Dr. Mario's laboratory was a fitting reflection of the doctor himself. It was immaculate and spotless, and yet somewhat cluttered and disorganized all the same. And yes, that same funky techno music that Dr. Mario loved listening to as he killed viruses was still pumping out of the sound system. It was into this eclectic little pocket of medicinal research that two green figures arrived.
"He is dirty! Dirty as dirt that never takes a bath!" Fawful raved, having not shut up about Giga Bowser for the last hour. "Well, he may be the big chicken of evil, but I am the egg that hurts him as it comes out! Fear my righteous yolk, fink-rat!"
Luigi rolled his eyes and sighed. "Anybody home?" he called into the lab. His response was Dr. Mario's lab assistant scurrying up to him as fast as his ancient body would allow.
"My my my my my!" Professor E. Gadd chattered as he approached. "Come in, come in, come in, gentlemen! Welcome to Dr. Mario's laboratory!"
"Hello, Professor Gadd." Luigi replied. "Remember me?"
Professor Gadd blinked. "Luigi? Well, bless my soul! Is that you, my boy? Well, well, well, well! This is a surprise! Let me get my glasses on so I can get a good look at you…" he began to fumble in his pockets.
"Uh, you're wearing your glasses…" Luigi remarked.
"Oh, don't worry about those silly old glasses. I see better without them anyway." Professor Gadd muttered. "What can I do for you today, son?"
"Well, Professor, there's a favour I need to ask of you." Luigi remarked. "Is all of your old ghost-trapping equipment still around?"
"Eh? Oh, that." Professor Gadd scoffed. "Yes, yes, yes, yes. Just sitting around collecting dust, I'm afraid." He sighed. "Nobody's called me with a haunted house to clean out in months. Looks like I should have branched out a bit more…" he sighed.
"Well, I've brought somebody I need you to collaborate with." Luigi explained. "This… uh… fellow is Fawful."
"Ah! How have you been doing?" Fawful cackled, a manic grin on his face. "You old man who is older than a rock that died of old age! I am he who is Fawful! I am he who is brilliant! Great brilliance sits in the comfy chairs of my head, waiting to stand up and walk towards the kitchen of excellence and fix a quick sandwich of… GREATNESS! Yes, greatness! My mouth waters with the drool of many oceans of anticipation! Put your brain against the brain that is mine, and nothing will stop us, like a rock that rolls downhill and crushes little gophers on its way down! And that gopher, my friend, will be Giga Bowser, who will receive from us so many helpings of DEATH that it will KILL him! And then my vengeance shall be awarded to ME in a grand ceremonial ceremony, presented by the handsome presenter who is also ME! Everything that is mine WILL BE MINE!" he paused to catch his breath. "Excuse myself, but did I have insanity again?"
"My, what a fine young man." Professor Gadd remarked. "Reminds me of myself in my youth."
"Uh… yeah." Luigi said at last. "You see, Fawful here designed this headgear device that could take living people and turn them into this sentient gas that could possess other bodies. It basically could turn people into ghosts."
"Fascinating!" Gadd mused. "Quite, quite, quite, quite!"
"And so, I was wonder if, between his inventions and yours…" Luigi pulled out a piece of paper. "You could create something like this."
Professor Gadd and Fawful studied the schematics. "Oh, Luigi!" Professor Gadd cackled. "Don't worry about a thing, my boy! This will be no problem at all! Right, young man?" he asked.
"Ah! Such easiness tickles me until I laugh!" Fawful replied. "This shall be as easy as a piece of pie, which contains ingredients such as gooey filling of simplicity and a flaky crust made of things that are not difficult!" The two mad scientists made their way into the laboratory, giggling to themselves in anticipation.
"Well, it's like old home week around here." Luigi turned as he heard a voice. There at the door stood Dr. Mario.
"Hi, Doc!" Luigi smiled.
"Fortifying yourselves against Giga Bowser, eh?" Dr. Mario asked as he approached, his cane scraping rhythmically across the floor. "Good planning, Luigi. I'd help you out, but, well…" he gestured at his own leg. "The spirit is willing, but the bum leg isn't."
"Don't sweat it, Doc." Luigi replied. "Ever since you and Nurse Peach have settled down, you've got better things to do than fight."
"Yeah. Too bad, though." Dr. Mario mused. "Back in the old days I'd have whipped that turtle's tail with the best of them. But now, well… 'I've fallen and I can't get up' is one lousy battle cry…" he and Luigi laughed.
"We've all gotten older, I guess." Luigi remarked.
"That's what you get for living long." Dr. Mario quipped. "Still, if you need an old pill-pusher to act on the sidelines as a field surgeon, I'm available…"
"I wasn't going to pressure you, but if you want to help you're more than welcome." Luigi responded.
"Oh, and I've whipped together a little something just for you, Luigi." Dr. Mario added, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a large capsule. "Be careful with this. There's only one of these, but it'll be a huge help against Giga Bowser."
Luigi examined the pill. "Well! Thanks, Doc!" he replied. He tossed the pill in the air, preparing to catch it in his mouth.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Dr. Mario yelled, shoving Luigi out of the way and snatching the pill out of mid-air. "Don't eat it, dummy!"
"Well, what am I supposed to do with it?" Luigi asked, getting back on his feet.
"Giga Bowser's got a big mouth. When you have a good shot, toss it in… and stand back." Dr. Mario explained, placing the pill in Luigi's hand.
"Oh. What'll happen?" Luigi asked.
"I could give you a medical explanation, but you wouldn't understand." Dr. Mario remarked. "And if I told you in layman's terms… you'd probably throw up."
Luigi grimaced. "Fine. I hope this works." He put the pill in his pocket.
"Don't worry, Luigi." Dr. Mario assured. "That little baby has three nasty surprises in it. Three surprises I know very, very well."
"Gotcha." Luigi nodded.
"Well, I need to get back to the lab." Dr. Mario remarked. "See you later, okay?"
"Sure thing." Luigi nodded. As Dr. Mario walked out, he pulled out his Game & Watch unit. He may as well contact another friend before making his next trip.
"All right! Where's that incessant squawking coming from?" a voice demanded as the shrill beep of the Game & Watch echoed through the luxury treehouse high in the Donkey Kong jungle. Into the room staggered Cranky Kong, who was senile as all get-out and not nearly as spry has he was when he was 90, but still was irascible as ever. "If it's that no-good Stanley the Bugman again, I swear…" the ancient ape grumbled as he located the source of the noise. "Eh? Didn't know they still made these anymore…" he mused as he switched the Game & Watch device on.
Luigi's face appeared on the screen. "Um… hello?" he hesitantly asked.
"Mario!" Cranky gasped. "I knew you'd come for me someday! Well, this old ape still has some tricks for you! Hold on just a minute…"
He walked over to a barrel sitting in the corner of the room and groaned as he tried to pick it up. "Who's been packing this cockamamie thing with lead?" he demanded. "Back in my arcade days I could lift this over my head! Dad-blamed saboteurs have no respect for a gaming icon! Why, my machines were like quarter magnets back in the day! We didn't have any fancy reflective gaming disks and wussy touchy-feely screens either. Give 'em a four-colour screen, a joystick and two buttons and the kids would dern near wet themselves!"
Suddenly a little chimpanzee scampered into the room and picked up the discarded Game & Watch. "Oh, hi Luigi." Diddy Kong remarked as he gazed into the screen. "Sorry about that. I didn't know that the old man would pick it up."
"Don't talk to him, boy!" Cranky yelled. "That's Mario! Don't let his palette swap fool you! Don't let him grab a hammer or it's all over!"
"Cranky, this isn't Mario." Diddy sighed. "Why don't you… go into the other room and have some strained bananas or something?"
"Bah!" Cranky snapped, hobbling his way out the door. "Kids these days don't give a flying filly about quality. Give my stool sample a shiny case and they'd call it the Game of the Year!" he muttered on his way out. "And my stool would still have more gameplay than half the rubbish out there!"
"Cranky's a little… out of it." Diddy remarked.
"Haven't you told him what happened to Mario?" Luigi asked.
"Only about a hundred times." Diddy rolled his eyes. "It's usually an hour by the time he's forgotten. In fact he… he still asks when DK is coming back."
"Ooh. I'm sorry." Luigi remarked.
"It's okay. We're all coping." Diddy replied. "Candy took it the hardest, but she's mostly over it now. And Chunky doesn't look too bad in the tie, except that he keeps getting it caught in doors."
"Sounds like things haven't changed." Luigi declared.
"Some things, no." Diddy replied. "What's up in your neck of the woods?"
"Well, Giga Bowser is back and wants to battle." Luigi replied. "Would Chunky be interested?"
"One look at Giga Bowser and Chunky would be hiding under his bed for a year." Diddy snorted. "I'll come instead."
"You?" Luigi asked. "But you're…"
"The hero's little buddy. Just like you." Diddy replied with a smile. "Don't worry. I can take care of myself in a fight, and I've been just itching for some action around here. I'll get Funky to drop me off at the drop point and you guys can zap me over."
"By yourself?" Luigi asked.
"Don't worry, Luigi." Diddy assured, eyeing a large crate outside with the picture of a rhinoceros painted on it. "I won't come alone, believe me."
The air was pleasantly cool as Young Link walked through the corridors of Hyrule Palace, keeping in step with his guide. His guide, of course, was his older self. As they walked, it was interesting to note the differences between the two men, even though they were in theory the same person. The elder Link was taller, and his build firmer, proof of the extensive physical training he undertook in his position as Captain of the Royal Guard. Young Link, by contrast, bore signs of his extensive wandering. He was leaner, almost lanky in some ways, and his hair and clothes were much scruffier. The eye-patch the elder Link wore was another indication, a reminder of a scuffle from nearly a decade previous. There was an odd sense of awkwardness between the two as they made their way towards the throne room. How curious that despite the fact that they were virtually one and the same, there was such a gap between their social stations.
"The Queen is particularly withdrawn the past few days." Link said at last, breaking their silence.
"Withdrawn? For what reason?" Young Link asked.
"I do not know." Link replied. "She refuses to elaborate to anybody."
"In all respect, Captain, there must be something profoundly wrong if she will not even tell you about it." Young Link remarked.
Link did not particularly appreciate the implications behind the statement, but he could not deny it at all. In all the kingdom, none were as close to Zelda as he, especially after the passing of Impa. Link was, after all, Her Majesty's oldest friend, and certainly her closest. Young Link often pondered whether the friendship could have gone farther still, had Link not been of common birth, but he never broached the subject in front of either of them, as it was not his place to ask.
"Do you think Her Majesty will join the battle against Giga Bowser?" was all he asked instead.
"I could not say." Link replied. "She is not as young as she once was. Her skills in the magical arts remain formidable, but it proves too much of a strain to enhance her physical attributes. As well, I am uncertain as to her spirit. She has been very morose of late."
"Perhaps the possibility of this battle will rekindle her will to fight." Young Link suggested.
His older counterpart did not respond, as they had already reached the throne room. "May we enter, Your Majesty?" Link asked as he approached the door.
"Approach and be recognized." A languid voice that resembled Zelda's replied. The two Links entered, finding Queen Zelda on her throne.
Zelda was still a regal beauty well into her middle age. The once-soft contours of her face were now more defined, and silver now danced among the gold of her hair. Her endlessly blue eyes reflected a lifetime of struggles and hidden sadnesses. And despite it all, she remained as lovely as when she was a girl of seventeen. "Bring you news from Smash Central?" she asked, looking slightly more interested now.
"Yes, m'lady." Young Link nodded, bowing low. "The rumours were true, I regret. Giga Bowser is alive, and a fortnight from now he will attack Smash Central. He demands that the Super Smash Brothers are present, or countless innocents will feel his wrath."
"Then we have but one option." Zelda declared. She stood up and addressed the elder Link. "Link, inform the Parliament that I shall take leave of the throne to face this threat. I shall depart at dawnbreak tomorrow. You shall accompany me. Am I clear?"
"As you wish, m'lady." Link bowed before making his exit.
"There is one more item of interest, my Queen." Young Link piped up.
"Yes?" Zelda asked.
"Sir Luigi requests that you be the one to contact Sir Ness and invite him to the confrontation. I know not why, but…"
"Very good, Link." Zelda interrupted. "You may return to our allies at Smash Central and inform them of our impending arrival."
"Yes, m'lady." Young Link nodded. "I will return as soon as I have contacted our cousins in Altea for aid."
"Very well. You are dismissed." Zelda nodded. Young Link bowed one final time before departing. Zelda sat back in her throne, her brow furrowed deep in thought. "So this is how I shall meet my end." She murmured, seemingly to nobody. "I shall depart this realm in glory, rather than despair. For that I am grateful." Standing up, she walked over to her private box of keepsakes and pulled the Game & Watch from it. Naturally, it needed to be kept in a safe place, as such sophisticated technology was otherwise unheard of in Hyrule. Zelda's delicate fingers keyed in the access code as she prepared to face a friend she had not heard from in nearly 15 years.
Traffic and a summer's breeze was the typical soundtrack to a day in Onett. The pleasant little city was nice in its own way, if one could ignore the occasional random falling meteor or the oddly-placed roadblock established by the bungling police force. Still, it had its own simple charm. And through its streets walked a young man, toting a briefcase and seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Thoughts of a very different time.
A long time ago, this young man was the guileless boy hero of Onett. With his friends by his side, he had stared evil in the eye and won the day, saving countless millions from death and destruction. His mind, accelerated beyond anything most people could even fathom, granted him the power to do nearly anything he wished, and his consciousness soared like a shooting star.
It was ironic. One would think that having the fate of the world on one's shoulders would make things complicated. And yet, everything seemed so much simpler when he was ten years old.
Ness removed his spectacles and rubbed his forehead as he approached the front steps to his home. Once the psychic whiz kid, and now just another white-collar workaday. Life is funny that way.
"Hey, handsome. Come here often?" his wife smiled as he stepped through the door. Setting his briefcase down, Ness smiled back. Of course, some things made living all the worthwhile. Paula was one of them.
"Hey Dad! Did you sue anybody today?" chirped a small voice as a six-year-old boy ran up to his father. Ninten was the spitting image of his father in his youth. He was the other thing that kept Ness grounded on this earth.
"Son, I told you, that doesn't happen every… wait a minute, why are you home so early?" Ness asked.
"His teacher says he was levitating toys again." Paula sighed, somewhat annoyed and slightly proud.
"Geez, I wasn't hurting anybody!" Ninten insisted. "I was just floatin' them around! What's the big deal?"
"Ninten, your mother and I have told you already that that sort of thing makes some people… well…" Ness struggled for a word.
"Freak out?" Ninten asked.
"Yes. It makes some people freak out." Ness explained. "And besides, you have plenty of… ouch!" he grunted as something bumped into his leg. Looking down, he saw Mr. Saturn at his feet, a Game & Watch unit in his mouth.
"NeSs HaS a MeSsAgE fRoM lAdY wItH yElLoW hAiR." Mr. Saturn chirped.
"What…?" Ness asked, picking up the Game & Watch.
"Yes, Zelda called while you were out." Paula explained. "I… told her you'd call back when you had the time."
"Hmmm. If she's calling me it must be important." Ness mused. "Would you excuse me…?"
"No problem, Ness." Paula smiled. "C'mon, you." She said to her curious son. "You can play with your Game Boy or something while daddy's making his call."
"Who's he talking to, anyway?" Ninten asked as he was lead out of the room.
"Oh, a friend that he's known since long before you were born." Paula replied.
In the privacy of his room, Ness activated the Game & Watch and punched in the appropriate code. A burst of static, and then the familiar face of Zelda, Sovereign Queen of Hyrule appeared on the screen. "Yes…?" she asked, examining the screen closely.
"Hi, Zelda." Ness greeted. "Good to see you again."
"Ness!" Zelda gasped in recognition. "Heavens, you've grown!"
Ness blushed. "It's like Captain Falcon always said; it's not the years, just the mileage." He shrugged.
"I spoke with your wife earlier today." Zelda explained. "You seem to have done very well for yourself."
"Well, I try." Ness replied. "What's up, Zelda?"
"Well… I decided I should be the one to tell you this, friend Ness." Zelda hesitated. "Giga Bowser has… returned."
"What?" Ness replied. "How could he? We thought he was dead!"
"Well, he has proven otherwise." Zelda sighed. "And there is an unfortunate number of deaths serving as adequate proof."
"Well, we… we gotta do something!" Ness insisted.
"We are." Zelda replied. "Two weeks hence he will arrive at Smash Central for our final battle. We are hoping to recruit as many of the surviving Smash Brothers as possible."
"…And you're the one calling me up." Ness deduced.
"Indeed." Zelda nodded. "Ness, I know you have shut yourself away from the rest of us ever since… that terrible day, but I want you to know that you are welcome to join us. You will be met with nothing less than open arms."
"It's not that, Zelda." Ness sighed. "It's not that I don't want to help you guys. I do want to help you, really. But… it's just that…" he lowered his head. "I can't do it anymore. I haven't been able to since that day."
"I know." Zelda nodded. "I felt it. After the battle, it was as though a candle's flame within you were snuffed."
"I thought it might come back, but it never did…" Ness wiped his eyes. "Holding off Mewtwo was too much. I burned myself out. It's gone. It's all gone. It's like… it's sort of like being blind, in a way…"
"I sympathize, Ness." Zelda replied. "You had such incredible power, and then to have it taken from you so violently…"
"My wife and son can do it." Ness remarked. "But me? I don't have even a spark of psychic power left in my brain."
"I understand, Ness. And I have preserved your secret." Zelda nodded. "But do not be ashamed. It was not your fault."
"Zelda, if I still had my power, you know I'd be there in a heartbeat." Ness insisted. "I want to help you guys. I want to keep the universes safe from Giga Bowser. But being out there the way I am now… I wouldn't last five minutes. It'd be a useless gesture. I mean, I could dig my old yo-yo out of the drawer…" he chuckled sadly.
"Ness, your wife and son need you." Zelda replied. "Stay with them. Do not worry about us."
"Yeah, you'll be fine without me." Ness sighed. "Tell everybody good luck, and I'm sorry I can't come."
"I will." Zelda smiled. "Go in peace, friend Ness, in case this is our last meeting."
"You too, Zelda." Ness replied as the image faded to nothing. "You too."
Ness set down the Game & Watch and rubbed his forehead. He knew he had made the right decision, but that didn't make him feel guilty. "Don't feel bad, Ness." Paula remarked from the door. Even if she wasn't a psychic, she could still read her husband like a book.
"I feel like such a coward." Ness replied as she sat down next to him. "When I was a kid, I'd never hesitate to jump head-first into a dangerous situation if there was trouble. But now…"
"You're not cowardly, Ness." Paula soothed. "I mean, you saved the universe more than once. That counts for a lot."
"You mean we saved the universe." Ness replied. "I couldn't do it on my own." He paused. "Although… do you remember the legend of the Son of Stars?" he asked.
"Of course I do." Paula replied.
"When I was younger, I liked to believe that it was me." Ness replied. "Arrogant, I know, but at the time it seemed as though I was going to reach that level. I'd be the most powerful psychic in the universe, and my mind could soar beyond the stars…" he sighed. "Fat chance of that being me now."
"It could be close to home, you know." Paula noted.
"What do you mean by that?" Ness asked.
"You know how when we were gazing at the stars the other night, Ninten pointed out that star pattern we had never seen before?" Paula asked. Ness nodded. "Well, last night, I saw him at his bedroom window, and he was gesturing at the stars, and they… they were moving where he wanted them to go."
Ness gasped. "But… that can't be possible! I was never that powerful… nobody was!"
"All I'm saying is that we have a powerful little psychic on our hands." Paula smiled. "And if he grows exponentially powerful as he ages, like you did…"
"Wow." Ness heaved, still in shock. He couldn't fight back a smile. "And to think you wanted to have a dog." They both broke into relieved laughter.
"…But I'm not sending Ninten off to fight Giga Bowser, if that's what you're suggesting." Ness said at last.
"Of course not." Paula replied. "He's still learning control. He might get hurt, or worse, he might hurt somebody he's not trying to hurt."
"Yeah." Ness sighed. "But I wish I could do something… anything… to help the Super Smash Brothers."
"Just remember, Ness. Being a hero isn't something you get by being powerful." Paula noted. "It's something within you already. And I know it's still within you."
"Thanks, Paula." Ness smiled. "But without my psychic powers, how can I…" he paused. "Wait a minute!" he suddenly jumped up and began rummaging through his list of phone numbers.
"What is it, Ness?" Paula asked.
"I have an idea!" Ness declared, dialling a number. "Hello." He said into the phone. "Is Professor Andonuts there? Okay, I'll hold… Jeff! Hi! Look, can I ask you a big favour?"
Back at Smash Central, Samus clicked on her Game & Watch unit with disgust. Despite how close the Smashers all were, one thing she could not abide was cuteness. She did not like it one bit. Still, she had a job to do, so she punched in the access code that would connect her to Dream Land on the pacifistic planet of Popstar.
She tried not to wince when a cuddly pink face appeared on the screen and greeted her with an enthusiastic "Hiii-iiii!"
Kirby's little hut was simple but cozy all the same. On one wall were Kirby's prized trophies – the hammer of King Dedede and the sword and mask of the Meta Knight – all that remained of two threats to Dream Land's stability, now long gone. In the middle of the room sat Kirby, idly stuffing pastries into his cavernous gullet as he conversed over his Game & Watch.
"Hi, Pinko." Samus said. "How are you doing?"
"Goo-oo-ood." Kirby cooed, inhaling an éclair. Kirby spoke English in a bizarre, stilted fashion, almost as though he had learned it phonetically. Despite this, however, it was possible to converse with him with a minimum of fuss, so long as you used simple words.
"Um, look." Samus muttered. "Giga Bowser's back, and he wants to fight. Think you can come and help us out?"
"Oh? Hmmm…" Kirby stroked his chin, as though deep in thought.
"Gonna be too busy?" Samus asked.
"Well, things are diff'rent now." Kirby murmured.
"Different? How?" Samus asked.
"Iggly!" Two little Igglybuffs shrieked as they jumped on their daddy, covering him with kisses.
"Uh… heh heh." Kirby blushed.
"I'm not going to sleep tonight after seeing that." Samus grumbled.
"Jiggly!" Jigglypuff cheered, also jumping into the happy little tableau and waving to Samus.
"Hi." Samus ground out. "Well, you two seem to have your hands full over there, so I'll leave you in peace. If you ever do change your mind, though… you know where we'll be. Party's in two weeks." She didn't hesitate to switch off after that.
"Jigglypuff?" Jigglypuff asked Kirby, as the two Igglybuffs bounced off the walls like hyperactive pinballs.
"Hmmm. Lemme think." Kirby muttered. He rubbed his head, trying to stimulate his rubbery little brain. "Hmmmm." He murmured, looking at the trophies on the wall.
If there was one thing that made Young Link uncomfortable, it was treating him like he was some sort of big shot. Perhaps it was his humble rural upbringing or his selfless streak of heroism, but having people make a big fuss about him was just plain embarrassing to him.
But, he had to admit it was touching to see that the people of Altea still respected the Super Smash Brothers two full decades after their liberation. "Hail! Sir Link the Younger!" the people shouted as he walked through the capital city, some cheering, and some respectfully bowing. Young Link saw many young children flocking to see him, and he reflected on the fact that none of them were even born when Altea was liberated; all they could remember from their entire lifetimes was an era of peace. It was things like that that seemed to make the fight worthwhile.
Entering the main palace gates, through which he hadn't walked since he was eleven, Young Link suddenly found his combat instincts kicking in, warning him of some imminent danger. Suddenly a flash of steel rushed at him from a darkened corner. "Stand fast, varlet!" a voice shouted.
The Hylian warrior had his sword out in an instant, slipping effortlessly into a combat stance. Instead of a fight, however, he was greeted with hearty laughter. His assailant stepped from the shadows. "Your reflexes remain impressive as always, my friend." He grinned.
That voice… yes, the man wore the ornate dress of a lord, and his once boyish face now sported a moustache and a goatee, but there was no mistaking that voice, nor that laugh.
"Roy!" Young Link exclaimed, putting an arm around the older swordsman in a comradely embrace. "Has it really been so long since last we met?"
"Too long, my young friend." Roy nodded. "You certainly are no longer a child. That much is for certain."
"You have grown into your position as well." Young Link added. "If one were to see you from a distance, one would almost mistake you for nobility." He added, jokingly.
"Well, if one is not worthy of a position, one should at least wear the clothes well." Roy grinned. "What brings you here, Link?"
"Danger, I am afraid." Young Link replied. "Our worst fears have become reality. Giga Bowser is alive, and has challenged us to a battle."
"Giga Bowser?" Roy asked. "Does he honestly think he is a match for the Super Smash Brothers?"
"I fear so." Young Link confirmed. "His might has only increased since our last battle. We are gathering as many of the Super Smash Brothers as we can to conquer this menace for good. I have come to ask King Marth if he can aid us."
"That may prove difficult." Roy stroked his chin. "I have taken a leave of absence from my post to visit my old friend, and he has proven most busy with internal affairs. Ruling a kingdom is a duty requiring the utmost of dedication." He added.
"Indeed." Young Link nodded. "Still, I will ask him anyway."
"Incidentally…" Roy remarked, "…is their still room in your noble band for yet another swordsman?"
"You mean you can make it?" Young Link asked.
"The Sword of Seals is in the service of the Smash Brothers once more." Roy smiled. "I swear it upon my lineage."
"Thank you, old friend." Young Link smiled. "You are nothing if not loyal."
"You are most welcome." Roy replied. "Now, let us seek an audience with the King."
King Marth of Altea, like many of his fellow Smashers, was no longer a callow youth. His prosperous reign was entering its third decade – his silver jubilee was a mere five years away. Now with the confidence and the wisdom of a true ruler, he was a King not only in title, but in spirit as well.
"Your Majesty!" Young Link declared, kneeling as he entered the throne room.
"Rise, old friend." Marth replied. "You are always welcome in Altea. To what do I owe this visit?"
"Your Majesty, Giga Bowser shall attack Smash Central two weeks hence." Young Link declared. "We seek aid from all possible quarters to defeat this menace, and protect the innocents that he threatens! Are you able to join us in this final confrontation?"
King Marth thought for a long moment before speaking. "Dear Link, you know that my debt to the Super Smash Brothers can never be fully repaid. My throne, my kingdom, my life… all I owe to your selfless actions and steadfast friendship. But, as much as I would love to take up Falchion and join my brothers in battle once more… I cannot." He sighed. "My duties to this kingdom… too deep and involved. It is not to my pleasure that I turn down your plea, believe me."
"Say no more, Your Highness." Young Link nodded. "Your devotion to Altea must be your priority."
"But know this." Marth declared, standing up, approaching the younger swordsman and placing a special trinket in his hand. "This favour proves that not only I, but all of Altea, pledge our support to your victory. At your most trying hour, know that all of Altea holds you in our prayers, and that we await news of your victory."
"Thank you, King Marth." Young Link smiled, placing the trinket in his carrying pouch.
"Furthermore, tell all of the precious Smash Brothers that, upon your victory over the fiend Giga Bowser, to meet here, whereupon there will be a celebration beyond any you have seen before." Marth added.
"You mean, if we defeat Giga Bowser…" Young Link asked.
"Not if. When." Marth smiled. "I have the fullest of faith in you all. Go with my blessing."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Young Link nodded. "Until we meet again."
"I trust it will be soon, dear friend." Marth replied.
Young Link turned away and, along with Roy, headed back to Smash Central.
"Page!" Marth turned to his servant.
"Yes, my King?" the servant asked.
"Send a decree." Marth declared. "Tell the citizens that on the date fourteen days from now, all citizens of Altea are to fast in support of our courageous Super Smash Brothers, and to pray for a quick and decisive victory. I and the rest of the palace staff shall do the same."
"Very good, sir." The servant nodded.
High on Icicle Mountain sat a little igloo, smoke coming out of the chimney. It was the only sign of civilized life on the otherwise barren tundra. And inside the igloo were two little Smash Brothers who knew the area very well.
"Okay. Good luck, Luigi." Popo said as he switched off his Game & Watch. He sighed and walked back into the bedroom, where his sister Nana lay in the bed, sipping at a bowl of hot aubergine soup.
"Who was that, Popo?" Nana asked, her voice cracked and weak.
"It was Luigi." Popo replied. "He's looking for help fighting Giga Bowser."
"Giga Bowser! Oh my!" Nana gasped. "So you're going to help, right?"
"I told him I can't go." Popo insisted. "…You're sick."
"But you're not sick, silly." Nana replied. "I think I survive a few days without you waiting on me hand and foot…"
"I can't fight without you, Nana." Popo sighed, leaning against the wall. "Everywhere I've gone, everything I've done… you've been right with me. If you can't go, I won't go either."
"Popo, you can do it." Nana insisted. "You're capable of fighting without me. You just have to try a little harder, that's all."
"But what if something happened to me?" Popo asked. "Who'd look after you?"
Nana took her brother's hand in hers. "Popo, we've taken that chance every day of our lives. Climbing the mountain, fighting polar bears… we've always survived. You can do fine."
"I know, but… I can't face Giga Bowser alone." Popo muttered. "I just can't."
"You won't be alone." Nana simply replied. "You'll have the other Smash Brothers with you, and you'll have me too. Maybe I won't be with you physically, but you know that the two of us will never be apart."
Popo stood up and walked over to the window. He sighed and hung his head. Suddenly he stood up, pulling his hood over his head. He grabbed his mallet and rappelling rope out of the closet.
"Popo?" Nana asked, sitting up.
"I… gotta go." Popo muttered. "I'm going now, before I lose my nerve. There's more soup in the pantry, and you can use the stove to…"
"Popo, I'm not completely helpless." Nana laughed. "Now you go out there and teach that Giga Bowser a lesson, okay?"
"Okay." Popo nodded. He walked over to the bed and gave Nana a hug. "…And if I don't make it back…"
"…We'll worry about that if we come to it." Nana cut him off. "Just concentrate on what you're doing and don't kill yourself thinking about worst-case scenarios, okay?"
"All right." Popo swallowed hard. "Take care of yourself, okay? I love you…"
"I love you too." Nana replied. "Now go and make me proud."
Popo nodded and somehow made his way out the door. He stopped only to wipe the tears from his face before he secured his line and made one of his few solo descents down the mountain. Letting his climber's instincts take over as he made his way down, he sighed and wondered what he was getting himself into.
Luigi felt his heart rate increase with every step he took towards Princess Peach's castle. It had been so long since he had dared to approach here. Every step, every sight, sound and smell his senses took in, only added another painfully clear memory to his consciousness. There was once a time when he and Mario were regular guests in this palace. Now it was painful for him to just be in the area. Despite this, however, he knew that Peach would appreciate an invitation in person than over the Game & Watch. Peach was reasonable. She would help out.
BOOM! A sudden explosion knocked Luigi off his feet. He looked up and gasped to see the entire east wing blown off the palace. Jumping up, Luigi raced towards the front doors. It was there that he collided with a somewhat charred Toad.
"G-G-Giga Bowser…" Toad whispered before passing out.