The Smash Mansion has many notable amenities, but none so more tantalizing than the pool area. The swim center was located at rear of the mansion, half of it located inside a glass enclosure, and the other half outside with a more 'outdoorsy' look. It had everything you could possibly want from an aquatic experience, an Olympic Swimming Pool, a wading pool, a hot tub, a lazy river and lake in the outdoor section, it was almost like a water park, albeit a less intense one. On this particular day, a group of smashers had gathered around the indoor pool, looking incredibly nervous.

"Alrighty, who's-a ready to learn how to swim?" A characteristically upbeat Mario asked the anxious group. Orange, Blue, Sonic, and Incineroar gave noncommittal answers.

"Look Mario I really appreciate what you're trying to do here, but I'm not sure if this is a great idea, water and I don't have a great history together" Sonic confessed.

"Don't-a worry Sonic, swimming is a super easy!" Mario encouraged, giving the blue blur a smile.

"Easy for you to say you're 'Super Mario' everything is super easy for you."

"Come on, when we went to the Olympics you-a gave me all those great tips for-a running, now it's a time for me to return the favor!"

"Fair enough," Sonic shrugged, "But what about the others… sorry all of you are new faces, didn't catch your names."

"My name's Orange!" The orange inkling said pointing to herself.

"Oh, and I'm Blue!" Followed the blue inkling.

"Incin!" Incineroar shouted, striking a pose.

"Incin?" Sonic asked, visibly confused.

"Oh his name is Incineroar." Orange clarified.

"Oh yeah, the Pokemon aren't big on talking, most of them anyway…" Sonic thought aloud. "You know I have some friends who are cats, both purple actually, one even has fire powers too."

"Well since I was-a giving you lessons, I thought I'd extend-a the offer to everyone else, and only Charizard couldn't a come." Mario explained.

"Ya know I hear if Charizard's tail goes out, he dies," Orange whispered into Blue's ear.

"Wow that's brutal," Blue whispered back.

"Okey-Dokey now that we're all introduced, let's a go! Now who wants to try first?" Mario asked, gesturing to the shallow end of the pool. Unsurprisingly, no one spoke up, only exchanging concerned glances.

"Uh, well… Ladies first Orange!" Blue suggested, nudging his friend forward.

"What?! That's not how this works!" Orange protested, backing away from the pool ledge. The two began squabbling while everyone else just seemed uncomfortable. Noticing that things were going nowhere, Incineroar boldly stepped forward to volunteer.

"Very good! Step-a right up to the pool stairs!" Mario led Incineroar to the steps that descended into the shallow end of the swimming pool.

"You got this man!" Sonic encouraged, secretly glad that he didn't have to go first.

"Ok, just-a follow me!" Mario exclaimed, taking an impressive jump into the pool, despite the shallowness, but of course, Mario was a pro at this kind of thing. The plumber quickly bobbed to the surface of the chest-level water. "Slow and-a steady Incineroar!" The Fire Starter took a deep breath to steel his courage and began taking tentative steps into the water, cringing slightly.

"You're doing great Incineroar!" Orange cheered.

"Keep going!" Blue joined in. Incineroar flashed the two kids a smile and finally eased all the way into the water, his flaming belt sizzling and steaming as it submerged.

"Great-a job! Are you-a ready for part two?" Mario asked.

"Roar!" Incineroar affirmed, looking to have his confidence back.

"Ok, now just do like-a Mario!" Mario then jumped straight out of the shallows and into the deep end, somehow repeatedly jumping on nothing until he leaped out of the pool on the other side. "It's as easy as Mama's Ravioli, just-a jump!"

"I don't think that's how swimming works." Sonic commented.

"Well what do we know about swimming?" Orange questioned.

"True."

Still emboldened, Incineroar let out a mighty cry and rocketed out of the pool with a fiery cross chop.

"So cool!" Blue admired in awe.

"Pfft, I can do that, just not with the fire part." Sonic added.

"Yeah you teach that water who's boss!" Orange shouted. However, any excitement was short lived as right after Incineroar's flashy leap, he went hurtling straight down to the bottom of the deep end.

"Mama mia!" Mario wasted no time and leaped into the pool to rescue the wrestler. The trio of water-challenged bystanders rushed to the edge, waiting for their friends to surface.

"Are they going to be alright?" Blue worried.

"Yeah don't worry, it's Mario, they'll be fine, trust me." Sonic assured Blue.

"Hey look they're coming up!" Orange announced. The three stepped back as Mario emerged from the water, hauling Incineroar up onto the tiled floor.

"Roar…" The water-logged cat groaned.

"Oopsie…" Mario apologized, wringing out his hat, "I guess the jumping method isn't for-a everyone." While Orange and Blue were making mental notes on not to go anywhere near a pool again, Sonic spoke up.

"So… Who's up for chilidogs?"