The SSBM Chronicles – Chapter 2: Journey to the Arctic
An SSBM Fan Fic, by Smoke_Rulz
srssbm.cjb.net


Mario continues his fast warp through the green pipe apparatus. Suddenly, he slows, and pops out the top. He's now at the Infinite Glacier. Snow is falling, and also blankets the ground, although it's not that deep. On the horizon, there's the largest village in the Infinite Glacier, located at the bottom of Icicle Mountain. "Itsa very cold out here.. gooda thing I didn't forget my parka." Mario says to himself.

Mario slips on his parka, and treks to the village. He gets there in about 10 minutes. When he gets there, many villagers recognize him. "Hey look! It's Mario, from the Mushroom Kingdom!" one villager shouts out.

"Itsa so good to get a warm welcome ina such a cold place." Mario says. (*Authors Note:* Lame joke. -_-)

The village elder greets Mario and takes him to his quarters. When in there, he and Mario sit down and chat while enjoying some hot chocolate. "So.. what brings you back to Icicle Mountain, Mario?" the elder asks.

"It isa terrible. Master Hand has returned from the Dimensional Void." Mario explains.

"What?" the elder says, surprised, "You can't be serious!"

"I ama quite serious," Mario says, "and there's more to the story."

"Please.. do tell."

"I wasa called to Princess Peach's castle on short notice. I was given this information, and it turnsa out that Master Hand has escaped with another hand called Crazy Hand. They attacked Hyrule, and eventually caught us offa guard at the Kingdom."

"ANOTHER Hand?"

"Yes. And he seems to possibly be more powerful."

"Just how did they escape the Dimensional Void?"

Mario sips some hot chocolate. "We haven't a clue. At first we thought thata Bowser or Ganondorf could have been behind it, but their slates are clean."

"There has to be something we're overlooking."

"That coulda be a possibility."

"Is there anything else?"

"Well.. yes. I havea mainly come to seek the help of Popo and Nana."

"Ah! Popo and Nana! You're thinking strategically, my friend!"

"Yes.. several of us have gone out to find allies to help us fight this threat." "That is a good idea. Well.. Popo and Nana are up high on Icicle Mountain.. probably at the top by now. They go there all the time."

"It's a great place upa there." "Yes.. but I'm afraid the lift we use to get up there is broken. You'll have to scale the mountain to get up there."

"That'sa no problem."

Mario and the elder head back outsider to the villagers. They bid him a farewell as he heads over to scale Icicle Mountain.




Icicle Mountain wasn't that far from the village. The easiest way up the mountain is a large series of platforms. Some slanted, some icy, and some with many ice blocks. Topis and Polar Bears raid it as well. Mario has tackled this before. He begins his many hops up the platforms, dodging Topis and Polar Bears. One tries to attack him, but Mario is too fast for him. At about the halfway mark, Mario accidentally jumps right into a group of 4-5 Polar Bears. They look at him and growl. It looks like Mario has no choice but to fight them. Just then.. something taps Mario's foot. It's a Freezie. Mario bends down and picks it up. The Polar Bears see it, but are too slow to react. Mario nails 2 bears with same Freezie, encasing them in a large block of ice. He then promptly drops the other Bears. He then continues his trek upward, grabbing a Freezie or two to pick off some Polar Bears on the way. Mario soon sees the end to the platforms. In a matter of seconds, he reaches the top. It's very mystical place at the top of Icicle Mountain. Even though the snow blew harder and harder as he was going up, at the top, there is no blizzard at all. It also seems to have a warm feel to it. Some plants are even growing out of the snow-covered ground. A few buildings are around. This area used to be a religious place, but is now kind of a resort for people who can scale it. A few villagers are around, and they notice Mario. "Hiya, Mario!" a female villager yells out.

"Hello!" Mario yells back.

Mario shakes hands with some of the people there, and then he sees Popo and Nana over by an ice-climbing workshop. He heads over to them, and they are happy to see him. "Mario! Long time no see!" Popo says.

"That'sa very true, my friend." Mario says.

The three go inside, where Mario promptly tells them what's happening with Master Hand and Crazy Hand. Popo and Nana are quite stunned. "That's just terrible, Mario," says Nana, "but what have you come here for?"

"I wisha to seek your help. Me, Luigi, Link, and the others are heading out to gather allies to fighta this threat." Mario explains.

Popo and Nana are ecstatic, as they now will get their chance to help out. "We'll be glad to help, Mario!" Popo says.

"Great! That makes me so happy. I-" Mario is cut off by a ruckus outside.

The three go to the door, and sure enough, the Hands are out there causing terror. "Oh no!" Nana yells.

"I should have saw thisa coming!" Mario says.

Crazy Hand notices Mario. "WeLl WeLl.. WhAt Do We HaVe HeRe?" He says.

Mario says nothing, but instead stands ready to fight. Popo and Nana pull out their mallets. Master Hand sees them. "Don't make me laugh, weaklings!" He yells out.

"We JuSt GoT bAcK fRoM tHe ViLlAgE aT tHe SuMmiT. i HoPe No OnE dIeD fRoM pUrE tErRoR." Crazy Hand says.

This angers Popo and Nana greatly. "I've heard enough!" Popo yells.

He and Nana jump at Crazy Hand and attack with one of their signature attacks, the Squall Hammer. Crazy Hand jerks backward. Master Hand is about to attack the two, when Mario catches him off guard with a big jump kick. The other mountain climbers around the area watch. Popo and Nana manage to get Crazy Hand on the ground. Then stand on top of him and beat him with the mallets. Then Crazy Hand closes his huge palm, grasping Nana. Nana screams. "Let go of her!" Popo yells.

Mario nails Master Hand with a Super Jump Punch, and turns around to see Nana's peril. He runs over and kicks Crazy Hand hard, making him release his grip. The three fighters back flip back in Mario's direction. Crazy Hand gets up, and in a violent rage, clenches his fist and blasts forward. Mario jumps out of the way to the left, and Popo and Nana Belay upward. Master Hand regains his composure, only to be nailed by Crazy Hand, who is unable to stop himself abruptly. The two fall off the side of the mountain. Mario, Popo, and Nana stand looking for a moment, when the two hands fly back up into view. Crazy Hand turns around and makes a hand gesture, opening up a large, red portal. "You haven't seen the last of us, you bastards!" Master Hand yells.

The two hands turn around and head through the portal. Mario, Popo, and Nana stand still for a moment. Then, all the people behind them clap and cheer for their minor victory.




Mario and the Ice Climbers head back down to the summit village. The place is nearly decimated, but no one is seriously hurt, which is fortunate. The villagers were told of the fight at the peak, and the three fighters celebrate. Mario stays at the inn for the night. The next morning, Mario and the Ice Climbers get ready to depart for Mushroom Kingdom. The village elder sends them off with his good wishes. "May you fight valiantly, and victory be your prize." He tells them.

Mario and the Ice Climbers bid the village farewell, as Mario's green pipe pops up from the ground. The three jump in and begin their warp to the Kingdom.


THE END
Next: Chapter 3 - Earthbound