Episode 16: Gratitude

Cloud was never really the guy to care about anything. He just breezes through life, completely ignoring every little action and consequence in his way. His grand display of utter apathy and indifference soon became a very noticeable trait of his personality, and it effectively made the brawlers less likely to mess with the swordsman, let alone tick him off.

On this day, however, Cloud's level of indifference would soon be tested, in the gaming of all places. He was sitting at a table, simply minding his business and reflecting on life and what the true meaning of life is. Sitting across from the swordsman was Shulk, who was always feeling it, no matter the situation.

"Nothing like some good coffee to keep you awake in the wee afternoon, amirite Cloud?" the Homs asked as he sipped his coffee, attempting to spark a conversation with Cloud. Cloud doesn't really converse with others that much - instead, he chooses to converse within his own mind. No other swordsman is complex in nature like the mighty Cloud is.

"Sure man, whatever floats your boat," Cloud simply replied. Inside he was hoping the Homs would leave him alone and let him enjoy his peace.

Cloud: Life at the mansion has become too hectic for me; having to wait on the next available bathroom, fighting over food at the breakfast table, being paired with Rosalina of all people in Yoshi's dumb fanfiction stories...I kinda wish mansion life would be more simpler, and more straightforward.

Trouble would soon come Shulk's way, when the Black Knight confronted the Homs. Behind that helmet of his was a face full of uncontrollable rage.

"Hey bub, you're sitting in my seat!" the knight raged. "If you know what's good for you, you better find somewhere else to sit!"

"I'm sorry Black Knight, but I thought these seats are open for everyone to sit in!" stated Shulk. When it comes to playing peacemaker, Shulk always goes ham. "Certainly there is another place you can sit at..."

"Wrong! This is the seat I always sit in all the time!" Do any of the other brawlers go through this treatment? "Don't make me use force on you!"

"Leave him alone Black Knight, let Shulk sits wherever he wants," Cloud stuck up for the Homs. "This is a free country, after all..."

"You stay out of this!" Black Knight yelled at Cloud before reverting his attention to Shulk, and pulling out his sword, causing a scene. "Give up the seat or else!"

"Enough!" Cloud angrily got up from his seat and showed the Black Knight out of the gaming room. "Begone with you!" The knight was grumbling to himself as he left the room. He will have his revenge one of these days. But now it was time for Cloud to bask in the glory he just brought upon himself. Everyone in the gaming room was cheering and applauding, and Cloud felt a bit humbled by it. Never has he received such reception, it's been a while.

"Thanks for saving me, Cloud!" Shulk got up and held out his hand. Saving a fellow brawler from trouble deserves a great handshake.

"Don't mention it buddy," Cloud replied as he walked back to the table. He saw Shulk's hand out...but chose not to shake it. Shulk grew sweaty and uncomfortable from Cloud's negligence - does the swordsman not know what he is doing?

"Um, Cloud, aren't you going to shake my hand?" Shulk grew sweatier by the second as his hand trembled. Unwritten Rule #1: when somebody holds out their hand for a handshake or some dap, you never leave them hanging. By violating this unwritten rule, Cloud was putting Shulk in an uncomfortable and compromising position.

"I don't see the point of doing so." Cloud you better shake the dude's hand, otherwise he'll be the butt of jokes for the rest of the week.

Many of the brawlers were watching attentively, as the drama and suspense raised in the gaming room; you could cut the building tension with a knife. Will Cloud shake Shulk's hand, or will he idly leave him in an compromising position? Brawlers were at the edge of their seats...including Lemmy, who accidentally fell out of his chair.

"Just shake Shulk's hand dude, it's not that serious," said Fox, who was playing pool with his buddy Falco. Cloud didn't listen to the fox; instead, he just walked away and departed from the gaming room.

Falco: Honestly I can see why Cloud doesn't want to shake Shulk's hand - handshakes have become too mainstream these days! Why not another greeting, like banging heads? No pain, no gain!

Shulk was just left there standing, trembling and embarrassed. Cloud had single-handedly made the Homs look foolish in front of everyone. But Shulk is determined - as he usually is - to shake Cloud's hand.


King Dedede was rather busy in his room - busy bossing his Waddle Dees around to do his stuff while the fat penguin laid on his bed and drinking his milkshake - when there was a knock at the door. This greatly surprised the king, for nobody ever knocks on his door; it's a once in a blue moon type of thing. Dedede got up from his bed and trudged towards the door, opening it and seeing Toad with an envelope in his hand.

"What do you want, buddy?" King Dedede asked, bummed out that it wasn't food. He could really kill for some barbecue ribs right about now.

"You got mail!" Toad happily handed out the envelope to King Dedede. This guy is way too happy and jovial for his own good, he must be hiding some dark secrets...he might possibly be a drug lord!

"Ooh, this better be fan mail!" King Dedede quickly grabbed the envelope and ripped it to shreds, revealing a letter. Normally, he would open the envelope with a mail cutter, but he was too excited to use it. And besides, it's more than likely his Waddle Dees would retrieve the mail cutter and cut the envelope for him.

King Dedede: It's not far, everyone else in the mansion gets fan mail, but I don't! Heck, even one of my own Waddle Dees received fan mail! It read: "You're the most nicest evil henchman ever! Always calm and collected, and never starting fights!" Give me a break, that's the same Waddle Dee who once refused to flush the toilet for me! What a guy!

"Let's see what we got here..." King Dedede's eyes darted from left to right as he scanned the letter, and his eyes immediately bulged out. "Luigi wants me to be a photographer for his wedding?!"

"You're not mad, are you?" asked Toad. The presumed drug lord looked behind him, ensuring that he has an ample amount of room to run away in the event King Dedede goes off.

"Only on one condition...will I get paid?" No point for the penguin to be taking pictures without pay. He needs something to progress his egregious greed.

"You should go ask Luigi and Marth that, they're the ones that decided that you should be a photographer."

"Well where are they? I must speak with them immediately!"

So Toad the presumed drug lord guided King Dedede to a room that had Luigi, Marth...and Jimmy T. Yes, the disco dancer was back at the mansion one more time, much to the chagrin of everyone not named Yoshi.

"Back at the mansion again, and in a couple of weeks, I'll be tearing it up at the wedding!" said the dancer. The wedding guests are about to suffer just like the brawlers.

"For the record, this dude came up to me and begged me to perform in some capacity at the wedding," Marth explained to Luigi, who facepalmed. Jimmy T had embarrassed the plumber; made him do the splits while doing some salsa dancing. Luigi was mesmerized by the dancing, and when he went to go ask Jimmy T how he danced so elegantly, so full of grace...he somehow tripped along the way and did split, ripping his overalls in the process - in front of everyone. Luigi didn't bother to show his face for a week.

Jimmy T: Back at the mansion for another time! The people here are really enjoying my presence, and I can tell - everywhere I go, people give me the look, the look that tells me that they're jealous because they miss my awesome dancing, and they desire for more wicked dance moves! Marth claims that they don't want me back and that they absolutely hate me, but what does he know, with his woman-looking self!

Luigi: Jimmy thinks-a he can embarrass me in front-a of everyone, in front my own-a fiance Daisy...that's-a why I added them to my wedding-a ban list, his name-a is at the very top!

"Just so you-a know, you would only be performing-a at the wedding after-party, and-a not the wedding," clarified Luigi. Jimmy T held his head down; why would he be entertaining the folks at a lousy after-party? Who even shows up for an after-party?! All you just do is eat food, and do some random dancing, and then you toss the bouquet to some single women and whoever catches it will be the most likely woman to marry next...what if the bride wanted to keep the bouquet for herself?

"But what about the DJ, who's gonna do the music?" asked Jimmy T. Certainly there has to be music played during the wedding, any wedding without music would be too bland for everyone involved.

"K.K. Slider will be-a the DJ. He's the only person suitable for-a the job."

"Hey Luigi, Toad just sent me a letter stating that you want me as a wedding photographer!" King Dedede entered the fray. Luigi would ask the penguin to be the wedding photographer himself, but after the arcade incident from episode 7, the plumber's too afraid to be within walking distance of the king of Dream Land. "Will I get paid for my efforts?"

"That depends..." Luigi nervously replied. The aforementioned fright was now put on full display, as Luigi twirled his fingers around.

"Depends on what?! I have a family of Waddle Dees I gotta feed!" King Dedede's right, how else is he supposed to feed the Waddle Dees that are fully incapable of eating due to the fact that they have no mouths? Luigi can be so inconsiderate, shame on him! "I expect to be paid 50 grand for taking wedding photos!"

"50 grand for taking photos?" Marth raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit much?"

"Like I told Luigi, I got a family to feed!" What if King Dedede is purposely making up this family of Waddle Dees just to satisfy his ginormous greed?

"Where is this Waddle Dee family, and how are they struggling?"

"Oh you don't believe me, huh? Follow me boys, I'll show you some of the more overlooked aspects of the mansion that nobody but ME knows about!"

"Mind if I perform my dance moves as we head towards the destination?" asked Jimmy T. He's bound to see some ladies along the way, and he's gotta impress them with his moves...although they won't bother returning the favor.

"Uh, sure guy, just don't hurt anyone!"


Today was the day; the day Mario and Peach finally go on their date...to McDonalds. As you would believe, many brawlers criticized the venue, Mario defended it to the bitter end, stating how it was arguably cheaper than other restaurants and that he doesn't have to make any huge reservations or drastic plans for the date. He would usually look to Peach for backup, but the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom didn't want no part of it.

Peach: My biggest concern about the date is not the venue, or the fact that Mario even took the venue into consideration...it's about Mario's conduct. We haven't had a date since who-knows-when, and I'm worried that Mario might lose it...

Mario: Me? Nervous about-a my date with Peach? *laughs* You must-a be joking, I'm-a not nervous at all! *laughs harder* You got it all-a wrong! *laughs manically* Yes, no need-a to be concerned... *continues laughing*

Peach was getting ready for the date in the dressing room, wearing an elegant white-and-pink dress. You know Peach had to wear something with pink in it. Rosalina and Lucina were busy tidying up the princess.

"You might want to go check on Mario, he has been vomiting in the bathroom lately," Rosalina told Peach. The nerves are starting to get to Mario, and at the wrong time. Hopefully his nerves won't have any effect on the date...

"Maybe you should call the date off, for Mario's sake," added Lucina. "He might need some more time until..."

"Mario will be just fine," interjected Peach, feeling confident about the date and Mario's current condition. Mario is only sick for the moment; by the time their date begins, he'll be feeling much better...or so Peach thinks.

"You ready to-a go?" Mario, not wearing his famous hat, poked his head through the dressing room door. Only his head and most of his upper body was visible, so the ladies didn't get the chance to see if his suit was covered in vomit.

"Almost ready, Rosalina has to tie this knot. Once she's finished, I'll be set!"

"Excellent! I'll-a be in the foyer waiting." Mario retracted his head and made his way to the foyer - hoping his date will go exactly as planned.


Today was also the day Zelda would take her driving test. She has been studying the driver's manual vigorously, determined to ride behind the wheels just like Peach, Daisy, and her boyfriend Link. All that determination and focus will be put to good use today at the DMV, where she will take the driving permit test, and receive a driver's permit if she passes.

"I'd like to show you my sweet ride," Link walked the princess of Hyrule to his personalized car - a Jeep Wrangler pickup truck. Jacky Bryant purchased this car for Link, said that it best suits the swordsman and his horse riding ability.

Jacky: Link's pickup truck, it's truly the best of its kind...it's got four wheels, two seats, and one slick driving wheel...And no, I did not describe every truck in existence, there's a difference between a Jeep Wrangler pickup truck and some normal truck! But what would you know about cars, bet you don't even have a gaming system installed to your...Who told you that I got pulled over for playing Xenoblade Chronicles X while driving?!...You said it was Meta Knight, of all people?! Ooh...well you know what they say, snitches get stitches! Meta Knight better be on the lookout...

"Have a seat, my lady," Link opened up the passenger door for Zelda. The princess was taken back at Link's manners and demeanor, though she shouldn't - Link is perhaps the nicest person you could get around with. Zelda took Link's hand, and got inside the car. Link went to the driver's side, opened the door, and got in. He then pulled out a key, which looks like the dungeon keys you use to open doors and whatnot in the games, and pushed it into the ignition, starting the engine.

"How far is the DMV?" Zelda asked out of random curiosity.

"It's a thirty-minute drive, but we should be there quickly than you think. Lakitu runs the place, he's a very easygoing guy when you get to know him a little better."

Link drove his truck out of the driveway, and headed down the road to the DMV. But as the lovebirds headed down the road, Zelda saw Sonic running with the car through the passenger window.

"May the force be with you!" Sonic exclaimed while doing the "live long in prosper" sign from Star Trek. Sonic has somehow managed to intertwine the most famous motifs from Star Wars and Star Trek - not sure if that should be an accomplishment or a disappointment.

Link was greatly offended by Sonic. So offended, that he honked his horn, causing the hedgehog to stumble and trip himself up. It is not known whether or not Link did this on purpose for malicious intent.

"Link that wasn't very nice!" scolded Zelda. Regardless of whether Link's intentions were purposeful or accidental, his actions were still uncalled for.

"Eh, he deserved it," Link replied with a shrug. For some reason, he felt satisfied with what he had done to Sonic.


Mario waited inside the foyer, waiting attentively as he waited for Peach to finish dressing, and the waiting was starting to take its toll because Mario has been waiting for far too long...in wait. There's a lot of wait going on about in the foyer, and Mario simply couldn't take it no longer. But at least he had a certain Kremling to keep him company while he remained patient.

"King K-a Rool, why are you-a here?" the plumber questioned Rool. The Kremling stood next to Mario, minding his own business - or so it seems.

"Oh nothing, just waiting for Peach to show up so I can ogle her just like I did with Bayonetta," the Kremling replied. Mario punched Rool square in the face, knocking the Kremling out. Ain't no way he's letting someone else - a non-human person for that matter - to ogle his woman under his watch.

Soon Peach came down the stairs. Mario fastened his bowtie as the princess made her way down to the foyer - it was now make or break time for Mario.

Lucina: We tried to talk Peach out of going on her date with Mario, and we tried with every little method we had, but nothing would convince her that going on a date with a nervous wreck like Mario would be a bad idea.
Rosalina: Mario was even vomiting profusely in the bathroom, just thinking about the date made him so nauseous, and yet Peach didn't think there was anything wrong with Mario! I can already tell that something horrendous will result from their date...
Lucina: Well their date is at freaking McDonalds, so it's not like there'll be any positives to begin with.
Rosalina: I suppose you're right...Mario is such a fool, asking Fox to help him find a venue for the date. Has he not seen the very dynamic of Fox's and Krystal's relationship? Granted the relationship's getting better, but it's not like the trust level is at a hundred percent...

"You look amazing every time-a I look at you," Mario told his girlfriend, causing Peach to giggle. What a cheap and lousy way to make your woman feel all happy and jovial inside, Mario could have done much better.

"So are you ready to go?" asked Peach. She's feeling awfully more confident about the date than Mario is. Could be that her overall joy and happiness that makes her numb to doubt and fear.

"Not just-a yet," Mario went to a different part of the foyer, and pulled out a walkie-talkie, turning it on secretly. "Snake-a, are you there?"

"What do you want, you scrawny mustached man?" a grumpy voice said over the walkie-talkie, which belonged to Snake. "Scrawny mustached man" is what Snake will dub Mario until the plumber's name comes back to him.

"Get Mega Man, Toon-a Link, and Pichu...time for some-a more spying. Except this-a time, it'll be a little different..."


Pit and Viridi were inside the kitchen, doing usual couple things like drinking out of a banana milkshake simultaneously through straws. Once they reached the bottom, the two lovebirds were giggling. What's so funny about an empty glass?!

"It's great to see you two bonding with one another," Palutena smiled at the young couple. She always knew Viridi, a.k.a. Little Miss Cactus, had romantic feelings for Pit, and for the angel to be in love with her...that's all the goddess of nature could ask for.

Palutena: Somewhere deep down inside, I knew Pit and Viridi were just meant for each other. I mean, they have so much in common - they're immortal, they like to fight the forces of evil, they like to have fun...they're also immortal...hmm, can't think of anything else...but I'll think of something soon.

Kirby approached Pit, tugging the angel's toga while holding a board game in his hand. With Pit in a relationship with Viridi, the pink puffball never really has the chance to spend some quality time with his best buddy.

"Not now Kirby, can't you see that I'm busy?" asked Pit. Busy doing what? You and Viridi just finished the milkshake, what are you possibly doing right now that's making you so busy?!

"C'mon, Pitty, don't be rude to Kirby!" said Viridi. Yet another embarrassing pet name for Pit from yours truly. "Kirby's your best friend, after all, certainly we can include him in our activities!"

"Nah, it won't be the same, and besides, Kirby's a friendly guy, he can have fun with anyone else in the mansion."

Kirby bowed his head in utter sadness, suddenly coming to grips with reality. His pal Pit was in a better place now, in a loving relationship with Viridi, a girl who stills loves the angel in spite of his low levels of intelligence and any other non-redeemable qualities that he possesses. Given the current state of affairs, it seemed like it was time for the pink puffball to move on...


With his buddy Link taking Zelda to the DMV, Cloud had no other choice but to spend some quality time with his pet Chocobo Cloud Jr. He did this in the mansion's recording studio, chilling with Fox, Falco, Knuckles, and Little Mac, for he needed some "noise" to keep him upbeat, if possible. It's hard for an apathetic guy like Cloud to remain upbeat.

"Bruh you're a real savage for what you did to Shulk in the gaming room," Falco told the swordsman. Cloud was trying to figure out how leaving Shulk hanging makes him a savage, it doesn't necessarily make him cool or awesome.

And would you know it, Shulk entered the recording studio, with his companion Dunban holding a six-layer cake on a tray. The five men in the studio all marveled at the pastry that was before them.

"Nothing like a grand cake to show you my gratitude!" Shulk said to Cloud. The Homs had an underlying motive for offering the swordsman cake, and you probably know what it is.

Dunban: Purchasing a cake for Cloud was totally Shulk's idea. I tried to encourage him to get a one-layer cake so we would save money or anything actually useful, but Shulk claimed that he needed a cake five layers or more so he could show Cloud "all of his satisfaction". Don't know about you guys, but I think Shulk is taking this "thank you Cloud" thing a bit too far...

"Is the giant cake that necessary?" questioned Cloud. If he had shoved Shulk out of the way of a moving car during a crosswalk and saved the Homs life, the cake would be more than warranted for his heroic efforts. But all he did was save Shulk from facing the wrath of the Black Knight.

"It's a great way to express my gratitude to you!" grinned Shulk. "Now where would you like the cake?"

"I don't know, put it somewhere where it won't fall of or anything," shrugged Cloud. He's not feeling it for any cake right now, especially during a mundane moment such as this one.

"Bring it over here!" Fox called out to Dunban. The Homs placed the cake on a table next to Fox, and he, Falco, Little Mac, and Knuckles were eating the cake. They already preconceived that Cloud didn't want any cake...so more for them!

"I do believe we have some unfinished business," Shulk held out his hand to Cloud, expecting the swordsman to shake it. Just like the instance back in the gaming room, Cloud stared at the Homs' hand like it was a dangerous artifact, as if shaking it would turn his entire body to stone.

"You're quite the persistent one," remarked Cloud. The others idly stood there and ate their cake, watching to see if Cloud will shake Shulk's hand, or reject him for a second time.

"Please Cloud, I bought that cake for you..." Shulk's hand began to tremble as droplets of sweat poured down his face. The fact that the other dudes were eating the cake and not Cloud diminished the entire point and purpose of Shulk buying the cake to begin with. Those one hundred bucks are now an utter waste...

"Look dude it's not that big of a deal, I don't need to shake your hand..."

"But you must shake my hand, you saved me from the Black Knight and I have to show you my utmost gratitude!"

"Well then, keep on trying, because either way, I won't shake it..." Cloud ditched the recording studio, leaving without a single regret. Shulk started to feel humiliated, his quest to shake Cloud's hand becoming more complicated with each failed attempt.

"Ooh what a savage!" cooed Falco, wasting his slice of cake. Shulk's quest to shake the mighty hand that belongs to Cloud cannot go unfulfilled; he has to shake the swordsman's hand, one way or another.


Kirby walked down the hallway, feeling lonely and depressed (well there's a first for everything). As he walked through the hallways, his eyes caught King Dedede, Toad, Luigi, and Marth huddled together near a giant closet. Jimmy T was with them, doing some wicked dance moves in hopes of wowing the ladies. As you would imagine, his efforts have become extremely fruitless.

"Will you please stop that atrocious dancing?" Marth looked behind him and saw Jimmy doing his thing. "No woman would ever want to fall in love with a ugly dancing loser like yourself..."

Jimmy T: Marth is just jealous, jealous that his romantic game is nothing compared to mine because he's single...He's married to Caeda?!
Captain Falcon: *from afar* Caeda's married?! Oh man, my girls-to-ask-out list is looking uglier than Voldemort from Harry Potter...

"Huh?" Kirby approached the group, feeling generally curious about what they're looking at. Soon he was surprised by what he saw - a family of Waddle Dees; a mother, a father, and their two children. Kirby marveled at the sight, for he has never before seen a kinship of Waddle Dees in his lifetime.

"And you guys thought Waddle Dees aren't sexually productive..." King Dedede grinned as he folded his arms. "How do you think I have so many Waddle Dees to begin with? Try and explain that!"

"We always thought that they just pop out of nowhere and you make them your servants," replied Toad. Like you have any room to talk, you suspicious drug lord.

"This is-a quite remarkable, never seen anything-a like this," Luigi stroked his chin as he observed the Waddle Dee family. This is how he envisions his family with Daisy to be like - but that's only dependent on Daisy's decision to raise kids. Realistically they could raise the baby versions of their own selves...though it's not worth destroying any time paradoxes.

"So how about that $50,000..." King Dedede grinned, rubbing his hands together. His greed is now coming into full effect, and it's proving that he's using the family of Waddle Dees to fulfill his selfish desires.

"We won't pay you that much as the wedding photographer unless you can prove to us in some capacity that you can take care of this Waddle Dee family," stated Marth. The hero-king was starting to sense Dedede's ulterior motive, so a little caretaking task will give the ruler of Dream Land a massive ego check, and a chance to prove that he's not as greedy and selfish as they come.

"You got a deal buddy!" King Dedede vigorously shook Marth's hand. The fat penguin was willing to shake someone else's hand, but Cloud makes it seem like such a huge issue...what does that tell you?


Link and Zelda finally reached the DMV. Link said that the drive would be a thirty-minute drive, but the hero of Hyrule was pulled over during the ride for carrying a suspicious item in his truck - which was incidentally his Master Hand.

"Tried to tell you that you should have left your Master Sword back at the mansion," Zelda told her boyfriend as the two entered the DMV.

"Zelda you don't understand, some drama might transpire here at the DMV, and I might need my trusty sword to serve as the peacemaker and resolve the conflict," explained Link. This was nowhere close to being truthful - Link is just that extremely compelled to bring his Master Sword wherever he goes.

Link: As the hero of legend, it is critically important that I carry the Master Sword with me wherever I go! Whether it's the bathroom, the post office, or even a nightclub, the Master Sword must always be in my... *random kid snatches Link's sword* Hey get back here, you scrawny kid!

While Link sat at one of the chairs in the DMV, watching over his precious Master Sword and keeping a close eye on any fool who dares to snatch it from him, Zelda went up to the front desk, where Lakitu, the cameraman koopa synonymous with the Mario Kart series, was waiting.

"Hello ma'am!" the koopa greeted Zelda. Who knew that such a common enemy in the Mario series can be so friendly around others. "How may I help you today?"

"I have some proof of residence here," Zelda handed Lakitu some documentation - very important and highly crucial if you want to taker the permit test. "I am here to take to permit test so I can be fully able to drive."

"Um miss, I don't know how to say this, but...April Fool's was last week."

The very veins in Zelda's face began to pulse after the princess heard the koopa's remark. Not even Latiku took the princess seriously!

"In case you can't tell by my face, I am very, very serious about driving, and if you don't allow me to take this permit test, there will be dire consequences..." stated Zelda. She obviously meant every word she said, especially with her current mood, and Lakitu knew better than not to fulfill Zelda's demands.

"...Just hand me your proof of residence and I'll give you your DMV ticket!" Lakitu replied hurriedly, not wanting to face Zelda's wrath. The princess began to cool down as she handed the koopa her information, and received a ticket (E482). She sat in a chair next to Link, showing the Hylian her ticket.

"All we need to do now is wait on your ticket number to be called," explained Link. "Once they call your number out, you have to..."

"Number E482, please report to the testing room," said the voice over the intercom. Zelda soon became overwhelmed with doubt, she didn't expect to go this early. "Number E482, please report to the testing room." Gotta repeat the same phrase again, it's DMV protocol after all.

"You'll do great, trust me. Now go and ace that driving test!"

Zelda smiled after hearing Link's weak but effective words of encouragement and confidently made her way to the testing room. The princess would also receive words of encouragement from a particular hedgehog outside...

"Let's go Zelda!" Sonic banged on the windows of the DMV, startling and garnering the attention of everyone. "Zelda paiting!" He then did a Japanese bow towards the princess. Great, now Sonic somehow managed to intertwine aspects of Japanese and Korean culture together...dude's a freaking wizard.

"Go away..." Link handed Sonic a death glare, and the hedgehog ran off at the speed of light. Expect him to throw a huge celebration for Zelda back at the mansion if the princess passes her exam.


Snake, Mega Man, Toon Link, and Pichu were hiding inside the ceiling of a McDonald's restaurant, spying on Mario and Peach on their date. Mario had endured ridicule and criticism for wanting to take Peach on a date to McDonald's by the restaurant staff and even the restaurant manager. But the plumber was certain that the date will go exactly as he envisions it.

"So why are we here again?" asked Mega Man, feeling a bit cramped under the conditions of the ceiling. It was awfully smaller than the one at the French restaurant from episode 5.

"Apparently Mario wants us to watch him while he's on his date and critique him," explained Snake. Missions such as this one was a major waste of time for Snake, who was extremely busy moping over the fact that his former crush, Meryl Silverbough, went to go see other people - namely a guy by the name of Johnny Sasaki.

Toon Link: Ugh, here we go again, with this whole spying on people at the restaurant thing...except this time around we have to "analyze" Mario during his date and give him a report afterwards. What does Mario think we are, his overbearing parents?!

Snake: Johnny Sasaki...don't really remember who that guy is anymore, but just saying that name always leaves a sour taste in my mouth...What was this again about intentionally spying on Mario?

A sweaty Mario sat at the table, his quarter pounder without a single chew mark, while Peach was peacefully eating her food. One of the most important parts of a date is having a conversation - and Mario is apparently failing at starting one.

"So...how's-a life?" the plumber asked, Not the best conversation starter, but hey, it's better than nothing.

"Life is going very dandy as usual," Peach replied, wiping the crumbs away from her mouth with a napkin. Even when she's away from the mansion, the princess still has to value personal hygiene and show manners at all times. "Did I ever tell you about the tea party I had with Zelda and Heihachi?"

"You invited Heihachi to your-a tea party? How very nice-a of you!"

"Timid poise...lackluster conversational style...sweating is of high concern..." Toon Link wrote on a notepad supplied to him by Pichu. The mouse Pokemon was responsible for bring materials to the restaurant, and a notepad was the only thing he was capable of bringing.

"Are you seriously writing down notes about Mario on his date?" questioned Mega Man, who feels that writing random notes about one's condition on a romantic date is very oddball and strange (hence the reason why he was against coming to McDonald's in the first place).

"Mario didn't send us here for nothing," Toon Link shrugged. "And besides, if we tell him that we did nothing to critique him, he'll be very ticked."

"I would record Mario on a videotaping device and show the film to him later, but I don't have anything on me," stated Snake. "Dumb Pichu forgot to bring a video camera with him..."

"Actually Snake, you left the video camera on the dresser in the foyer," Mega Man pointed out. The robot was going to retrieve the device, but he figured that Snake would remember and retrieve it...yeah right. What a horrible idea that was.


"I just don't understand, I try my all-time hardest to shake Cloud's hand, but Cloud just keeps turning me down," Shulk conversed with the Flying Man in the arcade. The flying beast was monitoring Ness, Lucas, and the Inklings during their intense game of table hockey while Pac-Man was away taking care of business. And that business had much to do with Shulk's situation. You'll see eventually later on.

"You just need to have the courage, like me!" encouraged the Flying Man. "You must remain patient and wait for Cloud to come around so he can shake your hand! You cannot demand immediate results if you're not willing to be patient!" Dude would make for a great motivational speaker; his signature phrase "I am your courage!", though dumb and vastly overused, can be easily trademarked.

"The Flying Man is right, Cloud is a very hard person to get through, and I think we all learned that through experience," stated the male Inkling. "Sometimes he'll care, and other times he won't. It's only a matter of time!"

"Ta-da!" Pac-Man showed up...with a Cloud Strife sweater, which he held up for Shulk. "Took me forever to make this thing!" The Homs was delighted at this sweater; his plan to shake Cloud's hand cannot possibly fail now!

Pac-Man: *holds up the sweater* Made this bad boy with Ashley, Toad and Yoshi while they were having their knitting club. They asked me if I wanted to be a permanent member of their club, and I declined - knitting is pointless and a bothersome waste of time in my opinion. After I declined their offer, Yoshi tied me down to a chair with yarn, and Ashley threatened to write permanent marker over my face unless I joined them... *sigh* So I guess I'm a new member now...

"Cloud will absolutely love this!" Shulk took the sweater Pac-Man. When he did, Cloud entered the arcade room, hoping to play at least one game of Space Invaders before somebody like Wario comes in and hogs the arcade machine, like it was his girlfriend. He soon stopped in his tracks and saw Shulk, holding up the sweater with the swordsman's face on it.

"This is getting very weird..." Cloud remarked. Shulk was literally going all out, just to shake the guy's hand. An utter display of desperation.

"Another genuine token of my gratitude and appreciation!" gleamed the Homs. "Made it all by myself!" Pac-Man was going to interject and state that he made the sweater, and not Shulk, but he felt that the Homs needed all the credit he needs to show his undying gratitude.

"Um, thanks," replied Cloud as Shulk gave him the sweater. He looked down at the Homs' hand, stretched out towards him. Not this again...

"I do believe we have some unfinished business. So how about it?"

Shulk tensed up as he waited for Cloud to shake his hand. There were no options left, he already gave the swordsman a cake and a sweater. Nothing else could be done to garner a handshake at this very moment.

"Cloud just shake Shulk's hand, it's not like the end of the world," said Ness, wanting this whole handshake drama to end quickly.

"Me agree!" exclaimed Takamaru, who was playing with a pinball machine at this very moment. "Shake his hand! Shake his hand!" he chanted, and soon enough, almost everyone in the arcade room was chanting along. How cute, Takamaru is actually speaking complete English for once...this is quite the milestone.

"Try-hard..." Cloud said to Shulk as he walked away, sweater in hand. The "shake his hand!" chants started to die down as Cloud left the room. Shulk still stood there, now angrier than before.

"At least you gave it your best shot," Olimar walked by and gave Shulk a comforting pat on the back...or lower leg, rather, since Olimar is kinda short. But the Homs was still determined to shake Cloud's hand, and he won't stop until he gets his wish.


Pit and Viridi continued to do usual couple things...like canoeing in the mansion's lake. Young Link paddled away on the canoe, and the Duck Hunt dog was at the end of the canoe, on the watch-out for any treacherous water-type Pokemon that may attack the boat.

"So romantic..." Viridi sighed lovingly as the canoe made its way through the vast waters. Young Link saw a small hole in the boat's surface, with a small water sprout coming out of it. The young Hylian plugged it up immediately with chewing gum - and yes, medieval heroes like Young Link can chew gum. There's no unwritten rule that forbids heroes like him from chewing gum.

"Duck Hunt I thought you inspected this canoe before we set out for water!" the Hylian scolded the mutt, who looked about in guilt.

Duck Hunt Dog: *cleans the surface of the canoe with a rag, accidentally makes a small hole in said canoe, runs off like nothing happened*

"Ah well, the canoe ride's gonna end soon, so it's not that big of a deal," Young Link shrugged as he continued rowing. To their left, Pit and Viridi saw a Floatzel, his head poking out of the water's surface.

"Hey isn't that Link's Floatzel?" asked Pit. If you remember from the previous episode, the hero of Hyrule had caught the sea otter Pokemon while fishing with Cloud, Villager, and Red the Pokemon Trainer, and garnered an intense amount of newfound hatred from Red for his catch. All those Magikarp and Feebas Red had caught didn't do anything to ease the Pokemon trainer's anger and wrath.

"He let Floatzel roam about in the lake while he's at the DMV," explained Viridi. "Those two seem like best buddies..."

"Yeah..." Pit then started to think of his own best buddy, Kirby. He had told off the pink puffball earlier, just so he could spend some more quality time with Viridi. But with this relationship, he hasn't spend much quality time with his pal, and he was feeling bad for it. "Viridi do you mind if I return to the mansion?"

"If it has anything to do with Kirby, then I understand. Be back as soon as possible!"

"You got it!" Pit flew away from the canoe, and to the mansion.


Back to King Dedede, who was caretaking the Waddle Dee with the help of an unlikely accomplice - Kirby. Some of you may not know it, but King Dedede sort of cares about Kirby, if the Suspace Emissary was any indication of their bond. The king's not specifically a terrible, evil villain - his greed just makes him look like one.

"Glad I got someone like you Kirby, wouldn't be able to do this without you buddy!" the fat penguin told the pink puffball as he helped the Waddle Dees fold their clothes, which they probably never wear considering how their species work. Kirby just smiled and rubbed his forehead, taking Dedede's remark as one of the many compliments the puffball usually receives.

"Watcha doing Kirby?" Pit approached the puffball, and boy was Kirby elated to see Pit. Just seeing the angel made him more abnormally happier than he's meant to be. "Let me tell ya something - just because I'm in a relationship with Viridi and all, doesn't mean we can't be friends anymore. Sometimes, you just gotta move on, you know? Expand your relationships, and all that good stuff. So we're still buddies, right?"

Pit held out his fist, and Kirby bumped fists with Pit...best buddies forever (unless Link and Cloud might have something to say about that).

"So, is that a family of Waddle Dees you're taking care of?" asked Pit.

"Found 'em in this here closet not so long ago," explained King Dedede. "Mr. Game & Watch kinda overlooks this closet, and so when I opened it one day, I saw this family of Waddle Dees and..."

A man tapped King Dedede on his shoulder. The penguin turned around, getting his hammer ready so he could knock this fool out...and saw Mr. Game & Watch. The 2D man threw up his arms in the air, probably saying, "What are you doing man?!"

"Wait did you find out about this family before you did?" asked King Dedede. Mr. Game and Watch gave a thumbs up, signifying a "yes".

King Dedede: So what if Mr. Game & Watch found out about the family of Waddle Dees before I did...I'm still taking all of the credit! He can't speak, so I helped spread awareness about this Waddle Dee family!
Gil: *walking by* What Waddle Dee family?
King Dedede: Shut up man, you're destroying my credibility...

"Yo Pit you available?" Sonic sped up to the angel, and he was clearly in a hurry. When is he not in a hurry?

"Available for what?" Pit raised an eyebrow. Sonic is always planning something devious, and the angel refuses to have any involvement in whatever plans the hedgehog has in store for him.

"I need your help planning a huge celebration for Zelda in the foyer after she passes her driving exam!" Told you he would be throwing a celebration for Zelda.

"Aw sweet did she pass?" Pit believes that he is the next one in line to get his permit. He has a license for riding chariots, and according to Palutena, such a license won't grant him the ability to operate a moving vehicle. The car accident in episode 4 will tell you why this is so...

"Not sure if she did, but she's kinda smart, so I am assuming she passed with flying colors!" So Sonic assumes that Zelda passed the exam because she's "kinda smart". Not because she studied the driving manual, but because she's "kinda smart". That's Sonic for ya, with his rash thinking.

"So when are we starting the setup?"

"We will start right now! And you guys can help out too!"

"How much work is required?" King Dedede asked Mr. Game & Watch. If it has anything to do with hanging up banners, then Dedede will be more than happy to do the task. Anything else, and he'll cite "impartial health complications" for why he's unable to work.


"I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to spend time together like this," Peach said to Mario as their date continued. Thankfully the date was close to being done, for Mario was sweating like he was stuck inside an RV on a scorching hot summer day.

"Same-a here, this day was absolutely perfect," replied Mario. Mario wanted to wipe his face very badly, and Peach didn't see the sweat running down the plumber's face, so he didn't want to give away his nervousness to Peach. He needed a good distraction... "Look, a distraction!"

"What distraction?" Peach turned her head, looking around the restaurant while Mario wiped away the sweat with his napkin. By the time he was done, Peach had turned her head back around. "Hmm, the distraction you were speaking of is no longer here. What did it look like?"

Mario struggled to come up with anything to describe the distraction, until a ceiling tile fell out of the ceiling. The plumber looked up, and saw Toon Link holding up a large note card with words on it.

"It was...a blood-a sucking vampire bat!" exclaimed Mario, causing Peach to gasp. Thankfully for Mario, Toon Link's plan worked to perfection - the young Hylian even gave the plumber a resounding thumbs up. "It flew away at the nick-a of time before it could be detected!"

"What would Mario do without us..." Toon Link sighed, retracting back to the ceiling. He's the only one taking notes on Mario, noting the plumber's visage, nervousness, eye contact, and even the type of conversations he had with Peach. Mario would greatly appreciate his work...

"You mean without you," Snake grumbled as he, Mega Man, and Pichu were playing cards. At least the old coot remembered to bring some cards along with him...otherwise this complete waste of time would be the most boring waste of time ever.

Snake: *in a sardonic tone* "So Peach, did I ever tell-a you about the time I saved-a Olimar from being flushed-a down the toilet?" "Oh Peach, your-a hair looks gorgeous, what hair products-a do you use?" Thank goodness the date is almost over, finally we can leave this wretched place...
Mega Man: Gotta hand it to ya Snake, that was one heck of a Mario impersonation!
Snake: Who's Mario again? Also, how do you know my name?!

After disposing their food items, Mario and Peach headed outside and to Mario's car...which was being towed away by a tow truck. The car was parked near the curb, since there weren't any available parking spaces at the time, and Mario took the unadvised risk of parking the car along the curb. Not even Peach's pleas to park the car somewhere else altered Mario's decision in any way, shape, or form.

"Not-a my car!" Mario fretted as the tow truck drove away with his precious car. Snake, Toon Link, Mega Man, and Pichu showed up with Mario and Peach as the plumber held his head in sadness. "How are-a we going back-a home now?"

"Nothing like a quick phone call to solve our problems," Snake pulled out his codec. How did he and his free accomplices get to McDonald's, you might ask? Snake saw a nearby bus near the mansion, and literally threatened to assault the bus driver if he didn't drop him and the others off at the restaurant. Snake and company got a free trip to McDonald's, and the bus driver got a black eye for originally turning down the former agent's demand. "Hello who is this?" Snake spoke into his codec after reaching the mansion's house phone.

"Greetings sir, how may I be of assistance?" said the person over the codec. It was the Flying Man. Oh joy...

"Me, Mario, and the rest of us are stranded at this McDonald's with no transportation, and..."

"What's the address?" Snake told the mythical beast the restaurant address...and then the Flying Man hung up. Snake grimaced, looking around for answers even though no answers were in visible sight.

"So is anyone coming to pick us up or not?" asked Peach. Nighttime was nigh approaching, and the group needed to get home before it got dark.

Suddenly out of nowhere, a golden Suzuki APV magically zoomed into a now-available parking space. In it was the Flying Man and Cloud, who was driving. The swordsman rolled down the window and saw Mario and company, surprised and confused as ever.

"Not a single word, just get inside the car," he instructed everyone. He was just as perplexed as they were.


Back at the mansion, where a few decorations and balloons were present in the foyer for the celebration. All the brawlers were present as well, and under Master Hand's command.

"If Zelda didn't get her permit which means this celebration was all for naught, you owe me a week's worth of hand massages," the giant hand told Sonic. The hedgehog gulped, shuddering at the very fate he might receive.

Master Hand: When Zelda comes inside and into the foyer, we are all going to shout "Congratulations!", all in unison. Anyone that is off-key in terms of tone and/or unity will have either one of their television, internet, and cellphone privileges taken away from them until further notice. Don't care if it's an old dude like Ganondorf, everyone will be under this circumstance.

The front door of the mansion creaked open, and the brawlers were readying themselves, anticipating Link and Zelda to enter at any moment. Wii Fit Trainer, who has the video camera Snake had forgotten, was ready to record the reaction of Zelda. Then the front door finally opened...

"CONGRATULATIONS!" Master Hand and the brawlers all exclaimed in unison...just as Cloud, the Flying Man, Mario, Peach, Snake, Mega Man, Toon Link, and Pichu all entered the mansion. Whoops.

"Diddy Kong, you were definitely off-key, prepare to lose your cellphone privileges buddy!" Master Hand told Diddy Kong, who scratched his head in confusion.

"But I don't even own a cellphone..." the spidermonkey stated. Last time Diddy did have a cellphone, he flushed it down the toilets as a means for a "scientific experiment". Cranky Kong, the patriarch of the Kong family and the chimp who pays Diddy's phone bill, vowed to never purchase his great-grand nephew a cellular device ever again. Betcha he's having a rant about cellphones while in his rocking chair right now.

"Thanks for the ride Cloud," Mario held out his hand to Cloud...and the swordsman shook it! Shulk looked on in shock, under the assumption that Cloud is xenophobic towards Homs. Cloud and Dunban don't really socialize with one another, so it kinda made sense to Shulk.

"You shake his hand, but you don't shake MINE?" questioned Shulk, sounding a bit offended. He angrily marched up to Cloud, ticked as ever. "Why is it that you shake Mario's hand, but not my hand?!"

"Because I was doing my civic duty by doing Mario a huge favor," replied Cloud. "Got him out of a tight predicament.

"Yet you did the same thing for me in the gaming room, did you not?!"

"Shulk, people are always saving your behind every now or then, anything that involves saving you and occurs on a constant basis is not deserving of a handshake...or a cake...or even a sweater. I only stuck up for you because not only was I doing my civic duty, but because the Black Knight was starting to get on my nerves. I mean, it wasn't like the Black Knight would actually hurt you or anything, he did once say he's a pacifist now..."

"Cloud speaks the truth!" followed up the Black Knight, unnerved by Jimmy T. Yes, the dancer's still at the mansion, and he's still doing those lousy dance moves of his.

"Samus saved you from getting bit by that black widow spider the other week, you never complained about her not shaking your hand." Shulk held his head in retrospect; he cried to Master Hand about Samus showing him signs of apathy for refusing to shake his hand. And was about to do the very exact thing to Cloud.

"He's got a point, you know," said Samus, inching away from Jimmy T as the dancer tried to make some moves on her.

"I guess you're right..." nodded Shulk. Time for him to own up to his actions. "Sorry for all the trouble I put you through," he apologized to Cloud.

"Apology taken," the swordsman replied. Soon Link and Zelda entered the mansion, and Zelda, holding a milkshake in her hands, looked down at the floor in sadness. "So how did the test go?" Cloud asked the princess. Zelda let out a deep sigh before saying the following...

"I failed..." she uttered. Everyone in the foyer gasped, and Sonic cried as he fell to his knees in despair - some rather long Master Hand hand massaging sessions were coming his way.

Link: Bought the milkshake for Zelda just to cheer her up, but that did no effect whatsoever. So I tried to take her for some sight-seeing, but she told me she wanted to go home. Good thing I didn't plan anything long-term, would have been an utter waste of rupees...

"But I see that there's nothing wrong with failure, especially since you can learn from your non nonfulfillment and better yourself as a person. And from this experience, I have learned that I'm in no shape to drive. I only wanted to drive because I wanted to fit in, with people like Mario, Donkey Kong, Jacky, Sonic, and even Isabelle..."

"You didn't even mention me!" whined Captain Falcon. Shame on Zelda for not mentioning the race car driver, despite the fact that he's a creeper and a romantic try-hard!

"Yes and for good reason." Falcon quietly exited the foyer whimpering as Zelda continued. "Anyways, my desire to fit in with those I mentioned and more led to failure, and from this failure I learned that there's no point in fitting in, or being a try-hard." Shulk, Jimmy T, you might want to heed what Zelda just said. Same could be said for you too, Mario.

"Well said, Zelda, well said..." remarked Master Hand. The brawlers could really use Zelda's wise words...i.e. Captain Falcon, the biggest try-hard of them all.

"So who wants so half-eaten cake?" Fox presented the cake Shulk had given to Cloud earlier. "There's still some cake for everyone to eat! Everyone follow me to the dining room!"

The brawlers followed Fox, but Mario and Toon Link stayed put. Toon Link took the notepad he was writing notes on.

"Here are the notes I was talking about during the ride back," the young Hylian gave the plumber the notepad, and Mario read the notes intently. He studied over these notes like he was studying for an exam; he can really use these notes for the next time he goes on a date with Peach.

"Thanks-a for the notes, kiddo, I will be using these-a pointers in my relationship with-a Peach," thanked Mario, patting Toon Link on the head.

"Oh yeah, about what Zelda had said...don't be such a try-hard." Mario couldn't help but chuckle when the young swordsman said this.

"No worries, my dear-a boy, I won't..."