A/N: The order in which I plan to do the returning absent veterans isn't exactly in the order in how they are revealed in the trailer. Here's how I plan to do it:

- Ice Climbers

- Pokemon Trainer (Squirtle and Ivysaur, featuring an appearance from Charizard)

- Pichu

- Young Link

- Wolf

- Snake

Without further ado, let's begin, shall we?

Icicle Mountain...

"Hup!"

"C'mon, Popo, we're almost there!"

"We're still going on that date after this, right?"

"Of course, silly! Now climb!"

Popo and Nana, better known as the Ice Climbers, were approaching the summit of the once-thought insurmountable Icicle Mountain. Along the way, they had managed to collect several baskets of vegetables and some fresh meat for safekeeping (they did need to generate some income, after all, as it was impossible to grow food in their village, and the mountains contained game that was infinitely more profitable than the rabbits down in the forests). Soon, they had reached the very top of the mountain, with Popo collapsing in a heap due to him carrying the various foodstuffs they had collected.

"No mountain is tough enough for this bone-chilling duo!" Nana exclaimed as she planted their flags into the ice.

"Hah... hah... that's great, Nana. You still have that Condor Caller?"

Down in the village...

With their pockets now filled with gold coins, and their baskets lighter than what they used to be, Popo and Nana went back to their shared cottage.

"That was fun, Popo! What mountain do you think we should go to next time? Popo?"

Popo, having sat quietly on his beanbag, was slowly tearing up looking at an old photo.

"What're you so upset abou-" Popo turned around and showed her what the picture was, and Nana immediately understood why he was so upset.

It was a picture of them with the rest of the fighters from the third Smash tournament after they had resolved that debacle in Subspace. Mario, always the optimist, had taken the picture, in the hopes that "they would share those bonds forever."

It had been a few long years since that day.

Nana remembered the day that Popo had come back from the post office with that letter that said that they had not qualified for the fourth tournament. Popo, who made many friends at both the second and third tournaments, was downright inconsolable for the next week.

She then tried to console him, saying, "Popo, it's okay. They probably still remember us, and we might be able to go back for a fifth tournament... if they ever have another one."

Before Popo could say anything, however, someone knocked on their door. Rubbing his eyes, Popo went to go and answer, and when he did, he blanched at who he saw at the door.

He saw a large right hand, clad entirely in white, that was holding a suitcase emblazoned with a circle with a thick vertical slash a little to the left, and a thin horizontal line towards the bottom. Master Hand boomed out, "Popo! Nana! It's been far too long! May I come in?

Popo meekly stammered out, "Y-y-yes, Mr. Hand."

After a flush of the toilet, Nana walked out, asking, "Popo, who's at the do-"

She stopped in shock at the sight of Master Hand, someone she had not seen in years, floating right next to her boyfriend, who had gone white with shock.

"My apologies, Nana. How about we discuss my sudden appearance over... there?" Master Hand said as he snapped his fingers, creating a decently-sized table for her, Popo, and the disembodied hand to sit (or, in Master Hand's case, float).

"So, as you may know, now I only visit fighters when I begin the fighter selection process for a new tournament. I consider it common courtesy to personally hand-deliver these invitations to who I want to be in the Smash tournament, as these fighters have rightfully earned their spot. Everyone else from the previous tournament has been secured."

Popo, who had seemed to finally find his voice, said, "B-but why are you visiting now?"

Master Hand gave off his signature booming laugh, and gave Popo an envelope from his suitcase, saying, "Popo, Nana, welcome back."

Master Hand then vanished, emitting off a small flicker of light which turned their table back to normal.

Nana was the first to speak, saying, "Well, this is exciting! We're finally back in! Popo, how're you feeling?"

Popo instead tackled Nana into a big hug and gave her a kiss, before saying, "We gotta start packing now! They're expecting us by December 7th! That's less than a month from now! WE'RE FINALLY GOING BACK! WOO-HOO!"

As Popo ran excitedly ran around the house, grabbing their spare parkas, their Squall Hammers, and various other items, Nana could only chuckle at seeing him with such exuberance, before going to the fridge to pack rations.

And Popo and Nana are back! Those two and their stupid chaingrabs in Melee and Brawl... anyways, I'm going to explain some decisions I made regarding this chapter:

- Throughout my time playing Smash, I always regarded the Ice Climbers as a couple. Don't ask.

- Nana and Popo are roughly 15-16 in this story. I've had a relative timeline for each and every Smash tournament planned out, but said timeline only applies to the realm in which said tournaments are held, time flows differently for every realm.

- Time is very, very, loose in this story.

- The Subspace Incident shook some of the Brawl veterans very badly, with the Pokemon Trainer declining to return (and by extent, Squirtle and Ivysaur). Snake had the whole plot of Guns of the Patriots to deal with, so he was gone, while Wolf simply declined to return for the fourth tournament. Snake's FOXDIE has mysteriously become dormant.

- Master Hand only began to deliver invitations personally after Cloud.

See you in Kanto!