Prologue

All official characters, locations, and other concepts belong to Nintendo and all other companies that have contributed to the Smash Brothers franchise. All original concepts—except for the Smash Mansion, which has been applied to numerous stories—belong to me.

WARNING: This story contains extreme violence, gore, blood, strong language, dark themes, and some sexual content that will become more apparent later. Read at your own risk.

It is said that there exists a group…

A group created out of diverse characters from various worlds across the multiverse…

From the plumber in red from a world of Mushrooms and colorful creatures…

To the famous Electric-type Pokémon that has captured the hearts of millions in its world…

Some are swordsmen…

Some are hand-to-hand fighters…

Some fight with futuristic weapons by their side…

Still, others have fought with pure magic…

Initially, many of them struggled to work with each other due to ideological differences…

When their worlds almost collapsed on two separate occasions, however, they decided to set aside differences and combine their powers into one force…

They were, still are, and always will be a force to be reckoned with…

They will defend their lands until death…

They are… the Smashers.

He could not believe it.

He had strongly desired to take a flight outside to escape from this unending boredom, to reunite with his friends from the golden days. He had even hoped to meet his love interest during the reunion. Or maybe, just maybe…

He wanted to fly just for the hell of it.

And he had just been denied that very chance.

The weather outside was too severe to let him go on a flight. A blizzard was tearing through the area and had introduced poor visibility and ferocious winds—factors that would have made a simple travel through the air highly dangerous. The furious air currents also scattered the snow throughout the terrain like a shotgun shell that scattered its pellets on the desired target. Whiter and whiter, the colors of the terrain gradually became one, and the vibrant colors of the previous season were virtually gone. Frost slowly crawled over the windows in the hallways; combined with the storm itself, it was enough to obstruct most of what could be viewed from the building's interior.

Overall, this poor climate left frustration in the mind of an ace pilot. He was best known for his sharp skills as a pilot of high-efficiency fighters known as Arwings, but it was also true that he had some notoriety for his arrogant personality and astoundingly frequent use of sarcasm. He was a member of a commando unit-for hire known across the galaxy as Team Star Fox. A blue-feathered pheasant, he was recognizable by his jacket and by the equipment that he had with him. Such a setup included a laser blaster and a device with the power to reflect projectiles. His attire was completed by the presence of boots with black and red hues, red trousers, a scouter on his head, and a holster to house his main weapon.

His name was Falco Lombardi.

Falco paced around the room in frustration, hoping that something interesting would arise. Since the defeat of the powerful being called Tabuu five years ago, along with the destruction of the Subspace Army, things had truly quieted down. The World of Trophies—a sanctuary for the Smash Brothers—was now in a state of peace, with no shred of major conflict to be found. Even the more villainous fighters were more docile, for they had not attempted to plot anything truly dastardly against the heroes for the past half-decade. Few of the Smashers had consciously gotten the time to realize the fact, but the deeply distant events of the Subspace Emissary had quelled the conflicts that certain Smashers might have had with each other, having created a great force to combat a common foe. It was indeed proof that the villains were at least willing to express some good intentions, especially as they reluctantly agreed to aid the heroes in the final struggle against the ruler of Subspace—although the Subspace incident was not the first time that the heroes and villains had collaborated.

During the five-year-old disaster that had almost consumed the worlds, Falco once hoped that there would be a period of endless relaxation after Tabuu had received his comeuppance. However, now that the adventure was long gone, this new peace had brought something other than relaxation in an ironic twist.

It brought perpetual boredom.

"Well, this is just great," Falco whispered under his breath, still pacing around the room. "It's freakin' snowing outside, and I can't even take a flight to visit my pals. Honestly, someone needs to do me a favor and commit something to keep this boredom from getting to me. I don't care what it is, just… anything!" The tone of his voice was marked by tones of frustration and even desperation. Any bystander would have noted that his desire for adventure had become so strong that he was willing to allow a shred of danger to approach the Smash Mansion, even if it were all for the sake of killing the boredom that currently surrounded him.

His constant wandering eventually guided him away from the comfort of his room. He was feeling no different within the halls than he was while inside his room; no matter where he traveled, the boredom was a stalking shadow that would simply not lose its sight on him. Feeling hungry, he slouched his way toward the mansion's main kitchen to obtain a light snack. As he attempted to do so, however, he noticed something unusual outside the mansion.

"…?" Falco twisted his body towards one of the hallway's windows. Due to the heavy frost buildup and the snowstorm itself, it was exceedingly difficult for the avian pilot to properly observe what was next to the mansion, far beyond the metallic fence that stood around three meters tall. He pressed himself against the window for a better view, and after a minute or two, he managed to get a clear glance of the exterior.

The sight that he received was a strikingly bizarre one. A figure was standing several meters away from the mansion's fence. It was eerily still, almost as if it had been frozen in place by the chilling climate. Falco could not get many details on this mysterious person, and the only thing that seemed clear was that this person was donning a light-colored cloak—one which almost seemed to blend in with the snow. This loose garment obstructed the face and other physical attributes, completely overshadowing the person's identity. Falco could not even figure out the person's biological gender.

"Who is that guy?" he muttered to himself, but before he could step away from the window to inform someone, the figure gradually began to fade away until its body was one with the snow…

"Huh, it's probably just my imagination…" He continued towards the kitchen, now treating the figure's appearance as a one-time event. He was not ready to leap to conclusions yet, but it was plausible that he had simply interpreted a mundane object in the environment as something greater. Upon arriving at the kitchen, the anthropomorphic bird approached the refrigerator and gently yanked the door open. As he peered inward, he was faced with a decision.

"What should I get…?" were the words that exited his beaked mouth as he noiselessly searched for something that might satisfy him until dinnertime. Near the bottom, a group of vegetables and fruits took up whatever space was available and filled it with a colorful mix, which ranged from apples to plums. Further up, there was a set of leftover cupcakes from Kirby's birthday party nearly two weeks ago, and it was still good for eating—in a surprising sense. This set of sweet treats was bordered by a pack of sodas from the same party. On the door, there were items that were necessary to make a sandwich, including cheeses and a bottle of mustard. All the other food items were either too large for comfortable consumption or, for one reason or another, detested by Falco himself. As the variety kept the pheasant occupied, a minute soared into history before he finally decided on what he would quickly eat.

"I think I'll settle for the apple," he quietly puffed as he grabbed an apple and closed the door. Within a matter of seconds, he found himself gnawing on the rose-colored fruit as his feet continued to pace aimlessly around the mansion. After half an hour, he eventually traveled down the mansion's main stairway and into the main hall. The area itself was decorated to possess astonishing beauty; a sparkling chandelier hanged over the room above everything else—complete with golden coloring—while the room itself was filled with unique designs that resembled what came to be included in Victorian-type homes. In three of the cardinal directions, there were oily portraits that corresponded to integral portions of the Smash Brothers. In the east was a painting of Master Hand, who served as the organization's leader. Although much of his earlier background remained a mystery, he still commanded great respect from the Smashers, including villains like Bowser. The western portrait depicted Crazy Hand, who had a notorious reputation of being a bizarre goofball. He was known for playing unusual pranks on those around him, including one that had impacted a major tournament. The third portrait at the northern end depicted all the Smashers, current and former. The oily sunset behind the fighters themselves amplified how majestic they appeared, and even those with villainous intentions looked like true heroes. Architecturally, the room featured different pathways that branched into numerous areas within the mansion. Several vases blessed the hall with their golden and polished presence, and their brightness sharply contrasted with the maroon rugs on the floor. The southern end of the hall contained a downsized statue of a Smash Ball, whose presence loomed over the front doors.

As he continued to chew, Falco peered outward from one of the windows, once more reminded of the frustration of being hopelessly grounded due to severe weather conditions. He soon finished his apple and disposed of it into a nearby waste bin. He was about to keep pacing around the mansion, but fate suddenly froze him in place when he noticed something outside the front yard. It was not long before he realized what was out there.

It was the same person that he witnessed at the hallways… still unmoving and mysterious. While the blizzard continued to hamper outdoor visibility, the fence also obscured the newcomer's identity to a degree. Despite having a slightly clearer view from where he was standing, Falco still could not figure out just who that person was. He also could not approach it without risking a blast of freezing weather. In his opinion, being deeply chilled was something that he would rather not accept.

"What the hell…?" he gasped silently. Convinced that his mind was plotting to play tricks on him, he ignored the figure for the second time and retreated to his room.

Later, during the evening, the Smashers gathered around the large table in the dining area's lower floor for dinner. Tonight's course was as follows: hot chicken soup served with bread and salad. Various Waddle Dees and Toads—all dressed in formal wear—emerged from the kitchen doors to satisfy the appetites of the hungry fighters. Warm steam emerged from the soups and gave comfort to the chilled fighters, something that the mansion's air conditioning system was somehow struggling to provide. Once all the food was delivered, the Smashers began to consume their dinner. Most, like the valiant Mario, ate their food at a normal rate, but others simply chowed down in a vicious manner. This latter method of eating was especially true of the Koopa King Bowser, for he exhibited little to no care for proper dinner etiquette, much to the annoyance of those who sat next to him. While he was eating his dinner, Falco stared at the surrounding lands from one of the windows in the area. By then, he was reminded of that event…

That event with the figure outside the mansion…

The figure whose identity and intentions were unknown…

He tried to shake it off, but there was no foolproof way of doing so. For whatever reason, it felt too… important to not inform the others, especially since the figure had appeared on more than one occasion. Unable to conceal his thoughts for much longer, he decided to reveal his discovery.

"Guys," he said, "I don't know if this is important to you all, but there was something that I noticed outside the mansion earlier today. In fact, I've seen it twice."

"What was it?" Ike, the leader of the Greil Mercenaries, asked. The blue-haired mercenary was recognizable by his Hero-class uniform, dressed in tan trousers, darkened boots, a dark shirt with an extra blue layer underneath the surface, and a red scarf. Gauntlets were on his arms, and his hair was held up by a green and bandanna-like accessory. Another property that distinguished him from everyone else was his blessed blade of Ragnell, which was a powerful weapon that could swiftly vanquish even the strongest of foes. It was designed to be held with both hands, but the fearless hero had the strength to wield it with just one.

"There was a person who was standing beyond the fence of the mansion with a very bright cloak, and that cloak was just as bright as the snow in the fields, no joke. He, she, or it—I don't know the dude's gender—was just standing still…"

"Has the person ever desired to enter the mansion?" Meta Knight, a mysterious warrior from the picturesque Dream Land, questioned. While his body closely resembled Kirby's in shape, he possessed a unique appearance from the pink puffball. His uniform was decorated with a cape that had the ability to transform into wings and a mask that kept his face under complete obscurity. Furthermore, he was also the wielder of the golden blade dubbed Galaxia, whose golden shape was remarkable.

"You got me, buddy. I have no idea on why that person was out there or who he even was. Later, after I had finished my apple, that person appeared again—this time from the main hall. For some reason, and this is just a wild guess, I don't think that the guy's appearance is a coincidence."

Murmurs echoed within the room as the Smashers conversed with each other about the mysterious figure. No one knew who this figure was or what exactly he or she was even doing so close to the mansion, but one thing was for certain; something unusual was going on. The question was: what was that person doing outside the mansion's boundaries?

"It is a bit strange," Master Hand, floating at one end of the table, spoke up, "That someone is silently waiting outside our mansion for unknown purposes. We will need to keep an eye out for this person. We're not sure about his or her intentions, but if we find out that he or she wants all of us dead, be on your best guard."

The Smashers all nodded in agreement and continued to eat. They were aware that if they allowed their vigilance to be discarded, an unsuspecting evil could sneak in and throw the entire building and its inhabitants into a perilous situation. As they continued to consume their dinner, the mysterious person waited in the dark snow, biding its time for the right moment. It had failed to gain the attention of the Smashers, but it still had one more opportunity.

It was now midnight; everyone was asleep, preparing for a peaceful tomorrow. The general lighting of the mansion was inactive, and this change allowed the darkness to shroud every room with its gloomy presence. It was by this hour that the snow had ceased to pour down, which coincided with the departure of the gloomy clouds from above. The full moon bathed the mansion and the surrounding areas with its soft and comforting light, and the snow's reflective properties only amplified outer visibility. Multiple aurorae of many colors stretched across the moonlit sky like soft and magical ribbons, which enhanced the beauty of the winter night. It was a peaceful sight to behold; nothing seemed unusual…

Ooooo…

…or so one would think.

At an unprecedented time, a bright light suddenly sparked near the mansion. While initially unseen, the light was eventually noticed by someone from inside the mansion. As he woke up, he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. This man, who was currently dressed in a white robe, was recognizable by his blue hair and a golden tiara on his forehead. Against the nearest wall was his recognizable outfit as a continental king. Nearby, a sheath pressed itself against the outfit, and within it was a far-reaching blade known as Falchion. This weapon wielded the power to slay even the mightiest of dragons and was, in fact, forged from the fang of a divine dragon. The man himself was once the prince of the distant land known as Altea, and his accomplishments as a young prince included the rescue of his kingdom on multiple occasions. As of several years ago, however, his former title had been replaced with a far greater one. After the fall of the corrupted king called Hardin and the defeat of the demonic Medeus, he had been elevated to the status of Archanean king, ultimately becoming the ruler of an entire continent.

His name was Marth Lowell.

After his vision had cleared up completely, Marth—whose room rested on the mansion's outer perimeter, unlike Falco's—examined the light from his window. Since the snowstorm was no longer present, it was easier for him to observe the exterior, and this was despite a significant amount of frost that still rested on the cold window. The near-heavenly light complicated things; it caused Marth to squint his eyes and nearly forced him to turn away outright from its source. His eyes proved to be more adept than expected at adjusting, however, and they gradually retained their focus on the otherworldly event that quietly unfolded. While maintaining a solid view, Marth caught a glimpse of a person just underneath the light's source. After having deemed the overall event an odd and possibly dangerous situation, he gathered his equipment and barged his way out of the room, ignoring the possibility of disturbing someone else in the mansion. He felt himself rushing through the hallways…

Past the bedrooms…

Down a small stairway…

Into the main hall…

Down the large staircase…

All this time, his heart was beating quickly; if this event truly was a sign of danger, then his refusal to act was going to spell doom for the Smashers.

He soon exited the mansion via the main doorway and sprinted towards the light. As he exited from the outer gate, the intensity of that piercing light increased, which hampered his vision but failed to prevent him from reaching the source itself. It was by now that he noticed what he had sought to discover: a person with bright robes that obscured many features, including most of the face. Almost immediately, he was reminded of what Falco had revealed to the Smashers during their dinner, which sparked an instant revelation.

"This is… This is the person that Falco encountered during the day," Marth exclaimed under his breath. He gripped the hilt of his blade for possible self-defense, but before he could fully prepare himself, the light was suddenly extinguished. Simultaneously, the mysterious figure instantly collapsed into the snow, an event which the blue-haired king interpreted as an unpleasant sign. He proceeded to carry the figure into the mansion, and as he did so, the other Smashers emerged from the main doors, having noticed the light that was previously present.

"Marth," the green-clad plumber known as Luigi called, catching a glimpse of the Archanean king from a distance, "What's-a going on?" He was almost identical to his brother regarding appearances, but it was clear that the younger sibling of the Mario Brothers was slightly taller and possessed a smoother mustache. He would have been recognized by a green hat with the first letter of his name and his distinct overalls, but neither piece of clothing was currently on him. Instead, he was dressed in green pajamas and soft slippers.

"This person here was producing a strange light before collapsing," Marth responded. "We may need to help him."

"Wait a minute," the famous Hylian hero named Link interjected, "How can you be sure that he is not a threat trying to lead us into a trap?" The blond-haired Link was dressed in a nighttime version of his green tunic, which was a typical form of attire in Hyrule, and a green cap rested on his head. He would have been recognized by his numerous weapons, such as his Master Sword, but they were currently not in his possession.

"I do not have the answer to that, but we will find out sooner or later."

"We'll see about that." The tone in Link's voice struck several fighters as skeptical, almost as if he were refusing to trust the unexpected visitor. Minutes later, after having escaped the freezing temperatures, the Smashers gathered at the hospital wing in the basement, unsure of what had occurred to the unknown figure. As Marth laid that person down, the hood untethered itself from the head, and instant realization dawned upon every single Smasher present.

"That's not a man…" Fox McCloud, Falco's commanding officer, gasped. "It's a lady!" His comment was merely a fragment of the physical characteristics that applied to the beautiful maiden, whose body rested in front of the fighters. Her hair was remarkably close to the color of an angel's wings, and the sheer beauty of it was complimented by her soft and exceptionally smooth skin, especially at the facial area. Additionally, the hair itself was curled into numerous locks that appeared to blend in with each other. Owing to her unconscious state, the woman's eyelids were closed and, therefore, concealed the colored irises within. Overall, she was easily describable by the Smashers, albeit nonverbally, as someone who seemed beautiful in appearance and possibly benevolent in her intentions. The fact that she was sleeping only amplified the peacefulness of her appearance. The Smashers continued to observer her until Mario, now clothed in medical garments, appeared to check for anything abnormal about her. As a doctor, which had long been one of his many hobbies, it was his job to ensure that all injuries and bodily abnormalities were treated and discovered. After what seemed like a third of an hour, he was finished with his examination.

"Hmm," he slowly puffed, "She doesn't appear to have-a any injury of any sort-a, which is a good-a thing. No bruises, no blood-a loss, no broken bones, nothing. However, for whatever reason, she's-a nearly drained of all energy."

"What do you think we should do?" Captain Falcon, a renowned F-Zero pilot, asked in a low tone. A reddish helmet, complete with a falcon-shaped crest, blocked out most of his face, which seemed to match up with his utterly mysterious past. He was clothed in a navy-blue uniform marked with a unique emblem on the back, which consisted of a falcon and his machine's name: Blue Falcon. Golden boots and gloves contrasted with the darker aspects of his suit, which resulted in a more colorful appearance that most other Smashers could not match. A scarf hanged loose from his neck and often remained close to the metal pad on his right shoulder. On his right hip was a holster that housed a handgun, although the weapon had yet to be utilized in Smash battles.

"The best that-a we can do is to let her rest-a."

"For how long-"

Before Falcon could finish his sentence, an interrupting moan was heard from the examination table. The fighters turned their attention to the maiden, who was slowly waking up. As her eyelids opened, her eyes were revealed to have the color of healthy grass blades, another feature that bolstered her overall appearance. All Smashers, including Mario, stepped away from the table several times to give her some space. When the maiden's vision began to clear up, she slowly leaned upwards into a sitting position. She immediately raised her head to notice the faces of all thirty-six Smashers, whose appearances were highly unfamiliar to her. It was here that she squeaked in a gentle yet surprised tone:

"Where am I…?"

And that is the prologue! What are your thoughts on the story so far? Please read and review.