CHAPTER SIX

It was eight thirty in the morning. April and Chiarina were standing at the head of the large maple table that was set in a wide circle in the dining room, waiting for the Smashers to wake up, get ready, and come down to breakfast. Kirly had prepared an exceptionally gourmet banquet today. She said it was to 'soften them up, before you give them the news.'

The two caretakers of the Smash Mansion looked anxious, but not in the same ways. April was fidgeting, biting her nails and tugging on her bubble-gum pink hair. Chiarina was sucking in her lower lip, arms crossed, staring out the grand windows onto the lake.

April sighed, breaking the silence. "Who is going to tell them?"

"I'm gonna say you."

"What? Why me? You're the one with defensive skills!"

Chiarina locked eyes with her counterpart. "Maybe, but it was your idea. I had nothing to do with it."

April sighed again. "I am going to get mauled. Absolutely mauled," she muttered to herself.

"No, you will not. You're my sister. They touch you, they are sent packing. Now stop freaking," Chiarina straightened herself, "here they come."

The Smashers were in various states of sleepiness, ranging from wide-awake and perky (Mario), to the downright sleep-walkers (Nana and Popo). They entered the room with their roommates, chatting now that they were awake. Most of them were still in their pajamas. That, or in fully dressed.

April and Chiarina looked at each other.

I think we should get them breakfast first.

Yes. And coffee. Several cups each.

I think Kirly is right in the fact that it will soften them up a bit. She seems a bit mad about that, you realize that, right?

Yeah. But I can understand that. The Smashing tradition has always been a bit hidden. Not anymore, with that press from last night.

I know. We'll deal with it later. As soon as we get their word on the movie, that is.

Even thinking about makes me slightly uneasy.

Call Michael in here.

Chiarina called out softly, "Michael," and the boy appeared at her side as if he materialized from the air itself.

"Yes Ma'am?" he gasped, wiping off his hands and looking up at the caretaker.

April smiled at him and turned to face the group. It was obvious Michael was infatuated with her sister. And it was quite cute to watch him drool over Chiarina's feet, willing to anything to get her attention. She heard Chiarina's low, musical voice asking Michael to see if the breakfast was ready, and could Lyssa please hurry with the coffee?

Michael nodded and bowed, running out of the room.

Chiarina looked up when loud voices filled the Dining Hall.

"Look, all I'm saying is that it isn't the best idea to have a pillow fight at three in the morning!

"You know, you seem like the kind of guy who would like that, Fox."

"Haha. Funny. Just don't do it again, 'cause that wasn't funny."

"Maybe next time, you should join in!"

"Why the hell would we want to join a pillow fight? That's so… childish!"

"Hey! Don't call us kids, Falco!"

"You ARE!"

"We are mature adults who like to keep the child in us alive! We are not children!"

"THEN DON'T WAKE US UP AT THREE IN THE MORNING!!" Wolf, who had been silent the whole time, bellowed.

They all erupted. Three on three, guys versus girls, insults were thrown, and arm motion got more and more exaggerated. Peach was arguing with Fox, Zelda with Wolf, and Samus with Falco. Smashers coming in late gave the group a wide berth, wide eyed. Everyone already seated was staring at them, mouths half open. The argument was so loud, you couldn't hear yourself think.

Lyssa had just brought out the coffee when it erupted. Setting the drinks down, she wiped her hands on her apron and hurried back into the kitchen, poking her head in.

"April and Chiarina might need your help calming down some people, Kirly."

Link and Mario were staring at their girlfriends, caught, not knowing how to stop them from tearing the guys' heads off. Link's hand was on his boomerang and Mario's hands were starting to flame when Kirly burst onto the scene.

Standing behind the arguing group, hands on her hips, Kirly sighed and with two enormous grabs, scooped up the Smashers by their collars and held them there, shaking her head and laughing.

"All righ', ALL RIGH', you lads an' lassies! Stop your cryin' and fightin', an' enjoy this fine meal we worked on all night to serve you!"

Silence.

Then, as if a switch had been turned on, every single person in that room laughed as they had never laughed before, everyone except the embarrassed arguers. By the time they were all crying and clutching their stomachs, Michael and Lyssa had served the coffee. Lyssa caught Nana and Popo trying to switch their apple cider with Luigi's and Captain Falcon's black coffee, and she quietly reproved them.

Link looked across the table at his angry sweetheart. "So, a pillow fight, huh?"

She folded her arms and stuck out her tongue at him.

The kitchen door banged open, and Michael came out, pulling an extremely long cart behind him. The top was full of breakfast items from around the world, from traditional Chinese congee to the all-American doughnuts.

Kirly led them around the world of breakfast quickly yet thoroughly, so the hungry Smashers could get food. Peach, Zelda, Samus, Wolf, Fox, and Falco were relatively calmed down by the time they got their food, and they were chatting like old friends. But something was up, Mario was sure of that. That look in Peach's eyes….. he had a feeling whatever caused it would not fair well for the boys.

Mario was right; Peach did have a plan. And as it was forming in her mind, she was careful not to let it show on her face as she apologized to Fox, Wolf, and Falco for her 'insolent behavior'. Zelda and Samus were sitting next to her, mouths open in surprise. When that sat down o either side of Peach, they both instantly hissed, "Why the heck did you do that?"

She smiled at them, then said, facing straight forward, "I shall tell you when we have some more privacy." Both the girls nodded, and resumed their breakfast as though nothing had happened.

In the room, Samus and Zelda cornered Peach.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Why did you apologize to them?"

"So they will think we are all done with them."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that they may have won this battle, but the war has not even begun yet."

The girls looked at each other and smiled. No, it has not begun. Not yet.