Chapter 12!

I can't believe this story has held my short attention span for this long. Unfortunately though, it will be coming to an end in a couple chapters. So enjoy it while it lasts!~

I also wanted to apologize for any random "3"s in my writing, it's probably because the 3 and the explanation point are the same thing on my keyboard so I keep mixing the two up.

Samus sat on her messy, unmade bed. She had only just woke up, and was only in her bra and a loose pair of shorts.

There hadn't been any Pikmin sneaking in and out of her room lately.

At least one thing is going my way.

She had been thinking about the list all night and for most of the day so far. She couldn't get it off her mind.

Turning to her bedside table, she viewed the clock.

10:34.

She'd already wasted an hour of training.

Samus kept trying to convince herself that she could win against him, and possibly tear him limb from limb afterwards for everything he'd ever done to her.

It would be good pay back, in front of all those people.

Yet something held her back. A feeling. A disadvantage.

She looked down at her slightly tanned skin, staring at the spot that had been hurting her. If it was actually interval, like Falcon had observed, it wouldn't be as big of a problem as he said it would be.

But it still sucked ass that she was handicapped.

"A shower would help right about now..." she groaned to herself, pressing her hands onto her face.

She then got off her bed, and made her way towards the door.

If there aren't a lot of people in the hallway, I can probably make it from here to the hot springs without having to get dressed.

The bounty huntress quickly peaked around the door, and sprinted down the opposite side of the hallway then she normally went.

There was a large set of doors that led to an outdoor area called the Hot Springs. There were two sides, both with a cobblestone flooring, with Big walls separating the two sides. One belonged to females and the other, males.

Along with the rather nature look of the outside bath house, there were plants of all kinds growing out of some of the stones that surrounded the large pool of warm, steamy water.

Samus managed to reach the haven, and once there, met up with the other girls. They had apparently had the same idea as her.

"Hey, girl!" Rosalina greeted softly, waving her over.

Once she had abandoned the bra and shorts, Samus slid into the warm water.

Maybe this will help my 'internal problem.'

"So, girls," Daisy started, leaning cooly against the edge of the enormous pool, "are y'all happy with who you got to fight against?"

A couple girls like Zelda, Isabelle, Lucina, and the Inkling all nodded.

Peach, Rosalina, and Bayonetta all looked at Samus with concern.

"What?" Samus asked defensively, "What's with all the concern? Do you all really expect me to lose against Ridley?"

"No, it's just.." Peach spoke softly, "we know that the topic of you and Ridley is pretty sensitive, so we were worried that you might... pull out..?"

"As if." Samus scoffed, but then looked down at her reflection.

"His ass is grass and I'm the lawnmower."

Peach straightened up, "well then, it seems that you have that all planned out! Anyone else?"

Daisy raised her fist high into the air. "Yeah! Let's go kick those boys' butts and claim victory like us females should!"

Daisy.. always so sexist, Samus thought with a snicker.

"Hey Samus?" Peach's chirpy voice brought Samus back from a daydream.

"Huh?" Samus replied, sinking into the waters surface.

"What's going on between you and Captain Falcon?"

Samus nearly choked on the warm water that surrounded her face.

Shit, we've been too obvious.

"I was just wondering, since you two seem to be close nowadays."

"Uh.. yeah. He's..." she had to come with an excuse of why and quick.

"He's teaching me how to.. uh.. be more social.."

That was weak as shit.

It seemed to work though, because Peach only smiled at her

"Awh, how sweet of him."

"And yeah!" Daisy spoke up, "I see that it's working too! Because you used to be so quiet and antisocial!"

Well damn.

"Oh sush, Daisy." Now it was Bayonetta's turn to speak, "Maybe you think that, but Samus has always been a charming bounty huntress with lots more personality then you'll ever have."

Bayonetta you complete me.

"Damn, you didn't have to do me like that!" Daisy huffed, crossing her bare arms.

"I'm only joking~" Bayonetta cooed, winking at Samus.

"By the way, Daisy, do you think you'll be able to handle your fight against Wario?" Peach asked, a bit concerned.

"Hell yeah, I will! If he can go a minute without trying to grope my ass." The tomboy princess was obviously trying to sound like it was an issue to her, but she couldn't help but smirk.

Jeez, what is with these horny females? I'm the only one in a relationship and I'm not even this bad.

The girls all chatted for about another hour. They all decided on what they would be practicing on that day, and Samus ended up having to go with Rosalina and a few others to practice aiming and shooting.

They could easily use the grounds of the mansion to practice, especially since it was nice and warm out.

Once Samus and the others reached the outdoors, Luma came out from under Rosalina's dress, what the hell, flying into the air. The small star shaped creature floated above their heads, holding a couple targets.

Rosalina turned to Samus.

"Luma will hold the targets, and flit around in the air. It's up to us to hit it. And even if we do, Luma will keep going."

"Alright. Sounds like a plan." Samus replied, putting her helmet on and readying her gun.

Hopefully I won't hit the damn thing itself.

"Ready?" Rosalina started. "Go!"

Luma shot around the sky, avoiding multiple shot attacks from the girls, but eventually got hit by a sparkly blast from Rosalina.

After that, the poor star couldn't get enough. One after the other, it would get nailed by both Samus' and Rosalina's attacks.

To Samus' surprise, the training actually seemed to help. She could certainly use this against Ridley when the time came.

Once Luma got tired and crawled back under Rosalina's skirt, the girls took a break.

They decided to sit under the shade of the mansion, in the grass.

"Once we get to return to our own worlds.." Rosalina began to think aloud, "do you think we'll gain experience and more strength from the fights we've had here, or do you think it'll be harder for us because we're not used to it?"

Samus thought about this. She liked talking to Rosalina because the things she said didn't always make her lose brain cells. Her questions also made her think.

"I'd hope that we would all gain from this experience, but ya never know, honestly."

Once lunch time came around, Rosalina suggested that they go inside, for their shade had vanished and the sun had been beaming down on them for a while and it was starting to get hot.

Once inside the building, the two girls stopped. There was thunderous noise coming from the cafeteria.

It sounded like an audience.

Samus and Rosalina entered the cafeteria and saw a huge crowd of all the smashers surrounding.. something.

Maybe if I find Captain Falcon, he'll know what going, and he can tell me.

She pushed her way into the large roaring crowd, trying to find the Captain.

Unfortunately she did.

Captain Falcon was standing in the circle in a fighting position with his fists up.

On the opposite side of him stood a large, growling Ridley. He had his massive craws drawn.

It appeared that the overgrown monster had already had the chance to go after Falcon, because of the long bleeding scratch that marred the side of his face.

"What the hell is going on here?!" She pushed into the circle, joining Falcon and Ridley.

Falcon only stared the beast in the face, not even acknowledging Samus.

"They starting fighting over lunch, and then it got out of hand!" Peach stepped in, coming to the surface of the crowd.

"Why?"

Well, she couldn't blame Falcon for fighting him. I mean, c'mon! He's Ridley! But Captain Falcon seemed more responsible and relaxed then this.

Falcon then turned to face Samus, blood dripping from his chin.

"Ridley started it."

Samus could only stand there and watch. They were like two schoolboys fighting during recess. It was ridiculous.

"It doesn't matter who started it, it only matters that you stop." Samus raised her voice, "Besides. If anyone is kicking Ridley's ass it's gotta be me."

Falcon looked down in shame, and Ridley only lashed out at the crowd around him.

"Now, c'mon," Samus said, grabbing Falcon by the arm, "you're bleeding like crazy. Come with me to the hospital wing."

Without hesitation, Falcon let her lead him to the hospital, and the crowd started to disband.

Samus dabbed at the cut on Captain Falcon's face with a cotton ball. Even though it stung, the Captain didn't move.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"He just... he was saying bad stuff about you..or trying to anyways..."

"Yeah, he does that, but next time leave it to me! Here, can you take off your helmet?"

He lifted the protective helmet off his head, and she walked over to grab a bandage.

"I-I do appreciate it though.." she muttered, sticking the bandage onto his tanned skin.

"Anytime," he smirked sarcastically, "by the way.. how're ya feeling?"

"Fine." She sighed, walking over to a cabinet to search for something.

"So no more pain?"

"Not that good" she replied from over her shoulder.

She finished her search, and the walked over to the bounty hunter.

"I have to go." He said to her, "Pit wants to meet everyday for a reading and writing lesson."

She chuckled a bit, before he got up and left her.

Once he was definitely out of sight, Samus crippled down onto a hospital bed. The pain in her side was killing her. It took everything she had to not buckle over when Falcon was there. But she had a temporary solution.

When she was over by the cabinet, she had spotted some pain killer medication.

It wasn't exactly the right solution but it would have to do for now.

She had three days until she was doing to be battling Ridley with thousands of people watching, including her friends. Dr. Mario was Busying himself with the most recent battles he was in, and was hardly around to help hurt Smashers lately.

We really need a new doctor.

Samus could hold off until afterwards. She just knew she could. And if she didn't, then it would be very brutal experience for the audience, if Ridley decided to rip her apart while she was down.

The huntress then stood up, ignoring the seething pain flowing through her bones, and walked out of the hospital.

She just knew she would be able to succeed. Yet she couldn't help but doubt herself.