Author's Note:
...yeah, I got nothing to say this time around. Let's just answer some reviews:
Has the Nitro Squad formerly the Trophy Girls from Crash Team Racing shown up? Will the Galar gym leaders show up for the Sword and Shield chapter? Has Tiki had any scenes with Marth or the other Fire Emblem cast? Will Yu and Yukiko ever patch things up? And finally, since Final Fantasy XII got ported to Switch do you hope that the XIII games get a Switch port as well?
Nope. Yep. Maybe a few. We'll see. They should just port every Final Fantasy game, at this point. Sioresov has...questions:
"1. Can you do something similar to 'The Producers' where MH and CH owe the builders (or anyone, your choice) money and they produce something offensive, similar to 'Springtime for Hitler / Heil Myself'
2. Where is that Security Guard? (This Chapter or Next one.)
3. Can Bayonetta and Palutena Interact with each other?
4. Wait, if you become a writer or something, will you make a tv show or something based on this?"
5. Will 2B and 9S make an appearance and/ or chapter?
6. Can Huang Lee (Yes, a GTA/Nintendo Character, check out GTA: Chinatown Wars Nintendo DS) free ratchet and clank in the next arc?
1. Ummmmm...no.
2. Haven't decided on one yet.
3. Seeing as they hardly interact with one another, yes.
4. I wouldn't mind. I'd love to make a show with a non-linear narrative, with a lot of focus on world-building and supporting characters.
5. Ehhh...it depends.
6. That...would be very random.
You know who else has questions? PinkRose4452!
"1. Will Anna from Fire Emblem make an appearance?
2. Will Aigis interact with Megaman and his robot pals? Also, can she help Megaman on his patrol duty on the All-star manor?
3. Can we see Yosuke and Junpei doing more crazy ideas in the future and bring their best friends, Yu and Minato, alongside Ryuji and his best friend, Joker, into the mix?
4. Bowser recruits people, which he calls them his lackeys, to rob a bank and to also cause some trouble as well, which in the end, leads them to house arrest at the mansion."
1. Anna will make an appearance. (She's my profile icon on Smash Online; if you ever see anyone with an Anna icon, playing as either Zelda, Wii Fit Trainer, or Mr. Game and Watch...then it's ya boi.)
2. She'll be interacting with them a few times. She would be also be good for patrol duty.
3. I suppose. Not sure how long that'll last.
4. Hehe...that would be typical Bowser.
And we got one more question...from Derick Lindsey!
"Did Kirby and Incinaroar just give up on dealing with Pit since the last couple of chapters Pit hasn't been seen with them after usually (to my knowledge) been like some sort of trio for the longest time?"
They haven't given up on Pit...although from a reasonable standpoint, they probably should. The trio will be featured a lot, in this chapter.
Episode 187: Hoshido
For weeks, a few months even, the mansion has been at war with the All-Star Manor. Every week since the whole Seattle Stalker incident was resolved, a different manor denizen came to the mansion, to stir up trouble at the mansion. Whether it was stealing the mansion's food, making the residents starve, or even setting the mansion on fire, causing as much mayhem at the mansion as possible was always the manor's MO.
Three manor denizens who were trying to stir up trouble in the previous episode were Ratchet, Clank, and Colonel Radec. Radec was taken care of by Mario and to a lesser extent Koromaru, after falling through a hole. Ratchet and Clank, on the other hand, were involved in an aerial battle with Samus, who was trying to convince Corrin that the world was flat (made sense in context). Samus felled Ratchet and Clank in her Gunship, and ultimately crashed her vehicle in Africa were Ratchet and Clank would be captured. A shame no footage of the aerial battle was recorded.
Now prisoners at the mansion, Ratchet and Clank were held down in the basement, bound and gagged and tied to a chair in the darkness with only the Rabbids keeping them company. The Lombax and robot duo would get company from Cilan every so often, just so the connoisseur could mouth-feed Ratchet and keep him nourished. But today, Ratchet and Clank would be getting company other than Cilan...in the form of a four-headed beast...not literally speaking, of course.
"Flashlight..." a female voice sounded, as a bright light was flashed upon Ratchet and Clank's faces in the brooding darkness. The light was from a flashlight held by Cappy, who was hovering over Mario, Joker, Makoto, and Yu. Rabbids were standing behind the four, watching and smiling.
"It's about that time..." said Yu, cracking his knuckles, as Ratchet looked dazed and confused. Pretty understandable, considering he was sitting in darkness for so long. Mario slapped the Lombax, to bring him to his senses.
"Never start with the head, the victim gets all...fuzzy," Ratchet informed Mario, unintentionally quoting the late Heath Ledger, before Mario slammed his fist down on the Lombax's hand. "Ah, thank you...I guess."
"We kept you both down-a here for about a week," Mario said to Ratchet and Clank, getting all up in Ratchet's grill. "...now it's time-a for you two to tell us everything-a we need to know!"
"Everything you need to know about what? My girlfriend? Well let me tell you..."
"Don't play dumb-a with me you stupid Lombax, you know EXACTLY what I'm-a talking about!"
"Oh, I get you, you must be asking me about the upgrades I did to my new Obliterator. Where do I start?"
"I think he's asking us about why the manor has such a huge beef with the mansion," Clank whispered to Ratchet, who glared at the robot in response.
"I know that already Clank, I'm just trying to play dumb!" Ratchet whispered back, making sure that Mario and company didn't hear. "Quit blowing my cover..."
Master Hand: Hehehe, I feel like such a kingpin, having prisoners down in the basement...How are Ratchet and Clank prisoners, you ask? Oh where do I start? For starters, they're from the All-Star Manor, which is a big boo-boo on their reputation already. Also, they literally tried to kill Samus - the one person who could at least tolerate my glorious singing without complaining - up in the skies of Africa. (Corrin and the cameraman, I could care less about them). Not only that, but I know for a fact that Ratchet and Clank are just trying to get under my skin, just like the rest of those manor geeks! I could imprison 'em all and kill them, if I wanted to!
"Tell us why the manor keeps targeting the mansion," Joker commanded of Ratchet and Clank, letting the duo know how much authority he had. No matter how much of a boss Joker looked, Ratchet and Clank remained tight-lipped.
"We're not telling you anything," Ratchet said to Joker, showing his defiance to the young man. "I mean, what's a little information gonna do for ya anyways?"
"Cappy...tickle him," Makoto ordered the talking hat, who whipped out a feather duster out of nowhere. Ratchet feared for the worst, when his eyes set upon the feather duster in Cappy's hand.
"Alright you guys, let's not get TOO irrational..." Ratchet's plea did not help him in the slightest, as Cappy took off Ratchet's left shoe and started tickling his left foot with the feather duster. Ratchet was laughing in an instant.
"It's quite a shame how sensitive to tickling you are, Ratchet," Clank said to the Lombax, who was too busy laughing profusely to give a retort.
"Don't worry, Mr. Robot Guy, you're next..." Cappy threatened Clank, as he continued to tickle Ratchet's left foot with the feather duster.
"Well considering I'm a robot with metallic skin, I'm not even ticklish...but I wouldn't mind the attempt."
"Oh my queen, where art thou? Miss Niijima, please tell me you haven't tarried away! Hast thou forgotten about our date?"
Cappy immediately stopped tickling Ratchet with the feather duster when he heard this - a call from obviously a royal knight of the highest honor. All the men in the basement looked confused - Ratchet and Clank too - and the Rabbids looked at one another, as Makoto was seen blushing with cheeks of red.
"You're going on a date...with Shovel Knight?" Joker asked the blushing Makoto, having every right to be concerned what with being Makoto's boyfriend and all.
"I tried talking him out of it, but nothing I said didn't work..." replied Makoto, trying to cover her face to hide her embarrassment and humiliation. "...I should go convince him one more time." Makoto hurriedly ran up the stairs and left the basement, as the Rabbids cleared the way for the brunette.
"Well well well...looks like you guys lost your enforcer," grinned Ratchet, who personally found Makoto the most intimidating out of the bunch. "No way you're gonna get the truth out of us now!"
"Cappy...go-a back to tickling him," Mario ordered the talking hat, who tickled Ratchet's foot with the feather duster once more. And again, Ratchet found himself laughing nonstop.
Still feeling pretty embarrassed, Makoto went to the foyer of the mansion, looking for Shovel Knight. There she found the blue knight in shining armor, having a word with Bowser and Ganondorf.
"You managed to snag a date with Makoto?" a slightly impressed Ganondorf asked Shovel Knight, daring not to inquire about the age gap between the knight and his so-called queen. "Nice move, Shovel Knight..."
"Nice move indeed!" Bowser nodded his head in agreement, with his arms folded. "In a perfect world, Makoto would've been my date at the Valentine's Day party two years ago, over Yukiko."
"Must you keep on mentioning that Valentine's Day party? Literally nobody still gives a crap about that thing but you."
"I'm just salty that Yukiko hardly committed to being my date! Just looked and acted drab the entire time. Like, what's up with that?!"
Bowser: As salty as I am over Yukiko's behavior at that Valentine's Day party, I can still forgive her for continuing to make the easiest life decision of her life - not being Yu's girlfriend. You'd think that Rise, being a cute pop singer and absolute hottie, would have an actual preference for men.
"Yes, Miss Niijima is a great queen, a fine queen indeed..." Shovel Knight said happily, before looking across the foyer and spotting a still blushing Makoto. "...and there she is! Isn't she such a beauty?"
"I could see why Joker fell head over heels for her," commented Bowser, as Makoto meekly looked to the side - something that Bowser picked up on. "Don't hide it Makoto, you know I'm telling the truth!"
"I'm not turning my head because of what you said, Bowser..." Makoto said to the koopa king, who refused to believe the brunette even for a second. "...I was thinking about something else?"
"Thou must be thinking about our date, no?" Shovel Knight asked Makoto, as he came over to his "queen". Makoto could just walk away if she wanted to. "I take it that thou art feeling a wee nervous. But I can assure you that..."
"Shovel Knight, I DON'T want to go out with you on a date. Period." Makoto did her best to make her case known to Shovel Knight, who looked distraught.
"But thou art my queen! I should servest thou with the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows!" Shovel Knight took Makoto's hand, as Makoto refused to look at him. "Please, Miss Niijima, I beg of thou..."
"Are you hard of hearing? I said I'm not going..." Makoto slapped Shovel Knight's hand away, as she walked away. Shovel Knight, refusing to remain empty-handed, chased after Makoto down the hallway.
"Wait! Why tarriest thou? Please, I can make some accommodations! I can take you to an eatery of your choosing! Where doest thou enjoy eating at?"
"How come you are never like this with Rosalina?" Bowser asked Ganondorf, inquiring about the demon lord's lowkey romance with the mother of Lumas herself. Ganondorf responded with a glare.
"If you knew what it was like to be in a real relationship, you would know..." was Ganondorf's response as he walked away, still glaring. Bowser tried to come up with a response but couldn't, as he snapped his fingers in disgust.
Word eventually reached to Master Hand that Corrin was a flat-earther...and Master Hand couldn't be any more disappointed. The giant hand thought that the prince of Nohr knew better than to believe some dumb theory, but he should've known to not set his expectations so egregiously high. Unless Corrin's flat-earth beliefs weren't taken care of right away, the residents would be annoyed by Corrin to no end.
Ultimately, Master Hand knew what must be done - bringing Corrin and Kamui's siblings over to the mansion, to reason with Corrin and teach him the error of his newfound ways.
To ensure that Corrin's siblings arrived safe and sound, Master Hand waited outside on the front porch, along with Isabelle. The giant hand wished for Corrin's beliefs to be suspended once and for all today, to avoid any trouble later down the road.
"You've been in contact with Corrin's siblings, right?" Master Hand asked Isabelle, watching Daisy working in her front yard from afar.
"I sent them the letter, and they sent me a letter in response," replied Isabelle, showing a letter written by Xander to Master Hand as proof. "They should be here before the end of the day."
"I hope they get here before the end of the day...they're the right candidates to put Corrin in his place. Ideally, Kamui could get the job done, but she's too flustered at the moment to deal with her brother."
Walking by along with Paula and Poo was Corrin, who was annoying the heck out of the PSI friends with his dumb flat-earth theories. Master Hand remained silent, wanting to hear the stupidity that came out of Corrin's before before he intervened.
"The Suez Canal is the biggest proof we have that our world is flat," Corrin said to Paula and Poo, who were both trying to walk away from the prince. "It's straight and leveled, no curvature whatsoever!"
"Corrin, did you even know that the Suez Canal existed before you believed that the earth was flat?" Paula asked the prince, who stopped in place to observe his own beforehand ignorance.
"...that may be true, but the Suez Canal is the only flat-earth proof you should know. That, and the fact that there are no antipodes." Paula and Poo turned around and looked at Corrin, in pure disbelief.
"Define what antipodes mean, Mr. Intellectual," Poo challenged Corrin, expecting the prince to mess up and butcher the definition. Master Hand and Isabelle watched, interested in how Corrin would respond.
"Antipodes, erm, are like a direct opposite of something. So say for instance, uh, you have...a mirror, and the direct opposite of that would be...an antipode."
"CORRIN!" Master Hand shouted out the prince's name, garnering his attention as well as Paula and Poo's. "Isabelle, tell our albino friend how wrong he is." Isabelle was ready to go, as she cleared her throat.
"Believe it or not, Corrin, our earth does have antipodes - they're points on Earth's surface diametrically opposite to it," the shih tzu explained intellectually, effectively schooling Corrin. "They're often used in Austrailia and New Zealand, by inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere."
Isabelle: I knew my nineteen engineering degrees wouldn't let me down... *smiles*
"Ha, take that Corrin!" Master Hand taunted the prince, who remained steadfast despite the schooling he had received from Isabelle. "What you got now?"
"I know for a fact that you forced Isabelle to spew lies, Master Hand," Corrin said to the giant hand, before shaking his head in dismay. "But it won't work on me!"
"Yeah, I bet you won't be singing the same tune once your siblings get through ya...where even are your siblings anyways? Thought they were coming, Isabelle!"
"Wait, I see a taxi up ahead!" exclaimed Isabelle, looking out and seeing a taxi driving towards the mansion. "It's B.D. Joe! He's bringing Xander and company here!"
"My siblings are coming...?" wondered Corrin, who obviously didn't listen to what Master Hand said a moment ago. Probably too busy being deep in thought about how much of an "intellectual" he was.
B.D. Joe pulled up to the mansion's driveway, as Master Hand and the others came over. Corrin's siblings - Xander, Camilla, Leo, and Elise - were expected to be in the taxi, right? Well...that wouldn't be the case.
"That's not Corrin's family..." observed Paula, noticing that the passengers in B.D Joe's taxi were not from the Nohrian family as they had a red motif going on with their clothes (except for one boy who wore blue).
"This has got to be some kind of mix-up..." remarked Master Hand, seemingly knowing who B.D. Joe's passengers were, as the four passengers got out of the car.
"Thank you for your service, good sir," the man in the passenger seat thanked B.D. Joe, tossing a gold coin in the taxi driver's hand. "Hope that should cover for the ride, if not..."
"Nah man, you good, you good!" a grinning B.D. Joe said to the man, who was wearing some kind of lobster thingamajig on his head. "One gold coin is all I need!"
"No way...there's no way..." Corrin shook his head in disbelief, as he backed away. B.D. Joe took sight of the prince, wondering why he was acting as such.
"Yo, Corrin, why you bugging out my dude? Stop acting like a flpping' weirdo and greet your family! Your family from Hoshido!"
"Yes Corrin, come and say hi to your family...your real family," the man with the lobster thingamajig on his head walked over to Corrin, who was unsure of what to think or how to react. "Don't tell me you forgot your older brother, Ryoma!"
"But you're not even my brother..." stated Corrin as he backed away from Ryoma...only to back up into a girl with a short haircut. Ryoma's little sister.
"Hey Corrin!" the sister, whose name was Hinoka, greeted the prince. "You remember me, right?" Corrin refused to answer as he backed away, only to bump into someone else.
"You look a little at edge, Corrin," said the person that Corrin bumped into...Ryoma's little brother, Takumi. Corrin screamed as he backed away from Takumi, only to bump into someone else once more.
"Takumi's right, Corrin, you don't look like your normal self," said the other person Corrin bumped into...Ryoma's littlest sister, Sakura. Soon enough, Corrin found himself surrounded by Ryoma, and his siblings.
"Corrin, is this how you plan on greeting your Hoshidan family?" Ryoma questioned the prince, greatly questioning his behavior. "Stop acting so uneasy and give us a warm welcome!"
"Why should I, you're not even my real family!" frowned Corrin, getting all flustered as his face was turning red. "Where's my siblings? Where's Xander, and Camilla, and Leo and Elise? What did you do with them?!"
"Aye, I see that they've brainwashed you into thinking that you're one of them..." Ryoma shook his head at Corrin, in deep sympathy. "...but no need to fear, Corrin, for we shall steer you on the right path."
"Steer me on the right path? You're not going to make me think that I'm a sibling of yours, are you?"
"Well...not yet. But it's been brought to our attention that you have...a few backwards beliefs that need to be sorted out."
"Which is exactly why we came to the mansion to help you out!" Hinoka said to Corrin, taking the prince's reluctant hand and waling him to the mansion. "So what are we waiting for, let's get started!"
"Please, let go of me, I beg of you!" Corrin pleaded to Hinoka who was taking him away, as Takumi and Sakura followed after their older sister to the mansion. "Master Hand, save me!"
"I can guarantee you that Corrin will let go of his flat-earth beliefs, before the end of the day," Ryoma assured Master Hand, who was confused by what was going on. Where on earth was Xander and company? "You have nothing to worry about!"
"Uh...thanks for everything, buddy," Master Hand said to Ryoma, who nodded as he walked away and entered the mansion. Still confused, Master Hand looked at B.D. Joe, wondering what the big mix-up was.
"Look, I was just told to bring a royal family to the mansion, okay?!" B.D. Joe defended himself to Master Hand, putting his hands up in the air as a sign of innocence. "We never reallly...went over the specifics."
Master Hand: *sighs* I knew this day would come...the royal family of Hoshido brought themselves to the mansion, and there's hardly anything I can do about it. The least I could do is monitor the family, and see what tricks they have up their sleeves - no doubt they'll want to bring Corrin and Kamui to their own kingdom, and convince them to say. Ain't no way I'm letting any residents leave under my watch...Fox notwithstanding.
The wedding plans for Fox and Krystal were going along pretty smoothly, as the soon-to-be couple were off to a pretty good start. It seemed like there would be a bumpy road for Fox and Krystal, after Fox was worrying for no reason in episode 185, but the pilot was encouraged by Krystal to keep things simple, and not worry about things that could be resolved later like wedding locales and whatnot. Fox took Krystal's advice to heart, and has felt much relieved ever since.
It was also a huge help that Fox had some great friends to help him out with his wedding plans, in Falco, Peppy, and Slippy. While Slippy wasn't much help, Falco and Peppy usually came through whenever Fox and Krystal needed them the most.
"How does the wedding website look?" Falco asked Fox and Krystal, showing the couple a wedding website on Coco's tablet in Fox's room. "Peppy and I stayed up all night, making everything look neat."
"A website seems a little unnecessary...but it's fine by me," Krystal offered her two cents, as Falco looked towards Fox for his input. "What do you think, Fox?"
"I think the website sucks and you and Peppy should feel sorry about working on such a crappy domain," replied Fox, as Falco looked at his best friend with the most shocked expression a best friend could have. "I'm just pulling your tail, Falco."
"Oh, I was about to say...thought we were gonna throw them hands," remarked Falco, as he put Coco's tablet away in his pocket. "I would've won regardless."
"Nobody wants to hear your silly lies, Falco." Done with Fox's teasing, Falco left the room so he could return Coco her tablet. Shortly after Falco had left, Krystal leaned in close to Fox, like she was about to kiss her fiance.
"I've been meaning to ask you," Krystal started, as Fox anticipated what his fiancee was about to say. "When do you plan on visiting my mother, in Sauria?"
"I thought that maybe we could pay her a visit next month, once I get my Arwing repaired. You plan on inviting her to our wedding?"
"It's not so much that...I just want you to meet my mother, if that's alright with you." Fox looked at Krystal for a few seconds, before laughing to himself. Why would Fox pass up the opportunity to meet his future wife's mom?
"Of course that's alright with me, Krystal! I'd love to get to know your mom, just to avoid any potential in-law drama."
"Just so we're clear, I haven't seen my mother in a very long time, so it's hard to gauge how her temperament is. But I know you'll be on your best behavior."
"C'mon Krystal, you don't think I'm some kind of little kid, do you?" Amused, Krystal smiled to herself, making Fox a little angry. "Yeah, I have my own ways, but it's all in the name of fun!"
"I'M A FREAKING GROOMSMAN, LET'S GO!" cheered Junpei, as he was heard shouting from down the hallway. Fox and Krystal exchanged worried looks with one another, as a jubilant Junpei passed by the room.
"Pretty sure Junpei is a groomsman for another wedding about to take place," Fox assured Krystal, as Junpei came back down the hallway and stepped inside Fox's room with a big smile. Junpei never looked that happy ever since he became a mansion resident - only two weeks ago!
"Guys, did you hear the big news? I'm gonna be a groomsman at the wedding!" Junpei was ready to celebrate, as he pumped his fists in the air. But the way he used the wedding as an definite article made Fox and Krystal very much concerned.
"What wedding are you talking about, Junpei?" Krystal asked the young man, bracing herself for inevitable disappointment. Junpei looked at the vixen, his smiling fading away only temporarily.
"Where you born yesterday, dude? I'll be a groomsman at your wedding! Falco said so! It's gonna be me, Ganondorf, Dr. Cortex, and a few others."
"...I'll be right back," a now irritated Krystal said to Fox, leaving the room as Junpei went back to celebrating. Fox stroked his chin, wondering if he should've only let Peppy handle most of the wedding planning.
Ever since Morgan and Marc became residents at the mansion, Robin has been spending more time with the twins rather than running away from them, as the past few episodes of Smash Life has illustrated. The mage was doing more of the same today, playing a game of Jenga with the twins and Lucina while Pit and Kirby were chilling in a Jacuzzi on the fifth floor - with Incineroar serving as a lifeguard of sorts.
"What's the point of having an indoor Jacuzzi, when we already have a pool outside?" asked Robin, questioning the many design choices regarding the newly refurnished fifth floor. "Not that I'm complaining, but..."
"Asked Master Hand about it...apparently it was Luigi's idea to add the Jacuzzi," replied Lucina, as she carefully pulled a block from the Jenga tower. "Although it does have Master Hand's name written all over it..."
Luigi: Wanted to add a in-a door Jacuzzi to my own-a house, but Daisy kept complaining about this and that about some-a "electrical cautions". Like she thinks I'm-a stupid or something. So, I had to create-a my dream at the mansion, while I was building with Mario and Toad and-a Toadette. So if Daisy ever wonders where-a I am, you'll know where to find-a me...
"I thought Luigi didn't like getting wet," said Robin as he carefully pulled a block from the Jenga tower, only to have his concentration ruined when some water was splashed in his face. The mage angrily looked at the culprit, Pit.
"It was him," Pit, who was just chilling in the Jacuzzi along with Kirby, pointed at Incineoar who was seated in a folding chair away from the Jacuzzi. Robin glanced at the heel Pokemon, who kept away from the Jacuzzi for obvious reasons.
"He's not even in the Jacuzzi, Pit," Kirby told the angel; everyone knows that Incineroar being in water could prove hazardous to the heel Pokemon's well-being. Everyone except for Pit, that is. "You know he can't swim!"
"Oh snap, Incineroar can't swim?!" This was apparently news to Pit, as the angel put his hands on his face in shock. Incineroar could only smirk at Pit's ignorance. "That must mean he's not a real cat!"
"Not all cats can swim, you know..." Robin informed Pit, as he returned to pulling the block from the Jenga tower, regaining his concentration. "...now will you please be quiet? I'm trying to focus."
"How can I possibly be quiet, swimming in the water? Maybe I could swim slowly, but then I might drown easily. Or I could just snorkel!"
Suddenly something strange happened to Robin, as the mage growled in pain and fell on his knees, clutching his head like he was having some kind of intense headache. Robin then started to get up slowly, a small purple aura radiating around his feet as his eyes looked possessed. Lucina cautiously looked on, ready to draw her Falchion if needed, as Robin slowly marched towards Pit and Kirby. Pit and Kirby, who were busy splashing around in the water like children, stopped when they saw Robin's shadow towering over them.
"Wow Robin, you look really incensed right now!" Pit said to the mage, seeing the possessed eyes and the small purple aura around Robin's feet. "It's because we were splashing around too much, wasn't it? Could've just told us to stop!"
"Which one of you wants to die first?" Robin menacingly asked Pit and Kirby, as he took out his Levin sword. Incineroar got up from his chair, seeing trouble afoot, as Lucina stood up with her hand near her Falchion.
"Pit, I think Robin wants to kill us both..." Kirby said to the angel, who now realized what Robin was attempting to do as he hugged his pink puffball friend. "...we really must've made him mad!"
"I don't wanna die, not like this!" fretted Pit, knowing that Robin could kill him and Kirby easily if the electric tip of his sword came in contact with the Jacuzzi's water. "Incineroar, save us!"
"Robin, stop this at once!" Lucina shouted at her boyfriend, running towards the mage. Her cry seemed to work - before Lucina reached her boyfriend, Robin reverted back to normal, as he started to stumble while the purple aura faded away. Incineroar sat back down, as Robin clutched his head.
"Augh...what...happened?" pondered Robin, acting like he was having another severe headache. Lucina would grab the mage, and sit him down on the floor, looking in his eyes and seeing that they no longer looked possessed.
"You were acting weird," Lucina said to Robin, knowing how much she was exaggerating. "You were THIS close to killing Pit and Kirby!"
"That's right, and we would've told on you for actually doing it, too!" Pit frowned at Robin, as Kirby facepalmed at how much of a moron his friend was.
"Can't tell on someone if you're already dead..." the pink puffball stated, as Robin was helped up to his feet by Lucina and escorted back to Morgan and Marc.
"Don't scare us like that again, Father," Morgan said to Robin, who gave his daughter an assuring smile as he sat back down on the floor near the Jenga tower. For a moment it seemed like Robin was possessed...but who exactly was possessing him?!
It took her long enough, but Makoto managed to get away from Shovel Knight. The brunette hid away from the knight, who was desiring to go on a date with his "queen". Question was, where was Makoto hiding at?
"Hast thou seen my queen anywhere?" asked Shovel Knight as he marched inside the gaming room, on the hunt for Makoto. "Where is she?!"
"I'm sorry, who are we talking about?" asked Vince, who was busy painting on his easel. Really picked the wrong spot in the mansion to pursue crafting his art.
"He's talking about his 'queen', Makoto Niijima," the Luminary said to Vince, who was trying his hand at the golf simulator. All the other swordsmen were doing it. "Who is hardly even a queen at all..."
"Yeah, how can you be a queen, if you're not filthy rich?!" questioned Wario, as the Luminary took a swing with his golf club. "Imagine being royal, and not having the wealth to back it up!"
"Not all kings and queens have to be rich to be royal," stated Roy, whom Wario refused to believe for he was not a king or prince, or anything of the like. "And besides, Makoto is not even a real queen! She's just an ordinary chick from Japan."
"Miss Niijima IS a queen, thou filthy malcontent!" Shovel Knight pointed at Roy, who rolled his eyes as he continued to read his book. "She even fancies herself as one! I should know."
"'Queen' is just a code name Makoto uses," stated Lip, as Shovel Knight scoffed mightily at the fairy. "Get over it, Shovel Knight - Makoto isn't a real queen, no matter how much you want her to be."
Geo Stelar: Some of us have tuned out Shovel Knight and his love for Makoto...while many, many others are already on the edge. There's so much crap you could take from one person, before you end up wanting to kill them!
"I do believe I saw Makoto somewhere in the lounge," Layton said to Shovel Knight, sitting by himself in his wheelchair. "And though I might be in the minority, Makoto is quite a dandy queen." Layton smiled and winked at Shovel Knight, as he said this.
"Thank you very much, Professor Layton!" Shovel Knight thanked the detective, who gave the knight a salute. "Thou hast refined taste in royalty. Makoto, my love I'm coming for you!" Shovel Knight left the gaming room, as Layton peered behind a couch.
"He's gone," the detective whispered to whoever was hiding behind the couch...which was Makoto, who appeared from behind the couch once the coast was clear. Seeing Shovel Knight gone, Makoto let out a sigh of relief.
"I really appreciate it, Layton - Shovel Knight was hot on my heels," Makoto said to Layton, standing up and dusting off her plaid skirt. "You really know how to find a good hiding spot!"
"What are you guys talking about?" inquired Sonic, coming over to Layton and Makoto as he was finishing up his chili dog. "Meh, it can't be that important...so, Professor Layton, wanna grab some lunch?"
"Why yes, that would be lovely! I'm in quite a mood for some barbecue ribs." Eating barbecue ribs for lunch? Quite the daring one, aren't you Layton?
"Funny, I'm in a mood for barbecue ribs too! What a coincidence! Let's go see if Cilan has any ribs left over from last night." So Sonic grabbed the handlebars of Layton's wheelchair, and pushed the detective out of the gaming room.
"Sonic was hardly ever that friendly to Layton before..." Makoto quietly said to Wario, watching as Sonic and Layton left the gaming room. "...what changed?"
"Layton is giving Sonic the opportunity to grow up, that's what changed," replied Wario as he was digging through his belly button, disgusting the crap out of Makoto. "But if you ask me, growing up is overrated!"
"And you're a prime example..." Makoto had this to say, as she walked away. Wario stopped and looked at Makoto with a frown, before he continued his...erm, task.
Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar were very much spooked when Robin went full psycho near the Jacuzzi earlier. Very much so, that the trio had to tell Chrom about what went down, inside the dining room. Anything that happened to Lucina or Robin, Chrom had to be in the know.
"He did WHAT?!" exclaimed Chrom, after Pit and Kirby gave the prince a brief rundown of what Robin had done. Incineroar had confirmed that parts of the story were true, as he continuously nodded his head with his arms folded.
"Yeah, and he was this close to killing us too!" added Pit, letting Chrom know how afraid of their lives he and Kirby were. "He looked mean and nasty, and possessed!"
"Possessed?" That got Chrom rather curious, as he placed his index finger underneath his chin. "That hasn't happened to Robin in a long time. How could you tell he was possessed?"
"His eyes looked different, and there was some aura around his feet," explained Kirby, which really got Chrom thinking. "But his voice remained the same."
"To tell you the truth, though, I think Robin really just wanted to kill us," admitted Pit, downplaying his claim that Robin might've been possessed. "Pretty sure the purple aura around his feet came from a smoke machine, in his shoes!"
"Having a smoke machine in your shoes sounds extremely impractical." Wouldn't hurt if you try it, Kirby. "Also, how would you explain the way Robin's eyes looked?"
"Contacts, Kirby, contacts...when Robin was faking his headache, he used it as an opportunity to put in contact lenses. A great tactician always has to be stealthy!"
"Robin was having a headache?" asked Chrom, becoming more and more worried about his best friend. "Oh my, it sounds like he really was possessed!"
"He was screaming on the floor and everything," stated Kirby, who remembered Robin's ear-splitting scream of pain like it happened five seconds ago. "Saw it go down with the corner of my eye."
"Or maybe he was just pretending!" assumed Pit, slightly confident that Robin's actions earlier was all just an act. "A great tactician always knows how to..."
"Can you just stop, for one second?" Incineroar was on-board with Kirby, as he gave Pit a stern look. Pit kept quiet in an instant.
"Thanks for relaying this information to me boys," Chrom thanked Pit and company, having heard enough about the Robin incident. "If you ever see Robin acting like that again, then let me know at once."
"You got it, Chrom!" Pit gave a thumbs up to Chrom, who smiled as he left the dining room. Chrom had every right to be worried about Robin.
Chrom: Purple aura and possessed-looking eyes could only mean one thing. It could mean that Robin was possibly being possessed by...no, that can't be it, it couldn't be him. He would have to be as close to Robin as possible to actually control him. Knowing Pit and Kirby, but especially Pit, they were probably making up tall tales to humor me.
At the dining room table were Sonic, Layton, and Luke, who were served barbecue ribs by Cilan. Any other instance, Sonic would feel some type of way about being in the presence of Layton and Luke, but today seemed like an only exception...
"Don't forget to lick your fingers, boys!" Cilan told Sonic and company, standing proudly as he watched the ribs he cooked and seasoned being consumed. "Number one rule of eating barbecue ribs!"
"Be quiet, Cilan, this isn't our first rodeo!" Sonic told the connoisseur, devouring the ribs to no end. Despite eating a chili dog, the hedgehog was still quite hungry.
"Actually, this is only my second rodeo," stated Layton, delicately eating his ribs like a fine gentlemen. His table manners were legendary compared to Sonic's. "Only my second time eating ribs!"
"Wow Layton, I didn't know you never liked barbecue that much," remarked Luke, the apprentice finding himself marveling at how refined Layton's food tastes were.
"I was the one who got him hooked, at the 4th of July cookout," Sonic informed Luke, taking full responsibility for refining Layton's choices in food. "You can thank me later, Luke..."
"Professor Layton I don't mean to bother you, but there's a fly flying around your ribs," Cilan notified the detective, who stopped eating as he spotted the dastardly fly Cilan had detected. No way was Layton gonna show that fly any mercy.
"Try and infect my lunch, why don't you?" Layton frowned at the fly, trying to kill it by clapping his hands together. As he did so, a picture came out from the pocket of his brown jacket.
"Hey Layton, what's that?" Sonic asked the detective, pointing at the picture lying on the floor. Layton saw the picture, and picked it up and looked at it.
"Oh, it's just that picture of me holding my daughter, Katrielle, when she was about a few months old." Layton revealed the picture to Sonic, for the hedgehog to see. "She's only two years old, as of today."
"You had a daughter without actually finding love? That's really impressive!" If only Sonic knew that Layton did find love before, although the romance was tragically short-lived.
"Actually, Sonic, I had adopted Katrielle after her mother died from childbirth. Luke was there to witness Katrielle's birth and everything. He was the one who brought Katrielle to me."
"Professor Layton also thinks that there's an older Katrielle lurking around somewhere, apparently," Luke said to Layton, referencing the discussion Layton had with Cloud back in episode 180. "Could be just a theory."
"Older Katrielle, lurking around..." said Sonic, making sure to keep that information in his mind as he continued eating his barbecue ribs.
Link and Cloud were about to do some fun outdoor activities together, as the two swordsmen agreed to take a ride on Kapp'n's motorized boat. After much indulging, Link managed to get his girlfriend Zelda to tag along, promising the princess she would have the time of her life.
"You boys sure came unprepared," Zelda said to Link and Cloud, as the three left the mansion and walked down the porch. "Where are your life jackets?"
"Zelda, we're just going on a boat ride," stated Link, as he tried to quell Zelda's worries and concerns. "Not like we're on a cruise ship, with a giant ocean below us!"
"Still, there's no telling how deep the water is," said Cloud, as he and the others headed towards the mansion lake where Kapp'n was waiting. "Also, who knows what might happen while we're on the boat."
"Cloud is right - what if some Whiscash crashes into the boat, and knocks us into the water?" asked Zelda; Link could only scoff and smirk at the princess' scenario.
"That's why I brought this, to keep any fish Pokemon at bay..." replied Link, as he confidentially whipped out his fishing rod. Had to make sure he didn't poke anyone's eye out with the fishing hook. "...with this, I'll be unstoppable!"
"Surprised that you didn't bring your beloved hookshot..." remarked Cloud, while Link was wielding his fishing rod like it was some sort of weapon.
Zelda: Had to tell Link not to bring his hookshot to the boat ride, if he wanted me to come. Also told Kapp'n to turn his boat around, if Link even mentions Zant for just ONE second...
Link and company reached the mansion lake, where Kapp'n was waiting at the lakeside in his motorized boat. The turtle wasn't alone, for Yukiko was also in the boat.
"Howdy everyone, glad you could make it!" Kapp'n greeted Link and company, as he waved to them. "Got my boat all revved up and running, so just hop on in!"
"Thanks for the boat ride and everything, Kapp'n," Link thanked the turtle as he, Zelda, and Cloud entered the boat. The Hylian sat down in the boat, next to Yukiko. As always, Yukiko looked serious and professional.
"Well...this wasn't the kind of company I was expecting, but I'll take it," the young lady had this to say about Link and company, as Kapp'n readied his hands on the steering wheel.
"Trying to get away from your ex-boyfriend, I'm assuming?" Link had a giant sneer on his face as he asked Yukiko this question, knowing how bothered Yukiko felt when asked about Yu.
"I mean, that's part of the reason...just keep your stupid mug away from me, will you?" Yukiko slapped Link away, before folding her arms. Link was still sneering...he really wanted to play with Yukiko's buttons.
"Everyone ready to go?" Kapp'n asked the passengers on their boat, who nodded their heads. "Then let's get this show on the road!" Kapp'n pressed on the gas pedal, driving his boat down the lake and through a small river.
"Oh cool, I didn't know that there was more than this lake!" Link exclaimed about the river, as Zelda facepalmed.
"Someone obviously hasn't been paying any attention..." mumbled Cloud, as Kapp'n drove his boat down the river.
For Gil, being the de facto librarian was a hard duty. Organizing books, dusting off shelves, cleaning off earwax from the tables...those were some of the duties Gil had to do around the library. But thanks to the Heroes, Gil's workload was lessened.
After receiving consent from the Luminary, Gil had the Dragon Quest heroes working around the library, making sure that everything was in tip-top shape. This took the pressure off of the de facto librarian, who took comfort in doing things like stacking books on a bookshelf, which he was doing right now.
"...and that, should be the last of them," remarked Gil, finishing up stacking the books at the top of the bookshelf, before one of the books fell down on the floor. Gil sighed, for he didn't feel like climbing down the ladder he was standing on. "Aw, dang it..."
"Excuse me, sir..." a shy girl asked Gil, who looked down to his right and saw Sakura. "...could you please hand me that globe, on the top of the bookshelf?"
"This globe right here?" Gil pointed at the globe in question, as Sakura nodded her head. Gil grabbed the globe off the bookshelf as one of the Heroes, Erdrick, picked up the book that fell on the floor. "Hey Erdrick, pass me that book!"
"I promise I'll give you back that globe," Sakura said to Gil, who received the book from Erdrick after it was tossed. Gil placed the book back where it was, before walking down the ladder and handing the globe to Sakura.
"No, no, take your time...it's not like that globe's going anywhere. Take as much time as you need to!"
Gil: Those Heroes really are a huge help around the library. They're almost like the brothers I never had... *sheds a tear* ...why am I crying for?
Globe in hand, Sakura retreated to the table where Ryoma, Hinoka, Takumi, and Corrin were. The young girl placed the globe on the table, as Corrin looked at it.
"See Corrin, that right there is proof that the earth is round," Ryoma said to the prince, who spun the globe around curiously. "Not flat!"
"With this, I could perhaps locate the antipodes Isabelle spoke of..." said Corrin, now searching for the antipodes around the center of the globe. "...wherever they may be."
"Our goal is to convince Corrin to change from his ways, right?" Hinoka whispered to Ryoma, watching as Corrin was spinning the globe around. "Should be easier said than done."
"Easier said than done indeed," responded Ryoma, with a nod of his head, as Gil walked by and quietly eavesdropped on the conversation. "And after we convince Corrin...we'll also convince him AND Kamui to come with us to Hoshido, where they belong. One way or another..."
"So Corrin and Kamui will be with us at Hoshido before the end of the day? Nice..." That wasn't nice to Gil, now aware of the ulterior motive the Hoshidans had under their sleeves. The de facto librarian furrowed his brow, as he walked away.
"Wait until Master Hand hears about this..." Gil said to himself as he returned to the bookshelf, before spotting something that caught his eye. In one of the books on the bookshelf was a bookmark, one Gil never saw before. Gil took out the book with the bookmark and opened it up.
But as it turns out, it wasn't a bookmark...it was a letter, addressed to Corrin, with the prince's name on it.
Worried about the well-being of Lucina and the twins, the trio of Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar had to keep a close eye on Robin to ensure that the mage didn't do anything out of the ordinary. That meant following Robin around, even against the mage's wishes.
"Yes, I would like to order 50 boxes of pizza, please," Robin spoke with a pizzeria on the phone, while he was being monitored by Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar. "And no, we're not fatties, there's just a lot of us here! Yeah, Samus' credit card info is still on file..."
"How very suspicious..." observed Pit, jotting down Robin's behavior on a notepad. He was taking his task a bit too seriously. "Very suspicious indeed..."
"He's literally just ordering pizza," Kirby said to Pit, as Incineroar swatted Pit's pencil and notepad down to the floor. "Nothing suspect about that."
"Okay then, thank you and goodbye." Having finished putting in the order, Robin hung up the phone before turning his attention to Pit and company. "Can I help you boys with anything?" the mage asked.
"What malicious things were you saying to that man on the phone?" Pit asked Robin, pointing his finger accusingly at the mage. Robin could only chuckle.
"First off, I was speaking with a lady...her name was Susie, I believe. Secondly, I was just putting on the order for the pizza. Had to do it on early notice."
"Susie, huh? Sounds like the most dastardly man I've ever heard...what is he up to, what are his true motives?"
"I think that serving customers and answering calls are Susie's true motives..." Just then Lucina appeared in the foyer, needing to speak with Robin.
"Robin, are you done ordering the pizza?" the princess asked her boyfriend, showing up at the perfect time. "Morgan and Marc want to play table tennis with you."
"All done, Lucina!" Robin walked over to Lucina, wanting to walk with his girlfriend to the ping-pong room...then all of a sudden, the mage fell to the floor, clutching his head and growling. The same as before.
"Not again..." sighed Lucina, as Pit and company came to her defense as they stood in front of the princess. "...why must this happen?"
"Don't worry Lucina, we're here to protect you!" Pit assured the princess, who could honestly do with just Kirby and Incineroar. Robin slowly stood up on his feet, the purple aura around his feet returning as well as the possessed eyes.
"Time to finish what I should've done before..." the mage said, taking out his Levin sword as he inched closer towards Pit and company. The three friends remained vigilant, on the offensive, and by the time Robin reached the trio of friends...
...the mage reverted back to normal, as the possessed eyes and purple away faded away. Robin stumbled, as he fell back and sat on the floor in bewilderment.
"Robin!" Lucina shouted out the mage's name, running over to her boyfriend and kneeling at his side. "Please tell me you're okay!"
"What...happened?" questioned Robin, rubbing his head in confusion. Pit and company lowered their guards, as Robin was being comforted by Lucina.
Pit: Yep, it transpired for a second time...Robin is being possessed, no doubt about it. Could be possessed by a ghost. *gasps* What if it's King Boo? That would explain the purple aura and everything! King Boo's favorite color must be purple...I think.
Luigi: Can-a confirm, King Boo's favorite color is indeed-a purple. But what does that have-a to do with Robin...?
Kapp'n drove his motorized boat down a steady river, as his four passengers were all having a great, wonderful time. Or at least that's what it seemed like, as none of the four passengers were speaking with one another. For the moment, that was.
"Fishing on a moving boat, are you crazy Link?" Zelda scolded the Hylian, who was fishing like it was nobody's business. What a very dangerous thing to do.
"It's never been done before, so I'll be the one to defy the odds!" replied a very confident Link, hoping to reel in a good catch. Said catch better keep up with the speed of Kapp'n's boat!
"Hey, Yukiko, mind if I ask you a question?" Cloud asked the young woman, who looked relaxed as she gazed to the side at the glistening river. "If you don't mind..."
"Sure, what is it?" Yukiko asked without looking at Cloud, bracing herself for whatever question Cloud was about to ask.
"Why did you ever break up with Yu in the first place?" Knowing that question was coming from a mile away, Yukiko looked at Cloud with an angry stare. "Not trying to be nosy or anything."
"Since when did you care so much? Did you ask that from the bottom of your miserable heart? Do you long for Aerith's company?"
"No, I wasn't asking that question because I'm still single. I just wanted to know how Yu went from someone like you to Rise. Did you have a big fight?"
"That is none of your concern." Yukiko grumpily folded her arms, as she looked to the side. "Had no idea that my breakup with Yu was such a hot topic..."
"I know, right? Cloud's making it seem like the breakup happened last week!" remarked Link, eavesdropping on the conversation. "But I know it must've happened beforehand."
"Uh, yes...thank you for your input Link. Not that we really needed it anyways, but..." Yukiko was ready to jump out of the boat if asked about Yu, one more time.
"Look at that, another boat up ahead!" Kapp'n alerted his passengers, as he pointed at a boat just up ahead at the river. "How about we follow after it?"
"As long as you don't challenge whoever's on the boat to some stupid race, we're fine," replied Zelda, as Kapp'n now had his attention set on the boat up ahead.
As Fox and Krystal learned earlier today, Junpei was chosen as one of the groomsmen for the couple's wedding by Falco. This was seen as quite a peculiar choice, as Junpei didn't really have much qualifications for being a groomsman. However, that didn't stop Falco from giving several others the same honor.
"Congratulations, you two, you're now groomsman and bridesmaid!" Falco congratulated Dunban and Fiora, respectively, in Dunban's room. The avian pilot gave the Homs siblings two thumbs up.
"Um, thanks for the offer," Dunban thanked Falco, as Krystal stood at the doorway looking at Falco with her arms folded. Falco saw the vixen staring at him, just as he was about to leave.
"I've been meaning to speak with you for quite a while now," Krystal said to Falco, having followed the pilot around for as long as she could. "Can I speak with you now, Mr. Lombardi?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid - still got some more work to do," replied Falco, as he gracefully took Krystal's hand and kissed. Likely as a sign to let Krystal know that everything would be alright. "A best man never sleeps on the job!"
"A best man also needs to know when to stay in their lane..." Krystal had this to say, as Falco left the room. With Falco gone, Krystal could focus her attention on Dunban and Fiora - the newest groomsman and bridesmaid.
Fiora: Why were we chosen to be one of the groomsmen and bridesmaids...?
Dunban: You know the answer, Fiora. This is Falco Lombardi we're talking about here.
"You tried talking Falco out of being groomsman and bridesmaid, didn't you?" Krystal asked Dunban and Fiora, as she sat on Dunban's bed. "I'm guessing it didn't go that well."
"We literally did everything we could," replied Fiora, who just wanted to be a guest at the wedding and not have some specially important role. "But Falco's guilt trip got to us..."
"Guilt-tripping people into doing key wedding roles...that sounds a whole lot like Falco." Krystal refused to stand for this, she refused to see her friends being forced to do things against their will. "Sounds to me like Falco might need a little...convincing."
"How exactly do you plan on going about that?" Dunban asked Krystal, who looked at the Homs with an assuring smile.
"I know someone who can reason with Falco better than anyone - I'll get you out of your situation soon!"
It wasn't that often you saw a Pokemon using a bathroom, like a regular person. In Lucario's case, using the bathroom was very convenient if you were an anthropomorphic Pokemon. Having taken care of his business, Lucario walked out of the bathroom after washing his hands, seeing Gil coming near.
"What's a Pokemon like your using the bathroom for?" Gil asked Lucario, holding the book from the library that had the letter addressed to Corrin in it.
"I've never been comfortable with urinating with my hind leg up, like a dog," stated Lucario, who couldn't for the life of him understand how dogs like the Duck Hunt Dog peed. "Just feels weird to me."
"Uh huh...and here I thought you peed outside, like some kind of pet or wild animal!" Gil walked away with the book in tow, only to be stopped by Lucario.
"Hold on, what's with the book in your hand?" Lucario pointed at the book, which Gil held up for the aura Pokemon to see. Lucario squinted at the book's title. "'Make-Believe Beliefs'?"
"Yeah, totally forgot this book ever existed. Doesn't even have the author's name or anything." Gil opened up the book, showing Lucario the letter with Corrin's name on it. "But it does have this letter addressed to Corrin."
"Who is it from?" Never was there a more opportune moment to find that out, as Gil closed the book and was about to open the letter. Suddenly he stopped, when he heard voices nearby.
"That bandicoot girl sure is resourceful, letting us use her...'tablet'," remarked Ryoma, his voice heard as he walked down the hallway. Gil pushed Lucario inside the bathroom and hid therein, as he and Lucario watched Corrin and the Hoshidans coming down the hallway.
"I know, never seen anything like it before!" gleamed Hinoka, marveling at the tablet Corrin was using. Said tablet belonged to Coco, and Corrin was using it to look at the earth, from satellite images. "Modern stuff is so cool!"
"I don't see what the big deal is behind that thing," said Takumi, offering a more critical and cynical view on the tablet in Corrin's hands. "I'm willing to bet people get addicted to that device easily..."
"Oh, Takumi...you're just jealous that you don't have one. Why do you have to be such a party pooper?"
"Since when was I ever a party pooper? I'm just offering my honest opinion. Things like that...tablet, they just don't interest me."
Takumi: All I do is offer my honest critique on something, and I always end up being criticized in return. I can never get my way with my siblings!
"Well, Corrin, are you learning anything?" Sakura asked the prince, as the group passed by the bathroom Gil and Lucario were hiding in. "Anything at all?"
"These photographs don't appear to be photoshopped any..." responded Corrin; Sakura, who didn't know what Photoshop was, assumed Corrin meant that the pictures he saw on the tablet were't fake.
"He's coming along pretty well," Ryoma quietly spoke with Hinoka, as Gil and Lucario kept a close attentive ear on the elder Hoshidan. "Very soon he'll be one of us, along with his sister, and come to Hoshido where he rightfully belongs!"
"Did you hear that?" Gil whispered to Lucario, keeping his voice low so Corrin and company wouldn't hear them. "They came just to take Corrin and Kamui! They couldn't care less about ridding Corrin of his flat-earth beliefs!"
"Yes I heard that, Gil, I have ears..." replied Lucario as he exited the bathroom, seeing that the coast was clear. Gil stepped out of the bathroom as well. "...but that book in your hand, feels like a clue of sorts. You think Corrin read it?"
"He probably did, and if so, that would kinda explain why he..." Gil came to sudden realization, as his eyes grew wide. "...ah, of course, that's it! This book explains everything!"
"Explains what?" questioned Lucario, only for Gil to grab his hand and run down the hallway opposite from where Corrin and company were headed.
Robin was up in the table tennis room, playing a game of table tennis against Morgan. Spectating the match were Lucina, Marc, Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar. The former two just wanted to watch an exciting table tennis match...while the latter three watched carefully for anything Robin might do.
"Take this!" shouted Robin, hitting the ball with his paddle with all his might, as he sent the ball flying past Morgan. Morgan couldn't reach the ball in time, as she nearly fell to the floor.
"Dang it..." Morgan frowned in disgust, collecting her dignity as Pac-Man and Leaf entered the table tennis room. They both saw Robin's excellent serve, and both were left impressed.
"Good golly, Robin, that was a real neat serve!" Pac-Man commended the mage, who smiled while trying not to remain cocky. "The stuff of legends!"
"Don't exaggerate, Pac-Man, it wasn't that great," responded Robin, downplaying his ability; still, he had to admit that serve he did was otherworldly for a non-athletic guy like him. "But, if you wanna challenge me to some table tennis..."
"Thanks, but no thanks...I already got a date with Leaf here. I'm gonna take her to school, just you wait and see!"
"You sure know how to talk a big game," Leaf smiled at Pac-Man, as she and Pac-Man headed over to one of the unoccupied tables. The Pokemon trainer saw Pit staring at her, which was very uncanny.
"You look very pretty today," Pit said to Leaf, who was unsure what to think of the angel's compliment. Kinda sounded out of left field.
"Er...thanks for noticing, Pit." Leaf would ignore Pit, as she grabbed two paddles and a ball. "How nice of you to have eyes..."
Pac-Man: My table tennis match against Leaf? It's just a little warm-up. *stretches arm* Gotta get myself all juiced up so I'll one day school both of my kids at table tennis. A great dad never shows mercy towards his kids.
Leaf: I wanted to play against Red, but he's been busy training his Ivysaur...so I suppose Pac-Man will be a good consolation opponent. I bet he's too short to see over the table, so the height advantage is already there...
Now there were two table tennis matches taking place - Robin vs Morgan, and Pac-Man vs Leaf. Pit and friends didn't know which match they should give their attention to, but they knew they had to closely watch the former because of Robin.
"Hearing some pretty intense hitting over there!" smiled Pac-Man, as he heard the sounds of the ball bouncing between table and paddle repeatedly over on Robin's side of the room. "Someone must really be in the zone!"
Morgan would score first in her match, but it wasn't because of skill. Robin clutched his head once more, falling down to his knees and dropping his paddle as the ball soared past him. Everyone spectating stood up, knowing what was going on.
"It's happening..." said Marc, as Pit and friends got on the offensive. Pac-Man and Leaf halted their match, to see what was going on with Robin.
"Wow Robin, you really are in the zone!" remarked Pac-Man, as Robin slowly stood up with the purple aura around his feet. The mage's eyes looked possessed.
"Who wants to play?" the mage asked menacingly, as he took out his Levin sword. A frightened Morgan ran over to Lucina and Marc, who were guarded by the threesome of Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar.
"Nuh uh, not on our watch!" Pit frowned at Robin, as the mage crept near. Robin stopped, and slowly turned his head to Leaf and Pac-Man - both of whom were defenseless.
"Hey Robin, what's with the evil-looking face?" asked a nervous Pac-Man, as he and Leaf backed away and hid behind the tennis table. "You take table tennis that seriously or something?"
"ENOUGH!" bellowed Robin, cutting down the tennis table in half with his Levin sword. Pac-Man began whimpering, holding unto an equally nervous Leaf for dear life.
"Pretty sure this is just an act...or so I hope," Leaf said to Pac-Man, too scared to send out her Pokemon to save the day. But thank goodness there was a Pokemon present already...
"And now, it's time for..." Robin started, as he lifted his Levin sword up in the air...before he felt someone tap on his shoulder. The mage turned his head around, and saw Incineroar.
"INCINEROAR!" Incineroar shouted as he grabbed Robin and suplexed him in a way that would make Brock Lesnar proud. Robin was sent flying backwards, his head crashing against the floor before his body crashed against the wall.
"Robin!" Lucina called out the mage's name, as she and the twins ran over to Robin and helped him up. Everyone else came over, as Robin sat up and rubbed his now aching head. "Are you okay?"
"My head is throbbing, and my back a little sore..." replied Robin, before slowly standing up on his feet with Lucina's aid. "...but over than that, I'm fine."
"Here, let me escort you to the fitness center, so Leia can get you patched up." Lucina escorted Robin to the fitness center, with the twins and the trio of friends following along. Leaf and Pac-Man stayed behind.
"Man, that was scary...nearly saw my life flash before my eyes!" Pac-Man had this to say about the Robin incident, as Leaf knelt down at the spot on the floor where Robin banged his head. At the spot she found a two-leaf sprout, which she picked up in her hand.
"Hmm..." Leaf squinted at the sprout, before putting it in her yellow bag for sake-keeping.
Leaf: *holds up sprout to camera* This sprout looks pretty ordinary, although it feels...somewhat important. I should give it to Olimar and Alph, see if it's any good.
Kapp'n kept on driving his motorized boat, as he and his passengers entered a large mass of waters where other boats were. There was one boat in particular that Kapp'n was interested in, one the turtle had been chasing after.
"Such a nice view," remarked Zelda, as she saw a range of buildings from afar, in different shapes and sizes. "Those buildings look mundane...but in a good way."
"You know what else is mundane? My fishing experience!" frowned Link, who was still fishing because who knows why. Gotta reel in at least one catch. "Where's my big catch at?"
"Link, you can't catch fish if you're on a moving boat. Everyone knows that. And don't even give me that 'defying the odds' drivel."
"Eh, you're right...bringing this fishing rod was a mistake." Link finally admitted defeat, as he pulled his fishing hook out of the water and placed his fishing rod away. "I just wanted a little excitement."
"Thought the boat ride itself would be exciting enough for you..." Cloud said to his best friend, before looking at Kapp'n. "How's catching up with that boat coming along, Kapp'n?"
"I see it in my sights..." replied Kapp'n, eyeing the boat he had been following after for so long. Said boat was sitting in the middle of the water, all alone. "...it's ripe for the taking!"
"Please don't start any drama with whoever's on the boat," Yukiko urged Kapp'n, who picked up the boat's speed as he sailed closer to the boat in the center. "Last thing we'd all want is to..."
Yukiko would be cut off by Kapp'n, who gasped when he caught up with the boat in the middle of the water and saw who was on it. Kapp'n's four passengers looked over at the boat the turtle was chasing after, seeing two individuals - one with spiky hair, and the other looking like he was made out of brown wool.
Their names, respectively? Spike and Sackboy - two (non-threatening) denizens from the All-Star Manor.
"Why does everyone look on edge, those guys look pretty harmless," Yukiko said to Kapp'n and the others, who were watching Spike and Sackboy attentively, only to be shushed by Link.
"So anyways, I just wanted to tell you what Raiden told me," Spike said to Sackboy, while Kapp'n made sure that his boat wasn't as close to Spike's. "That there's some kind of budding coalition, lying in wait."
"A budding coalition...?" wondered Kapp'n, suddenly more interested in whatever the heck Spike was discussing with Sackboy.
"I know it's a lot of information to take in, but I know you would handle it better than anyone else at the manor can. Well, we should head back now...that current really sent us off-course from heading to the mansion!"
"Trying to head to the mansion, eh?" smirked Link, before standing on Kapp'n's boat and shouting out the following to Spike and Sackboy: "YOU BUMS WANT A PIECE OF US?!"
"Link!" Zelda scolded her boyfriend, as Spike and Sackboy brought their attention to Kapp'n and company. Instinctively, Spike took out his monkey-catching net, while Sackboy balled up his fists.
"Knew there was someone following behind us!" frowned Spike, ready to throw some hands...with a net, of all things. "What do you guys want?"
"To keep guys like YOU away from our home!" responded Link, pointing at Spike and Sackboy. "Better turn your boat away, if you know what's good for ya!"
"We're not leaving this town until we get our friends back! We both know you're holding them hostage!"
"Everyone...enough," someone bellowed, some hanging around up in the sky. That someone slowly descended, until they were seen by everyone in the two boats. That someone...was Zant.
"It's him again..." remarked Cloud, not having seen Zant in nearly two months. Zant looked at Cloud and company, before he looked at Spike and Sackboy.
"I'd suggest you boys return back home, if you know what's good for you," Zant ordered Spike and Sackboy, who refused to go anywhere.
"But sir, you don't understand - two of our buddies are held hostage at the Smash Mansion," Spike explained to Zant, hoping that the Twili would hear him out. "We gotta go rescue them!"
"Oh, I'm sure they'll find their way out soon. If you trust them enough, you'll let them escape on their own. Now do as I say, and leave!"
"But we have to...okay, fine." Heaving a heavy sigh, Spike grabbed the wheel of the boat, with Sackboy holding his head in sadness as Spike drove the boat away.
"...and that takes care of that." Zant had his back turned to Link and company, watching as Spike and Sackboy went away. That left the Twili open for Link.
"Ha ha, got him right where I want him!" grinned Link, as he grabbed not his fishing rod...but his hookshot, after opening one of the boat compartments. Didn't the Hylian promise not to bring the hookshot?
"Seriously, Link?!" Zelda scolded her boyfriend once more, while Link got his hookshot ready to go.
Kapp'n: Someone at the manor did tell me that they saw Link sneaking something inside my boat in the middle of the night...
"Not now Zelda, this is my moment!" Link told the princess, as he was about to fire his hookshot at Zant...who was rapidly hovering up in the air.
"Consider that an unmerited favor," Zant said to Link and company, flying up into the sky as a Twilight portal was summoned over his head. "I do not deserve any of your thanks!"
"Wait Zant, get back here, I've yet to..." It was too late, as Zant entered the Twilight portal which vanished away after his entry. Link grunted, as he threw his hookshot on the boat in disgust. "Should've got him while he was speaking..."
"Well then...that was a moment," remarked Yukiko, who wasn't expecting to see Zant of all people during the boat ride. "Should we tell anyone what happened?"
"We could tell Master Hand that we deterred two manor dudes from heading to the mansion," replied Cloud, as Zelda confiscated the hookshot from Link. "Though I'm very intrigued about this 'budding coalition' Raiden spoke of..."
"Raiden...Raiden...oh yeah, he's the man that tried to kidnap Joker! But what would someone like him know about some coalition?"
"I think now would be a good time to head back," announced Kapp'n, as he turned his boat around. "Before we run into any more trouble."
Layton and Luke were outside, at the mansion's basketball court. The two detectives were at the courtside, watching Banjo and Crash playing some one-on-one basketball. Guess who was winning.
"He shoots...and he scores!" shouted Banjo, leaping into the air and shooting the basketball...which flew over the net and landed on the court. Kazooie couldn't help but laugh.
"Ha, you call that a jump shot?!" the redbird taunted Banjo, who tried to collect the basketball only to slip and fall on the concrete. "Some basketball player you're supposed to be, Banjo!"
"To be fair, the best basketball player in the world right now doesn't even have a jump shot." Ooh...shots fired. Banjo would never dare to say that around any basketball fanatic. "So I'd say I'm pretty decent."
"Must have an entirely different standard for decent..." Ignoring Kazooie, Banjo finally grabbed the basketball, resuming the game. With Crash on defense, Banjo put the bandicoot in the post, bouncing the ball before taking his shot into the net. Two points.
"Ah, about time someone scored," said Luke, so bored from watching Banjo and Crash play that he had to let out a yawn. "This would be better if Sonic were playing. Where is Sonic, anyway?"
"Said he had some 'duties' to fulfill," replied Layton, under the assumption that Sonic had to do some stuff with Amy. "He should be back real soon."
Layton: Sonic has been very nice to me recently - we played games together, ate barbecue ribs together, did arts and crafts together, and even played ding-dong ditch on King Dedede together! (Dedede falls for it every time, no matter the person responsible.) Sonic might be exhibiting a change of heart...took him long enough.
"Yo, Professor Layton, I'm back!" Sonic called out to Layton, coming over to the basketball court with Dr. Wily. "Sorry if I kept you waiting!"
"It's fine, Sonic, it's fine," replied Layton, as Sonic and Dr. Wily caught up with the detective and Luke. "Why did you bring Dr. Wily along?"
"That's a good question! But I'm just gonna let the Wily Man himself answer the question for ya." Sonic stepped to the side, giving the attention to Dr. Wily.
"Sonic told me about your belief that a future self of your daughter was lurking around, in present times," explained Dr. Wily, as he adjusted his lab coat. "Is that correct, Professor Layton."
"Indeed - it's just a little hunch I have," affirmed Layton, digging into the pocket of his jacket and pulling out the picture of him and Katrielle, showing it to Dr. Wily. "It's been on my mind for a while now."
"I see, I see...well, Professor Layton, Sonic told me about your suspicions, and I proposed building a device that will allow us to locate your daughter - from the future, that is!"
"Oh my, that sounds absolutely splendid! But, do you have a device like that already?"
"Dr. Wily said that the device will only locate children from the future specifically, to broaden the search," explained Sonic, as Dr. Wily nodded his head. "That means the device would find Robin's kids easily!"
"Precisely, and maybe Lucina too," grinned Dr. Wily, stroking his white mustache while smiling at his own genius. "Nonetheless, finding your daughter will be our one and only goal!"
"In that case, I'll appreciate the effort involved," said Layton, with a very warm smile. "Thank you, Dr. Wily. And thank you too, Sonic, for the initiative..."
Gil stood outside Corrin and Kamui's room, his ear pressed against the closed door. Inside the room was Corrin and Kamui, along with the Hoshidan siblings. Gil was holding unto the letter, addressed to Corrin.
"I have to say, this book really is an eye opener," stated Lucario as he approached Gil, reading the "Make-Believe Beliefs" book that had the letter in it. "You sure Corrin actually read this?"
"Shh!" Gil shushed Lucario, as he was trying to listen to the discussion going on inside Corrin and Kamui's room.
"Well Corrin, are you fully convinced?" Ryoma was heard asking the prince. "Have you finally learned the error of your ways?"
"Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes, please say yes..." Hinoka was heard pleading, really wanting Corrin (and Kamui) to come to Hoshido.
"Hey, do you mind if I read that letter?" Lucario asked Gil, pointing at the letter in the de facto librarian's hand.
"Sure, go ahead," Gil handed the letter to Lucario, his ear still pressed against the door. "That letter explains EVERYTHING..."
"Oh really?" Lucario took the letter, seeing that it was addressed to Corrin, and unraveled it to read its contents...
Dear Corrin,
This is your older brother, Xander, speaking to you. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to write you a letter about this, but...the day has finally come. It has been brought to our attention by one of our spies that the Hoshidan family is planning on taking you and Kamui with them back to their kingdom.
"No way, this can't be..." Sakura was heard, sounding pretty despondent; Lucario ignored her voice, as he kept reading the letter.
By no means can we afford the Hoshidans to take you and Kamui to their homeland, any chance whatsoever. So in order for you to prevent them from taking you to Hoshido, and away from the mansion, you must do everything in your power to keep them at bay.
"Just as I thought, he refuses to change his ways..." Takumi was heard, sounding very disappointed in Corrin.
In order to achieve this, I would suggest doing something that would steer the Hoshidans away. Something that would ultimately upset them, and strongly make them reconsider taking you and Kamui with them. A change in behavior or attitude, a body odor that would penetrate their nostrils...or even believing in a theory so misguided, they would deem you too dumb to be worthy enough to stay at their kingdom. The choice is yours.
"This has got to be some kind of joke...right?" Hinoka was heard, not knowing what to believe in anymore.
No matter what choice you make, I strongly urge you to tell Kamui about Hoshido's plans. If for any reason the mansion sends us a letter about your extraordinary activity, we'll rewrite and relay said letter to Hoshido (along with a change in address). Our best case scenario is that the Hoshidans will see the letter and come to the mansion right away, in the hopes of "fixing you", only to realize that you aren't salvageable and return to their land.
"Alright, Corrin, this is your last chance..." Ryoma was heard, giving the prince of Nohr one more chance. "...redeem yourself!"
We will keep in touch with the mansion, and respond to any letter the mansion sends us. That being said, you now know what must be done. Get to it!
Sincerely, your brother, Xander
"That is IT!" boomed Ryoma, bursting out of the bedroom as he slammed the door wide open, unaware of Gil's presence. The elder Hoshidan stormed out of the room, with his siblings following after him. "No way we're taking Corrin with us back to Hoshido!"
"We can just take Kamui with us, can we?" Hinoka asked Ryoma, who was too angry to speak to his younger siblings. "She's pretty normal!"
"Who cares, she might be just as bad as Corrin, if not worse," mumbled Takumi, knowing that the mission would be a failure from the beginning. A true cynic.
"There's always a second chance..." Sakura said meekly, not wanting to say anything that would further upset Ryoma. "Corrin might change down the road..."
Ryoma: All our efforts to enlighten Corrin, gone to waste...we can't bring Corrin with us if he's still believing in false intellectualism. And we can't just bring Kamui with us - two twins is better than one. But no matter, we'll try again...at a later time.
"Wait, come back!" Corrin shouted at Ryoma and company as he stepped out of his bedroom. "I can explain!"
"Give it up Corrin, just leave them alone..." said Kamui, grabbing her brother as she grabbed the door handle - pulling the door back as Gil collapsed unto the floor. The de facto librarian was slammed against the wall by Ryoma, and was therefore wracked with pain.
"I should probably be dead right now..." wheezed Gil, as Kamui inspected the de facto librarian to see if he was okay. "...everything inside of me hurts."
"I can carry you to the fitness center, if you like," Kamui said to Gil, before turning around and looking up at Lucario - seeing the "Make-Believe Beliefs" book and the letter from Xander in the aura Pokemon's hands. "Lucario, what are those?"
"You...you should probably read these," replied Lucario, as he offered the book and letter to Kamui. Two items that Corrin quickly recognized.
"Is that...the letter Xander wrote to me?" the prince asked out loud, as Kamui looked at her brother left with more questions than answers.
Carrying on with his best man duties, Falco went to the Assist tower to recruit some more groomsmen and bridesmaids. You'd think there was a limit to groomsmen and bridesmaids at a wedding, but Falco never believed in limits.
"...we aren't interested in any particular roles at the wedding," Spring Man said to Falco in the foyer, standing along with Ribbon Girl. "Can't we just be guests?"
"Why be another lousy guest, when you can be something much more than that?" asked Falco, hoping he was convincing enough to Spring Man and Ribbon Girl. He had no idea how wrong he was. "Why not be a part of Fox and Krystal's special day?"
"I don't think they'd want us standing at the altar with them," assumed Ribbon Girl, as Falco gasped in response. "They might have a stronger preference for someone else in mind..."
"Excuse me?! I'm Fox's best man, which means that I know what's best for him and Krystal! There's nothing that's gonna change that!"
"Wanna repeat that, Mr. Lombardi?" someone asked, as Falco gulped when he heard the voice of his best friend. The avian pilot turned around, and saw Fox and Krsytal, having just entered the tower.
"Oh hey Fox and Krystal, what's good?" Falco wore an easy-going facade over his nervousness, as he was smiling sheepishly. "Checked out the wedding website any?"
"Krystal told me all about you making a bunch of random people groomsmen and bridesmaids. I think you need to chill out with that, dude."
"Chill out with what? I'm just trying to make your wedding day even better. Can't recycle the same ol' groomsmen and bridesmaids!"
"We understand, but you must not overlook the wedding tradition," stated Krystal, as Falco rolled his eyes in disgust.
"Bump that wedding tradition crap, it's too mainstream and overdone. Why can't we shake things up for once?"
"Did I ever say we could 'shake things up for once'?" questioned Fox, giving Falco a very stern look. "I don't want you handing out wedding roles like it's candy. Just be sensible, will ya?"
"Do I really have to..." Falco was about to argue against Fox, before realizing how pointless it would be. "...fine, I'll just start all over again. And adhere to the wedding tradition, if I must..."
Robin sat in Leia's office at the fitness center, holding an ice pack on his head. The mage was sitting in a hospital bed, with several folks keeping him company - Lucina, Morgan, Marc, Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar.
"You're not gonna threaten to kill anyone again, are you?" Pit asked Robin, who cracked a smile as he observed Pit's trepidation.
"If I had control over any of the outbursts today, then I would," replied Robin, unsure of how those earlier outbursts even happened. "Apparently, Leia couldn't find out the reasoning behind those outbursts."
"Hopefully those outbursts of yours was just a one-time thing," said Lucina, not wanting to put herself in a position to hurt her boyfriend. "For now, you should just get some rest and medicine."
"I need rest and medicine more than him..." whined Gil, lying down in a hospital bed opposite to Robin's with his body still in pain.
Chrom: Pit and Kirby never told me about Robin acting abnormal for the rest of the day...so I can only assume that Robin has been acting normal since. I had nothing to worry about!
"You mean to tell me that your flat-earth phase was just an act?" Kamui spoke with Corrin outside of Leia's office, with Lucario in the conversation as a third wheel.
"Of course, sister - I would never believe that the earth was flat, after all those Star Wars films I've watched!" replied Corrin, slightly bragging about his Star Wars fandom. Corrin let out a relieved sigh.
"Oh thank goodness, I thought that you genuinely believed that..." Kamui's face of relief suddenly turned into a scowl. "...how come you never showed me that letter to Xander?"
"I meant to show it to you, but I was using the letter as a bookmark. For this book I was reading about believing in false theories." Corrin held up the "Make-Believe Beliefs" book to Kamui, for her to see. "Reading it gave me the idea to be a flat-earther, to keep the Hoshidans away."
"Looks like a very mysterious book...doesn't even have the author's name!" That's what Gil said. "Not to mention the cover looks...bland."
"It sure does...but I want to apologize to you for not giving you an explanation for my behavior. And for not showing you that letter." Xander should also apologize to Kamui, for not addressing her in that letter.
"You should also go apologize to everyone you've affected with your flat-earth beliefs," Lucario said to Corrin, knowing the irritable damage the prince had caused.
"Guess you could say I was a little too...committed to my act. Rubbed people off the wrong way. Had to make the act feel natural, that's all..."
"Excuse me, Corrin and Kamui?" Shovel Knight said to the twins, stepping inside the fitness center. The audacity of him, to not acknowledge Lucario's presence. "Have you seen Miss Niijima anywhere?"
Hiding from Shovel Knight for most of the day, Makoto felt comfortable enough to return to the attic. The brunette knocked on the attic door, to see if Mario and company were still down in the attic, and Joker answered the door.
"Ah, you made it back," a delighted Joker said to Makoto, who looked like she went through war. "Is Shovel Knight gone?"
"I've managed to hide away for as long as I could," replied Makato, stepping inside the attic as Joker closed the door. Joker then turned on the flashlight on his phone, to illuminate the darkness as he and Makoto went down the staircase. "How's the interrogation coming along?"
"We've reached...a bit of a standstill. Ratchet refuses to tell us anything, and Clank practically shut himself down to withhold any information. So we're stuck..."
"Keep-a on tickling him, Cappy!" Mario ordered the talking hat, who was tickling Ratchet's right arm. Ratchet was laughing, as Mario and Yu watched.
"I'm not...telling you guys...anything!" Ratchet shouted through laughter, as tears ran down his face. "No matter...how hard...you try!"
"Fine then, suit-a yourself...we'll just keep-a you around until you plan on telling us-a the truth! Your loss, our-a gain!"
Ratchet and Clank will be held hostage for a couple more days, or another week...Ratchet better get used to Cappy's tickling!
Meanwhile, watching through the windows of the mansion were the two hooded figures - the ones from episode 170. They were watching Robin and company in Leia's office, before they pulled away from the windows so they could discuss in private.
"How odd - Robin isn't responding to the stimulus anymore," the first hooded figure observed, speaking in an edgy voice. "What do you think the issue might be?"
"Perhaps the sprout in his head withered away and died," the second hooded figure assumed, speaking in a charming voice. "Which in itself, is a rarity."
"How do you think that dragon did, in regards to controlling Robin?"
"Grima? He did a decent job, better than expected. Remember, he's not at full strength yet!"
"Yes, yes, I'm aware...but I think today demonstrated that Grima can still control Robin, even from afar."
"From afar, thanks to that sprout! A shame that I'll have to craft another seed...but once Grima is at full strength, we'll be unstoppable!"
And with that, the hooded figures floated away, seemingly satisfied with what they had seen today. Such satisfaction could spell doom and gloom, in the future...