Disclaimer: I don't own Smash Bros. The series itself belongs to Nintendo.
Super Smash Bros. 3D
White Knight in 3D
Last time on Super Smash Bros. 3D…
"I must offer a proper gift." Noir said, pulling out a small box.
"…for me?" gasped Jenn.
"Actually," Noir turned to Jace, "it's for him."
"A Green Ninja Sportsbike? Or a Ruby Red Ferrari?" Noir said to a stunned Jace, "Both paid in full. Your choice… you're now officially a premier member of Nintendo's League of Video Gaming Legends in London… you'll be leaving on a jet plane in one hour."
"In London?!" Hunt said to Jace via FaceTime at the Miiverse.
"That's-a not exciting." Mario replied and so did Peach, Kirby and Pikachu who all uttered different mutual noises.
Jace meets the League of Video Gaming Legends.
"Salud, Jacen." The Signore smirked to the stunned Jace, "Remember me? …I'd like you to meet my other members of the League of Legendary Gamers." He introduced, "my godson, Ryan Somith."
Ryan smirked evilly to Jace. Jace looked nervous.
"We've finally identified our target!" Samus said to the Nintendo characters. The image of Palutena appeared on a screen.
"Lady Palutena?" Pit exclaimed.
At a hospital in New York, Palutena embraced Pit, "Oh, Pit! I'm so glad I've finally found you!"
"Looking for this?" The Nintendo characters turned to the doctor who reveals a huge mirror. He also revealed he's not a doctor but Ryan Somith. Hunt looked stunned. "What?"
"My mirror!" Palutena exclaimed.
Ryan… he's cold and calculated." Hunt said to a police officer, "I am actually shocked that he's part of the League of Video Gaming Legends!"
Medusa appeared in the skies before the city. "Medusa!" Pit said to Medusa. "Hello Pit." Medusa replied, "You've heard of the Freakish, yes? Well, it's coming your way soon."
The image of the Freakish hovered over Medusa's spirit over New York City. Citizens ran for their lives as Pit and the other Smash Bros. battle her and her Underworld Army on top of Freedom Tower.
"Game over, Medusa." Palutena said to Medusa, "you lose."
"You've managed to defeat me and get your Mirror back. But you haven't managed to stop the Freakish's recovery. It is now free from its prison." Medusa revealed with a smirk.
Jace comes across a giant snake in the London tower.
"Behold… the Freakish." Ryan said to Jace from his phone, "A mortal enemy to the Nintendo World AND the White Knight."
"Aw man…" Jace swallowed.
The giant snake turned to Jace in pursuit. Jace ran for his life, screaming.
"I think the Freakish got to him." Hunt said to the Smash Bros. regarding Jace. The Smash Bros. look worry.
Beep-Beep-Beep-Beep!
All eyes turned back to Dimentio's smartphone. "Did you find Jace?" Jenn asked.
Dimentio stood still. The beeping was still heard… from an object glittering a couple of feet from the engineer.
The heroes approached it: it was Jace's Smash Ball necklace. Its chains had been snapped off as if by a great force.
"…found it." Dimentio said, picking up the jewel.
The ground started shaking violently. The whole tower wobbled, unable to stand still.
Then all eyes turned to the skies as the clouds thickened and darkened. They scream.
xXx
The gang watched something pulling out from the dark thickened sky. A body. A human body.
Quickly they dispersed out of the way and watched the body land in a loud thud. They slowly approached it. The body was in giant-sized trophy form. Like a statue. But what they saw made their hearts jump.
"Noir?!" Jenn exclaimed.
"He's in-a trophy form?" Mario blinked his blue-cartoonish eyes.
"But… how?" Dimentio wondered.
The tower before him shook up again. All eyes watched the tower crumbling.
"JACE!" Jenn took a mad dash for the tower. Hunt and Luigi grabbed and restrained her from taking another step. Toadsworth seized her by the leg. "JENN! Wait!" Hunt exclaimed.
"Don't-a go in there!" Luigi exclaimed.
"But Jace is out there!" Jenn shouted. "We have to help him!"
Sirens were heard from a distance. All heads briefly looked up the sky and listened to the sirens. Someone must have called a state of emergency at the London Tower.
Mario, Pit, and Palutena turned to Noir's statue, "Only he knows…" Pit muttered. Mario jumped and slapped the statue platform. A shimmering glow took over Noir's metal body, and he was back in the flesh.
Noir blinked his listless eyes. He pulled his body off the ground and looked at the party, confused.
"Wuh…what the…? What are you all doing—?"
Jenn pulled out of Hunt, Luigi, and Toadsworth and grabbed Noir by the shirt, "WHAT… are you doing here?" she snarled, "What do you know about Jace's disappearance?"
Noir raised an eyebrow. "What?" he said, for the first time, showing concern in his fierce eyes. "What are you talking ab—!"
"You're the one who sent Jace to London." Jenn cut him off, "YOU'RE the one who bought him those expensive stuffs and got in touch with him for a while! I heard you speak to someone about Jace's whereabouts! And HOW the HELL did you ended up a trophy coming out of a freaky void? And speaking of Freaky, WHAT THE HELL IS A FREAKISH?!" She violently shook him silly.
Once again, Hunt, Luigi, Toadsworth pulled Jenn off Noir. Dimentio joined them. "Jennifer! That is enough!" Dimentio exclaimed.
"He'll tell us everything later." Hunt said as the sirens grew louder and louder, "Right now, the police and the medics are on their way."
And right on cue, an ambulance and three London police cars pulled up before the group. The police officers and the paramedics left their cars and ran to the group. They were now staring at the tower were Jace were. It was demolished and crumbled in pieces.
"What… the bloody hell?" a police man breathed.
"What happened?" another officer interrogated.
"Anyone inside?" A paramedic asked.
"My cousin!" Jenn exclaimed.
"And there's a snake in that tower!" Hunt said, "And I don't mean no small snake. A giant one!"
The officers and paramedics stood still at the last word.
"All right…" the police said after a minute of digesting the info, "we'll go from here. You go."
"But where do we—?"
"The Royal London Hospital." said the paramedic, "You meet us there. We'll give you the report."
"Let-a me come with you." Mario spoke, "I'm a doctor too. I'll give the report to my group as well."
"All right." The officer said without a second thought, "but the rest of you, report to the Hospital!"
xXx
Jenn, Hunt, Dr. Dimentio, Pit, Palutena and Noir were all at the Royal London Hospital patient hallway. Jenn paced about. She fluttered her shaky hands. She looked ready to cry. Her father and Hunt were on their seats, while the Skyworld characters and Noir were against the wall.
"Jenn…" Dimentio called, but Jenn said nothing. She continued pacing. Her body was now shaking. "Jenn…?" he tried again as he got up, "Hey, Jennifer. Honey." He stepped in front of her.
"What?" she cried out, her eyes were now beady red and filling with tears. She sniffled, "What… dad…?"
"hey, hey, hey…" Dimentio placed two hands on his daughter's shoulders, "shh…honey, calm down."
"Calm down?" she snarled, "Calm dow—! I CAN'T… calm… down, Dad!" her voice broke and tears streamed down her cheeks, "My cousin is out there! He's in trouble! And that dark void has something to do with it! And we can't even do anything about it!"
Dimentio wrapped his arms around his daughter in an embrace. Jenn quietly cried on his shoulder. "Hey… it's gonna be okay, honey." He whispered, "it's going to be okay."
He took a deep breath and with bravery in his tone of voice looked her in the eyes, "The police and paramedics are on the case. You saw it too right?"
She nodded her solemn blonde head.
"Don't worry," Dimentio said, "we'll find him. All right?"
"Yeah." Hunt spoke. Jenn and Dimentio turned to him. Hunt too tried to sound brave, "Jace is a fighter. Whatever predicament he's in right now, he'll make it. I'm sure of it."
Jenn caught sight of a doctor and Mario, as Dr. Mario, was with him.
"Doctor!" she ran to the doctor. Dimentio, Palutena and Pit followed. Hunt left his seat and followed as well. Noir only took one step and stopped, watching from behind.
"How is he?" she looked around, "Where's Jace?"
"Where's my nephew?" Dimentio exclaimed, "Is he alright?"
Dr. Mario and the doctor said no words. Their eyes were filled with sadness and worry.
"D-Doctor…?" Jenn gulped.
"Mr. Dimentio." the doctor finally spoke, "Ms. Dimentio. I am so sorry to say this…" he hesitated, "…but your loved one, Jacen Riders… He…"
Jenn gasped, chocking back the tears escaping her pretty eyes… when the elevator opened before them and out came paramedics wheeling in Jace. His blue-yellow flannel shirt all shredded and soiled. His face was dry and arid like a zombie. His jet black hair ragged and unkempt. IV needles buried in his arms marked with scars. Yet his closed eyes looked at peace.
"Doctors!" the first paramedic called out. The doctors rushed to their patient. The rest of the group gathered round.
"It's Jacen Riders!" the second paramedic spoke, "No one could've survived that tower falling down! Even that freaky snake didn't survive it. But HIM?!" he paused, "…he did it."
All heads turned to the paramedics.
"…what?" Hunt whispered.
"He's alive!" the nurse with the paramedic revealed, "…he's breathing."
Hunt, Jenn and Dimentio choked back tears. The Smash Bros. breathed with relief and exhilaration.
"Mamamia… it is a miracle." Dr. Mario rushed in with the parameds.
"Quick!" the doctor joined in, "Take him to the nearest room! If he lost a lot of blood, issue a transfusion for him." He noticed the blood bag next to the bed, "Oh wait. You're already on it. Now go on! Stat!"
Jenn buried her tearful face into her father's chest. Dr. Dimentio wrapped around her and let a huge sigh of relief before choking back tears. Hunt wiped a tear, smiled broadly and hugged Palutena and Pit. Pit then pumped his fist in the air, shouting "All right!".
"But…but how…?" Noir asked, dismayed and loss of words.
The doctor shrugged, "Apparently, Jacen is a fighter."
"Yes. He never gives up…" Jenn commented, sniffling with joy.
"Oh god, I don't know what I would have done if Jace was really dead." Dr. Dimentio exclaimed, "Mai would've had my head if anything happened to her boy!"
"But HOW did he even survived?" Noir was ready to argue. All heads turned to him. "I mean…it's great but…how? Unless, some supernatural force is at play here."
xxx
The Smash Bros. patiently gazed back at the irresponsive Jace in the hospital gown, peacefully lying on the hospital bed. IVs and gauzes wrapped around his arms. Bandages patched over his bruised face and muscles. Dr. Mario quietly listened for his heartbeat with his stethoscope.
After what felt like a solid good one minute, he put his instrument away and faced the Smash Bros. Luigi leaned forward. Jenn who was with the nervous Nintendo characters buried her thumb's fingernails between her teeth. Hunt scratched his head, frowning. Noir's loafers furiously tapped the floor with impatience. Dr. Dimentio was not with the group.
"He's in stable condition." Dr. Mario said.
A huge sigh of relief filled the air, followed by cheerful chatters.
"I'm so happy he's okay!" Peach exclaimed.
"This calls for a celebration!" Pit declared and dashed out of the room. Palutena moved her eyes on the floor and sighed, "I'm not so sure about that."
Noir curiously hunched his head to one side. He could have sworn he heard Palutena say something with a sullen expression. He turned to speak to her when Jenn moved past him, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to a private corner.
"I'm so happy Jace is gonna be all right." a glowing smile remained on her tearful face, "What about you? Are you okay?"
She waited for Noir to say something, but he appeared completely silent. As if he was removed from the conversation.
"Noir?" she said.
Noir blinked his stern eyes, "Uh…" his forehead creased, "what?"
"Didn't you hear me?" she said, "I asked if you were okay? I mean you came out of that… freaky void…just now."
"Yeah, as a trophy." Noir snapped, "Okay? I don't care if you blame me for your cousin's wellbeing. I know I did wrong. But that? To me that was just…." He turned away and deeply frowned, trying to banish that disturbing image off his head, "…something called a lesson of interference." He rolled his eyes, "…my ass."
Jenn now cocked her head on one side, "Yeah. We know that you're not accounted for. It's those…! hey!" She reached up to Noir and pulled him close. "Hey, look at me."
Noir sighed, gazing back at her.
"If you think what happened to Jace was your fault, it wasn't. It was that witch Medusa. The same old witch who got Jace trapped with the Freakish. Same one who put you into that Trophy form and same one who tried to destroy New York. So now everything's fine."
"So how is he, Doctor…" Dimentio cleared his throat, turning briefly to Mario, "…Mario?" It felt so awkward to call a Nintendo character 'Doctor'.
"I think we should let Jace rest for a while." Dr. Mario advised, "We'll take another blood test later in the morning and check his vitals so that we'll know where he stands before returning home. So if we could please give him some privacy?"
The family and Noir left the room. Luigi, Peach, and Palutena were about to leave too when Dr. Mario stopped them and secretly beckoned them to meet with him in private instead. And when asked, the response was all connected to Jace.
So the group followed Dr. Mario, and the last person being Pit closed the door behind him.
Noir was now alone with a sleeping Jace. He slowly approached his bed. His loafers quietly scuffed on the cold hospital tiles till they stopped inches near Jace's bed. He leaned in closer to the sleeping teen. His eyes narrowed.
"You're not Jace." He whispered darkly.
Jace's eyes suddenly flew open. His IV equipped hand shot out and seized Noir by the arm. Noir gasped, but he didn't jump back. He briefly stared at his grabbed arm then back at Jace.
Jace looked right at him, with unblinking wolfish gaze, as if an animal about to devour his prey.
"Who are you?" Noir began quizzically.
Jace hunched his head back. His forehead crinkled, he spoke a deep mature voice.
"I was about to ask you the same question."
xxx
His vision spun wildly before him. A sea of trees, sands, water…all violently twirled, pulled into this blender of horror, refusing to stay in place. The sky closed in all around him, as if engulfing him. The chilling wind rushed past his face as the spinning image grew closer to him. He wasn't even on the ground. He was heading for the ground!
His vocal chords tried to choke out a terrifying scream but couldn't. Terrified tears, frozen to his face by the howling wind. A flurry of panic came over him. By the time his scream came out loud and clear, "PIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
He felt his body hit the ground with a sheer force and everything turned black in an instant.
…
…
…
A faint voice was heard. Almost quiet and muffled, as if wrapped in cotton wool. Yet it filled his ears, with a soothing tone.
It sounded angelic. Almost… like a girl.
"…hey. …hey."
A feeling of numbness crept over him. Dimming lights faded in as that feeling of grogginess and sleep drew its blanket over him, drifting him off across a placid lake of nothingness.
Gradually emerging as from a deep sleep, almost like death, the angelic voice surrounding him began to clear. He blinked off a couple of times to rid of the blurry vision and like drifting smoke picked up by the breeze he could see again.
A sea of trees towered over him and the sun hid behind its lush greens. He was in a forest. But how?
His confused brain frantically tried to explain not only where he was, but what had actually happened. How did he end up here? Realization dawned as to his previous predicament. He was being hunted.
"HAA!" He jolted up, his head slammed into another head and a scream pierced his ears. His head spun again in blurry pain.
The angelic voice of the girl was now replaced by a wounded cry of fury and tears.
"Oww… you hurt me poor head…"
"I…" he grunted, rubbing its round head, "…I'm sorry," he looked past the pain to face her, "I didn't see what…!"
A sharp gasp left his lips. Eyes staring in dismay. That angelic girl he bumped head into was no girl. She was a Pokémon: an Oshawott!
She looked back at him, tears filled up her beady adorable eyes.
"Wh-what?" she sniffled. She DID sound like a girl. In an Oshawott body. Oshawott was supposed to say Osha! Osha! Osha-WHOT! Not an actual WHAT!
"You're a…!" he scurried to his feet, "You're a Pokémon." His frown creased, "That talks."
"Yeah." She sounded annoyed now, "I AM a Pokémon! So are you! Geez, we're not in the Ancient times anymore."
His eyes flew open, "What?"
"Ow… you really hurt my head." She whined, rubbing on her white forehead, "Great, now I'm gonna have a scar."
"Wait a minute. I'm not a Pokémon. I'm a human!"
Oshawott gazed back at him for a brief moment, "You're a human?" she almost sounded sarcastic, "Really?"
"Of course I am!" he shot his hands before him, "Look at my—!"
Another sharp gasp escaped his lips. His hands were yellow. His fingers were the size of pins. His biceps were oversized like a fat plump person. He looked down his feet. Then his belly. Under his armpits and legs. All yellow! What happened to all of himself? He pulled his cheeks. Puffy with rose red marks. His ears were not even in the right place. They were attached to his head. His breath and heart beat turned heavy.
"Wh-wha-wha-what? What happened?" he fought back the tears, "What happened to me?"
He suddenly stopped moving. Something long and hard came behind him. Attached to his tailbone. His tiny arm reached up and felt it. A tail! He quickly yanked it and a blast of pain shot from his tailbone to his spine! It was attached!
"AAAH! I have a tail! I have a tail! I have a TAAAIL!"
He frantically ran around. On four, like a dog. He stopped again. Head darting back and forth, searching for something. Something that will prove him wrong. He spotted a puddle of water besides Oshawott. He went for it and stared at his reflection. Staring back was no human.
It was Pikachu.
His beady eyes widened. His heart rate quickened and his breath was heavy of dread. He was a Pikachu!
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The trees rustled and a huge crowd of Pidoves, Taillows and Pidgeottos took off from them.
xxx
"Wow. Drama much?" Oshawott rolled her eyes, still watching Pikachu running out in panic with his head darting back and forth, "You know for a Pikachu, I'm surprised you have no self-esteem."
"I'm not a Pikachu!" Pikachu argued before running around again.
"Really? Because I swear I'm seeing you all yellow and all electric. Look at your cheeks. Sparkling. That's stress."
Pikachu stopped, sensing a tingling sensation that felt like static electricity on both his cheeks. He slapped both his cheeks and the sensation stopped.
"I am not a Pokémon!" Pikachu snapped again, "I am a human! My name is Jace! Jacen Riders!"
Oshawott gazed back at him meticulously.
xxx
"You're not Jace." Noir narrowed his eyes at the Jace clone before him back at the London Hospital, "Who the hell are you?"
Jace's hand slowly tightened around Noir's wrist, slowly crushing its bone. Noir silently groaned, squinting in pain, his dark eyes still stared at his enemy.
"You… tell… me." Jace growled, his olive green eyes were now fierce like a tiger.
"Jace?" The voice of Jenn caught Noir and Jace's attention. The now cheerful cousin ran inside and hugged her cousin, prompting Jace to release Noir who stumbled back. "Oh Jace! I'm so happy to see you again!"
Jace blinked in confusion. "Jace…?" He looked into Jenn's eyes, "…I'm sorry but, who is…?"
"Jace!" Hunt shouted as he entered the room and hugged his best friend, "Dude! You're here! You're alive again and kicking!" His face then turned angry, "but the next time this Noir person takes you to London, or Paris or freaking Wonderland," he threw an angry look at Noir, "say no!"
Jace turned to Noir and so did Jenn. Noir scoffed under his breath, "Wouldn't dream of it."
"So you brought me here huh?" Jace's voice was rasp of anger.
"But it's not his fault!" Jenn quickly moved her arm over her cousin before he could jump off the bed to corner Noir, "It's not. He's a victim too."
"Jacen Riders!" shouted Dimentio as he entered his room, "next time you do something that reckless, I'm the one who's gonna end up killing you!"
Dimentio's last phrase made Jace scowl, "…an enemy." He whispered to himself. But then startled when Dimentio wrapped around him in a hug also, "how are you doing my ungrateful nipote?"
Jace looked around him: that Noir person, the dark blond girl, the kid with the glasses, the funky looking nerd who calls him nipote… He didn't even know these people!
"What is this place?" He asked, looking around him. Whatever that was, it was definitely not his home.
"You're at the London Royal Hospital." Jenn replied.
"What happened?" He asked again.
"You were attacked by the Freakish at the London Tower." Hunt said, "Noir set you up for this."
His brooding expression changed to a state of shock, "Freakish…?" He turned back to Noir again coldly.
"Hunt, come on. Noir… It's not his fault!" Jenn said to Hunt. Hunt glowered, "what do you mean? You're just blinded by his love for him?"
"Look. I didn't know the League would've done this." Noir said. "If I knew—!"
"Where are the Smash Brothers?"Jaceasked, with concern in his tone of voice. "Are they okay? What of the Freakish?"
"The Freakish has been defeated." Hunt said, "It fell in the London Tower."
"And the Smash Brothers are fine." Jenn said, "They're with Dr. Mario now, talking."
"So they're here too." Jace paused to let out a sigh of relief under his breath. He turned to Jenn, "I would like to see them." He gazed back to Hunt and Dimentio also, "…now."
xxx
Dr. Mario entered an empty break room. He looked around. Nobody was there. He let the door open for Luigi, Pit, Palutena, and Peach. Zelda, Link and Fox entered the room as well. Dr. Mario spun in one place, reverting his medical outfit back into his red-and-blue overalls.
"Okay Mario! Spill!" Luigi exclaimed, "Why are you calling a state of emergency regarding Jace? You said he was recovering swimmingly!"
"What's happening to Jace?" Peach gasped, a hand over her chest, "Is something wrong?"
"You're sensing this too right?" questioned Fox, noting Mario's hesitating silence.
"Sensing what?" asked a confused Pit. "His aura? It's fine!"
Zelda shook her head, "No it's not."
"Everybody, please! Before this gets outta hand…" Mario silenced the chattering group, "Yes. Jace is recovering swimmingly. And my aura is fine, Princess Zelda." He paused with a sigh, "Only problem is… It's not Jace."
Luigi, Pit, and Peach stared in utter shock. "What?" Pit exclaimed.
"Then what are you talking ab—?"
"Lady Palutena." Mario interrupted Luigi as he turned to the goddess and so did everyone else. "Only you know something, yeah?"
Palutena let out a defeated huff, "All right fine, you broke me!" She pointed outside the break room, "That man out there is not Jace!" She solemnly stared on the floor, "His soul is no longer in his body."
"WHAT?!" Luigi and Pit both barked.
"Palutena! What did you do?" Pit hissed
"Saving his life!" Palutena exclaimed. "Saving his body, before the Freakish could finish him! You're welcome by the way."
"Then where IS the real Jace?" Fox asked.
She turned to him, "The Nintendo World. That's where I've sent his soul away." She nervously played with her fingers, "…though I don't know where exactly in the Nintendo World but…"
The characters chattered in panic.
"But he is safe!" she quickly added, suppressing the worry in the group. She paused again, "…for now. He'll just need to get adjusted to his new body. Though I don't know which body."
"Do you at least know who is living inside Jace's body right now?" asked Link, now getting frustrated of Palutena's skeptics.
"Oh that's the best part!" she said ecstatically, "Remember my Mirror? And the 3rd Dimensional Screen? These two relics are needed for a very special summoning. The man you see, inhabiting Jace's body…" she paused, "…it's Simon."
"Simon?" Pit said, "As in like… Simon says?"
"Who's Simon?" asked Zelda.
"Wait a minute! I know who Simon is…" Peach exclaimed, "Toadsworth told me the story of Simon when I was only a mere child. I remember a famous quote from the tale of legends book."
All eyes turned to Peach as she closed hers and recalled the words from the story.
"As Master Hand rules the world, his mortal half son shall lead it to salvation. For once his summoning is complete and he finds a body as a vessel, he shall be called…"
All Nintendo characters let out a sharp gasp. They remembered that story. And they remember how it ended.
"…the White Knight?" Link turned pale.
"Wait?" Luigi exclaimed, "Simon is the White Knight?"
Mario nodded.
xxx
Nintendo World
"So let me get this straight." Oshawott spoke, back at the Nintendo World, "You're a Pokémon… who claims himself to be human. And I'm supposed to believe that?"
"Yeah, well believe all you want. I…" Pikachu stopped, noticing the red scarf around his neck, "Ooh, a scarf! Nice touch."
"If you're really human, then where do you come from?" Oshawott asked, "Kanto? Johto? Hoenn? Shinoh?" she gasped, "Unova?!"
"No, New York."
Oshawott frowned, "Huh?"
Pikachu threw a dismissive hand, "You wouldn't understand anyway." He paused, "much like I don't understand why I'm here or how I got here. I do remember I was attacked by a snake. A Freakish… oh god, that Freakish."
Oshawott gasped, "The Freakish! I know the Freakish!"
Pikachu looked back at Oshawott, "You do?"
"Yeah!" Oshawott pulled out, as if by magic, a picture. She handed it to Pikachu. Pikachu examined the picture.
"Uhh… that's an Arbok." Pikachu said.
"Yeah!" Oshawott said, "Arbok the Freakish. He's been terrorizing our land for months ever since he settled over the Everglade Cave southwest from…!" Oshawott paused, "Ohh, snap! I cannot believe I forgot!" she snatched the picture from Pikachu.
"What?" Pikachu said.
"I gotta head back to camp!" she said, "I'm supposed to join the Pokémon Exploration Council this morning! See I wanna be an adventurer… long story short. I'm late!"
Oshawott took off running. "Hey wait!" Pikachu called out, following in four legs, "Wait for me! I'm coming with you."
xxx
Mario, Link, Pit and Palutena entered the room. They briefly stared at Jace. Jace stared back. Astonished eyes were exchanged.
Jenn and Hunt looked back and forth. Noir gazed curiously. Dimentio was not in the room at that moment. The silence in the room was quite eerie.
"Er… Mario?" Jenn called out the Italian plumber.
"Oh, right! Mamamia…" Mario giggled mirthlessly, "We should have you all head out! Like…" he hesitated, "Right away!"
Link and Pit went behind Jenn and Hunt and pushed them toward the exit. "Nothing to see here, folks! Nothing to see here!" Pit said.
"Someone needs their beauty rest before heading back tomorrow." Link said.
Jenn stopped, "Wait! So Jace is getting released tomorrow?" she said with a huge smile on her face. Hunt smiled as well.
"Yeah, that's right! What more proof do you want?" Pit barked.
Link shot the angel a glare, "PIT!"
"Sorry… my bad…not being subtle here."
Palutena gazed at Noir. Noir blinked, not liking the way she was looking at him. But then he quickly got the message once her eyes narrowed. "Oh, right!" he followed the others out of the room, "you want me out of the room too. Yeah…"
With Hunt, Jenn, and Noir finally out of the room, Link closed the door and he, Mario, Pit and Palutena finally faced the brooding patient.
"Simon?" Pit carefully called him.
Jace let out a heavy sigh of relief, "Finally, someone calls me by my real name."
The Nintendo characters quickly encircled the patient, all chattering with questions at once.
"One at a time, please!" Simon, the White Knight inside Jace's body, raised his voice and the characters hushed.
He then turned to Palutena, "Lovely Palutena of Skyworld. I must thank you for awaking me in these dire times of need." He then frowned, "Although I am utterly displeased of the host you have chosen for me."
Palutena grinned nervously, "My apologies, my liege." She said, "But it was a last minute emergency. The boy, whose body you are inhabiting, had a terrifying encounter with your own worst enemy the Freakish. I had to do something to save him."
"Yes. The boy's friends enlightened me." Simon replied, "What of him by the way? Has he perished?"
"No." Pit scoffed disagreeably, "Palutena sent his soul wandering the Nintendo World…"
"He is NOT wandering the Nintendo World!" Palutena snapped, "He's occupying another body as we speak."
"Which body?" Link asked.
Palutena stammered, "…wuh-wuh-well, I would know if I was in the Nintendo World! But my powers are limited in this realm as I am no longer a goddess, remember?"
Simon tut-tutted, "what an unfortunate news…"
"But the Nintendo World had been cursed!" Mario exclaimed, "When the villains stole the 3rd Dimensional Sphere! Most of the world seem to be frozen in an eternal loop of Smash and Battle Royale!" he said, reminiscing the time he and Jace battled the Wire Frames and had an encounter with Bowser at Delfino Plaza from the Rock Center.
"Wait, are you saying that anytime you enter the realm, you end up in a Smash Bros. match up instead?" Pit asked and the characters, except Simon, nodded.
"Sometimes we're able to access a part of our world that hasn't been cursed from anywhere in this world." Link said, reminiscing the time he rescued Zelda from Phantom Ganon with the help of Pat and Maple. He also remembered the Temple of Time being inside the Empire State Building.
"So many things wrong with this place…" Simon tut-tutted again.
"But all is-a not lost." Mario said with a smile, "We have settled in a special hub infused with magic inside a building in New York City: the Miiverse! We can settle there for the time being. Until you can fulfill your destiny, White Knight."
"It's really an awesome place!" Pit said, "It's found inside a store called Nintendo World Store."
Simon's eyes shot out, "Store?" he hissed; "our world has now been reduced to a store?"
The characters chattered again in negative response, "No, no! It's-a not like that." Mario finally said over the crowd, "It is actually something that…well, you won't understand. You'll have to sit down to hear the whole story. But long story short: this world and ours are somehow connected."
Simon pondered for a bit. "Guess I might have to see this for myself."
xxx
About a week later back at the MiiVerse in New York City,
Simon stared across the large spacious area filled with tons of Nintendo characters and floating screens.
"I now have seen this for myself." He muttered, shaking his head and tut-tutting again, "Yep. I don't like it."
"What do you mean you don't like it?" Jenn approached Simon angrily. She apparently had heard him. "It's the Miiverse. You've been here before."
"Err… what Simo…" Luigi quickly caught himself, "…aahh mamia I mean… Jace is trying… to say… is that this place needs remodeling."
The Nintendo characters all nodded in agreement. Luigi turned to Simon, patting his shoulder, "Am I right or am I right?"
"You're dead wrong." Simon bluntly said.
"How about we head out to school?" Hunt proposed, swinging his backpack over his shoulder, "You Jace need to catch up on all of your homework and lessons that you've missed."
"I think you mean yourself Hunt." Jenn said.
"No." Hunt frowned, "I mean Jace." He scoffed and mirthlessly chuckled, "Sheesh Jenn. I'm always on time with my stuffs. You don't have to be so right about everything."
Jenn shrugged, "Sorry. Just saying." As she turned to walk away, Hunt dropped his backpack, zipped it open and pulled out his calendar. All of his ToDos were blank for the week. He tugged on his collar, gulping and sweating.
xXx
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon World
Pikachu and Oshawott arrived at the Pokémon Village, just in time to hear a loud commotion. The Pokémon at the village were in full chatter mode over the latest news. Pikachu recognized slackened faces and furrowed brows, and beaded eyes darting about in concern as if searching for a place to hide.
Pikachu approached a Chansey and Deerling who were talking. Before he could even ask, he heard the Deerling.
"The poor sweet Togepi." The Deer Pokémon moped, "She was so young. If something were to happen to her, I don't know how Mama Togekiss will deal with this."
"Don't talk like all hope is lost, Deerling!" Chansey scowled, her voice sounded like an angry southern woman, "The Pokémon Exploration Council is on the case. They will send in adventurers to find her in no time."
Her voice grew hoarse as she crossed her tiny arms, "Ugh, that Arbok the Freakish will pay dearly for messing with a mama's child. If that was my child captured by him, I swear to the Great Arceus I'll stuff him to an egg."
"Wait, what happened to the Togepi?" Pikachu finally asked.
The two Pokémon turned to him and Oshawott. "Oh, I guess you youngsters aren't in the know recently." Said the Deerling, "A baby Togepi has been kidnapped by Arbok the Freakish. He threatened the village with our entire food supply as ransom."
"That's terrible!" Oshawott's voice cracked.
"Y'know what's terrible!" Chansey exclaimed, "What Arbok the Freakish did to that poor Pachirisu last year." She balked, "Augh! They were no ransom whatsoever!"
Both Pikachu and Oshawott peered about wild-eyed. Oshawott looked back and spotted a large tent the shape of an Entei. The handlebar mustache on the Entei's face formed the border of the tent entrance with curtains attached to it. Immediately Oshawott went straight for it. Pikachu briefly stared, slack-jawed, at the tent.
"I don't remember an Entei tent in a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon game." The mind of the teen in the Electric Pokémon body muttered before going after Oshawott.
Oshawott pulled the curtain open and was now at the presence of the Council, seated around a wooden table. There was a loud argument between a Primeape and a Loudred.
"ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT GIVE UP OUR FOOD?!" Loudred roared, "YOU RATHER SEE THAT BABY TOGEPI BECOME A HARD-BOILED EGG INSTEAD?!"
"Not until we are AB-SO-LU-TE-LY sure that Baby Togepi is still safe!" Primeape raged.
"It's Arbok the Freakish!"
"So?"
"They are ALWAYS hungry!"
"Not like the regular Arbok!"
"So you see my point?!"
Primeape was about to say argue some more but then stopped, quavering. "Uh… well, I…!"
"Oh, Toge-Toge-pleease!" The argument at the table stopped and all refocused on the large Togekiss before them. The face of the mother Jubilee Pokémon was etched with sorrows. "You've got to help my baby… if something were to happen to her, I… I…" she finally dissolved into tears.
"Do not worry, Madam Togekiss." A Meowth who was at the table said with a reassuring smile, "We won't let anything bad happen with your baby. We're actually getting new adventurers today and I have a good feeling they're gonna be stronger than the last."
"Unless they let Baby Togepi get turned into a hard-boiled egg or meet the same fate as Pachirisu last year," sighed a male Swanna, whose voice sounded like a grumpy old rich man. "Seriously that was ugly."
All heads turned to him darkly, but he paid no attention and went on talking, "I mean, seriously, talk about a letdown to see that Pachirisu's body covered in fur and b—!"
"SWANNA!" the table roared. Swanna immediately caught himself before finishing his sentence. Too late. Mama Togekiss wailed in grief.
"Way to go, Swanna," muttered a Hitmonlee at the table.
"You just made a bad situation worse," snorted a Tepig at the table, while a Skitty and a Snivy were collectively shaking their heads.
"What?" Swanna yelped, "I totally forgot she was still there!"
"All right, all right. Please settle down at the table." Entei's loud voice calmed the table before it got ugly. Pikachu and Oshawott noticed him sitting at the far end side of the table on a large cushion chair. The legendary dog Pokémon turned to Mama Togekiss, "Your baby will be rescued. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, ma'am."
Entei paused. Looking past Mama Togekiss he saw Oshawott and Pikachu there. "And what do we have here? Newcomers?" he spoke.
Finally the table turned to the two newcomers. Pikachu saw who were at the table besides Entei at the end of it. To the left side were Loudred, Meowth, Swanna, and Hitmonlee. And to the right side were Skitty, Tepig, Snivy, and Primeape.
"Hi! I'm Oshawott! And I want to apply for the new position of Pokémon adventurers!" the cheerful sea otter Pokémon said before turning to Mama Togekiss, "Don't worry! I'll definitely saved your baby Togepi!"
Mama Togekiss whimpered as she left.
"New Pokémon Adventurers heh?" Primeape snorted, looking over Oshawott, "And who's that?"
"Oh yeah!" Oshawott turned to her new companion, "This is my new pal: Pikachu! He calls himself Jace!"
"Hmm-hmm." Pikachu nodded, "That's because I'm actually human."
The Pokémon Council exploded with laughter. Pikachu stepped back, offended, "What, it's true! I really am human!"
The Council laughed some more.
"Yeah!" Meowth wiped off a tear, "And I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"
The Council's laughter intensified.
Pikachu blew a raspberry, "Don't be ridiculous, Meowth. You're not really Ash Ketchum from Pallet—!" he paused uncomfortably, "Ohhhhh… you were being sarcastic were you?"
"So young Pokémon!" Entei cleared his throat and formed a straight face, "You think you can deal with Arbok the Freakish?"
Pikachu blinked for a moment, "I can't even deal with the real Freakish."
The Council exchanged puzzled glances. "…yeah, long story." Pikachu threw a dismissive hand, "So me, dealing with an Arbok in this body? I don't think so."
As he turned to walk away, Oshawott pulled him back, "Oh, of course you can so!" a sinister smile came to her face, "Remember when you said that the Council can't even clean up their paws before engaging into a Pokémon battle." Oshawott observed the widened eyes of the council members, "True story!" she added.
"What do you mean we don't clean up our paws?" Loudred barked, the earth literally shook at his ferocious loud noise.
"Is that supposed to be an insult?!" hissed Skitty.
"What?" Pikachu shook his head, "No!" he angrily turned to Oshawott, "I never said that! Don't lie man!"
"Well, I'll be!" Oshawott scoffed, "I thought it was true when you said that Entei never shaved that iron mustache off him."
The table gasped. All eyes turned to a tight-lipped Entei. Pikachu forced a smile.
"It's not a mustache. It's a face mark." Entei said gruffly after a short silence, his red face was now turning beet purple, "And I do not approve of such insult from hooligans like the likes of you!"
Entei leapt over from his seat and slammed his paws to the table. The Pokémon before him startled.
"Very well then, Pikachu. Or Jace. Or whatever the Underworld you are called…" the legendary Pokémon slowly prowled toward Pikachu, "how about we make a bet."
He didn't stop until he was nose-to-nose with him.
"Rescue Togepi," he said, "from Arbok the Freakish." He narrowed his eyes, "Alone."
Pikachu's eyes widened, taking on a hunted look. They darted back and forth briefly before facing Entei's again, "Ah…Alone?" his voice struggled to control quavering.
"Alone!" Entei bellowed, "And your little Sea Otter friend here will not only get accepted as a Pokémon Adventurer, but will get her seat as member of this Council." Entei smiled wryly, "And you will get the Leader seat."
The announcement sent uproar at the Council table. "Meow wait a minute!" Meowth exclaimed.
"That means you'll step down?" Snivy added.
"That's absurd!" Tepig expressed shock.
Entei faced the concerned Pokémon. "That exactly what I mean." He said before turning back to Pikachu again, "But fail on your mission… and not only you will feel the pain of seeing a mother lose a child, but you will feel the regret of not rescuing the baby in the first place."
"So the guilt trip is my punishment?" Pikachu paused, "All righty then. If you say so." He smirked, "But guess what Entei. I'll have Baby Togepi rescued before you can even growl your own name."
Entei's scorching look remained.
xXx
-NYU-
"JACE!"
Maple screamed from the top of her lungs. Her fast legs pounded the pavement as she ran past the crowd full of college students at the NYU campus. She had spotted Jace and Hunt about a mile from 5th Avenue and after she heard about the London accident, she was thrilled to see he was okay.
But she wouldn't take that chance again, to see Jace slip out of her grasp this easily. She loved him too much and things need to be said face-to-face.
"JACE!" she yelled again. Jace stopped walking and turned around. She stopped inches close to him and bent down, gasping and heaving of breath. Dots were swirling around her visions. Jace just stared back. Yet he showed no concern.
"Can I help you?" his voice was deep, almost rugged. Maple squinted. Maybe her hearing was off, since she almost ran ten blocks.
She shook her head, "Y-yeah! Of course I…I… I wanted to talk to you…"
"You want to seat down?"
Maple slammed her hands on his shoulders, "NO!" she barked, "No, I will NOT seat down!" she shook her head, breathing slightly, "Jace, I heard what happened to you in London! It was SO cruel!"
"Wha—!" Maple wrapped around him in a tight hug before he could speak. The stunned Jace gasped. "Ohh…kay…?"
"I will never let you go! Never ever, EVER!"
She finally released him after one good solid minute. Jace still looked lost.
"Is this about the London thing again?"
"You call your near-death experience with a vicious beast a thing?" she slapped his shoulder, "NO! Don't ever say that! Or even joke about that!"
Jace shrugged.
"Listen!" she seized him by the shoulders again, "After what I heard, I don't think I wanna take ANY chances! I love you, Jacen! I've always loved you since we were on that plane!"
"Actually, lady, it's Si—!"
Maple pulled Jace, capturing him to her lips before he could finish his sentence. His lips were soft. Minty-fresh. Jace kissed back, eyes closed as if enchanted by the embrace of her strawberry-swirl lips.
Again after another good minute she released him. She breathed a nice sigh, then briefly observed Jace who blinked back, as if from a trance. He finally turned back to her. His face was indifferent.
"…oh." She uttered, face flushing pink, "You… didn't like that?"
He reached up to her face, "Actually." His fingers gently brushed a lock of her hair over her left ear, "Nicest moment I've had so far." A smirk appeared.
Maple smiled back, "Really?" she cheered, "Does that mean we're…boyfriend and girlfriend?" she hesitated, already fretting about her parents and what they would say about this hookup since she was 13 and he 19.
But Jace looked like he didn't care. His smile remained.
"JACE!" Hunt's shout startled Maple. But Jace remained focused on her. Hunt reached up to the now new couple and grabbed his best friend by the arm, "Dude, come on! We're gonna be late for History class!"
"I see History already." He then winked at Maple. Maple's face was like a red tomato. She giggled through her teeth.
Hunt frowned in disgust, "Ew." finally pulled Jace away from the girl. Jace still stared at her with his smile. Maple cocked her head to one side, dreamily smiling and sighing, watching her new boyfriend disappearing into the crowd.
"MAPLE!" her friend Pat reached her at last. She noticed her face, "Please don't tell me…!"
"It's real!" she giggled, "Jace and I are finally a couple! We're finally Japle!"
Pat frowned, "Japle? Should it be more like… Mace?"
"HEY, I don't want our mashup love name to be the name of a bludgeoning weapon!"
Pat backed out, "Sorry."
Maple sighed again, "We're gonna be together forever!"
xXx
Student listened—or tried to listen attentively—to the professor's lecture on the story of Abdul-Rahman, African prince amongst slaves from the 1700s. A story of royalty and drama all revolving around the African slavery well known in the United States.
"Wait…whoa. Back the truck up." Simon said vehemently. All heads in the classroom stopped what they were focused on and turned toward him.
"Are you saying…" Jace's clone began, "that people like you… took other people like you as slaves, just because of the color of their… what now? Their skins?"
Silence fell in the classroom. Then a few sniggering were faintly heard from a distance as Simon deepened his frown.
"What? Are you for real?" Simon said gruffly.
"Uhh…" the professor hesitated, "Yes. We are for real."
"Jacen," spoke Simone, the most popular girl from high school. She strangely gazed at Simon-who, like everyone else, still thought was Jace-not expecting his strong opinion. Yet she didn't like it.
"I thought you knew that kind of stuff back in high school." She paused, "Black History Month? The 1970s?" she paused again, "Remember?"
Simon raised an eyebrow. He then turned to Hunt after a brief pause, "Okay, why is everybody keep calling me Jacen? Or Jace? Or J-Dog?!" he snarled that last nickname.
"Uhh…" Hunt hesitated, "Because it's your name? Unless you'd rather switch back to Takashi."
"What?" Simon hissed, "Ew. Sounds like some bad fruit salad."
"It is a touchy subject, Mr. Riders." The professor replied to his student, "But bear with me for a second. The story of Prince Abdul-Rahman gets interesting…"
"Okay, now he calls me Mr. Riders." Simon tossed his arms and shook his head, steaming. Simon right now felt all kind of unpleasant things about being in this world: confusion, fear, troubled… anger and irritation were on top of all of that most of all. Because ever since he awoke, he awoke in some kid's body. Not his own. And this kid—Jace, or Takahashu or whatever his name was—he didn't know how the hell he should blend in this body. It wasn't comfortable!
To make things worse, he had to sit in this place called a classroom listening to some boring stupid teacher teaching about the importance of controlling people. Even princes!
He had to leave before he grabbed someone's head and ran it to a wall. Most preferably, that geek boy who calls himself his best friend. He was the closest head anyway.
"…unbelievable." He said, pulling off his seat and squeezed past the row of chairs. Students kept their attention on the brooding man.
"Wuh…JACE?!" Hunt hissed, trying to sound discreet, but Simon was already heading for the exit and people had their eyes on him and Hunt already. Hunt remained seated, grinning nervously at the crowd. Jace made a complete fool of himself and embarrassed him too. In front of his favorite class of all six favorite classes.
"…suh…sorry guys." He said, quickly pulling off his seat and moved through in a crouching position. His attention remained on the professor, while trying to avoid students' contacts. "Jacen is not feeling himself today." He lied, "I'll be…" he paused, "I'm gonna have to bring him right back. So…"
Hunt whipped toward the exit and took off in a mad dash.
xXx
Simon was by the school square when he blew a whistle between his fingers. Immediately two green pipes, an Arwing, a glowing pillar of light, a DK Barrel, a gust of wind, a holographic elevator, an egg, a Warp Star, and a Pokeball all emerged out of nowhere revealing Mario, Luigi, Fox, Pit, DK, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, and Pikachu.
"SIMON!" Luigi cheered on his name with a big smile on his mustached face. The smile vanished once he saw hate glittering in Simon's Jace eyes.
"You…are… Simon, right?" Luigi uttered.
Simon smiled sardonically. "Here's something you should know about the people of this place." The man began darkly at the thought of being on this planet.
"They use to treat their own people as slaves." He repeated again, "Their own people. Now imagine if these same people started using YOU as slaves. Or worse…" he paused uncomfortably, "…the abomination they call video game characters."
A great gasp left the Nintendo characters' throat. "What horror huh?" Simon added.
"You think?" Pit exclaimed, "Before you know it they'll be like, forcing you to shoot a light arrow by the push of one button!"
"Or make you jump over crates and force you to reach a goal…" Mario muttered.
"Or do a Barrel Roll…" Fox glowered.
"Or swing your sword till your arm fall off." Link stiffened.
"Wuhh…no…." Kirby was shaking in place, already thinking bad thoughts about being controlled.
"Uh-huh!" Yoshi shook his head as his automated voice generator translated, […or make you eat three enemies and lay three eggs at the same time…] "Ohhh…" he lowered his Dino head, [talk about a pain in the hiney…]
All characters disturbingly scowled at Yoshi.
"TMI, Yoshi." Simon muttered.
"So…" Fox paused, "what do you propose we should do?"
All attention turned back to Simon.
"As White Knight, I have a duty to carry." His pupils cautiously gazed up the sky, "Half of the Nintendo World somehow has been frozen in time. And yet, here you all are in another world. The plan is simple." He paused, "For one world to be restored…"
He turned to the characters, "…another one has to go."
xXx
Navi: HEY! LISTEN! How about we take a short break, ya? And then we can get back to the adventure!
xXx
The Nintendo characters collectively shouted out in disagreement to Simon's proposed plan.
"What do you mean another one has to go?" exclaimed Luigi.
"I mean this world you are in has to go." He said again.
The Nintendo characters argued again collectively.
"ONE AT A TIME, PLEASE." Simon shouted again and the noise lowered.
"You can't do that Simon!" Fox said, "What about all the people living here?"
"Only the Nintendo characters trapped in the Miiverse will be rescued" he said."They will find their way back home. But everyone else has to go. We'll start preparation in the morn."
The brooding White Knight in Jace's body walked away as the characters chattered again, trying to reason with him. "End of discussion." Simon shouted as he disappeared into the student crowd. But that didn't stop the Nintendo characters from going after him, safe Pit and Palutena.
Pit turned to the goddess. "See what you did, Lady Palutena!" he said brazenly before going after the group. Palutena played with her clammy fingers. "Oh dear…" she quavered, "That's not the Simon the White Knight I was told would bring salvation."
xXx
He thought to be a dream. Yet it felt too real to be a dream.
The terrified teen, covered in blood, saw himself holding on tight to a bell's shackle, wedged tightly to a ceiling. His jaws were quivering. His olive green eyes were watery, never left sight of his predator: a giant Titanoboa-sized python. The snake's eyes were bright, sharp and able to clutch anyone's chest just by its stare. Its arid greenish-brown skin encircled 50 feet below the teen.
The teen looked up and swung one tired arm up to the shackle again and pushed himself up. He has been grabbing hold on to it like his life depended on it. He didn't know how long he's been there but he was getting pretty exhausted. He then looked back down at the snake. The snake impatiently clapped its jaws at him, hoping to see its dinner fall right into its mouth.
The shackle suddenly made a noise. A scary one. The teen suddenly found himself in a crooked position. He quickly looked up. The shackle was getting loose. He hopelessly watched a nail from it slip out of its hole and hit the floor in a clatter. He stammered, looking back and forth. His palms were now sweating and he was rapidly sliding down.
"I can't be… can't be slipping…" he swung another hand up, but it slid down again. He tried again. The more he tried, the more he was heading down. His panic increased. His breath intensified. "No… NO…!"
The shackle finally snapped, letting go off the teen who plummeted 50 feet to the python's jaws, screaming… … …
"PIKAAAA!"
Pikachu leapt off from his leaf bed, covered in sweat. Oshawott woke up as well, startled by his scream.
"Jace…?" Oshawott called him as Pikachu turned to her. "Jace, what's wrong?"
Pikachu violently shook his head and pulled out of bed, "I can't do this."
Oshawott was now widely awake, "What?"
"I said I can't do this!" Pikachu's voice raised, "I can't face your Freakish! That Arbok! I QUIT!" the Pokémon headed for the exit.
Oshawott pulled out of bed also, "What are you talking about you quit?"
"You know full well what I'm talking about."
"So you just gonna quit?" Oshawott barked, "Are you MAD?!"
"Even if I should be in a psych ward, yes. I'm quitting!"
"So you're just gonna quit? You're just gonna back out like a chicken? I thought we were all in this together!"
"Yeah, well you thought wrong." Pikachu turned around and as he reached the exit, Oshawott screamed, "FINE!"
He stopped and faced her.
"Be that way!" Oshawott went on, "Be a quitter for all I care! I was looking up to you to help me on the adventure but I guess I relied on the wrong kind of Pokémon! But know this:" she pointed her white paw at him, "There's a baby Togepi out there, about to get devoured by a heartless Arbok, and a mother is about to lose her baby. THAT baby! How would YOU feel if that baby was your best friend? Or your family, like your cousin? Or maybe your baby brother or sister! Would you actually quit on your rescue mission?!"
The Electric Pokémon seemed troubled. But troubled as in not focused on what Oshawott was telling him and too busy worrying about a snake turning his entire body into a succulent filling meal. Pikachu ran out without a word. Oshawott couldn't help but shake her head and scream frustratingly.
By the time Pikachu was out in the field, staring at his reflection by a flowing crystal river nearby, Oshawott's statement was getting clearer. "How would YOU feel if that baby was your best friend? Or your family, like your cousin? Or maybe your baby brother or sister! Would you actually quit on your rescue mission?!"
"No." Pikachu frowned, looking away from the water to face the dusky skies. "I'm not quitting on my rescue mission. I'm just… scared, that's all. Just…"
He looked back again at his reflection and instead of his Pokemon image staring back, he saw himself, in human form.
"Scared?" The reflection spat, "Dude, what are you? a coward?"
Pikachu's beady eyes widened. He looked at his hands: they were still Pikachu's hands. But the reflection was Jace himself!
"Uhh… What?"
"You're Jacen Riders!" The reflection said, "Just because you're now in the body of a Pikachu in the Pokemon mystery dungeon game world, doesn't mean you have to start acting like a chicken Pokemon."
"Hey!" Pikachu hissed, "I'm not a chicken Pokemon!"
Jace scoffed, grinning, "Right. I'm not the one who ran out of camp like one on Thanksgiving Day." The reflection paused, "wait; scratch that. That's a turkey. But nonetheless, you're still a chicken."
"Aren't you supposed to be my conscience encouraging me on what to do and not taunting me?"
The reflection laughed heartily, "Dude. It's like you don't know me at all. Even Hunt would say 'who are you and what have you done with my best friend'. Remember when Jenn was captured by that giant DK? Or when Phantom Ganon terrorized Pat and Maple? You were brave. Fearless. You rescued them without hesitation. That's Jacen Riders. That's who you are."
"If I were you," the reflection went on, "without the Pikachu body of course, I'd go out there and rescue that Baby Togepi without a question."
"What about the Freakish?"
The reflection hesitated, "well, I'd… still…"
Pikachu crossed his arms, watching his reflection stammering for a while. The reflection finally snapped, "…just do as I say!"
A pebble hit the river, startling Pikachu. He looked up and saw a startled Aipom taking off on one of the trees. He turned back to the river. The now garbled reflection was back to Pikachu.
"Jacen Riders…" Pikachu whispered, "That's who you are. That's who am I. I'm no coward. I'm brave and fearless!"
He gazed over the horizon, with full determination, "don't worry Togepi. I'll get you outta there from that monster. I'll make sure he regrets crossing path with me!"
xxx
Back in NYC
Mario, Kirby, Yoshi, Link, and Pit were running from different streets and avenues. Finally they stopped, before each other in the middle of Times Square.
"There you are guys!" Pit said cheerfully, "Miss me?"
"Have you seen Simon?" Link asked the group.
"He's like he vanished!" Luigi complained.
Yoshi turned to his right and spotted Simon, "OHH!" he pointed with a gasp, [I see him!]
All heads turned to Simon, walking aimlessly down the busy street. A speeding taxi screeched to a full stop, inches before it could strike Simon. Simon jumped back, wide-eyed at the driver.
The driver angrily slammed on his honk. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, KID?"
Simon cocked his head on one side, "Kid?" he hissed that word in disgust as he approached the taxi door, "Kid."
He threw a punch through the window, shattering it. The driver gasped as the hand wrapped around his collar and yanked him off his seat. The seatbelt snapped.
"You wanna call me a kid again?" Simon said hotly.
The driver shook his head, "N-No sir…" his voice trembled, "You no kid, sir… please spare me. Got a wife and kids to take care of…" he whimpered.
"JACE!"
Simon rolled his eyes, "Again with that name…" he muttered, dropped the taxi driver, and turned to the person who called him. It was that girl from before. The Smash Bros. were about to approach him as well but then they stopped at the sight of Maple. They quickly hid to a corner to watch.
"Oh hello." He said to her, "Maple was it?"
Maple squinted. Since when does he not know my name? She quickly went back to the subject. "What are you doing to that poor taxi driver?"
Tires were heard screeching again, and Simon briefly watched the taxicab speeding off.
"Just wanted to give him a piece of my mind is all." Simon turned back to Maple, "Little booger called me a kid. Can you believe that?"
"But it's no reason for you to attack him. And you're no kid. You're my mature boyfriend Jacen Riders, who definitely need…"
Maple then stopped, an idea was forming in her head.
"…a makeover!" She gasped before turning to him, "Say, how about I cheer you up with a little shopping spree? You'll look more older!"
Simon hunched his lower lip to one side, "Can you do that?"
Maple dragged Simon with her to a nearby Subway station. The duo hopped on the next arrival subway and the speeding train flew to Herald Square. Both had no idea the Nintendo characters followed them.
Maple and Simon reached Herald Square's Macy's store and pulled out her dad's credit card. Simon can get any clothes he wants.
Simon tried a suit. He hated it, but Maple loved it.
He then tried on a leather jacket over white henley. He liked it but Maple hated the skinny jeans that went with it. Too Jonas Brothers.
Simon tried on a sweater vest ensemble, with flat loafers. Both of them hated it. Too geeky.
Maple made Simon just try on the boardshorts with new Puka shell necklace. She wouldn't stop drooling at this chic summer outfit. Simon found it creepy and rejected it.
Finally Simon got his outfit of choice: a short-sleeved embroidered shirt, skinny jeans and white leather shoes to match the shirt. He swung a beige leather jacket over his shoulder and couldn't help but smile at the outfit. Maple clapped her hands happily. Now that was a mature look and way sexy.
The duo left the mall in great spirits. The Smash Bros. spied on them the entire time.
"You have been an excellent company, Maple." Simon said, "It's a shame that I won't miss you any less when the Smash Brothers and I will destroy this world."
The smile on Maple's face vanished immediately. She slowly turned to Simon, "Wait, what?"
"JACE!" Mario called out his name. Simon sighed frustratingly, "Again with the name…" he muttered under his breath before turning to the Nintendo characters that approached.
"Aren't you supposed to be practicing for your…" Luigi hesitated, "…villain part on that Broadway show you're working on: World War Z?"
Simon frowned. So did Maple. "World War Z?"
"Talk about being subtle, Luigi." Fox angrily muttered at Luigi.
"Hope you don't mind, Maple." Link placed a hand on Maple's shoulder. Maple stared at the hand, as if possessed, "But we'd like a word with Simon in private if it pleases you."
Maple's face flushed pink, "…that's okay."
The Nintendo characters dragged Simon to a corner for their private conversation. The enamored Maple turned to walk away, sighing dreamily. First she got to agree with Jace to be her girlfriend; and now Link just touched her. Today was a good day.
Still fantasizing about it, she walked right into an alley. She stopped, looking around. She didn't know how long she's been walking, but it sure felt like a long time. And the alley looked all trashed with a public garbage extracting the foulest stench any disposal could eject.
"Gotta turn back." She wheeled around and standing right before her was a bearded man in torn clothing, wild hair and crooked teeth that made his gum about to come out.
"Hello, girlfriend."
"Excuse me sir…" Maple tried moving past the man but he stepped before her, blocking her path.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa… just where do you think you're going, pretty face? I need money." He opened up his hand to her. Maple nervously chuckled. Her legs were shaking. The man walked before her, forcing her to a wall. She gasped, terror now filled her eyes.
"Better yet." The man slammed his hand to the wall right next to her face, "I need some love."
Maple screamed. Her terrifying cry reached Simon and the Smash Brothers' ears. The party looked at each other.
"Was that Maple?" Luigi said.
"She could be in trouble!" Pit exclaimed.
"See what I mean by this world giving you poison?" Simon muttered.
"Chastity later, Simon. We have to get to her!" Link said and the group ran for the scene.
xxx
The sunlight kissed Oshawott a blissful morning on the cheek. The sea otter Pokémon squinted through its glowing rays and shuffled to her side. She blinked to see an empty bed. A Pikachu was supposed to be there and now he's gone.
She jerked up, "Pikachu?" she looked around, "Pikachu, where are you?"
She turned to the bed again, finally noticing a broken wooden board right next to the bed. Carved writing on the plate of the board revealed a message. She got up and approached the board to read the message. It was from her Pokémon companion.
"Went to save Togepi from Arbok. Don't wait for me… WHAT?"
She wheeled around and took off in a mad dash, "…you're mad Pokémon! PIKACHU!"
xxx
Thousands of Ekans and Sevipers moved in rhythm to the music of a bongo, played in the background by a blind old Simisear. The Simisear spewed out a flamethrower, the fire struck the ground before slithering army and formed a large bonfire. The army's bewitching chant increased as they gathered around the fire, swaying into the music.
Pikachu has been watching the creepy ceremony from the top of the hill, hiding behind a large bushy rock. The mere sight of seeing this army of crawling snakes made his skin crawl itself.
"Bring on the meal!" Arbok roared. The leader Cobra Pokemon was before the army on top of a carved podium facing the fire.
The army split into two. Each group formed a line and stood side by side from each other, letting room for one Seviper to come before Arbok. Togepi was wedged between the Viper Pokemon's jaws. The baby Pokemon had formed itself into an egg, shaking with fear.
The Seviper dropped Togepi right before Arbok. Togepi looked around her. Too many snakes to deal with. Yet she wasn't old enough to defend herself. She wanted her mommy.
"Mommy is not coming to get you Togepi." Arbok said to the baby, as if he read her tiny mind. Licking his lips he added, "You're mine now."
Togepi shed tears, whimpering.
Pikachu who watched this entire time couldn't watch this anymore. Seeing this harmless Pokemon at the mercy of thousands of venomous ferocious snake Pokemon caused him to form a fist. He had to rescue that baby.
But how? Those weren't just the baby's threat. They were his biggest fears also. Just one look at one and he'll roll over to a ball cowering.
"Come on Jace." He said to himself, "You've got to rescue this baby. You've gotta!"
Shaking his head, he banished that fear of his and formed a determined scowl. He stepped out of his hiding place and ran down the hill.
Arbok watched his baby meal whimpering. He licked his lips, already imagining the taste of his food: tender and frightened.
"How do we devour this little one?" Seviper asked. The famished army turned to Arbok for his response.
"How about we throw it to the fire." An Ekans proposed and the army chattered in agreement.
"I don't like my food too cooked." Arbok hissed, shutting up the army, "yeah that's right. MY food. Bring it to me and I'll deal with it the same way I dealt with Pashirisu."
Togepi screamed. "Mommy…!"
"Ohh no you don't!"
Arbok thought he heard one of his people object. But it didn't sound like one of them. He observed the army who all exchanged the same puzzled glances as he did before he finally caught sight of a yellow creature running down the hill.
"A Pikachu?" Arbok gasped.
Pikachu came to a full stop before the creepy ritual. "You're not eating anybody today!" He shouted, "Not when I'm here!"
"So you'd rather be my next meal?" The Arbok asked.
"If you don't eat the Togepi." Pikachu said, before a smirk passed to his lips, "but either way, you don't wanna mess with me, slithering hag."
Arbok's eyes widened, "HAG?" The snake then scowled. Immediately the army of snakes all turned to corner and surround the Pikachu. Pikachu's fear returned anew.
"Not panicking… Not panicking…" He whispered to himself.
Arbok pushed the baby Togepi asides, turning his full attention on his new victim. "Army!" The snake commanded, "Make an exception: have my next meal thrown into the fire! We'll have some Roasted Rodent tonight!"
xxx
"Come on baby girl. I just want my next meal to be for the price of two…" The creepy crept closer to Maple.
"I'd rather die, you sick freak!" Maple screamed, pushing the man off her, "Get off me!" Maple finally shoved him couple of steps off her and threw a slap across his face. The man flinched. She took off.
But then a hand shot out and grabbed her by the hair before she could even get far. She screamed again and found herself at the man's headlock. "You just made a terrible mistake, baby girl."
A light arrow zipped past the man, slicing his cheek. The man let go off Maple and held on his burning bleeding face, howling. Maple stumbled back and turned around. She saw Pit right above her. He had fired an arrow at the man.
The man wheeled around, "WHO DID TH-!" Before he could finish, Simon landed right in front of him as if he just dropped from the building. The White Knight threw a punch, sending the man flying to a pile of garbage. The arriving Smash Brothers cheered on. Maple brought a huge smile on her face.
Simon approached the man and grabbed him by the colon of his shirt, "this is why people like you makes me wanna do things." He threw another punch. Maple, who watched Simon beating the crap out of the creep, could've sworn she saw half his jaw fly off his mouth. Another solid fist to the face and he let go off the man. The man stumbled back, covered in blood. He growled and screamed. "CHAAAAA-!"
xxx
"-AAAAAAARGE!"
Arbok roared at his army who did just that: they charged up right at the Pikachu intruder. Pikachu leapt from the ground and jumped from snake head to the next. At every step on their heads, his spine would shuddered and he would gasped distressingly. "HAA-HAA-WHOO—HAA…!"
The cold scaly feeling of these legless vermin were too much to bear. But he remained focus on the goal and that was to rescue Togepi, who whimpered quietly.
"Not panicking… Not panicking… Still not panicking…"
"Help me!" The baby Togepi cried out.
Pikachu closed in on his rescue target. "I'M COMING FOR YOU, TOGEPI!"
Arbok stepped in before Pikachu, blocking the path to Togepi. The snake bore its fangs. Pikachu freaked out and landed right next to the terrifying Pokémon.
The Pikachu crawled backward as Arbok menacingly approached. "Panicking… panicking…!" Pikachu gasped. The Ekans and Sevipers Army slowly cornered him.
"You just made a big mistake, Pikachu." Arbok closed in.
xxx
NYC
Simon couldn't stop punching the gut out of the perverted man. Punches after punches landed on the man's lower abdomen. The man gasped in pain, shooting spit off its mouth at the impact, till the mucus ended up becoming blood.
"Oh my gosh, Jace!" Maple screamed, "Stop it! STOP IT! Stop—! YOU'RE GONNA KILL HIM!"
Simon grabbed the man by the neck and threw him over his back, slamming him to the ground. The man quickly got up to his feet. Simon took a threatening step, "What?"
The man screamed, "Get away from me, you freak!" then took off running and still screaming.
Simon brushed his hands together, "That should take care of him."
He then turned to face Maple and the Smash Brothers who all stared back, jaws dropped.
"What?" he shrugged.
xxx
"You just made a big mistake, Pikachu." Arbok closed in.
Pikachu was once again about to scream in terror and cave in when he remembered his reflection, "You're Jacen Riders! Just because you're now in the body of a Pikachu in the Pokemon mystery dungeon game world, doesn't mean you have to start acting like a chicken Pokemon."
Pikachu hated calling himself a chicken. He's no chicken. Taking a deep breath, courage finally etched his face.
"No, Arbok. YOU'RE the one making the big mistake here."
Pikachu jumped back to his feet. Electricity danced on his cheeks. The snake army slowly moved back.
"He's gonna blow!" one Seviper hissed.
"PIKAAAA…!"
"Let's get outta here!" An Ekans panicked and the snake army turned to flee. Arbok hissed, "COWARD! Where do y'all think you're going! Get back he—!"
"CHUUUU!"
A surge of Thunder coursed from Pikachu and spread across the army. The snake army yelped, their bodies coursed in electricity. One thunder jolt struck Arbok. Arbok screamed as his slithering body extracted smoke and was charring.
Togepi who was watching sniffled back her tears. And Oshawott came in just in time to witness the electric event.
"GO Pikachu!" Oshawott pumped her fists in the air, "Knock these guys off their feet!" she then stopped cheering, "…wait, snakes don't have feet."
Pikachu released his attack off the army and looked around the pile of smoked snakes around him.
He looked up to see the Simisear, staring back with fears glittering in its eyes. The Simisear took off in a panic.
He finally turned to the groggy snake leader Arbok. Arbok the Freakish, who was not so powerful anymore, struggled to stay up.
Togepi clapped her hands happily, "Yeaaah! You saved me!" She jumped to Arbok's head, forcing the snake to crash to the ground, and leapt toward her rescuer Pikachu in an embrace.
"We did it! We did it! We did it!" Pikachu twirled Togepi around, cheering. Togepi trilled.
"I can't believe you rescued me, Mister Pikachu!" Togepi smiled, "Thank you."
The duo stopped twirling. "I can't believe I got over my childhood fear of snakes!" Pikachu said, "Thank you, Togepi." He pinched her cheek. She trilled at his touch. "Oh my gosh, you are actually CUTER than I thought!"
"I can't believe we actually did it!" Oshawott joined in the celebration. Pikachu and Togepi turned to her, dancing on her feet, "You and me, Next Pokémon Adventurers! Ready to take on any Freakishes terrorizing the region! WHOO!"
"Err… actually Oshawott, you didn't do anything." Pikachu said.
Oshawott scoffed, "…hey, way to ruin the mood." She crossed her arms, pouting.
"No, no, YOU didn't do anything with attacking the snakes. But you did motivate me to get over my fear." Pikachu said, "Thanks for your pep talk from last night."
"Oh, what I said?" Oshawott blushed, "Oh that was no pep talk! I thought I was just insulting you. Sorry."
"So you're Pokémon Adventurers?" Togepi asked. "I always wanted to be a Pokémon Adventurer." She said, "but I'm too young and Mama wouldn't let me." The egg Pokémon gasped, "Oh my goodness, Mama. Where is Mama? I wanna see Mama!"
"She's still back at the village." Oshawott replied. "She's been worried sick about you."
"But don't worry," Pikachu said, "We're gonna take you to her. She's gonna be happy to see you safe and sound."
Togepi trilled again, "Oh thank you, thank you, Mister and Madam Adventurers!"
Pikachu carried the baby Togepi to his back as Oshawott led the way out, past the charred, electrocuted dead pile of Ekans and Sevipers. Arbok groaned, struggled to lift its head up but then crashed back to the ground.
xxx
NYC
"Thanks for rescuing me from that creep, Jace." Maple said to the White Knight, still unaware of his true nature and identity inside Jace's body. The duo were walking down Herald Square, enjoying each a vanilla ice cream cone.
"But did you really have to beat up that guy, almost killing him in the process?" she said with concern, "That's not like you to do that."
Simon gazed back at her briefly, "You're right." He almost sounded solemn, "It's not really me."
Maple curiously raised her eyebrow. Simon looked away, watching the vanilla slowly melting.
"Did something happen back in London? With the Freakish?" Maple asked, "Is that why you're acting this way?"
Simon sighed in frustration, shaking his head, "I don't even know what happened in London." He turned back to Maple, "Blimey, I don't even know what London is!"
"What? What are you talking about?" the baffled Maple asked, "And who says blimey?"
"There's something you should know." Simon was about to reveal all when he heard Hunt again calling him by that name again. "JACE!"
He rolled his eyes and sighed frustratingly, "Bloody hell…" he angrily turned to Hunt, "can you ever—?"
Hunt looked glassy-eyed. Simon restrained himself from yelling further. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat, "You know what? Call me what you want…Hunt." He smiled, "Now, what is it you want?"
Hunt and Maple exchanged glances. Maple just shrugged. Hunt turned back to Simon, "…yeah, you just disappeared from not only the classroom but the campus too! What's up with you buddy? I'm worried. You know the doctor said that you shouldn't do too much activities right?"
"Ah yes, the doctor." Simon said, "Mainly Doctor Mario, right? Who listens to that goofy mustached bloke anyway for medical advice, hey?" he stopped smiling, "But if I were you, I'd stop worrying. I'm fine. Now, we'll see each other back at the abode?"
Hunt's frown deepened, "You mean the hotel?"
"Whatever you call it." Simon turned to Maple and smiled again, "And you, lovely. We'll see each other soon, yeah?"
"Right." Maple chuckled. Simon turned on his heel and left with Hunt. Maple watched the two best friends disappearing into the New York crowd.
"Something's wrong with you, Jace." Maple said to herself, frowning, "I don't know what it is, but I'm gonna have to find out sooner or later."
xxx
His vision were blurry. He couldn't see anything before him. There were no sun, no moon, no clouds… no seas or trees…definitely no birds or animals… especially no human, no people in front of him. It was just a big swirly blur of silver color and a lighter dark hue.
HELLO WHITE KNIGHT… a voice invaded his ears, like a boombox at high volume, trailing with echoes.
…uh…wh… what? He muttered, but he couldn't hear himself.
Who's this? He shouted hoping to hear his voice at the same volume as the one that spoke to him.
Nothing. The sound all came out mute.
Who's this? Hello? Hell—! What's going on? He could feel the panic in his voice. But hearing it was still a negative.
I CAN HEAR YOU PERFECTLY, WHITE KNIGHT JACEN RIDERS. YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS… AT LEAST, THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
Huh? You can hear me? Hu—how did you know my name? Wait a minute…!
A silhouette formed before him through the thickness of the blur. It was shaped like a hand.
Gasp…who's this…?
IT'S ME, WHITE KNIGHT JACEN RIDERS. CAN'T YOU SEE THE SILHOUETTE?
Yeah, I can see you. Master Hand. He whispered the name of the silhouette before him, But you're all blurry. And if you can hear me, how come I can't hear my own voice?
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE IN YOUR SPIRITUAL FORM. YOU CURRENTLY HAVE NO BODY.
No…body…?
HERE. LET ME RESTORE YOUR HEARING.
The blurry vision thickened some more, becoming a thick red wine color as a warm feeling overwhelmed his entire self.
The blurriness returned to its blurry state and the Master Hand silhouette came back anew.
CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELF NOW?
I don't know. Let me check. His voice was deep and clear again, Yep. I can hear myself now. But why am I not in my body? What happened to me?
Remember your encounter with the Freakish? Long story short, your spirit was banished from your body and now you're here.
So I didn't die? Well, thanks for the reminder. I kinda figured it out when I was in a Pikachu… wait a minute? Oshawott and Togepi? Where are they? What happened to them?
They're doing well. The baby Togepi is back to her mama, and Oshawott has joined the Adventurers with Pikachu. And don't you worry, Pikachu had no idea you temporarily took over his body.
Great. When am I gonna get MY body back?
Better question: when are you gonna get a new body?
Wait…what?
I can give you a new and improved Jacen Riders, the White Knight. Stand back. You'll feel overwhelmed by a bright light!
Immediately a great heat overwhelmed his entire self. The blurry vision brightened, forming a flashing light. He no longer saw the silhouette. He just saw that light.
xXx
Here's some Super Smashing Scenes from the Next Episode
- Harry Hanswood makes his debut appearance in the next episode, alongside famous Punch-Out characters and Little Mac. Get ready for some Punch-Out!
- Harry Hanswood is out for Hans' blood! Hans now need the help of the Nintendo characters more than ever, mostly the help of Little Mac, who happens to be in NYC.
- It's Luigi's birthday, and Mario, Jenn, Hunt and the Nintendo characters must throw him the best surprise birthday party ever. Enjoy this event in the light of Nintendo's Year of Luigi event!
- Jace will discover the fate of two worlds. Meanwhile, Simon will find the magical 3DS.
Next Episode:: Punching Mansion in 3D
Author's Note: For the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Universe, go to "bit . ly /SSB-U" (remove the spaces). Check out new episodes periodically.
Also available on Wattpad. Download the Wattpad app on your mobile phone and use this code '5135457' for SSB3D and '5912575' for SSBU on the search bar.
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