Disclaimer: Super Smash Bros. and associated characters are owned by Nintendo.
Chapter 3: Smasher
King Bowser Koopa
"My what?" The Fox look-a-like held his jaw open in confusion. Bowser stopped walking, startling this... not a Fox. Bowser looked at him incredulously. Then, he let back his head, and burst out a roaring, guttural laugh. The expression on Wolf's face turned from confusion to irritation, as Bowser fell on his back, shaking the earth with his frankly-way-too-loud laughing.
"Stop that."
"GWAHAHAHA!"
"That's it, I'm out of here."
"AHAHA- no wait let me just- AHAHAHA! Whoo! Sorry, just... the look on your face! AHAHAHA!"
"..."
"Okay, okay. So... you don't know about, like, video games and stuff?"
"Of course I know about games! Haven't played 'em since I was a pup, though."
"Well, hate to break it to you, but you're a video game character."
"I'm a whaaaat? That can't be! I mean-"
"Shh. Let me tell a story. A while back, this omniscient hand just kind of appeared out of nowhere, and plucked me from my castle. And just when I was about to stomp that cursed Mario at last! Of course, I got angry and stormed the place for a bit, but then I saw Mario standing on the other side of this... cutesy storybook land."
"Ugh."
"Yeah, it was disgusting. So I was prepared to kick his ass as usual, but he picks up a baseball bat out of nowhere and slams me right in the face with it. I flew right off the stage."
"Ouch. So..."
"It didn't hurt, actually. Well, not much. Anyways, I ended up in this, well, tech-y place. And there was Mario, smiling like he didn't just hit me in the face with a baseball bat. A loud voice came out of nowhere, saying that Mario was the winner. Then I ended up back in, like, a living area. Like, a really big house. I was too confused to even punch Mario in the face. We weren't the only people there, though. There was all sorts of crazy people and uh pink blobs and stuff. Even Peach was there! They were all talking to each other about a tournament or something, so I go over to Peach. She didn't even look angry at me this time, not like all those other times I tried to kidnap her. She just went 'Oh, Bowser! You're here too!' And that's how I came here."
"I don't understand... where is this? Is this a video game?"
"Not exactly. We're in the Super Smash Brothers Tournament, this thing that Master Hand- that's the hand I mentioned- is running. We are the Smashers. Looks like you're the new one."
"But... How did it just take me? How did... How are you okay with this?! Some omnipotent entity just pit you and other people together for kicks! And I... And Fox is here, too! How long has he been here? I just fought with him not long ago!"
"Shut up for a minute, that's way too many questions. As far as I know, it's complicated, and I don't care. But what I do know is that you and I and even Mr. Blacky over there are just clones. Our real selves are still fighting our mortal nemeses... lucky them. Fox has been here for much longer than I have."
Wolf scowled. He did not like the idea of being a clone. When Bowser told him to deal with it and walked off, he just followed, lost in thought. So, he was a... character in this big tournament thing? And he was just a clone? But he had all his memories and all his personalities. He wasn't sure if he could trust this plainly evil-looking turtle, but he looked just a bit too dim to make up a lie like that.
As Wolf's mind reeled, Bowser's reflected on his own past as a Smasher. Being constantly paired up against enemies, relaxing in the Smash Mansion afterwards, chatting it up with Peach... those were the good days. Hell, Peach had been much nicer to him than usual. That was enough of a reason for him to like this place. That is, until the Subspace Emissary happened. He had been assigned a role by Master Hand, to capture the rest of the Smashers and bring them to him. He didn't really want to at first, but when Master Hand threaten- ahem, persuaded, him with the fact that he could easily bar contact with Peach, he had no choice but to do as the hand wished. This and that happened, then it turned out Tabuu was controlling Master Hand. He had been played like a sucker. He growled.
Wolf O'Donnell
Verdant leaves flew down around him, as his company strolled through the forest together. The walk took a while, but Wolf did not notice, as he was lost in thought. This was... entirely different, yes. But Fox and even Andross was here. He would have to talk with Andross as soon as they returned to the lake shore. He looked up and around, then he realized he couldn't see the water anymore. He had wandered astray.
"Hey! Bowser! We're going the wrong way! It's this way."
"You go that way, I'll go this way."
"Andross commanded me to bring you to him, and I will not let you get away."
"Andross? Hmm... Nope, doesn't ring a bell. Okay, see ya around."
"Grr. You will come with me, no matter what."
Wolf took out his blaster. If he let Bowser get away, Andross would be angry. At the indistinct shiing of the blaster starting up, Bowser finally turned around. He stomped the ground once, and roared, flames leaking through his teeth. Mr. Game and Watch made a couple of inquisitive beeps, looking back and forth between the two. Then, Bowser began speaking.
"Now, listen here, newcomer! In case I didn't get this idea through your thick head, we are in danger! Tabuu is still out there, and he has already defeated us all once. Even Master Hand was controlled! We need to find the rest of the Smashers, and smash Tabuu's ugly blue mug in!"
Then he let loose a tremendous blast of flame, fueled by anger. The trees surrounding the clearing became charred. Wolf rolled aside behind a tree, using it as cover. He looked back out, aiming his blaster at the great turtle. But Bowser was already gone. Wolf growled, and threw his blaster down at the ground. Mr. Game and Watch suddenly beeped, startling him. He had forgotten the diminutive black man was there.
"You let him get away too! Now, where did he go?"
Mr. Game and Watch fidgeted here and there with small beeps. With Bowser's story, more was coming to him. Bowser had mentioned he was a Smasher as well, and he was a video game character. This Wolf was new, and seemed to be in the same position as him at first, but he seemed to have retained his memory of his former life. Mr. Game and Watch had none. Bowser seemed to be able to explain more than him, so he supposed he was on Bowser's side here. He didn't want them to fight anymore, so he looked up and met Wolf's eyes. He beeped out a quick apology, and leaped up in the air, propelled by some strange firemen that had come out of nowhere with a trampoline and subsequently disappeared. Instinctually, he opened a parachute and floated away over the tops of the trees.
"No, damn it! Not you too!"
Andross was going to be pissed. He had been gone long enough, so he supposed it was high time he walked back and informed him of the current situation. Mark his words, Bowser was going to pay.
Mr. Game and Watch
He had located Bowser with relative ease, thanks to the trail of broken trees, which was much more visible from above. He floated down and beeped a greeting to the still-irate turtle.
"Hmph. Glad you're still with me, at least."
"BEEP BEEP BEEP."
"Yeah, he was being stupid. If he interferes again, he will go down. For now, we've got to go after the other smashers. You didn't see anybody else, did you?"
"BEEP."
"Alright. Let's keep moving."
Mr. Game and Watch followed for a bit, then, with a loud BEEP, he remembered something. Looking at Bowser's shell he had remembered another smaller turtle that he had met during his journey.
"BEEP BEEP BEEP!"
"So you have met someone else?"
"BEEP BEEP BEEP."
"A turtle, like me? But... smaller? That must be one of my Koopa Troopas! So they're still around, huh? Well, looks like we've got a lead! Could you lead me to the place where you found this Koopa?"
"BEEP!"
He trudged off, and Bowser followed, looking considerably more cheered than before.
Wolf O'Donnell
He sighed miserably as he got in his Wolfen. This was the second time he would report to Andross and this was the second time he had failed. Andross was legendary for his anger, so he would not get off easy. He groaned, and resigned himself to his fate, then he pressed the button activating his display.
"Did you find him?"
"Yes. And it was definitely Bowser. We talked. But, he got away before I could bring myself here. I deeply apologize for failing you a second time."
"Failing me? No, you did fine. I thought this would happen. With Bowser leading the new Smasher resistance, my plan has come in effect perfectly. You've done well."
"I- uh. Oh, thanks. It was my pleasure. But... Well, Bowser said quite a few interesting things to me. Something about this being a huge tournament, and me being just a clone of my real life counterpart. Or something."
"Yes, Wolf. You are a Smasher, and it is your fate to fight the other Smashers for Master Hand's amusement. But this situation is different. Tabuu has taken over, and made a maze of sorts. This lake is not the only thing that exists here. Scattered here and there are doors to other worlds, where other Smashers live. Bowser is surely aware of these doors, so you need to go back to him and join the resistance he will surely create. You will be my inside man. Take this communicator."
In a compartment somewhere in the cockpit, a thud emerged. Wolf opened it, and picked up a small roundish device, which he then put on his belt. He left the ship, then breathed in. He would have to track this Bowser down, and... he shuddered. He would have to apologize.
To be continued...
A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating! Finals, you know. To those of you in the loop, sorry for the even bigger delay! To those of you not in the loop, this used to be a 2012 NaNoWriMo story, but as you can probably see, I failed. I recently decided to bring this back and write for it again. So this chapter might seem different from the previous ones somehow. Well, I guess this is it. The Great Maze is back. Thanks to my reviewers for all their kind words! The reviews actually did help in getting me to write again. So, you know what to do! ;) (That was a joke. No reviews are actually necessary, I will keep writing regardless of whether I get any further reviews.)