Day 9: The day before the match

Mewtwo wasn't lying when he said it would hurt like hell. When I woke up it suddenly felt like my body just didn't do basic stretches or yoga poses anymore. It felt as though my body had been ripped and torn. Smashed several times against the wall. Did Mewtwo do something besides just stand there with the Wii Remote in his hand that I didn't see? Was he applying psychic energy to me?

I struggled to get up.

Ever have that feeling? That feeling where you would be sick without a moment's notice? That was pretty much how I felt right now.

Using whatever energy I had, I somehow rushed towards the washroom and proceeded to violently vomit in the toilet. When that ordeal was over I collapsed on the ground and began to breath heavily. "What the hell?!" I thought. Was it something I ate?

It was against my better judgment that I should go to Dr. Mario.

Maybe he does house calls…

I called down to the hospital wing. Unfortunately I got an answering machine. "Hello, unfortunately I don't do house calls. Get down here. If you would like to arrange an appointment, please leave a message after the beep."

I hung up. As far as I could tell, this was going to be a long and painful trek down to Dr. Mario's office.

Crap. I'm not ready for this...

I forced myself up and out of the room. Every step was a struggle. When I got to the elevator I saw a sign.

"Out of order"

My ass it's out of order!

My thoughts were confirmed as I heard the elevator go by on the other side of the door. I quickly reached over to press the button. However, it didn't beep.

"Well, you're correct, it isn't out of order." Mewtwo sighed. "However, I've disabled your floors access to it. Start walking."

What's stopping me from going down one flight of stairs and then going to that elevator?

"A few thousand volts going through your body." Mewtwo replied. "I have them rigged so that only you will be shocked if you touch them."

I don't think that's possible.

"Well, if you would like to call my bluff go right ahead."

I just sighed and began to walk down the stairs. A few times I fell down some stairs and smashed my head against the ground. It hurt like hell.

Must not cry...

I held back the tears and continued onwards. I feared what potential blackmail material that would work as here. Several flights of stairs later I made it to the ground floor and eventually Dr. Mario's office. As I walked through the doors, he took one glance up from his desk. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I fell down the stairs."

Dr. Mario just returned his attention to his paperwork at his desk. "Okay, I've got it. You're in an abusive relationship, and take me for an idiot."

"No, I really fell down the stairs." I protested. Then again, Mewtwo is rather abusive... "But look this isn't the reason why I came to see you."

"Oh." Dr. Mario replied. "Well, what was the reason you came to see me then?"

"I threw up this morning." I explained.

"Oh, so you're pregnant." Dr. Mario teased.

"I'm a male!"

"Well, you see, I was performing genetic experiments on you while you were unconscious." Dr. Mario explained. "I've now made it entirely possible for you to bear children."

That feeling came over me again. Suddenly I rushed for the washroom and once again began to throw up. I then heard Dr. Mario shout. "I was only joking!"

I got up and walked out. "Sit down." Dr. Mario ordered. He quickly began to take my pulse, and looked in my eyes. "I see."

"What is it?"

"You're becoming sick due to overuse of your aura." Dr. Mario replied.

I paused for a moment and tried to figure out how he could determine that from taking my pulse and looking in my eyes. "Why?" I questioned.

"Aura is your life force." Dr. Mario said. "I'm sure Mewtwo has gone over this. But it is a part of you and any radical changes in your body can make you sick. The constant use of aura and your exhaustion has made you sick. Just as long as you don't use aura today you should be fine for tomorrow."

"And what about the constant throwing up?" I wondered.

Dr. Mario just shrugged off the question. "Don't worry about it." He went to a fridge and took out a drink. "I'm going to give you some flat soda, it should help you a bit. Drink it slowly, and hopefully, you will be able to keep it in your stomach." He poured it into a transparent cup. It didn't bubble.

I began to drink the flat soda. After several sips I just put it down. It tasted horrible, a lot worse than flat soda should.

"Please finish your drink." Dr. Mario calmly said. "There is something else I have to tell you."

I obeyed. When the cup was empty and I had swallowed the last bit of soda, I put down the cup. Dr. Mario just looked around the room, perhaps he was trying to gather courage. "You're probably not going to like this."

"There have been few things that I've been told since I got here that I have liked." I replied back.

"This might take the cake." Dr. Mario quickly replied.

I just laughed. "Sure... Well, tell me..."

"The more aura you use, the more limited your time becomes." Dr. Mario replied.

I completely froze. "I thought my aura would recover!" I eventually stammered.

"It is." Dr. Mario replied. "But since you haven't naturally used aura this much before, your body is reacting negatively to all of the aura that you've used up and has gone into overdrive, making a bunch of extra aura. Without the natural ways to discharge it, you're getting sick."

Well, a lot more aura might be a good thing for the match tomorrow...

Dr. Mario must of read my mind. "However, with so much aura build-up, you might just be a ticking time bomb. I'll have to forcefully remove some aura"

"I understand." I muttered.

He placed his hand against my chest. And the next moment I felt something go through me. I suddenly felt winded, and I began to gasp for air. Dr. Mario brought his hand away, and with it there was a bunch of aura, making a sphere of energy. My sight began to get a little blurry. "I've removed some of the aura."

"Thanks." I muttered. I looked up at the ball of energy.

"Your body should of been able to handle all of the aura it produces. Or maybe your body is producing aura too quickly." Dr. Mario said. He went to his desk and pulled out a necklace, attached to it was a strange gem. "Also, take this. As long as it is in contact with your body it will draw out your aura, to prevent another overload." He placed it on the table. He placed it on the table, currently it was a black onyx like gem. I grabbed it and suddenly it began to change color. From a black to a blue. "Like people, aura comes in many different types. You can also see the true side of the person through their aura. Your aura is currently blue."

"What does that mean?"

"You're calm."

"I certainly don't feel calm." I replied. "My heart is pounding. And every time I look at the clock I realize how little time there is until the match tomorrow." I put the necklace around my neck.

"Listen." Dr. Mario said. "Now that you are wearing that necklace, you can't take it off."

You could have told me that sooner!

"If I do?"

"The aura will build up in your body and you will become an aura bomb. Only when your are able to subconsciously leak out the excess aura that your body is making, will you be able to remove it. But that can take years of training."

"Mewtwo said the same thing about learning to make the shield." I said.

"And that is probably how this mess got started." Dr. Mario sighed. "Just keep it slow today, you'll have all the time in the world after tomorrow."

"25 days." I muttered.

"Memento Mori. Just live it to your fullest." Dr. Mario said. "Don't die bitter. Die happy. Live a fulfilling life here, or what you can."

"Doctor." I said. This question had been brewing in the back of my head for quite some time. "Is there some way that you can extend my time here?"

Dr. Mario suddenly dropped his pen. He almost seemed terrified that I would suggest something like that. "I can't." Dr. Mario replied. "It is the fate of all things to die. I won't play god again."

"Again?" I asked.

Dr. Mario let off a heavy sigh. "I made that mistake once. You probably know that saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We wanted to help those who fell through into this world. We wanted them to live and return to their world. So, we did find a way to extend the lifespan. And, the first person we used it on survived. We thought it was a success. But we didn't know how wrong we were. He became unstable, and crazed. That person was The Reaper."

I suddenly froze.

"He survived, and displayed a frightening ability. With every encounter he grew stronger. To the person he is today. I won't make the same mistake twice., so I destroyed the machine that extended his life."

"Would he still have limited time?" I wondered.

"I don't know." Dr. Mario said. "I didn't get a chance to scan him before he fled."

I began to get up. My muscles aching. "Also, Dr. Mario, do you have any pain killers?"

"No." Dr. Mario replied. "Mewtwo all ready told me not to give them to you."

"What a great guy." I laughed.

"The pain killers can disturb your aura. And all of the Smashers are forbidden them, as they could impact the matches." Dr. Mario explained.

"I see." I said, walking towards the door.

"Good luck on tomorrows match, I'll be watching and ready to act in case anything goes wrong." Dr. Mario said.

I exited out of the hospital wing.

I drifted through the hallways. They all seemed so empty, all of them seemed so long. I took routes that I wasn't familiar with. I just closed my eyes and tried to walk forwards. Tomorrow, win or lose, I would lose my reason for being here. I would lose the reason that I was fighting for. I would have no reason. I would just waste away until the day I died here. All I could do was see if I could defeat the Reaper...

My mind began to drift, it was caught in constant thought. The Reaper, someone who also had limited time, but somehow survived. There was definitely a way to survive, and the Reaper knew it. Perhaps, if I met face to face with The Reaper, I could learn his secret. Perhaps he also knew how to return home.

"But meeting face to face would be impossible. If you were to go to him, it would most likely be seen as a sign of betrayal, and the Smashers would be ordered to kill you." A voice said. I turned around and floating behind me was Mewtwo.

"How long have you been there?"

Mewtwo just laughed. "That's for me to know, and you to find out. But what you're thinking of is dangerous."

"Perhaps, if he does know the way home, I can trick him and bring him back with me!" I said.

Mewtwo began to laugh harder. "The Reaper isn't retarded. He won't fall for such a stupid trick like that."

"It was too much to hope for." I laughed. "Everything seems impossible now, and the only solution that is coming to my mind to live, and escape, is to rewrite the rules of reality. Quite an impossible task."

"Indeed." Mewtwo replied. "However, I have witnessed the impossible being done before. And I believe I will witness it again. And if anyone will show me the impossible, I'm sure it will be you."

My stomach growled. I really needed something to eat. "Now, let's go to the cafeteria." Mewtwo chuckled.

Mewtwo teleported us to the cafeteria. It was all ready lunch time, and I decided that I was going to skip the main course today and go straight to dessert. Today for dessert there was a chocolate cake. I grabbed a plate and went and sat down beside Red. He was also eating a slice of chocolate cake. "Sorry about yesterday."

Red looked up. "Oh, that's okay. I understand that you're busy with your match tomorrow Nugai."

"That isn't my name." I muttered.

He was also eating with the other kid Smashers. Who were also eating chocolate cake. It seemed that they all had quite the sweet tooth. "Nugai, kick Marth's ass!" Ness shouted.

"You can do it." Toon Link said.

"You should show that stuck up prince a few things!" Popo added on.

Mewtwo just floated over, in his hands were two plates of various foods. He was rather annoyed that I had just grabbed dessert. "You shouldn't eat that."

"Are you going to control my diet now?" I wondered.

"Proper nutrition is a good way to stay healthy and fit." He said. "You need plenty of energy if you want to win tomorrow."

"Look, the ways you've given me plenty of energy the past few days has turned out to be deadly. How do I know that food isn't poisoned?" I just snapped. "I'm overflowing with aura, to the point where I may explode if I don't keep this rock around my neck. And this is your fault if I remember correctly."

"Fine, have it your way, but are you sure you want to eat that?" Mewtwo questioned. "I've actually laced a laxative into it."

Red, and the rest of the kid Smashers suddenly looked horrified. So did many of the other Smashers, who had overheard Mewtwo. "I think you're bluffing."

Several of the Smashers just bolted up and began to run away.

"Do you? Well then, eat it." Mewtwo coded me on. I glanced down at the food, with a fork in hand, I ate it.

Nothing happened.

Well, I guess it isn't instantaneous as in various TV Shows, and movies.

Mewtwo just smiled. "Good. Battles aren't just physical battles between combatants, but also mental battles. Will he do this, or do that? Should I do this, or do that? The same was with the elevator this morning. Every action has a consequence. You might not notice it until it's too late."

"So, it wasn't laced with laxatives?" I asked.

"Well, Red's and a few others were." Mewtwo replied. "Another trick to catch you off guard. Mind games are a big part of battle. Now eat properly."

Yes mother...

I began to eat the food that Mewtwo brought me. And when the plate was done, I finished the cake.

After lunch I was stuck in a boring lecture with Mewtwo, where he explained all of the various rules and the final things that I had to know before my fight tomorrow. "Can't I just learn the rules as I go along?" I wondered.

"No." Mewtwo replied. "You need to know everything about these games that Marth does."

I sighed.

Several hours later I was forced to do a quiz to see if I had been paying attention. After completing it, I was free to go.

I saw several Smashers who just grumbled something about hurting Mewtwo. I returned to the cafetria for dinner. I got some food and began to eat. Part way through my meal someone approached me. "Nugai!" He said. This person wasn't a Smasher, in fact I hadn't seen him around at all previously. "Don't think you could get away. It's only your first time, but everyone has to go through with it."

I looked around confused. All of the Smashers were staring at me. "Who are you?" I asked.

"You do not know?" he said confused.

Mewtwo suddenly teleported beside me. "Nugai," He said.

Stop calling me that

"The day before your match, you have to meet with the press. They will interview you, ask you questions, and you have to answer back." Mewtwo explained. "It's to hype up the match. And get more ticket sales and advertisement dollars so the Smashers can continue. Unfortunately, since it's your first interview session, and the first time you will meet with the press first impressions count."

"Okay, and this person is?"

"Someone from the Public Relations department. He is getting you to go out and meet the press." Mewtwo said.

"I'm busy." I replied. "Tell them to wait."

"Unfortunately that isn't the answer they want to hear." Mewtwo said. I just sighed. Mewtwo handed me a bottle of water. "You'll need it." He reassured me. "It's your first time, so be prepared for it to last a few hours. You should go to the washroom before this interview too."

I looked at my food. The plate only had a quarter left on it. "I guess I can finish it later."

I got up, and Mewtwo and this new person who's name I had yet to learn escorted me out of the cafeteria. As we passed a washroom I went in and did my business. While inside, I looked for a window that I could use to get out of the washroom, and escape. There were however none. Forced to exit the way I came in, we continued our walk towards a room that had been set up for the press.

We had reached a room, where there were three other Smashers waiting. Marth, Lucas, and Ness. I looked confused at the two kid Smashers. "Your match isn't the only one tomorrow." Mewtwo explained. "On big days we could have up to ten fights. Just be glad due to the season, people are not really concerned about battles right now."

"That still means that this interview process will take two hours." Ness sighed. "There are plenty of other things I'd rather be doing."

"I agree." Marth added on. "Nugai, a word of advice, when you get out there. They will try to tear you apart."

"They will also try adding some unnecessary drama." Ness sighed.

"If it will help, think of it as some training." Mewtwo said. "Try not to get nervous. There will be more people watching tomorrow."

"Tomorrow we have two fights for you." A voice said over the speaker, it was the manager.

"It's starting, break a leg."

"I want to." I muttered. "Hopefully, mine so I don't have to fight tomorrow."

"It's just an expression." Mewtwo said.

"And, these two fights will introduce some of our newest Smashers as they fight off against some older Smashers." She was confident, and not nervous at all. "The first match we have is Marth VS Nugai."

Marth began to stand up. "Get up, walk out there, and stand in front of the podium beside Marth." Mewtwo said. "You will be on the Manager's left side, this is all I can do for you, so break a leg."

"I want to." I repeated. I followed behind Marth at a safe distance of one meter.

"Don't worry, Dr. Mario will have you all healed up if you do break a leg." Marth said, so that only I could hear.

"Can he cure stage freight?" I wondered.

"Too late now."

Marth walked to the farthest podium and I went to the one right beside it. There were at least two meters between us. I looked out to the crowd of reporters. None of them seemed really interested in the veteran Smasher, they were all staring at me.

"And the second match tomorrow will be Lucas VS Ness." Lucas and Ness begna to walk out. They went to two other podiums that were set out. I glanced over and saw that Lucas was clearly much more terrified than I was. They reporters were also interested in Lucas. There was some muttering between them. "All right, so now we are going to ask questions now."

I stood up there, hoping that they wouldn't ask me many questions. However, both Lucas and myself were assaulted by a barrage of questions. No one seemed to care about Marth or Ness. I just did my best to answer them honestly. And by honestly, I mean making stuff up on the spot.

"Nugai, now that you're in the Smash League, do you have any bigger goals?" one asked.

"Well, would being number one in the Smash League be too ambitious right now?" I asked.

"Nugai, Lucas, how are you feeling about your first match tomorrow?"

"Nervous. I'm afraid that I might screw up and embarrass myself." I said.

"I-I-I'm al-l-l-so n-ne-nervous." Lucas stuttered out.

"Nugai, do you have any hopes for the future?"

"Well, I hope that next time there are more people from my game series will join me once spots open up. I also hope that I win tomorrow, but I know victory just can't be given to me by hoping."

"Nugai, Lucas, do you think that just because your game was only available in one region, will that impact your popularity?"

The questions continued in rapid fire succession for quite some time. My throat was beginning tobe dry and sore. I just drank the water that Mewtwo had given me.

"Ness," I almost spit out the water in shock that someone was asking a question to one of the older Smashers. "We've heard that you've taken a mentor role for little Lucas. Are you nervous fighting your puple as your first Brawl season match?"

Evidently, Ness was also shocked that he was being asked a question. It took him several seconds to think up a response. "Not at all!" Ness boasted. "I taught him everything he knows, and I know how to counter everything he does. He will have to work hard just to even land a single hit on me!"

"Lucas, your parents must be proud of you, being able to join the Smashers at such a young age. Will they be here to watch the match tomorrow?"

With one question, everything suddenly crashed to a stop. There was silence, and then a few seconds later Lucas began to cry. Ness, Marth, the Manager, and I all stared at Lucas rather shocked. Quickly thinking, the Manager took control of the situation. "Everyone, this question session is now over."

The press was not happy with this. "You just can't end it because Lucas started to cry."

"I can and will." The Manager said. "If any of you actually bothered to read that handout, and not just assume that it was the same thing that you were given every other time you were here, you would of know that questions about Lucas' parents were taboo. Now leave, before I have security show you the way out."

We were escorted back to the room where we were before. Ness and Marth were actually smiling. "That only took twenty minutes!" Ness said excited. "Ah man, now we have the night free!"

The manager was hugging Lucas, trying to comfort him. She just patted him on the back. "It's okay, you can cry."

I just stared with jealousy.

Lucky bastard.

"Marth, hit Nugai over the head please."

"Crap." I muttered.

The next second Marth smacked me across the head.

Eventually Lucas calmed down and we were all sitting on chairs in the waiting room. Outside was the Press who wanted more for their scoops. We unfortunately had to wait until security got rid of them. Lucas was just sitting away from everyone, and looking down at the ground. "Ness, do you know why Lucas began to cry?"

"No idea." Ness replied. "He hasn't said anything about his family to me."

"Manager, you know something right?" I asked.

"Yeah." She replied. "Lucas is underage, so we had to get permission from his parents before he could become a Smasher. And that's when I found out. It's probably better if he tells you. Lucas, do you want to tell everyone?"

He looked up and stared at Ness. "Ness, you're going to have to promise me that you won't go easy on me during the fights."

I think deep down we had all pieced it together. A young child, his parents being a touchy subject that he cries at. Something must have happened to traumatize him. "I promise." Ness said.

Lucas told us what had happened. How his mother had died in front of him and his brother Claus, trying to protect them from a giant robot drago. The manager actually seemed rather surprised that Lucas had a brother. By the end of his story, Lucas was once again in tears. Ness was perhaps the most shocked out of us. "You idiot!" He said hitting Lucas over the head. "How can you tell me to not go easy after hearing that!"

"He said that because he knows an easy victory is an empty one." Marth replied. "He wants to grow up, and not have his whole life dictated by a tragedy. He doesn't want everyone taking pity on him for the rest of his life."

I began to think about myself, and my family. Did I still have my parents? Did I have any siblings? Were they older or younger than me?

"All right Lucas!" Ness said. "There is one way to feel better! Let's go down to the cafeteria and eat all of the ice cream there!"

"I'll join you." I said, "I didn't get to finish my dinner."

"I'll pass." Marth said.

A security guard came in and said it was clear. The three of us then began to walk down to the cafeteria. The two of them just began to talk and laugh, as though nothing had happened. When we got to the cafeteria I found some food that I wanted to eat, and Ness and Lucas went to get some ice cream.

We all sat at the same table. I had to stare at the amount of ice cream that Ness was eating. From his bowl came a tower of ice cream. "There were so many flavours I didn't know which one to take." Ness explained. "So I decided on all of them!"

That can't possibly be healthy!

When I finished my dinner I went and got a scoop of ice cream. I glanced at all of the flavours and decided on chocolate chip cookie dough. My hand reached for the sliding glass door, however I suddenly saw a sign.

"Nugai, this is wired to electrocute you."

Was the door actually wired to electrocute me? Or was this just another trick? In the back of my mind I deduced that it couldn't possibly be wired to electrocute me, since both Ness and Lucas had gotten ice cream. Next, I figured Mewtwo wouldn't of been able to guess which ice cream flavour I would choose. Regardless, I decided to play on the cautious side. I made aura appear on my hand and act like a glove.

If it was wired to electrocute me, I was sure that my aura would be able to repel it. I grabbed the door and slid it open. There was no electricity surging though me. I grabbed a few scoops of ice cream and quickly returned outside. Ness was continuing to eat the ice cream. Surprisingly he finished it.

"That was great!" He shouted when he was done.

I can't believe he finished it!

Ness then got up and slapped Lucas across the back. "Okay, Lucas, why don't you spend the night in my room? We can watch some movies, and plan what we are going to do after the match!"

Lucas and Ness began to walk away. I just looked at the bowl Ness had left behind. "He's throwing his match tomorrow, isn't he?" I asked.

Mewtwo had teleported beside me. "Yes, most likely. He forced himself to continue eating. To him, it was probably less painful than having to fight Lucas after learning the truth."

"What will happen?" I asked.

"Since it's the start of a season it may be difficult. The worst case, it will count as a loss for Ness for his ranking fight." Mewtwo had explained this to me earlier. A ranked fight was where two people fought one on one, under specific rules. The opposite, an unranked fight, could have two to four people fighting, where the outcome wouldn't be effect the Smasher's rankings. "Since it's the start of a season, that is the most likely scenario. But there is also the possibility that their match will be rescheduled."

"Ness attacks by using psychic attacks, right?" I asked. "It's the same as aura, where if you don't have concentration, you can't attack, right?"

"Yes." Mewtwo replied. "Knowing Lucas' past, he probably can't even do the most basic of moves."

I finished my ice cream and got up. This time I used the elevator to go to the thirtith floor.

I returned to my room. I noticed on my dresser that there was a cell phone. I opened it up. The battery was nearly dead. I began to skim through it, going to my address book, seeing plenty of names of people I no longer remembered. I tried dialling a number.

Why didn't I try this before?

I selected a number, one labelled "Home"

However, I was quickly reminded that I didn't have service here. "Crap." I sighed. I went to my bed and collapsed on it.

I drifted off to sleep.

Midway through the night my cell phone began to ring. I bolted up and looked around surprised. Quickly I rushed for the cell phone. Muscle memory took over the rest. I opened it up, and brought it up to my ear. "Hello?" I said puzzled.

"Greetings!"

I suddenly paused. I was talking with someone on the other end, someone who knew me. "Who are you?" Damn it, why didn't I look at the caller display before opening it up! Idiot!

"Just a friend." the voice replied. It was calm, and familiar. "I just called to wish you luck in your big match tomorrow, I'll be watching. I know you can win."

"Who are you?" I asked again.

Before I could get a response, my cell phone's battery died. I began to scramble around my room looking for the charger. A few minutes later I found it and quickly plugged it in. A few minutes after that I was looking for the list of people who had called me.

I found it.

Unfortunately it was blank. "No, damn it! Why are you blank, you shouldn't be! This isn't possible!" I shouted. I just went back to my bed and lied down. Deep in the back of my head I was thinking that the person would call back.

Who was it? How did he know me? How did he know that I was going to be fighting tomorrow? How did he know that I was here?

These constant questions that plagued me, paired with a bit of stage freight gave me insomnia. Eventually I just got up and went out to my balcony. I looked out at the city down below. There was something about it that brought me peace. Even though I was nervous, even though my heart was pounding like crazy, this peaceful little city soothed me. I wonder, are any of the Smashers ever as nervous as I am right now?

That night, I couldn't get back to sleep...

To be continued...