The training facility felt surprisingly cool and comfortable thanks to an intense climate control system, yet that unmistakable scent of hard-earned sweat was still present and pierced everyone's nose who resided in here. Catchy music also played out over the ceiling-mounted speakers.
Music: "луноберег - спали бы вечно"
With his iconic red cap and white gloves resting beside him on the bench, Mario set a small towel around the back of his neck and clenched the ends of it with his half-sweaty hands. Occasionally, his blue eyes glanced across the huge room at his bracket opponent, who if anything seemed happy-go-lucky.
Kirby was hopping around the large central mat, practicing some of his air kicks and spins while Mario watched from his corner with interest. He sat on the bench and thought about a variety of things as he dabbed his forehead with the towel, for he'd just been warming up a bit rigorously himself.
Rather than his typical attire, the mustached man sported a red-and-white short-sleeved athletic shirt, black nylon shorts, plus a pair of sneakers to go with it. Indeed, from the appearance of him now he'd stopped to take a little breather, though soon enough his attention began drifting along with his gaze to survey the rest of this training facility.
Quite aptly, the interior was situated like a modern gym with different types of workout stations all over. At the same time, dojo-esque elements retaining traditional architecture were present too. On its walls, Mario observed numerous draping red tapestries which bore the enduring black smash insignia, struck across the middles of each and every one.
Also hanging along the concrete walls were large, hand-painted portraits of all the champions from past tournaments. These paintings were arranged in series and lined the upper walls of the main room, identified with their corresponding dates.
There was something much more significant to them, however. They weren't just portraits to be in here for show. Each stood as a reminder of sorts to all who entered this place. They hung as relics from different eras when past generations of smashers from across Sector N could experience these same feelings and celebrations as the ones that were beginning on this day, so many years later.
Mario's attention shifted again. He saw how there were numerous contenders already here, or were still arriving through the training facility's entrance from the locker rooms. At the very least, they all hailed from other lands around Planet Veradeena.
A select few of the people already here caught Mario's eye in the end, however. They were some fellow smashers whom he either knew personally, or had at least heard of in the past due to their fame.
On one bench, the Hero of Time himself, Link, was sitting alone with his long green hat off. He polished the shiny face of his Hylian shield to get rid of any etches, before checking the edges of his Master Sword too. After carefully running his thumb along the blade's rim to make sure it was nice and sharp, he held the sword up and practiced swinging it around a few times before sheathing it again. A small, satisfied grin grew on the corner of his lip, but not a sound came from him.
Link was indeed a silent one; so much so that in fact no one, not even Zelda nor his fellow Hylians had ever heard him speak a single word. Perhaps it was all hidden within the indescribable piercing quality that his turquoise eyes boasted. They could almost always articulate everything he needed to say to anyone.
The next bench over hosted the land of Kanto's young and celebrated Pokémon Trainer, Red, who made sure his trusty collection of pokéballs were all in order for the coming matches. His little partner Pikachu sat on his shoulder, attentively watching all the activity with his ears fidgeting occasionally.
Directly in front of them were the other of Red's Pokémon: Jigglypuff, Squirtle, Greninja, and Charizard. These four took turns maneuvering around one another, getting proper approaches down.
"Hey, Jigglypuff," Red suggested, "Why don't you show Charizard some tips how to twist faster in the air after jumping? Couldn't hurt to fit a bit of last-minute practice in."
The pink balloon Pokémon nodded happily and proceeded to do just that with the larger, more burly fire-type Pokémon. They all loved their trainer very much, and were determined to do him proud in this tournament for his friends and family watching back home on their neighboring world of Arcea.
Mario then noticed who was trotting into the facility just now. It was his good dinosaur friend Yoshi, along with some others who hailed from Dinosaur Land down in the southern hemisphere of Planet Veradeena. He briefly stopped at a stool and made sure his boots were laced on tight, before scuttling over to one of many hanging sandbags on the far side of the main room. Once there he began practicing a variety of high kicks and head-butts, which were of course the bread and butter of his fighting style.
Not far from where Yoshi stood, the former heavyweight boxing champion Doc Louis was enthusiastically pep-talking his one and only pupil, Little Mac. They stood at a hanging punching bag of their own.
"There ya go Mac, just like that," Louis was chiming eagerly, "Now come on, keep it goin' son. Slug that suckah!"
Mac performed an impressive string of swift but sharp jabs and punches onto the bag. With a final strong upper-cut, he sent it rocketing around in circles on its squeaky hanger. Mac wiped his forehead with his sweaty forearm before being granted a small towel by his energetic coach.
"Woo, baby! That was beautiful!" Louis took a hearty bite of his chocolate bar, and in a mouthful complimented, "Looks like you're a rocket set to jet."
The young boxer just nudged him on his large belly in response. "Mm... And it's all thanks to you, Doc."
Last but definitely not least, Mario caught sight of the famed Heroes of the Emblem: Prince Marth of Altea, his good friend Roy from Bern, the Radiant Hero and Greil Mercenary leader Ike, the Shepherd Captain and Exalt of Ylisse Chrom, along with his revered daughter who was also a newcomer, Princess Lucina.
They'd been talking, whilst at the same time practicing some sword techniques with each other.
"So you see, Lucina? You go like this... HYAAH!" Marth raised his Falchion blade and proceeded to demonstrate an elegant yet mighty thrust on a re-enforced sandbag made specifically for sword training. Lucina and the others watched closely as he performed it.
"Alright, that doesn't seem too hard..." A confident smirk grew across the Ylissean Princess' lips. "Here, may I?"
Gladly, the Prince moved aside as Lucina drew her own Falchion and stepped in front of the sandbag. She took a deep breath and closed her dark sea-blue colored eyes briefly, holding the blade up to slowly run her hand along its broad side. Then her eyes snapped open again.
"... HAAGHH!" She released a powerful thrust just as Marth had done, though it wasn't quite as graceful as his.
"Yeah, pretty good thrust there, Lucina," clapped Roy.
The blue-haired Princess just rolled her eyes a little and didn't pay his words much attention, however, for if there had to be a jester in this group, it was Roy more often than not. Sometimes it was rather difficult to tell if he was actually complimenting someone, or merely teasing them.
She turned to her distant relative instead and inquired a bit anxiously, "How was that, Marth?"
For a moment, the Prince smiled thoughtfully. Then he replied, "Worthy. It was a worthy strike by my eye."
"Worthy... Hm..." Lucina nodded, thinking it over with some satisfaction. "That's good. But it's also why I'm learning from the original and best, no?"
Marth merely scoffed, a bit boastful. "Heh, so they all say..."
Meanwhile, Chrom had been faced away this whole time. He'd heard everything that'd transpired, but took a glance at the large time display on the wall across from him. He sighed lightly before turning back to face his brethren.
"Well my good friends," Chrom announced after another beat, "I believe it's about that time. I'd better get back up to my seat on the royal balcony, lest it get taken by one of the more stubborn regal attendees. Apparently that occurs more often than one might think, so I'd much rather it not happen to me. Some fellow Captains and Princes from our neighboring nation Ferox have already arrived there anyway."
Ike came forward, patting his brother of the sword heartily on his right shoulder bearing the mark of Naga.
"Fair enough. We shan't keep you waiting."
Chrom then stepped over to Lucina who lowered her head somewhat, even closing her eyes in brief solemnity.
"Father," she started, "I... I promise I won't fail. I only want to make you and mother proud."
With a caring smile, he hugged her close. "And I know you will, Lucina. My dear, sweet daughter. You'll make all of Ylisse proud, because we'll be watching every precise strike you land out there."
Something made her hesitate, until she felt compelled to ask in a low voice, "Um, actually... About mother... Has everything been alright with her?"
"... Yes, we talked about it many times," Chrom answered in that same reassuring manner, though his daughter sought an absolute confirmation:
"I just remember... She was nervous about letting me take part in this tournament. What did she end up saying...?"
"... She understands," assured Chrom, offering a heartfelt smile to accompany his words of encouragement. Lucina still wasn't sure, however.
"... Well, maybe it's just my intuition again, but a lot of what mother said, I overheard. She could always tell when something uncertain was about to happen to me..."
Chrom gently placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Lucina... Please don't say things like that. Instead, think about now; think about today. This is your big day to cherish, because yes, it is your first smash tournament... At the greatest of them all..."
"I know it is, father..." She nodded in understanding.
Some moments passed, when Chrom suddenly remembered something else:
"Ah, and I can't believe I forgot to tell you, but Severa and her dear family accepted my invitation to join us for the trip over. They're already up in their seats next to mother."
Lucina perked up. "Oh... Severa's here too?"
"She is," her father proclaimed, "And quite eager to watch you fight. I know she's like a sister to you."
"Yes..." Lucina smiled, nodding again.
"... My Tactician's here as well..." With that whisper, Chrom went ahead and placed a quick but honest kiss upon his daughter's forehead. As he began to take his leave, Lucina raised her dark sea-blue eyes and looked after him, thinking for a few moments on his words.
"Oh, Father?" She made one final request, "Do tell him I send my best regards..."
Hearing his daughter's wish, he smiled warmly and turned back one last time.
"I will, Lucina," he promised, "I know Robin probably enjoys watching you fight the most... Although, I can't help but suspect there might be something more about this feeling between you and him...?"
"Aha, you have no proof of that...!" Lucina playfully defended herself by way of a blushing smirk, against Chrom's fatherly intuition about there being a possible relationship between her and Robin, his Tactician.
"Still, on that thought..." He said after slyly eyeing his daughter through squinted eyes, "I wish all of you the best of luck out there."
Chrom's latter words got the other three swordsmen's full attention, because he appeared to be deeper in thought now. He even lowered his gaze a little and smirked.
"You know, time can be the strangest thing. One of these years, before I get that much older... Perhaps I'll summon enough courage to enter a smash tournament myself..."
"Um... Father?" Lucina reminded him cheerfully, "You wouldn't want to keep mother and your seat waiting too long, speaking of time?"
"Oh, of course...! Forgive me, I tend to get a bit carried away sometimes..." Chrom scoffed and gave his daughter a slight bow. "Alright then. Farewell, my fellow warriors. May fortunes always be in your favor, and I guess we'll see each other again when it's all over."
From his spot on the bench across the room, Mario watched that dark blue-haired swordsman exit. He'd finished up his little survey on the rest of the training facility, but had taken some mental notes on the sheer range of contenders he'd observed.
They included Koopa, Toad, and Shy Guy fighters, Piantas, Nokis, Gorons, a number of weapon-wielding humans both male and female, creature brawlers from other lands and worlds, anthropomorphic animal fighters from the Lylat System, plus a plethora of others who were still arriving from the outside. Speaking of which, part of the floor started shaking all of a sudden and people cleared a path as Donkey Kong lumbered in, with a jovial Diddy Kong skipping just beside him.
Indeed, it seemed that everyone was competing in this legendary milestone of a smash tournament from everywhere around the known galaxy.
Oki-doki, Mario thought to himself with a satisfied nod, Looks-a-like almost everyone's here then...
That was until a very familiar and brotherly voice sounded directly to his left.
"... Ciao, bro. How's it going?" Luigi patted his older sibling on the shoulder and took a seat beside him. The two looked almost identical attire-wise, save for Luigi's green on his athletic shirt compared to Mario's red.
Then, from the training facility's opened exit hall leading straight out to the arena, a surge of celebrations from the crowds flooded in past the large glass doors and reverberated everywhere. They even shook the walls somewhat from bellowing with such a muffled yet powerful presence.
Mario went ahead and put his cap back on, replying with a small sigh, "I'm just-a-waiting for it to begin... As is-a-everyone else, I'm sure."
Not surprisingly, his younger and more skittish brother was fixated on the exit hall where all that sound was emanating in from. After swallowing hard he stuttered, "Quite the c-c-crowd, wouldn't-a-you say, bro?"
"Mhmm," Mario agreed, extending that thought, "It's-a-no surprise since this is the biggest-a tourney yet. Take it from me, or just ask-a-anyone else here who's smashed before. The crowd is an initiation-a-by itself."
Luigi could only raise an eyebrow somewhat, pondering hard for a beat.
"Look, bro... You know this is-a-my first major smash, so I'm-a-pretty nervous," he admitted shakily, but Mario simply smiled and put a caring hand on his sibling's shoulder.
"Well," he assured, "I hope-a-you know as well as I do that you fight-a-better when you're nervous. Remember our little snags at-a-the mansion, and-a-the hotel?"
Mario nudged a brotherly poke against the green-and-white nylon covering Luigi's chest. "You saved-a-my mustache those times, bro."
Luigi lightened up from these supportive words coming from his older sibling. It was purely the truth after all.
"You have-a-your moments Luigi, that I know." Mario encouraged him further, "So don't-a-worry. You'll do just-a-fine. We'll all be cheering you on-a-the whole way... Especially Daisy. Oh mama-mia, yes."
"... Grazie, Mario." Feeling a bit better now, Luigi nodded in agreement with both the inspiration from his brother as well as himself.
"Say again bro, who's-a-versing you in this-a-first-a-bracket?" Mario then asked, looking back across the main room after he'd noticed Kirby wasn't out on the training mat anymore.
"I'm-a-with... L-Link... Oh boy...!" Unfortunately, Luigi delved straight back into a state of shakiness and tightened up his face as he answered, because he'd turned to see that Link's turquoise eyes were directly upon him. He'd been observing the two brothers for a while now, though in a friendly gesture, he cocked his head and smiled warmly.
It was Link's way of saying 'Hi', but Luigi fidgeted where he sat and swiftly turned away instead; nervously scratching behind his neck in trying to avoid direct eye-contact with the Hero of Time.
Mario, still scanning around the main room, fell surprised to sense a light nudge on his leg. He glanced down to see none other than the pink puffball gazing up at him through happy eyes as per usual. He reached one of his arms out and they shook hands, with Mario's half-sweaty fingers grasping Kirby's puffy appendage.
"Poyo," he greeted, while Mario gave him a quick pat on his bouncy head.
"Ah, there you are, Kirby," he answered likewise, smiling at the pink Dreamlander. "I was-a-wondering where you went."
"... Excuse me, Mr. Mario," a friendly voice with another distinct accent then called.
Mario turned to confirm its source. It was Marth of course, waving over with Roy, Ike, and Lucina also now looking to him.
"How'd you like to come warm up with us for a while?" The Altean Prince happily invited, as Ike finished off:
"We can show you some tips when going against a blade-wielder."
With such a sense of friendliness in their words, of course Mario couldn't refuse this nice offer even though he'd just been taking a rest from doing exactly that. Nevertheless, he decided to take them up on it, so Luigi and Kirby watched him get up from the bench and begin to walk over; looking back over his shoulder at them.
"Hey, you two," he said, "You should-a-see this..."
The Heroes of the Emblem, specifically Marth and Roy, had become good friends with the Mario brothers after their initial acquaintance during their second tournament together, or what was by now over a decade ago.
How the time had passed indeed, because here they were in their fifth and biggest one yet. Many adventures, trials, as well as tribulations lay in the years behind them. In truth though, all of the smashers who'd been together in past tournaments often became acquaintances in one way or another, for they at least knew who each other were.
"Ciao Marth, Roy, Ike, Princess Lucina..." The shorter and slightly portly-in-stature plumber approached these four warriors, greeting them in return. He courteously tipped his cap to Lucina since he knew of her status, but not her personally. After all, she was a first-time smasher here.
Then, without a word, Marth raised his Falchion up in a salute before holding it in front of his face, similar to what was done before a duel commenced.
Mario stopped and waited patiently, though he wasn't ready at all for what came next.
"... Dodge THIS!" Marth energetically dashed forward in what seemed like a flash and caught the plumber completely by surprise. He halted the blade's near-needle-like tip a mere couple centimeters before the red nylon of Mario's athletic shirt, which was the only layer of anything covering his bare chest.
Mario could have sworn he even heard the blade's hallowed ring over all the other sounds here in the facility as he stared blankly at the tip, quite taken back. Then he glanced up at the grinning Prince, and back again at the blade before gently nudging it aside with his finger, shaking his head lightly.
"Mm, mm... You and-a-your speed, Marth..." All the plumber could do was swallow a quick time while a small strand of sweat ran down the side of his face. "You really got-a-me there...!"
Marth just chuckled, nudging him on the shoulder. He let his Falchion slide back into his scabbard before responding in a mentor-like manner, "And that's without any protecting force of the trophies, too. So you see? You must be prepared for anything to strike at anytime, really."
Mario was indeed at a loss of words. He blinked and shifted his eyes a bit to the side, seeing what the others made of this.
It was Lucina who stepped in though and appeared to defend him. "But come now, Marth. You gave Mario no fair warning at all."
The Prince turned away from the plumber to face her, flicking his cape over his shoulder with just a slight hint of hubris.
"Well, that's kind of the point. I was only proving to him... You can never fully lower your guard, no matter what time it might be."
Lucina darted her eyes down to meet Mario's, giving him a quick wink past Marth as he was busy talking. The plumber noticed, and he must've figured what she was intending for him to do because an eager smirk grew on his mustached face.
A prime opportunity was his for the taking. He lunged forward and tackled the unsuspecting swordsman by the legs, causing them both to pile up in a heap on the mat. Marth could only laugh though, as he was in a sort of surprised disbelief.
Mario then quickly scrambled up from being covered under his cape. Once he was standing again, he set his shoe down upon Marth's chest and posed with his hands on his hips. He even raised his eyebrows slightly, in a kind of what-was-that-you-were-saying attitude.
"... Like-a-you were saying, Marth?" The mustached man teased, "Never let-a-your guard down?"
Lucina couldn't help but cover her mouth and nose, giggling with a growing blush.
Inevitably, Mario ended up chuckling too. He held his hand out to Marth who accepted it with his own. Thus, he got helped back up to his feet and lightly brushed his fair blue hair aside with his finger tips so it was back to perfection. Lastly, he made sure his garb remained wrinkle-free.
"That's... That's very true..." Marth scoffed in agreement, yet couldn't resist adding, "Although I did say not to fully do so, haha...!"
Having watched this whole spiel take place, Ike merely shook his head before giving a squinted glance to Roy beside him who had his arms crossed and eyebrows raised. He too looked quite unsure of what to think.
"Hmph... These amateur theatrics..." The mercenary let out a soft groan under his breath. "Alright then, Mario, come stand here in the center. I'll show you some of those real techniques I spoke of..."
Meanwhile, Luigi had been watching his brother this whole time from the bench. His heart probably almost skipped a beat though after what he'd witnessed Marth almost do to him. Still, he saw Mario position himself in the middle of those four warriors. They began to attempt a series of strikes at him from each side, yet Mario simply sidestepped, dodged, jumped, and twisted about in the air with an almost natural finesse to avoid every one of them.
Some of the other smashers warming up nearby actually stopped what they were doing and started watching him whilst cheering sporadically, "Yeah Mario, you go! Whooo!"
Luigi couldn't help but smile at his older brother, feeling happy for all this attention he was receiving.
Yes, Mario appeared as a lowly plumber by day, yet he was practically a household name across much of Planet Veradeena. To an extent, he was also known on other worlds; even over in the Lylat and Aminuss Systems as well. Of course it came from his many adventures and heroic deeds which he'd done mainly for the Mushroom Kingdom, but he'd also done good deeds for other lands over the years.
It was also the plain fact that Mario was one of the more famous smashers to rise through the ranks in recent times.
Luigi on the other hand was there in running the business along with his brother, yet he was quite literally the eternal understudy. Despite having done some good deeds and gone on adventures of his own, he was the one who nobody really knew about due to always being shrouded beneath that huge shadow of fame possessed by his older brother.
Perhaps it was how Luigi preferred things though, for he still felt happy like this all the same.
One fact remained clear enough. Luigi realized how he was here in this legendary smash tournament, anxiously awaiting the beginning of it all. His thoughts suddenly got interrupted however when he felt a touch on his gloved hand. He glanced down to see the always-joyous Kirby grasping it.
"Poyo, poyo!" He ushered.
Before Luigi knew it, he was being yanked from his comfort there on the bench and guided by the pink Star Warrior out to the middle of the training mat. Yet, from across the room, he then heard Ike say to Mario:
"... It's like you're a master at these techniques already. Huh... I figured perhaps we'd be teaching you something new. How many blade-wielders have you smashed against?"
Roy nudged the mercenary on his bare buff shoulder and whispered into his ear, although he was still loud enough on purpose so Mario could hear him. "C'mon, Ike, what do you think? He's gone up against plenty. I mean, he's Mario... The Mario of all people."
His shorter subject of interest tilted the front of his red cap up and folded his arms, grinning. He proceeded to answer calmly, albeit still a bit boastful on purpose.
"Well, you know... Sometimes down in the pipes, those screws and bolts burst-a-right out, ricocheting just past-a-my head. On a few occasions, they take-a-my cap-a-straight off with them! So maybe dodging is-a-something I actually learned from-a-the daily job."
Then came a snicker from Lucina. She'd grown red in the face from holding her mouth and nose tightly closed this whole time, struggling to prevent herself from laughing hysterically. The others took notice and Marth cocked his head a bit to the side, smirking slyly.
"... What?" He asked with an eyebrow raised slightly, "What's so funny, Lucina?"
Finally, she had to let go and take a much needed breather.
"Hahh...! It's just... It's just that..." Lucina started, still trying to stay her seemingly uncontrollable giggles, "Mario... Just has such humor and goodwill in his spirit. I mean, what can I say? I... I love this little man...!"
Mario stood with his arms still folded, smiling warmly at her from the corners of his eyes. He knew of course that she meant it figuratively, not literally.
"Everything I've been hearing about him is so true. You know, I honestly think he alone could maintain a certain peace throughout these worlds..." The Ylissean Princess said this, though her fellow swordsmen exchanged thoughtful glances with one another.
Maybe she was right. Maybe Mario could do such a thing.
"Hmm... And then there's his brother..." Ike commented, gesturing with a tilt of his head over towards Luigi who now stood at a hanging sandbag. He was being joyfully persuaded to fight its inanimate stature by Kirby, who hopped up and down, acting as if he were the most enthusiastic coach ever.
"Si, it's-a-Luigi's first time on the big stage." Mario acknowledged, while the others also offered his younger sibling their attention. They watched Luigi pucker himself up by clapping the sides of his cheeks. Then he began to hack away at the sandbag, mostly with his rapid karate chops.
It was quite an impressive display to be sure, although Roy couldn't resist being cheeky when an opportunity presented itself.
"Better watch out, Lucina..." He nudged her on the side and jested, "Now you have two Mario brothers you'll have to thrust at...!"
At first, she just breathed out softly through her nose in annoyance to Roy's unflattering jokes. Then she smirked, offering her rebuttal to him by making the flat side of her Falchion swiftly swing over and swat the red-haired swordsman on his rear. He jumped slightly in place.
"Not unless their fire scorches your sense of humor first," Lucina teased right back, "Oh, and that's two for flinching..."
She swatted again, this time harder, to which Roy hopped forward and laughed, "Agha! Stop it!"
He quickly drew his own sword and held it up, clashing against Lucina's. They stared eagerly yet playfully into each other's eyes several moments before shuffling about the main mat, laughing energetically amid their little tussle.
"... Whoa! Watch it there will ya?!" Some of the others training nearby had to promptly step aside and save themselves from this cackling, dueling duo.
Yoshi for one worriedly leaped out of the way, just in time to avoid a wide swing by Roy which barely missed the edge of Lucina's cape and struck the sandbag he'd been at. His blade tore the canvas open and caused a whole mess of sand to start piling up on the floor.
"Ha, better try harder!" Cackled Lucina as the two rumbled by. Lowering his large eyelids, Yoshi could only exhale hopelessly at this comical scene these two 'heroes' were creating.
"... More amateur theatrics, eh...?" Ike scoffed through his nose.
After a good half-minute or so of witnessing the sight, Mario figured he'd had his share for now. He simply shook his head and smiled, concluding with a chuckle:
"Alrighty guys, thanks-a-for the fun. Oh, and my money's on-a-Lucina by the way..."
Marth and Ike were still fixated on their two wild but playful comrades, though they nevertheless offered a friendly goodbye nod.
"Tell your brother we wish him the best," the blue-haired Prince acknowledged.
Thus Mario retired back to his spot on the bench, not long before Luigi returned as well with an exuberant Kirby still close behind him.
"... Hey, how'd it go bro?" Mario asked his green-shirted sibling who'd plopped down beside him, grateful to take a break from the practice. Kirby also hopped up on the bench next to the brothers, interested in their unfolding conversation.
"It was-a-pretty good, Mario. Just-a-fine." Luigi answered, wiping his forehead but feeling satisfied nonetheless.
Mario glanced at him through the corners of his eyes, impressed how he'd gained some more courage.
"There, you see, bro?" He complimented, "You do have it in you. We saw you over there-a-doing your good old-a chops."
Luigi felt humbled at that supportive remark and smiled. He looked around, but soon snapped his attention to the training facility's entrance due to noticing something, or rather someone who was arriving. His eyes widened and it seemed like most of that confidence he'd just gained promptly sprouted wings and flew straight out the exit, leaving him bare once more.
"Oh, mama-mia..." He groaned damply, "He's-a-here too...!"
The whole room all but quieted down somewhat as the one-and-only Captain Douglas Jay Falcon strode in. This part-time bounty hunter, part-time F-zero racer held a particularly formidable and rather smashing reputation in every sense of the word; something that was obviously not limited to his home planet of Aardas.
"Hey-ho, Mario," he called over to the plumber, flicking his signature two-fingered salute. "Wanna warm up a bit while there's still time?"
Mario could only tip his cap in response, gently rubbing the side of his leg with his other hand. "Thanks-a-but no thanks, Douglas. I was just over with-a-Marth, so I don't-a-want to make anything-a-too sore."
After giving a hearty, understanding chuckle, Captain Falcon strutted onto the center of the training mat and began stretching; flexing his very visible muscular stature.
"Gotta make sure your muscles are all stretched out for the fight!" He proudly proclaimed to no one in particular, "Could end up being the only difference between a K.O for you and a win for them!"
Was he trying to show off to everyone else around? Perhaps so, because he then swiftly leaped over to a free sandbag nearby and began beating the living daylights out of it. Even while doing so he persisted in rambling about the apparent benefits of stretching.
"It'll make ya feel... Free! HUAAHH!" He swung around, slugging at the sandbag with powerful force. "But most of all, it'll make ya feel... REAL GOOD! HAHAHA!"
These rambunctious announcements of his attracted amused stares and snickers from everywhere around the main room. Some other smashers even had to try hard to keep from laughing out loud.
Link for one glanced up and eyed him silently with a hopeless smirk for several moments. After scoffing lightly through his nose, he just shook his head and went back to testing the twang of his Hero's Bow.
First it had been with Roy and Lucina's playful spar, but now Captain Falcon was here making an arguably even bigger scene by himself.
Whilst there truly did seem to be a palpable enthusiasm here throughout the training facility, it was still being saved for the competitions just ahead. Lying beneath it all though, the rivalry of said competition always held that unshakable basis: That pure sense of friendly sportsmanship and camaraderie.
It was an unforgettable and even enlightening feeling for everyone who participated, yet for now, this mood of preparation persisted.
At another sandbag, nearby the one that the F-zero racer was mauling mostly for bragging rights, Donkey Kong began doing likewise. After tightening up his iconic red tie, he hurled his huge fists around and just about pelted the rigid figure while some of the other smashers looked on with a noticeable hint of intimidation upon their faces.
"... Oooh... Looks like ya got some fierce flies out to get'chya, Mac baby." Upon seeing this himself, Doc Louis pointed it out to his pupil who glanced over from polishing up his pair of cherished green boxing gloves.
A corner of his mouth rose in a smirk and he reassured his coach, "You really think so, Doc? Nah... What is it you always say? 'Dance like a fly and bite like a mosquito?'"
Louis' face got overcome with a joyous smile. He chuckled heartily, "Oh yeah. I'm talkin' about a big mosquito, baby. A great, great big one."
Mac scoffed, offering an honest nod of his own in response. As he did so, he slid the right boxing glove back on his corresponding hand and flexed it to ensure it felt right.
Then his coach knelt down and rested one of his large dark-skinned hands upon Mac's muscular shoulder. He wanted to tell him something much more meaningful albeit honest.
"Hey, kid... We've come a long way now, and I know this is your first smash tourney like many other fellas here." He spoke into Mac's attentive blue eyes, "I've seen a number of these before. One mistake, and it's all over. But out there on the platform... Hey, just like in the ring back home, it's all about heart... And I know ya have it."
"Mm..." Mac fully understood these words and offered his true appreciation, "But like I said, it's all thanks to you, Doc. Really, you taught me everything you know."
Louis could only lean back a bit with his hands on his hips, quite humbled. After a moment though, he calmly tried to insist, "That may be... But it's still you that's got the heart, Mac baby. Say... Now there's a nice little rhyme..."
He raised his other hand as if to take a bite from something, yet uttered a small groan instead when he realized his chocolate bar was no more. Only the empty wrapper with some melted chocolate residue along the inside remained in his grip. Scoffing, he just shook his head with hopeless amusement at Mac, who quickly noticed as well how he'd been so carried away in eating it. Together they shared a brief but hearty laugh.
"Alrighty Mac, I guess that's it from me then," Louis declared with another sigh, giving his pupil a final pat on the shoulder. "Looks like all the other coaches are startin' to head up to the coach's box, so I reckon I'll be gettin' up there too. Well, that, and to get me another chocolate bar anyhow... So it's all yours now, son. Go get 'em, just like back home!"
Mac watched his coach leave with a thoughtful tilt of his head, before turning back to face the punching bag. He gazed at it for a while and held up his boxing gloves, seeing the contrast to how they appeared against its worn surface.
Louis was right. It was just a punching bag, this pair of gloves here in Mac's hands, plus a big fighting heart which only he could power.
These things were everything to him in his life after all, and being a contestant in this great bicentennial smash tournament was such a special opportunity for the young boxer who was already hailed as a champion back on Aardas. Mac smiled at these pleasant thoughts and memories; those innumerable sights and sounds of past moments in the boxing circuits back home sweeping through his mind.
"Yeah... It'll all be for you, Doc..." He nodded, proceeding to unleash another storm of practice punches on the bag.
Seeing Mac and those other much more physically defined fighters take out their brute strength made Luigi worriedly turn to his older brother. "M-Mario, a-are there normally this-a-many burly fighters...?"
"Mhmm," Mario confirmed, "Normally Wario, Waluigi, Bowser, Ganondorf, and-a-King Dedede are here too... But-a, except for Wario and-a-Waluigi, the others were scheduled to arrive late. Hmm, I wonder why Wario and-a-Waluigi are running late though...? Ah, what am I saying? You can-a-count on them getting here very soon."
Luigi gulped and wiped away a visible drop of sweat gathering on his large nose. His thoughts must have been swarming all over the place.
Where had that briefly acquired surge of courage he was enjoying gone to?
He could only hope it would find its way back to him posthaste.