The Smashers Unite

The Smashers Unite!

by Ryan Myers

Chapter 1: The Device

Bowser, as usual, was not happy. Mario and Luigi (well, mostly Mario) had defeated him again, and saved the princess…again. Bowser had lost track of the number of times the Italian brothers had made fools out of him a while ago, and he was feeling quite discouraged. He kept on thinking, Soon I will have my revenge! However, he was pretty sure that that would never really happen, no matter how deviously he arranged his various minions. What I need, he thought pensively, is a team.

Bowser did not notice the floating glove outside of his castle, listening in. The glove was scarred and singed, and barely holding together. It did not look happy, even for a glove, and it stayed, floating and thinking, for a long time. Suddenly, it winked out of existence, and returned carrying a small remote control-like device. It charged forward and crashed into Bowser's room.

"Who dares…what the-?" Bowser roared, staring at the intruder. "Wh-who are you?"

"I am Master Hand." The glove replied weakly.

"Doesn't mean anything to me." Bowser retorted, growing angry. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to offer – help." Master Hand answered calmly. "I – want – revenge…"

Bowser stared at the glove intently. Somehow, he knew that his chance to defeat the Mario Brothers was at hand.

"Go on." Bowser suggested, calming himself and sitting back down.

"Well…" Master Hand started. "It's a long story and I am still very weak. To put it shortly, I am delegating to you the responsibility of carrying out my revenge on Mario."

Bowser almost leapt for joy. Out of the blue, the exact thing he needed was standing-well, floating in front of him.

"Intriguing…" Bowser replied, trying not to sound too excited. "How will I go about doing that?"

"A fair question." Master Hand nodded-well, sort of-and stared out of the hole he had created. "I suppose now is a good a time as any to tell you my sad story…"

Why does this blasted glove talk so much? Especially when he's obviously in pain? Bowser's temper flared up again. "Get on with it!"

"Yes, of course. Well, I was the hand of a powerful alien, whose soul was entrusted to me when I was rather unsurgically removed from the body. I had the power to travel between dimensions, but I got bored after a while, and organized a tournament. The Super Smash Brothers tournament. Anyway, I was…too cocky. Mario defeated me, and I was unconscious for a long time. Now that I have woken up, I want my revenge! But, I am too weak to carry it out myself, which is why I give you this device."

Bowser stared at the device Master Hand was holding. It didn't look very interesting. "Will this help me defeat Mario?"

"Yes, in a way. You can use this to travel to different dimensions, Bowser. I have programmed into it three destinations, where you will find allies."

"Allies?" Bowser couldn't believe he was hearing the glove right – or if he was hearing it at all. Maybe it was just a dream….

"Yes, allies." Master Hand replied, interrupting Bowser's reverie. "You will need their help to defeat all eight members of the tournament."

"Now, wait a minute!" Bowser roared. "I thought I was just getting revenge on Mario!"

"It's all or nothing, Bowser." Master Hand replied, seizing the device and beginning to fade away. "Your choice."

Bowser snarled in anger at the choice his benefactor was giving him. He could barely defeat Mario and Luigi on his own, how could three allies help him defeat eight fighters? Then again, even if there was a chance he could defeat Mario…

"Wait! I-I'll do it."

"Wonderful." Master Hand responded. "Here is the device. Remember, only use it in the open. Good luck." And with that, Master Hand was gone.

Bowser stared at the device intently. Only use in the open? The only open area around is the field outside Peach's castle. He contemplated the possibility that Mario and Luigi could stop him before he recruited the allies. Oh well, I'll be quiet. For the chance to get revenge on Mario…

He stared at the device for a long time before heading out the door, toward Peach's castle.