Super Smash Brothers Melee

Episode 5 - The Eternal Fire


"Dawn, the transition from night unto day. A fire burning so brightly as to burn away all memories of the past, to usher in a new time and a new beginning. The sun begins its daylong journey with a single step, dawn. And as that burning orb lifts itself over the highest ridges none can proclaim that they do not feel its enveloping warmth. The fire that we call the sun shall burn for many years but will never begin to match the burning of the human soul, for that is eternal" - Paul McCormick

****

And so it was, the day had arrived, the opening ceremonies. The arena was prepared, before dawn had even come the audience had arrived. Fans and spectators from across the realms lined the seats in anticipation for what was expected to be the greatest battle of all time. Thousands of people in a lulled frenzy waited for the tournament, the never-ending chatter left a sound of that of a waterfall. But no sound could penetrate 10-foot thick steel walls, for that is what the contestants waited in.

It was barely even daylight but all the contestants had arrived, they waited in their lockers rooms impatiently, some making the final preparations.

Link sat upon the lone bench in his singular room, contestants were not allowed to be put together before the tournament for obvious reasons. They all had to wait alone. Link could merely turn his sword in his hand in silence, waiting.

Fox prepared by fixing the scope on his gun, the silence allowing him to concentrate.

Yoshi stretched out all his muscles, he wanted to be nice and relaxed.

Samus fitted into her suit and was going through as many last minute diagnostics as she could.

DK worked himself into a frenzy by beating upon the walls that would not give, they barely even made a sound.

Nana and Popo worked on making sure their coats were neat and presentable.

Bowser hated the silence, he had ripped his bench from the floor and made a nice club out of it, the official outside his room didn't dare enter, but none of the other refs did either

Peach was putting on her gloves, letting her mind slip into that pre-battle meditation state.

Kirby was eating, a pile of plates a foot high lay at his feet.

Pikachu was charging up, the walls of his room crackled with the excess electricity, but of course they were rubber insulated.

Falcon was practicing his different victory poses even without the aid of a mirror.

Ness was pacing, if there was one thing he hated it was waiting with nothing to do, his mind was to full to just simply wait.

But all Zelda did WAS wait, in the form of sheik she could rest in a state that allowed her total relaxation.

Mario was standing at the exit door, even though it wouldn't open for another twenty minutes to let him into the arena.

The contestants waited in their soundproof rooms and different ends of the arena and under all the stands. But the ceremony was starting.

****

The Arena was a perfect circle with the audience separated from the arena floor. The arena was separate because it floated like an island 30 feet from the closest audience member. The space between the stands and the arena was simply air, and a long fall into the fog that would catch anybody foolish enough to fall into it. The only way to access the arena floor was from a floating platform that could be ridden out to it, that is how the announcer arrived.

As he stepped onto his platform that would take him across the fans exploded into cheers as they realized the tournament was starting. He couldn't even hear himself think as he stepped off and onto the arena. He took a moment for the crowd to calm down a bit, then he spoke. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the greatest competition ever witnessed, welcome to the tournament!" And if he thought the crowd was loud before they must have sounded like a million earthquakes at once when he made that proclamation.

Once again he waited before he addressed the crowd again. "We shall begin the tournament by explaining the rules" he hadn't expected another uproar but it happened again so he waited, and waited some more. Then finally started talking, and didn't stop until he was done.

"The rules are simply, a computer will randomly decide how many fighters will participate in a match and then randomly choose the fighters and arena used. The arena shall then be teleported here where the contestants will do battle until a winner is decided by knockout or ringout. The fights will continue in a round robin fashion until we have a winner" As he finished his hurried explanation the crowd took this as another chance to cheer.

After another wait the Announcer continued "Now to introduce the contestants" The crowd didn't stop but he didn't either. "Contestants will be announced in random order and will then take their place in the arena" With that statement the audience began to notice the large steel doors of the arena walls that most likely held the contestants behind them, one for each. The Announcer looked at his card and then simply began to read the names off.

"First contestant is, Donkey Kong!" with that statement one of the large doors began to open. DK stepped out into the blinding light and the overwhelming sounds of the crowd as a section of the fans burst into cheers for their favorite contestant. DK stepped out onto the platform and was whisked away to the arena floor. When he took his place he realized he was the first to arrive and lifted his hand in a victorious fashion, more cheers greeted him.

"Next we have, Ness!" The same thing happened, a door opened and Ness stepped out from it. DK shot his opponent a wayward glance as he took his spot on the arena floor. Ness then gave his trademark nod and his fans roared out their approval.

It continued in this fashion, the announcer listed the contestants; Pikachu, peach, Kirby, Mario, Fox, Samus, Link, Falcon, the Ice Climbers, and Yoshi.

Then Bowser was announced and there was dead silence as he made his approach. When Bowser arrived he took a moment to look around at the crowd then slammed a foot into the ground sending the entire arena island into a slight tilt. The crowd couldn't help but cheer at such a display of strength. Bowser looked at the other contestant expecting looks of shock but was only greeted with cold stares and a raspberry from DK. "soon they shall feel my strength first hand" Bowser stated to himself.

Last but not least the announcer called out Sheik. But instead of riding the platform to the arena sheik simply teleported to the arena floor, to the shock of all, except link. The crowd erupted in cheers and Falcon's utter of "show off" couldn't be heard.

All the contestants had taken their places in a circular fashion on the arena floor with the announcer in the middle "ladies and gentleman, YOUR CONTESTANTS!" and a last eruption of cheers went up and lasted several minutes before dying away.

"And without further ado, we shall begin the tournament with the opening match. This first match is NOT an exhibition match, it DOES count" The announcer let the words settle in before continuing. "Now if I could draw your attention to the main screen" almost like magic a holographic score board appeared floating above the arena. "The computer shall decide the number of fighters." At once a counter appeared upon the screen, it started to shuffle between the numbers 2,3 and 4. It was randomly picking one of those numbers. The counter slowed to a stop.

"TWO! The first match of the tournament shall be fought between one of these fighters you see before you" The contestants were paying as much attention as the spectators, their fate was being decided right then and there. "And now the computer shall decide the arena" the screen was now flashing with an array of pictures, each picture represented on of the contestants arenas. The images began to slow and eventually stopped. A section of the crowd began cheering as the arena was picked.

"DREALAND!" before the announcer had even finished the ground he stood one began to crackle and hum. The large computer was activating is teleporters.

****

In the far off realm of dreamland the area around the dream fountain was enveloped in a purple sphere.

****

And in a rush of energy the fountain was there, it was now where the floating island had been and the contestants stood upon it. Fox couldn't help but say "what a rush"

After the amazement of the technological feat had set in the announcer continued. "And last we shall determine the fighters" at last the moment of truth all eyes lay upon the screen. Fighter and fan alike had a racing pulse, waiting for the two flashing images of contestants to slow. And after what seemed like an eternity the images halted their movement.

Silence from the crowd, even the announcer was silent. The fighters stood with jaws open in shock before falcon finally spoke "I can't believe it, THOSE two right off the bat" the other fighters had similar thoughts. Eventually the announcer pulled himself together enough to speak.








"MARIO AND BOWSER!!!!" the crowd broke its silence in an explosion of cheers. "Can you believe it folks? The fight of the century will take place right here in just a few moments, get ready cause here.. we... GO!" and with that all the fighters and the announcer except Mario and Bowser left the arena floor. The two fighters stared at each other from opposite ends of the fountain.

Samus spoke as she had taken her observation spot "This is too much, the most anticipated fight of the tournament and it the first one, unreal." Yoshi had thoughts as well "this is going to be a great way to start things off" Peach was still in shock, she had not expected this to happen, nobody had! But if anybody had faith in Mario it was her.

The announcer took his spot next to the official's box and began speaking again. "Ladies and gentlemen, LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!"

****

Mario stared down to his opponent, his eternal opponent. How many times would he have to defeat Bowser? One more it would seem like. With that Mario moved into a fighting stance.

Bowser had similar thoughts, he stared at his opponent with the eyes of an evil mastermind. Bowser was not going to lose, it was going to be different this time. He too took his stance, which was simply holding his hands out as if to strangle some un-seen neck.

****

The board light up in lights and sounds. The count down had begun. Red lights shifted into green and the first match was underway. The tournament had begun.

Author: believe or not I actually randomly chose Mario and Bowser

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