The First Event, Mr. Smiley Revealed

Mario and the others had just woken up to find themselves in separate energy cages in a dark room. As they looked around to find out where they are, they notice a familiar face, or rather, a familiar mask. "Dimentio!" they shouted in anger. "Bleck! I should have known you were behind all this" accused the angry count.

This accusation only made Dimentio smirk. "I see you are as clueless as usual my count! If I were really the mastermind in all of this, I would not be seen as an animal on display as you are" said Dimentio with a gleeful tone.

"Dimentio… you're here too?" said a weak, but familiar voice.

Dimentio turned to see Antonia in a cell next to him. "Toni!" he cried. "Are you all right?"

"I… I'm fine…"

"But I thought you were…"

"I know me too, but Mr. Zep said that I was saved by his employer."

"Who is this Mr. Zep?"

A man in a suit comes out of the shadows to greet them. "Greetings contestants"

"You!" exclaimed Dimentio. "You were the man that saved me from the Underwhere!"

"If you could shut up for just a minute and let me explain…" warned Mr. Zep. "Like the contract says, you are all going to serve on the Crimson Circus for a week as the entertainment for the masses, whether you like it or not."

"Well, let's say we refuse, K?" protested Nastasia.

"I'm afraid that won't be an option, as soon as my employer announces the first event, the people selected for the competitions are to follow the rules of the game, while the rest wait here." "Furthermore, if you had actually READ the contract, you'll see within the fine print that it says that we are not responsible for any unfortunate casualties during the competition" he added.

"Just who does your employer think he is anyway?" pouted Mimi.

"You'll get to meet him this evening for dinner… but until then, try not to make a mess if you get killed."

A large television screen appeared showing the arena of the Crimson Circus with a large audience numbered in the thousands cheering with excitement.

"Enjoy the intro before some of you go up…" said Mr. Zep. And with that, he left the room to notify Mr. Smiley that the show was ready.

Mr. Smiley had already dressed up for his big comeback, he waited for this moment for 15 years and now it was his time to shine once more. Mr. Zep entered backstage and saw Mr. Smiley pacing back and forth impatiently.

"Sir, the contestants are ready" said Mr. Zep,

"Excellent, now I just have to wait for Big Top to give me my cue to make my appearance."

In the arena, Big Top was giving the crowd a pep rally as they cheered and shouted for a show.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" shouted Big Top into the microphone. "Welcome to the Crimson Circus! The only circus that's worth remembering! Here you'll get all the excitement without any fear of endangering yourselves! Are you ready to begin?"

The crowd answers his question with roaring shouts and cheers.

"Then let me introduce you to your gracious host, The Master of Games, The King of Ceremonies, The Entertainer of all Worlds! A man who makes ecstasy seem harmless and boring. Put your hands together forrrr… RINGMASTER SMILEY!"

The crowd goes wild as loud up-beat rock music starts to play and sparkling colorful lights and explosions appear. Mr. Smiley steps out to meet his beloved audience and ascends on his platform. He had never felt so alive.

"GREETINGS ONE AND ALL! I AM YOUR HOST FOR THIS WEEKS EPIC ENTERTAINMENT!" shouted Mr. Smiley with a fierce tone. "YOU CAME TO SEE A REAL SHOW, A SHOW WITH BLOOD, LAUGHS, AND OF COURSE EXCITEMENT. AND I, YOUR BELOVED HOST WILL DO MORE THAN SATISFY!"

The crowd seemed to be eating up every word that came out of Mr. Smiley's mouth. "BUT I CAN SEE ALL OF YOU HAVE WAITED ENOUGH, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO… LET THE GAME'S BEGIN!" The crowd went in a frenzy shouting how they wanted to see blood and how they loved Mr. Smiley.

"FOR THE FIRST EVENT, WE HAVE A SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST COMPETITION, WHERE THE CONTESTANTS HAVE TO DEFEAT A MONSTEROUS BEAST FOR THE PRIZE! AND THAT PRIZE IS… THEIR LIVES! PLEASE SHOW THE SAME LOVE FOR THEM AS YOU SHOWED ME, LET US WELCOME… MARIO AND LUIGI!" The cages that were holding Mario and Luigi elevated to the arena, where they saw a large crowd and more importantly, Bonetail.

"Mama Mia!" cried Mario. The cages were released the fight had begun.

"L-L-L- Let's take him together bro!" stammered Luigi.

Mario nodded, but was instantly thwacked in the head by Bonetail's tail. After recovering from this, Mario jumps onto the dragon's head and uses his hammer to break its eye socket. Bonetail shook Mario off its head and roared in pain and anger and started to breathe out purple flames at Luigi. Luigi evaded these flames just in time using his high jump and at that altitude, he ground-pounded into the dragon's skull, which cracked it and paralyzed it for moment. This was enough time for Mario to use his Power Smash with his Ultra Hammer. As the hammer made contact with the dragon's cracked skull and disintegrated it. Bonetail was dead, again.

The crowd cheered over the victory of the Mario Bros and Mr. Smiley was happy with the results. "DID I NOT PROMISE YOU A SHOW? LET'S GIVE THE MARIO BROS A HAND FOR THEIR VALIENT EFFORTS!" exclaimed Mr. Smiley with joy. With a stamp of his cane, Mario and Luigi were warped back in their cages. "I'M AFRAID THAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT THIS SHORT FOLKS, BUT I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO SEE MORE, SO COME ON BACK TOMMOROW AT 10 IN THE MORNING AND I'LL PROMISE YOU THAT YOU NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!" The crowd started cheering for Mr. Smiley, as he exited the arena gleaming with joy.

"A great performance, sir" said Mr. Zep with disinterest.

"Why thank you, Mr. Zep, but could you get the contestants to see me in the dining room, we have much to discuss" said Mr. Smiley

"Of course, sir."

As Mr. Smiley was sitting in his chair in his dining room, the door was opened and the contestants entered with unpleasant looks and chains of energy strapped on to their wrists.

"Ah, why it's the guests of honor! Please, have a seat" said Mr. Smiley invitingly.

A large feast was prepared for them, so Luigi, Bowser, O'Chunks, and Krump did not hesitate to sit down and fill their mouths with chicken, pork and gravy.

"Ha Ha Ha! Well I see some people have big appetites" said Mr. Smiley amusingly. "The rest of you, don't be shy now, please help yourselves to my hospitality."

"Hos- hospitality? You abducted us and put us in cages for your amusement and you call that HOSPITALITY?" shouted Peach angrily. Normally she was nice, but seeing as this was not her first time getting kidnapped, she was getting sick of the entire situation.

"What's gotten into her?" whispered Antonia to Dimentio.

"Oh, just the usual…" whispered back Dimentio. Dimentio was still trying to figure out where he had seen all of this before, but deep down, he knew he shouldn't be here.

"I can understand such frustration…" said Mr. Smiley sympathetically. "But don't worry your highness; this will be the last time you and your fellow competitors will have to live in cages with chains strapped onto you. I'm going to release you all now, and when I do, I hope you will stay and hear me out before you do anything rash" he warned.

Mr. Smiley made a gesture, which made their chains disappear. The guests cautiously sat down and casted some scornful over to Dimentio, they were still ticked off about everything he did.

"You know something? You all look so much older than Mr. Zep had profiled you all to be. I wanted some fresh young blood, not a couple of adults… I'm just going have to fix that too…" Mr. Smiley stamped his cane, and in doing so, all of the competitors were looked 9 years than they were supposed to be. Everyone was pleasantly surprised with the results, especially Mimi.

"YAAAY!" squealed Mimi, who was now a 12 year old. "I'm cute again!"

"Please do keep in mind that these effects only last while you're on the Circus" said Mr. Smiley.

"Everything about you seems awfully familiar… have we met before?" asked Dimentio.

There was a deadly silence, and Mr. Smiley just gave a slow menacing laugh. "I know the décor changed around here, little boy, but… it's still the same home that you lived in 15 years ago." Mr. Smiley slowed his speech on that last part.

"15 years ago… it- it can't be!" muttered Dimentio realizing the truth.

"Perhaps you need a familiar face to jog your memory…" said Mr. Smiley.

"Please don't, I wouldn't want to lose the lunch I just had" said Antonia. There was a small laughter at the table.

"You're assuming that I look hideous behind this helmet?"

"Well… seeing as how creepy that thing is, the answer is a big yes."

"HAHAHA! Au Contraire, Ma Cherie" Mr. Smiley twisted his helmet off, steam broke out and his face was exposed.

And Antonia was stood corrected as everyone saw what was behind that helmet. Mr. Smiley's face was not appalling, but very handsome, with shiny brown hair smoothed back and a small goatee. He looked no more over 25. Everyone was shocked to see how young he was. Mimi started to drool.

"U-U-Uncle SMILEY?" exclaimed Dimentio with fear clutching at his very soul.

"UNCLE?" exclaimed everyone.

"Dimentio, how can he be your uncle? I mean, he looks old enough to be your brother!" said Toni still recovering from shock.

"Why thank you for noticing my dear… but in truth I am 74 years old" stated Mr. Smiley.

"EEEHHHHH?" exclaimed everyone.

"I wonder what his secret is…" whispered Timpani to Peach.

"I know! Doesn't he look gorgeous?" whispered Peach. They both squealed like school girls, while Mario and Bleck started to dislike Mr. Smiley even more.

"I suppose, now, would be a good time to give you all an explanation" said Mr. Smiley.