Origins: Sephiroth (featuring Team Chaotix)

Conker's Castle: Night

The dawn of the new day would be encroaching in a mere few hours. And yet, the man known simply by his first name, Sephiroth, couldn't sleep, choosing instead to observe the great outdoors from atop a balcony, his enormous sword, the Masamune, in hand as always. He hadn't had much need for sleep since he tapped into his alien genome. That wasn't the only human pleasure he'd lost along the way. Eating, pain, all had been sacrificed in preparation for what he had thought to be his birthright, to destroy the place he called Earth, and stand atop its ruin as the most powerful being… well…anywhere. But he had failed. Sephiroth didn't like to admit he had felt angry over his defeat, but of all things, an insatiable little parasite named Cloud Strife had cut him off at the pass. And then he was plucked from death by a mad squirrel, with a thirst for revenge.

A small smile tugged at Sephiroth's lips. That part he could understand. His goals were much the same as the squirrel's, who he would come to know as Conker, to destroy the multiverse as it existed. That was why, supposed the One-Winged Angel, that he didn't mind being an enforcer. After all, working in allegiance with Conker would get him to the endpoint he desired, right? Again, yes, but Conker's mental state could be unreadable at times, in one moment screaming at an insubordinate, and laughing drunkenly with his arm around them the next. That, and the fact that Conker was secretive about how he was going to achieve his goal made him doubt his allegiances.

"Hey Seffy, whatcha up to?"

Sephiroth tensed. It was Queen Berri, Conker's betrothed. It wasn't that he didn't like the squirrel, who was currently clad in a purple velvet bathrobe and matching lingerie, but she was openly flirty with him. Even more bizarre was that Conker openly encouraged it.

"Just thinking is all Queen Berri."

"About what?"

Sephiroth finally turned to face the Squirrel Queen, who wasn't doing a very subtle job of eying him up and down, "Conker speaks to a higher power" began the former SOLDIER commander, "Do you know who this higher power is?"

Berri bit her lip, " I don't think hubby would be happy if I told you."

"Berri!" shouted Sephiroth, "Now more than ever, I need you to be honest with me. Do you know who the higher power is?"

"That's the thing." sighed Berri, "He won't even let me know what their plan is. He says all of our problems will be a thing of the past. That's all I know. I'd never pry on hubby's affairs, much less to gossip,"

Sephiroth's expression darkened, "Very well. Then I can no longer stay here, or aid this cause for that matter."

Berri nodded, her gaze cast downward, "I like, completely understand. Most of the folks who stick around're people who're, like, desperate and stuff. Most of us think we owe hubby our lives. But, if you think you have other options, go for it."

Sephiroth grinned, "Thank you for your kindness Queen Berri."

Berri smiled, "Just call me Berri Seffy."

Just as Sephiroth was about to utter his thanks again, Berri spoke up with an even brighter, more devilish smile on her face, "Ooooh! I can even port you out of here with hubby's machine!"

"I can get as far as the portal room, hang on to me."

Without hesitation, Berri through her arms around Sephiroth's neck. The genetic son of JENOVA pretended to not hear Berri's impish giggle as he teleported to the portal room.

Conker's Castle, Portal Room

The Portal Room had been converted from an old dungeon of The Panther King. The Portal sat in the middle of the room in the place of the old cells, while the controls had been placed atop a flight of stairs, which Berri briskly ran up, typing in the code necessary as the machine hummed to life. Sephiroth spoke up, "I'm going to the Sma-"

"I know where you're headed Seffy."

Sephiroth paused as the machine whirred to life around him, the trim of the machine glowing a faint blue, "Berri, one more thing."

"What's up babe?"

"Earlier, you said that some of you owed Conker your life. Does that statement extend to you as well?"

"Yeah. Even though I'm skeptical of hubby's plan, he brought me back from the dead, so I'm on this train ride to the end, even if it wrecks."

Sephiroth nodded. He understood now. Her avoidance of the subject wssn't out of malice, but out of love for the king.

"Thank you, Berri, for everything."

"No problem babe."

With that, Sephiroth disappeared in a flash. Berri simply blew a kiss in the direction of where Sephiroth had been, briskly walking down the steps and out of the converted dungeon.

Smash Mansion

In a flash, Sephiroth appeared at the porch of the Smash Mansion. He felt the dew fill the air that came with the early morning. Just as he registered that sensation, he heard the alarms going off within the mansion. Sephiroth couldn't help but grin at that. His grin became even wider as the double doors to the mansion burst open, and Cloud Strife came flying out of them, clad in just boxers, wielding his Buster Sword. However, just as Sephiroth readied his own sword to block, he found that Marth, in a royal blue bathrobe, had blocked Cloud's blow.

Sephiroth smirked, "While it's always great to see you Cloud, I've come to talk."

"As we had suspected," said Marth, as Cloud lowered his sword and stepped back into the horde of sleepy Smashers who had formed on the front courtyard,

"We?" Sephiroth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Mario, myself, and the other administration members," clarified Marth, "Your arrival was…erm…the best way to put it is that it was prophesized by the former boss of the Smash Brothers, Master Hand, and we have taken up that mantle in his demise."

"I see." Sephiroth hissed, "I wish to join your fold."

Cloud growled, his eyes burning with hatred, "Why? What're you planning? What is he planning Marth?" he barked, suddenly turning his ire on the prince of Altea.

"Though his coming has been prophescized, we must give him the opportunity to speak,"

"My answer is simple," he growled, his eyes now fixed on Marth, " When you and Mario spoke to the one called Edelgard, you spoke with honesty and kindness. Conker operates on no such terms. He, as well as his subordinates, are powerful yet desperate, Desperate enough that they overlook obvious deceit. With such chaotic forces at play, I intend to make sure that gambit is a losing one."

"Bullshit!" yelled Cloud, "You and Conker want to destroy the multiverse equally as badly!"

"This is in line with what King K. Rool told us about Conker. However Sephiroth, that doesn't mean that your behavior will be guarded very closely," explained Marth.

Sephiroth grunted dismissively, "Oh, don't misunderstand, I will bnhave for as long as it benefits me. Whether or not you become something I need to eliminate later is entirely up to what I feel like after this is done. But, the fact remains, someone with as flawed a foundation as Conker is a force that cannot be left unchecked, something that falls in line with what the Smash Brothers believe. For that reason alone, my allegiance is here."

Marth nodded, "Good. Please follow me to the cafeteria Mister Sephiroth."

Sephiroth gave an emotionless nod as he followed the Altean prince, shoving Cloud stepping aside as the two walked in. Sephiroth made sure to make eye contact with Cloud. Sephiroth could see his adversary's eyes had softened, but the indignation of the whole situation still embered underneath. The crowd parted as they entered the doors. As he went through the door to the cafeteria, he saw a portly man in biker attire on one side of a long table. On the other was the man Sephiroth had come to know as Mario from their previous encounter. Mario and the biker appeared to be concluding a game of cards,

"Darn it. No more cards. You win Wario." Mario sighed

"WAHAHAHA! FINALLY, THE GREAT WARIO DEFEATS THE GO FISH CHAMPION! WAHAHAHAHAH!"

Mario rubbed his temple briefly, "Alright Wario, as per the stipulation you get to make one match for the tournament bracket. Name your choice."

As if on cue, Sonic the Hedgehog entered the room, accompanied by a bulky humanoid crocodile and a chameleon man brandishing a knife. Behind them, a humanoid bee fluttered in the air.

"Hey, boss," said Sonic with a mock salute, "I picked up Team Chaotix like you asked me to. Guess I missed somethin' while I was gone, everybody's awake and miffed."

It was then that the four noticed Sephiroth, The crocodile broke the silence, with a gulp and an "Oh God."

"Hello," Sephiroth said an evil grin on his face.

"S-sonic." quivered the bee, "Is this the guy Cloud was telling you about last time?"

"Judging by the sword, I'd say yeah," Sonic said, his voice warbling, but in between breaths, snapped to its' normal flippant tone.

Wario erupted with laughter, "Seven Stars Mario, you're-a gonna love dis. Those three against the Sephiroth guy! WAHAHAHAHA!"

Mario sighed, "Okay, that'll be a first-round match, and it gave me a great idea on how to structure the tournament. Thank you, Wario, but you remember the terms of our deal correct?"

Wario sighed, like a spoiled child getting reprimanded by a teacher, "Never private message you on communicator ever again. It was-a all worth it though, all ze shitposting as 9-Volt calls it to get a Go Fish match out of you, and get an audience for my brilliant stipulation."

"Listen, you're testing my patience by talking to me right now. The only reason why I ever agreed to your stupid deal to begin with was because you were keeping Peach and I up, and I thought entertaining you would put a stop with it. Next time Wario, I'mma be less nice. I might have-a Sephiroth take you in the training room and whoop your fat butt six ways from Sunday."

"Usually, I would take offense to being ordered around like this, but you remind me of a fat, loud, greedy company executive I once impaled and left at his desk for the world to see."

Mario smirked at Wario who muttered "touche" Sephiroth grinned as Wario waddled away. Sephiroth grinned as he heard Wario mutter, "I could take him though."

There was an uncomfortable silence that hung in the air for almost half a minute before Sonic spoke up, "C'mon guys let's hit the training room. The more acclimated you are with how to fight Smash style, the less bad the beating will be."

"Hey, thanks a lot jackass!" shouted the bee.

"As uncouth as the hedgehog is Charmy, he has a point. We need to sharpen our skills in order to stand a chance. If we work hard enough we might be able to gain the advantage with a strategic play" said the chameleon .

"Yeah Espio, yer right!" shouted the crocodile, "See ya in the ring tall, pale, and stabby!"

"Vector, don't mouth off to him." shouted Sonic, "C'mon guys, let's go!"

As the four ran off towards the training sublevel, Mario stared in Sephiroth's direction, who had an amused grin on his face, "So" said Mario, "Your room will be with…"

"I won't be needing one." Sephiroth growled, "I will keep watch over this place."

Mario nodded, "Ganondorf will be happy to hear he has his own room."

Sephiroth nodded striding back out to the courtyard, jumping up to the roof, and taking his post.

As Mario watched Sephiroth leave he heard his wrist communicator ringing. Mario pressed the button to connect the call.

"Mario here."

"It's Marth. Sephiroth coming here with Conker's teleporter means we have a lock on his signature. Conker's henchmen are causing problems in the future version of Yoshimitsu's world."

"Crap," groaned Mario, "We're a-gonna need artillery. Get Snake ready."

"As you wish Master Mario."