Of Balance and Ruin Chapter 4: Returners HQ and Corrin's Decision, a super smash brothers fanfic

A/N: I had somewhat of a hard time writing this scene due to which relic you receive early in the game although you can get both the Genji Glove and/or Gauntlet in the Returner's HQ. I thought about writing this as two different chapters but decided not to, instead the scenes will play out differently each with the same ending. Both are marked with bold and italics for which scene leads to which relic.

"Vargas!" The brunette monk cried, pain and torment laced in his voice. "Why'd you do it? How could you do your own father in like that?"

"Do in his father?" Eight asked.

"So, he did kill his father!" Akira concluded. Hearing this made Vargas scowl hatefully.

"Fool!" He spat angrily. "He made the mistake of choosing you as his successor! He snubbed me, his only son!"

"No!" Richter replied. "You were the one he chose!"

"You're a liar!"

"Our master wanted you to be his successor, not me..." Richter trailed off then looked down. "He appreciated your fine spirit..."

But Vargas was beyond the point of reason and refused to listen any longer. He then brought his hands together, forming a blue energy ball between them.

"Enough of your lies! Now, have a taste of my superior technique!"

Spreading his hands apart slightly, Vargas thrust them forward toward Richter and the rest of the party.

"Mortal Attack! Blizzard Fist!"

The blue orb left his hands and flew at the others while Richter brought his arms in front of himself to block the attack. Unfortunately the silverette and the others were completely unprepared and immediately hit as the icy winds froze their bodies, thus paralyzing them before a more powerful gust of wind emerged and blew them away. Too exhausted to put a fight, Corrin let out a yelp as she was sent flying by about 20 yards followed by Akira, who collapsed to his knees as he was also blown back. Eight's own strength finally gave out and he slammed into the ravenette.

Only Richter remained with his arms still crossed over his chest and face, only sliding back by just a few inches. He inhaled deeply and lowered his arms just as the attack stopped.

Vargas smirked and put his hands on his hips, "Ahhh... Richter, the master has taught you well."

"I guess there is no avoiding this!" Richter said sadly as he stood in a fighting stance.

"Fate made us train together, and fate will send you to your doom!" Vargas wickedly declared. "Doom Fist!"

He made a few movements with his hands and directed them at his rival while keeping his dark eyes locked on Richter the whole time. Richter fell to his knees and gasped as if someone had punched him in the gut then clutched his chest.

"Hmph... Your life is nearly up!" Vargas said coolly, locking eyes with the now defeated party. "And you will be the next to go once Richter's out of the way!"

The bluenette was about to use his Doom Fist technique again when Richter suddenly stood up, azure eyes now alight with anger. Vargas may have been able to attack from a distance, but he wasn't very skilled in CQC. The brunette kept the weaknesses of his former friend in mind as he held up his right hand.

"Pummel!"

His right hand glowed with a white light that quickly covered his whole body. With a blinding leap he jumped at Vargas, striking him with fast multiple punches that were hard to keep up with the naked eye. The blunette cried out then fell to his knees, the light now leaving Richter's body and covering Vargas's own.

"W-what the...?! He... already taught you that?!" He moaned, doubling over.

"If only you hadn't have been in such a rush for power..." Richter muttered, turning his back to Vargas.

With a final cry of shock and envy Vargas got up and fled the mountain. The brunette took a deep breath and sighed as the bluenette's blitz techniques had finally wore off. Corrin got up, surprised that the cold feeling over her body had disappeared. The men got up as well and dusted themselves off while Eight adjusted his bandana. Akira in the meantime was getting a warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest as he got a good look at his sibling.

"Richter!" Akira cried, as he ran over to his brother and hugged him. Richter, caught off guard hesitantly embraced the ravenette.

"Little brother?"

Eight grinned while the silverette genuinely smiled, "The brothers are reunited!"

"At first glance... I thought he was a bodybuilder who had strayed from his gym..." Corrin blinked as the brunette laughed and released Akira.

"I'll take that as a compliment! Anyway, bro, what are you doing here?"

"We're on our way to the Sabil Mountains," the king said.

"To the Returner's Hideout, no doubt?" Richter asked, receiving a nod as a reply.

"I've been watching from afar, hoping that the world might regain some sanity... At this rate, Figaro will be reduced to a puppet state."

"Our time to strike back has arrived," Akira declared. "The Empire's going to pay for what it has done..."

"Think a "bear" like me could help you in your fight?" The brunette asked causing his brother to gasp.

"You'd join us, Richter?"

"I think Duncan would rest easier if he knew his disciple played a part in bringing peace to the world." Richter smiled then tightened both his glove and bandana.

"Then lets get going!" Eight exclaimed while the other brunette nodded as the full party of 4 walked through the cave.

"I'm Richter Belmont-Kurusu!" The monk greeted. "And you are...?"

"World-Renowned Treasure Hunter and Returner Eight Trodain!" The adventurer beamed proudly while two pairs of eyebrows raised in response.

Corrin pointed out as Eight nearly tripped over himself while the brothers laughed at his expense. "You mean thief!"

Richter stopped laughing then peered at the silverette after regaining his bearings.

"And who are you...? You look way too pretty and smart to be one of Akira's girlfriends."

Corrin giggled as the ravenette spluttered before introducing herself, "I'm Corrin."

She was grateful that he didn't press her for any other info besides her name.

"Well, nice to meet you both, Corrin and Eight. But Corrin you never told me... are you Akira's girlfriend or not?"

The silverette blinked and crossed her arms over her chest and replied with a firm "No way!" which made the monk's younger brother recoil in horror while the others walked on ahead of him.

Akira made a face, "Hey, what is THAT supposed to mean?!"

"Come on, little bro you're gonna get left behind if you stand there any longer!" Richter called with a smile.

Heart swelling with both confidence and pride Akira couldn't help but smile back and began to run after the others. With his own brother on their side, the Returners couldn't lose and the Empire would get theirs eventually for what they did back then.

When the group made it to the Returner HQ, they were greeted by a young man in what appeared to be an aviator outfit.

"King Akira! This way, please!"

The young man then led them through a cavern and waved to other men dressed the same way while passing through some tunnels. The walls were lined with crates and pots full of supplies while others had beds and tables. A delicious scent wafted through a nearby room as the halls were filled with friendly voices. Despite the darkness the whole place was brightly lit with oil lamps.

It wasn't long before he stopped in front of a door then told them that Bayonetta was inside. Upon entering, the room was furnished with a cot, a table with at least two chairs amongst other things as well as several bookcases filled with books. A tall and beautiful woman with short black hair who was dressed in an elaborate outfit sat in one of the chairs who was assumed to the leader of the Returners. She pushed her glasses over the bridge of her nose then turned her head to look at whoever entered her room before standing up.

"Bayonetta!" Akira exclaimed. "We brought the girl with us."

Bayonetta's heels clacked on the stone floor as she slowly approached the group, "Is she the girl who can talk to Espers?"

"Espers...?" Corrin murmured as Akira put a hand on her shoulder.

"Seemed the Empire had complete control over her."

"Carrier pigeons brought word that she wiped out 50 of the Empire's best soldiers in a few minutes," Bayonetta began, causing Corrin to gasp and shake her head.

"That's a lie!" She screamed as her ruby red eyes welled up with tears.

There was absolutely no way that could have been her. Burning with embarrassment and shame, Corrin quickly jerked away from Akira and covered her face.

"Corrin...!" Eight said softly.

"Bayonetta! She doesn't remember ANYTHING!" Akira explained.

He was about to approach the female ravenette until Bayonetta held up her hand and shook her head, stopping him.

"Stay where you are!" She demanded.

Bayonetta then walked up to Corrin, who peeked between her gloved fingers and eventually lowered her hands, tears falling from her ruby eyes.

"Perhaps you have heard this story, little one?" Bayonetta asked as she spoke directly to the silverette. "Once, when people were pure and innocent, there was a box they were told never to open. But one man went and opened it anyway. He unleashed all the evils of the world: envy... greed... pride... violence... control... All that was left in the box was a single ray of light: Hope."

Corrin blinked and didn't say anything in reply.

"We now confront those evils." Bayonetta remarked while looking at the rest of the group. Eight and the male ravenette looked at each other while their mentor then gazed back to Corrin. "And you, darling, are that last ray of light, our only hope..."

Corrin widened her eyes and lowered her head. She didn't know how to reply.

"Bayonetta!" Akira said coolly, but Bayonetta shook her head and clicked her tongue.

"I'm so tired... let me rest a while."

The leader of the Returners left the room, pushing past both adventurer and king. Corrin was about to open her mouth to speak, but Eight stopped her.

"Why don't we rest ourselves?" Eight suggested.

{Genji Glove}

Corrin awoke from her nap a few hours later in a guest room that was provided to her by some of the other Returners and spotted Eight sleeping in the chair next to her cot. Smiling a little, she pushed some of her silver hair out of her eyes then crept out of the cot only to be spotted by Eight who looked up and let out a loud yawn, making her laugh.

"Sleep well?" He asked, getting a nod as a reply.

"What about you?" She questioned. "That chair doesn't look very comfortable!"

The adventurer joked, "Heh, my special talent is that I can sleep anywhere. My favorite place is in fields though. Nice, warm, sun-kissed fields are the best place ever to sleep!"

They both shared a laugh.

"It's good to see you smile," Eight said. "Don't mind Bayonetta, she's not trying to pressure you into anything. Anyone who joins the Returners does it for their own reasons. She didn't force any of us here against our will..."

"Eight." Corrin interrupted him before turning serious. "Why did you join the Returners...?"

Eight blinked and mirrored her expression. "Someone important to me was jailed by the Empire. I've hated the Empire ever since... I joined the Returners when I realized the Empire was rotten to the core. I wanted to make a difference."

The silverette sighed and wrapped her arms around herself, "But I have no significant "other" in my life..."

The treasure hunter stood up and shook his head.

"That's not entirely true," the brunette said firmly. "Besides, I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who feel YOU'RE important to them! They are counting on you..."

Corrin sighed again for the second time today. She didn't know how much more she could take of people telling her how very important the silverette was when she knew she really wasn't. How could anyone have faith in an amnesic girl who couldn't even remember her own name without struggling? She left the room and ran into Richter, who was joking around with another Returner. He smiled at her then gave Corrin a pat on the back that nearly made her fall over.

"The only thing I could add is that you can trust my brother implicitly," he said. "He's always been fair with me. You can trust him, Corrin but... don't you DARE tell him I said that!"

Richter suddenly started laughing as she smiled weakly and moved on, going into a room where Corrin spotted Akira sitting in a chair then gave a little wave as he looked over to her.

"Hey Corrin!" He smiled. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," She nodded. "Thank you."

Akira nodded back and sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

"It's gonna be tough to talk you into helping us... If we push you too hard, we're no different than the Empire... So we want you to make up your own mind."

Corrin blinked. "How... did you know I was going to ask you about that, Akira?"

The ravenette smiled and closed his eyes, "Well, Corrin, this may sound like boasting but I suppose I have been blessed with many natural talents which include charming the ladies, charming the politicians..." He laughed and went on. "I'm also a bit psychic!"

Akira grinned and opened his eyes to see Corrin's reaction, but she was gone. He blinked and looked around. "Corrin, where did you go?"

"Phew," the silverette murmured as she quietly snuck out of the room without him noticing. "Didn't think I could escape something like that."

She went down another hallway and ran into two more Returners, who both smiled and waved at her.

"We're a small organization now, but our membership is soaring!" One exclaimed.

"Please join us in our battle," A second member added. Another Returner came up from behind her with a few papers in his hands then sighed as he pushed past her and handed them to the two who were talking.

"The Empire is arresting Returners everywhere." He explained to them as Corrin walked away. "We need to discover some means of fighting back, or..."

Corrin shivered as if she felt an icy chill in the air. She needed to go outside. She made her way to the hideout entrance, only to see Bayonetta sitting outside on a flat rock. She gulped and walked over to her, giving the other woman a slight bow. The female ravenette looked over to her and nodded.

"What brings you out here, little one?" Bayonetta asked. Corrin shrugged and shook her head.

"I see," Bayonetta commented. She didn't waste time with small talk though but got right to the point instead. "Have you made a decision, darling? Will you become our last ray of hope?"

The silverette blinked and felt tears gathering in her eyes again then shook her head.

Bayonetta frowned a little but understood, "I see. I thought as much, but are you sure about this, love?"

She nodded solemnly before heading back inside then walked towards a nearby staircase and stood there.

"Hope... How can anyone put their hope in me?"

Not long afterwards, Bayonetta came running in ahead of an injured Returner who was covered in wounds and bleeding and called for help. Corrin gasped as a few Returners rushed passed her to the entrance of the cave, including Eight, Richter, and Akira.

"What's going on, what happened?" Bayonetta cried before getting a good look at the man. "Someone did a number on him..."

Corrin gasped at what she saw, "He's badly wounded!"

"S-South Figaro..." The injured man groaned. "E-Empire... took South Figaro... Coming... this way..."

"They found us... We haven't a moment to lose, loves!" Bayonetta cried.

"Eight!" Akira exclaimed and his friend smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I know... Someone has to sneak down into South Figaro and slow the Empire down, right?"

"This's right up your alley! Good luck!" Akira exclaimed while Eight tried not to laugh during this serious period.

"Corrin," the adventurer called to her. "Please wait for me in Narshe. And please, don't let a lecherous young king, who shall remain nameless, near you!"

"Eight!" Akira yelled, his face was redder than his gloves.

"Little bro..." Richter sighed then shook his head. "Aren't you ever going to grow up?"

Eight waved and took off running out of the hideout, disappearing like a bat out of hell. Corrin watched him until Bayonetta spoke, making her attention go to her.

"What are we going to do?"

"We'll escape down the Lete River, and make our way to Narshe that way." Akira explained. "I want to see that Esper for myself..."

"Right," Bayonetta nodded. "There is a raft by the back entrance of this place. It's a gamble, but we are fresh out of options..."

The king turned to Corrin. "You're in danger here. Come with us to Narshe. You'll probably even gain some understanding of your own abilities..."

One of the more uninjured Returners walked up Corrin and handed her a Genji Glove which she safely put away.

"I understand your unease. But even as we speak, innocent lives are being lost... Please. We need your abilities. This relic will keep you safe."

"We've no time to dilly-dally. Let's make for Narshe!" Bayonetta declared before she, Akira, Corrin and Richter headed for the back entrance of the Returners' Hideout.

{Gauntlet}

"What brings you out here, little one?" Bayonetta asked. Corrin shrugged and shook her head.

"I see," Bayonetta commented. She didn't waste time with small talk though but got right to the point instead. "Have you made a decision, darling? Will you become our last ray of hope?"

It took a few moments for Corrin to think about it before she nodded which made the older woman perk up with a smile.

"You will, love? Really!"

The red eyed female turned her head downward, feeling uncertain, "But... I'm scared..."

Bayonetta simply stood up before reaching into her pocket to hand Corrin something which turned out to be a Gauntlet.

"The person who possesses this relic need not fear harm. Please, Corrin... I'd like you to take it with you."

"What is this?"

"A lucky charm, darling. Take it!"

Corrin put the item away before Bayonetta spoke again.

"If everyone works together we'll be successful. Never give up hope! Now I have a plan! Please get everyone together, love!"

The silverette nodded before going back inside and rounding everyone up for the meeting. They entered a conference room and all sat down with Bayonetta being the last one. Everyone looked at to her as she spoke. A few Returners who were either busy or not slipped in at the last minute to listen as well. Before she could start however, a piece of paper had caught her eye.

"Who did this? Who left this piece of paper here?"

Corrin silently giggled to herself then straightened up as the other woman left her seat and threw it away before sitting back down.

Bayonetta cleared her throat and began speaking, "Now, to the current matter at hand. We all know that the Empire is using Magitek power in battle. The point is, how has the Emperor created it?"

"I had Eight look into the rumor that the Empire is forcing the world's finest scholars to study Espers," Akira added.

Eight scratched his head and muttered, "All the trouble in Narshe is over an Esper too..."

"You mean there's some connection between Espers and Magitek?" Corrin questioned.

"I can only recall one thing linking Espers with Magitek power..." She trailed off.

Akira gasped, "You don't mean..."

"Indeed!" Bayonetta nodded. "The ancient War of the Magi, in which Espers and Magitek powers were also in conflict..."

"No!" One Returner cried.

"It can't be!"

"My Grandma used to tell me stories about magical machines..." Eight began, leaning back in his seat. "Could they have been true?"

Akira rubbed his chin in thought, "Could that ancient tragedy be playing out once again?"

"It's just speculation, darling," The leader of the Returners shrugged her shoulders. "But historical studies have provided a number of conflicting and frightening theories... According to one theory, humans and machines were imbued with powers drained from Espers..."

"That could explain Magitek power..." Corrin said thoughtfully.

"But we can only fight Magitek enemies with Magitek weapons!" The male ravenette protested.

"Fool! That's how the Magi Wars are said to have started!" Bayonetta countered with narrowed eyes.

"Then what do we do?"

"We have to communicate with an Esper..."

"With an Esper!?" Eight exclaimed.

"It's risky," Bayonetta replied. "But if we could have Corrin speak with that Esper, it would wake up..."

"I am wondering if that's wise, ma'am," Akira remarked.

"Who can say?" The short haired female replied. "Regardless, we need Corrin's help..."

The treasure hunter stood up then placed his hands on the silverette's shoulders.

"Corrin..." He trailed off. Corrin looked back at him with a small smile.

"I'll do it!" Corrin exclaimed, recalling what everyone had said to her earlier. Everyone smiled and Bayonetta let out a sigh of relief, but Richter smirked then leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the table.

"What nonsense! You sound as if you're enjoying this!"

Suddenly, there was the sound of a door opening, and a Returner rushed into the conference room.

"Emergency, Miss Bayonetta! A messenger has come back wounded."

"What?!" Bayonetta rushed out of the conference room with Corrin, Eight, Akira, and Richter hot on her heels. A man was at the entrance of the hideout holding his arm, which appeared to be the only thing injured. "What's going on, what happened? Someone did a number on him..."