Inspired by Smashtasm
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A/N
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Phy: ...Hey! It's Friday!
Starlll: Dang! I REALLY suck at writing on a schedule! Okay... you guys mind if I change the update days to Tuesday and Saturday?
Phy: Will this be the ONLY time you change them?
Starlll: I wouldn't bet on it.
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Disclaimer: Still stands. I own SN1P3R. Phalèon belongs to TheWordMasterOfFanfiction. Also, I forgot to mention in the last chapter; there is no 'Nintendo Hacker Protection System'.
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Part 1:
Snipe Hunting
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"So, why are we going to Edlin?" Asked Cherry, skipping along with the rest of them. They were heading for the 'Bridge of Eldin' stage.
"So that we can find out more about the hacker." Explained Heart, simply. "He was last-seen, there."
"I mean, why do we have to find out stuff about this guy?" She asked, making it snow wherever she walked. "Why can't the people running the game just put a tracer on him? Or, just ban-hammer that sucker!"
"...That's a VERY good question..." Heart admitted.
"You two don't know?" Asked Phy, surprised. "Hackers use a program called 'WNP'. It stands for 'Warfare Nintendo Program'. It instantly lets the hacker drop off of whatever security the game has. Nobody really knows who made it, but it's free, if you know where to look."
"Who made it?" Asked Heart, interested.
"Iono." Phy replied, shrugging. "But, after a while, Nintendo either had to find a solution, or shut down the entire MMO. Luckily, they managed to make a counter-program, called 'SNP', or 'Stalemate Nintendo program'."
"Oh, right, I heard about that!" Heart remembered. "All players download it when they make their accounts. The moment you activate 'WNP', the 'SNP' goes off. It forces the hacker's account so that they can't log off for twenty-four hours after being activated."
"But, if they DO manage to evade moderators for the twenty-four hours, they can log off and back on whenever they want. So, the second stage of the SNP is activated." Phy continued. "If they get beaten in a battle, then it somehow hacks the WNP, canceling it out."
"'Warfare Nintendo Program'? 'Stalemate Nintendo Program'?" Cherry repeated. "Who the blankity-blank named this stuff?"
"Probably some guy who's been up all night, and really needs some sleep." Said Phy, shrugging. "Who really doesn't care if he can hear a universal facepalm, because it's hard coming up with acronyms*1?"
"Excuse me?" Asked Heart, confused.
"Hm?"
"You just said..."
"No I didn't."
"...Never mind..."
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After a decent amount of traveling (and loading screens), they finally made it to the Bridge of Eldin. Before the system crashed, it had been used as the loading screen, with the character battling a Bot. After the crash, though, they switched the loading screen to the sandbag challenge, allowing the Bridge of Eldin to be used as a stage to battle other players on.
The server was completely barren. Only bounty hunters and moderators were the only ones who went to stages after a hacker attacked it, and even they usually waited the twenty-four hour period before doing any research.
"So, what are we looking for?" Asked Cherry. She didn't make the server snow, in case it messed up the already-broken server even further.
"Well, a person who could tell us exactly what happened, and where SN1P3R went might help..." Phy suggested, trying to be funny.
"Okay! I'll tell you if I find one!" Said Cherry, and skipped away.
"...So, Heart, you find anything?" Asked Phy.
"Yeah!" He nodded. "...Well, actually, no. Not technically. But, I was looking at the server's data, and found that it's not password-protected! None of the memory is! So, I'm allowed to look through recordings of this server!"
"You can do that?" Asked Phy, surprised.
"Yeah! I took a class on programming computers, once." He explained. "It's pretty simple, once you get the hang of it. I just need a person who was here at the time, then I can show you everything that happened!"
"Shame..." The boy replied. "Where could we find that?"
"Hey, guys!" Shouted Cherry, from across the server. "I found someone who might be able to tell us exactly what happened, and where SN1P3R went!"
Phy and Heart quickly ran over to Cherry, who was standing in front of a frozen gray-colored Snake. Frozen wouldn't exactly be the right word, though. The account still seemed to still be online, but the player was gone, as if he lost control over his character. The name 'Phalèon' hovered over his head.
"This must have been the bird who laid the eggs!" Shouted Cherry, happily.
"That made no sense..." Phy pointed out.
"Well, yeah, but if I said, 'This must have been the player who got hacked', I would have been stating the obvious!"
Phy paused for a moment, then decided not to bother trying to figure out what she meant.
"So, you just need to push a few buttons, and we can find out what happened?" Asked Phy to Heart.
"Yeah." The black Pit replied. "Just give me a few seconds... loading... aaaaand... presto!"
A video-player-box appeared on Phy's screen (as well as Cherry's and Heart's). He clicked play.
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Twenty minutes earlier...
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"Well, this has been a productive day, wouldn't you say?" Asked a player. He was playing as a black Falco. His feathers seemed darker than usual, though. As if his entire aura had a sinister feel to it.
"I suppose." Replied another player, walking with him. She was a girl, but played as Marth, with white clothing (though a cape with a red layer under it, which felt as if she had a hidden layer of craziness underneath the formal white). "It hasn't exactly been the most discreet, though..."
"Details, details!" The first replied, waving it off. "So I crashed two servers at the same time! If I get caught, at least I have you on my side."
"Of course, Snipe." She said.
"Ex-cuse me?" It was the host of the server, a gray Snake. Phalèon. "You're a Hacker?"
"Yes, why?" SN1P3R replied, not bothering to hide it. "Are you going to fight me?"
Phalèon glared it him. 'Get the hell out of my stage', his expression seemed to say. 'I'll fight you from one end of the Internet to the other'.
"Get out of my server..."
"Or what? You'll fight me?"
"Damn straight."
"Then let the games begin. Maeve, if you would be so kind as to meet me in Norfair?" The Marth who was traveling with him, apparently named 'Maeve', nodded, and left the server.
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SN1P3R vs. Phalèon.
Stage: Eldin Bridge
Stock: 3 Lives
Items: All on low
Bet: Officially, 1 token. Unofficially, Phalèon's account for SN1P3R's.
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They both acted the moment the match started. Phalèon charged forward, while SN1P3R shot with his laser gun. Phalèon dove, dodging the attack, and then grabbing SN1P3R. He threw him into the ground, and then kicked him while he was down.
SN1P3R rolled to the side, then shot again from the ground, this time hitting him. The Snake nearly stumbled, but kept his balance, aiming two quick punches, followed by a kick. The hacker retaliated by ducking down and swiping at his legs, tripping Phalèon. While he was on the ground, he used a Fire Bird attack, angling it straight into Phalèon.
Acting quickly, SN1P3R used the slight distance the Fire Bird attack had given him to pull off another shot on his opponent. He tried his laser gun, but Phalèon jumped too quickly. He used his Cypher to go higher, then dive down on SN1P3R. The Hacker began another Fire Bird, aiming straight up, while Phalèon charged a Down-Smash.
The two attacks made contact, canceling each other out. They were forced to different sides, and quickly charged at each other again. Right before they made contact, SN1P3R used a Falco Phantasm, stunning Phalèon as he went by, then whipping around and doing another one.
Phalèon threw a grenade, which SN1P3R deflected in a single motion. The explosive hit the Snake, sending him off-screen. Respawning, he used his burst of invincibility to aim a missile at his enemy. SN1P3R narrowly avoided it, but Phalèon curved the missile back around before he could completely evade it.
The dark falcon was nearly knocked off-screen, but managed to hold on. Phalèon ran towards him, rolling to avoid the shots SN1P3R fired from his gun. Then he jumped, and did a down-smash to knock him down, and a side-smash to force him off-screen.
"You're good..." Admitted SN1P3R. He did a Falco-Phantasm to cut the distance between them, swiping at his enemy with his talons.
"I was offered to be a mod." Phalèon replied, side-stepping and grabbing SN1P3R.
"Yet you turned them down?" He asked, ducking and sweep-kicking. "Shame."
"Why?" Asked Phalèon, jumping and trying a kick to his head.
"Well, moderators are offered certain... privileges." SN1P3R took the kick, but retaliated with an uppercut. "Not many know about them, but... well, they keep certain THINGS from happening."
"What kind of things?" He asked, missing a beat and taking a combo from SN1P3R.
"...I just activated a program." Said the hacker, knocking him away. "It's a password-guesser. If you beat me before it takes your account, then it'll automatically close. But, if I win, or the program simply manages to guess the correct password..." SN1P3R grinned evilly.
"You won't just be able to delete my account... you'll have complete control over it."
"It's a race against time. Move quickly or die."
Phalèon began attacking furiously. Any second, the password-guesser could hack his account. He worked so hard for years, only to lose it to some low-life hacker? No, he wouldn't let the happen. He picked him up and threw him into the ground, then kicked him while he was down.
While he was on the floor, SN1P3R fired another shot, then used the second it provided to gain the upper hand. He hit Phalèon, knocking him back, but not too far. He forced him into the ground, ready to drag him off-screen.
Then a horn blew.
A goblin-knight-creature riding a boar appeared, charging across the stage. Both players leaped out of it's way, and it dropped a barrel-shaped bomb, blowing a hole in the floor. SN1P3R tried to force Phalèon into the hole, but he managed to stay on, and threw SN1P3R down into it, causing a knock-out.
SN1P3R came back, and did a Fire Bird while Phalèon side-stepped away. He did a Falco Phantasm, knocking Phalèon off screen.
Both were on their last lives.
Phalèon tried an all-out offensive, feeling every second as it passed by. Every second that went by was countless guesses on his password. All SN1P3R had to do was hold off on the fight for long enough, and he'd win by default.
Suddenly, Phalèon gained the upper-hand. He threw him into the ground, then kicked him. SN1P3R nearly went into the hole, holding onto the edge with one hand. Phalèon was ready to force him into it. Then he heard something that made his face turn white:
"PASSWORD FOUND. CORRECT PASSWORD IS: 'SECRET'."
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The video closed, and Phy stared at Phalèon's avatar, just standing there, ready to be used by SN1P3R.
"...Where do we go?" Asked Heart.
"I think he mentioned meeting that girl at Norfair..." Nodded Phy, somberly.
"It feels weird, just leaving him here..." Said Heart, referring to what was left of Phalèon.
"I wish we could log him off of his account." Phy agreed. "But SN1P3R probably changed the password by now..."
"Last one out, get the lights..." Said Cherry, and the three of them silently filed out.
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Author's Notes:
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Starlll: I tried to end it on a bit of a sad note.
Phy: I gathered as much...
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The Review Corner:
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Starlll: Dang, it's been a while since I've done this! I think I explained it once before, but I guess I'll go over it again: every once and a while, I'll take a review someone submitted, and post it here. My OC's and I take turns commenting on it. So, send in your reviews! Really, I love them!
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Submitted by Pax the Dreamer:
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Nice chapter! Really, a very decent length, not too long to lose our attention, but not too short, either. Brought us through a stage in your world, faced us against a familiar boss, and-
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Starlll: Oh, thanks!
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...okay, I'm sorry, but I have to recount this event in full.
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Starlll: ...Uh-oh...
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"That was when he realized: fire does extra damage! Of course!"
I LITTERALLY face-palmed. Hard. And it hurt. I'll be sending you the medical bill.
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Starlll: Dang! That will never hold up in court! I'm getting Phoenix Wright as my lawyer!
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Well, this SN1P3R fellow seems like they'll be interesting, and I'd like to see him/her beat Phy's butt.
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Phy: Hey!
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However, I just have to say... and this is petty, I know, but not really a complaint on your story, just wondering about something in-universe, for lack of a better word:
Why the HECK would you name yourself anything like that? It's like you're hanging a bright, Neon sign around your neck that says "Hello, I am a hacker! Prepared to have the rest of your gaming life ruined!"
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Starlll: Well Ex-cuuuse me, Princess!
SN1P3R: You're one to talk, Mister Dreamer. Honestly, how did you even go about thinking of the name 'Pax'? It's not even a word!
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Well, anyway, as I've already said, good chapter, decent length, blah-blah-blah. Next chapter we'll be introduced to a hacker, and it definatly has that good "building" pace going.
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Starlll: I think you misspelled 'definitely'.
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*1: I'm looking at you, Pax.