Ness yawned as he stumbled into his room late one night. The young psychic had stayed up, admittedly too late, watching a movie with Mario and Fox, and wasn't really paying attention to where he walked as he felt around in the darkness for his dresser. Add onto that the fact he had an intense match earlier in the day, and it was no wonder the kid was tired.

A screech from his roommate caused him to spring back. It appeared he had stepped on Pikachu's tail, judging from how the rodent was shrieking and now lunging at him. Ness staggered back as Pikachu sprang, biting him and electrifying him with zaps from its cheeks. "Oww, wow! Sorry, sorry- OWW!"

Pikachu gave no mind to Ness's apology, opting to instead keep shocking him instead. Ness had started to be able to understand its rapid thoughts - right now Pikachu was sending quite a bit of hostile ones his way. He definitely caught "JERK!"

Not particularly wanting to get in a fight at 2:00 A.M., Ness instinctively threw himself out of the room, out of harm's way. Pikachu headbutted the door shut with a glowering look on his face. "CHU!"

"Oh, c'mon!" Ness groaned. "I said I'm sorry." He reached for the doorknob, and twisted it. The door didn't open. He scowled, and kicked the door. "Oh, real mature of you. You're locking me out?" Ness's only reply was an angry "Pi!" and an electric shock from under the door. Someone from one of the neighboring rooms snarled, "Keep it down!"

"You were the one sleeping in the middle of the floor!" He whisper-yelled, not wanting to bother the others further. "If ya didn't wanna be stepped on, then why weren't you in bed?!" There was no answer aside from the silence of the house. Ness huffed, crossing his arms as he slumped on the ground. "...How'd you even lock me out, anyway? You can't even reach the doorknob..."

It was going to be a long night, Ness thought, as he picked himself up. He crossed the quiet house to the living room, where he curled up on the couch with a sigh. He took his hat off and tucked it underneath him, shutting his eyes. He shifted uncomfortably, waiting for sleep to claim him.

Stupid rodent. At least he'd be over it by tomorrow.

Or so Ness had thought.

Pikachu, it turned out, held grudges very well. Ness had now been sleeping on the couch for three days. The little mouse stayed in their room all the time, only coming out for meals where he triumphantly stared at the psychic, clearly smug over keeping the room to himself. On top of that, Pikachu had no matches this week, providing no reason for the electric-type to leave the door unattended. Indeed, in the great siege between rodent and psychic, Pikachu was winning.

Ness was honestly running out of ideas to get back into his room. Teleportation was blocked unless he was heading into a match. He couldn't destroy the door - Master Hand would be furious. Pikachu wouldn't listen to reason or his apologies. He couldn't pick the lock either, since Pikachu would just electrocute him.

The psychic really, really didn't want to ask for help. He could already envision the taunting of his fellow Smashers if they found out he couldn't get into his room because of a rodent with an attitude problem.

The thing was, hiding it was getting difficult. Ness hadn't changed his clothes in three days due to not being able to reach his dresser. He had been in two matches, and he honestly stank. Showering only went so far.

Right. It was time to try a new strategy, Ness decided. He looked out the window absentmindedly as he sat in the living room. "Wait a minute..." The psychic muttered, sitting up suddenly. "The window!" Of course, his room had a window! He sprang up and sprinted for the door, nearly barreling over Fox as he raced out into the lawn. He shivered -it was kind of chilly out on the front lawn, with a coat of frost glimmering on the grass- and scanned the second floor, counting windows. There was his! Now to get up there. Easier said than done.

Ness attempted to levitate. It wasn't too far, he could probably manage, he decided as his shoes left the ground. He wobbled, straining his mind. "I need to do this more - can't do it very well lately..." He mumbled, carefully rising. He reached the window and carefully opened it...

Just to be met with an angry Pikachu, who screeched loudly, electricity crackling from his cheeks. Ness barely had time to register and mutter a quick, "Oh, crud!" before a lightning bolt struck him down, leaving him sprawled in the icy grass, stars in his eyes as his hair and clothes smoldered slightly.

Ok. Forget the window. Time to come up with a Plan B.

That night at dinner, Ness was ready. Many gave the psychic, charred, smelly and disgruntled, strange looks as he absolutely wolfed down his food in such a ravenous matter it would put Kirby to shame. The whole time he kept his violet eyes trained on Pikachu, who held his glare evenly. The tension in the air was absolutely palpable, as noticed by the others. Mario attempted to break the strain with small talk, but was unsuccessful.

Suddenly, Ness shot out of his seat as though he was on fire. He made a beeline for the stairs. The raven haired psychic was getting to his room no matter what! Pikachu shot after him, bounding across the table. Food sprayed all over the others as bowls went flying. Drinks spilled on the tablecloth and in people's laps. Mashed potatoes hit Falcon square in the face, dripping down onto his suit as he roared in outrage. Link's water glass went flying, smashing inches from Yoshi's head against the wall. Yelling and cursing broke out as broken glass and food went everywhere, turning the tense but harmless situation of before into a war zone. Pikachu zipped through all of this, taking a flying leap after Ness.

The two raced up the stairs, neck and neck, both equally determined to get in the door and keep the other out. The door loomed close in all its wooden glory. At the last second, Pikachu used Quick Attack, diving through the doorway. The door slammed shut as Ness instinctively threw his hand in the way to stop it, smashing his fingers. He gave a furious screech of pain, his calm absolutely shattering.

"You freaking vermin! You're despicable, you freaking brat! I hate you! It's very mature of you to do this - NOT! IT'S BEEN THREE DAYS, AREN'T YOU FREAKING SATISFIED?! I SAID I WAS SORRY, YOU STUPID RODENT!" He screamed at the closed door. Breathing heavily, he swung his fist at the door, springing back as it collided and made the throbbing pain worse.

He collapsed in a heap, angry and in pain. Distantly he could hear someone ascending up on the stairs. He looked up to see Samus standing over him.

"Pikachu's kept you locked out for three days?" He asked, tone of voice giving away no emotions.

"Yeah." He grudgingly muttered, staring at the wall.

"Well, that explains a lot." Samus sighed. "Why didn't you ask for help?"

He was quiet a moment. "Didn't wanna look weak, getting locked out by a mouse." He finally admitted. "Already get teased enough about my age and height, this would just make it worse."

"Ness. Look at me. Now." Samus ordered, his voice sounding stern. Ness looked up at Samus's helmet, which had mashed potatoes dripping off the side. "You should never be ashamed to ask for help. If you don't want to ask anyone else, ask me. I won't bother you about it. Or you could ask Master Hand. We won't judge you. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness."

Ness blinked, then looked away.

"I mean it, Ness. You're only 13, you're going to need assistance from time to time. Even adults need help."

Ness sighed, but felt a bit better. "Thanks, Samus."

"It's nothing. Now, I'm afraid Pikachu has a bit of a mess to handle downstairs. Master Hand is not pleased his dishes have been shattered, and once he finds out Pikachu locked you out, that little mouse is gonna be in a world of trouble." Samus offered the psychic a hand up, which Ness accepted.

After that, Pikachu was suspended from matches for two weeks and forced to allow Ness in the room again. Although their relationship was frosty for a bit after, Ness felt closer to Samus and less afraid of looking stupid.

Because he was going to get used to that pretty quickly, since the Smash House seemed to be founded on insanity.

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-EBC