This is the second chapter to my story. Sorry for such a long period of time of inactivity. I just go all out proofreading sometimes. Anyhow, this chapter is a little bit slow as well, but starting Chapter 3, things are going to pick up!
"So, I heard you can grant wishes."
"Correct. I assume it is about your respective worlds?"
"Yes. There is something we must ask of you."
"I know what you want. I also know what stands in your way. I can grant each one of you your greatest wishes. I guarantee it."
Mario and the group of smashers with him decided to go to a nearby town on the island in order to find something to eat. It was mostly King DeeDeeDee's idea to find a buffet style restaurant.
"So?" asked the princess Zelda while nudging Peach who was picking at her food beside her, "Who are you going to team up with for the upcoming tournament?"
Peach giggled at that question. "Mario, who else?"
Zelda rolled her eyes in response, although with her lips curled into a smile. "Did I even need to ask? What about the third fighter? Rules say you need three."
Peach hummed for a moment. While thinking , she placed a finger upon her chin until she came up with an answer. "Kirby, maybe? He's cute. Maybe Yoshi…"
"You know that this isn't a cute contest, right? You've got to try to win sometime."
Peach sighed. "I know, but the new competitors are so tough now. Sometimes I think that it is just a competition between them." She then looked at Zelda with a slight look of confusion. "I don't mean to sound rude but, since when did you care about the tournaments? I thought you usually just sit them out."
Zelda wiped a serviette daintily across her lips in a very princess-like manner. "Well, the prize this time is a secret but one of the greatest from what I heard. I plan on joining the tournament this time and I plan on winning.
Time went on as the Smashers continued to eat. Their time was cut a little bit short thanks to King DeeDeeDee who made the restaurant run out of food to serve. The group went outside to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Some even had a head start to make a team for the upcoming tournament. Mario took a walk around the town. When he made his trip to the town square he spotted a man in a dark combat suit. He sat on a bench not too far away from Mario. The smashNAV strapped to his wrist suggested that he was one of the Smash Brothers contestants. Of course, everybody knew that he was one of the most famous newcomers: Solid Snake.
The man did not even look up, yet addressed him on approach. "So, looking for a partner for the tournament?" he asked Mario without so much as looking to see who he was talking to. He passively stroked his rugged beard. "I am looking for someone to team up with."
"You want to team up with me?" asked Mario.
"I believe that's what I said," the man said. "I've heard nothing but good things about you. I was also told about your special set of skills."
It was quite an honour for the Solid Snake to give him such a complement. Mario put it into consideration. That would make a team of Peach, Mario and Snake. That would make a light weight, a middle weight, and a heavy weight; a perfect all-around team. "Okay, it's a deal!" Mario said. He wasted no time to register their names on the SmashNAV upon his wrist.
In Bowser's castle, Pichu and Bowser stared at each other intensely. The air was still and tense. Single beads of sweat swelled and rolled hurriedly down their faces, only to hang precariously under their chins until they get smothered by an agitated forearm. They kept their eyes locked, trying to read each other's faces to gain the advantage. Finally, Bowser was first to break the silence: "Do you have any 4's?"
"Go fish."
"Damn it…!" Bowser reached over to pick out a card from the scattered pile on the table.
"Papa?" beckoned the voice of Bowser Jr. It did not take long until the door to the recreation room burst open and Bowser Jr. ran through. His dark blue bandanna had a scribble of Bowser's teeth on them. Also, as expected, he was carrying his paintbrush.
"What is it, Junior?"
"Papa! I've been training extra hard this time and I think I am ready!"
"To join the Smash team?"
"Yes, papa! Look!" Junior leaped into the air with a front flip and landed on top of the hardened oak table with barely a sound. He whipped the paintbrush about as if wielding a spear. "I think I am strong enough to join the Smashers! Can I get a SmashNAV now?"
"No, I don't think you are ready."
"Why?" Junior whined. His face was twisted into a frown.
"Because… err… you're not… old enough. The tournaments are for adults." answered Bowser.
"But what about Ness? He's a kid like me! Or what about the young link? Or-"
"Junior, I don't think you're ready. I don't care about those other people."
"Why not? I bet he could hold his own against you," Piped in Pichu.
Bowser sighed in return. "That's what I'm afraid of…" he muttered under his breath.
Pichu grinned up at Bowser. "What? Are you scared that he might actually beat you in a fight?"
"What! No! Of course not!" Bowser answered defensively.
"Then why won't you let him-?"
"Alright, alright! I'll think about it!" Bowser growled, causing Junior to jump for joy.
"Hehehe! You won't regret it papa! I'll be one of the best!" He ran off to somewhere else in the castle. The sounds of his grunts as he struck imaginary enemies with his paintbrush gradually faded in the halls.
"Glad that's over," the Koopa king blew out as he looked back to his hand of cards. "Now where was I?"
"Got any 7's?" Pichu asked. Bowser grumbled to himself and handed over a card.
"You know, I've been thinking…" Pichu pondered. "Don't you think that the people on this island are a little mismatched? We've got people who has only known technology from the medieval era, then we've got people here using technology I've never even heard of. It's like we came from different universes."
Bowser cocked an eyebrow at Pichu "So? What's your point?"
Pichu sighed and passively looked at the cards within his paws. "I don't know, I just think that we are all so mismatched. I mean, aren't you supposed to be some sort of evil tyrannical king?"
"Isn't your vocabulary only supposed to be comprised of your own species' name?"
"…touché."
"It is your turn again," Bowser said while he looked back at his cards.