A/N: Sorry it's been almost four months. . . ouch. Happy New Year 2021~! Stay strong my peeps!

Chapter 109: Smash Grand Opening: Part 2

Robin's face began to melt into despair, as more Smashers flooded the restaurant one by one. The Heroes noticed Robin's awful expression, and Eleven didn't hesitate to ask if he was alright.

"No, I'm all-left," Robin murmured, taking a heavy gulp. "The Smashers. . . are here. We need to leave. Now. Kirby may be dumber than dumb than I thought." Robin clicked his tongue. "Just when I warned him."

"What's the plan?" Arusu asked.

"I say we twack them all." Solo suggested.

"No! We can't do that, ya! They are the Smashers!" Eight screeched out in a soft tone.

Time was ticking, and it would only be a matter of time before one of the Smashers would notice his presence.

"Hide, under the table," Robin ordered. "I'll distract them, and I'll let you guys know when the coast is cleared. ONLY when I say the coast is clear, got it? Like I said, under no means, we can't ruin your amazing grand opening."

Robin's words clicked with the Heroes like a typewriter, as they crouched out of their seats and straight under the table. It was only by a hair when Lucina made eye-contact with her missing friend.

"Robin! Is that you?!" Lucina called out, catching the attention of the other Smashers around him.

"Wait, he's alive?" Ike muttered.

"Yep, it'sa me! Robin!" Robin sweatdropped, popping a short wave to the Smashers as they hurried up to his table.

"I hope you know we were super worried about you," Chrom said.

"We all thought you died. . ." Marth said, staring at his brown eyes.

"I was expecting Robin to come back with his eyes gouged out, but. . ." Roy scratched his chin. "But hey, a miracle's a miracle."

Robin glanced at Roy and half smirked. "I escaped from those people and put out a fight! They can't catch me."

"Don't sit out here alone! Come sit with us!" Lucina grabbed Robin's arm, forcing him out of his seat. "We're having the house special!"

"Mario's treating." Chrom said.

"Mama mia. . ." Mario sighed. "Well, it's great to see you again. We're having ramen because the food court at the mall was crowded."

'What a freaking coincidence.' Robin's eye twitched but managed to keep his composure. Lucina dragged him to an empty seat and placed him down in front of a glass of coke.

Robin relaxed his shoulders and didn't double-doggy dare himself to glance at the back of the restaurant where he left the Heroes under the table.

'Only when the coast is clear. Wow. So gullible. Stay under the table forever! From this day forth, I'm a free man!'

It took time, but Robin was reunited with the Smashers. The Smashers enjoyed themselves to a nice piping hot bowl of ramen for lunch before preparing everything for the Grand Opening.

(oOoOoOo)

Smash Mansion

After lunch, Robin, with the biggest grin on his face, joined the Smashers back into the new and improved mansion. Grander, more unique than the last few mansions.

"Wow! This place is so unbelievable." Robin commented, making his way inside the mansion with Mario right next to him.

"It's only a week in progress and we're still adding more rooms," Mario explained.

"I'm curious, where are you getting this money from?" Robin asked.

"We got a few sponsors that supported us becoming Smashers once more. Makato's family dropped the bill from the party at Niho and agreed to help restore the mansion, as long as we promote their Nihoian beverages. We ran a donation pool from Smashville, car washes, bake sales just to accumulate enough money to buy the land back for the month. But we're still broke, which is why we're hosting a Grand Opening."

Robin nodded. 'I see. So far, so good I supposed. With lots of people coming to the Grand Opening, not to mention I promised to get them their suits at Macy's by tonight. I doubt they'd follow me all the way here. They can't even afford a bus ride!' A grin appeared from his lips, followed by a daunting laugh that freaked out Mario.

"Anyways, we got famous idols that'll be performing tonight! Miku Hatsune and a new rising Smash Pop band called the Smash Street Boys." Mario added.

"Impossible. Miku Hatsune? She's too good for us." Robin shook his head.

Mario scratched his mustache and shrugged his shoulders. "If you don't believe me, I'll show you where they'll be performing. Follow me."

Mario led Robin to the backyard which was more luxurious and beautiful than ever. At least a crowd of people can fit into this space.

Robin glanced beneath his feet, stepping what seemed to be smooth marble. "You guys are insane. I'm quite impressed."

"As I said, it's a work in progress." Mario pointed afar to a setup stage in which many people would see in a concert. A few Smashers were busy setting up the stage, making sure the lights, camera, and sound were working well for tonight's grand opening.

"Come on, guys! We need to make sure KIMIN gets all the spotlight on him during the bridge!" Roy shouted, holding a clipboard in his hand. The non-stop yelling continued straight at Link, Shulk, Pit, and Dark Pit who were in charge of setting up the stage.

Link rolled his eyes, picking up a heavy box from the grass. "Who made him in charge?"

Shulk walked beside Link with wires wrapping around his shoulder. "We all voted since he was the best with this kind of stuff. And he did say he's a huge Smash Street Boy fan since their debut."

"Who gives a shit!" Dark Pit clicked his tongue, adjusting the microphones.

"I'm very excited to see Miku~" Pit smiled. "Po pi po pi po pi po!"

Roy marched over to the two angels that were on the stage and glanced at his clipboard before giving them a stern look. "Yeah, who cares about Miku and her dumb vegan juice song! it's all about Smash Street Boys. Get to work!"

"Geez! You've been such an asshole ever since you heard Smash Street Boys were performing!" Pit whined.

Roy did the biggest eye roll ever, even exaggerated his head to roll as well. "Like. Oh. My. God. Like. Why. Can't. You. Guys. Understand?!" Roy slapped the clipboard to the beat of his words. "Because they're fucking gods! You don't treat your Goddess Palutena like shit don't you? It's the same thing! My Oppas are angels sent from heaven!"

"What kind of comparison is that?" Dark Pit murmured.

"I thought they were gods, not angels. . ." Pit frowned.

Roy snapped his head with glowing red eyes. "Sh-shut up! Same thing! To-mae-to To-mah-to! Get back to work!"

"We should leave them be. . ." Robin said, witnessing the whole thing.

"Agree. Let me show you the kitchen." Mario said.

(oOoOoOo)

Inside the kitchen were a handful of Smashers cutting, blending, rolling, pouring many types of dishes for this event. The aroma was mixed with salty, sweet, savory filled up the kitchen, as a lazy grin appeared on Robin's face.

"The smell of. . . warm bread humping against the oven emerges from my indolence in carbs."

Robin noticed how he was the only one talking in the kitchen.

"Ooops. Did I say that out loud?"

"Anyways. . ." Mario rubbed his mustache. "Besides us cooking, we got the famous ramen chef, Min MIn to cater for our Grand Opening with a very low price," Mario said.

"You didn't put Lucina in the kitchen did you?" Robin said.

"Don't worry, she's boiling water." Peach walked up to the two in a white crisp apron. "Also Mario, don't forget~"

Mario sweatdropped, as Peach's face expanded to an even wider grin. "Don't forget what?"

The Mushroom princess tilted her head. "Waaa~? You mean I didn't tell you? I'm having The Most Amazing, Most Lovely, Most Special Event in Human History! Peach's Bangza Bagaza Wedding!"

"And I'm getting married too!" Daisy lifted her piping bag with a smile.

"Wamee. . ." Marmalade muttered next to Daisy.

"Peach isn't going to drop the whole wedding thing," Zelda said, rolling pastry dough. "We decided to have a little wedding fashion show for girls. Like. . . um, potential brides?"

"Whoever bride gets the most votes and that bride gets to pick their groom as the winner!" Lucina said.

"Mama mia! It's just for fun. . . right?" Mario asked.

"I even got a priest for the final winner!" Peach clasped her hands. "He'll be here later tonight."

"I look forward to the open-chested gowns- -I mean the reception." Robin showed a thumbs up. "Good thing we're wearing formal outfits."

"Anyways, we got a lot of events being prepared, and it will be the perfect time to invite new people to join Smash," Mario said. "Let's do our best to regain our reputation!"

(oOoOoOo)

Min Min's Ramen

". . ."

". . ."

". . ."

"My back hurts, ya."

(oOoOoOo)

Smash Mansion

Robin knocked on Makato's door, waited two seconds, and let himself in. Inside the room, he first laid eyes on the sky blue hair and then darted to a bunch of decorative potion bottles with flowers and glass beads.

Miru paused himself pouring a rose liquid inside a potion and glanced up, seeing Robin's eye gazing at the bottles.

"Moshi, moshi~" Robin greeted.

"Robin. . ." Miru set a glass bottle down and got up from his chair.

"Is, uh, . . . Makato here?"

"With you here," Miru furrowed his eyes at the tactician, "I'm glad she's not."

"What's that supposed to mean. . .?" Robin blinked a couple of times and closed the door behind him. "Anyways, what are you doing?"

"Makato's making a special potion for the party that would bring happiness and joy. She had something to do, so she left me in charge to finish the rest." Miru explained.

Robin walked over to the table of the potions and gazed at them. "Wow! Special cocktail potions! Very decorative."

Miru sat down on the chair and continued to pour the rose liquid into each bottle. Robin watched in silence until he completed each bottle with a total of at least a hundred.

"Happiness, joy. . ." Robin dug under his cloak and pulled out a black pouch. "Such boring traits, don't you say?"

Miru leaned back on the chair and stretched his arms. "What's so boring about them?"

"It's just a plain human emotion that many people require. . . It's like watching paint dry." Robin took a fancy potion for himself and plucked off the cork.

"Hey, what are you-?"

"Let's add a bit of a. . . kick to the potions." That was when the black pouch came into play. Before Robin could add the mystery ingredients, Miru grabbed hold of his wrist, keeping his fingers from moving the black pouch.

"No." Miru stared at the pouch. Not only the look, but the uneasy feeling of despair and. . . hate screamed at the pouch. The complete opposite of Makato's potion.

The grip strangled the life out of the tactician's wrist. "You didn't let me explain-"

"I said no." Miru shot a glare at Robin.

Robin kept his emotions checked without showing any signs of pain in his eyes. "Was it Makato who told you to-?"

"No, it was my order," Miru said. "You see, I don't exactly trust you."

"Well too bad for you, sweetheart. Makato trusts me very well, so just let me do my thing and-"

What he said made Miru swipe the black mysterious pouch from his fingers, as Miru loosen the grip onto Robin's wrist. "I said no. Call me that again and I'll break your wrist-!"

"H-hey, give it back! You don't know what it is!" Robin snatched the black pouch back from his hands.

Miru then snatched the pouch back from his hands. "I don't care and I know it's dangerous!"

The tug-a-war continued for who would be the last to obtain the black pouch of whatever was in there. The fighting channeled through outside of Makato's room, as Ike strolled by.

Then the sound of glass shattering made Ike come to a complete stop.

'What the actual. . .? Makato's room?'

Another crash of glass, and then another. It was displeasing to hear every second of glass, and boy that would be a lot of glass to clean. Ike pivoted his foot and dashed over to Makato's room, twisting the knob, opening the door wide.

"Hey! What's going on-?!"

What felt like a baseball slammed right at his nose and that was when a dark, grainy powder exploded and coated Ike's face. Robin and Miru froze when the black pouch slipped from their hands, shooting right at Ike's face in such an unpredictable time.

"Ugh. . .! My eyes! What is this?!" Rough coughs escaped from Ike's lip. The powder stuck to his face, as Ike did his best to rub it away, but then it glued to his hand.

Robin sweatdropped and backed away from Ike. "My concoction."

Miru kept a straight face as he scrunched his nose. "My apologies, Ike. I was trying to stop Robin from adding that. . . poison to Makato's potions."

"It is not poisonous!" Robin snapped.

"Then what the hell is it?!" The stench of whatever spread on Ike's face grew stronger and stronger by the second. Miru cupped his hand over his nose. "It smells like gasoline. . .!"

"Gasoline?" Robin sniffed the air. "Oh. . . interesting."

"Why do you sound impressed? This is your shit." Miru murmured.

The coughing came to a stop from the mercenary with his face coated in black powder; some on his front bangs as well. Ike stumbled his feet and he made his way to the soft bed of feathers.

"I need to lay down. . . for a bit," Ike muttered, slapping his face down on the bed.

"You dare lay on the Princess's bed?!" Miru didn't bother to stop him after hearing his monstrous snores. "Damn it. He's acting a bit unusual because of your powder."

". . ."

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Well, what do you want me to say?" Robin asked back.

"Oh my. What happened to my room?" A soft light voice appeared from behind the two teens. Her voice startled Miru and Robin, as they cracked their heads to the owner of the room.

Makato placed her hands on her hips and puffed her cheeks. "This place is a mess!"

". . ." Brushes of a red blush appeared on Miru and Robin's faces, noticing Makato's cutesy, idolized get up. A white, short umbrella dress smothered in pink flowers. High white stockings with Pink bright shoes. A yellow bow tie on the collar of her dress. Her hair, longer and luscious.

"You look so sparkly, Princess. . ." Miru rubbed his cheek, feeling the heat rising.

Makato showed a smile and brushed her dress. "Oh, Miku and I have been practicing a song together for the Grand Opening. My stage name is Mako! I'm so excited!"

"What a surprise. . .!" Robin nodded.

Her smile then turned to a frown. She couldn't help but stare at the ground of her hard work shattered away in a mess of spilled rose liquids, glass shards spread like confetti and stomped on flowers. Makato walked over to the witch pot, hoping to see more of her potion in there, but not a single drop left.

"I wasn't expecting such a mess, Miru. I'm disappointed. . ."

"Forgive me, Princess!" Miru bowed at a 90-degree angle.

Robin glanced over at Miru and bowed as well. "Sorry. . . If only Miru didn't try to stop me-"

"Are you saying it was my fault?" Miru elbowed his side, causing Robin to cringe.

After Makato analyzed the situation on her current supplies, she let out a long sigh and took a deep breath. "Well, I can't cry over spilled milk. Thank you for your hard work, Miru, but I think I'll take care of the rest."

Miru lifted his head in bubbles of tears. "Wait, Makato. . ., allow me to clean up for you-"

"Just. . . by myself," Makato repeated.

". . .Yes. . ." Miru said, agreeing to her request. He left, also pushing Robin out of the room as well. Just at the outside of her room, Makato closed the door on them, a bit harder than usual. A sign that she was quite angry.

Miru looked at her door, falling into a deep depression. "Princess. . . forgive me. . ."

Robin kept his hands behind his back, watching Miru moan. "Just as she said: can't cry over spilled milk, right Miru? Hahaha. . ."

Veins popped out from Miru's head from Robin's comment. "This is all your fault!"

"Hey- -hey- -ow! Not the hair!"

The attack continued to come outside of Makato's room. She continued to listen to their fighting, leaning against the door.

"There are not enough ingredients. . ." Makato gazed upon the mess of a bad after party in her room. She then glanced at her bed, noticing a muscular body that topped it all off.

She leaned a bit, recognizing the figure, with blue, spiky, short hair stuffed between her pillows. "Wait. . . is that Ike?"

She walked up to him and knelt in front of him. As Ike adjusted his sleeping position, she was revealed to see his dark powdery face. The stench of gasoline shot through her nose, causing Makato to pinch it immediately.

"Such a strong smell. . ." Makato commented.

She got up from her knees, grabbed a towel, and went back to her bed. She started with his forehead, and gave a light pat on Ike's head, removing bits of the black powder. Lots of pigment grated off Ike's forehead, and so far removing the grainy substance wasn't difficult.

Makato glanced at the powder on the towel and furrowed her eyebrows. Shivers crawled in her spine from the sight, and she didn't know why she felt. . . intimidated. She placed her hand on her heart, feeling a drastic change of adrenaline.

"I don't know what it is. . . but, I'll keep some of it for further experiments. . ." Within minutes of cleaning his face, his skin tone began to brighten up. Makato then released the towel and placed her hand on his forehead, and compared the temperature to her head.

"He's not sick. . ., but why isn't he waking up?" Slipping her hand away from her forehead, Makato reached for his shoulders and gave a gentle shake. She called out to him, but there wasn't a reaction at all. Worry heavied her heart.

"Maybe he's tired. . ."

"Ngh. . .!"

Makato flinched, hearing a painful grunt escaping from the mercenary's lips. The same black powder that coated his face appeared again, except it was translucent, blending with his skin. Her eyes shook in fear, witnessing the substance squirming around his cheek and spreading down to his neck like a disease.

"What's going on?" Makato opened up Ike's collar, watching the black substance working its way toward the tip of his collar bone.

Ike reacted with even more groans as it kept spreading. Makato feared the worst and questioned herself: what if the black substance reached his heart?

That was when Makato then stood up on her feet and raced towards the shelf, grabbing a healing potion. She ran back to her bedside and lifted Ike's back.

"Ike, hang in there. . .!" Makato popped the cork and placed the bottle at his lips. She tried pouring him a drink, but some of it ended up spilling on his chin. He was unstable to notice anything around, only the pain that dove deeper and deeper into his body. Time was against her.

"I don't have a choice. . ." Drinking the healing potion for herself, she leaned over to Ike's lips. Pressing her lips tightly onto his, transferring every single drop from the potion.

Makato parted from his lips and checked his collar bone. The black substance passed down his chest but froze within five seconds. It froze and then it began to evaporate away, floating away from his skin and up in the air. Not a speck left on his head, neck, anywhere. Like it never existed.

She was left confused, but a sense of relief filled up her heart. "Ike. . ." Makato called out to him again, and this time, his eyes fluttered open.

Ike dazed out for a bit, staring straight at the ceiling before focusing his attention on Makato. "Hey. . . You look. . . awfully cute today. Am I dreaming?"

Makato smiled, as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Ike. . . you finally woke up!" Her emotions took control of her body, bringing the mercenary into a full embrace.

"Makato. . ." Ike murmured her name, a bit confused.

A few seconds later, the potion princess released him and stared at his blue eyes with tears in them. "A-are you okay? How do you feel?"

"I'm fine. . ." Ike brushed his temple with his fingers and glanced back at them, not seeing any black powder whatsoever. "Whatever it was, it was suffocating and heavy. . . Thank you, Makato. If it weren't for you, I don't know if I'd made it out alive, to be honest. . ."

Makato wiped her eyes and sniffled her nose. "I'm just so glad you're okay. I was afraid because I've never seen anything like that before. That black powder on your face was spreading when I finished wiping it off your face."

". . .I see. . ."

". . .Yes."

". . ."

". . ."

"How did you. . .?" Ike touched his lips and glanced at hers. "Oh. . . I see. . . Now I remember. . ."

Makato rubbed her cheek, feeling the blood rushing up to her face. "I didn't have much of a choice. . ."

"I don't blame you. . ." Ike adjusted himself on the bed until he was sitting side by side with Makato. "My mind was clogged. That moment, it felt like I was being tortured. . ." He furrowed his eyebrows and let out a sigh. "Robin. . . Why can't he be. . . a normal guy and live a decent life instead of causing chaos?"

Makato rolled her lips to keep herself from bursting out a laugh. "Ike, you're one to talk. I would say. . . you're more of a work in progress."

"I've changed, Makato," Ike said, clearing his throat. "I don't kick Kirby like a piece of dirty laundry anymore."

Makato couldn't let but let out a giggle.

"What?" Ike asked.

"That was yesterday."

". . .Like you said, a work in progress. Once this grand opening is over, I'll confront Robin and talk to him."

"Me too," Makato said.

Ike smirked and patted her head. "When I mean talk, I meant beating him up in a back alley. At least one of us has to do it."

(oOoOoOo)

7:00 P.M

The night came and it was finally here. The Super Smash Bros Grand Opening opened to the public. A flood of people filled the front gates of golden, unsettling movement scurried throughout the front entrance and chattered filled up the starry warm night.

"Are we waiting for concert tickets or something?" Morgana popped out from Ren's school bag, swaying his tail in anticipation.

"No, this is the place where they call the Smash Mansion," Ren said, standing amongst the crowd. "And now, it's back." He glanced down at the strange pot flower he held in his palms.

Morgana leaned toward the strange red and white spotted plant with sharp teeth poking out. "Why do you have that thing?"

"Oh? I thought maybe it would be a nice welcome gift. . ."

"They did it. . ." Chun-Li stood with her friend from America.

"Wait for me, Ryu," Ken smirked, crossing his arms.

Rosalina smiled at the mansion, holding her star buddy, Luma. "Wow! It's so much more amazing than the last time I saw it, right Luma?"

". . .!" Luma nodded and squealed.

"Is this the right place?" A turquoise-haired man in dark clothing asked beside the girl with the same colored hair, but longer as she too wore the same outfit.

"Let's hope so." She answered.

"This tutoring better be quick. I have homework to grade."

(oOoOoOo)

Min Min's Ramen

The Heroes noticed the dead silent atmosphere and the darkness that surrounded them. Nobody was here. Only the sounds of chewing and slurping of customers eating ramen.

". . ."

". . ."

". . ."

"He tricked us!" Solo exploded from the table as flames burst from his eyes and lips. Soon the other three Heroes struggled to slip out from the table and sat back in their seats.

"Like, how dumb are we to trust Robin's words?" Eleven clicked his tongue and placed his hands on his hips.

"Super dumb, ya. We even played rock paper scissors like a bunch of times." Eight lowered his head, groaning.

"Let's get out of here," Arusu said. Obeying the oldest in the group, the Heroes left Min Min's and walked in the streets of Smashville.

"How could he abandon us? Aren't we supposed to be the Grand Opening?" Eleven asked.

"Where's the mansion, ya?!" Eight cried.

"Fuck him, fuck him, fuck him!" Solo cursed out.

Eleven, Eight, and Solo raged out in the public eye where everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to the four strange teens. Arusu sighed and noticed the unwanted attention they were receiving.

"Everyone, shut up," Arusu whispered in a bitter tone. Each of the three zipped their mouths and stared at their oldest member.

"Let's get our suits first. It's no big deal."

He was calm, and that made the other Heroes cool themselves. After exchanging nods, they made their journey to the Smash Mall.

Eight grinned and elbowed Solo, who was still in a bitter mood. "It's okay, Solo. Remember what Arusu said in a situation such as this: 'if you can't get the hit, twack will do the trick', ya!"

"Yes." Solo stopped walking, as a half-grin formed his lips. "Such words of wisdom from our elder brother. . . How could I forget? Silly. . . silly me." Settled, yet metallic laughter was released into the night from his throat. "Keh. Kehehehe. . . KEHKEHEKHEKHEHKEHKEH!"

". . . ha. . .ahaha. . .'' Eleven sweatdropped, laughing awkwardly beside him.

"HARHARHARHARHAHAR!" Eight joined in on the laugh, as their laughs orchestrated into a demonic song. Arusu curled his lips up to his nose and shook his head.

'My biggest regret is teaching Solo how to master his Twack. . .' Arusu looked up at the night sky, hoping the moon could agree with him. All he got was a black feather, swaying like a dance in a waltz. Closer and closer it came.

Arusu caught the black feather as it landed in his palms.

"Oddly large for a crow feather. . ."