T Plus 1 Year
2016
What a difference one year made.
Nothing was breaking Luigi's stride or slowing him down. What people thought of his fighting style didn't matter to him anymore. He'd notched more wins under his belt while remaining quiet and humble about it.
He still had his friends, his mentor, his bro.
And while things remained a bit iffy with Master Hand, the tension wasn't as bad as it was a year ago.
This particular day was a big day for him, for two reasons. First, it was the 15th anniversary of the adventure that changed his life and the way he looked at himself. Second, there would be a combo exhibition tonight, and he—not Mario—had been selected to represent the Mario universe. He couldn't wait for the chance to show everyone that last year's nerf hadn't knocked him down in the slightest!
Presently, he joined the other Smashers in the banquet hall of the Smash Mansion, a big smile on his face as Master Hand floated onto the podium and began to speak.
"A long time ago, a lot of us thought that ghosts, especially Boos, were unbeatable. We used to think that we were defenseless against them, and if we were attacked, then there would be no hope for escape. However, fifteen years ago today, we were proven wrong. Fifteen years ago today, love triumphed over fear. Fifteen years ago today, we discovered that ghosts and Boos have a weak spot, and that we don't have to fear them so strongly. And it's all thanks to the man in green—Luigi.
"I can almost remember the exact moment I was notified of Luigi's actions in that mansion. It was almost time for Melee to begin, you see, and I was preparing to send out the last of the invitations. Then, a Wireframe raced into my office, and their voice was quite excited as they told me of the hours Luigi spent in the belly of the beast to save his brother from his worst fears. After they finished talking, I turned on the TV, and there it was, all over the news. Against all odds, Luigi had prevailed over a villain more menacing than the Koopa King himself for the sole purpose of getting Mario back safely. It surprised even me, an omniscient godlike being! After I recovered myself, I made sure to congratulate Luigi when I wrote his formal invitation to join Melee. And during the tournament proper, it was almost all that the Smashers could talk about—before he threw us another pleasant curveball by beating Event 51, but that's missing the point.
"There's more to Luigi than meets the eye, and on this day in 2001, this fact was made plainly clear. And his recent feats have reinforced this, as just last year, he almost single-handedly took on a mysterious, shape-shifting black swarm to ensure our safety. No matter how intimidating you are and no matter how much you fuel people's nightmares—if you threaten or hurt someone Luigi holds dear, or even a complete stranger, then he won't rest, and he won't stop fighting until you've been neutralized as a threat. He found out the hard way, twice, I might add, and fifteen years after his first misguided attempt to take Mario down, I defy him to do his worst. Thank you, Luigi, for rescuing your sibling and inspiring us all."
Applause. Luigi blushed, and his heart swelled.
One by one, Smashers and Miis walked up to the podium and talked about how hearing of Luigi's bravery affected them and the people around them. They spoke at length about where they were when the news broke, how they initially reacted, and how the impact of the events in that mansion resonated throughout the last decade and a half. Then, they directly addressed Luigi, encouraging him to keep fighting despite his fears and telling him that he was better than he thought he was. And they always made sure to thank him, to remind him that his heroism was appreciated.
"There's a celebration going on in Boo Woods," said MH as Jimmy and Timmy wheeled out a TV and hooked it up to a projector. "I thought it would be nice if we watched some of it before giving Luigi a chance to speak, as well."
MH turned on the TV, where a special report was airing.
A huge crowd was gathered in Boo Woods, listening as tourists, locals and officials alike walked onto a podium and gave brief addresses regarding the events fifteen years ago. Vanessa and her brood were among the speakers, and even Amy said a few words. Luigi choked up, but he covered his mouth to keep from crying. He'd save up those emotions for tonight's combo exhibition.
The Smashers watched about an hour of the report, and then MH turned off the TV and turned to Luigi.
"L," he said. "You have the floor."
Quietly, Luigi rose and walked over to the podium, his eyes scanning the crowd of Smashers and Miis before he started to speak.
"I really don't know what to say, because it's been said already," he said, "but I'll address a question that people have commonly asked me: 'Would you do it again?' And the answer is a definite 'yes'. No ifs, ands or buts about it—I'd storm a haunted mansion, a haunted amusement park—heck, I'd even storm a haunted castle or even a haunted hotel to guarantee Mario's safety—or anyone's safety, for that matter. Sure, I'll be scared half to death, but that won't stop me."
Affectionate applause.
"Master Hand?" Mario spoke up. "May I say something?"
"Yes, you may," replied MH.
"I used to think I was invincible," said Mario. "Being a hero gave me a bit of a complex, and I'm sorry to say that I became cocky and overconfident, convinced that I could get myself out of any situation. But when I couldn't get myself out of that…" He cleared his throat. "I honestly didn't think anyone would come for me. Luigi called me, and I told him that I'd meet him there, but after the way he'd been treated, I completely expected him to leave me to my well-deserved fate. But the fact that he didn't—and faced off against the very entities that made him scream and gave him chills—gave me a severe reality check. When I saw him, battered and bloodied, laughing to the point of tears because I was safe, I promised myself that I'd retain some humility from now on, and that I'd never take Luigi for granted again. I love you so much, Luigi, and I can't thank you enough for saving my life."
"Awww…" cooed the audience.
Mario opened his arms, and Luigi stepped away from the podium and all but dashed into them. Hearty applause sprang up as they embraced.
When they separated, Luigi walked back to the table he was sitting at, reached under it, and pulled something out.
It was the Poltergust 3000!
The banquet hall went up in a delighted cheer.
"You still have her?" asked a Mii.
"I do," replied Luigi, "and she still works like a charm."
"You should outfit her with the Strobulb," said Marth.
"I'll talk to the Professor about it," said Luigi, "but that's a thought."
He slid the old Poltergust onto his back and flipped the wand over one shoulder, the other hand resting on his hip.
"This is phenomenal," gushed Master Hand. "The Poltergust 3000 is back where she belongs."
"Hear, hear," agreed Mario.
Everyone else clapped as photographers snapped pictures.
Luigi's eyes wandered over toward four individuals, the newest additions to the Smash family. The first had been introduced last November, when the excitement from the previous month had started simmering down. This new Smasher was Cloud Strife, from the Final Fantasy universe, and he'd initially struck Luigi as a rather reticent, brooding guy. However, just five minutes with the man in green was enough to put a small smile on the ex-SOLDIER's face. As mentioned before, Luigi had that kind of charm.
The second new addition was the winner of the Smash Ballot. After the Bennigan Brothers permanently shelved their ballot-fixing scheme, Mr. Sakurai had reluctantly agreed to conduct the vote counting fairly and professionally, hoping to preserve his reputation. When the last vote was counted, Daisy unfortunately lost her bid, but the blow was cushioned, as she'd been only a few votes shy of fighting at her man's side. The victor was revealed to be Bayonetta, the angel-hunting Umbra Witch, which sent Pit and Dark Pit into a tizzy. Bayonetta, known affectionately as Bayo, arrived at the Smash Mansion in February 2016, taking great pleasure in trolling the angel twins. Both Luigi and Daisy took Bayo's win in stride, holding out hope for a future tournament for the latter to show her stuff. Besides, after Dark Pit's involvement in Project Nerf, he deserved to have an Umbra Witch making him squirm.
The last two newest additions were silver-haired twins from the Fire Emblem universe, known collectively as the Dragon Twins, since they could, well, turn into dragons. The brother's name was Corrin, but he was sometimes jokingly called "Corn", and the sister's name was Corrinne, although she also answered to "Kamui". Both Dragon Twins fought barefoot and wielded an awesome sword called Omega Yato on the battlefield.
Presently, the four newcomers beamed at Luigi as he posed with the gadget which had helped him through his proverbial trial by fire.
"Smashing!" cried Bayo.
"Your path is clear!" Corrinne stridently declared.
"You're all right in my book," laughed Cloud.
"May I ask a question?" asked Corrin.
"Sure," said Luigi.
"No offense, but—does that device still work? It's been fifteen years, after all."
With a broad smile, Luigi answered Corrin's question by giving a mini-demonstration of the Poltergust 3000. He vacuumed up a few piles of dirt, lightly blew air from the exhaust and showed off the "stun" function which had preceded the Strobulb. Then, he talked about the Elemental Medals he'd obtained throughout the mansion, allowing him to shoot ice, water and fire at his attackers.
After posing for some more photos, Luigi slid off the old Poltergust and allowed the Smashers to examine it, passing it around. Once everyone had a turn, MH gave the vacuum back to Luigi, who slid it back on.
"I keep her to remind me," he solemnly intoned. "To remind me that I'm flawed, and that I'm a wingman—but I can be so much more."
"Yes, you can, Luigi," said Master Hand. "Yes, you can."
The celebration continued with a large cake made to look like the Poltergust 3000, with the Mario Bros making the first cut into it like a pair of newlyweds and smearing frosting all over each other's faces.
Even in confinement, a nasty scheme was no doubt cooking in his brain. But one way or another, Luigi would be ready for him.
He would always be.
1.1.1
Chad Wrainwright had also spent the past year adapting to his new situation.
He didn't expect to get the Maria Renard as his roomie, but he was extremely glad he did. Her feisty nature pulled Chad out of the rut of self-pity and further motivated him to look for a way out of Dracula's clutches. When they weren't brainstorming ways to escape, the two of them were doing some catching up. Maria was still going strong with Richter and had excellent camaraderie with Simon, and Chad told her about Charlie and how he'd risk everything to keep her safe. He also told her about the Smash tournament, about Project Nerf, about Luigi, and about the circumstances leading to his current situation.
"You'll see them again," Maria had reassured him. "You just need to be patient and use time as your weapon."
And that was exactly what Chad did, working hard to soften up the legendary bloodsucker and earn his trust. When he wasn't battling Simon or Richter or one of his enemies, Dracula, or "Drac", as Chad liked to call him, was an easygoing, laid-back guy. He was a bit creepy, but he genuinely cared for his "brides" and was affable enough toward Chad, Maria and the other "brides-to-be". He let them watch TV, use his home theater, play video games and generally walk around the manor as they pleased, the guards at the door being the only reminder that they were in a gilded cage. But once a week, the "guests" were allowed to go outside for two hours—three hours if Drac was feeling especially generous. They'd get some fresh air, grab a bite to eat or even go out on mini shopping sprees. Those two or three hours were more opportunities for Chad and Maria to further bond.
Maria and Chad also worked to keep the other "guests'" spirits buoyed. They'd play board games and card games together. They'd watch movies together. They even organized a "book club" of sorts whenever Drac allowed them to access his library. And whenever a "guest" was selected to be the next "bride", the others would hold a going-away party.
"How come he hasn't…?" Chad asked Maria one day.
"I never give him the chance," smiled Maria. "I always make sure to find out when he'll choose his next victim, and then I prepare."
"So—you shine a flashlight in his eyes?" smirked Chad. "Vampires hate light, you know?"
"Daylight," clarified Maria, "and unfortunately, I don't have a day lamp on me right now. However, you do know that vampires hate garlic, too, right?"
"Right."
"So—the night before he makes his selection, I fill up on garlic pizza—lots and lots of garlic pizza. I've offered slices to the others, but…" Maria sighed. "They're worried about p—ing Drac off, but you can't just sit around and wait for a handsome, strong man to rescue you. In order to survive this ordeal, you'll need to do some work, as well."
"Garlic pizza," repeated Chad. "I'll keep that in mind."
After that, Chad and Maria would order a large garlic pizza and some cheesy garlic bread whenever they saw Drac eyeing his "guests", and they'd share the food and chat about this and that. Maria was especially interested in hearing about Luigi.
"Vacuum cleaner? Really?" she'd asked one evening.
"You'd better believe it," chuckled Chad, "but it can only defeat ghosts. It can't deal with corporeal threats like Dracula."
Maria chewed her lip. "Simon and Richter need to know about him, in case the three of them need to team up."
"Now that would be a sight," Chad said brightly.
Which brings us to the present moment—Chad, Maria and Drac sitting together in the bloodsucker's home theater, watching the televised celebration in Boo Woods.
"Hm," mused Drac, stroking his chin. "I wonder what makes this—Luigi—so interesting."
Maria and Chad exchanged a look over Drac's head.
Drac then turned to Chad. "Crazy Hand—the one who brought you here—he helps run a tournament in which you participated. Surely, you know a thing or two about this Luigi character."
"Certainly, and don't call me Shirley," said Chad. "He's a little shy, and he tends to keep to himself, but he can be a fierce fighter when the need arises. Such an occasion is what this little celebration on TV is about."
"Tell me," said Drac.
"I'll give you the short version. His brother was duped and then captured by ghosts. Luigi was almost deathly afraid of ghosts, but he charged in there anyway, armed with a vacuum cleaner, because his bro was in danger. Single-handedly, he defeated the ghosts and saved the day. Well—almost single-handedly. He had to get that vacuum from someone, you know, and that someone was an old inventor."
Drac pointed to the image of the diminutive, bespectacled scientist who was currently giving a speech. "Him?" he asked.
"Wow, first guess," said Chad.
Drac lifted his goblet to his lips and took a sip. Chad could tell that his interest was piqued. Perhaps he and Maria could use that to their advantage.
"There's gonna be a combo expo tonight," Chad went on. "A few of the tournament participants will head over to the community center and demonstrate their best combos, and Luigi's gonna be among them. Just in case you're interested."
Drac had a minion bring him his laptop, which he booted up before logging into Google.
"Luigi—he sounds like an interesting fellow," mused Drac. "I hope I'll meet him one day."
"Under the right circumstances," said Chad. "Just—don't threaten his brother or his friends, okay?"
Dracula just smiled.
"You two can run along now," he said. "It appears I have some homework to do. And if I have time, then I'll watch this—combo expo—tonight."
Maria and Chad didn't need to be asked twice, sliding off the couch and taking their leave.
"Well played," said Maria when the two were out of earshot.
"Yup," said Chad. "Tonight, we're busting out of here."
1.1.1
Later that afternoon, the Smashers fought their last matches of the day and took some time to relax before getting ready for the combo exhibition. Master Hand had chartered a special bus for them, which would pull up at the main entrance and begin boarding in at least two hours.
Falco had ordered a personal-sized pizza from his favorite pizza place, and he took it up to his room to eat it, fooling around on his laptop as he did. The previous year had also been kind to him, as there was noticeably less tension between him and Luigi. They began enjoying more outings together, such as lunch dates, and there was an easy trust whenever they were paired together for Team Battles. The avian also guessed that the ongoing situation with him had something to do with this good fortune.
Both Falco and Luigi had remained in touch with Gadd, visiting him at least once a week. The scientist made sure to update the former on the new Poltergust's construction, as well as other side projects. One unintentional side project rested in a small container on Falco's nightstand—a sample of the Goo he'd accidentally helped create. Falco had treated the Goo sample like his pet, talking to it, doting on it, playing music for it so that it could dance and even taking it out for walks or rides in his Arwing. The avian eventually gave the sample a name—Gooey.
Now, Falco was chilling on his bed, enjoying his pizza, when he spotted Gooey out of the corner of his eye.
The little Goo sample seemed to be leaning toward the pizza.
Falco blinked. "Hey, buddy," he said.
Gooey turned in the direction of Falco's voice.
"Are you looking at my pizza?" asked Falco, holding his half-eaten pizza slice out to Gooey.
As if in response, Gooey leaned in further, stretching itself out of the container.
Falco moved the slice to the left, and then to the right, and then up and down and round and round. Gooey followed.
"Wait—do you smell the pizza?" asked Falco. "Is that why you're following it? Can you—smell?"
Gooey said nothing, but wobbled a little bit.
"Are you hungry? Have I—have I been unintentionally starving you over this past year?"
Falco selected a fresh slice of pizza and pulled off a piece.
"I don't know how you'll eat this, but—here."
He placed the piece onto the Goo sample before grabbing his phone, opening his camera and hitting "Record".
First, Gooey wrapped itself around the piece of pizza. Soon, the piece was completely immersed within the Goo sample. And slowly but surely, the piece began to dissociate—like the Goo was digesting it—
Falco was slack-jawed. "What is this, The Blob?" he asked.
He grabbed the nearest notepad and pen and scrawled a few notes. Then, he video-called Gadd.
"Falco!" greeted the Professor when he came online. "It's so good to see you!"
"Prof, you're not gonna believe this," Falco said excitedly.
"Believe what?" asked Gadd.
"I was eating my pizza, and then I saw Gooey leaning toward it!"
"Gooey? Is that the sample I gave you?"
"Yeah—I decided to name the little guy. Anyway, Gooey was leaning toward my pizza, and it also followed the slice when I moved it around. So, I decided to do a little experiment and give Gooey some of my pizza. And it—they—actually ate it!"
Falco swiveled the laptop toward Gooey so that Gadd could watch, and then he gave Gooey another small piece of pizza, with the same results.
"Well, I'll be," Gadd uttered after some silence.
"I think we've created a living, organic being," said Falco, "or at least a sentient being."
"Sentient Goo…" breathed Gadd. "I tried to separate Goo back into ectoplasm and coffee, but I was unable to do so. Now, you're saying that we've not only created an element, but also we've created an element possessing the beginnings of sentience?"
Then, he broke into a hearty laugh.
"This is perfect!" he cried. "Now I know that Goo will make the ultimate ghost-hunting assistant! It just needs to take the right shape—a human shape…"
Gadd's eyes shone behind his spectacles. "There's no time to waste," he said. "The valley's ghosts and I need to set about creating a mold for the Goo. I plan on giving it a basic human shape."
"I hope you'll at least give your assistant a name," said Falco.
"Relax, Falco—I'm not hard-hearted," said Gadd. "All of my inventions are my brainchildren, and Goo is no different."
"Goo's not a piece of hardware," Falco told him. "Goo responds to sounds, touches, and smells. They're capable of eating and possibly drinking, feeling and even thinking. Goo—is revolutionary."
"How right you are," said Gadd. "Don't you worry—I'll treat my new ghost-hunting assistant like a second son. First things first, however, I still have that Poltergust to finish."
"Have you decided on that projectile function yet?" asked Falco.
"Indeed, I have," replied Gadd. "It will be—wait for it—a plunger."
"A—plunger?"
"Yes. Plumbers use plungers, don't they? And this plunger will be on a rope, so Luigi can suck the rope into his vacuum and use it to heave objects, or create a tether, or—or—the opportunities are endless!"
"Yes, they are," said Falco.
"Looks like I'll be busy for quite some time now," chuckled Gadd. "Between this and shaping Goo into a suitable humanoid shape—I'll have plenty to devote my energies to! But you and Luigi are still free to stop by."
"I don't think we should keep him in the dark about this, though," Falco told him.
"We won't," said Gadd, "but I want the end result of my Goo endeavor to be a surprise."
"Suit yourself," shrugged Falco. "All right, Prof—I gotta finish my pizza. The Smashers participating in tonight's combo expo will be leaving in a couple of hours, and I wanna see them off before I hit the hay."
"I still can't believe they finally chose Luigi to represent the Mario universe," said Gadd.
"Me, neither, but it was about time," said Falco. "See ya, Prof—and good luck with your endeavors."
"See ya, Falco," replied Gadd, and then the two hung up.
Falco finished his pizza, washed his hands and then settled back onto his bed, picking up Gooey's container and tipping it—them—into his palm.
Stroking Gooey with the tip of his wing, Falco softly mused, "I have a feeling about you. Your moment's coming, and when it does—nothing will ever be the same."
1.1.1
As afternoon transitioned into evening, the bus MH had chartered arrived and came to a smooth stop at the Smash Mansion's front entrance. The Smashers participating in the combo exhibition received their seating assignments and then boarded the vehicle after exchanging goodbyes with friends and loved ones. It didn't take long for everyone to board, and then the Smashers staying behind waved goodbye and shouted well-wishes as the bus pulled away.
And as the bus cruised along toward the community center, those planning to watch the exhibition from home were getting ready to settle in for an action-packed night. They hurried to the nearest convenience store to buy chips, dip and fixings for nachos. They ordered pizza, hot wings, sandwiches, cookies, brownies and other fast food. They popped popcorn and dressed it with their favorite toppings. And then they all sat in front of their TVs. Those who had other commitments made sure to set their DVRs, so that they could watch the exhibition later.
Inside Drac's castle, Maria and Chad were using their "host's" burgeoning interest in Luigi to their advantage. During dinner, he told everyone that he'd be engaged for the rest of the night, and that he trusted his "guests" to follow his rules in the meantime. Afterward, the "guests" met up in Chad and Maria's room, where the pair disclosed the details of their plan. To their pleasant surprise, the other "guests" immediately jumped on board.
They all waited until everything quieted. Drac dismissed his "brides" and his minions for the evening and retired to his home theater to watch the combo exhibition. Since Maria and Chad had won enough of the bloodsucker's trust, they weren't under heavy guard, which would make their plan that much easier.
First, Chad and Maria sneaked into the armory and grabbed weapons for themselves and the others, emerging with a wide selection of daggers, rapiers, sabers and smallswords. Then, everyone examined the castle's floor plan, where Maria pointed out a secret exit she'd uncovered while exploring the building one night. A short walk away from that exit was a light rail station which would whisk them back into civilization. Once the floor plan was thoroughly examined, Maria took out a cookie tin filled with the cash she'd managed to salvage, earn and save, dividing it as evenly as she could among her companions.
Now, they were ready to go.
Quietly, they moved down the hallway toward the secret exit, Maria and Chad in the lead, blending in with the shadows. They were relieved to notice that the "brides" and "minions" were also absorbed in the upcoming combo exhibition, allowing them to slip past unnoticed. If they came across any guards, either Chad or Maria would approach and distract them with small talk before quickly subduing them. Other than that, barely any words were spoken during the trek, as looks were primarily used as communication.
Maria, Chad and the others reached the exit with surprisingly little difficulty.
"Wait," said Maria as someone was about to reach for the door. "I smell something."
She withdrew a pocket flashlight and scanned the door with the thin beam until she came across what she was looking for—a network of wires painted dark blue or black to camouflage with the door, doorframe and walls, connected to a similarly concealed panel nearby.
"I don't think cutting the wires will do anything," said Chad. "We should try disabling the power altogether."
One of the other "guests" grinned. "I can get into the power supply room," she said. "Leave it to me." And then she dashed off.
45 seconds later, she returned. "Okay, we're good," she reported. "The power will go out in 5—4—3—2—1…"
Click.
The area went dark, save for Maria's flashlight. Shouts of surprise echoed around them.
"Let's go," said Chad, pushing open the door and allowing the other guests to head out before following them.
Using bushes as a cover, Maria led everyone toward the light-rail station. Faintly, they heard someone yelling, which only spurred them to move faster.
Except Chad.
"Chad? What are you doing?" asked Maria when she noticed that Chad had stopped.
"They're gonna catch up," Chad told her. "It's inevitable. But you guys still have a chance of boarding the next light-rail."
"Don't you want to see Charlie and Luigi again?" asked Maria.
"Of course," said Chad, "but right now, it's not about me. It's about you getting the other "guests" to safety and then meeting up with Simon and Richter to brainstorm ideas on how to take Drac on."
Maria understood. "You're gonna buy us some time," she said.
"Well—Drac's gonna be frightfully upset that his program was interrupted," Chad told her. "In order to steer clear of his wrath, it has to look like I at least tried to stop you. Or had second thoughts and turned against you in an effort to stay in his good graces."
"I see," said Maria.
She drew one of the daggers she'd taken from the armory, and Chad directed her to drive it into a non-vital area.
Chad clapped a hand over the wound, blood pulsing between his fingers. "Okay—it needs to be believable, so someone else needs to take a shot at me," he said.
Two more "guests" volunteered, non-fatally slashing Chad with their weapons. And then for good measure, Maria punched him in the face.
Chad sank to his knees, moaning in pain. "All right—that should do it," he grunted, dragging himself to his feet.
"Are you gonna be okay?" asked Maria.
"What more can these a—holes do to me?" mused Chad. "Drac's taken a liking to me, so it won't be so bad. But you need to get away, so you can get help."
Maria nodded. "It was lovely meeting you," she said softly.
"Ditto," said Chad.
"I'll never forget you, Chad," smiled Maria.
"And I'll never forget you, Maria."
The two lightly touched foreheads, and then Chad watched as Maria hastened the other guests further toward the light-rail station.
Drac and his minions were scurrying about in a dither when Chad staggered through the front door, sweaty, rumpled and bleeding.
"They—got away…" he gasped out. "Tried to—stop them—so sorry…"
And then he made a big show of collapsing.
"I got him," said Drac, scooping Chad into his arms and carrying him to the infirmary.
1.1.1
The Smashville Community Center was buzzing with excitement by the time the bus carrying the participating Smashers arrived. People had already streamed into the venue, checking out the gift shops, concession stands and even the food trucks outside before finding a good place to sit. The combo exhibition was shaping to be quite the informal affair, with attendees making themselves comfortable at tables or plunking themselves down onto the carpeted floor. Raffles, booths and small games kept people entertained in the meantime, and there was even a kids' area, with coloring and face-painting.
Reporters and fans alike greeted the bus when it pulled into the designated parking area. The door opened, and the Smashers emerged in a single-file line, cameras flashing around them. They answered a question or two before they were ushered into a lounge area, where they'd wait for their name to be called. In the meantime, they could enjoy some refreshments, relax and psych themselves up.
This combo exhibition was divided into two nights, and the Smashers' turns would be in alphabetical order according to their home franchise's name. Tonight would begin with the Animal Crossing representative and conclude with the Mario representative, and tomorrow night would open with the Metroid representative and close with the Zelda representative. The event proper took place in the center's largest convention hall, with enough seating room for the spectators and enough space for the Smashers to showcase their best combos. Truly, there was never a combo exhibition easier to arrange.
Each Smasher would be given between 10 and 20 minutes to demonstrate their combos. The true combos would be first, followed by the viable combos. An average-sized Mii wearing protective padding would serve as the "punching bag", and they would be paid generously for their troubles. After their demonstrations, the Smashers would be available for photo ops, autographs and Q&A sessions, if they so desired.
All of the Smashers chosen to represent their home franchise showed up in top form, but it was Luigi who took the cake. His overalls and shirt were nicely pressed, his hair was freshly washed and trimmed, and he'd made sure to shower and shave before getting on the bus. He wore a clean, brand-new pair of gloves, shined shoes, and his signature cap was at a smart angle. This was a privilege he took extremely seriously, and it showed. His usual goofiness was toned way down, and during the walk to the lounge area, he'd answered the reporters' questions honestly. Even when he discovered that regulars in the tournament scene were spectating, the man in green remained composed.
Shortly before the event was scheduled to begin, Master Hand arrived at the venue, joined by Mario, Daisy and several of the latter's bodyguards. They quickly found a prime viewing spot, the former treating this occasion like a Smash battle and making sure he had an unobstructed view of Luigi and vice versa. In lieu of her regular gown, Daisy was glad in a form-fitting, strapless dress with a U-shaped plunging neckline, her hair hanging in loose curls. Mario wore a white shirt with a red vest and tie, black slacks, and his usual brown boots along with his red cap. Master Hand mingled with the event organizers, other employees and attendees before doing a quick check on the participating Smashers.
"Daisy and Mario are here," MH whispered to Luigi. "You're in good hands."
Luigi just smiled.
The exhibition commenced at 8p.m. sharp. After MH gave a few opening remarks, a Villager walked onto the "stage", the Hand of Creation formally introducing them before they engaged the Mii wearing the protective padding.
As each representative had their turn, Luigi sat silently in the lounge, going through all of the breathing exercises the Wii Fit Trainers had taught him, dispelling the butterflies in his stomach. He closed his eyes and listened to the other representatives in action, concentrating on his belly moving in and out as he inhaled and exhaled. Tension left his body, and his muscles relaxed. He would do just fine, he was sure of it.
Luigi meditated until he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw one of the employees standing there.
"You're up," said the employee.
It was time.
Luigi stood up, took a deep breath and strode out of the lounge area, the other Smashers quietly wishing him good luck.
The man in green proceeded down a hallway and met another employee holding a sign with a Mushroom symbol on it. When his name was called, Luigi followed the employee into the convention hall, where the crowd of spectators cheered upon his arrival. He greeted them all with a broad smile and a quick touch of his cap, quickly spotting his bro and his Flower Princess among the masses.
Mario waved. Daisy blew him a kiss.
Luigi beamed, feeling his energy surging to life.
"Three years ago, Nintendo honored Luigi's 30 years of service in the video game industry with the Year of Luigi," MH said to the crowd. "However, all of that attention has only further humbled him. In these tournaments, as in life, Luigi tends to take cues from Mario, but as you'll see shortly, he's not afraid to add his own distinct flair to moves such as the all-powerful and iconic Super Jump Punch. His taunts, on the other hand, are truly unique."
Polite applause.
"I thought he didn't have combos anymore," someone spoke up.
MH turned in the direction of the voice. "I beg your pardon—what did you say?" he asked.
"I'm just shocked that he's doing the demonstrating, and not Mario. Last year's nerf should've knocked him off of his pedestal."
Silence.
Luigi refused to even look at the heckler. Mario, however, cast a piercing glare in the heckler's direction, looking ready to pounce on them.
"I didn't hear that," MH said softly, giving Mario a brief warning look, "and I strongly suggest that I don't hear that again."
The heckler grumbled something in reply.
"Give it your best, Luigi," said MH before withdrawing.
The very second quiet descended over the convention hall, Luigi was upon the Mii in the protective padding, quickly setting up a grab with a fireball and a sharp jab before butt-slamming them and commencing his demonstration in earnest. Initially, there was some nervousness about him, and who could blame him? Here he was, showing off his most reliable combos to a convention hall full of people for the first time! But his nerves didn't last long, and he plunged into his routine with a full heart, first showcasing his true combos—the combos which would elevate him from a disadvantage to an advantage. His f-air and u-tilt still had the property of chaining into themselves, and after a year of practicing and polishing, he could pull off 4-5 f-airs or 7-8 u-tilts at a time. His Smash attacks, particularly his down smash, could put opponents in long enough hitstun to start a unique combo. But as that heckler had so nicely reminded everyone, last year's update patch had shaken up his fighting style. His most reliable combos had been put out of commission. But with help from friends and loved ones, he'd recovered from the shock of the nerf and found ways to work around it. Some of his old combos still worked at lower percentages, and some tweaking would be required at medium percentages. However, he'd spent the past year hammering out his new combos, which were presently the center of attention for the spectators.
The heckler was all but forgotten as Luigi focused all of his emotions inward and lunged further into his demonstration, eliciting "oohs" and "aahs" from the spectators, along with soft clapping. Mario watched in reverent silence, flushed with fraternal pride, while Daisy was fixed on the sight of her beloved, deep in concentration. Look what concentration could do to that angular face! He was lit-up beautiful, brows and pupils animated as he focused harder and harder on the padded Mii before him, his tongue peeking out and flicking about his lips, the power and intensity welling up within him. He moved smoothly and gracefully, a short beat between each strike, the sound of his exerted breathing drifting about the convention hall.
Daisy couldn't get enough, and neither could Mario and the other spectators.
Steadily, Luigi grew more worked up as he remembered what had been done to him last year. The yelling, the mockery, the hate, the manipulations—the assault in the Training Area and everything after that. They'd tried to clip his wings, but instead, they'd thrown gas onto his fire! He'd impressed the Bennigan Brothers and the men and women behind Project Nerf so much that they'd completely changed their tune about him. They'd seemed to realize that a nerf was a nerf, and that he'd always adapt, no matter what. Sweat banded on his forehead and lathered up nicely on his cheeks, chin and neck. He felt Daisy's presence, along with Mario's, urging him on. After finishing a combo, he unbuckled his overalls, whipped off his shirt, tossed it aside, refastened his overalls and jumped right back into it. The ladies in the audience—and quite a few gents—were extremely pleased at this.
Inside their high-rise apartment in Baltimore, Maryland, Vincent, Manny, Shane and Stuart Bennigan sat in front of their TV, noshing on BBQ pork sliders and French fries, watching the man they used to resent as he reminded everyone that he could still hold his own as much as Mario. One year ago, they'd never thought they'd be absorbed in the sight of Luigi at a combo exhibition, but their old way of thinking had long since died. Here they were, reborn, seeing the man in green in a whole new light.
In Oakland, California, Vanessa and her brood gathered on the couch in their living room, entranced by the sight of Luigi vehemently hacking away at the Mii in the protective padding. Ethan and Anna were even allowed to stay up late tonight for this occasion. It was hard to believe that just last year, Ethan was reaming out Mario for losing to his little brother. But nowadays, he could understand why. Luigi could match—even surpass—Mario in a physical throwdown, and there was no problem with that, was there?
In the Smash Mansion, the remaining Smashers, including those behind Project Nerf, were also parked in front of their TVs, watching Luigi with bated breath. Falco methodically chewed his bread, greedily watching his sort-of-estranged friend. Koopa smirked good-naturedly at the image of his other frequent adversary on his screen. Dorf let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. Mewtwo nodded in respect. Dark Pit, Kyle and the others fully realized just how wrong they'd been about Luigi. He was a man who stumbled and fell, for sure, but he also got back up. And they'd been so merged in raining down hate over his combos that they forgot all about the latter fact. They'd never make that mistake again.
In Dracula's castle, Chad rested in the infirmary, recovering from his wounds and relieved that his "host" had bought his story—for the most part. Drac had even brought him a TV, which was tuned into the channel airing the combo exhibition. A big smile was on his face as he watched Luigi give his all for the spectators. He used to despise those combos, but a lot could change in a year.
Unbeknownst to him, Drac was also deeply absorbed in Luigi's demonstration, a delighted look on his face as he sipped some fresh blood from a champagne flute. He was gonna dedicate the next few years in finding out all that he could about this green-capped fellow.
"Our paths will cross one day," he murmured. "No doubt about it."
On the King Boo fan club's website, all of the chat forums were buzzing with activity as H.G. hosted a watch party of the combo exhibition. For a bunch of people (and one shark) who claimed to hate Luigi, they sure had a lot of positive things to say about his combos. Perhaps they enjoyed the sight of him building himself back up—so they could help the King tear him back down when the time was right. Who could tell?
In Evershade Valley, Professor Elvin Gadd sat in the Gloomy Manor's foyer with his four Toad Assistants, large platters of food scattered on the table in front of them. A huge grin was on the elderly professor's face, his heart soaring as his mentee continued to wow the crowd. He was just as passionate in every aspect of his life as it was when it came to protecting his loved ones from supernatural threats. Gadd wished he could be there in person, but there were far too many things to do with too little time to do them. Something told him that he needed to finish the new Poltergust as soon as possible, as that youngster's life depended on it.
And inside their storage container in the Bunker, the Boos, joined by their King, watched the exhibition on their laptops with feigned disinterest, with only the light in the King's eyes betraying their masquerade.
"I can't wait to fight him again," whispered one Boo.
"I don't blame you," grinned King Boo, "but like I've said—we're not gonna fight him. We're gonna [bleep] him."
Oh, yes—almost everyone with Internet access was taken by Luigi's versatility when it came to his combos—and he hadn't even gotten to the best part.
Then, Luigi moved on to the viable combos and set-ups he'd tinkered with in the Training Area, and they had to be the wildest viable setups anyone had ever seen. Daisy was practically breathless by now, as were the other spectators. They dared not tear their eyes away from Luigi as he wore down his opponent's protective padding, his eyes so starry bright and dramatic and dark at the same time, his mouth rounded in a small "o" shape and his face so expressive as he pushed himself past incoming windedness. D—n! They'd really underestimated him!
Luigi's lungs were practically hollering at him by the time he paused to get some of his breath back. The spectators let loose with the cheers they'd dutifully held in as the man in green smiled. Dear God—he had such a wonderful smile! The padded Mii took the time to regroup from the demonstration, making sure that the padding had done its job and that nothing was busted, cracked or broken.
But Luigi wasn't done yet. Not even close. Once he could breathe normally again, he showed off his guaranteed K.O. combos, the ones he pulled off at very high percentages or whenever he needed to end the fight quickly. At this point, a large crowd had formed outside of the community center, the floor-to-ceiling windows giving passersby a glimpse of the action within. Throngs of people pulled out their phones, calling or texting close friends and family members to get down here and see the mustachioed man in green at his most bad—s. Those manning the ticket office took notice of the crowd and offered half-price admission, and the spectators happily made room for the newcomers. When the venue was filled to capacity, an overflow room was set up in a nearby restaurant, with discounted meals being offered as further incentive. Luigi's brand new combo game had tongues wagging and people flocking to the community center and surrounding areas. He never seemed to run out of ideas for combos and set-ups, and the engrossed spectators wanted more.
So—he gave them more.
Luigi pulled off combo after combo after combo until his limbs and lungs could take no longer, concluding his demonstration with a dramatic flourish which took everyone's breath away. His skin was a lovely pink color, and he was awash in sweat—but he was feeling great!
He nearly cried with joy as the audience gave him a full standing ovation, chanting his name. However, he managed to fight back tears, took a bow and flashed his trademark "V" sign before picking up his shirt and heading back toward the lounge area.
"Wait!" called one of the employees. "They're calling for you!"
Luigi put his shirt away and hurried back, waving, taking another bow and posing with his iconic "finger-guns".
"Bang-bang!" he cried.
"Bang-bang!" replied the spectators.
They further showed their support by tossing him flowers, flower bouquets and confetti. Luigi's cheeks ached from smiling so much.
Daisy walked up to him with a particularly ornate bouquet. "You are—amazing," she gushed. "What's your secret?"
"Lots of practice," Luigi replied.
The two leaned in and kissed tenderly to another roar of applause.
The cherry on the cake was when Mario dashed forward and jumped into his arms.
Just as Luigi was about to head back to rest from his exertions and freshen up, the heckler approached him, looking contrite, and apologized.
"You're really good," they conceded.
Luigi smiled at the heckler in forgiveness, shook their hand and even autographed the back of their shirt.
It was official—today had been one of the best days of his life.
Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I
Oh, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes
Well, oh, I got stamina
And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb
But I, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, I need another lover, be mine
Cause I, I, I got stamina
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive
The greatest, the greatest alive
Well, uh-oh, running out of breath, but I
Oh, I, I got stamina
Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes
But, oh oh, I got stamina
And oh yeah, running through the waves of love
But I, I got stamina
And oh yeah, I'm running and I've just enough
And uh-oh, I got stamina
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive
The greatest, the greatest alive (oh oh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo ooh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo ooh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo ooh)
Oh-oh, I got stamina (ooh hoo)
Ay, I am the truth
Ay, I am the wisdom of the fallen, I'm the youth
Ay, I am the greatest
Ay, this is the proof
Ay, I work hard, pray hard, pay dues, ay
I transform with pressure, I'm hands-on with effort
I fell twice before, my bounce back was special
Letdowns'll get you, and the critics will test you
But the strong'll survive, another scar may bless you, ah
Don't give up (no no), I won't give up (no no)
Don't give up, no no no (nah)
Don't give up, I won't give up
Don't give up, no no no
I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive
I'm free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, no no no)
The greatest, the greatest alive (I got stamina)
The greatest, the greatest alive (I got stamina)
The greatest, the greatest alive (I got stamina)
—Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar, "The Greatest"
Please R&R.