-ALL CHARACTERS ARE COPYRIGHT NINTENDO, SEGA AND KONAMI.-

In the beginning, the Master Hand ruled all of the Nintendo realms. A big, pale white, floating hand manipulated every universe, and controlled the events within. He was, in essence, the god.

Once every three years, he gathered the best fighters from each realm to hold a championship-to see who was the strongest Super Smash Brother.

This year was different. This year, he wasn't in charge. He had been defeated by none the universe had ever known. Not the hand's crazy twin brother, Crazy Hand, but by someone more diabolical.

A deity known only as Tabuu.

How did this happen? Well, you can blame a group of thirty-five individuals for that. Thirty-five individuals who just so happened to be the best fighters from every realm known to handkind. Thirty-five of the most beloved or feared individuals in history-Bowser, King Dedede, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Falco Lombardi, Captain Falcon, Fox McCloud, Mr. Game & Watch, the Ice Climbers (Popo and Nana), Ike, Jigglypuff, Kirby, Link, Lucario, Lucas, Luigi, Mario, Marth, Meta Knight, Ness, Captain Olimar, Princess Peach, Pikachu, Pit, Red (with his Charizard, Ivysaur and Squirtle), R.O.B., Samus Aran, Solid Snake, Sonic the Hedgehog, Toon Link, Wario, Wolf O'Donnell, Yoshi and Princess Zelda.

It all started that fateful day in the Mushroom Kingdom. The kart racing tournament had ended, and Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Bowser got together to discuss the upcoming tournament. The four had been invited to the previous one, and it was rare when you weren't invited again. Only a small group of individuals didn't stand a chance to get invited again. They didn't do too well last time. They were Mewtwo, Pichu, Roy, Young Link and Dr. Mario. Rumour was that Mewtwo, Roy and Young Link had been replaced, Pichu had evolved and Dr. Mario... retired.

"So," Peach started, with an excited tone in her voice, "when do you think the next Smash Bros. tournament is?" She glanced over behind Bowser, and saw three people walking towards them-Yoshi, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong.

Mario shrugged, not paying attention to the three who were quickly approaching. Bowser was about to speak, but was cut off before he could start. "What'cha talking about?" Yoshi asked, a bounce in both his step and voice. If he was excited for the next tournament, one couldn't tell, as his excited tone was his default-and only-one.

"Soopa Smash-a Brothas!" Luigi exclaimed, emphasizing his accent. This earned a giggle from Peach.

Donkey Kong clapped. "That's awesome! You know when it is?" A question that still had no answer. Before anyone could answer, a blue lightning bolt hit the ground behind them, barely missing Toad and Toadette, who just managed to jump out of the way before it hit. "I guess now." Peach said, as they walked over to the small podium that appeared out of the ground where the lightning had hit. That's how Master Hand always sent the invitations, although it had been a red lightning bolt for previous tournaments.

Mario quickly grabbed the stack of letters from the podium-which was golden and shaped like a hand holding the Smash Bros. logo-and read the names. "Mario." he smiled, putting his letter on the bottom of the pile. "Luigi, Princess, Bowser, Yoshi, Donkey Kong..." he said each name, giving the person their letter as he did. "...and 'newcomer Diddy Kong'." that earned a clap from the group. It was an honour to be chosen for the tournament. Many wished they could have been chosen, although very few actually did.

They all opened their envelopes, and read the letter. It was always the same, but with switched names.

Dear (name),

You are cordially invited to partake in this year's Super Smash Brothers tournament. As you know, this is a very prestigious event, and the honour of partaking in it is only given to the best of the best. Please, sign on the line below if you accept to partaking in this year's tournament.

-Master Hand

signature: _

It is very rare when someone declines the invitation, and the only people who had were Bowser, Peach, King Dedede, Meowth and Pit. Bowser and King Dedede had just been beaten by their rivals-Mario and Kirby, respectively-Peach was too busy dealing with 'royal matters', Pit was in training, and Meowth had been trying to learn new moves. They all received invitations for both the first and second tournaments, and, with the exception of Bowser and Peach-who accepted the second invitation, also declined the third one.

One by one, the Smashers from the Mushroom Kingdom signed their invitations, getting warped through space as they did. Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong were the last two who hadn't signed their invitations. "It's okay. When you travel through space, it's like when you use a bullet bill while racing. Except much faster." Donkey Kong said, comforting Diddy, who was scared out of his mind. "C'mon!" he yelled, as he signed it, and disappeared. Hesitating, Diddy Kong grabbed the pen from the ground where Donkey Kong had been standing.

"I hope DK was right." Diddy Kong said, wincing, as he signed the letter and disappeared.

The pen dropped to the ground as he disappeared, and the podium receded back into the earth, as if it had never been there.