Smash Mansion seemed especially placid and serene today, considering the usual rowdiness of the people living in it.
Most of the smashers were taking their time off, as there was little needed to be done, considering the massive staff of Miis that it had to maintain it, and the next tournament was still a month away. The kids and the kids at heart were playing hide and seek, catch and many more kids' games in the vast, verdant garden, most of the women were out shopping or hanging out at the posh cafes in Smashville, the men were either eating in the cafeteria, playing video games or sleeping in their rooms, and those who wished to fight were sparring rigorously in the stadiums.
A very normal day, one could say… except for certain people.
Luigi sat despondently in a resplendent sofa of their expansive room as Mario paced around. "It's the fourth day and Rosa still isn't back, bro!" Luigi muttered. "What am I going to do now? I won't be able to give her all the Power Stars I've collected, alongside this!" He gestured to a petite, heart-shaped box with a bow on it.
"Bro, I kept telling you this is a bad idea - and here you are again! What have I told you about giving gifts to Rosa behind Daisy's back? I thought that other box you sent on Valentine's was the last!"
"I…" Luigi muttered, the situation tearing him apart. "I just… Daisy's been so… high and mighty ever since she's gotten into Smash. She's been so… distant, and whenever we have to talk, she just brags and brags about winning, or whines a lot about losing! And she barely makes time for me nowadays! She's always out brawling or having fun with her other friends! I can't stand it, bro - She doesn't care about me anymore!" He stiffened, holding back his rage. "So I want to leave her for Rosalina!"
Mario sighed. While he had not been expecting this from Daisy, he also could not believe the foolishness his brother was about to do. "What the hell… Now you're just being a jerk, Luigi! You can still sort this out with Daisy! I'm sure she'll understand!" He paused to draw breath. "And I'm sure she still loves you! She's just busy! Like, sure, Peach is like that too, but at the end of the day we always have time for each other! You could surely make some terms with her! If you really love her, then give her your all!" He paused, thinking of a last point. "You know Rosa well, don't you? If she finds out about this entire scheme of yours, she'll never even like you! You're digging your own grave, bro!"
Luigi shuddered in desperation and in regret of the choices he had made. He had thought of that too… but he still couldn't get over his hurt. "But… Rosa likes my gifts! I'm sure she'll be kind to me when I tell her Daisy's been a jerk to me! Well, bro… right now she just seems… so much better than Daisy…"
"Bro… at least, don't break her trust! Please, just don't be such a jerk to Daisy! If you really want to break up with her… fine, I can't stop you! But at least don't be such an ass about it and hurt her behind her back, that doesn't do anything good! Remember all the good times, all the promises, all the work both of you have put in!"
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Both brothers started in shock, but Mario regained composure, enough to blurt out a awkward, strangled "Come in!".
The knob turned and in strode Princess Peach Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom. She immediately snared Mario with a warm embrace and a deep kiss, which he returned joyfully, longingly. "Hi, Mario… Sorry if I haven't been able to meet you much! I've been so busy training for the next tournaments!"
"Oh, Peachie, you know that is alright with me! Let's win them together, okay?" Mario returned, with a broad, happy grin on his face. "Wanna train sometime?"
"Of course, sweetie! I wanna beat the competition this time around! Daisy's really hyped up too, now that she's been invited…" Peach giggled. "A little too hyped up I must say", she added with a sigh.
She let go of Mario gently, and this time addressed Luigi, who managed to hide his hurt in time. "Where is she, anyways? Does she still talk to you?" he asked, trying hard to hide his rancor.
"Oh… The thing is, Daisy's been so focused on practicing, she doesn't really care about me or anybody anymore… not even herself! She barely ever leaves the arena unless it's time for sleep or meals! What's bad is she doesn't want to be disturbed, ever!" Peach sighed. "She keeps saying she just wants to win the next tournaments if it's the last thing she does… This is really getting out of hand! I'm thinking she might be just furious about not being included in Smash until now… What can we do about this?"
"Here, Peach, I'm sure this'll work!" Mario piped up, seizing an opportunity. He grabbed the heart-shaped box and quickly handed it to Peach before Luigi could do so much as bat an eyelid. "Luigi's been planning to give this to her for quite a time now and I think this would calm her down!"
"Oh, that's really sweet of you, Luigi!" Peach glowed as she turned to Luigi, who had managed an outward smile, seething all the while in the inside. "I'll make sure this gets to her. Oh, I've a better idea! Why not come with me and let's give it to her together?"
"S-sure!" Luigi stammered out, all while shooting Mario a gaze full of venom, to which the latter returned with a sad shrug as the former was forcibly dragged out of his room fuming.
Meanwhile, Palutena, Fox, and Falco were deep in discussion as they scarfed down breakfast together in Smash Mansion's expansive, luxurious dining hall. Despite the noise of the rest of the Smashers eating, talking and playing around, and the occasional thrown muffin, Tomato, or plateful of Superspicy Curry, the three were deep in thought, their food lying cold on their plates.
"So, do you think we should be going out for a search party any time now considering Rosa's gone far too long?" Falco began. "This sucks, we can't have anybody missing now, can we? There's a tournament coming up too and she's gotta ace it, especially considering the newcomers in store are going to put up a great fight…" He whistled. "I'm certain, that Joker fellow and that bird and bear should do pretty damn well."
"I still think she can handle herself pretty well," reasoned Palutena. "Both in her travels and in tournaments, mind you. But, I have my bets down on Steve." This drew a chuckle from the other two. Steve was a certainly unexpected addition to the cast, and they couldn't wait to see what he would bring to the arena. "But I admit we've given her more than enough time."
"What do you think could have happened?" Fox wondered aloud. His tone caused the two to look at him with strange looks in their faces. "I mean, it's not like she's the going to be delayed because of any other damn reason, right? Something bad could have happened to her out there!" He ducked as a Mighty Banana soared overhead. "Hey, watch it, Ganon!"
"Watch yourself, Fox, I've another banana here with your name on it!" The resident King of Evil sneered back, waiting for a better opportunity to clout Fox with another banana already at the ready – only to be nearly inhaled by a hungry Kirby along with the rest of the pot of Superspicy curry as Bowser laughed along.
"That is a possibility, Fox… But we don't know for sure… It's just a shame Master Hand won't let us out on a search party yet!" Not minding the resulting commotion and the plate of Superspicy curry that also flew dangerously overhead, Palutena sighed, annoyed and worried that this was taking too long. "For now, all we can do is sit and wait…"
Suddenly she felt someone tapping incessantly at her exposed forearm. She wheeled around sharply and saw Lucas peering at her longingly.
"Hi, Miss Palutena…" he began timidly.
Palutena smiled back warmly, trying to ease whatever anxiety the boy might be feeling. Lucas was a bright young boy who, despite his terrible past, had recently started going around and talking to people, gaining more confidence and friends bit by bit. "Oh, hi, Lucas! What can I do for you?"
"When you were talking… you mentioned Rosalina, right? When is she coming back? When do you think we can go out and bake cookies again?" the kid asked.
Palutena felt her heart sink deep into her chest as she struggled to find an answer to set the boy's heart at ease. "I'm really sorry to say, Lucas… but we don't know as of now. She hasn't been this late, ever, and Master Hand says it's not time for a search party yet… But!" she smiled, staring gently at Lucas. "Knowing her, I trust she'll come back safe and sound!"
Her words, intended to placate the worried boy, had the opposite effect. A pout quickly formed on his face as he said, "Oh, I see, miss Palutena… She did say she would train with me for the next tournament, and I was excited for her to come back just for that."
At this, Palutena giggled heartily, not minding the bemused looks of the space animals sitting across her, and smiled warmly at the confused Lucas. "You're really going to ask her for training? You placed sixth in the last tournament, mind you! I should be the one asking you for tips, o master!" She playfully nudged Lucas, who had begun to smile.
"Yeah, now that I remember, Falco here really needs tips from you too!" Fox joined in, chuckling as well. "The way you caught him in midair with your knee and sent him back home at ninth really was something to behold-"
"Shut up, Fox!" Falco stood up, plateful of food ready in hand. "It's not like that dumb Villager dropped an entire tree on you and got you in fifth!", he continued as he pulled his arm back and threw.
"Point still stands, birdbrain!" Fox retorted, his hand swiftly pressing his reflector, sending Falco's curry back into his eyes and nose, along with another ill-timed Mighty Banana thrown back this time at a saliva-coated King of Evil, splattering in his face. The ensuing laughter from the entire hall was loud and long, and Lucas and Palutena joined in heartily.
Before the animals could grab more food, or Ganon could stand up, a booming voice floated sonorously through the speakers. "Fox, Falco, come see me in the office, please. Palutena as well. We shall be forming a search party."
Fox stood eagerly and threw a towel at his partner, beginning to run. "At last, some action! Cmon, birdbrain!"
"Not while I still have another bowl of soup to chuck at you, Fox!"
Watching the two run off, Palutena stifled the last of her giggles and stood. "Well, while you weren't mentioned, Lucas, you're perfectly free to tag along! At least I'll allow you to see the inside of Master Hand's office."
Hearing this, Lucas sighed and began to beam. "Really, miss Palutena? That means Rosalina's coming back home soon too?"
"Hopefully! We're going to be looking for her anyway!" said the goddess as they began to stroll. "And knowing her, she should be perfectly fine!"
Onward did the Comet Observatory fly, so fast it flashed by major galaxies in a few moments notice.
Rosalina floated serenely on her perch in front of the map near the Beacon, charting her course steadily but surely around the next major stellar systems such that they didn't accidentally collide with a star or a planet. Sure, they'd be unharmed as the egglike barrier which securely enveloped them and kept the system inside intact was also near-total protection to from outside elements so long as she had enough fuel - which, thanks to the knight, she had more than enough of. But they had to be careful lest they crashed and ruined entire alien civilizations or send far-flung meteoroids to wreak havoc on other ones.
After a few minutes, she turned around to rest a while, letting herself touch the ground. After so much trials, they were finally coming home… and they had lost so much, too, but she was sure she could recuperate.
She rested like that for a while, the mere act of doing nothing but pondering on the events that lay ahead enough to calm her down substantially. But despite that, her worry about the knight's fate, her grief over the loss of her Lumas and the looming threat of Subspace weighed heavily on her chest as it had done so for the entire journey.
"Mama?"
She looked down and saw her brave little child Oliver, bearing aloft on his stubby little arms a stool thrice his size for her to sit on.
A warm grin spread across her small, pert lips as her child leapt into her waiting arms and she sat down on the stool gratefully. "Thanks a lot, Oliver. You're really thoughtful, you know?"
The Luma smiled back joyfully but frowned soon after. She noticed and asked gently, "Hey, what's wrong, Oliver?"
"Are you really going to convince Sir Stranger to become my papa? You two were shouting so loudly a while ago…" He sighed woefully. Do you not like him that much, Mama? I don't want him to go…"
"Oliver…" She looked into her son's eyes woefully, unsure if she was still doing the right thing for everyone anymore. "I'm doing my best to save him, Oliver… but I really don't know if I can. Especially if the people like Master Hand decide to kill him and take his powers…" Rosalina shuddered in worry. "I'm going to try to see if they listen to me asking for that. I've never asked them for anything yet, anyways…"
"No! They can't do that to Sir Stranger! He's our friend! He's going to be my papa and I won't let them stop us!" He stared into his mother's eyes, desperate and grief-stricken, holding back his tears. "Tell me you're going to save him, Mama!" He shouted, more petulantly than ever before. "Please, mama!"
"I will do my best, Oliver… That's all I can do. But I promise you, I will save Sir Stranger. And he will be your papa…" She muttered soothingly as her heart started to kick madly against her chest and her cheeks began to flush rose-pink again. "I'll make sure of that. To be honest, Oliver… I really like him."
The little blue Luma started in shock in this discovery. He looked at his mama and saw her differently for the first time in his life - a Mama who was willing to love another person.
He recalled all those previous Valentines' Days, as myriads of bouquets, heart-shaped boxes and love letters would arrive from Waluigi and some other secret admirers they couldn't identify, with his Mama merely just smiling, sighing, and tucking the letters away in a dresser in the Bedroom, admiring the roses, daisies and sunflowers just for fleeting moments as they wilted away and she binned them without much regret, the Lumas forgetting about them and going back to their play. And now, for the first time… Mama looked like she was finally giving into someone. Maybe for once she'd actually treasure some of those gifts.
Chest pounding, the Lady of the Stars felt for all the world like a mere adolescent as she continued, blushing furiously. "He's just so brave and thoughtful, you know? He's saved me so many times and just really cares about me. He's just someone who's really looked out for me compared to all those other people in Smash Mansion, apart from my friends that is. Plus, he'd probably look nice without his armor - in normal clothes without anything covering his face, that is. He'd probably be so handsome… Don't you think so, Oliver?"
"I think so too, Mama!" Oliver wriggled joyfully in her arms, chirping happily in her arms. "He'd be so cool, with big muscles like those tough wrestlers I see on TV! I wonder what his hair looks like…"
"I wonder, too, Oliver… maybe we'll see it after he's done changing!" Rosalina said, smiling.
Then she noticed that the Observatory was starting to slow down, and saw with joy the Planet of Champions looming large on the horizon. With her heart leaping into her mouth, she exclaimed,
"We're finally home, Oliver!"
"Do I look strange to you, Knightess?"
The knight, oblivious to all this, had finally finished changing in the Fountain.
I really cannot tell. Your armor's in the way.
"I feel rather bare without it, Knightess… I really can't take hits or carry anything without my armor on, and these… clothes she has given me are rather thin and loose. I'd rather note be seen wearing these, frankly."
For what its worth, the looseness of the clothes really hides the size of-
"Shut up."
-your arms. What?
"I beg you to stop commenting on my girth."
Never will, you foul knave.
"What I would give to sheathe you this very moment… Alas, your scabbard's still all slick."
The next time you try that foul trick I will wish I were granted limbs that I may cleave your toes off!
"I'm only joking, dear Knightess, don't fret."
Now the knight had finished putting his armor on, and stepped into the open, to see yet another sight that would grace his memory for years to come.
A massive… indescribably beautiful planet loomed before the ship, completely dwarfing it in scale. Compared to the smaller, gloomier orb that was Lordran, this… world was splashed with colors on an artisan's canvas, with billowing white whorls over a brilliant blue and contrasting brown hues which seemed to be land. All this was lit by a brilliant blue ball of flame - the planet's star, the knight guessed.
As they drew ever closer, they began to see the brown and green draw closer and they saw a prosperity unfathomable in Lordran.
Networks of metropolises with glittering blue spires far outstripping the grandeur of Anor Londo, with little specks flitting about them gracefully as birds did. All this was then bordered by lush green trees that marked little homes in the quaint suburbs, and vast swathes of pristine farmland painting rainbow hues on the horizon.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?"
The knight was drawn out of his trance and pulled into yet another one as he stared at his lady, radiant with joy. "Welcome to the planet that is my home, sir Knight!"
He suddenly felt very self-conscious wearing the clothes she had given her under his armor. "It's certainly a better one than mine, Lady Rosalina", he managed to stammer out.
The lady of the Stars giggled heartily as she laid a reassuring hand on the knight's shoulder. "It will certainly be a fine place for you to call home, once I've gotten you settled in. Come now, we approach our destination!"
As the quartet made their way to Master Hand's office, they suddenly heard another announcement blare on the intercom. "To the search party, apologies for the inconvenience, but the Comet Observatory has thankfully been spotted west of Mansion. I will oversee space vessel traffic as Olimar's also coming in with some supplies".
Fox groaned in disappointment, having wanted to do something, but was quickly overpowered by Lucas excitedly bowling him over as he ran smack into him, before recovering and running to the gardens, hoping to catch a sight of the Observatory as it landed.
"He sure is full of energy, isn't he?" Palutena chuckled as she extended a hand to Fox, who stood up, only to be met with a bowl of cold soup courtesy of Falco.
"Hey, you jerk! You know you can't exactly bring food outside the cafeteria!", he sputtered as bits of meat stuck onto his snout.
Falco merely stuck his lip out his beak as the two prepared to get into battle stances –
But both froze at the sight of a very angry Shih-Tzu plodding towards them, the bell tied on her hair shaking furiously and tolling their very doom.
"What is the very meaning of this?!" Isabelle hissed as she gave both of the space animals a painful tweak on their ears – or in Falco's case, head feathers. "This is the thirty-ninth time you two have been caught fighting with food outside the mess! Goodness knows either of you clean up after yourselves when you're done!"
As the irate secretary led the two away, Palutena stilled her heart, surprised it was beating swiftly all so suddenly, glad she was not the target of Isabelle's wrath. Looks like I've got to catch up with Lucas. I've got to talk to Rosalina once she lands, after all, see why she's so late.
She sighed, the last of her worries disappearing as she walked onward, ignoring a despondent Luigi being quizzed by a perplexed Peach. Hopefully, maybe what I saw in the light of my temple this morning wasn't true, after all…
Lucas stood excitedly on one of the terraces overlooked by the large aqueduct leading away from Smash Mansion that people played Home Run Contest on. Normally, he'd watch with awe at Donkey Kong swinging away in frustration, trying to beat Ness' score.
But his eyes were focused on the blazing blue spot drawing ever closer and closer. Finally, it stood at a halt, and began to reform. There was no mistaking it this time – his dear friend and adoptive mother in the Mansion was home at last.
He looked forward to all the time she'd watched over him during his return to the fourth tournament. He remembered, among all the newcomers, she'd requested to spar with him the most.
"I've heard among the returnees you were one of the strongest. I'd love to test my skills against one renowned like you." she had said when they first met, in the arena.
B-but I'm just a child! He had said at the time, insecurity overcoming him. I couldn't even save my own mother or brother…
"I'm sorry to hear that… But you've been strong enough to have made it this far. I believe in you, little one."
He looked up, admiration and disbelief splashed on his face. This strong lady, calling him strong? "Also, you're a PSI user. I could always hone that magic." She had offered.
He couldn't wait to spar with her again, cook cookies with her again, and play with all the Lumas again.
He strained his eyes, craning his neck as the Comet Observatory finally properly reformed –
And stood aghast in horror as something crashed into it from above with a resounding boom.
Oliver sat up, blinking the dust out of his eyes. Fear clouded his vision as he quickly flitted and looked hither and tither in the dust cloud.
What in stars happened? Mama? Oh, mama, where are you?
Then, all of a sudden, the dust cleared and a blue, very blue light shone brighter, nearly blinding the poor Luma. This isn't the Beacon's glow!
To his horror, he beheld the strange blue man with wings from a few days back. Holding mama, choking her, trying to kill her again. But then Papa leapt at him, sinking his long sword deeply into the blue man's back. So he's attacked us again!
Oliver began floating as fast as he could to Mama, to try to help her. But then a piece of the roof fell off and pinned him to the ground.
Oww! Ow, it hurts! He pleaded internally, squealing. "Mama, help!" he cried out, as the rubble grew heavier.
At this point, Rosalina had thankfully been freed from Tabuu's grip. Dazed, she got up, willing the life back into her lungs with hacking coughs. Gotta breathe…
As her vision cleared, she saw her poor remaining son buried in rubble. Shakily, she stood, ready to fly to her son's aid.
But as she turned,she saw Tabuu impale Sir Knight with his arm.
"NO!"
Now faced with a terrible choice, Rosalina thought frantically. Which of them shall I save?
She hesitated, wand in hand, ready to strike, to heal, to aid the knight in any and every way she could. Desperately he clung on, his grip on the sword loosening but still steady.
Then she turned to her son, whimpering, about to fade, as the rubble shifted above him.
She choked back a sob, closed her eyes and made her choice.
She landed beside him in record speed, and immediately lifted the rubble off her child, who she then held close to herself, healing his scratcheds and bruises as swiftly as could be.
And as she turned to face Tabuu, she knew she had been too late.
Despite his best efforts to cling on and thrust his now enchanted, glowing Estoc deeper into the invader, the knight simply could no longer hold on. His grip loosened and his limbs grew limp as Tabuu raised him like a grim trophy of the hunt, and he finally faded away.
The fury and grief Rosalina felt was sublime, and she steeled herself, preparing to loose a bolt of stellar magics onto Tabuu – but luck was not on their side.
In all the conflict, with all of her precious focus lost, the Observatory had begun plummeting. Down and down it went, until it crashed heavily onto the gardens below.
Dazed senseless once more, the last thing Rosalina saw was Tabuu reaching out towards the Beacon, draining it steadily...
It would be a greater while later that Rosalina awoke, and the first thing she saw was a worried goddess standing guard over her, along with a relentlessly pacing shock of yellow hair.
"…Palutena?" she asked, tears threatening to break free from her eyes. "Lucas?"
"Rosie, you're back, you're finally back! Though it's only been two hours but dear God, what a mess you've been in!" She shouted, embracing her best friend, wrapping her in her arms. Lucas joined in the hug, lost for words as fresh tears stained his face.
"…the Lumas… all dead… all gone… Tabuu's back… but I did… did get to befriend the anomaly… but everything's going wrong… Oh, Palu, I don't know what to do anymore…" Rosalina began, sobbing all the while as the tears finally sprang unbidden.
"There, Rosie, I've got you…" Palutena sighed, as she held the weeping Rosalina and Lucas close to her. "We'll get through this…"
Elsewhere, Oliver woke up, his little head throbbing.
He had fainted since right before his mother rescued him, and had woken up scared and confused.
He looked to the right and saw the Observatory had crashed onto the garden, making a massive crater. A horde of Miis were working hard, clearing the debris with excavators and truck cranes and power tools, as Master Hand floated above grimly, surveying the destruction that could only mean one thing.
No… our house is destroyed again!
He began floating around, asking for help, but there seemed to be nobody around that was friendly enough to help him, as the Miis would merely stare blackly at him.
Finally in the distance, sitting on some benches, he saw Doctor Mario talking to a shiny thing… could that be? Papa!
Desperately, he began floating, shouting, waving. "Papa? Papaaaaa! It's me, Oliver!"
But as the joyful Luma butted past Dr. Mario, the knight in grimy armor turned at the thing which had nearly knocked him over by leaping into his hands, which let go, nor even took hold of the now confused little star for a moment.
"…what is this?"