Innocence Regained
"Ernest Hemmingway once wrote, 'The world is a fine place and worth fighting for'. I agree with the second part."
-Se7en (1995), dir. David Fincher
"This council finds that both Fox McCloud and Falco Lombardi have demonstrated genuine remorse for their past actions, and we have heard at least two testimonies regarding their improving character. Therefore, we hereby reinstate their pilot's licenses effective immediately, with all privileges and benefits said licenses entail. Also, we are ordering that this infraction be fully expunged from their records. Provided, of course, that they enroll in a 12-week sensitivity training course and write a formal letter of apology to the parties they have wronged. Is that clear?"
Falco and Fox stood before the council, both attired in business suits. "Yes," they replied in unison.
"I hope you know that we've decided to give you a second chance. Let it not be in vain."
"We won't," said Fox. "You have our word."
Hand-in-hand, the two reinstated pilots walked out of the room to find Kirby and Luigi waiting for them.
"Well?" asked Luigi.
Falco grinned. "We got our pilot's licenses back," he announced. "The nightmare is over!"
"Poyo," said Kirby.
"We have to take some sensitivity training courses, but redemption always has its price," said Fox.
"I hope you both learned something from this," said Luigi.
"Trust me—we have," Fox told him.
"Thanks for vouching for us," added Falco. "We really appreciate it."
We didn't do it for you, thought Luigi, but he smiled at the avian. "Had to do what we had to do," he said.
"Poyo poyoyo poyo," added Kirby.
"I meant what I said a while back," said Fox. "I want us to start fresh. I want us to trust each other again."
"Poy," Kirby said coolly.
"And the same goes for you, Luigi," Fox went on. "I know this has you thinking about the past, but—I didn't know what I was thinking."
Luigi gave him a cool smile.
"Falcon and I are doing much better," said Fox. "Whenever we wanna host parties, we make sure we invite everyone."
"That's very kind of you both," said Luigi.
"Maybe—the five of us can do lunch," said Falco.
"Well—that depends," said Luigi. "We'll need to take a look at our schedules."
"Poy poyoyo poyoy poyo poyo," added Kirby.
"Fair enough," said Fox. "Falco and I need to get going and register for our sensitivity training course before the deadline. Thanks again for your help."
"You're welcome," said Luigi. "We'll see you later."
Kirby and Luigi watched Fox and Falco go, and then the Star Warrior turned to his friend. "Poyo poyo poy poyoyo?" he asked.
"I can't say," said Luigi. "It will always hurt until the end of my days. But I think it's worth a try."
"Poyo poyo," mused Kirby.
"I believe in second chances," Luigi told him, "but I don't believe in third chances. My willingness to forgive only goes so far."
"Poyo poyo poyoy poyo popoyo poy poyo?"
"Pikachu—he has one strike against him. Falcon has one strike against him, and Fox has two," said Luigi, "but they shouldn't worry too much about that."
"Poyo poy?"
"Mario—he hasn't done anything severe enough to warrant a strike. And Koopa—he's just a villain, so counting strikes against him is just a waste of time. But Kirby—that chapter is over. Don't keep that hate in your heart. Don't keep count of the strikes against them. Live your life. Meet new people and see the world. Remember the good, not the bad."
Kirby took a deep breath and let it out. "Poy," he said.
Luigi smiled warmly and offered Kirby his hand. "C'mon," he said. "Let's head back to the Smash Mansion."
…
New Year's Eve…
The Smash Mansion's Main Hall was festooned with silver and gold ribbons and balloons. Wireframe bartenders served up classic and original cocktails. Popular party foods, from croissant sandwiches to pigs in a blanket to deviled eggs were arranged on a long table. And the hottest hits from yesterday and today played on the stereo.
Despite everything, 2002 was poised to end on a high note. Pikachu and Kirby had taken steps to work on their relationship, including going on small vacations. The Star Warrior continued to wow the crowd in his matches, more gamers chose him as their main, and the Kirby-cide technique was adopted in professional tournament play. He took the high road and invited many of his former tormentors to parties of his own, where they enjoyed cake and punch and played their favorite games. Meta and DDD regularly saw about him, as did Tiff and Tuff. Bit by bit, the last of his resentment receded, and he was ready to heed Luigi's advice and look toward the road ahead.
Fox and Falcon stopped being merely two Smashers who scoffed at others together and began acting like actual friends. They went on lunch dates. Fox taught Falcon how to fly an Arwing, and Falcon taught Fox how to drive a F-Zero vehicle. The two found hobbies which enabled them to focus their energies inward, such as art, writing poetry and fishing. Most importantly, they'd spent the remainder of 2002 working on their relationships with others.
Luigi's interactions with them were warmer and less guarded, but the racer and the vulpine could still sense that barrier between them. It would always be there, a raw, exposed nerve, and the trick would be not to agitate it too much. Their friendship was still undergoing repairs, even three years after the fact, but even so, Falcon and Fox had done things that Luigi could never forget. He had let those two back in, but there would be days where he'd wish he hadn't.
Currently, Falcon was on the dance floor, holding Samus close to him, the two of them slow-dancing to a tender love ballad. Fox was also sharing a dance with Krystal, her head on his shoulder and his hand on the small of her back. With their improved attitudes had come improved love lives, both women willing to give these relationships another shot. It wasn't exactly a Disney love story, but it certainly wasn't a tragedy, either.
Joining them was Falco, with his own plus-one, Kat. The pair moved smoothly across the dance floor, interacting with other couples. There was Kirby and Pikachu, their eyes closed as they savored the contact. Mario and Peach stared deeply into each other's eyes, while Link twirled and dipped Zelda like a professional ballroom dancer. Luigi blushed to a deep scarlet as he danced with his date, Daisy.
All was well. All was perfect.
Later in the celebration, Kirby, Pikachu and Luigi were on the Smash Mansion's front lawn, gazing at the stars.
"Poyo poyoyo poyo," mused Kirby.
"Pika," said Pikachu. "Pika pika pi." He took Kirby's face in his paws. "Pika pi pika pika pi."
Then, he turned to Luigi. "Pika pika pi?"
"You're right. How did that petty argument get started in the first place?" Luigi sighed. "I guess I need to share the blame, too, for pouring accelerant onto it. If I'd just ignored you, then it wouldn't have flared up like that. But…" He took Pikachu's paw. "Soon, that'll be just a page in the tournament's history book, never to be touched upon again."
Pikachu smiled. It had been slow going, but he and Luigi finally had some semblance of a friendship back. Both hoped to continue building upon it in 2003.
Elsewhere in the front yard, Falcon, Fox and Falco also commiserated, drinks in hand.
"Do you think they'll really be able to forgive us?" asked Fox.
"Completely and totally?" asked Falcon. "It doesn't look like it."
"I don't think there's such a thing as complete and total forgiveness," Falco chimed in. "I should know that; I ran out on Star Fox multiple times."
"Aw, Falco," said Fox. "The two of us have had our disagreements over time, but when the going gets tough, you have my back. That's all that matters."
Falcon whistled as he gazed at the sky. "The stars are certainly beautiful tonight," he mused. "Wanna make a wish before the fireworks start?"
"Not without us!"
Sam, Krystal, Kat, Luigi, Kirby and Pikachu walked over to join them.
"Hey, guys," said Fox.
"Hey," said Luigi. "I was thinking that maybe—we should all dive into the New Year together. To that end—let's all make a wish."
"Quick!" Kat exclaimed. "Here comes a shooting star!"
As the shooting star raced across the inky blackness, the octet closed their eyes and silently made their wishes. They wished with their hearts—and they wished with their minds.
"Huh," said Falco when the moment passed. "That was actually—better."
"Yeah," agreed Fox.
"Look, guys," said Falcon. "I know there's a lot going on between us. Sam—I know you haven't forgotten about that Team Battle. Luigi—there's still a lot the two of us need to sort out, and it's gonna take more than three years to do so. Kirby—I didn't participate in the hassling and heckling, but I feel like I could've done more. But I'm trying my hardest to be a better man. Not just for me—but for all of you."
"Kirby," said Fox. "I hurt you, and Falco hurt you, and Marth and Dorf and Koopa hurt you. When I learned what you'd been driven to do because of us, I felt sick. A new year won't magically make it go away, but—I don't want to start 2003 like this. Please, Kirby—I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us. You, too, Luigi."
Luigi looked from Fox to Falcon and back again.
"Right now—it's not my move," he said. "It's yours."
"How can we make this right?" asked Fox.
"Poyo," replied Kirby.
"He's right," said Luigi. "You're already doing it."
Matching smiles broke out on Fox's and Falcon's faces.
"Hey, you guys!" Marth's voice called out to them. "What are you doing? The big ball drop is just two minutes away!"
Luigi held out his hand to Fox. "You heard him," he said. "Let's ring in 2003 together."
Fox took the gloved hand, and then Kirby took Fox's other hand. And then the three of them walked back into the Smash Mansion, with Falco, Kat, Falcon, Samus, Pikachu and Kirby following them.
…
All 25 Smashers sat in front of the TV, joined by Master Hand and Crazy Hand, watching as the famed ball began its annual descent. The final seconds of 2002, undoubtedly the roughest year in Smash Bros' history, began to tick away. Kirby sat next to Luigi, Pikachu, Falcon and Fox, a brave and determined survivor of a grand psychological war. His scars had healed, and his spirit had risen again like the Phoenix. Whatever monsters would confront him in the coming year and the many years after, he'd face them head-on, and he wouldn't have to face them alone. There would be no more nightmares, no more pain, and God willing, no more tiers.
"10…"
Falcon took Samus's hand and pressed it to his lips.
"9…"
Luigi's eyes met Mario's, and they shared a smile.
"8…"
Fox and Falco shared a meaningful look.
"7…"
Peach leaned her head against Mario's shoulder.
"6…"
Marth brushed a strand of red hair away from Roy's face and gave him an affectionate look.
"5…"
Nana squeezed Popo's hand.
"4…"
Pichu scooted forward to join Pikachu and Kirby.
"3—2—1—HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Falcon took Sam in his arms and kissed her, and Pikachu did the same with Kirby. Peach and Mario, Link and Zelda, Fox and Krystal, Falco and Kat and Luigi and Daisy shared celebratory smooches as well, among other couples. Noisemakers twirled, and people blew into party horns as Wireframes released confetti into the air. Champagne was poured into glasses and distributed to party guests ages 21 and older. MH turned to his twin brother and smiled.
"Happy New Year, my dear Crazy Hand," he said.
"Same here, my dear Master Hand," replied CH.
The two Hands embraced, and then they ushered everyone outside as the fireworks began to explode in the night sky.
"It looks like we're a family again," laughed CH.
"You'd better believe it," said MH.
And he was right. All of the Smashers were celebrating 2003's arrival together, regardless of their tier ranking. Fox, Marth and Falco were mingling with the likes of Pichu, Young Link and Ness, having resolved never to cross that line again. The bonds between the Super Smash Brothers had faced another storm, and once again, they survived.
End Book 2
Please R&R!
