snake got up from the cold ground and dusted off his pants. "What is it? You and the kids playing hide and seek again?" He asked.

"Jiggly!"

Snake noticed that the pink blob looked...a little different. He didn't remember Kirby having pointed ears like a cat, or a pink bow on a strand of curly hair. He didn't remember Kirby having any hair at all. It also had a pen in it's hand and no red shoes.

"Not Kirby..." Snake furrowed his brow slightly. "Who are you?"

The pink creature babbled happily. It started to bounce around him in a circle, almost like it weighted nothing. What was this creature so happy about? It stopped to wave the marker around, babbling some more. Snake didn't know what it was trying to say.

"You have to watch out for another pink creature. This one is about the same size as Kirby, but looks totally different. She has little ears and curly hair on her head. She's always carrying around a marker with her too. Her name is Jigglypuff. Do not let her sing to you. No matter what. If you see her, run the other way. Immediately."

Oh, that's right. Falcon had warned him about this creature. He was supposed to avoid all contact with it, but...why? She was so small and harmless looking. What could possibly be threatening about her?

The pink creature waved the marker again, it's giant eyes were sparkling. Snake bent down to it's level. "What? What is it?"

She put the marker to her mouth and started to sing, as if it were a microphone. Snake's ears were filled with the little creature's charming voice. The melody it sang was beautiful and soothing. He closed his eyes and listened to it. It was relaxing. All the stresses of his life seemed to melt away. There were no more Patriots, no more impending World War III and no pesky Ocelot to cause trouble for anyone. Just him, back at his home in Alaska, loafing on his big comfy couch with a dozen huskies all crowded around him. He never felt so relaxed in his life. He felt like he was floating on a cloud of pure happiness.

His limbs started to become heavy and his eyes began to droop. He was starting to feel sleepy. Really sleepy. Maybe he'd worked out enough for today, this trail was way too long. Maybe he should just go home, change into some sleeping clothes and take a nap on his soft mattress.

Or maybe...maybe he could nap here...just a little...just...for five minutes...

Snake dropped to his knees and fell face first on the ground.

"He...ey..."

Someone was shaking him.

"...ake up...you alright...?"

He blinked his eyes open.

"He's waking."

Snake was lying face down on the muddy ground. He groaned. What the hell happened? Did he fall asleep? The hands kept shaking him.

"Sir, are you with us?"

Snake groggily pushed himself up and off the ground. He sat on his knees and rubbed his eyes. His shirt and pants had wet spots from the damp ground. He dusted himself off again. "What happened...?" He asked the voices sleepily.

"Looks like Jigglypuff got to you my friend." Answered a male.

Two men were standing over him. One was a choppy haired blond dressed in a rustic, fur lined tunic. The other appeared much older and had a head of short, blue hair. A dark blue cape was wrapped around his shoulders and a glinting, golden tiara adorned his head. The yellow animal Snake saw earlier was perched on the shoulder of the younger man. Both of them had swords strapped to their backs.

"Pika." The animal chittered.

"Jigglypuff...?" Snake repeated.

"Before you fell asleep, did you see a pink creature? She would have been wearing a little bow in her hair. She probably had a marker she sang into, right?" The blue haired stranger asked.

"Yeah...I saw her. She started singing and then I...I felt so relaxed and..."

"And then you feel asleep." Finished the other man.

"Did that thing put me to sleep?"

Both men offered their hands. He grabbed hold and they pulled him to his feet. Snake straightened out his rumpled, wet clothing.

"Jigglypuff has the power to lull anyone it sings to into a deep slumber." The blue-haired man replied, "She's been trying to find someone to stay awake through her song, but no one can. And if you fall asleep, well..."

Snake looked at him. "Well...what?"

The blond kid reached behind him and unsheathed his sword. He twirled it around in his hand a couple of times before sticking it in front of Snake's face, the blade facing downward. "Take a look for yourself." He said.

Snake noticed how the youth held the heavy-looking claymore with just one hand. The handle was dark and unusually shaped, the blade had curious etchings in it too. He peered into the reflective surface. It wasn't the best mirror, but Snake could make out that the whole right side of his face had been drawn on with a black marker.

"What the-?! Did that thing draw on my face?!" He exclaimed, touching a hand to his cheek.

"That's her punishment for you falling asleep." The blue haired man laughed lightly and rubbed the back of his head. "It's happened to all of us, unfortunately."

"Chuuu..." The yellow critter sighed, it's ears drooping. The blond guy just smiled nervously.

Snake tried to rub the marker off his face. "Is this permanent?"

"It can be tough to scrub off, but it is not permanent." The blond replied simply, sheathing his sword again. That's not what he meant. Snake grabbed a handful of snow from the grass. He rubbed it on his face but the black marker only smudged off on his hands. The two men started snickering behind him.

"You might want to stop, you're only making it worse."

The older man walked up to him and pulled out a handkerchief from a pouch on his belt and handed it to Snake. "Here. You can use this."

Snake took the cloth. It was made of a really nice material and had embroidered edges. He hoped the man wouldn't mind him getting marker and possibly mud all over such a nice cloth. He motioned to the guy. "Thanks. Who're you guys?"

The blue haired man opened his mouth to speak first, but the blond cut him off. He motioned to the man grandly, bowing low. "May I introduce, the humble King Marth."

"King?"

The blue haired man held up his hands defensively to his bowing companion. "Please Sir Link, you really don't have to keep doing that..."

Link?

The blond stood up, as if he hadn't heard the man. He had a big friendly grin plastered on his face. "And I am called Link. It's nice to meet you." He bowed slightly to Snake.

The yellow critter piped up on his shoulder again. "Pika pi!"

Snake nodded back to both of them. He pointed a finger at the blond. "You said your name is Link, right?" He nodded. Snake looked at him more closely. The swordsman did somewhat resemble the young, cat-eyed child. They even had the same name. Could they possibly be related? And if they were, what kind of parents gave their kids the same name anyway? "Lemme ask you something. Do you have a younger brother?"

The older-looking Link furrowed his brow in confusion, but that was quickly replaced by a nervous laugh. "So you've met the uh...other Link have you?"

"Other Link?"

"We're not brothers, we're...actually the same person." Hearing the weird grunt Snake made and seeing the expression on his face, the swordsman clarified. "You see, he and I are from different...uh...eras. I don't know whose future or whose past but we share the same destiny and same purpose. We probably will throughout all of time. Master Hand has plucked us both from those uh...places in time...and now we're here. Though, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to seeing another me walking around." He laughed nervously again.

Snake thought back to when he met Samus, how she'd been from a planet Earth too. An alternate reality or future Earth, he didn't know. And now, he was meeting the same persons, from the same place, only different places in time. Well, Master Hand did say there were no barriers for him. Why did this feel a little familiar? Snake nodded, "You know, that isn't as strange as you think it is."

"Oh? What makes you says so?" The older Link questioned.

Snake coughed. "Er, never mind." He turned his attention to the other man. "Marth, right? You're really a king?"

Marth nodded. "I am, though you do not have to think of me that way while we're here. We're all equals in this world." He stole a glance back to Link. The guy didn't even seem to notice though, he just kept that dumb smile on his face.

That would explain the crown, Snake thought. "What're you doing participating in this tournament? Don't you have a kingdom to rule, or something?"

"My wife is taking care of that while I'm away. Besides, I would not miss seeing my friends here for the world." Marth smiled genuinely. There was a warmness to it.

"You guys veterans?" Snake asked. Both of them nodded. Snake suddenly got a hunch. "Let me guess, third years, right?"

Link nodded again but Marth shook his head. "This is only my second time participating." He corrected.

Snake wondered to himself if these men were part of the veteran's alliance. The blond's voice certainly sounded familiar. Snake pointed to the yellow critter on his shoulder. "That your pet?"

Link looked up at the animal and scratched it's head. It purred. "Pikachu? No, but he is my friend. I've known him for a long time."

Oh yeah. That's what the little critter's name was. Snake decided to humor himself. "That rabbit's a competitor too, isn't he?"

Link looked confused. "Yes, but he's not a rabbit. He's a Pokemon."

"Pika pi!" The animal said. It held out a tiny paw to him. Snake blinked. Was it...trying to shake hands? He reached up touched a finger to it's little paw. "Chu!"

Snake felt a small stir in his chest.

Children, a baby, and a literal animal. All this place needed was some kind of mythological creature and they would be all set. Bet that animal was a third year too. He didn't bother asking.

"Tell us sir, what is your name?" Marth asked him.

"You can call me Snake." He replied.

"It's nice to meet you, Snake. What are you doing all the way out here?"

Snake looked around at the dense, desolate forest of redwoods. "Exercising. I went for a run along this trail until I ran into him." Snake nodded to Pikachu. "And then that...Jiggly-thing...came out of nowhere." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, "It's a good thing you guys came along. I don't know how long I would have been asleep for. Or what could have eaten me out here."

"There are no dangerous animals in these woods." Link responded. Then he put a hand to his chin, "Well, except maybe for Donkey Kong."

Snake lowered his brow. "Donkey Kong?"

Link waved his hands and corrected himself. "He's not dangerous, more like he's protective of his hoard and his house. If you ever see a giant ape out here, just give him a banana or two and he's as harmless as a lamb."

Snake stared at him. "...There's a gorilla out here? Where?"

Their conversation was cut off by a loud and terrible groan. It reverberated in the air around them. All heads shot up.

"What the hell was that noise?" Snake asked. "Is it the gorilla?"

The two swordsmen looked around. Pikachu's ears were straight up. The branches in the trees shuddered. There came another groan and the sound of splintering wood.

With lightning fast speed, Link grabbed Marth by the cape draped around his shoulders and Snake by the lapel of his jacket. He tackled them both to the ground.

"GET DOWN!"

At that moment one of the giant sequoias came crashing down, landing across the trail in a thunderous sound. The impact shook the ground like an earthquake.

The groaning stopped. The branches of other trees that had been in it's path broke off and fell to the ground in loud thumps. All three men lay on the muddy ground. Marth propped himself up on an elbow and looked at the massive tree laying across the trail, exactly where they'd all been standing a moment ago. He pat Link on the shoulder. "Quick thinking my friend. We would have been flattened."

Link got up onto a knee. He looked at the redwood. "I know the sound of a tree being felled anywhere."

The critter Pikachu had been thrown from his perch atop the blond's shoulder. He also lay on the ground nearby, flat on his back. "Pika..." He groaned.

Everyone got back to their feet. Link approached the tree and ran a hand across it's red bark.

"These trees usually fall over like that?" Snake asked him, dusting off his clothes once again.

"No, redwoods have the strongest roots there are." Link replied without looking back.

THUNK! ...THUNK! ...THUNK!

There came the sound of more wood breaking. Snake looked up in alarm. "What is that? Another tree?" He asked.

Link looked off to the direction the tree had fallen from. "No. But I don't think this tree fell on it's own." He said.

"You don't mean..." Marth's voice trailed off.

Link looked back at him. They nodded to each other and, without another word, both swordsmen took off running into the woods. Snake called after them, asking where they were going, but they didn't even look back.

"Pika!"

The yellow critter bounded after them. Where the hell were they all going? And just what were they going to find on the other end of that tree? Snake wondered if he should follow them. If this had anything to do with the veteran's pact it was none of his business. Then again, whoever, or whatever, brought down that tree almost crushed him. Snake tucked the handkerchief into his jacket pocket and followed.

He was a few yards behind them. Even the little Pokemon was farther ahead. The sound of wood breaking became louder and louder. He finally caught up to them. Both swordsmen stood rigid in their spots, looking ahead. Pikachu stood a little behind them. His ears were down and he was shaking.

"What? What is it?" Snake asked them.

Both of their hands flew to the handles of their swords. By the root of the tree, Snake saw a gigantic beast. He thought it was a monstrous bear at first because it was covered in dark fur, until, from underneath, a large human fist drew back in the air. A dark mist surrounded the hand and it sliced through a section of the sequoia without any effort. This was no bear, but a giant of a man, draped in an equally giant fur cape. Snake noticed there were neatly cut piles of redwood nearby, and what appeared to be large sections of uprooted dirt and cleared land.

The first raised in the air to strike the tree again, but suddenly it stopped. The hand lowered back into the cape, and the giant turned around to face them. The man had dark, olive-colored skin and wore a sparkling, elaborate golden headpiece that intertwined with his thick red dreadlocks. The man had a massive forehead in which rested an equally massive jewel. His eyes were sunken in and his gaze was piercing. A chill went up Snake's spine.

"You might want to watch where you fell your trees next time, dark king." Marth said sternly, "You nearly crushed us."

The giant spoke, his voice had a dangerous edge to it. "Believe me, if I were to crush you, it would be in combat."

"Why are you chopping down these trees?" Link asked the man, "You know you can't destroy property."

The giant turned around fully to face them. He looked at Link and glowered. Even from here, Snake could see the intense hate in his gaze. "You are the last person who need quote the rules to me." The man took his eyes off of Link and looked past him, directly to Snake. His mouth curved into an evil smile. The small hairs on Snake's arms and neck stood up. "Oh? What new blood did you bring here?"

Both swordsmen stole glances back at him. They looked worried. The giant walked away from the tree he was hacking and began to approach them.

"Dark king, if you-"

"Out of the way."

The giant held up his hand. A black mist erupted from his fist again. Marth and Link were suddenly enveloped in the same darkness. They were lifted high into the air, each crying out in pain. Snake watched as their bodies constricted, like they were being crushed. The giant waved his hand and the two swordsmen flew in different directions, smashing through tree branches as they went. The giant disposed of them easily.

Still shaking, the little Pokemon in front of him backed up a couple of steps, then it turned around and ran away past Snake. He didn't blame the little critter, there was nothing he could have done to this man. The giant stomped closer. The air started to buzz and writhe as if it couldn't stand his presence. It made Snake feel uneasy. Even panicky. His hand went down to his thigh for his SOCOM.

The giant raised his hand again and dark mist surrounded Snake's arm. It felt like someone had grabbed a hold of his wrist in a crushing vice. He couldn't move it.

"Now, now. Let's not be so hasty." The giant said.

"L-Let me go...!" Snake struggled.

"Despite what those two may have told you, I am not so bad." The evil grin the man wore suddenly faded. "What happened to your face?"

Snake remembered half of it was still smudged with black marker. He was sure he looked the farthest thing from intimidating right now. "They haven't told me anything...!" He growled at the large man, "I don't know who you are...!"

He grinned again. "Ah, how rude of me. I am Ganondorf. King of the Gerudo. What do they call you?"

"Let me go and I'll tell you...!" Snake hissed. The pressure on his arm and wrist was becoming too much.

The dark mist disappeared and his arm was released. Snake cradled it close to him. What the hell was that? His reply to the giant was hesitant. "...My name is Snake."

Ganondorf suddenly laughed. It was an evil sound. "A fitting name. Snakes are deadly creatures." He bent down and leveled his black eyes with Snake's. "You know, back in my home there is a species of desert viper who's venom is so toxic, it can melt through the leather of one's shoe and the flesh off of bones. It's hide is so tough that daggers cannot pierce it." Ganondorf grinned again, "Snakes are cold blooded, efficient killers. Just like me."

Snake didn't reply.

"...Just like you are." The man finished.

What? "I'm...nothing like you." Snake managed to respond.

Ganondorf clutched his shoulder with a massive olive-colored paw. His grip was controlling. "Oh, but you are. I can see it, plain as day. The death in your eyes. You have killed many, viper."

Another cold chill went up his back and Snake's brain started firing out flight signals like mad. This man felt evil. Pure evil. There was nothing in his eyes.

"Do you hear that?"

Hear what?

Ganondorf looked up at the trees. A curious murder of crows had gathered around in the naked branches. A few cawed loudly.

"The crows...they speak of you."

Snake's hands started to shake.

The large man looked back to him, "They say you're not...natural."

Snake tore himself away from the giant's grasp. Ganondorf let out another deep, unsettling laugh. It reverberated around the forest and scared away the crows, who flew off with loud cries.

"The Hand finds the most interesting of people." The giant mused.

Snake heard a rustling in the bushes and Marth and Link reappeared, both covered in snow and wet, dead leaves.

"Looks whose returned."

Both men came to Snake's side, their swords still drawn and pointed at the man. "Back away from him, Ganondorf!" Link warned.

"Quiet you fool." He snarled. "We were only having a nice chat." Ganondorf pointed a large finger to Snake. "I hope you will provide me with more of a challenge then these two weaklings." He looked back to the swordsmen and growled. "Take your leave from here, runts. Or I will kill you where you stand."

Ganondorf turned and walked away, back to his felled tree. He raised his fist and continued to chop the sequoia to pieces. Snake felt an immense relief.

Marth gently grabbed Snake by his bicep. "Let's go."

The three men left the giant to his business. Every loud THUNK!...THUNK!...THUNK! was unnerving. How easily he could break the wood in half. Snake was glad to get as far away from that man as possible. He had felt genuine fear, something he hadn't in a long time. Snake kept his aching arm close to him, instinctively touching his fingers to his left forearm, over a large scar hidden beneath layers of clothing.

"You smell like...yes, there's no mistake about it..."

Snake shook away that memory.

The sound of chopping wood faded away until Snake could barely hear it at all. He let go of a breathe he didn't realize he'd been holding. At last he felt safe. Marth and Link had walked him back to the trail.

"Ganondorf, that monster." Link muttered to himself.

"That guy...He wasn't human..." Snake said.

"Ganondorf possesses an evil, dark power. He is no longer human." Link replied.

"Your arm, is it alright?" Marth asked him.

Snake looked at his hand and flexed his fingers, "Yeah. It just feels sore, I think. It felt like...like he was trying to crush my arm with whatever that dark stuff was." Snake looked to the swordsmen. "What about you two? Your entire bodies were engulfed in that. He threw you into the trees."

Marth rubbed his shoulder but offered a reassuring smile. "Do not worry about us. We are accustomed to his dark magic. It will take a lot more than that to bring us down."

"I never seen him before. Where's he been all this time?" Snake asked.

"Ganondorf has apparently taken up residence in the desert beyond the plains, outside of the iron gates." Marth answered. "A friend of mine had seen that Ganon built himself a house out there. He even built his own training grounds. That must be why he was chopping down that tree, for the wood. Ganondorf has a house up on the mountain, just like the rest of us, but he doesn't stay there, much to all of our relief. The alloys won't go anywhere near him either. All of them refuse to service his needs, no matter how much Master Hand forces them to."

"The alloys won't go near him? Why?"

"Because...of what happened at the last tournament." Link slowly replied.

"What happened during the last tournament?" Snake questioned.

Both men looked at each other, then back to him. They looked like they were deciding whether or not to answer.

"Ganondorf lost during the finals," Link began, "He didn't take it well and went on a rampage. He destroyed the arena and killed a lot of the alloys, though, they were know as Wireframes back then."

Snake's eyes went wide. "He killed them?"

Marth picked up the rest of the story, "He also tried to forcibly kidnap another one of the competitors. But Master Hand was able to stop him. He defeated Ganondorf easily and sent him far away from the island."

"Who did he try to kidnap?"

But the men wouldn't answer. Marth shook his head and Link looked to the ground, clenching his fists. Snake remembered the meeting he had with Master Hand, back when he'd first arrived. Where he signed his useless contract. Master Hand mentioned he'd kicked one of the competitors off the island before. So, it was Ganondorf?

"If that man killed the Hand's own alloys, destroyed his arena, and terrorized one of the competitors, why would be allow that guy back?" Snake growled.

"We don't understand that either." responded Marth.

It was Snake's turn to shake his head. The House Rules said people would get kicked out for huge offenses, and murder was just as bad as it can get. Why would Master Hand invite him to compete again, knowing he could possibly do the same thing if he lost a second time?

Snake thought about the Super Dome, just the sheer size of it. Ganondorf nearly destroyed the whole thing, and killed many alloys, or whatever Link said they were called back then. It had to be a total catastrophe.

"That competitor he tried to take. Did they return this year?" Snake asked.

Again, both men looked at each other. They did not answer. So, they did return.

The dreary atmosphere was interrupted by Snake, who felt something wiggling on his back. It ticked immensely and he made a weird noise. He started to dance around, trying to reach behind him, "What the-what's on my back?"

Link went over to him and lifted the back of his jacket. "Oh, it's Pikachu." He said. Snake felt a small weight lift from his back. He turned around to see Link holding the nervous-looking animal in his arms. "That's where you went to. I'm glad you're safe."

"Pika...pi..." The Pokemon chittered wearily. Link scratched his head. Guess when Pikachu ran off, he had scurried up Snake's back and hid underneath his jacket. Snake hadn't even noticed.

"Well, aside from what just transpired, it was nice meeting you Snake." Link smiled, his big goofy grin on his face again.

Marth joined them. "Yes, I certainly hope we can become good friends in the future." The king gave him a small smile of his own. He then waved a hand, "And please, do be more careful the next time you're out here, especially if you run into Jigglypuff."

Snake lowered his eyebrows at the man. Jigglypuff? She was probably the least dangerous thing out here. With that evil man lurking about, chopping down hundred foot trees with his bare hands. And that supposed gorilla Link said was somewhere out here too. Falling asleep and getting your face drawn on was nothing. "Yeah...I was actually warned about her before I came out here. But when I saw her, she was so small and friendly, I didn't think she could be dangerous. She wasn't, but I should've listened to Falcon."

"Experience breeds caution." Marth said.

"Right." Snake smirked. "It was nice to meet you both too."

"Pika!"

Snake looked at the Pokemon in Link's arms. It had stopped it's shaking and it's ears were straight up again. It was looking at Snake.

"You too, even though you left me with Jigglypuff." He joked to the animal.

"Pi?"

"Actually, it was because of Pikachu that we found you. He led us right to you." Marth offered.

"Really?" Snake looked back to the animal. Eventually, he pat him on the head. "...Thanks, I guess."

Pikachu purred happily. "Chuu..."

Snake and the two swordsmen waved goodbye to each other and parted ways on the trail. Snake wondered what they were doing all the way out there in the first place. It was far from town and they didn't looked dressed for a run either. He wondered if they had they had been trying to track Ganondorf. To keep an eye on him. Or was it possible they were out there to meet him? Falcon did know he'd be out there, Snake had told him so. Had that been another attempt to gauge him? Snake wasn't sure but...he was thankful the were there. If they hadn't woken him up from his slumber, he could have been crushed by that tree.

So, the veterans plot against the bad guys to block them from winning, and in return, the bad guys attack them out in the open, outside of the Ring when no one is around. Sounds fair enough.

Snake continued on the long trail back into town, though he walked the rest of the way. That whole ordeal took all of the energy out of him. All he wanted to do was go home.

The alloy at the front desk in the gym seem to stare at Snake when he returned to pick up his gym bag. His face was still smudged with black marker and his clothes were wet and covered in mud stains. He was still cradling his right arm. The alloy hesitantly asked how his run went, to which he replied dryly, "Eventful." Snake did his best to try and scrub off some of the black marker in a bathroom sink before he retrieved his bag and left.

God, he needed a nap.

Author's note: I've always seen Smash Jigglypuff as the same one that appeared in the Pokemon anime. I'm surprised I haven't really seen people write her the same way.

Also I am aware that the Koopalings are not Bowser's children, only Bowser Jr. is. However, Snake and Otacon do not know this.

(Snake is a total softie for animals and would like Pikachu he can't fool me.)