A/N: This story was written some time ago... I'd say it's about one or two years old. For my friend's sake, I shall post it up here. Enjoy, if you can, and feel free to leave a review.

CHAPTER ONE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS
-o-o-o-o-o-

Ding… dong…

The stillness of the Mansion was broken by the soft chiming of the doorbell. Peach set her cup down and peered through the velvet curtains. Visitors were a rare treat for the Smashers and were welcomed with great enthusiasm. A tiny smile formed on her face as she remembered Toadsworth's surprise visit a few months ago. By the way they had welcomed the old Toad you would've thought that a king had dropped in!

Her room had a perfect view of the Smash Mansion's front steps. And now, as Peach gently pushed aside the curtain, she saw an interesting sight standing in front of the door.

It was a girl and a princess too, judging from the way she held herself. Strapped on her back was a black sheath… was it glowing? Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her shoulders and was held back by a silver tiara. Peach squinted and saw a large sapphire embedded in the tiara. The girl's clothing was made of leather and dyed purple and black.

Peach sipped her tea as she examined the guest. Perhaps she was an acquaintance of Link or Zelda? She certainly looked like it.

Ding… dong…

"Bleep?" Mr. Game and Watch said. Peach nodded.

"Of course. If you need any more snacks, they're in the cupboard. I'll be back in a minute."

The Mansion's halls were unusually quiet and empty as Peach made her way to the doors. Master and Crazy Hand, along with the other Smashers, were at the Tournament. Unfortunately, Game and Watch had fallen ill. Peach had volunteered to stay behind to take care of the monochrome man.

"Is this the Smash Mansion?" the girl asked when Peach opened the door. The princess smiled.

"Yes, this is. My name is Peach." She held out a friendly hand. "And you are?"

The girl shook Peach's gloved hand and stared deep into her eyes. Cold violet against warm blue. "Lianna Peladral. Someone called… Master Hand…" Lianna's eyes narrowed. "Invited me here."

Master Hand invited her? But that would mean…! "I see," Peach answered pleasantly. "Why don't you come in? Master Hand and the others should be back soon."

"Who're you talking to?" said a gruff voice.

Peach turned to find Snake leaning casually against the base of the stairs. He scrutinized Lianna before lighting a cigarette. "Lost to Olimar," he said blandly. "Who's she?"

He was taking the loss pretty well, considering his reaction yesterday when he lost to King Dedede. "Isn't Olimar a pacifist?" Peach asked. "He said he simply abhorred fighting… oh, I'm sorry. I haven't introduced you two! Lianna, this is Snake. Snake, Lianna."

"A pleasure to meet you." Lianna's icy tone said otherwise. Snake didn't even bat an eye.

"Lianna's here as Master Hand–"

"Recruited her?" Snake cut Peach off. "Go figure." He took a long drag on his cigarette. "It's just like him to do that to attract customers."

"Recruit?" Lianna inquired.

"You got a letter? Fancy writing with congratulations on top?"

"Yes."

"Came here to see what the heck was going on?"

Lianna glared at Snake. "What are you saying?"

Snake chuckled. "Well, if you got the letter and if you're standing here, Master Hand thinks that you've accepted the offer to be a Smasher. Simple as that." He noticed Lianna's flushed look and added, "Relax. That's the way Master Hand does things. We've all been duped by that stupid letter."

A feeble beep floated from upstairs. Peach said hastily, "Snake, would you mind showing Lianna around? I'll have to check on Game and Watch."

Snake shrugged. "No problem."

Peach left the scene. The agent took another long drag on his cigarette. "Always did like Peach. Real sweet, innocent and all that, plays a damned good game of golf too." Snake sighed.

"Would you mind explaining what the letter means by 'tiers'?" Lianna asked. "It said something about us being grouped into tiers…"

Snake didn't answer. Lianna, annoyed by his reaction, repeated her question a second time. "Did you hear me? I asked you what tiers–"

"Ah! Our new Smasher has arrived, I see!"

Master Hand floated in, followed by the other curious fighters. Crazy Hand floated in the background, unwilling to stand out in the open. Snake immediately got up, extinguished his cigarette, and made his way to the stairs. Lianna grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna help Peach out with… uh… whatever she needs help with." Before Lianna could protest, Snake had left. Master Hand turned to Snake's way and Lianna could feel an intense dislike radiating from the disembodied hand.

"Well, I told you all about the new Smasher arriving into the Brawl and here she is! Lianna Peladral, if I remember correctly." Master Hand returned his attention back to her. "Why don't you tell us about yourself?"

Lianna looked around her and said, "There's nothing interesting to say about me. I have been searching for the man who had robbed me of my birthright and I plan to avenge–"

"You mean you want to kill him!"

Toon Link floated down from the ceiling on a parasol, a smug grin on his face. "We've all heard that before. Yadda yadda, person killed my parents, yadda yadda, get revenge, yadda yadda yadda, big hero status and all that jazz, and a happy ever after for the little princess!"

Lianna gave him a sharp glance. Toon Link stuck his tongue out at her in response.

"Watch it, Toon Link," Pit warned. He gave a small smile at Lianna. Nothing much, it was just a small, polite smile, the kind you give to passing strangers, the smile that flickers in your mind and then disappears.

"I'm telling the truth though," Toon Link said. "C'mon, Pit, almost everyone is a hero here except for old Bowser, Wolf, and Ganondork–"

"That's enough from you, rapscallion," said Crazy Hand, who was hiding in the shadows. "Brother, I suggest we give her a guide to fill her in on everything."

"Yes, yes, of course," Master Hand muttered. He seemed to have forgotten that Lianna was there. "Let's see… you! Yes, you… erm… Ike! You shall be her guide!"

Ike impassively stared at Lianna, folded his arms, and answered in the blandest tone Lianna had ever heard. "Fine. But I'm not helping her if she gets into any sort of trouble. That's for her to figure out." He added something else under his breath making Ness, who was standing next to him, laugh.

Lianna glared at him but the swordsman only looked away. The Smashers walked away, evidently disappointed that their new Smasher was nothing special, and Master Hand and Crazy Hand floated off to their office to discuss about the upcoming matches. Soon, a small group of fighters were the only people surrounding Lianna. Ike was among them.

"Did you meet the others?" Ike pointed to them as he said their names. "King Dedede, Mario, Luigi, Lucas, Ness, and… Olimar." The veteran Smashers were silent as a stone. Finally, Mario spoke up.

"It's-ah nice to meet you, Lianna." The plumber signaled for the others to do the same. The air was suddenly full of greetings.

"Yeah, nice to meet ya!"

"Uh-huh."

"… Hi?"

"Pleased to meet your acquaintance."

"Are you a princess?"

"Thank you for the welcome," Lianna said. "I hope to enjoy my stay here…"

"Oh, you'll enjoy staying here all right." Snake had returned and was now precariously perched on the chandelier. He gave a half-wave and said, "Master Hand made sure of it. Whatever you need, he has it." He was smoking another cigarette.

"Would you mind putting that out, Snake?" Peach called from the staircase. The agent grumbled but obligingly put out the offending item.

Ness looked at the two before yelling, "Are the rumors true, Peach?"

Peach was genuinely surprised. "Why… what gave you that idea, Ness?" She gracefully walked away. Ness solemnly faced Lucas.

"I told you so."

"That doesn't prove anything," Lucas said. "You probably upset her, that's all." Lianna broke in.

"What rumors?"

"That's something you don't need to know," Ike said. "C'mon, I'll show you to your room." The others dispersed. Lianna followed Ike through the winding hallways.

"Master Hand thinks big about everything," he said. "It's easy to get lost around here if it's your first time, but you'll adapt."

"I don't get lost," Lianna said. Ike was amused by her remark.

"Really? Tell me that after you spend the whole afternoon looking for the bathroom." He looked at her impassive face and said, "You don't think much of me, correct?"

"And what gives you that idea?"

"You know, if you want to make friends you'll have to lose that cold front. You'll need friends, a lot of them I'll have to say, around here."

"I can manage on my own."

Ike gave her an odd look. "Right. Well, here's your room. Enjoy. Feel free to take a nap or whatever. I'll be waiting outside for you."

The room was simple and plain. Everything was in a shade of black and white, giving it a gloomy feeling. When Lianna pulled back the curtains covering the window, though, she was greeted with a majestic sight of the nearby lake.

"You might want to decorate it and stuff," Ike stuck his head in. "The funny thing about these walls is that they change according to you. Some sort of magic. I don't really get it myself."

Lianna focused her gaze on the view outside. "Right." She turned around. "I've had a long journey. If you will leave me to rest…"

"Of course."

=x=

Ike shut the door behind him and sighed. Geez, what was with the new Smasher? She was one of the coldest people he had ever seen. If Lianna kept up her aloof act, she was bound to be alone and friendless. And being alone and friendless was never a good idea in the Smash Mansion.

He checked a clock hanging on the hallway. Dinner would be in two hours. He'd come back for her by then. In the meanwhile, he'll check out what Marth was up to.

Without giving Lianna Peladral another thought, Ike left for the Training Grounds.