Author's Note:
Nothing much to say. I would have liked to have gotten this chapter out earlier but I guess not. The chances of another chapter this month is pretty slim but I'll at least try to get out another chapter before I leave for college next month.
Review Responses:
Elysium: Thanks for the thought. Three Houses is still eating up my time, especially since I'm on my second playthrough.
Defender31415: Who doesn't hate the Pauline fight? For Nathan's fighting style, if this was a video game, I would imagine him being sort of a jack-of-all-trades since he uses items the most.
Chapter 26: Heads I win, Tails you lose
"It's so nice being in my regular clothes," I sighed, shrugging my jacket on. Another sigh slipped out as I felt the familiar feeling of the jacket drape over my body.
Actually, nevermind. Now it's too hot.
"Why do you even wear a jacket? It's not that cold outside," Oblivion asked as I pulled the jacket off.
"It's not any of your business."
"Five gold coins says you started wearing a jacket all the time because you wanted to look like Ash from Pokemon when you were 6."
"Hush. It was when I was 7." I left the locker room to see Piranha Plant at a desk, scribbling something down while Crazy and Clarence were standing next to the boxing ring, speaking in hushed whispers.
I decided to see what Piranha Plant was up to first. Walking over, paper wasn't all that Piranha Plant had. Crazy's Switch stood with pictures of the ruins that I explored with Toadette. Glancing at the Plant's papers, it was copying the images down.
"So, Crazy has you doing work?" I asked the plant, which nodded. I leaned against the desk, watching Piranha Plant work. Surprisingly, it held a pencil with a leaf instead of its mouth which is what I thought it would do. "Can you read any of those symbols that you're writing down?"
The plant shook in a negative. Turning its attention back to the Switch, Piranha Plant changed the image to the one I saw of Galeem.
"Doesn't Galeem kinda look like a sun with wings?" I asked.
Piranha Plant snapped its jaws twice at me and pointed to where Crazy and Clarence were talking.
"I don't want to go talk to them."
The plant pointed at me, snapped its jaws again and shook its head.
"I have some inkling of what you said so I'm just going to base my response off that." Taking a deep breath, I collected my thoughts. "More likely than not, they're talking about Aimee because why wouldn't they? Probably about how to convince her to join us. Aimee, the one who wants to drag me to Galeem, the giant sun god thingy. Also, she's mean so I don't like her."
Piranha Plant snapped its jaw left and then right, before snapping again at me.
"What do you mean to stop acting childish as a means to aggravate her into making a mistake during fights and to give up information about herself?"
Piranha Plant shook its head. "No? So, what did you say?"
The plant threw its pencil at me and pointed at Crazy and Clarence with a leaf. "Alright. No need to get violent."
I walked over to the two in time to catch something.
"And then the kitchen exploded," Crazy finished, waving her hands around. "Hey Nathan. What's up?"
A frown crept onto my face, "What was that about an exploding kitchen?"
"Just some old stuff about the Smash Manor," she explained with a shrug. "Putting so many people in the same building led to a bunch of stuff happening."
"It certainly did seem to be-" Clarence paused, narrowing his eyes, "a lively place."
"Maybe I'll tell you guys more stories about it later." Crazy cleared her throat, "But the issue now is, what should we do with Aimee?"
"Where is she right now?" I asked. I had changed almost immediately when we got back to the Gym so I didn't see what Crazy did with her.
"We used tape and threw her in the closet."
"That sounds vaguely familiar," I muttered as we moved back to the main question.
"What would be her motivation for siding with Galeem?" Clarence asked, a hand pressed to his chin.
"I think she said the same motivation you have, Clarence. To go back home," I sighed. "I also think she said because Galeem was the winning side."
"Really?" Crazy perked up at this, "I can convince her easy then."
"How exactly would you accomplish that? She seems to be a rather stubborn individual."
"That, my dear Clarence, is simple." Crazy had maniacal grin as her eyes gained a devilish glimmer. "We just need to show her that Galeem winning won't benefit her at all. You three should go finish up the Puppet Fighters, I got her."
"Actually," I said, stopping her, "there is something I wanted to ask you Crazy. How did Galeem win against the Smashers again?"
"Oh, with giant lasers," she replied, absentmindedly, as she mumbled to herself. "I'll need that, some of this, would that be too much? Nah, it'll be fine."
"Wait, you're telling me that Galeem, the Big Bad that we're supposed to fight, killed more than 70 people with giant doom lasers of death?"
"Well, yeah. How did you think he beat them? Throwing squeaky toys at them?"
"Hey, Clarence?" I turned to the knight. "Do you know how to defend against giant laser attacks?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"So, if Clarence doesn't know how to stop Galeem from, I don't know, completely obliterating us with lasers," I had turned back to Crazy, rushing my words as the implication hit me. "That means I don't know. Therefore, if you don't know, then we're practically screwed when we do go fight Galeem. So Crazy, please tell me that you have some plan to stop Galeem from killing us with giant lasers."
"Nathan, calm down a bit please. While I don't have a plan-"
"OH MY BAGELS! WE'RE ALL DEAD THEN!"
"While I don't have a plan to deal with the giant death lasers." Crazy gritted her teeth, putting a hand to the bridge of her nose, "It took Galeem absorbing almost all the copies of Master Hand that he created to unleash that attack. Pulling that attack off again will take too much energy to do. So calm down before I smack some calm into you."
"Alright, since we won't meet our demise through death lasers, let's see if we can meet it some other way." I began hauling Clarence to the door by his collar, waving over Piranha Plant with my other hand. "I really hope we won't have to fight Little Mac again."
"Why do you say that?" Clarence broke my grip and fixed his collar.
"It seems kinda boring to have to fight the same type of fighter in the same day, y'know?"
"Dear Diary, today, I said things that I truly wish to take back. Unfortunately, I happen to have a brain the size of a raisin and a sad lack of a time machine."
"Nathaniel, 'Dear Diary' is a phrase typically reserved for writing an account of some kind in a journal. I do not see any such material in your hands."
"Hush, Clarence." The three of us looked at the Smasher Statue before us. The nameplate on it read:
Smasher No. 49:
Little Mac
"Alright, let's get this over with," I said, stretching my arms.
"Hold on, allow me to fight Little Mac." Clarence stepped between me and the statue.
"What? Why? So you can get your butt handed to you in five seconds?"
"No," he stated. Drawing his sword, Clarence spun the blade, ending with a point at the statue. "In order to undo my previous loss, I will fight and defeat Little Mac this time."
"Who cares?" I pushed his sword down. "I already fought Little Mac so I know how he fights. I can just outrange him with the Steel Diver."
"If the only reason you have for fighting him is because you have projectiles, I have projectiles at my disposal as well." Clarence moved my arm off of his and pointed the sword at the statue again. "In addition, you required Crazy and Piranha Plant's help to fight Little Mac. The only reason I lost is due to that previous fight leaving me too injured."
"Oh sure, just make up an excuse for getting knocked out so fast."
"Please repeat that statement so that I may cut out your tongue when you finish talking."
"Okay, how about this?" I pulled out a gold coin, showing the side with the smash cross to Clarence. "Let's say this side is heads. Now, I'm going to flip this coin and if it's heads, I get to fight Little Mac."
I flipped the coin into the air, the golden disc becoming a sphere as it spun. Rising into the air, the coin stopped before gravity began to work, dragging the coin back to my waiting hand.
Clarence snatched the coin, moments before it landed. "Let me see the coin."
He turned the coin over in his hand. Upon seeing the other side of the coin, Clarence held it up to me, giving me a look that only said, "You are a terrible person."
"Resorting to a trick coin, Nathaniel?" The other side of the coin bore the same crest as the other side that I declared to be heads.
"Technically," I grabbed the coin back and tossed it into my pocket. "All of the coins are like that. Therefore, it's not a trick coin."
"You still attempted to trick me with that coin flip. Due to that, I shall be the one to fight Little Mac."
"Sure, except that I have plausible deniability on my side."
"Will's mercy," Clarence sighed. "What do you mean by plausible deniability?"
"It means you can't prove that I actually knew that both sides were the same."
"At least, that's what I think it means," I thought to myself.
"How about the two of you stop bickering like 5-year olds and fight Little Mac already?"
"I'll stop bickering with him when he stops dragging it out and lets me fight."
A green wall smashed into us from the side, knocking both of us over. Looking over at the statue, Piranha Plant blew a cloud of poison into Little Mac's face.
"Oh come on!" Piranha Plant chomped at us before turning back to Little Mac.
Dashing closer to Piranha Plant, Little Mac swung once he was close enough. The plant dodged by jumping over the boxer and slammed the pot into Little Mac's head. Continuing the assault, Piranha Plant landed and used the pot to swipe at Little Mac's feet. Little Mac got thrown into the wall as a result.
Chewing a bit, Piranha Plant spat out a spiked, iron ball, keeping it afloat by blowing. Tilting its head, Piranha Plant threw the ball into Little Mac, making the boxer keep his back against the wall.
Piranha Plant lunged Little Mac, swinging the pot again. Little Mac countered this time, moving back to avoid the hit before closing in for a punch. Launching Piranha Plant through the air, Little Mac moved to where the plant would land, preparing for another strike.
Spinning, Piranha Plant used its leaves like blades to knock Little Mac away from where it would land. Little Mac used an uppercut at the same moment. Both attacks landed on their respective targets at the same time, and both were knocked away.
Piranha Plant withdrew its head into its pot, tipping the pot over to aim at Little Mac. Stretching its neck out across the field, the plant took a bite out of Little Mac. The plant's head retracted back to normal length and moved back closer to Little Mac.
Little Mac threw out a jab at the approaching plant. The plant jumped, swinging the pot into the boxer's face, then used a second jump to strike Little Mac with its head.
Crashing into the ground, Little Mac rolled away from the plant which landed. Piranha Plant began glowing with a rainbow aura upon hitting the ground.
"Piranha Plant has a Final Smash too?" I turned to Clarence, "What do you think it'll be?"
"Be quiet and watch then."
The aura around Piranha Plant dimmed somewhat, indicating the attack has been activated. Behind Piranha Plant, jumping out of seemingly nowhere, a giant plant similar to Piranha Plant with yellow petals around its head and red underwear with white spots emerged. At the end of each leaf arm, a steel cage dangled.
"Will's grace! What horrific abomination is that!"
"Oh, that guy?" Crossing my arms, I thought back on the memories I have. Mumbling to myself, "Pretty sure it was Something Plant."
"Not even close. It's Petey Piranha."
"Clarence, meet Petey Piranha. Petey Piranha, meet- oh, you're killing Little Mac."
Petey Piranha swung the cages around, catching Little Mac in one. Breathing fire on both of the cages, Petey Piranha slammed the flaming cages into the ground. Little Mac shattered and Petey Piranha disappeared.
"Hey Piranha Plant! Was that your dad?" Clarence and I crossed over as the wall fell. The plant simply shrugged while I picked up Little Mac's amiibo.
No memory.
Admittedly, a little part of me wanted to see a memory. To know at least a little more about who I was, who I should be.
"Stop waxing existential crises, Nathaniel," I muttered. "There are things to do."
"Shall we continue onward?" Clarence asked. "There might be another statue in the city."
"Something's coming."
"Like what? Your-" A nail drove itself into my head. Thankfully, not literally.
That might have been better though.
The floor hit me. I gripped my head, trying to somehow stop the pain. Clarence and Piranha Plant were next to me, saying something. I couldn't tell what they were saying over my own screaming.
Every nerve in my body burned. The nail in my head invited some friends to stab themselves into my head. I could barely control my limbs.
Seconds slowed down into a pain-filled eternity. Existence itself became suffering and the end would never come.
The pain stopped. I blinked, waiting for a relapse to begin hurting me again. I sat up. "What the waffles was that?"
"Glad… to see….. that you… .have…...recovered," Clarence groaned out. He had curled up into the fetal position during my attack.
"Is something wrong?"
"Yes… You kicked me ... in the groin."
"Oh. Sorry." I shifted my attention inward, "Oblivion, do you mind telling me what that was?"
No response.
I shut my eyes, feeling for Oblivion's presence. In the back of my mind, in the darkest corner, I felt a glimmer of Oblivion.
Something else was there too. It felt like it was telling me something. Like a compass.
The object in question was coming towards us. At the speed it was moving, maybe a person? A person, who is actually moving at a fast pace towards us.
My eyes flashed open, in time to see Joker leap off the building in front of us.
"Oh. Hi Joker! How're you doing?" I waved at the phantom thief. "Here to get your butt kicked?"
"Why are you so casual to someone who tried to kill you?"
"Good point. Another good point is what's with that?" I gestured towards Joker, who had gone through some changes since I last saw him.
His eyes glowed a demonic red and a dark aura followed him. Otherwise, Joker looked the same as the last time we met. Black coat, red gloves, white mask.
The glowing eyes and aura does make him look eviller though.
Joker began to fire with his gun. Piranha Plant jumped out of the way while I shielded against the bullets so they won't hit Clarence.
Clarence jumped over me, bringing his blade down on Joker. Instead of dodging, Joker guarded by covering himself in blue flames, nullifying the hit. Dropping it, Joker slashed Clarence away using his knife.
Piranha Plant ran up behind Joker and smacked him with the pot, knocking the thief towards me.
I moved in, swinging the Fire Bar. The bar clanged as Joker blocked with a new item: my Death's Scythe.
He kicked me away, firing as I got pushed back. Switching his attention, Joker went after Clarence.
Joker remained on the offense, swinging wildly at the swordsman. Clarence backpedaled, trying to stay out of reach and blocking the swings he couldn't dodge.
I switched items, pulling out the Steel Diver. Aiming, I fired at Joker's back.
Joker jumped, flipping in the air. Meanwhile, the torpedoes I shot zoomed into Clarence.
"Shoot. Sorry!" The shots exploded, blasting Clarence away. "Wait, where did Joker go?"
The answer came in the form of Piranha Plant.
Hurtling into my face.
Probably at a million miles an hour.
After Piranha Plant got off, I fired again at Joker.
Sidestepping, Joker snapped his fingers at us.
"Eiha!" A small, purple fireball looking projectile flew from his fingers. The projectile hit me in the leg, bursting apart in purple energy.
"Gah!" I leapt back. While the attack itself felt like a punch, it left behind lingering energy. My chest began to hurt, my heart feeling as if someone was gripping to disrupt my heartbeat. The pain and energy quickly dissipated however.
Piranha Plant flung another spike ball at Joker, while Clarence threw a light shuriken. Going into a defensive stance again, blue flames surrounded Joker, effectively blocking the two attacks.
"Arsene!" Joker's mask disappeared into flames while the demon-like figure burst out behind him.
Making a mad dash towards us, Joker swung the scythe in a wide arc. Piranha Plant and Clarence jumped away while I smoke dashed closer.
I threw out a punch, aiming for Joker's face. Joker ducked out of the way, knocking me away using the scythe.
Wrapping himself in a blue aura, Clarence lunged forward, stabbing at the thief. The blow landed, pushing Joker back slightly but he regained his balance quickly, slashing with the knife. Clarence blocked, putting the two into a lock.
Tucking the scythe into his inventory, Joker aimed with his fingers, snapping at Clarence. "Eigaon!"
Another fireball leapt from his fingers, this one bigger and faster. Bursting apart as soon as it touched Clarence, the fireball created a pillar of dark energy, launching Clarence away and leaving him with energy lingering on him.
Joker pulled out his pistol, firing at Piranha Plant and me. We split in opposite directions, the plant to the right while I went left. Sadly, Joker decided to run after me.
I pulled out the Fire Bar just as Joker caught up. I swung, missed, and tried to dodge a knife swing. The demon followed Joker's movements again, slashing at me.
As I got flung back, Piranha Plant came up from behind Joker, flinging another spike ball.
"Makarakarn!" A green barrier surrounded Joker, bouncing the ball back into Piranha Plant. The plant was knocked back, distracting Joker long enough for me to get a hit in with the Fire Bar.
Clarence leapt back into the fray, glowing with a rainbow aura of his own. Transferring all of the rainbow energy into his blade, he swung his sword, letting out all of the energy into one, giant sword beam. "Final Edge!"
The attack connected, cutting through Joker in an explosion. The aura around him faded as Joker collapsed.
"Is that it?"
"What? Did you want to fight more?"
"Well, no. It's just," I gestured, hopelessly at Joker's hopefully not dead body. "I'm just used to the enemies dropping something."
"What shall we do now?" Clarence asked.
"I guess help me pick him up. One of us could drag him back to the Gym." I walked over to Joker, grabbing his arm.
The moment my hand touched Joker, the aura that previously enveloped him exploded out of him.
"What in the chicken sandwich?" My hand wouldn't let go of Joker. The aura lingered in the air, then shot into me.
I shut my eyes, preparing for pain. There wasn't any. As the energy flowed into me, I felt as if I was becoming less hollow. Not full, like I just ate a fulfilling meal. As if I was a hollow doll that someone decided to put some marbles in.
"Nathaniel! Are you alright?" My eyes shot open, to see Clarence and Piranha Plant staring.
"Yeah, just peachy."
"First, you had, whatever that attack was, and now you're screaming randomly." Clarence said. "Maybe you should rest."
"I don't have time to rest, I got stuff to do."
"Nathaniel-"
"I don't need to rest," I repeated. "I am fine. You or Piranha Plant could take Joke back to the Gym. As for me, I am clearing the rest of the city. No questions about it."
Clarence sighed, "Piranha Plant, how about you take Joker back to the Gym? I'll stay with Nathaniel in case something happens."
As I passed Joker to the plant, a thought hit me. "Random screaming? Did no one see the aura swarm me?"
Oblivion answered my question, "I have a feeling as to what it was, but I'll have to explain another time."
Save File 2: Saved
Party: Nathaniel, Oblivion(?), Crazy, Clarence, Piranha Plant
Items: Nathaniel- Steel Diver, Fire Flower, Beehive x2, Fire Bar
Crazy Hand- Staff, Deku Nuts, Green Shell, Bob-omb, Bombchu x3, Smart Bomb
Clarence-Special Flag
Piranha Plant- None
Smashers: Mario, Link, Kirby, Fox, Pikachu, Captain Falcon, Jigglypuff, Peach, Bowser, Dr. Mario, Pichu, Lucario, Villager, Little Mac
Author's Theater:
MG: *walks onto stage, looks around* Has anyone seen my notes?
MG: I know that someone's here.
MG: I give up. Time to play Fire Emblem. *Leaves*
Crazy: *peeks out from behind a curtain with a stack of papers* Maybe I should have asked him to elaborate more on the Slideshow of Doom.