Headstrong and Stouthearted

The silence lingered for a bit before Lucario rose from his seat, his Aura gently pulsing in his paws.

"Truly, many feelings abound on this special day," he said. "There is sadness to go along with the happiness, and moments of struggle to mingle with triumph. After all, have we indeed toiled through so much to get where we are today?"

"We have," said Luigi as the Aura Pokémon reached the podium. "Both in Smash and in our own universes."

Lucario closed his eyes, reading the birthday boy's Aura. "You seem quite—humble. Is something the matter?"

"No," replied Luigi. "It's just that—I never thought anyone would take the time to do this. I mean, I'm not like Mario. I'm flawed, and…"

"We all have flaws," said Lucario, "but we're able to work around them if need be. You have done amazing things for Smash. Especially in the fight against Tabuu."

"We're Smashers," Luigi told him, "and all Smashers stick together."

Lucario nodded to him and then faced the audience. "The story I'm about to tell illustrates how Luigi endures under pressure," he began. "During the final battle against Tabuu, our enemies pressed us hard. People were getting hurt, and more volunteers had to be sent up there as reinforcements. It wasn't a pretty sight to see. But throughout the battle, in the thick of the action, was the man in green…"


2008

"These guys are getting stronger!" Lucario called out to his comrades as he sent Aura attacks toward the attacking Subspace Army.

"Tell me about it!" yelled Falco. "They're about to have us pinned!"

"HYAAAAAAH!" shouted Link as he slashed fiercely at the enemy masses, Charizard backing him up with his fiery attacks.

Meanwhile, Ness and Lucas were sending out their PSI attacks, as well as clubbing Primids with a baseball bat and a thick wooden stick, respectively.

Smashers old and new bravely stood their ground against the seemingly endless Subspace Army. Reinforcements seemed to pour in by the dozens. Above them, the small party of Smashers battled Tabuu himself, and it wasn't looking good. Despite their best efforts, he was still going strong, with all of his attacks dealing high damage. Though Tabuu's wings were damaged, they weren't out of commission, meaning that he could still employ his Off Waves. However, his enemies weren't going to be scared so easily and timed each energy wave so they could dodge them, an idea suggested by Luigi. But they also had numerous projectile attacks, dive attacks and transformations to worry about.

Every now and then, a Smasher would be sent flying from the high platform and plummet toward the crowds of enemies below. Lucario could hear their screams and cries as they hurtled earthward, only to be set upon by Subspace troops. The Smasher on the ground would run to their rescue as quickly as they could, tending to their wounds and determining whether or not they were still able to fight. It was Lucario who volunteered to calm and comfort these Smashers while their injuries were treated. By reading their Auras, he could access their mental as well as their physical health.

"Lucario! Over here!" called Peach. She and Sheik were carrying one of the wounded fighters to safety. But this one was struggling and protesting.

Lucario ran over to help them and nearly stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who it was. "My God," he gasped.

"I'm telling you, I'm okay! Really!" Luigi was saying as the two women gently set him onto the floor.

"You're hurt—badly," said Lucario as he took in the gashes all over the plumber's body. "Somebody get some towels and a 1UP Mushroom. On the double!"

The man in green was shaking, sweaty, bruised and bloodied, yet he kept fighting to get back up. "You don't understand!" he shouted. "I have to go back there! I have to stop him!"

"Don't worry. We've got reinforcements up there as we speak," Lucario said softly. "You just need to relax and stay calm."

Peach and Sheik came back with some damp towels, which Lucario used to staunch the bleeding. One was laid across Luigi's forehead to cool him off.

"I think he's running a temperature," Peach said to Lucario.

"I'll see my own doctor, Princess," insisted Luigi. "Nothing's wrong with me!"

"You are burning up," asserted Lucario as he felt around Luigi's face. "Were you feeling okay the last few days prior?"

"Yes," said Luigi.

"Yes," confirmed Peach.

"I'm detecting high levels of stress and anguish in his Aura," said Lucario. "I think he needs to rest awhile."

"And what about Tabuu? We're just going to let him have his way?!" Luigi demanded of them.

"No. We're doing the best we can. We will stop him," Peach said reassuringly.

"What am I supposed to do? Watch helplessly from the sidelines?"

"Look, L—we can't sugarcoat this," said Lucario. "You sustained some severe damage. Those cuts on you look pretty nasty, and we've just now stopped the bleeding. I can tell that you were in the thick of the action, but you can't withstand another hit from that guy."

"I'm not gonna let him hurt my friends!" Luigi persisted, clenching his fists.

"Your friends are okay; they're still up there and still fighting for their lives," said Lucario. "For all of Smash. For you."

Luigi hesitated. "They're really fighting for me?"

"Yeah. We're in this together, for better or worse," smiled Lucario. "And if it makes you feel better, I saw you for a bit up there. You were really beating the snot out of Tabuu."

The plumber blushed. "Thanks."

"Once we fix you up, you might be able to go back up there," Lucario told him. "Until then, you've got to rest easy, all right?" He offered Luigi some food Pikachu and Yoshi had brought them.

For long minutes, Lucario sat by Luigi's side, tending to him and talking to him, doing anything to keep him calm. Peach and Sheik worked quickly yet efficiently, stitching those gaping wounds back together and bringing his body temperature down.

Via his Aura, Lucario sensed the man in green slowly relaxing, the stress and the panic going away. But in its place was something else.

"This is amazing," he whispered.

"What is?" asked Sheik.

"I sense this powerful determination in him," breathed Lucario. "You two had better keep a lid on him for a while."

Peach nodded, looking into Luigi's eyes. "He looks determined, all right."

"It's growing," said Lucario. "I can feel his determination getting stronger. It's coming at me like a heatwave!"

"Are you thinking about the others?" Peach asked him.

"I am," said Luigi.

"Hold on. I'm picking up something else," said Lucario, concentrating his Aura powers. "I've never seen anything like this…"

"Is it just me, or are his wounds healing up on their own?" murmured Sheik.

"They are," gaped Peach as she observed. "Lucario, what else are you sensing?"

"Confidence," said Lucario. "Confidence like—I've never sensed before."

"Lu—how are you feeling?" asked Sheik.

The man in green pulled himself up to a sitting position. "Better than ever," he replied. "Now for the last time, they need my help out there!"

"Your wounds appear to be healing rapidly," said Peach, "but I don't know…"

A sickening crack and a familiar scream caught their attention. Lucario instinctively used his body to shield Luigi from the sight, but there was no question he could deduce what had just happened. For a second, he went ashen with disbelief. Then, a dangerous look came to his eyes.

All bets were off now. Before any of the three could stop him, Luigi hopped to his feet and cast Tabuu a look of blazing malevolence.

"Now you've asked for it!" he hollered at the villain.

Tabuu laughed scornfully before focusing back on the other Smashers confronting him.

Lucario sighed inwardly as he felt Luigi's Aura swarm around him. "Let him go," he said to Peach and Sheik.

"I won't let you down," vowed Luigi. "Just you wait!"

On those words, he charged back into battle.


2013

"It's been hinted that Luigi landed the finishing blow, but I won't spoil the juicy details," winked Lucario. "The gist of my story is the amount of confidence and determination circulating inside of him. I just can't even…"

"I was hurt, and his power did scare me," said Luigi, "but I knew that I couldn't give into fear. What would happen to you all if Tabuu beat me?"

"Good point," said Lucario. "I know some people who'd jump into a dangerous situation just to try and be a show-off. Luckily, you're not one of them. You volunteer your help because you know we need it—and that you can provide it."

The audience applauded.

"Happy birthday, L," finished Lucario.

"Thanks, Lucario," smiled Luigi.

As Lucario headed back to his seat, Ike rose to stretch out his limbs.

"I'm next," he announced.

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