Super Smash Bros adventures chapter 35
The next few weeks are normal and calm now that the holiday excitement has died down. Smashers are taking on missions more than ever, and gaining lots of money, too. However, no amount of missions or battles can erase the budding anticipation for one special holiday; Valentine's Day.
The weather lately has been brisk, yet sunny, as if it, too, is preparing for this special day.
Mario and Link stare out the window as all the girls of the mansion walk down the front drive on the way to Smash City, giggling and chattering excitedly to one another.
"Where do you think they're going?" Link asks, fiddling with something in the pocket of his tunic.
"Probably to buy a gift for their Valentine," Mario reasons, "Valentine's day is tomorrow!" This thought makes him somewhat uneasy, as he hasn't completed his own shopping. "Have you gotten something for Zelda yet?"
Link grins and pulls a small box from his pocket. "Yep!" he says triumphantly.
Mario's eyes go wide with shock. "Link! Is that-?"
"That's right!" Link exclaims before the plumber can finish his question, "New earrings crafted from Silver Rupees! Carved them myself!" Link opens the box and shows Mario his creation.
Mario stares in awe and flushes red with embarrassment. "I kind of thought something else was inside that box."
"Oh, you mean a ring?" Link asks, an ear-to-ear grin spreading on his face, "The proposal's not until May!"
"Oh, well…" Mario stammers, trying to think of what to say, "I'm glad you have plans for your relationship. Hopefully, they work out."
Link frowns. "Did you get a gift for Palutena yet?" he asks.
"Not yet," Mario says, twisting his cap in his hands, "I don't know what to get her!"
Link closes the box with Zelda's new earrings and puts it back in his pocket. "Well, you can always… start with something small." He suggests.
"I know that," Mario huffs, "but there are so many small things, like flowers and chocolates and jewelry and cake, and I don't know what to choose!"
Link looks up and sees Cloud walk briskly past their room, then gets an idea. "I bet Cloud might help us out."
Mario's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "What makes you think Cloud will help us? I thought he wasn't into this sort of thing?"
Link smirks and stands up. "I can fix that," the Hylian hurries out of the room to catch up with the blonde soldier, Mario trailing after him.
"Cloud!" Mario calls, not worrying whether Palutena overhears since she and the others are out at the moment, "Do you know what I can get someone for Valentine's Day?"
Cloud's hand already rests on the doorknob to the training room, but he turns his head in their direction, blue eyes betraying no emotion as he stares at the plumber and Hylian. "Not into that sort of thing."
"Told you!" Mario hisses to Link.
Link steps forward. "Look. Mario here is trying to move on from something in his past-"
"Which you just brought up!" Mario cuts in pointedly.
Link ignores him and continues speaking. "-and it would be really great if you could help a guy out."
Cloud doesn't respond, and Link knows he has scored a point in this argument. The soldier's mouth tightens for a moment as if considering a difficult decision. "Let's go," he says and walks briskly down the hall to Sakurai's office. He is going twice as fast as before as if to escape his indecision.
Mario and Link trade puzzled expressions, then realize that Cloud is already to the other end of the hall! "Hey! Wait up!" Mario cries, and they run to catch up to him.
They make it to Sakurai's door only to catch the last bit of what Sakurai is saying. "-I'll get the portal ready right away." Cloud nods as Sakurai make a call to one of his employees. He gets off the phone and turns back to the soldier, who stands stiff as a board. "Your portal will be waiting in transport room five."
Cloud nods and leaves the office without a word.
"Care to tell us where we're going?" Link asks, earning a nod from Mario.
"Midgar. Sector 5." Cloud answers bluntly and enters the transport room. The others follow him, unsure of what the soldier is planning, but they enter the portal.
A slight wind blows through the destroyed city, carrying dust and the chlorine-like smell of Mako.
"Whoa," Mario says, staring at the ruined city around him, "This looks nothing like the stage we fight on in battles."
"A lot's happened," Cloud informed, and stalked off, motioning for them to follow.
"This place looks like it was hit by a meteor…" Link mutters, gazing at the destroyed buildings, some of which look slightly overgrown with moss or other plants.
"It was," Cloud responds.
Mario and Link are silent, looking around at the destruction, their hearts now heavy.
They walk like this for a while, until Link decides it does them no good to feel so sad. "So, why the thing against Valentine's Day?" he asks Cloud, trying to lighten things up.
Cloud raises an eyebrow, then figures he should at least answer. "No reason," he mutters flatly.
Mario and Link glance at each other. "Well, have you ever taken a girl out?" Mario asks.
"Yes," Cloud answers as stiffly as before, trying to push the memories away. They are too painful.
"Really? Where?" Link asks, "And with who?
The soldier thinks for a moment, then responds. "Amusement park… There were… a lot of fireworks…" But, sadness wells up inside him at the thought, and he can't bring himself to tell them her name.
"Neat! I took Zelda for a picnic at a fairy spring one time."
Mario eyes Link curiously. "You did?"
"Yep! It was pretty nice! That was when we started dating officially."
"Wow." Mario tries to imagine eating a nice meal with magnificent, magical fairies hovering around. "We were in the castle eating a giant Shroom Cake with pink and white icing when Peach and I agreed to go steady," he says.
"How do you think it will be when you and Palutena start dating?" Link asks curiously.
Surprisingly, the question doesn't catch Mario off guard as much as he thinks it would, and he is about to answer when he realizes that Cloud is no longer with them.
"Can you keep up?" the soldier calls from far ahead, startling the two of them. They hadn't realized they were falling behind.
"Yes, sir!" Mario and Link respond and pick up the pace, wondering just what is making Cloud so moody.
Eventually, the three of them reach what appears to be an old sanctuary. Mario and Link follow Cloud inside, though the soldier hesitates, unsure if he is ready to face the painful memories waiting for him.
Though the place looks like it has seen better days, there is a strange feeling of peace within the walls. Bright sunlight beams through a large hole in the roof, and flowers bloom, bathed in the sun's warm light. A spring of pure, clear water gurgles within the flower bed.
"This place…" Mario remarks, staring around in awe.
Cloud slowly walks towards the back of the sanctuary where the spring bubbles. He stares at one of the bright yellow blooms, thinking it strange that something so beautiful could cause so much pain. This is where he first met her.
Mario notices Cloud's far-off stare and walks to where he is standing. "Hey. Are you all right?"
"Yeah," Cloud answers after a moment.
"You seemed lost for a minute there," Link observes.
"It's nothing…" Cloud answers quickly, "I just…" He turns away from them, but then remembers why he has brought them here. The sooner this is over, the sooner he can leave the pain behind, at least he hopes. "You wanted a gift, right?" Cloud motions to the flower bed.
But, Mario notices the way Cloud has been staring at the blooms and is reluctant to take any. "Cloud… Do these flowers mean something to you?" he asks.
Cloud winces, then lets out a breath as if he is releasing tension. He hopes to keep this quick so as not to bring up more pain than he already feels. "My friend… grew them," he says in barely a whisper.
"Really?" Mario asks, "Who's your friend?"
Cloud's heart beats faster. His fingers are tingling, his mouth is dry, his eyes are burning, but, he brings himself to answer. "Aerith…" His voice cracks under the strain of his next statement. "But, she's- gone now."
Mario and Link look at one another and understand. They wish there is something they can do. Mario knows he would be devastated if anything happens to Peach, or to Palutena. Link feels the same about Zelda.
The air is heavy with tension as if a fog of anxiety surrounds them. Cloud notices the tension as well. He had known coming here would have brought a bit of pain, but it shouldn't be this much. What is causing this much anxiety in the air? Something isn't right.
The soldier turns to inform the others, when suddenly, a flash of bright blue light appears in the middle of the sanctuary, startling them.
Mario, Link, and Cloud glimpse a figure materializing in the light, and when it fades, a man with silver hair and a long sword stands before them. He wears a soldier uniform and a black cloak, and his emerald eyes gleam sinisterly as if he hungers for conflict.
"Good to see you, Cloud." The man's voice is level, devoid of emotion, yet it sends chills down their spines.
Cloud can't believe his eyes. This is impossible. He shouldn't be back! Cloud clenches a fist and quickly tries to master himself, then speaks to the silver-haired man. "Sephiroth. What are you doing here?"
Link shifts uncomfortably. "Do you know this guy, Cloud?"
Cloud ignores the question as if he and Sephiroth are the only ones there. "How are you alive?" he asks through clenched teeth.
Mario listens closely and remembers something, his stomach hurts at the thought. This enemy has been revived, and the plumber hopes he is wrong as to how this has happened.
However, Sephiroth's next words disappoint him. "I didn't use your memories, Cloud, if that's what you assume. No, this time someone else is responsible for reviving me."
"Who?" Cloud questions. His hand instinctively flies to the Fusion Blade strapped to his back.
"It doesn't matter," Sephiroth answers, drawing his Masamune, "Our conflict will end here."
Mario steps forward. "Not if we have anything to say about it!" Mario declares, clenching a fist that is already blazing with flames.
Link unsheathes the Master sword and steps forward, but Cloud turns to them. "Mario, Link, stay out of this. This is my fight," he declares boldly and draws his Fusion Blade.
However, Mario and Link shake their heads. "We're not letting you fight alone!" Mario says.
"Yes," Sephiroth speaks in that chilling, calm tone and raises his blade, "Provide me with some challenge before you fall."
Only Cloud sees what happens next, thanks to his Mako-enhanced senses. Sephiroth lunges forward, his body a blur, and slashes with his sword. Cloud darts forward and parries his strike, the clang of steel echoing off the walls.
Seeing an opportunity, Mario leaps into the air, going for a downward kick, but Sephiroth twists away, and without missing a step, slashes at Link.
"Ugh!" Link groans, having not raised his sword fast enough. Ignoring the pain inflicted on his right arm, Link jumps in the air and brings his sword down over Sephiroth's head.
"You'll have to do better than that," Sephiroth says, his voice free of amusement. He sidesteps Link's sword as easily as if it were coming at him in slow motion.
"How'd he-?" Link is stunned to encounter someone so fast and skilled. Heart pounding, he tries to think of an alternate plan.
"Hyaa!" Mario takes the opportunity while Sephiroth is distracted and lands a powerful fire punch to the enemy's body. Sephiroth takes the attack like it is nothing, however, and Mario finds that he is dangerously close to the swordsman's blade.
The silver-haired man, fast as lightning, pulls his arm back to swing. He is about to send Mario flying, when-Clang! Cloud intercepts Sephiroth's Masamune, severely weakening the damage done to Mario.
"Thanks for the save," Mario says, dashing to the center of the chamber.
Cloud and Sephiroth exchange blows with their blades, steel ringing in their ears when suddenly there is an explosion between them, and both swordsmen stagger backward.
Link, having just thrown a bomb, darts forward, holding the Master Sword aloft. Sephiroth raises his blade, but instead of attacking with steel, he resorts to magic, launching three balls of dark energy at the Hylian.
Link immediately puts up his shield and deflects the three magic blasts, then, chest heaving, he stands to attack again.
Sephiroth remains unimpressed. "Dodge this." He slashes with his sword and sends link crashing into a wall.
Link feels like he has been hit by a speeding boulder. He blinks away points of light from his vision and struggles to stand, his body screaming in protest.
Meanwhile, Mario and Cloud are doing all they can just to avoid Sephiroth's sword and magic attacks. Mario has reflected three more dark energy blasts with his cape, but before they can reach Sephiroth, the enemy teleports, appearing three feet from where he has originally been standing.
"Hm," Sephiroth says, "I thought one of you might have been slightly exceptional, but it appears he was mistaken."
"Who was mistaken?" Mario asks, anger flaring up inside him.
"It doesn't matter," Sephiroth answers, "You won't survive long enough to find out."
"We'll see about that!" Mario declares, and dashes for the flower bed. He pulls out F.L.U.D.D. and fills it with water from the gurgling spring, then turns to find that Sephiroth is closer than he realizes. Swallowing hard, Mario sprays a torrent of water at the general, aiming to launch him into a wall, but to his surprise, Sephiroth doesn't even flinch.
"Seriously?" Cloud thinks to himself, "It takes more than water to defeat this guy. Mario should know this by now. He's been battling long enough…" Cloud looks for an opening, when he sees the danger. "Look out!" Cloud warns, but he is too late.
"Aaah!" Mario cries out in agony as Sephiroth deals a powerful strike to the plumber's chest, sending him flying!
"No!" Cloud screams. He sprints forward and deals a cascade of swift slashes to Sephiroth's body. He pulls his Fusion Blade back to swing once more when Sephiroth teleports behind him. Cloud catches a glimpse of his injured friends and turns to face his enemy once more.
Near the flower bed, Mario is struggling to his feet, panting and trying to fight his aching muscles. He looks down at his hands and notices a black aura, but only for a quick second. The clanging of steel swords echoes in his ears, but it seems far away. Mario is too focused on the dark energy.
"What is-?" But before Mario can finish his question, the evil energy vanishes. Mario shakes his head, thinking it is his imagination. He must be fighting too hard, all this to get a gift for Palutena.
By this time, Link has regained a bit of strength and tries to reach Mario. "This guy's way stronger than I thought," he croaks.
"I know," Mario agrees. "Hopefully Cloud is okay…"
"Ugh!" Cloud grunts in pain as Sephiroth deals heavy sword strikes to his left arm and waist. The soldier staggers to gain his balance, wondering how he is going to win this fight. He is the only one who can, after all.
Link readies a light arrow on his bow, pulls back and fires. It appears Sephiroth is too busy fighting Cloud to notice the streak of light speeding towards him. However, at the last second, the enemy intercepts the arrow with his sword, knocking it away.
Mario pulls himself to his feet and throws a few fireballs, but to no avail. For all the good they do, he may as well have thrown a few balls of tin foil.
Though his face shows no emotion, the gleam in Sephiroth's eyes is enough to tell Cloud what he plans to do next. The evil swordsman looks from Mario to Link as if deciding which one to eliminate first.
If Sephiroth does the unthinkable, Cloud is in no condition to stop him. His arm shakes under the weight of the Fusion Blade, and his body aches. He can barely keep his eyes open, let alone remain standing much longer.
"Your companions have proven to be of no use to you, Cloud," Sephiroth taunts, his emerald eyes penetrating Cloud's mind, "They deserve to be eliminated."
Cloud clenches his teeth, but can't muster the energy to speak. He grips his sword tighter, trying to gather his reserves of magic.
"You've failed them," Sephiroth says, "Now they will join the Cetra girl in the Lifestream." Sephiroth advances on Clouds fallen comrades, his blade glinting as it catches the light.
Cloud's heart beats faster in his chest as the image of Aerith appears in his mind for the millionth time. The man who has taken her is now threatening to take others he cares about. "No!" he chokes out, and a fire of angry determination erupts to life inside him. With a burst of strength he doesn't know he has, he raises his blade. "I won't lose anyone else! Never again!"
Faster than light, he charges towards the silver-haired man, glowing with a vibrant, blue energy. Determined not to let his friends get hurt, he deals strike after strike to Sephiroth's body, each one more powerful than the last. With one final spinning blow, Sephiroth is knocked to the ground, and Cloud's strength is exhausted.
Slowly, Cloud picks himself up and stares at his fallen enemy. "It's over," he declares.
Sephiroth tries to stand. "No… It will never be over… I will live on in your memories… waiting… for my time to rise again…" but, his body is fading away, and he vanishes from the sanctuary.
Cloud sheathes his Fusion Blade and drags himself over to where Mario and Link are. "You all right?" he asks them.
Mario and Link nod, but Cloud pulls out three bottles of blue liquid and hands one to each of them, keeping the last for himself. "Healing potions," Cloud informs, perceiving their confused looks. They each take a drink, and slowly, their injuries are healed.
"That was crazy!" Mario exclaims in disbelief, "Sephiroth was pretty powerful."
"I can't believe he took us out so easily!" Link huffs, a bit embarrassed.
"He has a lot of enhanced skills," Cloud explains, "The only reason I was able to stand up to him is because I have them, too."
The sanctuary is silent for a few moments, then Cloud looks over at Aerith's flowers, still nourished and thriving, thanks to the Lifestream's water. He turns to Mario. "Aerith… had a way of… making people smile… I think… she would have wanted her flowers to make someone… happy," he says, "You should give some to… well, whoever you meant to give them to."
"His girlfriend, Palutena!" Link teases.
Mario's face turns red as a piece of summoning Materia. "She's not-!" he sputters, but then stops speaking and steps up to the flowers. Carefully, respectfully, he gathers a few of the bright yellow blooms. After what he had to go through to get them, he hopes Palutena will like them. Mario feels he has come far in his attempts to move on and is pleased with himself. He hopes Cloud can overcome the hard times in his life, too.
Thanks for bringing us here, Cloud." Mario says as he ties the flowers together with a red ribbon similar to the one the soldier wears around his left arm.
Cloud nods, and when no one is looking, allows a hint of a smile to form on his mouth. Maybe this year won't be so bad…