Wario again...

Though Sheik had bonded with Lucina, she still didn't feel like removing her mask around her, and she didn't feel like sharing with her about the crazy story Crazy Hand had told. Only Zero Suit Samus knew, as far as she could tell, and the blonde didn't talk about it.

Monday morning Sheik rose as she had on her first day in the Smash Mansion, four thirty, and dressed and went out on the balcony to wait. She wanted to think, see the landscape, review Crazy Hand's story over in her mind, think about Lucina and how their talk would affect the swordswoman's abilities and moves. And she knew, in the back of her mind, that the last time she had been out on the balcony in the morning at about this time, she had bumped into Wii Fit Trainer as she was leaving.

Unfortunately neither one showed themselves that morning and she mused in silence, quite alone. When the breakfast bell sounded she made her way, along with the stream of other hungry smashers, into the dining room and got in line. Her food on her plate she scanned the room, searching for Wii Fit Trainer and a potentially empty spot beside her. No such luck. The Trainer's table already had Peach, Shulk, Mario, Fox, Ness, and, she noticed with a tinge of jealousy, Ganondorf, who was silently sitting beside Peach, who was not silently sitting beside him, but seemed to be chatting everyone's ears off.

She spotted Ike sitting by himself for once, and looked around for Marth. The prince was sitting at Link's table, speaking with Zelda, who was beaming at him and eagerly answering his questions. Sheik walked over to Ike and sat down without looking at him.

"Hey," he grunted, putting another forkful of food into his mouth and swallowing. "You're a good friend."

She knew he was mentioning the Lucina incident. He'd probably already noticed the change in her. "Does that mean you'll fight for me?" she quipped, glancing sharply up without raising her head so she could see the grin spread over his face.

"Oh, I didn't say you were my friend."

"No? I mean, I would think that it'd be more that I'm not your friend after you soundly beat me."

His grin widened and he leaned forward, one elbow resting on the table. "I like being able to know about my friends. I know nothing about you except that I don't know anything about you. And apparently not many others do either."

Sheik's eyes grew cold and she raised an eyebrow, pursing her lips. "You put on airs thinking you should be different to me than anyone else."

Both his eyebrows rose. "Are you accusing me of hitting on you?"

She blushed beneath her mask and her eyes flamed at him. "Nothing of the sort. I would at least assume you had brains enough to know I wouldn't do something like that!"

"Hey," said a scratchy voice. Both turned and Sheik flinched as she recognized Wario's squat body and beady black eyes. "Sheik, I found out," continued the man, hopping up onto the seat beside her with his plate full of food. "Girl, huh? Hard to tell. Look like a guy."

Sheik's mouth went dry with fury and her hand shook as it held her cup. She didn't meet Ike's gaze, knowing it probably held mirth at the joke. And if she saw it did, she would never forgive him.

"You're Wario, aren't you," broke in Ike suddenly. Sheik didn't look at him, but by the sound of his voice, he was smiling amiably.

"That'd be me."

"Robin M was telling me about you. I heard you like garlic, huh?"

"Love it." Wario's voice sounded suspicious and Sheik herself couldn't believe that Ike was treating the creeper in such a friendly manner. It made her angry and confused.

"Me too," agreed Ike, chuckling. "I like it on bread especially, but in all sorts of food. Great, zingy taste, right?"

"You said it, boy!" answered Wario, cackling. "I like it on people, though."

"Oh? Me too! And you know, when people eat a lot of garlic, oh," Ike's voice became dreamy as he continued. "I can smell those people. It's wonderful. Those people are the most delicious, especially since they've already saturated themselves in garlic. Really, it's like a ready prepared treat."

Sheik was openly staring at him and he leaned forward and took a deep whiff of Wario, sighing happily.

"That's great," said the motorcyclist hastily. "I'm full."

Sheik noticed his plate wasn't even half empty as he hopped down and waddled away on his short, fat legs. She turned to look at Ike. The big man looked ready to drool and she squirmed in her seat, wishing she didn't always sit next to people who made her nauseous.

"Don't worry, Sheik. I'm kidding," he said, unexpectedly grinning normally at her. "I'm not a cannibal like that guy."

"But he was rude to me and you fight for your friends…?" she finished, cocking her head and narrowing her eyes.

Ike scratched his chin and blinked. "Hey, I guess you're right. So you would be my friend. Well, how do you like that?" He began to laugh and Sheik had to bite her lip not to join in. A few glances were tossed their way and Ike controlled himself, gave her a real smile showing his white teeth, and stood with his empty plate. "So long, Sheik."

"So long," she murmured back, taking a sip of water and watching him until he exited the dining room.

She left with the flood of smashers. It was only eight thirty, but everyone had finished and were heading for the Announcing Room. She knew why, too. It was the first day of smash balls and publicly televised brawls.

She stayed by the wall, staring at the cameras that had been installed on Sunday. Their black lenses, with the red light above them, seemed like evil spies, ready to catch any mistake and show it to the world.

"Calm down, Sheik. Calm down. Who cares what they think? Just be yourself, and fight like you usually do."

The Announcer began to speak. "Welcome to the first day of official brawls."

"Great," she muttered. "I wasted my fighting abilities on 'fake' brawls. Ugh."

"All brawls will be available for viewing following each day. The first two brawls will be one smasher versus one smasher. The following two brawls, after lunch, will be team brawls, with randomly selected teammates. In these brawls there is now a new object of attention: the smash ball. A colored orb will occasionally appear, floating through the air. They must be struck a certain number of times and whoever breaks it will receive enough energy to carry out their final smash attack. Each of you know what your special smash attack is. Good luck."

There was a pause and the smashers glanced at each other, but didn't speak. The Announcer began again.

"The matches for today are… Ice Climbers versus Kirby! Cloud versus Rosalina! Marth versus Meta Knight! Bowser versus…"

Sheik waited, breathless, wondering who she would fight and if she would lose.

"Captain Falcon versus Sheik!"

There was her name. And Captain Falcon was the one who was married and came from Samus' same city. Sheik didn't like him especially since he was rather loud and slightly strange. She wondered what woman had become his wife. But she did like the fact that he wore a mask as well that covered his eyes and forehead. Maybe he had some sort of… scar or something that he was self-conscious about.

"Focus," she told herself, as she examined him. It was all too clear that he was a formidable opponent, with large muscles, good flexibility, and powerful attacks that involved fire.

"At least he doesn't bite," she murmured.

When their turn came to enter a portal, she stepped up behind him. He saw her, narrowed his glowing eyes, and entered. Sheik was right on his heel.

They were separated in the portal and as she landed and the white light faded, she searched the sky for smash balls. None appeared. Yet.

The brawl went quickly. Falcon was slow as he jogged towards her, but his first round of kicks and punches knocked her back and off the platform. She leapt up and over him, giving him a sharp kick in the back, and retreated, grabbing out her needles.

He pulled back his arms and dashed at her, full speed, fire surrounding him. In alarm Sheik hurled her weapons, and watched as his attack was stopped short. She dashed at him, flipped in the air, and landed in a crouch, jabbing out. Her hand sped through the air, and she realized he was no longer in front of her. She spun around to see him on a high platform above her, right in front of glowing orb.

The smash ball! He would get it and destroy her. She leapt as high as she could, pulling herself up as he hit the ball twice with a punch and a kick. Then he whirled and knocked her back with another kick.

"No, no, no!" she screamed to herself. She leapt up, jabbed at the smash ball, and watched as it floated out of her reach and right towards Captain Falcon.

"I'm dead," she muttered to herself as she landed in a crouch on the ground, glancing up to see the ball disappear as it seemingly merged into Falcon, causing his body to emit a yellow glow. He turned to look at her and a wicked grin spread up his face. He jumped down and jogged towards her. She leapt away from him and onto a higher platform, her breath coming faster. He jumped after her and she leapt over him, kicking him in the head. He fell forward on his face, picked himself up, and growled something at her. She gulped and waited on the bottom, waiting to die.

He jumped down in front of her and she leapt up, but it was too late. A car came zooming from nowhere a knocked her. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them only to find herself on some sort of racecourse. She stood and gazed in horror at the roar of a giant racecar as it came zooming towards her. Falcon's face was clearly visible as he headed straight towards her.

Sheik turned to run and was hit in the back with a terrific crack that sent pain shooting through her body and rendered her helpless as she shot far into the sky.

"That's it," she thought dully, as the white enveloped her. Abruptly she realized she was floating above the stage on a small, hovering platform. Falcon was down below, staring up at her.

The platform disappeared and she dropped back onto the stage. Her body felt lighter than air and she felt new power. She ran at him and with double kick and a group of jabs sent him stumbling back. She was angry at his smash attack and would use this ridiculous second chance to get him back.

Leaping behind him Sheik hurled on needle, just enough to cause him to turn around. She dragged him towards herself with her chain, grabbed him, and performed a series of punishing blows.

Falcon righted himself in midair and somersaulted behind her.

She did a group of handsprings away, flipped to her feet, and grabbed him with her chain again.

He gave a roar of frustration and kicked her as she grabbed him. She released him, kicked him back, and began jabbing him. He stumbled back and she narrowed her eyes, gritting her teeth, and kept jabbing, over and over, fast as lightening, her hands moving out and in as she dealt her blows.

Falcon flipped backwards, did a handspring, and pulled back, rushing at her. Fire surrounded him and Sheik flinched as his fist hit her, hurling her backwards and off the stage. She grabbed the side and took a deep breath, before leaping high into the air, past the surprised man, and flipping onto the top of platform.

"Look awesome, Sheik," she muttered to herself, and put her hands briefly on her hips just as a smash ball appeared at the opposite end of the stage.

"Just keep him away from it," she yelled at herself, and dashed forward, flipping down behind him. As he kicked the smash ball she grabbed him in a choke hold, kicked him and then punched him in the face, knocking him off the platform. As he struggled to regain the stage she leapt up and did a screw driver kick. The ball floated lower and she jabbed at it quickly.

Captain Falcon leapt up and she cartwheeled away from him, crouched, a wicked smile of her own playing on her face beneath her mask. She felt a strange power and glancing at her hands she found they were glowing.

Captain Falcon waited where he was and she realized he was ready to run. He probably assumed she had to be right next to him before she could attack. Well light arrows could reach further than that. She pulled out her bow, and pulled back the arrow, firing a moment later. It streaked towards him and the eyes widened momentarily before they squeezed shut with pain as the arrow shot through his chest and knocked him back. Flames of fire shot from up above as he disappeared, but, just as she had, he appeared above on a floating platform.

He dropped down and dashed at her, fire again surrounding him as he punched her. She flew from the stage, but jumped up, grabbed a platform, and pulled herself to her feet, doing handsprings into a flip that brought her opposite him. She grabbed her needles and hurled them at him. She felt tired and despite the lack of hits he had inflicted on her so far, she was weary.

She dashed forward, throwing caution to the winds, jumped up and shot down, her toes pointed, striking the top of his helmet.

He tumbled to the floor and she approached him, reading to kick. He spun around, his legs stiffly together, and she was knocked backwards. As she tried to regain her balance he leapt and she used her shield. He hurled past her, skidding to a stop at the edge of the stage. Sheik turned and tensed herself. Just as he turned and raised his foot for a kick she leapt forward and knocked him far of the stage with a powerful kick.

He flipped in midair and pulled back his fist, shooting forward through the air, his fist outstretched, fire all around him.

Sheik waited tensely at the edge until he grabbed it and then used her shield again, firing a needle into his neck a moment later. He fell back, off the platform again, and she used Ike's move, jumping after him and giving him a stiff downwards kick that sent him hurtling to the bottom.

With a flip and a jump she landed back on the platform and stood, breathing hard and waiting for him to appear. Instead she felt herself freeze and the stage dissolved. She was in the misty gray room and Captain Falcon was clapping behind her.

It was so surprising she could only stand there, her arms in a ready position, and stare straight ahead before they both dissolved back into the Announcing Room.

"You charged up some strong kicks," he muttered, walking off to talk with the robotic clad Samus. Zero Suit walked up to Sheik. "You beat him, huh? Good for you." Both turned in surprise as the doors opened and the two hands floated into the room.

Sheik stared in surprise and hastily glanced around, searching for Wii Fit Trainer. The white skinned woman looked surprised, her mouth hanging open. She quickly gained control and calmly folded her arms. Sheik restrained a smirk of triumph. Somehow the Trainer was in a certain connection with the hands. Either she didn't like them, or she did, or…

"You all have done well during your first brawls," said Master Hand in his calm voice, void of passion.

"I'm sure you all enjoyed the smash balls!" broke in Crazy Hand. "Final smash attacks are painful to be hit by, but loads of fun to use!"

"One more one versus one brawl, and then there will be a break until lunch," continued Master Hand. "At two o'clock all must be here for the team brawls. And I'm sure you'll enjoy them."

"You certainly will!" added Crazy Hand. "Who doesn't like fighting with friends?"

The two hands floated off and the room began buzzing until the Announcer's voice broke over the loudspeaker, announcing the next group of pairs.

The hands again. I think I'm making them a little too... not involved.