Super Smash Bros adventures chapter 5
True to his word, Sakurai had revealed the request message board the following day to all of the Smashers, most of who were ecstatic to be able to see the homeworlds of their fellow tournament participants. Some of the villains, however, weren't too thrilled with the idea of running errands to help people with their troubles. They were more intent on causing trouble.
When most everyone was out for the day, trying out the job board system for the first time, Mario, Pit, and Link went to find a trouble to solve themselves.
"Hm, most of these missions are meant for only one or two people." Link muses, his eyes flying across the sheets of paper taped to the board.
"Is there a job all three of us can do?" wonders Pit. Since this was his first time experiencing mission requests like these, he didn't want to go alone, and the three of them had agreed to hang out together later that day.
Mario scans the board until his eyes stop on a particular slip of paper. "Here's a job we can do, Cucco picking."
Link's face blanches bone white at the mention of the word Cucco. "Oh no." he says, looking as if he might pass out. Sure, he had the Tri-force of courage, but that didn't mean he should willingly throw himself and two unsuspecting friends into a den of ferocious monsters, and Cuccos definitely fit that category as far as he was concerned.
"What do you mean, oh no?" asked Pit, who clearly hadn't encountered a Cucco during one of his brawls.
"Bad things can happen when you're with Cuccos. Those chickens can pick a fight with you." Link says pointedly.
"Doesn't seem too bad." Mario reasons doubtfully. "If there's a Cucco that's picking a fight, I'll roast it with my fireballs and make spicy hot wings."
But Link shakes his head at the Italian plumber. "They're stronger than they look. How about we find another job?" he suggests.
"I want to do this job." replies Pit. "I really want to see Hyrule, and that's the only job on here that we can all do."
"Come on Link, please?" asks Mario.
Link thinks for a few moments, then sighs and folds his arms across his chest. "Find. But if we get hurt, it's your fault." Link says contemptly. The three of them sign their names and the job post starts glowing, taking them through the golden portal.
"Where are we?" Pit asks curiously, staring around at the small houses in the village square.
"This is Kakariko Village." Link answers, suddenly on his guard as if something would jump out at them at any moment. The Hylian leads the others past a well and a few houses until they arrive at the Cucco farm. But the Cucco pen is completely devoid of chickens.
"There's nothing here." says Mario, staring at the fenced-in area at the side of the house.
They head around to the front of the house. "Let's get this over with." Link sighs, and knocks on the door.
A lady with short, curly, reddish brown hair answers, and smiles upon seeing Link. "Oh Link, it's been a while." The woman greets happily.
"Hi Anju. You need help?" Link asks politely, happy to see her at least.
"Yeah. Thank you for accepting my job request." Anju responds. She then notices that Link hadn't come alone. "Who are your friends?" she asks, waving a hand at Mario and Pit.
"Oh, this is Mario and Pit. They're from different worlds." explains Link.
"How nice!" Anju exclaims. "How about I cook some food for you guys?"
"That'll be great." Link answers, not wanting to hurt Anju's feelings. Anju leads the three Smashers inside her house and begins preparing the meal. A while later, she sets out a bowl of soup, a chunk of buttered bread, and a bottle of Lon Lon Milk in front of each of her three guests.
"So you need help catching the Cuccos again?" asks Link after a few mouthfuls of soup.
"That's right." replies Anju.
"How did they get out?" inquires Mario, biting hungrily into his bread.
"Well. I was feeding all of my Cuccos, when they suddenly flew away! They haven't done that in a long time, and I saw a strange creature near their pen. I think they got startled." explains Anju.
"Oh, man. That's terrible." Mario says. They sit in silence for a while and Anju notices, with pleasure, that they had all finished their food. She is about to ask if they want more, when Pit speaks.
"This soup is really good. Can I have seconds?" the angel asks. The others nod in agreement, wanting more as well. Apparently, the chicken lady's cooking had actually improved greatly over the past seven years.
"Sure." replied Anju as she refills their dishes with soup and milk.
"So all we have to do is collect all of these chickens?" asks Mario as they begin to eat again.
"Yeah, but they're not just normal chickens. These chickens almost killed Link once." replies Anju.
Mario's eyebrows rise up and Pit nearly spits his milk across the room.
"Are you serious?" Pit screams when he swallows.
"Well, this is embarrassing." Link mutters, resting his chin on the wooden tabletop. Anju sees this and smiles apologetically at him.
"Don't worry, we're here to help you." says Mario, pushing his empty bowl away from him and getting up from the table.
"Thank you everyone." acknowledges Anju.
The three Smashers head outside and begin working on a plan to get all of the Cuccos back to Anju's house.
"Okay. We'll split up." says Link, trying to remember where the Cuccos had flown to the last time he had to find them. "Mario, you look near the entrance to the village. Check in crates if you have to. Pit, you go look near the Windmill, and I'll check… well everywhere else. We'll meet up by the well and go from there."
"Got it!" Mario and Pit exclaim, and the three of them head off in different directions.
It was long, hard, work, but somehow, the three Smashers managed to gather all of the stray Cuccos by the well.
"Aw, how cute!" Pit says, looking down at the chickens' little, plump bodies and white feathers.
"They may look cute, but they're deadly." Link warns.
"You're overreacting." says Mario, bending down to one of the chickens. "Hey, little Cucco. Let's take you guys back to the farm."
All of the Cuccos stare at the plumber with black, beady eyes. Then, before he can react, Mario is taken down in a frenzy of scratchy claws and sharp beaks, the feathered bodies jumping all over him!
"Mario!" Pit yells in stunned shock.
"Mama mia. Help me." Mario screams, trying to fight off the seemingly cute monsters that were now crowing and pecking him. Link just groans and pulls out his Hookshot. Link's chain wraps around Mario's ankle and he is pulled out of the pile of Cuccos, landing on his back.
"Thank you Link." says Mario, exhausted and breathless.
"Told you not to look down on them." Link responds. "Now let's get these Cuccos."
Mario uses his Fireballs to block Cuccos from escaping, while Pit chases them down. Link uses his Hookshot to catch the evil birds. Eventually, they manage to get all of the chickens back to Anju's pen.
"We caught all of them." Link informs, panting.
"Thank you very much. Let me give you your reward." says Anju. Anju pulls out three purple, diamond shaped jewels and gives one to each of her helpers.
Pit stares down at his jewel with fascination. "What are they?" the angel asked curiously, looking at Mario and Link's reward.
"They're Rupees." Link explains. "The currency I use in my world. Purple ones are worth a pretty decent amount."
Mario and Pit smile and the three of them pocket their reward.
"I can't leave you with so little." The chicken lady said compassionately. "How about I give you a Cucco?"
Link, seeing the flashes of horror on his friends' faces, spoke. "That's ok Anju. Thanks, though."
"We have to go now." adds Mario hastily.
"Well thank you again!" exclaims Anju. Mario, Link and Pit wave goodbye and the portal transport them to the Smash mansion.
"Where did you guys go?" wonders Zelda when they return.
"We went to help Anju." replies Link, rubbing his arm, which had a fair amount of scratches on it.
Zelda gives Link a knowing look and smiles empathetically at him.
"I never want to see those evil chickens again." Mario declares.
"Agreed." Pit chimes in, stretching his wings.
Link folds his arms and gives them the I told you so' look.
"Aw, don't be so down." Peach says, emerging from the kitchen carrying a platter in her arms. "Look, I've made chicken nuggets!"
Upon hearing this, Mario, Link, and Pit scream in terror, and run to their room as fast as they would if they all wore Bunny Hoods.