Author's Note:

Here is yet another chapter for you lot! Besides that, though, I've nothing to say here. Again. Well, besides:

Thank you, o realisticFantasy o, for both the Review and Follow! You praise is much-appreciated, and I hope to keep it up! I would also encourage you to play Iji, as it's completely free, though that's entirely up to you. I am also loath to admit that Ganon's antics won't be revealed 'till the chapter after the next. Sorry!

… Wait, could that be considered spoilers? Hmm. Ah, well...

Lastly, the time between this chapter and the next is going to be a bit longer than average, as I plan for it to be the longest chapter yet. Stay tuned for it!

Disclaimer:

Iji, Super Smash Brothers, and any referential materials found in this story do not belong to me. They belong to their respective developers and subsidiaries, and I claim no ownership of them.

Dimensions and Realities

Chapter Ten: Prelude to a Classic

Cue music - Super Smash Brothers Melee soundtrack - Menu One

"So, in Classic, all I've really gotta' do is win in all seven stages? That's it?" Iji inquired, feeling a small sense of dejá vú from this conversation whilst munching on a slice of blue berry pie. 'Man, these taste good. Wonder who made 'em?'

"That's the gist of it, yes," Bubbles confirmed. A few people were sitting with them at the table, most notably Bubbles' male alternative; Greninja (Iji waved at him with a grin as he walked in; Greninja did likewise, though it was impossible to tell if he was smiling in return underneath that scarf of his), who was cautious in putting his food in his mouth rather than on his scarf; and a mildly portly man in red and blue that reminded her distinctly of Luigi (brothers, maybe?). He introduced himself as Mario of the Mushroom Kingdom. He then inquired if Iji had encountered his brother yet, to which she replied in the affirmative. Another question from the plumber to the woman, this time being about if said encounter went well. Another "Yeah", and she added, "Your brother seems incredibly awkward. What's up with that?" He replied that he was just born that way, like any other person, and that he wouldn't have him any other way. That last part was said a bit defensively, and Iji backed off, though she was still gladdened at this sight of a good brotherhood.

Upon finishing her food, Iji stole a quick glance at the nearby clock. Master Hand has told her (this time directly, much to her relief) that her Classic Mode run would start a 3:30. Seeing as how that was still a good hour away, she had sat herself down on a chair and grabbed a snack or two, like the pie she had just finished off, both to slake her hunger and give herself the energy that she just might need. She had already explored around a good chunk of the mansion, so she asked Bubbles, "Do you know any interesting places I can go to around this building? 'Cause I've still got an hour before my Classic Run, and I'm getting a little bored." Bubbles put a hand to her chin.

"Well, there's the training room where you can practice your skills and combos, as well as a room for general relaxation and stretching. I recommend that you head to the latter room. Gods knows that you'll be needing a relaxation session after all you've been through, and what you'll be doing shortly!" The other woman nodded her head.

"Well, now that you mention it, my muscles have been a bit sore. I guess some stretching couldn't hurt."

Robin spoke up. "When you leave the kitchen, just go down to your left. Go to the right when you see another hall, and in that area, you'll see a door labelled "Fitness Room". That's the one you're looking for." She thanked him, getting up from her seat at the table and leaving, waving an arm behind her as she exited the kitchen.

Following Robin's instructions, she came to the door and knocked a couple of times. Two voices, one masculine and one feminine, responded simultaneously, saying, "Come in!" She did so, and spotted two people of opposing genders doing a quick succession of stretching exercises. They were both pale, practically unnaturally so, in fact, with impossible gray hair for their evident age. When they turned to face her, she took note of the fact that their pupils' colors were nearly indistinguishable from their sclera color. "Hello, and welcome to the Fitness Room! Come for some stretching?" they both said, completely synchronized. Iji was almost tempted to feel unnerved by their eerily similar appearances and mannerisms, but managed to resist. "Y-Yeah. What've you got in store for me?"

"Well, firstly, we have the Bridge…" said the female, getting down on the floor and putting her arms parallel to it. She raised her knees off the floor, and held that pose for several seconds. The male said, "It's great for strengthening both the torso and leg muscles, and, like most other yoga poses, is excellent if you're looking for some relaxation!" Iji propped her gun against the wall (the two trainers hardly seemed to take note of the relatively large weapon in her possession) and attempted to follow the other woman's example. A couple of pointers from the male trainer, and she was practically mirroring the female trainer's example. "Now, hold this pose for two minutes…"

Iji did several more yoga poses with the two pale-skinned beings, the two trainers alternating their turns with the pose example each time they did a different exercise. Several more stretches later, and they both said, "That ought to do it for now! Be sure to come back later for more stretching fun!" Iji sighed a bit, definitely feeling her muscles loosen a bit from before the session. She nodded in affirmation as their request, and stole another glance at the clock.

"Woah! 3:20!? How did the time fly by so fast!?" The two trainers chuckled mildly.

"You tend to not notice how fast time flies when you're doing yoga so much!" the male said.

"But, if it's for a healthier body, then it's definitely time well-spent!" the female said in turn.

Iji nodded again her agreement. Just before she closed the door behind her, she spoke, "Whoops! Almost forgot to ask! Who are you two?" The two smiled.

"We are the Wii Fit Trainers. We teach you how to better your body, and relax your mind!" they said simply.

"Well, by this point, I could definitely see that you're both fitness trainers. But what are your names?"

"Names? Why, we do not need names! We are the Wii Fit Trainers! It is both who we are, and what we are!" they exclaimed at the same time. Iji shook her head.

"Well, I can't just go calling you both Wii Fit Trainer! That'd just be weird!"

"Young lady, that would hardly be what you call "weird" in the slightest! It is merely correct!" Iji sighed, this time in frustration.

"Fine, fine. I guess I'll just call you Wii Fit Trainer, then." The two nodded, going back to some stretching exercise or another as Iji closed the door. The male Wii Fit Trainer said to his companion, "She is a nice one, treating us as if we weren't just things."

"Indeed. A shame that we are what we are, then…"

Iji rushed to the Central Teleporter Room. She had wasted another couple of minutes talking to the Wii Fit Trainers, and she was thusly short on time. It took a couple of glances at the map of the building, but she managed to navigate her way to the room that she was looking for, arriving with four minutes to spare. "Oh, good," said Master Hand, "I was beginning to worry that you were going to be late! Well, you aren't, and I suppose that that's what matters. Has either Robin told you of the rules of Classic Mode yet?" She nodded her head up and down, and Master Hand gave her a thumb up. "Very good. Well, if you'll excuse me for a couple of minutes, I have to make certain that everything is all set to go…"

She did so, and she shuffled and tapped her feet, feeling only slightly anxious. Those couple of minutes quickly, and Master Hand said to Iji, "Everything is good to go." He said next to the crowd of Smashers, "Iji shall commence her Classic run in a few moments!" Iji twisted her head to look over her shoulder, and took note of the fact that most of the seats were filled, much to her astonishment. 'There were only a couple of them here a few minutes ago!' she thought, thoroughly flabbergasted. 'How do they all get here so quickly!?' She shoved that train of thought aside as Master Hand requested her to stand on the telepad, and she did so readily.

Everything goes quiet…

She was teleported into a room completely devoid of light, with the exception of the large screen in front of her. A figurine of her placed on a golden stand was on a balance, with the other end of it having nothing on it. The scale thusly showed that the odds were likely to be in her favor. In the background, a hole rimmed with stone was present, light filtering in from it. A small black monster with green eyes stood on the far right of the screen. A slow, relaxing breeze could be heard, if one listened for it. On the top of the screen, there was a rainbow-colored meter, with an icon of Iji's head being at the lower end of it, in the green area. "Intensity 2.0", it read. At the very bottom of the display, there was a zero next to the number 1,000. The gold coins right next to the number probably symbolized the money she currently had. Iji was not previously aware of the fact that she had apparently been loaned money, and made a mental note to thank Master Hand for the currency he had given her as soon as possible. Just below the screen, a switch was present. Curiously taking it in a hand, she tilted it to the left, the icon of her head on the Intensity meter scrolling accordingly. She deliberated for an entire minute, not entirely certain as to what difficulty she wanted to play on. She eventually settled on Intensity 5.0, and the background of the screen changed. Most of it was now a bright orange; small piles of gold could be seen in the corners, and the monster's appearance contorted and warped to look more fiercesome. The scale had a small pile of Gold on its left edge, with it now being almost perfectly balanced. Flames could be heard, gently bellowing and filling the room with the only noise besides Iji's breath. She would apparently be wagering 350 Gold in doing this, and would be left with 650. With a deep, calming breath, she selected the large "OK" button next to the switch, finally commencing her first Classic Mode run in Smash…

Master Hand's voice spoke, from both the left and the right:

"Ready?"

"GO!"