Roy: Woo! We finally got reviews!
Marth: Much thanks to Royal Kenya, Twilight BladerJulz, and RoyalFanatic!
Link: Didn't you have a warning for the readers, authoress?
Oh, right. Everyone, I have a warning.
Marth: I think Link just announced that.
Shush, Marth. Anyways, this story is going to take a dramatic turn very soon. That means Character Death people!
Roy: -Gasp of Doom-
Also, I will be updating as I finish editting each chapter. That could be every day, maybe even twice or thrice in a single day. Reviews may or may not speed up the process. Also, as a kind of late gift to my readers, I have erected a poll asking you, as a reader, what you want me to write next! I've decided to put my latest scheme away for the time being. So go vote, and as soon as I finish this story and the epilogue, I will look at the totals, and write a new story! Likewise, I will also be open for ideas. If I like several of these ideas, I will erect another poll and see what the general public thinks of those ideas. Link, fire away!
Link:The authoress doesn't own anything. She doesn't own most of the plot anymore, since she's basing it partly off of the new adventure mode from Brawl. Don't sue, you won't get much of anything.
Fox: Read and be amused while you still can! And remember, drama!
Chapter 10: War: Smashing Battle, Mate!
"Alright-a Team One, Let's-a go!" Team Mario, or also Team one, had left the hanger nearly an hour before, coming to the giant planet where the enemy was believed to be hiding out. They parked outside of an enormous arena, where hundreds upon thousands of different races, including Cornerians, humans, Koopas, Dreamlanders, and so many other unnamed races, were entering for the first public Smash Battle that was not hosted by Master Hand and Crazy Hand.
Team Mario's mission was to act as decoy, to draw out the enemy, who Master Hand believed was targeting the Smashers. It was possibly one of the more dangerous missions, as the unknown enemy would likely target the six as they duked it out with other 'Smashers.' They would have to be on their toes constantly.
Mario parked the transporter carefully; he had been given a crash course in driving the awkward flying contraption before they had descended to Desert to retrieve the last of the Smashers. Upon successfully parking, much to the plumber's relief, Team Mario exited the transporter, taking all they needed. Who knew if they'd ever see the transporter again?
"Where-a can-a we sign up for-a the Smash Battle?" Mario asked a parking monitor.
"Front Desk, sir." The monitor quickly replied. He turned back to focus on parking the incoming intergalactic mass-transporters.
The six smashers turned and gawked at the crowd that was growing larger by the second. Team Mario huddled.
"Alright, Link, Lucas, you are-a the observers. Master Hand-a reserved ringside seats for-a you under your names. Here-a are your-a tickets. We will-a sign up, and-a hopefully draw out-a the enemy! If-a that is-a to-a happen, I-a want you-a to contact-a Master Hand and-a report before-a helping us!"
"Alright." Lucas and Link spoke in unison.
The two took their tickets and with one last "be careful," they disappeared into the still growing crowd. Mario, Zelda, Kirby, and Peach headed into the crowd to wait.
Finally, after what seemed to be hours, they reached the front desk. "We-a would like to-a enter the tournament!" Mario exclaimed. People around them gasped and recognized four of Master Hand's legendary smashers. The man who was tending the front desk also recognized them and before the crowd could pounce upon the four, quickly ushered them through a side door.
"I'm glad you can join us, sirs, madams." The man bowed. "I will just need your names."
One by one, the remaining four gave the man their full names; Mario Mario, Peach Toadstool, Zelda of Hyrule, Kirby of Dreamland. The man then nodded, "Alright, we will be making up the schedule shortly. Please wait in this room here." He opened a door, allowing the four to enter.
"Thank you, sir." Zelda stepped past and entered, followed quickly by the other three who also thanked him. The man was already dreaming of telling his wife that he had spoken to the four legendary Smashers.
The room wasn't anything impressive. There were twelve other fighters in the room preparing for their fights, doing various stretching, mediation, or nothing in particular. Finding a secluded corner, Team One went over their plan.
"Alright-a, we just have-a to survive." Mario spoke softly, though it was hard to hear anyways, what with all the shouts coming from the other stretching contestants who found it helpful to shout.
"Should be easy enough. We're used to battle." Zelda claimed.
"We haven't smashed for three years though!" Kirby exclaimed.
"Just do what you used to do Kirby." Peach gave the pink puff an encouraging pat.
"We-a must be-a careful not to-a underestimate our-a opponents though." Mario cautioned. Zelda blushed as she realized her jump to the conclusion.
"ATTENTION ALL CONTESTANTS! PLEASE ENTER THE FIELD!" a voice came over the loudspeaker. Silently, the four followed their fellow contestants out, getting strange looks from those who weren't familiar with the Super Smash Bros.
A giant cheer pulled the sixteen contestants onto the battlefield. Immediately, Zelda raced her eyes across the front seats. She couldn't see Link however, and didn't try to find tiny Lucas.
"Can you guys see Link and Lucas?" Peach asked as Zelda gave up on looking.
"No."
"Not me, puyo."
"Not-a me either."
Discouraging looks bounced off each of the Smashers before Zelda was blinded by something bright. Glaring in the direction it came from, she spotted a familiar green hat.
"I found them!" she hissed in joy. Watching the other contestants wave at the crowd, she used the distraction to point to Link. Following her finger, the other three soon spotted Link and Lucas. Sure enough, they were in the front, in the VIP section. Link grinned, putting away his Master Sword before lounging, showing how comfortable he was.
"Wow. Master Hand went expensive." Kirby gawked. Zelda waved joyously, getting a wave back from her fellow Hyrulian and the little kid who was so similar to Ness.
"WELCOME TO THE FIRST INTERGALACTIC SMASH TOURNAMENT!" A cheap knockoff voice that was supposed to mimic Master Hand's voice roared over the loudspeaker, drawing out the word 'tournament.' The crowd burst into cheers so loud, the competitors could feel the field shaking beneath their feet.
The announcer went on to list the sponsors of the entire event, and then the competitors. As they were called, the four smashers would smile and wave. Inwardly, they really didn't like all the publicity. Inwardly, they all wished for the silent confines of Master Hand's arenas, the random items dropping from nowhere in particular, the weightless feeling…
A huge two-sided screen appeared abruptly, seemingly from nowhere, showing who was battling who in what round. Kirby was in the second round, Mario the third, Zelda the fifth, and Peach in the eighth and last round for the preliminary round. Each would have to win twice to be up against their fellow smashers. Suddenly, they were being ushered back into the room where they would await their battle. Only the two competitors who would start the fighting remained.
"Alright-a Kirby, you-a ready to kick some-a butt?" Mario asked.
"Puyo!" Kirby puffed himself up.
"Say, what are we going to do with our stuff?" Zelda asked, looking at their backpacks.
"Have someone else hold onto yours while you're fighting." Peach said, taking Kirby's backpack.
"Puyo! Let me take our stuff!" Kirby opened his mouth before anyone could complain, and soon had the four packs hidden within the confines of his mouth. Mario and Zelda burst out laughing as Peach scolded the puffball. Finally, she joined the laughter while Kirby bounced around them.
They began chatting as though it was any normal thing. Topics varied from the first tournament, that only Mario and Kirby had been a part of, to how Mario had talked Master Hand into including more fighters than just the 'Original Twelve' as they called themselves, to how they had watched so many new smashers, including the two princesses. Finally, Kirby and his opponent were called on.
"Go get'em Kirby!"
"Go Kirby!"
"Show-a them your mouth!"
Kirby grinned and followed his opponent out onto the blue field. The referee placed the two fighters into a white box that was painted on the ground. Kirby puffed himself up and faced his opponent.
The man was dressed from head to toe in strange, pink clothes. The only skin viewable was around the man's eyes. In all, the man was a very pink ninja.
"Ready, Set, Melee!"
Kirby waited for the man to approach, and as he had hoped, the ninja ran right at him. It was a big mistake. As soon as the ninja was in range and about to attack the pink puff, Kirby opened his mouth wide and inhaled, effectively sucking up the pink ninja, whose momentum only sped his inevitable doom. With a poof of pink smoke, Kirby was soon dressed in a similar pink ninja suit, the ninja spit halfway across the field, covered in thick Kirby slobber. The ninja was up in a flash however, his eyes narrowed at Kirby's mocking appearance and the feeling of wet clothes on his body. The ninja jumped, throwing several needles at Kirby, who in return imitated the ninja, blocking each needle with well-thrown shots. He then jumped into the air too, still throwing needles.
The ninja was so busy trying to block the needles he didn't realize Kirby was right above him. Quickly, Kirby drew out a long, slim katana from seemingly nowhere. With a strange, indiscernible yell, he made a rolling motion, and dropped onto the unsuspecting ninja.
The attack was not enough to send the ninja off the arena however, but his ninja outfit was effectively slashed, showing bare skin across the ninja's shoulder and chest. The ninja however, retaliated faster than Kirby was expecting. Using the needles as a distraction, the ninja ran straight at Kirby again. However, with Kirby too worried about blocking the needles, the ninja had free reign to attack Kirby as he pleased. Drawing a short blade of his own, the ninja proceeded to slash at the pink ninja puff repeated, keeping Kirby from retaliating. Finally, with another poof of pink smoke, Kirby returned to his own form. Kirby was sent flying through the air, recovering in time to float back onto the arena. He saw the ninja throwing needles once again, so Kirby floated into the air just in time to miss the deadly projectiles. Kirby then forced his body into a solid form and fell.
The pink ninja never knew what hit him. He flew off, hitting a strange barrier that prevented damage to the audience and stands, and fell down into a hole. A loud blast echoed from where the ninja fell, mocking a knock-off.
"GAME! THE WINNER IS… KIRBY!"
As loud cheering was issued to Kirby as he won, the ninja reappeared as a life-sized trophy. Kirby blinked, and then recognized what he had to do. Pushing the trophy over, he hit the stand, causing the stand to disappear, thus reviving the ninja. The ninja bowed in defeat.
"I comment you on your bravery, young puff." The ninja spoke with a heavy accent, then disappeared as any other ninja would; by smoke. Kirby was then ushered off to another room to await the semi-finals.
Next, came Mario and his opponent. The plumber felt bad, seeing that his opponent was a small girl with a teddy bear. But he would play fair and not underestimate the child. The child merely stared at the plumber, dragging her teddy bear along the floor of the field. Standing in their individual boxes, the two faced one another.
"READY, SET, MELEE!"
Mario shot a fireball at the girl in a test of her strength. Much to his surprise, the fireball never touched her. It just merely winked out of existence, causing loud bursts of cheers from the excited audience.
"I-a see! A psychic." Mario exclaimed. The girl blinked at him, before disappearing. Mario barely had enough time to turn around before a huge paw sent him flying. As he recovered, Mario's eyes bulged. The girl sat on top of a huge grizzly bear with enlarged fangs and claws, drool dripping from its mouth, its eyes glowing an eerie red color. Before he could do anything else, the bear turned and lunged for the red plumber again.
"Whoa!" Mario dodged, shooting a fireball to distract the creature. The fireball hit this time, causing the bear to roar in pain. Mario rolled out of the way of an enraged bear claw swipe. Mario launched himself through the air, landing behind the girl. Mario shoved her off as an older kid would do to a younger kid, causing her to hit the ground and begin to cry.
The crowd boo'd at Mario, many shouting about hurting a precious little girl. Mario sighed and ignored the crowd, mumbling to himself about not underestimating his opponent. He instead concentrated on the bear. Using one hand, he began to burn holes into the bear using his fire balls, revealing tons of stuffing that rolled out like so much blood. The bear continued to roar in pain, but could not dislodge the determined plumber from his seat. Finally, the bear got an idea. It stopped abruptly, causing a pause in Mario's burning, dropped to the ground, and rolled, squashing Mario.
Mario had the air knocked out of his lungs as the giant stuffed bear rolled him off of its back. Struggling to catch his breath, the plumber looked up in time to get a bear paw to the face, sending him flying across the arena.
Mario was getting tired of the giant stuffed bear. If only he had a larger fireball to burn the giant teddy bear with… He dodged another attack, still struggling to regain his breath.
For another ten minutes, Mario was struggling against the bear. He was getting weaker, but the bear seemed to be getting stronger and stronger as time went on.
Finally, Mario stepped on something round, causing him to fall and luckily, dodge the oncoming bear. Looking at the object, he realized it was one of Master Hand's special ball items.
Picking it up, he couldn't do anything else but use it. But how did it work? Mario put both his hands on it, crying out with shock as a brilliant rainbow-filled image flashed through his mind, and his body became several times more powerful than it had been before he had started battling.
With renewed vigor, Mario charged up another fireball, only, to his surprise, his hands began to glow with pure fire energy instead of the energy forming a ball. Forcing his hands out in front of him, he cried out. "Final Smash!"
Twin fiery tornadoes erupted from his hands, twisting around one another like two Chinese fire dragons. The bear was reduced to ash and bits of fluff as the flames devoured it. The great inferno was so great that Mario had to look away to keep his eyes from drying out. The roar was so loud as well that no one heard the announcer announce Mario's win. With a final roar, the attack ended, leaving nothing but dead silence. Even the crowd was in shock. Mario looked around, unbelieving what he had just done. The little girl was nowhere to be seen, and Mario was worried that he had burned her. But soon, a trophy of the little girl and her teddy bear, now looking harmless, appeared in front of him.
"Mario! Mario! Mario!" two voices broke the silence. Turning, Mario spotted Link and the little Lucas cheering. Soon the whole crowd had gone crazy, many cheering so wildly, they choked on their refreshments. Mario grinned before releasing the little girl from her frozen state.
The little girl smiled at him before holding out her hand. Mario shook it, and she departed, never once saying a single word.
Mario left for the winners' lounge where Kirby was sitting, inhaling the lounge's food.
"Kirby!" Mario greeted the pink puff.
"Mario!" None of the rooms they had been situated in had windows, so they could not see who had won or lost. "You won!"
"Of-a course!" Mario gave his signature peace sign. There was one other person in the room, but he paid no attention to them. "You won't believe what I just did…"
Nearly an hour passed before Zelda was admitted on to the arena. She waved at the crowd with an enchanting smile, and then looked at her opponent. He was a large burly man who seemed to be all muscle and brawn, and perhaps very little brain. He laughed.
"Ha! A pretty little girl thinks she can take on me?" the man laughed a hearty laugh. Zelda smiled, humoring him.
"Of course, sir! I wouldn't back down to such a silly match like this." Zelda watched Link smile down at her, pride for her covering his face.
"Grr, don't get so cocky, I'd hate to hurt your pretty little head." The man growled.
"READY, SET, MELEE!"
Zelda taunted the man. She was confident of her win. The man charged angrily, just about to crush her and her infuriating ways…
Only to find no one there.
The man blinked stupidly before feeling a cold chain wrap around his thick neck. He was pulled back violently, without remorse, catching a glimpse of blood red eyes before his attacker disappeared. Pushing himself up off the field, the man was met with a ball of fire. Zelda was visible again, charging up another ball of Din's Fire. She used the attack several times before backing off from the angry man.
"GRAAR!" The man roared angrily, charging at the infuriating princess. But once again, she disappeared. This time his rear end was met with a barrage of tiny needles. With a high pitched yelp, thought impossible for the man to do, the man turned, at last spotting his assailant; Sheik smirked, but it was lost among the folds of his sheikah uniform.
With a barrage of sparkles, Zelda stood where Sheik had once stood. She once again launched a ball of Din's Fire, with a small giggle. The man had so much damaged from the several attacked he had been issued, he was knocked right off the stage.
"GAME! THE WINNER IS… ZELDA!"
Zelda waved as the crowd cheered. The trophy of the man appeared, and she stared at it quizzically. Touching it, the man was released. He immediately tried to attack her.
"NO! I WILL WIN!" The man nearly got his giant hands around Zelda's small neck before he abruptly found himself within a strange ball. He was transported to a corner of the stage, cursing the princess in spite of being unheard in his strange prison, while Zelda left the stage, watching curiously. The man soon dropped out of the ball before the tournament officials subdued him.
"Whew, that was close." Lucas sighed with relief, dropping his hands, a small trickle of sweat falling down his temple.
"Thank you, Lucas." Link patted the kid.
"Force fields are hard to contain for even a small amount time." Lucas sat back. "Wake me if I'm needed." Lucas curled up in his chair right then and there, not waiting for Link's reply.
"Alright." Link watched the man being pushed through another door. He shook his head and settled down to wait for Peach's battle.
Half an Hour passed before Peach finally got on the arena. She waved as a loud cheer went up. Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom was well known.
The Princess's opponent was none other than a red-shelled Koopa. The Koopa grinned at the Princess. "Well well, Princess, shall we?" it asked.
"You bet!" Peach smiled, earning more cheers from the gathered crowd. They stood in their respective squares, awaiting the announcer to start the battle. Peach poked at the soft rubbery material used to make the blue field with a high heel. How nice it would be to have the fields back in the Smash Mansion so nice and soft! She found herself thinking. Finally, the announcer spoke. Or yelled, that is.
"READY, SET, MELEE!"
Peach stood up in time to see a red Koopa Shell flying at her. She pulled out a frying pan from the folds of her favorite pink dress and sent Koopa flying across the field. It landed, but was barely harmed; instead, the shell bounced before continuing, determined to get the princess, in her direction.
Peach again hit the shell with a nice solid Thwack! But still, the Koopa shell kept coming. Holding out her frying pan, she flipped the Koopa shell up into the air, then once again, hit the shell. This game repeated itself for five whole minutes before Peach realized this battle was going nowhere. As soon as she hit the Koopa shell finally, she threw her pan away and pulled out a golf club from seemingly nowhere. Holding the club head to the soft arena turf, she took aim as the Koopa came flying. Pulling the club back, she yelled.
"FORE!" Peach screamed to the heavens. Stepping back, she slammed the golf club into the shell, causing a painful reverberation to slide though the golf club. Peach dropped it and fretted over her 'delicate hands'
This time, the Koopa was sent flying well off the field. And being in his shell, did not realize this until he saw from within as everything faded away into darkness.
Cheers went up as the announcer yet again called out the winner: Princess Peach! Peach blinked.
"Oh, did I win?" she smiled innocently and waved at the crowd as the Koopa's trophy reappeared. Picking up her golf club, she poked at the statue of the Koopa. She cried out in shock as the base lit up, and the Koopa stood once again.
"I'm afraid so." The Koopa sighed in defeat. "Good job, Princess."
"Thank you Koopa. You did a marvelous job yourself!" Peach smiled before an official escorted her to the winner's lounge.
The four smashers were once again reunited in the Winner's Lounge. Besides them, there were four others, leaving eight total to enter the semi-finals. Peach sat down, grabbing a bottle of juice from a little cooler left for the fighters.
"This is too easy, you guys." Peach sighed. "I only had to hit my opponent ten times before he was sent off stage, which made it no fun."
"Well, it'll get the enemy's attention for sure." Zelda patted her fellow princess on the back. "Be glad for what you get, dear. I had to fight some crazy big guy, who I know I couldn't have beaten without Sheik's help. I haven't had to summon Sheik in a long time, so I'm terribly exhausted after having to do it twice. I'm sure you'll have more fun on the next round, though dear Peach."
And sure enough, Peach did. The second round of preliminaries were just as quick, yet not as easy as the first round of preliminaries were, due to their opponents having been able to warm up during their battles. Yet, still, the Smashers prevailed over their opponents. Soon, the semi-finals were ready to get underway.
The first battle would be Mario versus Kirby, the second battle Zelda versus Peach. Zelda and Peach were taken out so they could watch the battle. They sat right above the winner's lounge door watching with interest as Kirby and Mario were quite literally, thrown into battle.
For added drama, before the battle began, the two fighters were turned into statues. They were then thrown perfectly, causing them to land on their bases, causing the base to shatter, thus setting the smasher loose for battle.
As both came back to their senses, they launched into a stare down, both carrying mock facial features to show fake distrust of the other. Mario stood his tallest while Kirby puffed himself up without jumping. All the added drama had the crowd on its feet, screaming in excitement for the oncoming battle. This battle would be a real smash battle.
"May-a the best-a man or-a puffball win." Mario grinned to Kirby abruptly, who answered with a distinct "Puyo!" while waving his stubby arms about and bouncing on his feet.
"Ready…"
Mario and Kirby prepared to jump at one another.
"Set…"
The crowd was screaming in anticipation. Link and Lucas cheered their all, while Zelda and Peach watched in excitement, almost forgetting the danger they were all in for the adrenaline rush of a smash battle that neither princess had seen in well over three years.
"MELEE!"
The smash battle was on!
It was okay, I hope? Got kind of bored with describing battle scenes. Not really my thing it seems anymore. Don't the smashers have god-like battle skillz?
Pit: FOR THE WIN!
Ike: Hush Pit, you'll scare the children.
Pit: No I won't. There are no children round here. The parental units are AWAY though for three days! Let us rejoice!
Ike: We're rejoicing for finally getting reviews. The authoress still has school to deal with.
Pit: Oh fine. Review everyone! So we can rejoice more! And don't forget to vote on the poll!