January 24: Popo: Group Project!

"STOP!" Charizard yelled. "They are listed as the Ice Climbers on the tier list! Why are they separate characters and not us?!"

Crazy Hand suddenly flew in from nowhere and knocked Charizard off into the sky. "There is no logic in Fanfiction!" He screamed.

School work was definitely not easy for the Smashers, besides having to do the normal school work they also had to keep their grades up and do their Smasher duties. For the younger Smashers they had gotten a giant group project.

Unfortunately for Popo, and the rest of the group, they had a member in their group who wasn't apart of the Smashers. So they had to get to Master Hand in order to get special permission for the final member of the group to enter Smashville.

"I still don't understand why we don't just all go there." Claus muttered. "Isn't that what everyone else is doing with their group?"

"They're in the minority though." Popo replied. "It's the four of us as opposed to the one or two of them."

Ness, Lucas, Claus, Popo, and one other person made up a group. Nana and three others also made up a group. And Toon Link and Red made up a group with two other people.

"We just had to be the group with five…" Ness muttered. "We could have had it divided evenly with four each… but no…"

"I didn't want to work with Nana." Popo said. "And Lucas wanted to work with Claus."

"We could have still divided it evenly!" Ness snapped.

"What's done is done." Popo said. "Besides its nothing to worry about. With five people the work will be done sooner."

"Are you crazy?" Ness shouted offended. "He is an idiot! We are going to have the same amount of work, if not more! We are going to have to correct all of his mistakes and practically write everything for him!"

Claus nodded in agreement. "Ness is right, in order to keep the overall grade as high as possible we are going to have to rewrite everything."

"Come on," Popo sighed. "He could just be a genius but doesn't want to show it due to some complicated reasoning."

Ness just laughed. "Right, and I'm actually not using my PSI to cheat on tests." Lucas stared mortified at what Ness just admitted to. "Don't look at me like that. Why don't you ask Claus why his marks are so high."

"It's a dog eat dog world." Claus said. "The weak have to bite at the strong and use what ever is available to them to survive. Our futures will be decided by these tests. If anyone else had this ability I'm sure they would cheat as well."

"Besides don't think of it as cheating, instead think of it as having a handicap!" Ness laughed as he patted Lucas on the back. Lucas however just turned around and hit his hand away and quickly ran up to his room. "Geeze, I'm sure he would do it."

"Lucas looked up to us as genuinely smart people." Claus said. "Lucas is too pure to do such things. I'll try to talk to Lucas and get him to calm down a bit. You two better go get the permission from Master Hand."

With that Popo and Ness walked down to Master Hand's house. "Cheating on tests?" Popo laughed. "That doesn't seem like you."

"Can't exactly help it." Ness replied. "With telepathy everyone's thoughts just go into my head. Their darkest secrets. I can stop using it for brief periods of time, however if I try to concentrate on writing the test I lose concentration on holding back the telepathy. Eventually I figured it was a lot easier just to not hold back on the telepathy."

"You have to tell me all of the answers telepathically." Popo laughed. "I can't help but feel that the tests are just getting harder and harder, and that they are only there to discourage us and make us the failures."

"A vicious cycle indeed." Ness said. "But perhaps your problem relies in you look at things too pessimistically. You have to start off optimistic. If you think you will do well, you will do well."

"Don't tell me you believe in that Saturday morning cartoon crap!" Popo said disgusted.

"No," Ness laughed.

Popo also began to laugh. "To believe that this was the secret behind the genius Ness. But wait, what about your assignments? They are often marked very high."

"Some people have difficulty with tests, others with assignments." Ness replied. "I was always good at assignments, mind you it is quite hard to keep them consistent. But, with Claus there constantly pushing me to try and out do him, its sort of fun."

As they approached Master Hand's house Ness suddenly felt faint and fell forwards. Popo quickly reacted and caught him. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know…" Ness muttered. "I suddenly felt this strange power from Master Hand's house. It doesn't feel like either Master or Crazy Hand, no it feels like something above them."

"Ness, do you need a minute to catch your breath?" Popo asked, concerned.

"No, I'll be fine." Ness replied. "It just shocked me that's all."

They walked up to the door and knocked. Crazy Hand answered the door. "Hello!" Crazy Hand said rather excited. "How are you doing?"

"Good." Popo said. "Crazy, we need Master Hand's permission for something."

"Well you see Master Hand has a guest-"

"Crazy, please." Ness gasped. "Its urgent. Its about school…"

Crazy Hand just stiffened up. "Did you fail another test?" He asked. "Because if you did, Master Hand will be furious!"

"No it's a project…" Ness said before fainting.

"Ness you really don't look so great, are you sure that nothing is wrong?" Crazy Hand asked having missed Ness fainting. Popo quickly rushed to his friend's side and dragged him into Master Hand's house. "Hey I didn't invite you in!" Crazy Hand protested. "You can't come in here! Wipe your feet! You'll track mud in the house!"

The commotion was enough to get Master Hand's attention. He teleported in front of Popo. "Popo?" Master Hand said confused. "What's going on?"

"Ness just fainted!" Popo said rather panicked.

With that Master Hand teleported Ness into a guest room in his house. Master Hand floated above Ness and tried to figure out what was wrong. "Did he say anything strange?" Master Hand wondered.

"He was saying that there was a strange power here." Popo replied. "He said it just surprised him and we continued on the way here."

Master Hand was silent. He had summoned a towel with cold water on it and placed it on Ness' forehead.

"Excuse me?" A voice said at the door. Popo turned around to face Tabuu. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Popo, this is Tabuu, an old friend of mine. Tabuu, it seems that Ness here has reacted strangely to the energy you give off."

"I'm terribly sorry about this." Tabuu said. "Anyways I'm sure we can talk again later, Master Hand. I'll see you in a few days." With that Tabuu disappeared.

Master Hand snapped his fingers and the next moment Ness and Popo were teleported back to their house. They were now in Ness' room. Which was rather messy. "If Ness doesn't wake up tomorrow call Dr. Mario."

"I understand." Popo said.

"Now, I'm guessing you didn't come to my house to have Ness faint on my porch." Master Hand said.

"No," Popo replied. "We came here for your permission to let an outsider into Smashville."

"What are the circumstances?" Master Hand asked.

"We have to do a group project for school." Popo explained.

"Permission granted." Master Hand quickly replied. "It's the least I can do after Ness fainted."

Meanwhile:

Charizard just growled. "I'll get a chapter some day!"