Chapter 49

"Here we are at Smash World!" announced Bowser.

The group looked at awe at the place. Buildings sprung up, and the atmosphere felt comfortable. Hundreds of skyscrapers filled the area, with hundreds of smaller shops crowding the street. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people were walking around, either eating the food or admiring the place. There was something very important in one of the booths where thousands were walking in. Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi

"How big is this area?" Roxas asked. "Why?"

"This area was built a long time ago," explained Bowser. "Mario started this out as a brawl between friends, but with the advertising and other things, the place expanded into a utopia. Now, there are millions of people living here, fighting here, and playing here."

"So...this base of yours...you think it is here?" asked Demyx.

"I am not sure," asked Bowser. "As I said before, most of the worlds here are asleep. I do not know if our enemy has the thing with him, or if he parked it somewhere, but it had to have passed through here."

"Well, Bowser, we should head over to the Fighter's retreat and see," suggested Toad.

"Let's go," said Bowser. They went through the crowded streets. As they passed through, a boy with white wings and a bow and arrow approached them.

"Mario! Luigi! Yoshi! Bowser! It's been so long!" said the boy.

"Indeed it has, Pit," said Bowser.

"How come you are here?" said Pit.

"I am looking for my ship," said Bowser. "Someone took it, and now-"

"It is in the world of never-ending dreams," said someone else.

Before anyone could react, the group was transported to a different area. They were inside of a building, sitting on the couches. A boy just like Pit, only with black wings, stared at them.

"Whoa! Dark Pit!" cried Pit.

"What is this?" said Demyx. "Some demented clone or something?"

"I would watch your mouth if I were you," said Dark Pit. "Anyways, I saw your ship go to the dimension where dreams continue forever."

"Why did you bring us here?" said Toad.

"Well, for starters, you cannot go to that world unless you have a ship like Bowsers. What I am proposing is that I will help you, in exchange for you all helping me."

"Okay..." said Roxas. "What do you need help with?"

"There is something happening here at the tournament. Apparently, more heartless and nobodies, along with the unverse and those neithermen, are entering the tournament in masses. They are hurting the fighters."

"So, what do you want us to do about it?" said Bowser.

"I want you guys to enter in that tournament. I want you all to participate and fight to the fullest. That way, we can see what they are after."

"That makes no sense," said Demyx. "I mean, first off-"

"We cannot disqualify our contestants for tournaments unless we have a certain reason for doing so," said Dark Pit. "They might harm the fighters, but that is in the fights, and there are rules that allow that. However, these heartless are inflicting long-term pain and something that is probably worse on these fighters, so I need to know."

"Okay, then...what about just fighting them outside of the tournaments?"

"They disappear after every tournaments. They can only be defeated in the tournaments. Any other suggestions?"

No one spoke up. Dark Pit continued. "Anyways, I have registered you guys up. There is a Mega tournament that is happening in two hours. This is the first time that we are having over a million participants come over."

"Whoa!" Roxas and Demyx fell to the floor in shock. Everyone else widened their eyes.

"We are going to fight so many people?" said Bowser.

"You'll see," said Dark Pitt. "Go to the tournament stage in the center of town. Good luck, and watch out and see if these guys are after something."

"Why are you doing this?" said Bowser.

"Cause I am. Now get going!"

The group teleported once more. "Hopefully, they are enough," muttered Dark Pit.

The group was teleported to a registration line. It stretched several meters away from the center of the city. "How long are we going to be here?" asked Demyx.

Just as he said that, the group was suddenly pushed towards the front of the line. "Welcome, good sirs!" said the man. "We operate at lightning speed! Here's hoping that you all sign up!"

"We are all...I guess," said Toad.

"Excellent! Good luck, and remember, don't let the teleportation get to you!" The group once more teleported to a waiting area.

"My god, I see why he said that," said Demyx. "Well, that was fast."

"Indeed. This place tends to move fast," said Bowser. "The tournament will start soon. We better be careful and make it as one of the top places."

"How does this work?"

"Well, there are about a million fighters, right?" said Toad. "Well, there are only thirty-two places, so we are going to have an all-out brawl...with 31,250 people."

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" cried Demyx. "We have to fight that many people?!"

"Most of the fighters are not as strong as us," said Bowser. "Just focus on your health and you will be fine."

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention!" said the man. "We are going to start here with our first of thirty-two matches...all contestants will be teleported now!"

"Wha-" Roxas vanished into a light. He found himself on a field, with thousands of other people.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is how it is going to go down! With inspiration from the Dark World in the Yu Yu Hakusho universe, we will have people fighting to the top! May the winner be in eternal glory, and the loser will get at least some experience, if not fun. I have gone on for long enough! Warriors, FIGHT!"

Suddenly, a whole bunch of monsters collided with each other, disappearing as they lost. Several beings already collapsed, and thousands more were joining in. Roxas rushed forward, using lightning to get the quick KOs. Before he knew it, the announcer was laughing. "Look here folks, Roxas, participant number 599893 has just nearly finished off most of the competition. There is only one more heartless...oh wait! It was disintegrating. Congrats, Roxas! You win!"

The audience cheered. Roxas looked around him, realizing that he defeated most of those beings. He was definitely getting stronger.

Roxas teleported out of the arena.