A/N: So I've been gone for a very long time. What have I done in the meantime? Only graduated college and got my first job! And I have been rewatching my Heroes Season 2 DVDs to prepare for Season 3 (which looks AWESOME), and I now have a renewed interest in continuing this fic. I've swapped a few characters (Meta Knight and Ike) and made some small changes for my planned characters for this season. Anyway, on to a very long-delayed Chapter 2!

(Open on a back room in a pub in Eagleland. Mario, unconscious and still shirtless, is tied to a chair. A bucket of water is thrown on him. He gasps in shock as he wakes up. He sees the men from the shipping container in front of him.)

Lucas: So where are the iPods?

Mario: (sputtering) I told you, I don't remember.

Ness: Just like you don't remember how you got there, huh?

Mario: I don't remember anything.

Ness: (not believing) Come on. The one container we're sent to rob, we find you. What are the odds?

Mario: I told you, I don't know how I got in there.

Ness: I'm sorry to hear that. (He turns to go) Meta?

(Meta Knight steps forward. He seems to smile behind his mask. Then he lashes out and punches Mario.

Cut to the kitchen in the Bennet house. Vivian cracks an egg and drops it into a pot of boiling water. Her wedding ring slips off her finger into the pot as well. In the pot is the title card: "Chapter 2: Lizards.")

Vivian: Oh shoot, my wedding ring fell in.

(Peach is walking into the room. She goes over and looks into the pot. She reaches in, grimacing in pain, and pulls her hand back out. It's blistered and burned, but it quickly heals. She hands the ring to her mother.)

Vivian: (with a look) We do have a colander, dear. No need to be flashy.

Peach: It's no big deal, mom.

Vivian: It will be a big deal if anyone notices.

Peach: (annoyed) Can't I at least be myself here at home? It's bad enough I can't be myself anywhere else.

Peppy: (coming into the room) We want you to be yourself, Peachy. You just have to lay low.

Peach: It's the kids who lay low that they worry about, dad.

Peppy: Well, we trust you, but you still shouldn't do that kind of thing, even here.

Peach: I can't cheerlead and I can't even heal at home?? Are you kidding me?? You get to go to work and be all normal while I'm trapped pretending to be?!

Peppy: (with some anger) Going to work isn't my first priority, Peach. Keeping this family safe is.

Peach: (sighing) You're right, dad. I'm sorry. I'll stay out of trouble.

(She leaves for school. As soon as she's gone, Vivian goes to the table and picks up the newspaper.)

Vivian: Have you seen this??

(Peppy walks over to look at it. On the front page is a picture of Ike's body laying on the ground. The headline reads: "Yamauchi Industries CEO Dead At Age 60.")

Peppy: I knew this would happen.

Vivian: What do you mean, you knew this would happen? (Peppy doesn't respond) HEY. (He looks at her) No more secrets. That's the deal, remember?

Peppy: (smiling) All right. Let me show you.

(Peppy leads her into his office off the kitchen. He brings something out of the closet, unrolling it.)

Peppy: This was done by a very gifted artist from the Mushroom Kingdom, Douglas Mendez.

(He unrolls the painting to show the exact picture from the newspaper of Ike's death.)

Peppy: Everything he's ever painted has come true. Except for a series of eight. I was only given the first.

Vivian: (with wonder) There's seven more? What's in the other paintings??

Peppy: I don't know, but I'm going to find them.

(Cut to the Deveaux rooftop. Roy is there, talking to police. Wario and D.K. come up. Wario crosses the police tape while D.K. hangs back. After a second, Wario returns.)

Wario: You forget how to walk into a crime scene?

D.K.: (smiling) Just savoring the moment.

Wario: Welcome to the big leagues.

(D.K. crosses the tape as Wario brings out a file.)

Wario: Ike Nakamura from Japan. Here on business. In good health. This was found on him.

(He hands D.K. the picture of Ike with the circular symbol over it.)

Wario: Ever seen that symbol before?

D.K.: (lying) Uh…no. Never.

Wario: Roy Masahashi over here was with Mr. Nakamura. Says he saw a man go over the edge with him.

D.K.: But there's only the one body.

Wario: Well, either the killer fell twenty stories and got up and walked away, or he flew away. You know somebody who can do that?

(Recognition flashes over D.K.'s face, but then he shakes his head.)

D.K.: No. Of course not.

Wario: There's a fingerprint on the picture. Belongs to Samus Petrelli.

D.K.: OK. Let's bring her in.

(Wario nods and walks off. D.K. goes over to Roy.)

D.K.: Mr. Masahashi. Have you ever seen this symbol before? (He shows him the picture)

Roy: (nodding) It is a Japanese kanji. It means "great ability" or "godsend." It is also the sign of Takezo Anri, a great Japanese hero. Mr. Nakamura used to tell the stories to his son, Marth.

D.K.: I'd like to talk to Marth.

Roy: (sadly) So would I.

(Cut to Japan in the past. Marth runs around, looking for something. He finally sees Anri slumped under a tree, passed out. He grabs the man up and pulls him over to a water trough. He thrusts Anri's head under the water to wake him up. Marth yanks the man back out and yells at him.)

Marth: You have to wake up! You must go after the swordsmith's daughter! Make her fall in love with you! That is the way the stories go!!

Anri: (sputtering) You know…You look like a fish when you talk.

Marth: I promise that if you do this, they will tell your story for four hundred years – minimum!

Anri: (with a grin) Like a giant carp!

(Marth looks angry and shoves Anri's head back into the water. After a while he lifts him out again, but Anri just slumps to the ground.)

Marth: History needs Takezo Anri to be a hero today!

(He glances around and sees Anri's armor under the tree where he was sitting. He gets an idea.

Cut to later. Marth, wearing Anri's armor, rides off on a horse.)

Marth: Roy will never believe this! Yahoo!!

(Cut to a classroom in Pallet Town in the present. R.O.B. gives a presentation to Peach's class.)

R.O.B.: Lizards, as seen in this movie clip, are capable of cellular regeneration.

Peach: (speaking up) You mean like people who can heal themselves?

R.O.B.: (chuckling) No, not people, Peach. Lizards. And raise your hand, please.

(Peach just puts her hand up. R.O.B. kind of sighs.)

R.O.B.: Yes, Peach.

Peach: But it is possible, right? For people to regenerate like that?

R.O.B.: Yes, there's some controversial research going on with stem cells. Good progress, but nothing too much yet.

Peach: Do you think they could get to the point of generating new organs or limbs for people who need them?

(Doug is looking at her, interested in her interest.)

R.O.B.: Well, I think the next step for humans isn't generating new body parts, it's to get rid of unnecessary ones. The appendix, wisdom teeth, even the pinky toe.

Peach: I've read that some people may have evolved a different code already. Is that possible?

R.O.B.: (laughing) Well, you'd need an advanced degree in genetics to get that answer. But I hope you than me in your dissertation. Now then…

(He resumes talking about lizards. Peach looks over at Doug, who's smiling smugly at her.

Cut to an office outside the Mushroom Kingdom. Diddy walks in to see Ash, holding a folder.)

Ash: Ah, Doctor Kong, good to see you. I have your first assignment here.

Diddy: (confused) Assignment? I thought I was going to be doing my research here.

Ash: Well, someone showed up at the lava fields with symptoms that suggest he has the virus. So far, there's only been two presentations of the disease: your brother and Mew Ketchum. If he has it too –

Diddy: (worried) Then the disease is spreading.

Ash: Right. So find out if he has it, then bring him back here if he does. (Diddy turns to go) Oh, and Doctor? (Diddy turns back) As of now, your blood is the only cure for that virus. So try not to get yourself killed.

(Diddy looks slightly nervous, but nods and walks out the door.

Cut to a house in Dream Castland. Sonic and Amy knock on the door. It opens to reveal a red echidna smiling at them.)

Knuckles (translated): Sonic, Amy. My old friends.

Sonic (translated): (grinning) Knuckles.

(Knuckles hugs each of them, then lets them in.)

Sonic (translated): So you can get us into Game Cubeland?

Knuckles (translated): (leading them to a bedroom) Yes, of course. Just rest now. It will be a long night, and a…friend of mine is coming to cross too.

(He moves off into the house. Amy rounds on Sonic.)

Amy (translated): We shouldn't be risking him. We have to cross alone.

Sonic (translated): Knuckles knows the best way.

Amy (translated): (scared) What if I…lose control?

Sonic (translated): (taking her hand) I won't let that happen.

(Cut to the pub in Eagleland. Mario is still struggling to get out of the chair. At the doorway is a short, pink, round creature with a wisp of hair and big eyes. She watches Mario for a second.)

Creature: Bet you were better-looking yesterday. (She goes to him and lifts his necklace) What's this mean?

Mario: I wish I knew.

Creature: And your name?

Mario: Wish I knew that one too.

Creature: I'm Jigglypuff. (She goes and gets a bowl, filling it with water)

Mario: What are they going to do to me?

Jigglypuff: Whatever my brother feels is best. (She comes back to him with the bowl and a rag)

Mario: Your brother? Is the leader…?

Jigglypuff: (starting to clean the blood off of him) Ness. That's right. See, this iPod thing, it's more than just the money. They were doing it for leverage in a situation we have with a guy named Andonuts. And he's not very forgiving. (She wrings out the rag) I mean, a name, a face? Don't you remember anything we can use to find whoever took the iPods?

Mario: Sorry. The first thing I remember is waking up in that container and some guy getting ready to hit me.

Jigglypuff: (with a laugh) Yeah, and then some big flash knocks him on his back.

Mario: (hesitating) I think…the flash. It came from me. From…my hand.

Jigglypuff: (laughing) Your hand?

(She wrings out the rag again and looks back at Mario. She stops laughing and looks worried.)

Mario: What is it?

Jigglypuff: Well I've cleaned a lot of blood off of you. But you don't seem to have any wounds.

(Mario looks at her questioningly, then over at a mirror across the room. He sees no mark on him either. He and Jigglypuff both look confused.

Cut to the lava fields. Diddy walks around, talking to various Koopas. Finally, he ends up at a large castle. He knocks and enters.)

Diddy: Hello? I'm a doctor, I'm here to help.

(He walks around the castle and sees a bedroom. He goes in it and finds the dragon. He's sick in bed, not wearing his necklace.)

Diddy: (starting to unpack his things) You're sick. But there may be a cure.

Bowser: I don't want it.

Diddy: You don't? Why not?

Bowser: God gave me a gift. I used it for evil instead of good. Now he is punishing me.

Diddy: Well, there's a chance you're suffering from any other number of viruses that I don't have a cure for. But if you have this one specific virus, there's only one cure: a distillation of my blood. Plus, I was led to you, so that's another sign, isn't it?

Bowser: A sign of what?

Diddy: That God's not quite done with you yet.

(Cut back to Dream Castland. Amy lays in bed, resting, with Sonic watching over her. A white bat comes over to their room.)

Rouge (translated): He watches over you.

Amy (translated): (smiling slightly) He always has. Ever since we were born together.

Sonic (translated): I have to. We have to get to Nintenworld, to get a doctor for her.

Rouge (translated): (coming into the room) A doctor? I'm a bit of a healer myself.

Amy (translated): (worried) No, I don't think you should –

Rouge (translated): Please, just let me see.

(She sits on the bed and takes Amy's hand. She closes her eyes and concentrates.)

Rouge (translated): It is a new illness. You fear…yourself…What is inside of you…is black…Black enough to kill the devil!

(She yanks her hands away from Amy's.)

Rouge (translated): You're cursed! There is no cure!

Knuckles (translated): (coming into the room) Rouge, it's OK –

Rouge (translated): (standing) I won't cross with them! They're cursed!

(She runs from the room. Amy and Sonic look at each other with concern.

Cut to Japan in the past. Elincia fights against several samurai. She's surrounded, but still fights them off when they come after her.)

Medeus (translated): As amusing as this is, I should just kill you now.

(Marth suddenly walks up, in Anri's armor.)

Marth (translated): Takezo Anri demands that you leave her alone!

(The samurai round on him, raising their swords.)

Marth (translated): Don't even think about it! Takezo Anri is the greatest swordsman Japan has ever seen!

Samurai (translated): Why does he keep saying his own name…?

Medeus (translated): (laughing) How can you defeat us when you don't even have a sword?

Marth (translated): I don't need a sword when I have all of yours!

(There's a whoosh, and suddenly all of the men's swords are in the ground around Marth. They look shocked. He laughs in triumph.)

Medeus (translated): No matter! Ready your bows!

Marth (translated): (wagging a finger) I wouldn't do that if I were you!

(The men are all preparing their bows with arrows. Then, there's another whoosh and all of the men's bows and quivers are around Marth as well. The men are really surprised by this and turn to run.)

Marth (translated): That's it, run away!

(Elincia takes a few swipes at them, too, as they leave.)

Marth (translated): (calling after them) Remember this battle for your history! "The Battle of Twelve Swords", that's a good name!!

(Marth goes and gets on his horse. Elincia follows after him.)

Elincia (translated): May good fortune follow you, Anri.

Marth (translated): Come, let us ride together.

(He holds out a hand, and she takes it. He lifts her up onto the horse. They ride off.

Cut to the pub in the present. Mario keeps trying to wriggle out of his bonds. He sees Ness and Jigglypuff talking.)

Ness: If he even looks at you wrong, just shoot him.

Jigglypuff: What am I, twelve?

Ness: Always.

(She smacks him mock indignation. Ness and the other men leave.

Mario looks back, trying to get out of the ropes. He closes his eyes and tries to concentrate, but nothing happens. He breathes a few times and tries again, but still nothing. Then, suddenly, his hands phase through the ropes. They drop to the floor as Mario opens his eyes. He lifts his hands, looking shocked.

He slowly gets up from the chair and grabs a spare shirt. He puts it on as he walks toward a window. He opens it and looks outside.

Out in the pub, Jigglypuff is cleaning. Two short men walk in. One is a blond with rectangular glasses and the other has only a few hairs on the top of his head.)

Jigglypuff: Bar's closed, guys.

Poo: We're not here for a drink.

(Mario watches them, undecided on what to do.)

Jigglypuff: Well, Ness and the guys just left.

Poo: We're not here for Ness, either.

(Jigglypuff goes to the bar, reaching for the gun Ness left her.)

Jigglypuff: Well then –

(She grabs the gun and turns. But Poo already come up to her and he grabs the gun. He wrestles it from her, but Jigglypuff hits him in the crotch. He winces, but punches her. He pulls out a tire iron as he stands over her.

Suddenly, from the back room, Mario walks out. He raises his hand and a blue ball of electricity shoots it. It hits Poo and knocks him to the floor. The other guy raises a gun. Mario waves his hand at it and it sails out of his hand, into the wall. The guy runs up and hits Mario once, but it doesn't do much. Mario hits him back. The guy ends up flying across the pub into the far wall.

Mario turns to Jigglypuff, looking at him in amazement. He looks confused and worried by what he did too.

Cut to Peach's school in Pallet Town. She's at her locker. She closes it as Doug appears next to her.)

Doug: So. Lizards, huh? (They start to walk away) I figured you'd be more into unicorns or something.

Peach: (dismissing) It was just a question is class.

Doug: No, I think it's cool that you're into genetics. I'm kind of into it too.

Peach: I'm not "into" genetics.

Doug: You don't have to hide everything interesting about you. I mean, genetics is important. It kind of tells us what we are. Like, there's this book, by some guy from Kong Island. It's about people who evolved, just like you were talking about.

Peach: (getting angry) Sorry, I left all my awesome genetic textbook reading for the summer.

Doug: Still, you should see it. I could bring it by your house, or something.

Peach: That's really OK. If you're into lizards, awesome, but I've gotta go.

(She's in the parking lot. She turns to unlock her car, but…the space is empty.)

Peach: (confused) Where's my car?

(Cut to Japan in the past again. Marth and Elincia step down from the horse amidst some cherry blossoms.)

Marth (translated): I'm sorry I'm a bad rider.

Elincia (translated): It is I who am sorry. I believed you had taken our money and deserted us.

Marth (translated): Your father will be rescued, I promise.

Elincia (translated): (smiling) You are as honorable as your are brave.

Marth (translated): (looking around) Look, the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Elincia (translated): They are beautiful, aren't they?

Marth (translated): (almost to himself) Yes, yes they are.

Elincia (translated): Will you…remove your mask?

Marth (translated): (backing up) Why?

Elincia (translated): So I can look upon the face of our rescuer.

Marth (translated): I…dare not. There are things I must say to you, that I cannot say with it removed. It is no surprise Takezo Anri's love for you will be the stuff of legend.

Elincia (translated): (blushing) Really?

Marth (translated): Yes.

(She goes in for a kiss. She's close to Marth when, abruptly, time stops. Marth takes off his mask and looks at Elincia sadly.

Suddenly, time starts again, but Marth has disappeared. Elincia looks around for him but doesn't see him. The cherry blossoms fall around her, and she smiles and laughs.

Cut to the castle in the lava fields in present time. The dragon sits up in his bed, looking much better.)

Diddy: You look healthy. My blood worked.

Bowser: I suppose you were a sign.

Diddy: A sign of what? What's the virus doing all the way out here? It's spreading and I don't know how. You probably would have been dead by the morning…In any case, the company I'm working for wants me to bring you in for observation.

Bowser: (standing and looking worried) Of course. There is always a company.

(Diddy looks at him in confusion. And suddenly, he's looking at Ash, not the dragon.)

Ash: Where is the dragon?

Diddy: (confused) The dragon? Isn't he in the lava fields?

Ash: That's where we are! You've been out of contact for hours.

Diddy: I remember…being in your office. You told me I had to go help the dragon since he might have the virus.

Ash: (crossing his arms) He wouldn't have been able to take your memory unless the vaccine worked. So...apparently it did.

Diddy: (stunned) My memory…?

Ash: We'll just chalk this one up to a rookie mistake. Just don't let it happen again.

(Diddy nods, looking distressed.

Cut to the Dream Castland/Game Cubeland border. Knuckles, Sonic, and Amy walk through some woods. They come upon a drainpipe that goes under the border. Knuckles runs across the street to the drainpipe, opening the grate on it. Amy runs after him and ducks into the pipe, Sonic hiding in the bushes.

Suddenly, a police truck approaches. Knuckles jumps in and closes the grate. Sonic watches in distress.)

Amy (translated): I can't leave him behind!

Knuckles (translated): Hurry! Before they see us!

(Cops get out of the truck. Amy and Knuckles scramble through the pipe. They come out on the other side.)

Amy (translated): I can't leave without my brother!

Knuckles (translated): It's OK, he knows where we're going. Let's go –

Amy (translated): No! We have to wait here!

Knuckles (translated): We'll be caught! Come on –

(He grabs her shoulder. She turns around and there are black tears coming from her eyes. Knuckles staggers back, suddenly choking. He falls to the ground as Amy cries.)

Amy (translated): Sonic! Help! (She kneels on the ground) Dear God! Help me!!

(Sonic comes through the drainpipe. He notices the black tears coming from Knuckles' and Amy's eyes and goes to Amy.)

Amy (translated): It's too late…

Sonic (translated): No. Take my hand. I'll make it OK.

(He takes her hand, humming a tune to her. The blackness from Amy's eyes disappears. It springs up in Sonic's eyes and he gasps. But he concentrates, and it disappears from his eyes as well. The blackness disappears from Knuckles and he slowly gets to his feet.)

Knuckles (translated): She was right…You're devils! Both of you!

Sonic (translated): (exhausted) No, please, we don't know where to go –

Knuckles (translated): I'm going back home!

(He heads back into the drainpipe. Sonic and Amy sit together, catching their breath.

Cut to the paper store in Pallet Town. Peach comes in, looking nervous. She sees her father restocking the candy at the checkout. She takes a breath and walks up to him.)

Peppy: Hey Peachy. Just restocking the jelly beans. Receptionists seem to love them. (A/N: Name that TV reference!)

Peach: Dad, if I tell you something, will you promise not to freak out?

(Peppy just straightens up and looks worried.)

Peach: My car kind of got stolen…

(Peppy lets out a big sigh of relief.)

Peppy: My gosh, Peachy, don't scare me like that.

Peach: (smiling slightly) I know. What's a stolen car when you're running for your life? (Peppy looks around to make sure no one overheard) And I promise, if you were to get me another one, I definitely wouldn't leave it unlocked this time –

Peppy: Wait, you left it unlocked?? Peach! (He takes her shoulder and guides her into the break room) I need to be able to trust you! Not just with this, but everything! We're in hiding, it could be dangerous!

Peach: (getting angry) We're in hiding because of something I can do, and I don't even know what that is!

Peppy: You know enough –

Peach: I don't know the limits though! If I cut of my arm, would it grow back? Could I be helping people? Like, if my skin regenerates when it's boiled, could I help burn victims? I want to know!

Peppy: (also angry) Leave it alone, Peach!

Peach: No! Look, you can yell at me about the car, but this is who I am, and I'm sick of hiding it!

Peppy: We are IN hiding so you don't have to find out your limits! If they know where you are, they'll take you away and just keep testing you. They'll cut and damage you until you'll wish you could die. (He takes her shoulders) I know this is hard for you. You may feel confined here, but this is far freer a cage than the one they'd put you in. (He sighs) I have to get back to work now.

(He walks off. Peach watches him go.

Cut to an interrogation room in a police station. D.K. and Wario sit across from Samus.)

D.K.: We want to know about you and Ike Nakamura. Witness said you were seen last with him. Said you looked angry.

Samus: We were old friends. We had a disagreement.

D.K.: (raising an eyebrow) Witness said you slapped him too.

Samus: He made an offhand comment about my son's death. I found it disrespectful.

Wario: (looking at his notes) We see you're a major shareholder is his company. The stock's been in the toilet for a while now.

Samus: (almost laughing) You think I killed Ike over money?

D.K.: The most common reasons for murder are money and sex.

Samus: Well, I don't need the money, and Ike and I weren't sleeping together. (after a pause) Not for a long time.

Wario: (awkwardly) OH-kay…

D.K.: (handing her the picture of Ike) Have you ever seen this symbol before?

Samus: (putting it down) It's the symbol of my late husband's law firm.

D.K.: Why would it be drawn over his face?

Samus: I don't know.

(D.K. looks at her, concentrating, and hears her thoughts.)

Samus: Because we did something terrible and now somebody wants revenge.

D.K.: Would anybody want…revenge, Mrs. Petrelli?

Wario: (as Samus looks surprised) Revenge? Who said anything about revenge?

Samus: I want my lawyer.

D.K.: (louder) Who wants revenge, Mrs. Petrelli?

Wario: Easy, Parkman, she cried uncle.

(Samus just stares at D.K. He concentrates and hears her thoughts again.)

Samus: GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

(D.K. flinches. Samus smirks, figuring him out.

Cut to outside the room. Luigi is signing a form at the desk. D.K. comes out to him.)

D.K.: Mr. Petrelli? (Luigi nods and they shake hands.)

Luigi: I know you.

D.K.: We met in Corneria when your brother was in jail. Follow me, I'll take you to your mother.

Luigi: She's not gonna want to see me. I just came to get her out.

D.K.: Then why'd she ask us to call you?

Luigi: She doesn't have anyone else.

(Suddenly, they hear a scream from the interrogation room. Luigi and D.K. run to the door and try to open it, but it's locked.)

Luigi: How is it locked!?

D.K.: I don't know! It's the only way in or out!!

(Samus screams again. The two run into the room off the interrogation room.)

D.K.: Stand back.

(He lifts a chair and bangs it on the glass. He hits it a few times, then throws the chair through, shattering the glass. He and Luigi climb into the room.

Only Samus is in there. Her face and body are cut. She's still breathing heavily.)

D.K.: (as they go to her) Who did this to you, Mrs. Petrelli?

(Samus looks at him, but doesn't answer. Luigi hugs her. D.K. takes something from her hand and looks at it. It's the picture of her with the circular symbol drawn over it.

Cut to the pub in Eagleland. Mario puts some ice on Jigglypuff's hand.)

Jigglypuff: So how did you do all that earlier?

Mario: I didn't do anything.

Jigglypuff: Make up a story. Tell me you lost your memory about tonight, too. But don't pretend I'm stupid.

(The door bangs open. It's Ness, with Lucas and Meta behind him.)

Ness: What did you do??

Jigglypuff: Ness –

Ness: You've changed a monetary problem into a full blood feud. That was Andonuts' son you messed with.

Mario: (ticked) Sorry. Next time I'll leave him alone with your sister.

(Ness pulls out a gun and puts it to Mario's head.)

Jigglypuff: Ness!

Ness: No, you're going to help us with another job. Something big that'll give him a big stack of money.

Mario: I'm not a thief.

Ness: Well you certainly handled those guys. So you're something all right.

Mario: And who's to say I won't do the same to you and just walk away?

(Ness smiles and goes behind the bar. He brings out a box.)

Ness: Because you might want this...Mario.

Mario: (looking interested) My name's Mario?

Ness: Sounds right, doesn't it? Just something I read. This here's everything you had on you when we found you. Credit cards, maybe a train ticket. Could even be a love letter.

(Mario reaches out for it, but Ness takes it away. He holds it over the fire in the fireplace.)

Ness: It's yours, if you just help us with one…little job.

(Cut to Japan in the past. Marth, now in a robe, walks into a building, carrying Anri's armor. The man himself, also robed, comes up to him, angry.)

Anri: Where did you go!? And why'd you take my armor!?

Marth: People had to think you were a hero. And I did it!

Anri: (taken back) You did?

Marth: Yes. Everyone now knows how great Takezo Anri is.

Anri: (crossing his arms) And what exactly did I do on this day?

Marth: Disarmed twelve men and rescued a beautiful girl.

Anri: And I'm supposed to believe you did all this and didn't take any of the credit.

(Elincia runs in through the door, bringing Anri's sword.)

Elincia (translated): Anri! I came to return this to you. It is rightfully yours, for protecting me.

(Anri looks at Marth, who nods and smiles. Anri takes the sword and his and Elincia's hands touch. They look at each other and share a moment.)

Elincia (translated): Come. We must leave quickly! (She starts to run out the door)

Anri (translated): (confused) Leave? Where are we going??

Marth (translated): You said you would help her rescue her father.

Anri (translated): Oh right.

Elincia (translated): Meet me at the stables! (She leaves)

Anri: (after a second) OK, carp. I'm in.

Marth: (happy) You are!?

Anri: Apparently listening to you will lead me to even greater rewards. You think you make me into the hero everyone thinks I am?

Marth: Yes. As long as you stop drinking.

Anri: (with a grin) No promises.

(They walk out the door together. Across the road, the men who attacked Elincia earlier burst out of the trees.)

Medeus (translated): Get him!

(Several men fire their bows. Arrows his Anri in the chest. He cries in pain and falls to the ground. The men run off as Marth kneels next to Anri.)

Anri: Sorry carp.

Marth: No! (He grabs one of the arrows and pulls on it)

Anri: Guess I'll be a hero next time around.

(Marth yanks the arrow out and Anri lets out a sound of pain. But he's fading.)

Marth: You cannot die!!

(Anri closes his eyes. Marth starts to tear up. He puts the arrow down and hangs his head.

But then he looks at the arrow wound. It slowly closes up. Marth looks in awe. Anri's eyes open and he looks at Marth.)

Marth: Godsend!

(Anri looks confused and frightened.

Cut to Diddy's apartment. Diddy walks into Mew's bedroom. Mew is asleep with D.K. asleep in the chair next to her. Diddy puts his bag down and his phone starts to ring. He goes into the main room and answers it.)

Diddy: Hello?

Peppy: (through phone) Was your trip successful?

Diddy: You should have the answer to that very shortly.

Peppy: Did you arouse any suspicions?

Diddy: I don't think so. They'll be watching me more closely now.

Peppy: That's to be expected. I'll find the rest of the paintings myself.

Diddy: Are you sure?

(Cut to Peppy at the paper store in Pallet Town. The bell rings, signaling the front door opened. He turns and smiles.)

Peppy: You've given me everything I need.

(We pan over to see the dragon at the door, a small smile on his face. Peppy hangs up the phone.

Cut over to the Bennet house. Peach watches a Yoshi show on TV as she paints her toenails, Yoshi sitting next to her. Vivian comes in the room with laundry.)

Vivian: Oh, change the channel, Peach. That is just salt in the wound for poor Yoshi.

Peach: All right, geez. (She looks over at Yoshi) Sorry, Yoshi.

(She changes the channel. Yoshi immediately turns and starts barking his name at her.)

Peach: (sighing) You're right, it doesn't help to avoid it.

(She changes the channel back and Yoshi turns back to the TV. Peach picks up a book off the coffee table and starts to read. It's a section about lizards.

After a while, she looks down at her foot. She sees a pair of scissors on the table next to it. Getting an idea, she picks up the scissors. She guides them over to her foot and around her pinky toe. After a few seconds of strain, the scissors snap closed and her toe pops off.)

Peach: (grimacing in pain) Come on, grow back. (Nothing happens.) Grow back!

(Nothing happens again. Then…her toe bone seems to regrow. Then muscle and veins appear around it and skin grows over it again, forming a new toe.)

Peach: No way!

(Yoshi starts barking his name again. Peach looks up to see Doug looking in the window. He sees her looking at him and turns and runs. Peach jumps up to go after him.

Cut to out in the driveway. Peach runs down it, Yoshi following her. She doesn't find Doug, but does come upon a copy of Cranky's book. Peach picks it as Yoshi stops next to her, barking at the sky.

Slam to black.)

A/N: First, the new characters:

Yaeko – Elincia

Nidia – Knuckles

The Haitian – The dragon/Bowser (23rd Smasher/38)

Caitlin – Jigglypuff (24th Smasher)

Curandera – Rouge

McSorley – Mr. Andonuts

McSorley's thug – Poo

McSorley's son – Jeff Andonuts

I've been playing Brawl a lot too, which was another inspiration to continue this. I wish Meta Knight could get some better parts in this story, since he's one of my main characters. Oh well. Hopefully the next few chapters won't take as long! See you next time for the reintroduction of some missing Season 1 characters!