A helicopter flew overhead as thousands of screaming fans poured into the Stadium. The stands were high, and surrounded an enormous platform hovering over a pit. The platform was called the Arena, and that was where battles in the Stadium were fought. Using technology involving nanobots, the Arena could change its shape and form to create new battlefields for each contest.
"Ladies and Gentlemen..." an announcers voice boomed throughout the Stadium. "Welcome to the Super Smash Brothers competition...Today's matches... Fox McCloud versus Kyros Lani... Samus Aran versus Donkey Kong... And a special treat... A boss battle... Your two favorite Smashers... Link of Hyrule and Matthias Park versus Volvagia!"
At the announcement of the final battle of the day, the crowd's screaming enhanced. Matthias and Link were inarguably the most powerful and most popular of the Smashers. It would be interesting to see how this fight would turn out; not only had the two never teamed up before, but despite the friendship they shared in everyday life, they were hated enemies in the Arena.
Cameras flew about the Arena, projecting images onto large screens situated throughout the Stadium. Far below, ready to walk out over a platform onto the Arena, the Smashers were preparing for battle.
Fox McLoud was tying a red sash around his neck, and a blue birdman by the name of Falco Lombardi was giving him advice on the upcoming battle. Fox took a moment to configure his blaster pistol, and put it back in his holster. He stood up and straightened his tan flight jacket and brushed at his green trousers. His white pilot boots came up almost to his knee.
After he was ready, he walked out of the small room and into view of the fans. Cheers erupted, and he sprinted to the retractable platform that allowed access to the Arena. When he was in the area that he wanted, he stopped dead in his tracks and squatted down. Flames encircled him, and he exploded upwards into the air about ten feet, the fire trailing behind him.
Kyros Lani, the blind warrior mage, was the next to emerge. He had been sitting and sharpening his blades, dual six foot broad swords. The fact that he was blind seemed to be shown with pride, he wore a blindfold of a faded red color. But the blindfold was there to hide a silver scar left there from the burn that had cost him his sight. He had a tall and slender frame characteristic of the Elven race. He was wearing the same clothing he always wore, a black shirt with both his pants and trench coat a dark violet blue. On his hands he wore black fingerless gloves and about his waist two belts, one loose and one tight. His lavender-white hair fell loosely about his shoulders.
Slowly, he walked out to the platform and crossed to the Arena. Even without sight he could see, guided by the magic he wielded. When he stood across from Fox, he gave a short weapons display and stood ready.
"Ladies and Gentlemen... The first fight for today... The galactic mercenary... Fox McLoud... Versus the blind warrior... Kyros Lani... Bets for this fight are now final... 3... 2... 1... Fight!"
As the sounds of battle ensued, the next fighters were getting ready. Donkey Kong, a giant gorilla wearing a red tie, was eating bananas. Samus Aran was in another area, calibrating her weapons systems. Since she was fighting an opponent who was only capable of close-quarter combat, she decided to even the odds and had the blaster arm of her Chozo Suit removed and had a spiked ball put in it's place.
In another area, Matthias Park and Link were going over a strategy for defeating their challenge. Link had faced the fire dragon Volvagia before, but this would be under different circumstances, and certainly the copy they would fight would prove to be a harder battle, especially since they were two legendary fighters, the best Super Smash Brothers had to offer.
After a few moments, the announcer's voice boomed across the Stadium again, announcing the winner of the fight. Moments later, Kyros walked into the room, his clothing torn and his blindfold gone, but still victorious. Samus and Donkey Kong knew that they were up next, and readied themselves for battle.
Once they were gone, a man walked up to Matthias carrying a small box. He gave the parcel to the ninja, who accepted it and bowed wordlessly.
"What's that?" asked Link. Matthias knelt down and undid the clasps on the box. He opened it and pulled out two small pouches containing special powders he thought would be useful for this battle. He stood back up and held the pouches by the drawstrings.
"Dragonsbane, poisonous to dragons. Powdered root of the Fire Herb, when covered you are partially protected from even the strongest of flames." Matthias answered.
"The Dragonsbane will be very useful here, but I don't think we'll need the powdered root, however. You can control fire, and the red tunic I have on is already heat resistant." the Hylean noted.
Matthias took the pouch anyway. The tunic Link wore only covered part of his body, while his limbs were only protected by white tights, and his hands by leather gauntlets with gold plating. He wore a red sock cap that covered his long blonde hair. His eyes were blue, and despite his age, they reflected the soul of a battle-hardened hero.
After he tied the pouch onto his belt, Matthias took a spot by the wall and sat down cross-legged. He placed the Spirit Staff across his lap and closed his eyes. Taking in a deep breath through his nose, he exhaled it slowly through his mouth. He closed his eyes, and focused on his Ki. After a moment, he saw the red cloud dancing about him, and he watched it as it aimlessly swirl about him.
He took a moment to get a hold of the energy, then he maneuvered it into his body and muscles, aiding in his strength and stamina. He then pulled it onto his skin for protection, a sort of invisible armor. Invisible, but formidable.
He did this for several minutes, then the energy stirred slightly, and his eyes opened just as Link was about to put a hand on his shoulder to wake him. Link gave a pause, and took a step back as the ninja rose to his feet.
"The fight's over, time for us to go." Link said.
Matthias nodded, and the two walked side by side to the arena. As they exited the room, they saw Samus and Donkey Kong being given medical aid. Judging from the wounds and injuries, it was hard to say who had won the fight.
"Ladies and Gentlemen... the final battle of the day... a duo that has never been seen here before... the Hero of Time... Link of Hyrule... and the Ninjutsu Master... Matthias Park!"
Once their names had been announced, Link took a step back with his left foot and brought his right arm around his body. He then stepped forward and hit the ground with his left fist, causing a spell called Din's Fire. A dome of flames engulfed the two fighters, and Matthias whirled the Spirit Staff, causing the flames to jump out in flares. Once the fire had gone, the crowd went insane.
"And their opponent... the guardian of the Fire Temple in Hyrule... the Fire Dragon... Volvagia!"
Matthias and Link braced themselves as the felt the Arena shift, and it changed from forest scene that had been used for Samus and Donkey Kong to a castle courtyard setting. The floor changed from loose earth and leaves to hard brimstone. The trees melted to the ground and in their place parapets rose into the sky. Damage had already been done to the castle, stones were knocked loose and lay strewn about, and small fires were burning away at what seemed to have been counter-siege weapons.
A brief silence echoed without interruption, when suddenly a piercing shriek ensued, followed by an explosion of stone as an enormous red dragon exploded out of the heart of the castle. It kept trailing upward through the wreckage, being added onto by nanobots that were hidden by the walls of the stone structure. It snaked it's way through the air, it's body and neck were about the girth of hut, and the length seemed to never end.
Link took a step back in wonder and amazement, this was a hundred fold larger than the Volvagia he had fought in the Fire Temple back in Hyrule. Matthias stood firm, but allowed himself to speak.
"It seems you have been modest in the tales of your adventures." he said, obviously impressed that the other had bested a creature of such prowess.
After it had snaked its way up and out, it began flying in figure eights in the air above them. The Arena slowly raised high into the air, to protect the Stadium and it's occupants from any damage that might unwittingly befall them. As the Arena rose into the sky, Matthias took a battle stance, and Link unsheathed his legendary weapon, the Master Sword, and held his shield ready. One thing that set Link aside from any of the other Smashers was the fact that he was left-handed.
From far below, they could still hear the announcer as he counted down.
"3... 2... 1... Fight!"
Immediately, Matthias bolted for a part of the wall that would be high enough to reach the dragon. Link ran to the side, and he tried to see who the dragon had shifted its attention to. Sure enough, it was going after Matthias, the closer and more immediate threat.
As Matthias ran, he pulled a grappling hook off of his belt and swung it above his head. As he got closer to the wall, he ran to the side of it and watched overhead as Volvagia flew closer to the ground. Already, the Ninja could feel the heat radiating off of the fire dragon. After passing the wall, he doubled back and leaped up. Kicking off of the wall, he launched the hook and latched it onto one of the horns growing out of Volvagia's head.
Watching from a safe distance, Link took his position among some large rubble that would provide him a safe hiding spot. He sheathed the Master Sword and laid his shield on the ground next to him. He pulled a short bow off of his shoulder and grabbed a bundle of arrows from his quiver. After jamming their tips into the ground next to him for easier access, he picked three up and notched them simultaneously to his bow string.
He watched as Matthias swung up onto the dragon's head and clubbed it's forehead with his Staff. He whispered a word of magic to his arrows, and the tips began to glow a faint blue. Taking aim, he waited for Matthias to use his strikes and influence Volvagia to face him, and let fly with the Ice Arrows. His aim was true, and the three arrows struck their mark on the left eye, freezing it.
Bringing the Spirit Staff down again, Matthias shattered the ice (and the frozen portion of the eye along with it) and pulled a small dagger from a sheath on his leg. He jumped down from the crown of the head and straddled the bridge of the nose, then made a lunge to lean over within reach of the injured eye. He jammed the dagger in and twisted, blood spraying out of the wound.
The power of the spray was almost enough to knock the ninja from where he sat, so he dropped down and grabbed onto his grappling hook below. As he hung on, Volvagia swung it's head to shake him off, but instead Matthias used this motion to swing himself back on. He dislodged his hook and turned to run towards the midsection of the body.
Link saw what Matthias was doing, and left his bow and arrows behind as he ran from his cover. Dodging rocks and other fallen rubble, he darted his way towards the giant beast. When he was close enough, he pulled a spring-loaded chain hook and fired it into the horns of the dragon. The hook punched a hole in the bone of a horn, and held fast.
As the chain retracted and pulled Link in, he held the Master Sword behind him, trailing it through the air. After a moment, it gathered in energy from the air and began to glow a faint orange. The glow grew stronger and then changed to blue. When Link came within range of the beast, he released the power. In midair he spun, the energy rushing out of the blade in a circular wave, smashing into the bone of the horn, shattering it.
Still flying over Volvagia with his earlier momentum, Link turned and fired his grapple again. This time, the chain launched over the mouth. The shot would have been a horrible miss, but in a painful rage, Volvagia thrashed its head into the chain, causing it to loop around its snout. Link reeled in again, but using its powerful jaws, the fire dragon snapped the chain, sending links and bits of metal flying. The Hylean tumbled through the air for a moment until Volvagia snapped its mighty jaws about him, and gulped him down.
After neutralizing this threat, Volvagia then turned to face the other. Even through the thick-armored scales, it could feel the ninja running down the length of its body. It lifted its head and whipped it down, sending a wave down its snakelike body, and Matthias jumped into the air to avoid being thrown by it. As the hump came at him, Matthias landed easily on the apex and ran down the side. Reaching for his hook again, he swung it in a circle to his side.
As Volvagia turned to face him, Matthias launched off the opposite side of the body and threw his hook over. It went over and hooked under a group of scales, and Matthias swung underneath. Brandishing the Spirit Staff as a knight would a spear, he swung under the soft belly and jammed it into the exposed flesh. Jerking to a halt, Matthias let go of the rope and focused on the Staff. He channeled his energy down through it's length and into the dragon's body.
In his peripheral vision, the ninja saw Volvagia's face come at him, and barely had time to grab the pouch of Fire Herb root and toss it into the air before him. The rush of flames that came at him sent the powder flying back in his direction, coating him in its protective cloud. The flames did no damage to either ninja nor dragon, as Matthias had just been coated by the powder and Volvagia had a natural defense to its own weapon.
Matthias took advantage of the confusion caused to the dragon as to why he hadn't been burned to a crisp and remade his plan. Changing the form of his energy, the Spirit Staff changed from it's red glow to yellow, and the Essence of Thunder showed it's destructive force as a hole about three feet across was blown out, blood draining out and onto the ninja as he fell to the ground below.
The Staff changed again from yellow to gray as Matthias used the power of wind to slow his decent to the ground, and then again to leap back up. Even through the dark clothing, the bright glow of his birthmark could be seen clearly. Rising back up, the ninja readied the second pouch, Dragonsbane. When he was within range, Volvagia fell right into his trap. Snapping the huge jaws to swallow him just as the dragon had Link, Matthias threw his pouch just at the last possible moment.
Volvagia reared it's giant head back as the Dragonsbane burned at the flesh inside it's mouth. Just as it released a roar of pain that shook the arena below, a wave of energy ripped the flesh of its side open and Link leaped out. He fell below and braced himself for impact, but then felt something wrap about him. Matthias had seen him fall and shifted his body to direct his fall towards his teammate.
He gathered his energy into his body, bracing it and strengthening it. When the landing came, he shoved Link upwards, not enough to actually send him up but enough to soften his fall enough as to not injure him. Matthias, however, was a different story.
As the Arena reverted to what it was before the battle and lowered back into the Stadium, the announcer's voice came over the loudspeaker.
"Ladies and gentlemen... The winners for this fight... Matthias Park... And Link of Hyrule!"
After that announcement, the Stadium went wild with cheers. Then the image on the large screens shifted as the cameras went in for a close-up on the winners. The crowd fell silent as they saw Link get up and frantically run for medical staff as Matthias lay unconscious. The Spirit Staff had ceased its glow and now looked like an ordinary bo.
"Ladies and gentlemen... We have an injury on the field... Matthias Park is unconscious... Link of Hyrule wins the fight! Matthias Park is disqualified!"
After this announcement, parts of the Stadium cheered, while most of the crowd stayed silent, wondering of the fate of the ninja. As medical staff rushed out to Matthias with a stretcher, Sara was already being escorted down. When she reached his level, she was met by Link, who held her as she tried to break past him. He held her in place, which wasn't easy due to the fact that he was holding onto the Spirit Staff.
"Let them do their work, Sara. You can visit him later." he tried to reassure her. "Besides, Matthias is a strong warrior, he can pull through. Trust me, I've had to fight him."
Sara stopped her struggling and fell to her knees. Link knelt down to comfort her, and handed her the weapon. He knew that Matthias would want her to guard the weapon in his absence.