Author's Note:
It's the end of the year...and it's time for another year-end chapter! This one is New Year's-themed. I couldn't think of anything to write about for an elaborately long author's note, especially since writing this chapter almost had me tuckered out (in terms of writing).
But I just want to thank all of you for your support. 2021 was perhaps the best year for this story overall, and I finally got to cover a bunch of new franchises (Trails of Cold Steel, Grand theft Auto, and even Danganronpa). Even got to do a Pokemon 25th anniversary chapter, and a long-waited wedding chapter for Link and Zelda! I can't wait to see what 2022 will bring.
So! As for this chapter, it's got callbacks to stuff earlier in the year just like the other one. It was a little rushed (wanted it published earlier), so don't expect TOO much, at least in terms of writing quality perhaps. But if you wanna have high standards, then go ahead and be my guest. Enjoy! And Happy New Year!
Episode 315: LaserTag
Sometime in early November, a new house was planned to be built, somewhere near the mansion. The house was originally meant for Link and Zelda, as a way for Pac-Man to make up for his desperation at being a wedding officiant potentially ruining the Hylians' wedding.
As it turned out, Link and Zelda were perfectly content with staying at the mansion. But that left one question remaining - who would then occupy the new house? While the house went under construction, Link and Zelda paired up with Mario, Impa, and the Happy Home Designers to find the perfect occupants. For a moment, it seemed like the right candidates fell into their lap when the Wayfinder trio - Terra, Ventus, and Aqua - came to town.
But, thanks to a little convincing from Ansem the Wise, the Wayfinder trio ultimately chose to stay at their original home, the Land of Departure. Someone had to protect the world from darkness - who knew when a new evil force would rise to power in Sora's universe. In the end, the new home was given to the Crash clan, after Cilan and Ienzo both believed that the bandicoots earned it.
Crash, Coco, Crunch, and Aku - who were at one point about to be evicted from the mansion - were back to living on their own, albeit far away from their Wumpa Island home. And now, they were planning for their very own New Year's Eve party, with a little help from some friendly faces.
"Marth, Roy, why aren't you two working?" Caeda scolded the two cousins, who were both chilling together on a couch in the bandicoots' living room. The noblewoman was up on a ladder, hanging some balloons. "You're making me do all the work!"
"Like we're going to contribute to some holiday created by the media," snorted Marth, grabbing the nearby TV remote as he powered the television on.
"If that's the case, then I shouldn't expect to see you at any New Year's Eve party. Even though you were both there for the one last year."
"Only because Master Hand deliberately forced us to attend. But this year, we won't have to abide by his asinine rules."
"I'm just saving up my energy for later," Roy explained to Caeda, who shook her head and sighed as she continued hanging up the balloons.
Master Hand: Pretty neat that Cilan secured a home for the bandicoots. Sometimes I'll never understand that man's generosity. Sadly, Crash in Smash couldn't work out, but at least the bandicoot can be like Rayman, and ride off of our coattails. He did get the chance to live in my mansion, which is something that Rayman and his friends can never say.
Coco: Mario and the others have been a big help with their help. They got us a bunch of groceries, which I really appreciated. I would've depended on my brothers, but Crunch is a horrible shopper and Crash would just devour the money. Or the credit card.
Pac-Man: Who would have ever thought that the house I intended for Link and Zelda would instead go to the bandicoots? It was also cool that Cilan vouched for them to stay. But since the bandicoots are so "important" as Cilan claimed, should I have secured a home for Layton and Luke in Seattle? They could always do their mystery-solving stuff in the Pacific Northwest.
"No, Crash, the sticks for the steak kabob are not for...that," Lilina tried to tell the bandicoot, who was sticking a long toothpick up his nose and twisting it around. Crash was smiling with delight, as Lilina and Coco looked at him strangely.
"Crash sadly won't learn his lesson unless he suffers significant brain damage," Coco said frankly to Celicia, as a now satisfied Crash pulled the toothpick out of his nose. Soon the doorbell rang.
"Hello! It's-a me, Mario!" Mario greeted from behind the front door; believing that Mario came to lend some help, Coco quickly answered the front door, seeing two additional guests standing next to Mario - Pac-Man, and the bandicoots' good friend, Sonic.
"How are the new homeowners doing?" Pac-Man asked Coco, before looking inside the living room and seeing all the new year's decorations. "Ooh! Planning your own party, huh?"
"We're just trying to see how it goes," replied Coco, before noticing that Mario, Sonic, and Pac-Man were all holding laser guns in their hands. "What's with those laser guns?"
"Fox and Falco wanted to play some laser tag, just to kill some time before the party," replied Sonic, who was fittingly holding a blue laser gun. "Falco really enjoyed that laser tag at the bachelor party, and he wanted to recreate that same magic at the mansion. But in the outdoors!"
"How come I was never invited to this bachelor party?" asked Crunch, who was in the middle of hanging up a 2022 banner. The banner fell on Marth, much to the hero-king's chagrin, as Roy laughed.
"Because you're not that important, Crunch," Coco said bluntly to her brother, who was left clutching his pearls. Coco had no choice but to change her tune. "Not at least back then you were..."
Crunch: Can you believe it? Cilan and that emo scientist nerd both said that I was important! Me! For years I've been overlooked, ignored, and cast aside...and now people are slowly starting to wake up! Totally not letting it get to my head, though, that's just crazy talk.
"Are you and Crash down-a for some laser action?" Mario asked Coco, firing away with the laser guns; before Coco could answer, Aku floated to the front door. to let Mario know something.
"If Crash and Coco are going, then I'm going as well," the floating mask stated to Mario, who was fine with those terms. Coco sighed. "Laser tag sounds pretty dangerous!"
"Laser tag isn't nearly what you think," Sonic educated Aku, who was convinced that someone might wind up being paralyzed - or even worse - from playing harmless laser tag. "Not like we're playing with Star Fox Blasters."
"I dunno, those guns you have seem quite deadly!" Wanting to prove Aku wrong, Mario pointed one of the laser guns at the floating mask, who shrieked in fear as he floated away before Mario could even pull the trigger.
"We'll be there," Coco notified Mario, before turning around back at Crunch who was hanging up the 2022 banner. "Crunch, can we trust you to handle the rest of the decorations while we're gone?"
"Of course, 'cause I'm important now!" Crunch replied with a smile, as Coco rolled her eyes. So much for him not letting things get to his head.
"Whatever...just let Lilina do her thing in the kitchen. Some of the food might have to be disinfected or thrown away, just letting you know."
"We might need a whole new batch of food..." said Lilina, watching as Crash was licking some of the stuffed mushrooms like they were lollipops. Had done the same to most of the other food.
As Sonic stood outside the door, he was being spied upon by a robot hidden in the shrubbery outside the bandicoots' house. That robot slowly rose up to his feet, revealing himself to be...Metal Sonic?!
"So the hedgehog wants to play laser tag, hm?" the robot inquired as he had his deadly red eyes locked on his prey, Sonic. "I bet he will like it when I kill him with a laser of my own..."
Metal Sonic: By no means is killing Sonic going to be a new year's resolution for the next year; it is something that I must take care of before 2021 ends. I may have been unsuccessful before, but mark my words...this New Year's Eve will be the last one that Sonic will ever get to see.
While Falco had a fun time playing laser tag at Link's bachelor party, Fox never got to have the same experience. But today the pilot would have the opportunity to play laser tag with not only his friend but with a host of mansion residents, tower denizens, and guests. Two teams were pitted against each other - Team Mario and Team Star Fox - but only one person could be the winner.
Fox and Falco were in the mansion foyer, getting the laser tag participants fully equipped. Two of those participants were Juna and Altina of Class VII, as Fox and Falco helped the two students put on their gear.
"If you two ever need us - or when you are both eliminated - we'll be over at the drop tower," Rean Schwarzer informed Juna and Altina, standing with his three other students - Ash, Kurt, and Russe. What drop tower was he even talking about? The one in New York?
"Ha! Very bold of you to assume that we'll ever be eliminated," smirked Juna, very confident in her and Altina's chances of staying alive during laser tag. "Altina and I will be the last ones standing!"
"But what if there is only one winner?" Altina asked this hypothetical question, as Falco made sure that the vest and sensors on the student were properly secured.
"Then, in that case, I'll just let you eliminate me and you can be the winner." Juna patted Altina on her shoulder, and it was hard for Altina to tell if Juna was being sincere or not.
"Thank you for suggesting laser tag, man," Fox thanked Falco after he got Juna strapped; the manner in which Fox was speaking, it was like he was thanking Falco for saving his life or something. "You're the best."
"What can I say, I'm the man of the people," shrugged Falco, always appreciating it whenever Fox spoke positively of him. He loved having his ego stroked. "Balthier made me tell jokes at a wedding reception for a reason."
Falco: Master Hand (and I guess to an extent, Anna) wanted us to do some fun activity on New Year's Eve. Something that could get a lot of people engaged. I came up with laser tag, both outdoors and indoors; and that Steph Gingrich chick wanted to do some lame "Extreme Dungeons and Dragons". Fortunately, common sense prevailed over sheer insanity.
Steph: "Extreme Dungeons and Dragons", it's just like regular Dungeons and Dragons but way more elaborate since there are more people. And there's very little dice rolling, so guys who have terrible luck such as Link could excel. What's so wrong with that?!
"Alright, you two are now set!" Fox confirmed to Juna and Altina, who were both properly equipped with their gear and laser guns. "Now go outside and mingle with the other troopers, until it's time."
"Aye aye, captain!" Juna saluted Fox, as she and Altina exited the mansion along with Class VII. Two more willing participants for laser tag came down the stairs, in Dawn and Barry.
"Laser tag is gonna be so AWESOME!" Barry squealed to Dawn, unable to contain his excitement as he and Dawn made their way over to the Star Fox pilots.
"There's no telling how many fines I'm gonna dish out today!"
"How about you just focus on winning," advised Dawn, who was more than happy that she and Barry wouldn't be working as a pair; she would either be dragged down or have to carry Barry the entire game.
"Arms out wide, you two," Falco said to Dawn and Barry, as he and Fox grabbed the right-sized vests for the Sinnoh Pokemon trainers. Soon Tracer came peeking around the corner, gasping when she saw what was going on.
"I hope you weren't thinking about doing laser tag without me," the pilot said to Fox and Falco, frowning at them with her hands on her hips. Fox and Falco plainly looked at each other, wondering what Tracer's beef was.
"What are your credentials?" Fox asked Tracer, who zipped her way over to the pilot with her Blink ability and flicked his nose. Fox winced as he held his snout with his hands.
"That would've been a massive fine had she done that to me," Barry whispered to Dawn, as Fox continued holding his as if he was in pain.
"Did you forget that I always have the hot hand when it comes to guns?" Tracer asked Fox, as she held up her Pulse Pistols to the pilot's face. "Regular laser guns would be no hassle for me, love."
"So you just wanna make things unfair for everybody," Falco said to Tracer, enduring the same fate as Fox as Tracer flicked his nose. "Okay, okay, we'll let you play laser tag with us! Watch the beak..."
"Fox and Falco, I have brought-a the bandicoots!" announced Mario, opening the front door as he stood with Crash, Coco, and Aku on the porch. Fox and Falco couldn't help but notice that someone was amiss.
"Where's Crunch?" asked Fox, astonished that Crunch would miss out on all the laser tag fun. "Did he punk out because he knows he'll get creamed?"
"No, he's back home preparing for the New Year's Eve party," answered Coco; Barry could be heard letting out a sigh of relief. "He feels 'important' enough to handle everything. He'll be fine."
In case you haven't been paying close attention, Kazuya was watching a bit odd with Heihachi, Jin, and Ling. When it seemed like the business was up to no good when he gave his folks some Christmas presents, any suspicion went away when those gifts turned out to be harmless. Kazuya, who earlier in the day looked conniving, appeared pleasant as Heihachi and company opened their gifts.
Dante was convinced that Kazuya wasn't anything to worry about at the Christmas Eve party, but he still wanted to keep a close eye on the businessman. So while the vigilante handled some "business" with Nico, he asked the Ice Climbers, the Inklings, Banjo, and Kazooie to keep tabs on Kazuya. The ice cream gang was back together, minus Sonic and Crash...and Aku.
"Captain Falcon said that Kazuya took his folks to Cafe Leblanc," Popo said to the reformed ice cream gang, who were led into Cafe Leblanc by the Ice Climber. The cafe was jam-packed, which Joker expected once the cafe reopened after Christmas.
Joker: The turnout at the cafe has been amazing during the holiday season. For that reason, I've been charging everything on the menu! *pauses* Just for the guests, mind you. Those who live here can still get their coffee and curry for free.
"And there I was, besting the beast by myself!" Zeke said to the Wayfinder trio at the counter, telling them the story of how he fought the Magnamolo back in episode 275. "He was mighty, but Zeke von Genbu was even mightier!"
"Ever tried telling this story...to someone who would actually care?!" Ventus asked Zeke, who always enjoyed telling a good story. Gave him the chance to tell tall tales about himself, some of which were too outlandish to believe.
"But I haven't even gotten to the best part. The part where I blew flames in the beast's face, to stymie its path of destruction!" Now the story reached the point of outlandishness.
"Way to take credit from a Pokemon..." Pandoria muttered under her breath, only for Zeke to gently place his index finger on the Blade's lips.
Terra: Probably our last day in Seattle...and we're spending it listening to some guy with an eyepatch drone on about his grand feats. Because even the strongest warriors in the universe make poor decisions. Ask me, I would know.
"Seen Kazuya anywhere?" Popo asked Dribble, as he brought the ice cream gang further inside the cafe. Dribble slurped down his bowl of curry in one gulp, either showing extreme hunger or poor table manners.
"He's right over there!" replied Dribble as he pointed at a table Kazuya was sitting at. Heihachi, Jin, and Ling were also at the table, and Kazuya was acting...quite pleasant.
"Couldn't have asked anyone better to ring in the new year with!" Kazuya said to his three favorite people with a smile - a smile devoid of any ill intent. The ice cream gang watched Kazuya rather closely.
"Cheers to 2022," said Jin as he held up his glass in the air, as Kazuya and Ling did the same. Heihachi, however, wasn't on the same page. "Grandfather?"
"...cheers," grumbled Heihachi, begrudgingly holding up his glass in the air. Heihachi and the others did a toast, and Kazuya would drink from his glass without showing any hint of malice.
"Is it just me or is Kazuya acting more...tranquil than usual?" the male Inkling whispered to the others, not sure what to make of Kazuya's behavior.
"Let's just keep a close eye on him, for now," suggested Kazooie, as the ice cream gang took a seat at an available table in the cafe. Had to look as discreet as they possibly could.
The laser tag was to take place outside the mansion in the backyard, and for the laser tag to even take place, some obstacles had to be set up first. Cloud and several others helped with setting up the obstacles, and they had a little additional help from a few ballers.
"Don't you have a game today?" Wolf asked Armani and Lindy - two members of the men's Olympic basketball team - who were helping out with setting up the laser tag obstacles. It looked like Master Hand came through with reeling the athletes back to Seattle.
"We were supposed to play today, the two of us," explained Armani, who had a basketball game on the east coast at one o'clock. "But Master Hand's 'friend' of his paid us to fake an illness, and miss the game."
"Just so that we could be 'available,'" Lindy would finish for Armani, who nodded his head as he had a bone to pick with a certain merchant. "She literally bribed all of us into doing it."
Wayne: he madman did it...he invited me over for New Year's. *sighs* I thought that Master Hand having a genuine friend would make him turn over a new leaf. Based on what I've seen so far, I might end up being proven wrong. Guess I'll be back for the Chinese New Year, huh?
Master Hand: Another one bites the dust. *takes out a list, cross off "New Year's Eve" with a giant ink pen*
Today was meant to be the penultimate day for four residents - Cortex, Ema Skye, Leia Rolando, and the Hearts siblings, Hisui and Kohaku. Wishing for the five to go out in style, Master Hand and Anna signed them up for some laser tag. Little Mac also signed himself up for laser tag, just so he could spend some final moments of quality time with Leia.
"The trick is to hold the gun like this," Little Mac demonstrated to Leia, showing the nurse how to properly hold a laser gun. Looked like a natural doing it. "See how I have my hand on the trigger?"
"I'm sorry, you wearing gloves is making this more difficult," replied Leia, who couldn't even see Little Mac's fingers due to the gloves on the boxer's hand. "Can you take them off?"
"Not sure that's such a good idea..." Little Mac chuckled sheepishly; he seldom took off his boxing gloves, and he refused to do it in front of Leia.
"Come on, just for me! Just this once." Leia did her best to encourage Little Mac, who was still hesitant before he saw Doc Louis mean-mugging him from the distance.
"Take off those gloves, Mac!" Doc Louis shouted at Little Mac, chocolate bar in hand; if Doc Louis told you to do something, you better do it right away. So Little Mac put down the gun and took off his gloves, as Leia gasped at the sight.
"Your hands are...erm, pleasant for a boxer," Leia tried to compliment Little Mac, whose hands were almost pitch-black from dirt. Not to mention his fingernails were longer than usual. Leon walked by, cringing at the sight of Little Mac's hands.
"Wash your hands much?" Leon asked Little Mac, before walking away in disgust; Leon would be a phenomenal role model for good hand hygiene.
Leia: Master Hand hasn't figured out who to replace me with when I eventually leave. I heard that Rosalina's a nurse, but she's only a practicing nurse "on rare occasions". Also heard the same from Peach and Daisy. Does every one of Mario's friends have a doctorate or something?
Hisui: So ends our nearly five-year stay at the mansion. This night will be our last night at the mansion. The next morning or afternoon or so, we'll be home free!
Kohaku: It's kind of depressing that no one remembers how we even became mansion residents. Cranky Kong says the author is to blame for why nobody remembers our arrival.
Hisui: Yeah, I stopped caring what that old ape says a long time ago. But now that we're leaving, we don't have to put up with him anymore! So our departure's a little bittersweet.
Elsewhere in the backyard, Metal Sonic was again hiding in the shrubbery, keeping a close eye on Sonic. He would see the hedgehog gathered with Fox and others, as Fox was going over the teams for laser tag.
"So it's gonna be Team Mario vs Team Star Fox," explained Fox, who was holding a roster that had the name of everyone who signed up for laser tag. Including Armani and Lindy, who were added to the roster as appreciation for their help. "Should we do a draft?"
"I pick Crash," shouted Sonic as he raised his hand, wanting nothing more than to play laser tag with his friend. Metal Sonic darted to another set of bushes, keeping his presence concealed.
"Fox and I will-a be picking out the teams, Sonic..." Mario told the blue hedgehog, who put his hands down; Sonic and Crash being on opposite teams wouldn't be ideal. "...also, aren't we missing some folks?"
"We're only missing Peony, and a few others," replied Fox, as Metal Sonic moved away from the shrubbery and started to make his move. "If they can be here in less than thirty minutes, that would be cool."
"Stay right where you are, hedgehog..." said Metal Sonic as he got closer to Sonic, holding his hand out as he prepared himself for the kill. Thanks to his lack of peripheral vision at the moment, Metal Sonic failed to notice Red the Pokemon Trainer, who had bumped into him.
"Whoops, sorry about...that," apologized Red, only to trail off when he saw that he had bumped into Metal Sonic. Perhaps one of the worst individuals you could ever bump into. Red knew that he was a goner, backing away as Metal Sonic followed him.
"You dare interrupt me from killing Sonic?" Metal Sonic backed Red into some forestation, near the Yiga Clan Hideout. Red tripped on a vine and fell on his back, continuing to back away from Metal Sonic.
"I'm sorry, it was nothing personal!" Red soon backed into a rock and cowered in fear as Metal Sonic held out his hand. "Please don't kill me, it was purely an accident..."
"Hmm..." Metal Sonic was charging up a beam in his hand, set on killing Red, but decided against it as he took his hand away. Red stopped cowering, thinking that he might've gotten through to Metal Sonic.
"So you're not gonna kill me?" Red was extremely relieved, smiling as he stood up on his feet. "Sure would've sucked if I died before Sonic!"
"I won't waste my energy on you - only Sonic is meant to die today. However, I won't let your interference go without punishment..."
Today would've been the last full day for the bandicoots, had they not moved into their new home. It was, however, the last day in Seattle for four individuals who lived outside the mansion - Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang.
The RWBY gang finally got on Hunter's good side, when they got the cheetah a pair of running shoes for Christmas. The gift was meant to be Weiss's Secret Santa gift for Hunter, but it was more a less a gift from all four ladies. The ill will that Hunter had towards the RWBY gang was now gone.
Of course, Hunter couldn't let Ruby and her friends head back home without giving them something in return. The cheetah knew just the thing to give them, and he even had Spyro pitch in.
"Christmas is already over, why are they showing these holiday commercials?" questioned Cranky Kong, who was watching some television in the living room with Donkey Kong. "It's almost the new year!"
"You know how most companies are - gotta get that money," replied Donkey Kong, leading Cranky to bonk him on the head with his cane. Hurt even more without the Santa hat on. "Ow! I was just stating the truth!"
"Are you some kind of big-name corporation apologist now? Whatever happened to fighting against the man? This weak generation..." Cranky was grumbling to himself, as he reached for a bowl of potato chips next to him.
"Cranky, no!" Donkey Kong slapped Cranky's hand away, and Cranky held his hand, offended that his grandson would hurt his own grandpa like that. "Those chips aren't for us. I keep telling you!"
"Then who is it for? I don't like where these potato chips are placed...they're teasing me! And why are there food trays behind us?"
"Ladies, I give you...your very special going-away party!" Hunter presented to the RWBY gang, as he and Spyro brought the four ladies inside the living room. Not only was there food, but there were also banners hanging up in the living room. College football banners.
"'Go Blue'?" Weiss read one of the banners hanging up, and it was a banner for the Michigan Wolverines. "Is that message meant for me? Aw, thanks Hunter, you shouldn't have!"
"Yeah, Hunter knows how much you like the color blue..." Spyro said sarcastically to Weiss, who was beaming with joy. Spyro then looked up at Hunter, shaking his head, while Hunter gave a thumbs up.
Spyro: Hunter didn't know whether to throw a going-away party for Ruby and the gang, or have a college football tailgate party because of all the bowl games. Ultimately, he decided to go with both.
"Hunter, you never told us that you would be watching sports during our going-away party," Ruby said to the cheetah, who grabbed the TV remote and turned to whatever station the football games were on.
"Well, we can just kill two birds with one stone," replied Hunter, sitting on the living room couch in between Donkey Kong and Cranky. "You ladies can go ahead and fix your plates."
"May we have some of the party food?" Cranky asked Hunter, as he was cradling the bowl of potato chips. Hunter was reluctant to answer, probably because he feared Cranky's cane. "Answer me..."
"Take as much as you like," Spyro said to Cranky, who giggled like a little kid as he dug his hand into the bowl of chips. Cranky was munching away like a madman, as Hunter frowned at Spyro.
When Rean spoke of the drop tower earlier, he wasn't talking about the one in Times Square...he was referring to the one that Master Hand apparently asked the craftsmen to build, just outside the hotels. Steve and Alex did a fantastic job recreating the tower with the materials they had.
Now the only hurdle left to cross was placing a large crystal ball at the top of the tower so that it would go down during the countdown. Fortunately for Master Hand, some help came in the form of Orbulon and his high-powered UFO.
"Try and not to drop the crystal ball, Orbulon," Wario shouted at the alien, who was carrying the large crystal ball to the tower with a beam from his UFO. "That thing cost me a fortune!"
"Guys! Guess who brought fireworks for the party!" exclaimed Cortex, arriving at the scene along with Cortex as he was holding a bunch of fireworks. The evil genius placed the fireworks on the ground, taking them out of the box.
"Steady as it goes..." said Orbulon, his UFO slowly descending towards the tower. Brighid, who was watching Orbulon's progress along with her Driver Morag, saw Cortex take out a candle.
"Um, Lady Morag..." Brighid said to the Flamebringer as she pointed at Cortex, who took out a lighter and lit the candle with it. "...I believe he's trying to test out those fireworks."
"Dr. Cortex, it's still light outside!" Morag shouted at the evil genius, but it was too late...Cortex lit one of the fireworks, and one of them flew up in the sky and struck Orbulon's UFO.
"Woah!" shouted Orbulon, losing his balance as his UFO started to teeter. The beam went away, and the large crystal ball fell to the ground, breaking into a million pieces. Wario was furious, his face turning red.
"Dang it, Cortex!" the fatso snapped on the evil genius, who was smiling sweetly with his hands innocently held behind his back. "Do you know how much that crystal ball drained my pockets?"
"Why even buy a crystal ball when Steve and Alex can build one themselves?" questioned Cortex, causing Wario to growl with his hands now meant for strangling the evil genius.
"Don't you get smart with me, you bozo!" Wario chased after Cortex, who was screaming at the top of his lungs. Wario chased Cortex around Morag and Brighid, who just stood there and watched.
"I was just trying to help out with the party! Wasn't my fault one of the fireworks had to be a faulty one..."
Lucario: Cortex has been on an emotional high ever since he got a kiss from Tiki - which is something I'm still trying to forget, to this day. And since his nemesis Crash has a house, Cortex is doing all that he can to "endear" himself to his peers and get a home of his own. Amazing how receiving a kiss from your long-time crush can lead you down a road to delusion.
Speaking of Tiki kissing Cortex, Diddy Kong had captured the moment on his phone. He was going around showing the video to others, and he was showing it to Berkut, Cortex's former roommate, in the bandicoots' backyard.
"Please tell me that video is fake," Berkut pleaded to Diddy, as he found Tiki kissing Cortex to be hard to look at, yet hard to look away from. Like a gnarly car crash, or someone bursting a pimple on their face. "Delete it forever."
"Cortex won't let me delete, it says that it's a 'monumental moment in history,'" explained Diddy as he ended the video before putting his phone away. Meanwhile, Dr. Crygor was setting up a karaoke stand on a stage behind Diddy and Berkut, along with his karaoke robot Mike.
"My, my, Marie and Callie have selected a perfect list of songs!" exclaimed Crygor, as he and Mike were going through the song list on the Squid Sisters' karaoke machine. "Karaoke will be a blast."
"Karaoke will be a blast, indeed," agreed Mike, as Piers came over to the robot and Crygor with his hunched back and brooding aura. "Will be a great way to ring in the new year."
"For a pop singing duo, the Squid Sisters sure have a crap taste in music," commented Piers, not a huge fan of the songs that Marie and Callie picked out. "Where's the heavy metal classics?"
"The point of karaoke is to have fun, Piers - not strain your vocal cords," Crygor informed Piers, who frowned as Mike wagged his finger in the rockstar's face. "Go and do that with your Team Yell flunkies, if you wish."
"Pfft, whatever..." Piers waved off Crygor, taking his guitar with him as he walked off the stage. When he walked off the stage, Piers cringed when he encountered an army of men...an army of shirtless men. Topless waiters, to be exact.
"I do believe that our services were asked for," the topless waiter said to Piers, who could definitely take a few tips on physique and fitness from the men standing before him. "Is this not 1999 Smash Avenue?"
"Uh, give me a second..." Piers turned around and saw Ryza Stout walking by, thinking that Ryza was the right person to ask. "...hey, did someone order some topless waiters?"
"Topless waiters?" Ryza crinkled her nose, not sure what to make of the topless waiters assembled outside. "Is that supposed to be a thing?" The alchemist would be shoved out of the way by N. Gin, who was making a mad dash to Piers.
"I want to be a topless waiter!" the cyborg requested to the shirtless men before him, as Piers looked at the cyborg with disgust. "That way I can show off my magnificent chest to the ladies..."
"You have no 'magnificent chest' to speak of," N. Tropy said to N. Gin, as he came over and grabbed the cyborg by the rocket stuck in his head before taking him away. "Don't be delusional like Cortex."
"No, Dr. N. Tropy, please! Let me live out one of my boyhood dreams, just this once!" N. Gin wanted to be a topless waiter since he was a boy? Weird. But not as weird as N. Gin doing a wolf whistle at Ryza. "Nice legs, girlie!"
"Creep..." Ryza muttered under her breath, as N. Gin couldn't bear to look away. The way that N. Gin was looking at her made Ryza even more creeped out.
Shantae: Yuffie told me about how she requested topless waiters at Zelda's bachelor party, so I wanted to do the same for New Year's. I hope that the waiters will be here before midnight.
"Dr. N. Tropy!" exclaimed Cortex as he hopped right in front of the master of time, who shrieked with disgust as if he had seen an undead zombie. "Did I ever tell you that I played a role in the Aerith replica being a success? I was the..."
"Moira has told me the story multiple times, and I still refuse to believe her," responded N. Tropy as he walked past Cortex, bringing N. Gin with him. Cortex held his head in sadness, as Piers wandered off...
...only to hear some moaning nearby, from the side of the drop tower. Piers went to the source of the moaning and saw a tree on top of someone, and pulled the tree away to reveal Red.
"Woah, gnarly dude," Piers smiled a Red, who was in no smiling mood as he was in a world of pain. His bruised body said so. "Got lost in a mosh pit?"
"Metal Sonic...beat me up..." Red said to Piers, who couldn't tell if the Pokemon trainer was speaking the truth, or lying through his teeth. "He wants to kill Sonic before midnight..."
"Nice, man...next thing you're gonna tell me is that Bowser's gonna steal Princess Peach for herself. Good talk." Piers found himself a non-believer, as he walked away from Red. Didn't even bother to consult Leia.
"No, Piers, come back! You have to warn Sonic!" Red called out to Piers, but Piers had very little interest in carrying out Red's wishes. "You jerk..."
Link and Zelda were both looking forward to the New Year's festivities later tonight, and they hoped that it would go without any trouble. But this was the Smash Mansion, so trouble was always bound to occur. All Link and Zelda had to do was expect the worst, and nip it in the bud.
"Man, I can't believe Aerith got Cloud to sign up for laser tag," Link said to Zelda as he and his wife walked down the stairs to the foyer. "I expected you to do the same to me."
"After all that bad luck you had last week?" questioned Zelda, who cared too much about her husband's pride and dignity. "I wouldn't have risked it."
"Link and Zelda!" Mega Man called out to the Hylian couple, who came to a stop as Mega Man ran up the stairs with a cellphone. "Did you see the news?"
"No, we haven't." So Mega Man took out the cellphone and played a video of a local news broadcast for Link and Zelda.
"Local authorities have confirmed that the man, Carl Johnson, broke out of jail two days after Christmas," said a news anchor, as a mugshot of a familiar face appeared on the screen. A man that Knuckles had some history with.
"We have gained footage of this man, which was strangely submitted to us just hours ago," added a second news anchor, as a video of Carl Johnson appeared on the screen. Link instantly recognized the face.
"I"m coming' for ya, Lil Knux!" Carl shouted into the camera, speaking from an undisclosed location. It looked like he was at some junkyard, or maybe some rundown car dealership. "Don't forget you still owe me that money!"
"Hey, that's the man who wanted to beat up Lil Knux...I mean, Knuckles," stated Link, pointing at the cellphone screen as the video of Carl went away.
"If you have any knowledge about Johnson's current whereabouts, then please contact the..." said the first news anchor, only for Mega Man to pause the video. Carl had his eyes set on Knuckles yet again.
"This Carl Johnson guy has been on the run for a few days now," Mega Man explained to Link and Zelda, as he led the Hylians down the stairs. "And speaking of whom..."
Link and Zelda arrived at the foyer with Mega Man, where they saw Guzma being choked out by a man...Carl Johnson. Carl held Guzma up against a wall, with his hands on his neck.
"Not this guy again..." grumbled Link, who had some bad memories of dealing with Carl a month ago. It was the Hylian's first time dealing with a legit criminal.
"Tell me where Lil Knux is, fool!" Carl shouted at Guzma, getting droplets of saliva in the Team Skull leader's face. Guzma was struggling to break free, reaching for his Poke Ball which had fallen to the floor from his pocket.
"I don't even know this Lil Knux person, let me go!" responded Guzma, and Carl didn't get the answer he wanted as he strangled Guzma even harder. Link and Zelda both had to intervene. But before they could, Fox and Falco entered through the front door, catching Carl in the act.
"Hey, let him go!" Fox shouted at Carl, who saw the pilot and Falco come over to stop him. Carl did as he was told, dropping Guzma to the floor, as Link and Zelda kept watch.
"Maybe you punks can tell me where Lil Knux ran off to," Carl came over to speak with Fox and Falco, as Guzma was on the ground holding his neck. "I need that money!"
"Bruh, this is the man who wanted a thousand grand from Knuckles," Falco whispered to the Fox; Carl was supposed to be in jail, so it was a mystery as to how he broke out. "Even saw a news report about him on the news."
"Quit your whisperin'! Where's Lil Knux? You better tell me right now..." Fox and Falco had to play nice, or things could get ugly.
"I can tell you one thing...you're acting super cranky," Fox said to Carl, getting somewhere with the man as Carl was calming down. "And hunger makes you cranky. Why not grab a bite to eat, and then we can talk about Lil Knux?"
"Well, I did come on an empty stomach...'ll take some burgers." Feeling more relaxed now, Carl followed after Fox and Falco. Guzma found the strength to stand on his two feet, grabbing his Poke Ball.
"I'm no rapper, just letting you know!" the Team Skull boss called out to Carl, holding his neck as he walked away. Link and Zelda were amazed at how well both Fox and Falco handled the situation.
"I think we should let the pilots handle our crook, for now," Link suggested to Zelda only choosing to step in unless the time called for it. "Let's call the police, just to be safe..."
Back at the cafe, Pit was doing his job, serving coffee and curry to the cafe patrons. As he continued to work, he suddenly heard a phone notification from his phone that grabbed his attention.
"What is it, Pit?" Viridi asked the angel, who grabbed his phone and read the notification. it was a reminder of sorts, as Pit threw off his cafe apron.
"Uh, Joker, I just remembered that my friends and I have to do something," Pit informed the young man as he placed his apron on the hanger. Kirby, Incineroar, and Viridi looked at each other in confusion.
"We have to do something?" Kirby asked Pit, who grabbed the pink puffball and Incineroar as he led them away from the counter.
"We'll be back before you know it. We won't be gone for long!" On that note, Pit and his friends left the cafe, while Joker and Viridi just stood around, bewildered.
Eggman was wearing his dripped-out Christmas sweater, throughout the entire week of Christmas. For this week, the mad scientist wore a new sweater - this one carrying the theme of New Year's Day. It was black and gold and was adorned with multiple light sparklers.
Eggman: Everyone has heard of a Christmas sweater before, but sadly New Year's sweaters aren't a thing...yet! As the self-proclaimed Dr. Drip, it is my duty to make this kind of sweater a New Year's tradition. Forget the fireworks and cracking of bottles...wearing a sweater is the best way to ring in the new year!
"Dr. Eggman, I'm pretty sure that sweater is a safety hazard," Travis informed the mad scientist, who was showing off his sweater to the otaku. "Could also be a fire hazard, too."
"Haters gonna hate!" responded Eggman, stiff-arming Travis away as he strutted his stuff down the hallway. The mad scientist had some kind of pimp walk going on, as he encountered Min Min. "Min Min, you like my sweater?"
"It's too distracting," Min Min offered her two cents, keeping her distance due to the light sparklers. Several sparks were landing on the floor, and even on the walls nearby.
"You meant that in a good way, yes?" Eggman was desperate for any positive feedback, and hearing some from Min Min would honestly make his day.
"Yeah, sure Eggman...interpret that whichever way you want." Min Min walked away from Eggman while muttering under her breath, "He's gonna burn this place down soon, at this rate..."
"My victory over Cynthia in table tennis was truly decisive!" Owain said to Lucina, as the two friends showed up. And before you ask, Owain was referring to second-gen Cynthia, not the former champion. "Granted, Cynthia commended me for every tennis serve..."
"Then your 'victory' wasn't that decisive," responded Lucina, unable to comprehend how Cynthia was so starstruck by Owain's skill. Eggman rubbed his hands together smiling when he spotted Lucina and Owain.
"Ah, my two favorite people!" Eggman ran towards Lucina and Owain, standing perhaps a bit too close with sparks flying off his sweater and all. "What do you think of my New Year's sweater?"
"It's horrendous, and you should feel bad for making it." While Lucina offered a scathing critique, Owain found himself enamored with the sweater.
"The colors...the stitches...the sparks flying..." Owain marveled at Eggman's sweater, inspecting every inch of the garment. "...I must have one of these!"
"You have got to be kidding me..." Lucina was hoping that Owain was joking, but Owain was being quite serious. Eggman's sweater had made a lasting impression on him.
"YES! Finally, someone with good taste!" rejoiced Eggman, who had to make a new sweater right away. He had enough light sparklers left. "You will have a sweater like this yourself, Owain! Mark my words!"
Continuing his prowl, Eggman entered the nearby movie room, on the hunt for some more positive feedback. In the movie room, he looked up and saw Kamek, flying on his broom.
"Kamek, do you like my New Year's sweater?" Eggman asked the Magikoopa, who was cleaning off the large television screen. After he had sneezed on it.
"New Year's sweater?" asked Kamek, as he looked down at Eggman and saw his sweater. Eggman had to strike a pose, for he felt that it was necessary. "Yeah, I'm not a huge fan. Looks hideous."
"How can you say that when you're wearing glasses? Ah, screw you..." Eggman waved off Kamek, leaving the movie room bitterly as Pit, Kirby, and Incineroar came inside.
"Kamek, we need you to boot up the VCR!" Pit commanded to the Magikoopa, who looked down below and saw the VCR - the one Pit used many times before. "Don't ask any questions, just do it!"
"Okay, okay, I'm doing it!" shouted Kamek as he flew down to the VCR, powering it on with the press of the power button. The Magikoopa did have one question he wanted to ask, though. "Why am I doing this?"
"To put Ryuji in his place. He wouldn't accept my peace offerings, so I gotta bring the fight to him. Bring in...the tribal chief!"
Kamek: Why couldn't Pit have settled his beef earlier this week? Like, I don't know, Tuesday or Wednesday? This just confirms what I've already believed - nobody wants to do anything around here unless the cameras are rolling.
Where was Ryuji at this present moment, you might ask? He was in the gaming room, bothering Yusuke and Haru. The delinquent had learned that Yusuke and Haru were an item, and he knew just the thing that would make Yusuke a great boyfriend.
"Real boyfriends watch AEW with their girlfriends," Ryuji said to Yusuke and Haru, who were both sitting on a couch trying to have a good time. The only thing preventing them from doing that was Ryuji. "Don't you know?"
"Then why don't you watch this AEW with your girlfriend?" retorted Yusuke, as Ryuji was left speechless; the look of defeat on Ryuji's face brought much satisfaction to Yusuke. "Hmph. That's what I thought."
"You'll never get a girlfriend at this rate, Ryuji," Haru said to the delinquent, believing that his obsession with wrestling would make him a more undesirable boyfriend. Ryuji could only snort in response.
"Yeah, because not many girls these days have good taste!" stated Ryuji, as Haru wondered whether or not she should feel insulted. "They'd much rather fawn over overrated punks, like Roman Reigns."
"For a person who despises Roman so, you sure love to talk about him a lot," said Yusuke, who had grown tired of Ryuji's endless wrestling carping. "What we would do for him to shut your mouth..."
A scream was heard outside the gaming room, followed by the sound of someone falling to the floor hard. Everyone in the gaming room heard these sounds, looking wary...and soon a pixelated wrestler entered the gaming room.
"R-Roman Reigns?!" uttered Ryuji, nearly falling over the couch he was sitting on. It was indeed Roman Reigns, in pixelated form, and he was sent forth by Pit to destroy. Or something like that.
"Somebody said my name?" asked Reigns, before locking his eyes with Ryuji. Reigns instantly recognized Ryuji, who tried to hide. "You're that punk the angel kid told me about..."
"Have no fear, Ryuji!" shouted the Flying Man, coming in to save the day as he confronted Reigns. "For I am your..." The Flying Man didn't get to finish his sentence, as Roman Reigns Superman punched him away.
"I'd highly suggest that you run..." Yusuke said to Ryuji, and that's exactly what Ryuji did; the delinquent scrammed out the gaming room, and Reigns watched as he left.
"Trying to run, huh?" smirked Reigns, knowing that Ryuji wouldn't get that far as he walked out of the gaming room. "Two can play at that game."
Because the men's basketball team was back at the mansion, Master Hand indubitably had to bring along the football players as well. He was only able to snag Thomas and Kermit, but it was all good. Thomas and Kermit met with Master Hand, Champion Link, and the four Champions of Hyrule at the mansion's driveway.
Master Hand: Not everyone could be on board for today's festivities. For instance, Mr. Big Chest frankly couldn't make the trip...No, no, Sephiroth didn't kill him. Though it was amazing that he spared a man's life. Let's just say that Mr. Big Chest's actions on Christmas Eve warranted him a temporary ban. His rap song alone was ban-worthy enough.
"Anna has a small errand she wants you all to do," Master Hand explained to the group he had assembled in the driveway, with Anna standing by. "She wants you to grab some drinks for the party later, at the bandicoots' house."
"You all will be riding in a van," added Anna, certain that a van would be enough to accommodate everyone. It was a pretty big group for running a simple errand.
"Just like the old times," Thomas said to Kermit, as he remembered traveling around in a van with Kermit during Lloyd's test run in episode 268. "Hope we don't have to wear any costumes."
"What 'van' will we be even riding in?" inquired Champion Link, seeing no van in sight. Soon a van pulled up into the driveway, after driving erratically on the road. The van was driven by Dante's lady friend, Nico, who poked her head out of the driver's window.
"Howdy, y'all!" Nico greeted Master Hand and company in her southern accent, as she waved to everyone. The mechanic hopped out of the van, as Dante came around from behind the van.
"We got the van - just like you asked!" Dante said to Master Hand, as he took out a cowboy and placed it on his head. The vigilante moonwalked his way over to everyone, smooth as ever.
"Did he just moonwalk on the grass?" asked an almost dumbstruck Kermit, as Dante finished things off with a kick, circle slide, and crotch grab. And a rousing "HEEHEE!" for good measure.
"Thank you for the performance, Dante," Master Hand thanked the vigilante, who tossed his cowboy hat to Anna. Anna caught the hat, smiling. "Nico will be the one taking you guys to get the drinks."
"Yup, I'll be the one doin' the drivin'!" Nico informed the group with a toothy grin, pointing her thumb at herself. Many nervous looks all around.
"Fortunately, you can get the drinks for free; they're available just outside of town, in Bellevue. Let me give you all the address..."
The Christmas party last week had a bit of an interruption when the E.M.M.I. from episode 303 made its return. But thanks to an assist from Sephiroth, Samus was able to dispatch the E.M.M.I. for good. Samus took all the credit for the E.M.M.I.'s defeat, and the men's basketball coach, Pop, wished to commend the hero of Christmas Eve for her efforts.
"I can't wait to meet this armored-suit guy in person," Pop said to Samus, who was leading the coach to the workshop. Accompanying Pop was one of his players, Wilder, who was stifling his laughter. "Heard a few stories about him."
"Yes, he is a very swell guy," replied Samus, who was trying to hide a smile; she was prepared to blow Pop's mind, as she had done to others in the past.
Wilder: Pop has no idea that the person in that Power Suit is a woman... *laughs* ...we'll see how long it takes until he figures it out.
"Wait right here," Samus said to Pop and Wilder after arriving at the workshop, as she headed on in. As Pop and Wilder waited, Yoshi came down the hallway bothering both Byleth and Beleth.
"No, Yoshi, there is no bracket challenge for college football," Beleth explained to Yoshi, who had printed out a bracket for the college football playoffs. "Only four teams are playing for the national title."
"But four teams would only mean more winners!" argued Yoshi, who was left ignored by the professors. "I give up..." The green dinosaur walked away, salty that his "genius" idea was rejected.
"I'm going to meet the man who defeated that dreadful robot," Pop said to the professors, who ran into the coach and Wilder. Pop was speaking in an almost bragging manner. "Wonder what he looks like under that armor."
"You might be in for a surprise," smiled Byleth, interested in seeing Pop's reaction; soon Samus exited from the workshop, wearing her Power Suit.
"Here I am," announced Samus, as Pop was smiling and applauding the bounty hunter. Something that he had meant to do in the last episode.
"There he is!" exclaimed Pop, gleefully shaking Samus's hand while Samus just stood there. "Nice to meet you, sir. Now is it just me, or do you sound like that woman with the blonde ponytail?"
"Protect me, Samus!" Ryuji shouted to the bounty hunter, as he ran to her and hid behind her. Samus was his guardian angel. "He's coming to get me..."
"Who? Master Hand?" asked Samus, only for Reigns to walk down the hallway looking bad as ever. Exuding macho with every step. It didn't take him that long to spot Ryuji hiding behind Samus.
"You can't hide from me, fool..." said Reigns, as the pixelated wrestler lined himself up for a spear. Sensing Reigns, Ryuji ran away just as Reigns speared Samus to the floor.
"Samus!" Byleth shouted the bounty hunter's name, as Reigns got up and saw Ryuji retreating. Reigns chased after the delinquent, as Byleth and Beleth checked to see if Samus was okay.
"I'm fine..." Samus assured the professors, who helped the bounty hunter up to her feet. Samus took off her helmet, and Pop gasped as he pointed at Samus, deep in shock.
"You were him this whole time?!" Pop asked Samus, his arm shaking, only to faint to the floor a split second later. Wilder couldn't help but laugh.
The going-away/tailgate party was off to a great start, as the RWBY gang had no complaints. That was an early sign that the party so far was positively received. Donkey Kong and Cranky also had no complaints...and neither did anyone else that joined the party.
"I only came just for the food," Steven Stone said to Spyro and Hunter, as he was enjoying a hot dog. So delicious, it was like Sonic made it himself. "This hot dog is so good! Who made it?"
"Spyro fried all the food," stated Hunter, patting Spyro on the head like he was his trustworthy pet companion. "His fire breath comes in handy."
"Especially when it's done against my will," grumbled Spyro; the party would've never come to be if it was not for his selfless contribution. "Shantae, there's no double-dipping! Stop dipping that chip."
"Is triple-dipping allowed?" Shantae asked Spyro, who felt like he lost his power to police the partygoers anymore. "I'll take that as a yes!" Shantae happily ate her chip and walked away, as Spyro sighed.
"Spyro, Hunter, what's a crimson tide?" Ruby asked the two friends, pointing at an Alabama football poster hanging on one of the walls.
"It's a tide that...happens to be colored crimson!" Spyro answered to the best of his ability, and as expected, Ruby wasn't yet fully convinced.
"Okay...and what does this 'crimson tide' have to do with their mascot, the elephant?" An even harder question to answer, as neither Spyro nor Hunter knew what the exact correlation was.
"Do we really wanna delve into some silly lore at a time like this?" questioned Hunter, deflecting the question as he wrapped his arm around Ruby. "This is your going-away party! Live a little!"
"I thought this was a tailgating party," said Polar Bear, as Hunter nervously bit his lip finding himself in hot water. "Is that not why this room is plastered with college football stuff?"
"That is only open to your own interpretation," Spyro told Polar Bear, essentially saving Hunter's hide. Who knows the kind of answer that Hunter would give. "How about you live a little?"
Pit and his friends returned to Cafe Leblanc, where Joker and Viridi were joined by four members of Talon - Reaper, Sombra, Moira, and Doomfist. The four were enjoying some coffee and camaraderie near the counter.
"I for one am happy that Widowmaker couldn't make it," Reaper said to his fellow Talon buddies, as Pit was eavesdropping on the mercenary. "Seeing so many people up and about, and being forbidden to kill them...she'd have a fit."
"And Sigma is still recovering from his brain aneurysm," added Doomfist, before taking a sip from his cup of coffee. "He wouldn't say what caused it the last time I spoke with him."
"I know what caused Sigma's brain aneurysm!" shouted Pit, only for Incineroar to sneak up behind the angel and muffle his mouth. Incineroar brought Pit under the counter, just as the Talon members looked over.
"I'll never understand how this cafe hasn't been shut down with that twerp behind the counter..." Reaper said to his friends, knowing for a fact that he heard Pit's voice.
Viridi: Master Hand doesn't want us mentioning to anyone from Talon how Sigma had his brain aneurysm. I'm guessing it's because he has yet to pay for Sigma's hospital bill, which he had apparently promised he would do for him. Months ago.
Interested in seeing how the ice cream gang was doing, Dante entered the cafe and saw the group at a table. The vigilante made his way over.
"So what's the 4-1-1?" Dante whispered to the gang, as he saw Kazuya with his folks. Kazuya was acting pleasant, having a friendly conversation with Ling.
"Nothing yet out of the ordinary," Nana whispered back, as Dante furrowed his brow. Dante knew that something was brewing with Kazuya.
Nico was driving her van to Bellevue, taking Thomas, Kermit, and the champions of Hyrule on a quest to grab some drinks. The mechanic had to make a brief pit stop to grab a bite to eat, but she was back on the road afterward.
"Bellevue, here we come!" shouted Nico with a crazed smile, speeding down the road like a madman. She was going so fast, that she accrued the attention of a police car she drove past.
"Not so fast, not so fast!" Daruk shouted at Nico, before returning around and seeing blue and red police lights flashing in the distance. "This ain't good..."
"Think I'm gonna be sick..." moaned Champion Link, experiencing some major motion sickness as he opened a window and puked onto the road. The Hylian just might get a ticket for that.
"Who are you calling?" Revali asked Thomas, who was sitting in the back of the van with Kermit as he was frantically dialing a number on his cellphone.
"Calling my wife and kids to let them know how much I love them..." answered a panicked Thomas, holding his phone to his ear. it was very clear that he did not value his well-being with Nico behind the wheel.
Peony was inside the mansion armed with his laser gun even though the laser tag hadn't even started yet. He kept his eyes peeled, knocking on doors and doing awkward spy moves (such as a forward roll) as he maneuvered through the hallway. Soon enough, Peony heard a voice.
"Hayabusa taught me how to deal this hand once," the voice spoke, and it sounded like Ayane, one of Hayabusa's lady friends. "One that almost made him lose his hand in a game of poker, literally." Peony ran over to the room where he heard the voice from.
"What kind of poker game was he playing?" another voice was heard, and this one sounded like Robin's. Peony had his ear pressed against the door.
"He is a ninja, so who even knows," said a third voice, this one belonging to Alex's good friend Ryan. That was Peony's cue to let out a rallying cry, as he kicked the door open.
"FREEZE, SUCKER!" Peony shouted as he stepped inside a room, where Unova Elite Four member Grimsley was playing poker with Robin, Ayane, and Ryan. Grimsley was all smiles when he saw Peony.
"Just what we needed - a fifth poker player!" the poker player exclaimed, more than happy to bring Peony into the fray. All the more novice players for him to absolutely dominate. "Come, take a seat."
"Shut up, you edgy pretty boy! It's not you that I want...it's him." Peony pointed at Ryan, who was looking confused as Peony stared him down intensely like he was his prey.
"Did I...do something to offend you?" Ryan asked Peony as he eyed around the room. "I don't recall interacting with you as much..."
"Don't act dumb with me! You can't try and hide from me. Besides, I'm just tryin' to get you ready for the laser tag going on later!"
"Laser tag? Whoever said that I was playing laser tag?" At that moment, Peony looked foolish, and he was grateful that Peonia wasn't around to see him. "Told Alex and Steph that they could play without me."
"Oh you did, huh? Hehe, I knew that from the jump!" Peony sheepishly walked out of Grimsley's room, hoping that Ryan and the others would forget his embarrassing moment. "Just wanted to test ya."
"Do you want to stick around for poker?" Grimsley asked Peony, but it was too late as Peony had already closed the bedroom door. "And he's gone..."
"He is such a strange fellow," Robin had this to say about Peony, as he and the others resumed their poker game. After play resumed, the lone window in the room was opened from the outside by Ryu Hayabusa, who crawled his way in.
"Hayabusa?" Ayana uttered the name of the ninja, who checked to see if the coast was clear before shutting the door. "Way to make an entrance."
"Shh..." Hayabusa shushed Ayana, being secretive for no good reason as he looked around a second time. "...have you seen my sword anywhere?"
Hayabusa: *sighs* It seems that I have misplaced my Dragon Sword a second time...
Shaking off his humiliation, Peony carried on with his preparations for the laser tag fight. However, a certain British pilot tapped him on the shoulder.
"Cheers, love!" Tracer greeted Peony, who let out a battle cry as turned around at Tracer, armed with his laser gun. "Tagged someone yet?"
"Not yet, but I have found my first victim," replied Peony, leading Tracer to wonder who that victim could be. "And that victim...is YOU!"
Peony let out his battle cry as he pulled the trigger and fired at Tracer...who just stood there as Peony repeatedly pulled on the trigger. Smirking to herself, Tracer took the laser gun out of Peony's hands.
"Let's save that energy for when the real laser fight happens," Tracer said to Peony, holding onto the laser gun as she took out her Pulse Pistols. "I ought to do some training myself."
"Gimmie that gun, girl!" Carl shouted at Tracer as he ran towards the pilot, with his eye on Tracer's Pulse Pistols. Tracer zipped out of the way as Carl ran into Peony's Aggron, before falling onto the floor.
"Sorry about that," Falco apologized to Tracer and Peony as he and Fox arrived on the third floor, while Carl held his forehead in pain. "We should've known better than to let him out of our sight."
Falco: We couldn't find any burgers for Carl, and Carl threw a tantrum in response. That's when he escaped from the kitchen. Yet Fox insists that I'm childish...
Wario: There are no more burgers? Maybe somebody ate them all. Couldn't be me! *pats his stomach*
"Can I borrow one of your guns, just this once?" Carl asked Tracer as Fox helped him up to his feet, not making any guarantee that he would return either one of the Pulse Pistols. "I need one of 'em to kill..."
"You are not killing anyone," Fox informed Carl, who grumbled as he was escorted away by the pilot and Falco. "You still haven't got your lunch yet."
"If the others ever ask, tell him that we're dealing with a literal inmate..." Falco informed Tracer and Peony as Carl was taken away. "...we'll get started with the laser stuff soon."
Armani and Lindy weren't the only members of the men's basketball team dragged into playing laser tag; fellow Olympian Tom was also part of the fun. He was hanging around outside the mansion's backyard when he encountered Mario and Cloud speaking with Dawn and Barry.
"We're not interested in forming an alliance with you, Barry," Cloud said to the Pokemon trainer, who was looking for a way to increase his chances of winning. "We're on the same team, for crying out loud."
"This is your last offer," Barry tried to entice Mario and Cloud, having to resort to one last measure to make them change their minds. "Say yes, or I will fine you both!"
"Am I not good enough to be the only other member of your alliance?" Dawn asked Barry, feeling bad for Mario and Cloud as they were both having their time wasted. "After all, I am your..."
"Be quiet, Dawn, it's not about you!" Barry would resort to another last measure, as he dug into his parcel and pulled out the corkscrew he had won during the Christmas raffle. "Look, a corkscrew! One of you can earn it if you join my alliance."
"Barry, when-a are you going to get it through your thick head?" Mario asked the Pokemon Trainer, growing tired of his desperate shenanigans. "We're on the same-a team!"
"I can join your alliance if you want me to," Tom announced to Barry, only joining just to cheer up the Pokemon trainer. Barry was overjoyed, as everyone else around him was shocked.
"We have a winner!" squealed Barry as he ran towards Tom, handing him his corkscrew. He felt super relieved getting that appliance off his hands. "Welcome to the team, buddy!"
"Glad to be a part of it." As Tom looked up, he saw Mario and Cloud looking very disappointed in him, with the former shaking his head.
"You have no idea what you just got yourself into..." Cloud said to Tom, as he and Mario left the premises. The swordsman chose to let Tom find out about Barry the hard way.
Fox and Falco took Carl to the dining room, where they had Dunban prepare some food for their guest. Carl sat at the dining room table scarfing down some barbecue ribs like it was his last meal on earth.
"Those are the leftover ribs from the barbecue on Sunday," Dunban explained to Fox and Falco, watching as Carl tore through the burgers one by one. "Most of them are rejects..."
"At least they found a home, in that man's stomach," remarked Fox, as Chrom quietly approached Carl from behind. What was that prince up to?
"Enjoying those burgers, good sir?" Chrom asked Carl, after tapping the man on his shoulder. Carl looked up at Chrom, wiping away the ketchup and sesame seeds from his mouth. "May I interest you with some rhubarb pie?"
"What is rhubarb even supposed to be?" questioned Carl, getting angry for no reason as he stood up from his chair and confronted Chrom. Chrom felt slightly afraid as he backed away.
"It's just a vegetable...no need to get so upset. But if you don't care for pie, then I can offer you some chiles rellenos...I promise they won't devour you."
"Man, do I look Mexican to you?!" Carl had enough of Chrom, as he grabbed the prince's neck and pushed him against the wall. Chrom struggled to break free, as Fox and Dunban came over to break up the scuffle.
"Enough, that's enough!" Dunban shouted at Carl, as he and Fox successfully took Carl's hands away from Chrom's neck. Chrom got down on one knee, taking a breather with his hand holding his neck. "Why don't you finish up the rest of your food?"
"That's what I was trying to do..." Carl sat back down as he stared down at Chrom before he went back to eating his ribs. Fox and Dunban went back to their post, where they saw Zelda speaking with Falco.
"Hey, Fox," Zelda said to the pilot, who was curious as to what she was discussing with Falco. "You and Falco go ahead and start your laser tag fun. The police are coming over to arrest Carl Johnson."
"Thank goodness..." Fox sighed in relief, as Dunban was left to keep a close eye on Carl with Zelda. The laser tag could go on as planned.
The ice cream gang was observing Kazuya, and so far Kazuya wasn't showing any signs that he had any ulterior motives up his sleeve. However, his pleasant way of acting could be seen as a sign of concern.
"I would like to give a toast," the businessman said as he stood up from his chair, addressing those inside the cafe. Kazuya held his cup up high, smiling. "Cheers to 2021!"
"Cheers to 2021!" shouted Pit, as he grabbed Terry's cup off the counter and held it up. Terry was about to get into it with the angel but held his tongue.
"Yeah, cheers to 2021!" exclaimed Ganondorf, as he and many others in the cafe held up their glasses and said those three words. Dante furrowed his brow, feeling suspicious, but he wasn't the only one bothered by the toasts.
"This is so random..." sighed Shoka of the Wicked Twisters, resting her chin on the palm of her hand as the toasts continued. The reaper looked at her phone, and her face brightened when she read the text message that she received.
"You haven't touched your curry, Shoka," Kirby said to the reaper, who left the cafe without saying a word. The curry was boiling hot, too. "Shoka...?"
Shoka: Fret sent me a text and said that he and Rindo might've found a reaper. This one better be the real deal...
"Couldn't have done it better myself," Heihachi commended Kazuya, who smiled as he sat back down in his seat. Dante was disgusted by the sappiness between the Mishimas and wanted to take action.
"That's it..." the vigilante frowned as he stood up, only for Banjo and the Ice Climbers to sit him back down. Kazuya didn't notice the scuffling taking place. "...hey, what gives?"
"Let's give him a couple more minutes," Nana suggested to Dante, who grumbled as he was dying to get his hands dirty with Kazuya. Something he has wanted to do for months now.
With Carl now in Zelda's hands, and with the police on their way to arrest him, Fox and Falco were free to commence the laser tag. The pilots stood outside in the backyard with everyone slated to participate.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," Fox addressed everyone, standing on the mansion patio with Falco. "Happy to see that everyone could make it out here, willing and unwilling."
"You two owe me for this one," Cloud called out to the pilots, definitely a part of the unwilling group - and it was all thanks to Aerith for coercing.
"Who's ready for some laser tag fun?" Falco asked the crowd, only to be met with mumbles and slight cheers. "I said, who's ready for some laser tag fun?!"
"I WAS BORN READY FOR LASER TAG, LASER TAG IS MY LIFE!" shouted Peony, getting a little too pumped as he clenched his fists. Those closest to the explorer took a few steps back out of precaution.
"Appreciate the enthusiasm, Peony. Now here are the rules: we will be playing in teams. But when it gets down to two people...it's every man for themself. Only one winner. That means that if it came down to me and Falco, one of us would have to eliminate the other."
"Or one of us could just eliminate ourselves," stated Falco, who was willing to take himself out if it meant placating his friend. "As an act of selflessness."
"Yeah, we're not doing that...the action will be restricted to the mansion grounds. You can't go any further than the hotels, or wander into the Yiga Clan hideout - you have to stay in this area, or you'll be eliminated from the game."
"Being stationary for up to five minutes, whether standing up or sitting down, will also get you eliminated. The point of laser tag is to keep moving!"
"What if you have to drop a deuce for like five minutes?" asked Spring Man as he raised his hand, with the pilots giving the ARMS fighter dubious stares. "Just asking a hypothetical question..."
"As of right now, the laser tag battle isn't timed," stated Fox, who took out his phone and set up a clock just in case. "But if you guys take forever, then we might have to establish a time limit."
"And if you tried to hide for a long period of time...we will find you," added Falco, as he heard a few nervous gulps in the crowd. The laser tag folk can run, but they certainly can't hide. "Also, there is no prize for winning."
"We totally could've played Extreme Dungeons and Dragons instead..." grumbled Steph, perhaps the least enthusiastic person involved in laser tag after Cloud. It was sometimes impossible to beat Cloud in apathy.
Ema: I'm gonna spend my second-to-last in Seattle playing some laser tag. Can't really ask for anything better.
Wolf: Couldn't kill anyone during that bear's killing game, and I definitely can't kill anyone while playing laser tag. That's my one and only complaint. But at least playing this game would put me in the right mood!
Falco: We did have a prize in mind for whoever won the laser tag battle, but we decided against it. It would make people motivated for the wrong reasons.
"We're about to begin," announced Fox as he reached into a pocket and took out a gun, holding it up in the air. "On the count of three! One...two...two and a half...two and three quarters...two and seven-eighths..."
"Get on with it already!" shouted Knuckles, as he was eager to start shooting away. The echidna had his finger in the trigger, becoming too trigger-happy.
"Was waiting for someone to say that. Alright, GO!" Fox fired the gun, as everyone dispersed. Tracer zipped away, Barry followed after Dawn, and Aku was unsure whether to accompany Crash or Coco. Nothing wrong with double duty.
However, one person that didn't make a run for it was Purah, who immediately sat down on the ground and took out some tools. Mario and the pilots curiously came over to the Sheikah, who was doing some tinkering on her sensors.
"I'm trying to hotwire these sensors, so that why I can't be tagged out," explained Purah, using her intellect to grant herself victory. Mario and the pilots obviously wouldn't stand for that.
"Purah, you can't just give-a yourself invincibility, it doesn't work that way," Mario said to the Sheikah as he confiscated her tools. The plumber handed the tools to Cappy, who put them away in the mansion for safekeeping. "Let's-a fight fair and square."
"Hmph..." Purah pouted as she stood up and marched away in a bitter mood. "...looks like someone is just scared of losing."
"TAG!" Mario zapped Purah as she walked away, tagging her out in the process. "You're-a out." Purah, who was on Team Star Fox, was the first one to be eliminated.
"Get him!" shouted Fox, as he and Falco chased after the retreating Mario. Purah, taking her elimination in stride, happily walked away...and walked into Metal Sonic.
"So this laser tag has already started?" Metal Sonic asked Purah, who didn't see the robot as much of a threat. A huge mistake that she was making. "Is Sonic still a part of it?"
"Yup! He's right over there, having fun with the others," replied Purah as she pointed at Sonic, who was chasing after Alex with his laser gun. Metal Sonic cackled evilly, which Purah also apparently didn't think much of.
"I'll let the hedgehog have his fun...for now." Metal Sonic backed away, into the shades...or at least where the shade was, as Purah happily went on her way.
Nico eventually got in trouble with the law, as the mechanic had her van pulled over by the police after crossing into Bellevue. The police officer was standing at the driver's side of the van, as he had a few questions to ask Nico.
"Several cars were hit, some say it was your van that did it," the police officer said to Nico, who looked behind her to see any damage she might've done. "Let me ask you, ma'am...is this true?"
"Er...could one of you get me my driver's license?" Nico asked her passengers, who were all scarred by her erratic driving. Thomas didn't even get the chance to call his loved ones, since his phone fell out of his hands multiple times.
"He didn't even ask you for your driver's license yet, just tell him the truth," Champion Link whispered to Nico, as the police officer had his arms folded, waiting for Nico to respond.
"Excuse me, officer, I know who hit those cars," Kermit said to the police officer, making his way from the van to speak with him. "It was Dr. Cortex. He was driving the same vehicle like this one."
"Dr. Cortex? As in, Dr. Neo Cortex?" the suddenly convinced police officer asked Kermit, who nodded his head. Soon Thomas also came over from the back of the van, with his phone.
"This is a text I got from Cortex," Thomas said to the police officer as he showed him a convincing text message on his phone. "He came clean."
"The vehicle you saw hitting those cars, that was all him," added Kermit, as the officer read the text message in full and was fully convinced.
"Ah, should've known...this isn't the doctor's first rodeo," said the police officer, turning his attention back to Nico as Thomas put his phone away. "Well, ma'am, you're free to go. Sorry for botherin' ya."
"No problem, sir!" smiled Nico, as the police officer nodded and went back to his car. Nico was free to go, thanks to an unlikely duo.
Thomas: That was a fake text message I made on my Notes app. Made up a phone fake number for the title.
Kermit: "Use Cortex as a fall guy"...just a little something that we learned from Pit and Lloyd. *smiles*
A UFO flew over the mansion, before landing near the building in the backyard. The presence of the UFO only meant one thing...Gex was back. The lizard was denied from attending last week's Christmas party, but he was a hundred percent certain that someone at the mansion was holding a New Year's celebration. And as long as Star Records wasn't hosting, Gex had a chance at inviting himself to the party.
"Note to self: don't turn the windshield wipers on when it's not raining," Gex gave this advice to nobody in particular, as the UFO hatch opened. The lizard didn't come to Seattle alone. "We have arrived, my alien friend!"
"That's Crypto to you..." said the alien that emerged from the UFO - Crypto, who was taken away by the Turks back in episode 289. "...this New Year's party better be as grand as you made it out to be."
"Of course, it will be grand. Look who will be hosting it - the Smash Mansion!" While Gex was optimistic about the party, Crypto was somewhat skeptical.
Crypto: Quite frankly, I haven't seen those Turks since their "important mission" back in October. For two months, I was left alone at their headquarters, until that annoying lizard Gex broke me out. I'll never understand why he was chosen to pilot my spaceship, but that makes my desire to destroy earth all the more potent. What does that have to do with my plans for earth's destruction? No reason.
As Gex and Crypto exited the spaceship and stepped onto the grass, they encountered Ryo's little sister, Yuri, chasing around Lucas with her laser gun. Yuri had Lucas cornered and left him trembling.
"You made the wrong move, Lucas..." said Yuri, before eliminating the PSI whiz with her ray gun. Lucas's sensors went off, as Yuri had scored an elimination. Lucas, who was trembling with his eyes closed, stopped trembling when he felt nothing harming him.
"...that's it?" asked Lucas, as he had apparently expected his skin to disintegrate or something along the lines of that. "Did the laser shoot me already?"
"The lasers aren't deadly, silly!" Yuri helped Lucas up to his feet, and Lucas was no longer overwhelmed with fear. "You think Fox and Falco would let us play laser tag if they were?"
"Wolf was talking about how he wanted to kill Slippy...I was just making my own assumptions. Sorry, Yuri." All this talk about lasers had Crypto intrigued.
"What do you mean the lasers aren't deadly?" Crypto approached Lucas and Yuri, desiring to know how effective their laser guns were. "Is your ammo faulty?"
"No, we're just playing a harmless game of laser tag," explained Yuri, as the word "harmless" almost made Crypto lose interest. "We just shoot lasers at each other until one person is left standing." Then all of a sudden, Crypto was intrigued yet again.
"I want to be the last man standing. Is it too late for me to join this laser tag fight?" With his gun, Crypto hoped to eliminate as many folks as he possibly could...permanently.
"Is that supposed to be an alien?" Marnie asked Lucas and Yuri as she showed up with her ray gun, wanting to get a closer look at Crypto. "He looks kinda cute...for an alien, at least."
"I am not cute, you're supposed to fear me!" Crypto pointed his ray gun and was ready to fire at Marnie, but Gex saved the day as he tackled Crypto to the ground. Crypto dropped his ray gun in the process.
"What did I tell you about killing the humans?" Gex scolded Crypto as he wrangled with the alien, who was reaching for his ray gun. "Your behavior is going to hurt my reputation!"
"Yeah...think I'll just leave," said Marnie as she walked away peacefully; by the time Crypto broke free from Gex, Marnie was already out of sight.
"She's gone...but no matter," snarled Crypto as he grabbed his ray gun, now with nothing but senseless murder on his mind. "Forget your laser tag game! It's hunting season, for me!"
"Can't we just hold hands?" Gex suggested to Crypto, who was focused on killing others as he entered himself into the laser tag fray. "Aaaaand he's gone. That alien isn't my responsibility, so you kiddies can deal with him yourselves."
"But weren't you the one who..." Lucas was about to say, only for Gex to take off without saying another word. Now would be a good time for Lucas and Yuri to give the others a heads up about Crypto.
Now that they were in an 'alliance' with Tom, Dawn and Barry had their eyes set on dominating the laser tag game. In some ways, having an Olympian like Tom on their side gave Dawn and Barry somewhat of an advantage.
"Wow! A gold medal!" exclaimed Toon Link, as he found a random gold medal lying on the ground behind an obstacle. The Hylian, who was off-duty so he could be part of the laser tag battle, picked up the gold medal.
"Starsky, wait!" Young Link, also a participant, shouted at Toon Link from behind as he met up with his partner-in-crime. "This gold medal lying on the ground...it smells like a trap."
"Smells like a trap, huh?" Taking Young Link's word for it, Toon Link sniffed the gold medal but found nothing noteworthy about its nonexistent stench. "Can hardly tell. Don't know what kind of traps you've been smelling..."
"Hurry, Dawn! Do it while they're distracted!" shouted Barry, as he and Dawn hopped out of their hiding spots with their laser guns and eliminated the buddy cops. Both Toon Link and Young Link were out. "You're out, AND you're fined!"
"Outsmarted by the master of fines...how the tables have turned," remarked Young Link, as Tom also emerged from his hiding spot. Just so he could retrieve his gold medal.
"This is mine, thank you very much..." the basketball player said to Toon Link, taking his gold medal away from the Hylian.
Toon Link: Hutch and I have once considered adding Barry to our police ranks. He has a knack for fining others for their deviant deeds, and that would be perfect for our line of work. Whatever gives us an actual paycheck.
"I see the bandicoots!" alerted Dawn as she spotted Crash and Coco from the distance, walking by with Aku. The bandicoots quickly picked up the pace after they were spotted.
"Let's go fine them both!" shouted Barry as he, Dawn, and Tom made chase after Crash and Coco. The three soon ran into another alliance, this one being Armani and Lindy.
"Yo!" shouted Armani, as he and Lindy came to a stop. He soon found himself laughing at Tom, who was confused as to what the laughing matter was about. "You got stuck with that kid?"
"Yeah, you trying to lose on purpose or something?" Lindy asked Tom, as he and Armani were laughing together. Barry was as confused as Tom was, and so Dawn had to fill him in.
"The kid they're referring to is you," Dawn whispered into Barry's ear, and Barry gasped as a hoopla of fines was about to be delivered.
"That is IT!" shouted Barry as he pointed at both Armani and Lindy, his face red with fury. "Words cannot describe how much I'm gonna fine you two!"
"Go on kid, cry more," Armani encouraged Barry in a teasing manner, as he and Lindy continued to laugh at the Pokemon trainer. Meanwhile, Rex and Nia and Dromarch) sneaked by the scene unseen with their laser guns.
"How nice of our enemies to hold each other up," Rex said to Nia, only for him and the others to come to a stop when they saw Fox and Falco speaking with Lucas and Yuri.
"Seriously, Lucas? You're really scared of this one measly alien?" Fox asked the PSI whiz, who had informed the giant hand about Crypto. "Like, what is one alien compared to an army of Shroobs?"
"Fox, this alien wants to kill people," Yuri stressed to the giant hand, who still wasn't that concerned. "Does that not worry you?"
"Ooh, an alien wants to kill everything in sight..." Falco pretended to act scared, doing a lot of scary jazz hands. "...because what alien doesn't want to do that? Were you two born yesterday or something?"
"Yeah, and has this alien killed anyone yet?" questioned Fox, unaware that Crypto happened to be spying on him from behind an obstacle. "You're acting like this is something we can't handle."
"Should we hold off on continuing the laser fight, and capture this alien dude?" Rex asked Nia, who found Rex's idea to be one of the stupidest she has heard in recent memory. "Think of the bragging rights!"
"And end all the fun we're having so far? As if!" replied Falco, who was ready to score more eliminations as he cocked his laser gun. "We won't mess with the alien unless he messes with us."
"Fair game." Before Rex and Nia could press forward, they saw a certain lanky man waving to him from afar, holding his laser gun. "Is that...Waluigi?"
Eggman was on the prowl, hungry for any positive feedback about his New Year's sweater. His latest destination was the arcade, where Yuri Kozukata was with her friends Ren Hojo and Rui Kagamiya.
"Our horror movie collection isn't the best, as you can tell," Yuri said to Ren and Rui, who were both glossing through a collection of horror movies that Yuri had shown them. Meanwhile, Eggman was lying in wait. "The horror movies we do have are kind of ironic."
"I see," remarked Ren, as Eggman was inching closer and closer. It was quite astonishing that the mad scientist's presence had yet to be detected. "How is the Twilight series considered horror movies...?"
"It's a favorite horror movie...for some." Or rather, just one person (any guess as to who it was?). Ren and Rui both looked at Yuri in disbelief. "I won't mention any names."
"Ms. Kozukata! Your male friends look pretty dapper," Eggman said to the young woman, as Rui looked mightily offended. "With their sense of style, I bet they love my sweater!"
"I am a woman," Rui stated to Eggman, who had to do a double-take just to make sure that the assistant wasn't lying. Even had to adjust his glasses.
"Yes, Rui is indeed a woman," Ren informed Eggman, standing up for his assistant's pride. Many times Ren had to correct others on Rui's gender. "I am sorry that is not obvious enough to you."
"Heh, with a name like Rui I beg to differ..." snorted Eggman, before showing off his sparkly sweater to Yuri and company. "...so how do you three like my new year sweater?"
"I would ditch the sparklers if I were you," Yuri recommended to Eggman, who was not a huge fan of the young woman's critique. "They're too distracting."
"Everyone has a problem with the sparklers, don't they..." Grumbling to himself, Eggman marched off to find another critique. He soon came across Larry Koopa, who was playing the Jojo arcade game. "Larry, do you like my sweater?"
"SAVE ME!" shouted Ryuji, as Reigns chased the delinquent inside the arcade. Ryuji tried to hide behind an arcade machine, only for Reigns to break it with a Superman Punch.
"Can't hide from me forever, you know," Reigns said to Ryuji, who ran from the pixelated wrestler after the arcade machine was broken. Ryuji ran and hid behind a set of animatronics on a stage, consisting of Freddy Fazbear and friends.
"No, not the animatronics! Master Hand just got those!" the Arcade Bunny shouted at Reigns, who saw Ryuji hiding discreetly behind the Freddy Fazbear animatronic. Reigns speared Freddy, and Ryuji ran off the stage in the nick of time.
Master Hand: Managed to snaggle those animatronics from the guy who ran that mall pizzeria. They're a great fit for the...What do you mean, one of them is now broken?
"I'm not finished with you!" Reigns bellowed at Ryuji, who ran out of the arcade; Reigns continued the chase, as those in the arcade were alarmed.
"A pixelated pro wrestler bringing forth destruction everywhere he goes?" said Eggman, scratching his chin in thought as Larry took a quick peek at the Jojo arcade machine. "I oughta add that one to my evil to-do list!"
"You go ahead and do that..." Larry said to Eggman, as he saw the code inscribed on the side of the arcade machine. What was that Koopaling plotting?
Waluigi was a part of the laser tag battle, and believe it or not...the lanky man was still in the game! He attributed most of his success so far to sticking along with Nia, Dromarch, and Rex - whom he considered his "brother from another mother".
"Whatcha gonna do with the prize money after you win, Rex?" Waluigi asked the swordsman, who along with Nia was trying to keep a low profile as he maneuvered through the backyard. Hard to do that, with Waluigi at your side.
"There is no prize money for winning, you nincompoop," Nia told Waluigi, who was met with disappointment as his desire to keep on playing was dashed. "Were you even listening to the rules?"
"Sorry, I was using the bathroom when they were going over stuff." Waluigi and company were suddenly blind-sighted, as Knuckles hopped out of nowhere with his ray gun.
"Haha! You're all dead meat!" snickered Knuckles, as he eliminated both Rex and Nia. Waluigi tried to hide behind Dromarch, but it was too late as Knuckles got him, too. Three eliminations for Knuckles, in less than five seconds.
"Nice one, Waluigi...your loud talking gave us away," Rex scolded the lanky man, blaming him for him and Nia being eliminated. Knuckles was in the zone, celebrating as if he had just secured victory.
"Team Star Fox's taking the whole thing!" the echidna cheered as he was feeling himself...only for Mario to come over and eliminate him. Knuckles' excitement was replaced by dumbfoundedness, as he saw his sensors going off.
"Left open-a for the kill," smirked Mario, who was joined by Cloud and the bandicoots. Knuckles reacted negatively to his elimination, taking off his vest and throwing his ray gun to the ground enraged.
"Yeah, I'm out, but so what? I got three eliminations in one sitting! THREE! Bet that was your first elimination the entire game, Mario!"
"He's already up to eight," stated Cloud, as Knuckles was left at a loss for words. Mario sure was killing it at this whole laser tag thing. "Barry kinda padded his numbers leaving himself out in the open, ranting how he was gonna fine people."
"Barry fined-a me five grand for tagging him out," said Mario - not a surprise that Barry handed out the biggest fine to the who eliminated him. "That's five times-a my rent!"
"Well, Crash and I are out," announced Coco, as Aku was relieved that the bandicoots were able to live through the laser tag. As if there was any doubt that they wouldn't. "Where do you go after being tagged out?"
"There's a place-a that you can go to after being tagged-a out?" inquired Mario, as Nia smacked her forehead. If such a place existed, Mario wanted to be the first to know about it.
"Cool, a spaceship!" exclaimed Armani, who was seen checking out the UFO in the backyard along with Lindy. Dawn, Barry, and Tom were also taking a gander at the flying object."This is the same one you saw in Japan, right?"
"That's the one," Lindy replied to Armani, as Mario and company came over to check out the UFO for themselves. The UFO caught the attention of all the other laser tag participants, as Tracer came over banged on the UFO with her fist.
"Hm, I reckon that no one's inside," observed Tracer, seeing that the UFO hatch was already open. "Does anyone know who pilots this ship?"
"Freeze, humans...and furry weird-looking creatures. Your time has come to be DESTROYED!"
Crypto was making his presence known, as he approached the group with his ray gun. The alien was licking his chops, delighted to see so many victims all in one place.
"Nia, it's the alien!" Rex whispered to Nia, pointing at Crypto; Crypto looked around, wondering who he should kill first when his eyes fell upon Mario.
"We meet again, plumber boy..." the alien said to Mario, charging up his ray gun so that he could kill Mario with just one shot. "...don't think I forgot the time that you called me ugly!"
"To be fair, you are kinda ugly," Peony said to the alien, seeing what side Mario was coming from. Peony better shut up, or he'll be next after Mario.
"I am NOT ugly!" hissed Crypto, being very self-conscious with how he looked. Being an alien and all did him no favors. "And neither am I cute!"
"So you look average, then?" Waluigi asked Crypto, who had enough of everyone's comments as he was ready to fire. His anger had reached a boiling point.
But before he could fire with his ray gun, Crypto was sent flying away by a powerful laser. Fox and Falco watched with the others as Crypto flew into the air, never to be seen again.
"Pfft, that alien creep was totally weak," snorted Fox, shaking his head at Lucas and Yuri for giving his hopes up. "You made him seem like a threat."
"Kinda anti-climatic for him to go out like that, though," remarked Falco, as he had a question on his mind that needed answering. "Now where did that laser come from? Did we tell you guys not to use any high-tech laser guns?"
That laser came from Metal Sonic, who entered the scene from the shadows, erm, shade, holding his hand out. Sonic, who many would assume to be afraid for his life, was instead annoyed at that very moment.
"Aw, shucks..." the blue hedgehog groaned, as his robotic nemesis was looking to destroy him. And Metal Sonic wasn't going to wait around to do it.
"Sonic the Hedgehog...we meet again," Metal Sonic said to his hedgehog rival as he put his hand down - almost like he was gonna monologue. Very typical villain stuff. "Are you ready to die?"
"Can you not? We're kinda in the middle of something," Juna said to Metal Sonic, wishing for him to kill Sonic later. But Metal Sonic couldn't wait any longer, for his prey was in his sight.
"I don't care." Metal Sonic inched closer to Sonic as if he expected the blue hedgehog to just stay put like an obedient young lad. "Any last words, hedgehog?"
"I only have a couple," replied Sonic, as Metal Sonic gave the blue blur one final chance to speak. "If you want me...you're gonna have to catch me first!" On that note, Sonic sped towards the mansion, and Metal Sonic honestly saw it coming from a mile away.
"So that's the game you want to play, hm?" Metal Sonic made chase after Sonic, willing to chase the hedgehog all throughout the mansion if he had to. Just as long as Sonic was dead before midnight struck.
"Must really suck to have a guy that wants to come after you and kill you," remarked Knuckles, reflecting upon the Sonic-Metal Sonic feud...only for his face to fall when he saw Carl Johnson, escorted out the mansion backdoor by the police. "Oh no..."
"Our apologies for not calling you earlier," Link apologized to the police officers, as he and Zelda followed them out of the mansion. Carl was handcuffed, going back to jail where he belonged.
"You kept this man from going anywhere and hurting others, so you two did the right thing," a police officer said to Link and Zelda, as his men guided Carl to the driveway. Carl abruptly stopped in place, bringing the police officers to a halt when he saw Knuckles.
"Uh...hi Carl!" Knuckles smiled and waved to the man, acting as cordial as he possibly could be. But Carl wasn't buying it, as he glared at the echidna. "How is life in jail treating ya?"
"Lil Knux! I'm gonna kill you, man!" Carl shouted at Knuckles, kicking a police officer down as he ran towards Knuckles. Knuckles shrieked, as Carl chased him away despite being handcuffed.
Mario: Let this be a lesson, children...never joke around-a when it comes to owing people money. Because-a then they'd want to kill you.
"Hello, we need backup..." a police officer spoke into his walkie-talkie, as the laser tag battle was now put on hold indefinitely. "...our suspect is chasing some echidna around...yes, this is taking place at the mansion."
Cafe Leblanc was consistently at full capacity throughout the day, as guests coming in and out kept business booming. One of those guests was Christopher of the men's basketball team, who was digging the whole cafe atmosphere while enjoying some curry.
"Now this is the kind of cafe I can get behind," smiled Christopher, putting Cafe Leblanc legions above the maid cafe he wandered into in episode 294. Next to Christopher was Kazuya, who had requested a "special" brew for Heihachi.
"Thank you," Kazuya thanked Viridi, who gave the businessman a tall cup of coffee. Kazuya returned to his table, discreetly shaking some white powder into the coffee along the way. Dante and the ice cream gang saw him.
"He's definitely trying to kill one of them," inferred Dante, as Kazuya sat back down at his table and offered the coffee to Heihachi.
"Happy new year, father," Kazuya said to Heihachi after handing him his cup of coffee, as Heihachi looked at his cup of coffee skeptically. He could tell that something was fishy.
"If Blathers was around, he'd tell you to drink your coffee before it gets cold," Ling said to Heihachi, who decided to let the coffee sit on the table. "Just drink it for your dad!"
"He obviously cared about you enough to fix you a cup," Jin said to Heihachi, who had no choice but to give in as he sighed. Glaring at Kazuya, who was smiling earnestly, Heihachi grabbed his cup of coffee and slowly held it up to his lips...
...only for Banjo to rush in and take the cup from Heihachi, drinking the coffee himself. Kazuya and company looked shocked, as Banjo happily wiped his mouth and patted his stomach.
"Yum, that hit the spot!" remarked Banjo, taking one for the team believing that he saved Heihachi from imminent doom. "Why do I feel dizzy...?"
"Banjo?" Kazooie said to the bear, who in a matter of seconds passed out unto the floor with a thud. A thud loud enough to garner the attention of everyone in the cafe. "Oh, Banjo!"
"Bear down! I repeat, bear down!" alerted Pit, hopping over the counter as he tried to resuscitate Banjo. The angel was pumping the unconscious bear's chest, as Heihachi frowned at Kazuya.
Dante: I didn't call for Banjo to drink that coffee. He went in for himself. Took a page right out of Popo's book!
"You were trying to kill me, weren't you?" Heihachi shouted at Kazuya, getting up in his son's grill as Jin and Ling tried to separate him from Kazuya. "Don't even try to deny it!"
"Please don't overreact - the coffee only knocked him out," stated Kazuya, feigning some innocence as Pit was giving Banjo with mouth-to-mouth. "Maybe the bear couldn't handle how strong the coffee was."
"Likely story..." Heihachi was through with Kazuya, as he left the cafe with a huff. Jin and Ling followed after Heiachi, the former pausing and looking back at his dad only for a brief moment before leaving the cafe.
"So they chose the old man over me...hmph." Kazuya returned to his seat, as he now had the table all for himself. "...it won't take long for them to regret their decision."
"Guilty as charged..." Dante said quietly, as his suspicions regarding Kazuya were now confirmed. He couldn't wait to get his hands on the businessman.
Nico and her gang arrived at their destination, expecting it to be some kind of liquor store...but instead, it was a mansion. Everyone got out of the van, getting a good look at the apparent home.
"Don't know why, but I recognize this place..." remarked Thomas, as he and the others went up the walkway to the front door. Champion Link rang the doorbell, hoping that he and the others were at the right location.
"This is the right address," the Hylian confirmed, as he waited for someone to answer the door. The door would soon be answered...by Carrington, who was bothered to see so many people on his doorstep.
"Wassup?" Kermit greeted Carrington, throwing up some fake gang signs...but Carrington was in no mood to return the favor. He was quite irritated.
"What are you guys doing at my place?" Carrington asked Champion Link and company with a sigh, not nearly having enough in him to remove everyone from his property.
"Master Hand asked us to get drinks from this location," Mipha explained to Carrington, who looked up to the heavens and sighed deeply.
"This is what I get for being his 'favorite quarterback'...come on in." Carrington led the group inside his house, left with no choice but to give them what they came for. "...hope Master Hand likes fruit cocktails. Oh, and don't touch anything!"
Because Wario was too cheap to buy a new crystal ball, Steve and Alex were forced to make one themselves, but with diamonds. Orbulon had another go-around with placing the crystal ball on the drop tower, doing it with much patience.
"Slow and steady wins the race..." Orbulon said to himself, as he gently guided the crystal ball down to the drop tower. The alien gently placed the ball on the tower's pole, making sure that it was a perfect fit. "...yes, I did it!"
Wario: Don't know why, but I get a hundred bucks with Cortex that Orbulon wouldn't get the new crystal ball to stick into the pole on the drop tower. Now I've made another man richer! Wah!
"Great work, Orbulon!" Cilan commended the alien from down below, as Iris, Zeke, Pandoria, and most of Class VII were cheering for the alien. They all had Orbuon blushing.
"Thanks, guys, it was nothing..." As Orbulon continued to blush, he saw Knuckles run unto the drop tower roof, coming out from a door. "...oh, Knuckles!"
"Better pay up, Lil Knux!" Carl shouted at Knuckles as he ran out of the door, joining Knuckles on the roof. Knuckles had nowhere to go.
"How did they manage to get up to the roof?" wondered Cilan, as he and the others saw Carl and Knuckles at the edge of the drop tower. "They must've found access to the tower's secret passage!"
"What secret passage?" inquired Houston of the men's basketball team, as he came over to Cilan. He would look up, and see the two men standing on the roof of the drop tower. "Woah..."
"You can't kill me, you're still handcuffed!" Knuckles taunted Carl, whose hands were restricted thanks to his handcuffs. As he walked closer to Knuckles, Carl stepped on a sword...Hayabusa's Dragon Sword.
"Heh, who's handcuffed now?" smirked Carl, using the Dragon Sword to the best of his ability to cut the handcuffs. Carl's hands were free...free to strangle Knuckles to no end.
"Welp..." Knuckles gulped nervously, as Carl was now free to do whatever he wanted. He could jump off the tower and fly away, but that would mean nothing if Carl could still find him.
"Knuckles, the police are on their way!" Fox shouted to the echidna, as he was joined by many others from the laser tag at the base of the drop tower. "Just don't die!"
"'Just don't die'...some helpful advice that's supposed to be!" Probably wasn't the best advice in the world, but it was the best Knuckles had at the moment.
"...what do you mean he left the Dragon Sword on the drop tower?!" Hayabusa asked Palutena, as he spoke with the goddess of light in the kitchen. Palutena just informed Hayabusa that she saw Pit with his sword.
"He was messing around with your sword that night, and he left it on the tower all willy-nilly," explained Palutena, cooking some chili over the stove, as Hayabusa was incensed. "That's what he told me anyway, this morning."
"And he didn't bother retrieving it? Knew leaving my sword unattended during breakfast was a mistake..." As Hayabusa looked to give Pit a piece of his mind, Mario entered the kitchen.
"Chili smells-a good, Lady Palutena!" Mario said to the goddess of light, before remembering what he wanted to ask. "Uh, have Sonic and Metal Sonic passed-a through here, by any chance?"
Trying to keep his distance from Master Hand, Wayne was strolling through the hallway with Bowser. He was unsure of what compelled him to hang out with Bowser, of all people, but the Koopa King was better company than Master Hand.
"As it turns out, I don't need Peach to be complete," Bowser discussed with Wayne, who was more preoccupied with the phone in his hand. "My children - and favorite son - are enough to make me feel good!"
"Cool story, bro," replied Wayne, noodling around on his phone as his eyes were glued to the screen. "Why don't you write a story about that?"
"Stop it right there, you factoring hectopascal - we finally found you! We must run a flawless calculation on you before we let you pass..."
Wayne and Bowser both came to a stop, as Wayne crinkled his nose figuring that the voice was speaking to him. Then out of nowhere, Wayne was ambushed by the Wicked Twisters, as Rindo, Fret, and Nagi attacked him from behind.
"What in the world..." frowned Wayne, as Rindo and company brought the basketball player down to his knees. Wayne looked up and saw Sho and Shoka coming his way. "...is this some kind of gang initiation?"
"It's close enough," replied Shoka, walking close to Wayne as she held out her hand to him with a smile. "Let me see your phone."
"I'm not giving you a thing..." Wayne was showing a little defiance with the Wicked Twisters..and he was exhibiting such behavior with the wrong group.
"Wicked Twisters, rough him up!" commanded Sho, as Rindo and his friends wrangled with Wayne. They were harassing the basketball player until Rindo acquired his cellphone.
"Here is his phone," Rindo said to Shoka as he handed the reaper Wayne's phone. Sho immediately took the phone and got down to work. "Take as much time as you need to, Shoka."
"Bruh, how did you unlock my phone like that?' Wayne questioned Shoka, who bypassed the password prompt as she scoured the phone. "Better not go through the images on my..."
"Aaaaaand he doesn't even have the app," Shoka sighed heavily, as she handed the phone back to Wayne by casually tossing it to him. "You guys got it wrong. Again."
"But they call him the 'Slim Reaper'!" Fret pleaded his case to the disappointed Sho and Shoka, with Wayne left wondering where Fret heard that name from. "At least they do online..."
Bowser: People online call him the Slim Reaper? What do the people online call me? World's Greatest Dad? I agree wholeheartedly!
"Yet another failed equation..." grumbled Sho, as he and the Wicked Twisters left Wayne alone and walked away in defeat. "...maybe those Belmonts know where we can find a Reaper."
"That was strange," remarked Wayne as he stood up on his feet, dusting himself off as he turned his attention to Bowser. He was very disappointed with the Koopa King. "Can't believe you just stood around and let that happen."
"INCOMING!" shouted Sonic, as and Metal Sonic came speeding down the hallway. Wayne screamed as he and Bowser both jumped out of harm's way, as the Sonics passed by.
"They actually brought over the real Metal Sonic..." Wayne got a glimpse of Metal Sonic, seeing that the robot was the real deal. Not some lousy wannabe. "...good for them."
Kazuya sat alone in Cafe Leblanc, deep in thought as Heihachi, Jin, and Ling left him by himself. The businessman was trying to keep to himself when he was approached by Dante and the ice cream gang. (Minus Banjo and Kazooie, with the former recovering at the fitness center.)
"Hi there, Kazuya..." Dante asked Kazuya, putting his hands on the table the businessman was sitting at. "...what's got you feeling so down, man?"
"None of your business," responded Kazuya, doing his best to ignore Dante and company as he fixed the tie on his suit. "Why do you care?"
"We couldn't help but notice that you've been feeling lonely," the female Inkling said to Kazuya, putting a hand on his shoulder. An angry look from Kazuya made her retract her hand. "So we want to help!"
"Help yourselves...just leave me be." Soon Kazuya's attention was drawn to an ice cream sundae, which Popo had placed on the table. "Is that for me?"
"Made by yours truly!" Popo said confidently to Kazuya, with a smile on his face...only for his smile to fade in an instant. "But, of course, you don't have to eat it, since you had doubts about my ice cream business."
"That has nothing to do with anything!" Kazuya watched as Popo pulled the ice cream sundae away from him, before grabbing the sundae with both of his hands. He seemed to care about that sundae.
"Nothing to do with anything, hm..." said Dante, leaning in close to Kazuya as he was now getting personal with the business. "...how about you answer this one question, and we'll let you have that sundae."
"Fine, ask away. It better be something that I can answer easily." Hearing that from Kazuya, Dante had the biggest smirk on his face.
"Between Heihachi and Jin...who do you hate more?" Dante had Kazuya seized with fury, as Kazuya clenched his teeth refusing to give an answer.
"Well...let's just say I hate them both equally. And sometimes I wish that those two never existed. Does that answer that question for you?"
"We had a hunch you would say that..." Dante looked out the room, likely giving someone a signal...and in came Sephiroth, who had Kazuya on edge.
"An angel versus a demon...how poetic," snarled Sephiroth, as he stared down at Kazuya. Kazuya tried to leave his seat, but Dante held him in place.
"Since Banjo's down for the count, we needed a guy to replace him with," Dante explained to Kazuya, who found himself intimidated by Sephiroth. "Joker said Sephiroth loves doing favors."
"It's true - I told him myself," Joker confirmed to Kazuya, standing behind the counter as he cleaned a glass. "Please take your business outside the cafe, don't want another remodel..."
"I have defeated you once," Sephiroth said to Kazuya, reflecting upon the beatdown he handed to him and Heihachi in episode 278. "Why not do it again, for old time's sake? Just to ring in the new year."
"No...I refuse! Let me go!" shouted Kazuya, as the ice cream gang dragged him out of his seat and out of Cafe Leblanc. "Why you..." Joker and everyone else watched, as Kazuya was about to get his just desserts.
The standoff between Knuckles and Carl persisted on the drop tower roof, as Link, Zelda, and many others were at the scene. A bunch of flashing police cars were outside, and there was even was a police helicopter, too.
"We have you surrounded!" a man with a megaphone shouted to Carl from the helicopter, which circled around the drop tower. "Surrender now!"
"Watch where you're flying that thing!" Orbulon shouted at the helicopter from inside his UFO, not in the mood for landing his spaceship; he had the best seats in the house!
Fox: When Knuckles was going through his "Lil Knux" phase, I figured there would be some collateral damage. But I didn't think that there would be this much.
"It's the end of the line, Lil Knux," Carl shouted at Knuckles, refusing to leave the echidna alone until he got what he wanted. "Give me the thousand dollars, or else!"
"Psst, how much is a thousand dollars worth?" Even whispered to Reaper, as he stood with Ansem the Wise and Ienzo. Munny was the only currency that Even had ever known.
"Do I look like a living calculator to you?" Reaper asked Even with a grumble, as Knuckles was backing away closer to the edge of the roof. Many shrieked, as it looked like Knuckles was about to fall.
"Guys...I'm gonna do it!" announced Knuckles, making up his mind as he turned around and stood at the edge. He was looking down below, at the large crowd of folks below him.
"Knuckles, don't do it!" Zelda shouted to the echidna, who was one step away from making a potentially fatal mistake. Unless he flew away. "You know how dangerous jumping off the roof is..."
"Do a backflip!" Armani encouraged Knuckles, holding his phone out as he was recording the entire charade on his device. "Or better yet, do a bunny hop."
"Do a barrel roll instead," Falco encouraged Knuckles, imagining how funny of a sight that would be. "But like, in the air."
"Don't encourage him..." Zelda frowned at both Armani and Falco, silencing the two as Knuckles made up his mind a second time.
"You know what, I can't do this," said Knuckles, making a wise decision as he backed away from the edge of the roof. Carl couldn't believe that Knuckles had punked out like that.
"What's the matter, Lil Knux? You scared?" the man taunted Knuckles, as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a rock. "Jump, man, jump!" Carl tossed the rock at Knuckles, striking him in the head.
"Ow!" Knuckles winced in pain, nearly losing his footing but keeping his balance as the rock fell to the ground. Iris picked up a rock...and saw that it wasn't a rock at all.
"Aw, it's a cute little turtle!" the former champion squealed, gently petting the turtle with her finger. Zeke gasped as he and Pandoria ran over to Iris.
"TURTERS!" the Crown Prince shrieked as he snatched the turtle away from Iris and petted it in a loving embrace. "It's okay, you're safe with Zeke now..."
Dunban: Hmm, come to think of it...that "rock" our guest found in the dining room did look like it was moving a bit.
"What's with all this commotion?" inquired Eggman as he appeared outside with Cubot and Orbot, still wearing his yet-to-be-patented new year's sweater. "What you all should really be looking at is my..."
"Now's not the time, Eggman!" Link shouted at the mad scientist, who looked up and saw the police helicopter circling around in the sky. And also Orbulon's UFO, which was dangerously close to the helicopter.
"Well, I never had this much attention when I got arrested..." That's nothing worth complaining over, Eggman. "...but who's getting arrested, by the way?"
"Don't make me cut you up, Lil Knux!" Carl shouted at Knuckles, as he now wielded the Dragon Sword that was left on the roof. What a truly amusing sight to behold.
"Look man, you don't have to do this..." Knuckles said to Carl, who screamed as he held up the Dragon Sword. Carl charged towards Knuckles, who looked away in fear...
...but then a blue blur zipped unto the drop tower roof, running into Carl and causing him to fall. That blue blur was none other than Sonic, who had joined Knuckles on the roof.
"Knuckles! Funny seeing you here," Sonic said to the echidna, who now deemed Sonic a lifesaver. Carl stood back up, holding unto the Dragon Sword as he was now angry with Sonic.
"Why I oughta..." growled Carl as he ran towards Sonic with the sword...only for a laser to be fired at the roof, sending him back. That laser came from Metal Sonic, who was flying in the air.
"Metal Sonic?!" Eggman shouted the robot's name, as Metal Sonic looked down and saw his incensed inventor. "Thought I told you to stay behind!"
"I don't have to listen to you," Metal Sonic said to Eggman, who clutched his pearls as he was put in his place. Metal Sonic then landed on the roof, focusing his attention on Sonic.
"Hey, how 'bout the two of us work together?" Carl asked Metal Sonic, trying to align himself with the robot. "I get Lil Knux, and you can get..."
"Not interested in an alliance...I have already learned my lesson." Turning down Carl's offer, Metal Sonic held up his hand as he charged up some energy. "Let me take out my prey first..."
Before Metal Sonic could even make his move, he was distracted by Ryuji who had run unto the roof. Ryuji's presence only meant one thing...Reigns was still chasing after the delinquent.
"What the..." uttered Metal Sonic, discharging the energy from his hand as Ryuji ran past him. Reigns incidentally punched the robot in the face trying to smack Ryuji, and Metal Sonic was sent flying off the roof.
"We got him, we got him!" said Cubot as he and Orbot held their hands out, only for Metal Sonic to land on the ground a few feet away from Cubot and Orbot. "We don't got him..."
"Well, that takes care of that," remarked Sonic, having witnessed Metal Sonic getting smacked by Reigns, before noticing that Ryuji was taking a breather. "Sheesh, Ryuji! How much running did you do?"
"I think my sweat glands are all exhausted..." panted Ryuji, who was panting and sweating buckets; Reigns had the delinquent running like the Flash. Speaking of Reigns, the pixelated wrestler was about to confront Ryuji...until Carl confronted him.
"Wanna take care of those three?" Carl asked Reigns as he pointed at Sonic, Knuckles, and Ryuji, who were all huddled together. "Kill three birds with...two stones, or something."
"So you wanna be at my side, huh?" Reigns asked Carl with a smirk, wondering if the man had any idea who he was talking to. "Just gotta do one little thing...acknowledge me."
Pit: Wanna know the easiest way to make someone a nemesis of Reigns? It's very simple - just tell Reigns the name of the person who refuses to acknowledge him. Did it with Ryuji, and now the rest of history! Wish I could see Ryuji running for his life...
"Me, acknowledge you?" snorted Carl, as he refused to bow down to any man. Pixelated or not. He was a man that beat to the sound of his own drum. "I ain't acknowledging a gang thing!"
"Suit yourself..." responded Reigns as he turned around and walked away from Carl, nodding his head. The pixelated wrestler had come to terms with Carl's decision.
But as it turned out, it was the wrong decision for Carl to make. Reigns turned back around and speared Carl off the roof of the drop tower. A collective gasp was heard, as Reigns and Carl crashed to the ground with folks moving out of the way. Fortunately, a certain mad scientist broke their fall.
"Noooo, you ruined my new year's sweater!" wailed Eggman, as his sweater was now a mangled mess. The sparklers stopped sparkling, as Reigns got off of a squashed Carl.
"Um, boss...I do believe that Metal Sonic is out of commission," Orbot informed Eggman, as Metal Sonic was unresponsive. The robot was unable to get up after his nasty fall.
"Forget Metal Sonic - my sweater is ruined! All the work I put into it...and the drip, it's gone! No thanks to these miscreants!"
"Yare yare daze...is this the man that I have to put up with? Looks like the lowest scum in history..."
Eggman and everyone else's attention was soon drawn to another pixelated being in their midst...the mighty Jotaro Kujo. Standing next to him was Larry, the Koopaling responsible for bringing Jotaro out.
"Oh no, not him..." panicked Kanji as he ran back inside to mansion. Naoto watched Kanji scram, disgruntled by how much of a coward he was.
"If you're gonna break my motorcycle, you can forget - I got myself a new one!" Wario shouted at Jotaro, who had no interest in destroying property...he was only interested in Reigns.
Armani: Aliens from outer space, killer robots, some pixelated wrestler, and an anime dude coming to life...am I stuck in some fever dream?
Link: Welcome to life at the mansion, during late December...
"Let's just make this quick..." Jotaro said to Reigns as he approached the pixelated wrestler, who was his apparent foe. "...promise I won't go easy on you."
"You wanna deal with some scum?" Reigns asked Jotaro, as he grabbed Carl by his held and held him up for Jotaro to see. "Try him on for size."
"Not a worthy opponent, but I can always accept some easy pickings." Jotaro summoned his Stand, Star Platinum, as Carl was shaking his head no. "Hold him steady..."
While all the hoopla was going on outside, the going-away/tailgate party was still taking place in the living room. Gex invited himself to the party and was enjoying everything the party had to offer.
"These pigs in a blanket are delicious!" remarked Gex, who was helping himself to some pigs in a blanket. Impa, who was at the party, watched as Gex tossed the sausages in his mouth. "Like the hot dogs served at Mike Tyson's house."
"Spyro, Hunter, he's going through the pigs in a blanket again," Impa notified the friends, bringing their attention to Gex. Spyro and Hunter acted fast, hustling their way over to Gex.
"Gex, leaving those weird-looking pigs alone!" Hunter shouted at the lizard, as Impa stepped away from the food trays - only to run into Steve.
"May I have your love, just this once?" Steve asked Impa in a last-ditch attempt to win her heart, as he offered the Sheikah a rose.
"This is my last day in town, so...I'll accept this as a parting gift." Impa accepted the rose from Steve, who was left moderately satisfied. "Go chase after Alex, if you're that desperate for love."
"Who wants some cocktails?!" shouted Thomas as he, Kermit, and the Champions of Hyrule entered the living room with some fruit cocktails. Cheers were heard all around, as the fruit cocktails were placed near the food.
Champion Link: Anna never specified which party the drinks were for, but there was definitely a party going on in the living room. Never thought that I would see a tailgating party indoors...It's also a going-away party, too? Huh?
"We already had drinks, but thanks anyway," Spyro thanked Thomas and company, as he and Hunter were successful in deterring Gex from the pigs in a blanket. After getting Gex to vamoose, Spyro and Hunter were suddenly joined by Ruby and company.
"Nice work with the party, boys," Yang commended Spyro and Hunter, giving Hunter props for the very first time. As for Spyro, who knows.
"Yeah, even though the theme is...different for a going-away party, we enjoyed ourselves," said Blake, being honest as she possibly could be. "And the party guests, too."
"That part was unintentional," stated Hunter, who was more than happy with the turnout for his party. "These people must've wanted to bid you goodbye. And I can't blame 'em..."
Banjo was fully recovered from his unconsciousness, as he was at the fitness center chilling with Kazooie. The bear would receive some company, as Wii Fit Trainer brought in Kazuya.
"Have a seat right there!" Wii Fit said to Kazuya, who was groggily holding his head as he took a seat next to Banjo. Sephiroth and the ice cream gang really must've got Kazuya good.
"You had some of that coffee, too?" Banjo naively asked Kazuya, patting the businessman on his back and causing him to wince in pain. "Welcome to the club, buddy!"
"$2,275 is the final number for the ice cream sales," Kazuya said to Kazooie, who instantly perked up as Kazuya went to go find another seat. "Just thought you wanted to know."
"Is he going to be okay?" Jin asked Dante, standing with Heihachi and Jin as Dante exited from the fitness center. Jin heard that Kazuya got beat up, and wanted to see if his dad was okay.
"Kazuya still hates you, and Heihachi," Dante told Jin, patting him on the back as he walked down the hallway. "So nothing has changed..."
"Hmph...knew it," smirked Heihachi, as Jin was left discouraged; poor Jin was sorely convinced that Kazuya was turning over a new leaf.
Mario: Master Hand usually shies away when-a the police are at the mansion and doesn't come-a out when the matter is settled. A police car often scares-a him, for better or for worse.
Master Hand found the courage to come outside his room, as he and Anna stopped by the drop tower to see Carl being arrested. And for good, as the police brought him to a police car handcuffed and sat him inside.
"Well...at least the drop tower is still intact," observed Master Hand, seeing the tower and the crystal ball both undamaged. "And I don't think anyone died, so that's always a good thing."
"Hold it!" Zeke shouted to the police, bustling through the crowd as he reached the police car. In his hand was his precious turtle, Turters. "May I?" the Crown Prince asked one of the officers.
"Uh, sure," replied the officer, as he and his men stepped out of the way. Zeke leaned in close to Carl and slapped him in an almost reprimanding manner.
"Handling another man's turtle..." Zeke scolded Carl, before leaving the police car. The police car was closed, with Carl was headed back to jail soon.
"What a silly reason to get arrested," Cortex spoke with a lone police officer, who gave the evil genius a double-take. "Threatening to kill somebody over a measly grand...preposterous!"
"Wait, are you Dr. Neo Cortex?" the police officer asked Cortex, who nodded his head believing that he was about to be asked to sign an autograph. "You're the guy that hit those cars near Bellevue!"
"What cars near Bellevue?" Cortex was confused, and he was even more confused as the police officer arrested him. "What?! I didn't do anything! Who on earth framed me?! Was it Pit?! Uka, save me!"
"No thanks," responded Uka, who was literally floating next to Cortex as watched the evil genius being arrested before him. The police officer brought Cortex to a police car, as Master Hand and Anna watched.
"How awfully fitting that he gets arrested before his last day," Master Hand said to Anna concerning Cortex, as Mario came over to speak with the giant hand. "Hope he already packed up his belongings!"
"Oh, my poor sweater..." lamented Eggman, holding his ruined new year's sweater and paying no attention to the damaged Metal Sonic that Cubot and Orbot placed next to him. A fair distance from Eggman was Ryuji, who was hiding behind a police car.
"He can't possibly find me here," Ryuji said quietly, on the lookout for you-know-who, only for someone to tap his shoulder. Ryuji turned around...and saw Reigns and Jotaro, staring down at him.
"You were saying something?" Reigns asked Ryuji, who shrieked as Reigns grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up. "Don't think that I'm not finished with you, punk."
"Please, Mr. Reigns, don't kill me..." Ryuji pleaded to Reigns with begging hands, as he saw Larry standing by with the corner of his eye. "...Larry, do something!"
"Sorry, Ryuji, no can do," replied Larry, holding his hands up as he backed away. He wanted no part of what was going down. "This one's on you."
Larry: It surprisingly didn't take that long for Reigns and Jotaro to gel so quickly. It was probably their masculinity that made them connect. Yeah, that was it.
"Roman!" Pit called out to the pixelated wrestler, as he flew down to where Reigns and the others were. He was mildly disappointed when he saw that Ryuji didn't have a single scratch on him. "Aw, you didn't destroy Ryuji yet?"
"You were supposed to destroy him?" Jotaro asked Reigns, who was unsure of what his mission truly was. All he knew was that Ryuji didn't acknowledge him, and that was the justification for harassing him all day.
"Why do I have to destroy this fool?" Reigns asked Pit, as he was barely even capable of destroying anyone. Injuring folks, yes, but it wasn't like he could go full Kenshiro.
"...to make Ryuji pay for saying that wrestling is real and totally not fake?" Pit replied with a nervous smile, as Reigns couldn't believe the words that came out of the angel's mouth. He was nearly beside himself.
"You! You're the boy who stole my Dragon Sword!" Hayabusa shouted at Pit, pointing at the angel as he angrily walked towards him. A police officer gave him back his blade. "Lady Palutena told me that you did it..."
"She was just lying." Pit's attempt to deflect didn't work, as Reigns let go of Ryuji and grabbed Pit's arm. "Roman, what are you doing?!"
"Stealing weapons now, aren't we?" Reigns asked Pit, as he squeezed the angel's arm tight. Pit looked up at Reigns in fear. "I think you need to learn a lesson...from the tribal chief."
"No, Roman, you don't understand! I was just testing the sword out! You understand, don't you?" Unfortunately for Pit, Reigns chose not to understand as he took the angel away.
"Yare yare daze..." remarked Jotaro, as he and Larry followed after Reigns, likely wanting to join in on the fun. Ryuji was free to go, as he hurried back inside the mansion.
"Crash, Coco, Aku! I'm finally done with the..." shouted Crunch as he arrived at the mansion, only to be greeted by the horde of police cars. The police were ready to pull out.
"I'll visit you one day, alright?" Tiki called out to Cortex through the police car window, before watching as the police car took Cortex away.
"Now would be a good time for a good, long vacation.." said Uka, as he floated away from the mansion. The longer that Cortex had to stay behind bars, the better off that Uka would be.
"And that's basically what-a happened," Mario said to Master Hand and Anna, after recounting to them everything that transpired after the laser tag battle was interrupted. Crunch came over to speak with the plumber.
"Lemme guess, I missed all the action," Crunch said to Mario, who didn't feel like answering for the answer was far too obvious. "So much for my chance to be important."
"You decorated your place-a for new year's without-a your siblings. Does that not make-a you feel important?" Taking Mario's point into consideration, Crunch nodded his head and smiled.
"Yeah, I guess it does! Bet they thought I couldn't do it, huh? Can't wait to see the looks on their faces.."
"About time you made it, Crunch," Aku said to the burly bandicoot, as he came over with Crash and Coco. Crunch smiled, as he pointed his thumbs at himself.
"Guess who got our place decked out for the new year's party? THIS GUY!" As Crunch bragged to his siblings, Mario wandered off walking to the front of the mansion and looking inside a window.
Through the window outside, Mario saw Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang in the living room enjoying the party. Seeing the three ladies getting along with Hunter was a very welcome sight for the plumber.
"I'm going to be leaving soon," Impa notified Mario, approaching the plumber from behind with a drink from the party in her hand. "I have no interest in this New Year's...whatever."
"Eh, you weren't really into that stuff-a anyway," stated Mario, who was soon joined by another person set to be leaving soon - Ema Skye. "Ah, Miss Skye."
"Before you ask, Mario...I'm not giving you a check," said Ema, as Mario snapped his fingers in disgust. So much for getting $3,000. "Just wanted to say thanks for giving me a second chance. Really meant a lot."
"Ah, don't mention it!" Soon Mario was joined by three more individuals - Hisui, Kohaku, and Leia. "And what would-a you three like to say?"
"Can you give Little Mac this?" Leia asked Mario as she handed the plumber a small slip of paper. "Has my address on it. Tell Little Mac he can write to me whenever he wants!"
"Little Mac's penmanship isn't the best, but I'll let-a him know." Mario placed the slip of paper in his pocket, keeping it safe and secure.
"Say it..." Kohaku whispered to Hisui, nudging her brother in the side with her elbow. Hisui sighed in response.
"Uh...thanks for letting us stay at the mansion, Mario," Hisui thanked the plumber, acting like showing some thanks was the hardest thing he could do. "My sister and I probably overstayed our welcome, but...thanks for everything. I guess..."
"Trust me, Hisui - no one at the mansion overstays-a their welcome," Mario told the young man, hoping to see the Heart siblings again in the near future. "You're free to come-a back anytime!"
"And by 'anytime', I assume just the holidays." It could literally be any other time, Hisui. Not just Christmas. "Don't cry too much when we leave, alright?"
"Already cried a lot when Layton and-a Luke had to leave...just, don't judge-a me, okay?! I really liked those-a two..."
