See, my chapies are getting longer, and more detailed. And now, roll camera!

DISCLAIMER: NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS ARE OWNED BY ME.

"And now," announced the familiar voice from the speakers, "Give a huge hand to our starry newcomer…Geno!"

The crowd went wild. Marth watched amazed as Luigi and Mario jumped to their feet, whooping and cheering. They obviously knew him. Geno waved a hand in the air, smiling to his fans. Light fell on his hidden face. Roy's eyes widened. He looked for all the world like some kind of puppet, his face drawn in blocky segments.

The announcer was oblivious to the scenes in the crowd. "And now, I'll hand over to my good friend and buddy in the tactics booth! How you doing?"

Another voice chimed in, sounding rather tired. "Shut up. I'm sorry if he's annoying you," the voice added, talking to the crowds, who were hardly listening. "So, our newcomer is Geno, from the Star Road. He specialises in long range magical abilities," here he paused for dramatic effect. "I'm sure most of you are familiar with Roy, a semi-finalist from last year, and his usual pyroclastic displays. The stage will be desert themed for this battle. Good luck people."

"That's all from me, and from the looks of it, him as well. Good luck! Three…two…one… and we're off!"

A loud bell chimed somewhere. The crowd screamed. Pillars and columns rose from the ground, the arena taking on the from of a desert ruin. For a split second, the two fighters were motionless, merely nodding silently to each other.

Then the game began.

With lighting reflexes, Geno threw his hand forwards in a powerful punch, sending an energy wave roaring forwards. Roy jumped to one side, quickly. He swung his sword, deflecting it not a moment too late, sending the wave spiralling into a column. The column cracked, giving way. Roy jumped clear as it fell forwards, throwing rocks into the air. "Come on then! Bring it Pinocchio!" he shouted into the cascade.

Roy winched as a powerful strike pinned him against a statue.

"No hard feelings." Geno walked forwards, speaking with a quiet satisfaction, as he formed a large ball of energy in his hand. Whipping his hand upwards, he let it shoot off. The ball zoomed towards Roy, still pinned by his cape to the statue.

Suddenly, Roy got an idea. Just as it seemed that the battle would soon be over, Roy flicked himself backwards, landing on top of the statue's head, using his sword to rip through his own cape. The statue wobbled violently as the blast slammed into it.

Roy knelt on its head, then propelled himself through he air, using the explosion to give him the boost. Pulling his sword in a wide arc, he swung down, letting off a barrage of quick fiery shots. They raced across the earth, towards Geno.

Geno shook his head, tutting. Raising his right arm upwards, an energy field surrounded him. The sparks clanged against it, like arrows hitting a shield. The shock generated caused a huge dust cloud to be thrown into the air, blocking out the figures from the audience.

And in the audience, a small boy was struggling to see. Young Link could barely see above the rows of people in front. He leaned left and right, trying to find an opening, but failed on account that he was sitting behind Ganondorf and Bowser. Groaning, he sat back down angrily, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.

Someone tapped him on the back. Young Link looked up into a smiling, kind face, framed by wavy cerulean hair. It was Ephraim. "Hey," he said. "Need a boost?"

Young Link shook his head. "No thanks."

Ephraim smiled even more deeply, a rare occurrence. "Sure? I could you know," he replied.

Young Link considered his options. On one hand, he knew better than to accept favours from strange, anti-social people, on the other hand he couldn't see at all.Nodding slowly, he suddenly found himself suspended in the air, resting on Ephraim's shoulders. He kicked his legs wildly, yelling and screaming.

Not that it wasn't scary. Ephraim was one the tallest smashers (at six foot four), and at least the tallest of those who were distinctly human. Even Ganondorf was smaller than him, although he was much more built.

Isaac and Felix were hooting with laughter. Link looked totally embarrassed. "Sit down," he managed to mutter, his face in his hands.

Young Link looked indignant. "And spoil the view? No way!" He put a hand to his forehead, to shield his eyes from the smokescreen, as the dust settled slowly.

Both combatants were still standing, Roy's face drenched in sweat, Geno looking stronger, his inhuman face set in a deadpan expression.

Roy growled. "Lets finish this," he said, striking a pose with the Sword of Seals.

Geno raised a wooden eyebrow. "Evidently." His wooden left hand rotated like a saw blade. Suddenly it flipped open, revealing a pod of missiles. They fired in rapid succession, soaring over the battlefield. Roy ducked, as they whizzed into a pillar of rocks behind him, sending stone and dust flying everywhere.

Roy just couldn't close the distance. Geno was firing a dizzying succession of missiles, energy balls and sparks onto the battlefield, illuminating the dust with wild colours. Roy had had experience with mages before, but this guy made his head spin. "Its like being inside a pyrotechnics display," he thought bitterly, as a powerful fiery smash was blocked effortlessly by a ray of light from Geno's hand.

Finally Roy found an opening, slashing his sword manically with both hands at Geno. It slashed across his face, but no blood was drawn. "Defiantly not human," mused Roy. Geno looked enraged, his left hand feeling his face. Roy leapt in for another quick slash, but his sword arm was caught in Geno's other hand.

"Needing this?" he whispered, menacingly. Slowly, Geno spun him outwards, until Roy was a red blur spinning around him. Roy felt like he was being scrambled alive. Geno let go, sending Roy hurtling against the stone walls of the arena. The audience gasped, and held their breath. Slowly Roy got to his feet, wheezing, his sword lying on the floor.

"What more do you want?" he croaked. Geno seemed to stare at him, biding his time. "I can't keep this up," Roy thought desperately. "What would a true hero do now?" Suddenly something clicked. "That's it!" thought Roy. "Wood. He's made of wood!"

Gathering himself, he stared back at his opponent, who was aiming another round of missiles at him. Slowly, Roy charged forwards, swinging his sword around his head. Geno's attacks struck his blade, then harmlessly deflected off it. Roy closed the distance, not daring to stop swinging his sword.

Geno looked shocked. Quickly, he pulled slightly to the side, forming a huge ray of light in his hands. Slowly he swung it forwards, blasting it off, just as Roy flung himself forwards sword-first, like an arrow, the Sword of Seals alight with crimson flame. The entire arena exploded in white light, which flashed once like a star.

The crowd drew back. Slowly the light faded.

Geno lay exhausted and unconscious on the ground, smashed over by Roy's final attack. The crowds cheered. Roy tried his best to look victorious, but his eyelids began to droop. Slowly he keeled over backwards, falling into the soft sand.

The crowd was worried, but not terrified. Sometimes in matches combatants pushed themselves too far. It was unusual, but not unheard of. A team with a stretcher ran on, carrying the two away. Roy's eyes slowly opened, in time to see both Geno and himself being carried off stage.

Roy thought the unconscious figure sat up and aimed him a snappy salute, but a second later he was sure he imagine it. Slowly he closed his eyes again, and heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Marth, Link and Ike were celebrating. Cheering on their way back from the stands, they talked endlessly about how Roy had won out, relieving each moment of the battle in a thousand others. Mario seemed disappointed. "Itsa not that I dida not wanta him to win," he said. "It'sa just that I thought Geno deserved it more."

Marth shrugged. "Aw well. He still has more matches ahead of him."

Young Link on the other hand, was happy. Of all the people there today, he perhaps got the best view, apart from maybe Ephraim himself. "Hey, little dude," a voice called. Ephraim was talking to him now.

"Uh?"

"Didn't Roy do well? I was thinking of course that he should have used the dust cover to his advantage, but hey," Ephraim said, sighing slightly.

Young Link was impressed. "You're a strategist?"

Ephraim chuckled. "One of the few genuine things I can do. Come on," he said, taking one last glance at the stadium in the afternoon's light, and remembering his own battle was next week. "Let's go."

Darkness hung low over deathly ground. A man collapsed to the ground. "I'm sorry," he stuttered, trying desperately to find the words. "Please, I beg of you, one more chance."

"From what I heard," drawled another voice, sounding both bored and menacing, "You failed utterly in your task. You realise that will have repercussions, don't you?" it added hideously.

"You wouldn't."

"I would."

"Fine. Fine." The first figure drew himself up. "I will work."

"Very good. I wouldn't dare think about breaking this agreement, if I were you."

"I won't." Slowly the last figure faded away, then he was gone. The first figure turned slowly, his face a picture of pain, then spat onto the ground. "Son of a bitch," he muttered angrily to himself.

Ah, Geno. From Mario: Legend of The Seven Stars. I saw him on a most requested list and was intrested, but I don't generally know much about him (as his game was never released in Europe boo hiss) We might see more of him, or we might not. Depends what you want.

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