A/N:

Author's Note:

Hello... remember me...?

(To those coming from my LoZ story, this is just basically a copy/paste version from my author's note there, but I really do mean what I say here as well. HOWEVER, there is a little something special for exclusively my Smash readers at the bottom. ;) )

First off, I owe you a giant, behemoth, indescribable apology. I am sorry. I truly am. I am sorry for the bottom of my heart and through every fiber of my being. I know it has been over a year since the last update, and...I really am sorry for that. I know that there is nothing that can compensate for what I've done, and so, I wish to apologize, and I know you won't have to forgive me.

To be honest, I was scared shitless, really, to log back in after so long afraid of what I'd see, but I logged in to see...so much support. So much. So much that I nearly bawled my eyes out. You guys are all angels and wonderful human beings, and I don't deserve any of you.

Truth be told, life just got...hellishly busy. College is a nightmare, and I just haven't been finding the motivation to write. However, after I finally mustered enough courage to log back in, see the damage I'd done, and seen all the massive support...I knew you guys didn't deserve all of this. You guys were all here with me to begin with, and that is the greatest gift I could ever get.

I know what you're going to say.

SMAAAAAAASH ULTIMATE!

I have already invested over 100 hours into this game and I am telling the truth when I say that I still really love Smash Bros so much and that it's still my favorite game. However, to be completely honest, I was really overwhelmed with the game when it came out, because it just made me think of this story and how I can do this story justice.

Please please PLEASE keep in mind that I am forever thankful for receiving a warm welcome back despite my horrible irresponsibility.

However, now...I'd like to discuss my future here on fanfiction.

Six years. From 14 to now 20 years old, I have been a faithful member of fanfiction. And...I want to say that I have enjoyed my stay here throughout all of it, and there is nothing I regret about it. I've met so many people, grew so much as a writer, and learned so many things that I will never forget. Fanfiction and its communities had made me grow so much as a person, and I feel like I can't express just how much thanks I really have for this site.

And now, at 20 years old, I think I am now ready to move on from fanfiction upon reaching crossroads in my life, from completing the rest of my college years and choosing down a career path. I am forever grateful for every single one of you and will always keep my fanfiction years close to my heart. It will always be a part of me and something I will never, ever forget as long as I live on the rest of my life.

Again, I sincerely, wholly, thank each and every one of you for supporting my time and stay and journey here on fanfiction. I really hope I have touched each of your souls in some way with my writing, since that was my goal and motivation behind starting fanfiction in the beginning. And just know that I love you all very much and am wishing you all the best, whichever paths you all take as I head down mine. :)

So yes...I think I'll finally mark this story as complete at the threshold between Smash 4 and Ultimate. Someday I may pick this back up in the future (maybe a Super Smash Realm 2?) when I am freer and have grown more in my skills.

For everyone who has joined me from the beginning to those that just picked it up, to even those that stopped reading in the midway, I really mean it when I say:

THANK YOU.

Thank you so much for sticking through it 'til the end. And if not, thank you so much for reading a chapter, even if you didn't read them all or read until the end. I am forever grateful to you for even having enough interest to click on this less-than-perfect story and for reading so much as a word. Thank you, I mean it.

I've been through a lot with this story, but I am so, so, so happy that I was able to write it. It's been a long and wild ride, thick and thin, fun and not fun, easy and tough. And it's all thanks to you and your never-ending support.

So really. Thank you. :)

Feel free to write a review on your thoughts or opinions on this story, and you are always welcome to PM me with questions should you have any. :) And if you do, be sure to check your messages on the desktop version periodically logged in, since I heard there's an issue with PMs not showing up in notifications in email or the app, so please frequently check your inbox on a computer, since I DO reply to everyone's questions and reviews!

But otherwise...

prowessMaster, out!

-prowessMaster44

"...is she gone?"

Kirby peeked from around the corner, seeing the author close her computer and walk towards her room sniffling into a box full of tissues.

Seeing that she finally disappeared, the puffball rushed towards her laptop and swung it open, immediately waking it. "Shoot...what's the password?"

Thinking rationally, the puffball typed in, 'pizza' and lo and behold, he got in.

"Huh. I knew it. Everyone sets their password to their favorite food."

Without thinking twice, Kirby began clicking through the folders (defying all logic, since he got no fingers but somehow doing it through pure will), trying to find a specific one. He went through many useless folders, from school essays ("Man, she has to work on that grammar.") to powerpoints to cat photos to memes (he may have made a new folder titled 'The Great One' and downloaded a bunch of photos of himself inside) to finally…

Aha! He thought, locating the folder in question.

Clicking on it, he was pleased to see the document, waiting to be opened and tampered with. Upon opening it, he eyed the words, 'The Super Smash Realm - The Final Chapter - Start of a New Tournament' and highlighted the entire text, copying it, and heading directly onto the Internet to the fanfiction site.

If she's not going to post it, I will…

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Super Smash Realm - The Final Chapter - Start of a New Tournament

("Oh poop! Only ONE chapter away from that magic number…and she just HAD to end it! I swear she did this on purpose or something!" - Captain Falcon, 2k20)

"The Smash Mansion…"

A finger slid across a well-weathered map, following a red-lined mark zig-zagging up towards a final destination marked by a red X. The owner of it nodded with a sideways smirk. "Good. We're almost there."

He pocketed the map, his awesomely luscious hair flowing behind him like from a shampoo commercial, although no one really knew how, because he definitely didn't shower like normal people.

He took a large whiff of the outside air, staring across the vast expanse of the fields below him, and the lofty mansion in the distance. "Only a little bit more. We'll be there in less than a day."

His epic monologue, however, was rudely shattered by a frank voice from behind him.

"Uh, you sure that map is reliable?"

Simon Belmont peered behind him, sending a dry look at whoever interrupted his movie-esque entrance into this fanfic.

"Yeah, why not?" he quipped, taking the map back out and pointing at the mansion in the distance.

"Well…" The person who interrupted him shrugged. "It just seemed too cliche to have a map with a marked path leading up to a bright red X."

"Not to worry, Inkling. Even though we might have had some...pitfalls, we eventually found the place we're looking for." Simon grimaced, not enjoying recalling the toils and troubles he and this group of...characters went through to get where they were now (which may have included trying to keep a certain King K. Rool from napping, Daisy from picking daisies, and Isabelle from going fishing).

Because this map conveniently dropped right at their feet, Simon was of course initially skeptical in following it, but after days of traversing the plains of...wherever this was, he frankly grew a little desperate and decided to trust it. After all, no one else in his posse was much...help. (Especially considering that Dark Samus and Ridley were currently wasting time playing Uno under a tree and wouldn't budge until one of them lost or surrendered into being the one to talk to Samus Aran first whenever they do make it to their destination.)

Grumbling, Simon turned back to face the vast field, eyeing the Smash Mansion in the distance. He was still a little amazed that they found their way here.

A hand rested on his shoulder, prompting him to look up at Richter Belmont. "Well, no matter now. As long as we found the destination, then we'll just follow what we see, and we'll be there in no time."

"...Right."

Clearing his throat, the two Belmonts rotated and promptly ordered the group behind them to hurry the hell up and resume walking. They needed to reach the Smash Mansion by tonight if they wanted to make the start of the New Tournament that they heard being announced around Smashville. Being that all of them had a will to fight, they all banded together to join the Smash Brothers as newcomers.

...if we ever get there in time, Simon thought bitterly, eyeing Daisy picking flowers and forcing Chrom to hold them while Ken remained meditating in the grass without any sign of stopping.

Incinerorar was hovering around Isabelle, who had collected a large mass of fish by the lake, and the Pokemon was roasting them to eat for later, oblivious that Piranha Plant was already doing that. Banjo and Kazooie were suntanning, enjoying the daisy bed before Daisy sauntered by and picked them all, leaving them lie on a grand pile of nothing.

Terry Bogard was enjoying a good novel splayed over his lap under another tree with Joker peering over his shoulder, the latter trying to understand the story but couldn't because the book was actually upside down (and that yes, Terry was, in fact, taking a nap, hidden under his cap). Byleth, being a random straggler the group recently picked up, was wondering how to run away before deciding that maybe this Smash Brothers thing was a fun idea, considering the turmoil his trailer had caused the Smash fanbase.

It wasn't until Hero, who threatened to do Thwack did everyone immediately stop/wake up and gather around behind the Belmonts.

"Good. Let's go. Finally." Simon turned around but was too late as Hero accidentally conducted Snooze and put everyone to sleep.

THREE HOURS LATER

After everyone finally woke up from an unsolicited nap, Richter decided that it worked out anyway since everyone was more energized and motivated to go to the Smash Mansion. Pleased, Simon rotated and lead the way as the group followed suit.

King K. Rool chuckled. "Can't wait to clobber Donkey Kong inside out."

"And I can't wait to clobber Aran inside out," Ridley snorted under his breath, Dark Samus quiet yet agreeing with him.

"Haha, how does it feel to not be a stage hazard?" Daisy jeered out of nowhere to Ridley.

"Great, until your echo fighter-ness ruined it."

Daisy was offended by that.

Ignoring the quarreling two, Chrom turned to Ken, being that he knew this guy was one of the more rational ones...ever.

"So, are you excited to meet anyone?" he said.

Ken frowned, looking thoughtful. "Just to beat Ryu in a good friendly. You?"

"Right…" Chrom paused, thinking about who he wanted to see. "I wonder how Robin and Lucina are doing. I haven't seen them in ages, since it's been forever since Robin used a Final Smash…"

"How does it feel not to be a Final Smash anymore?" Daisy called backwards.

"Good, I guess…" (He wasn't sure if anything else would be a good enough answer to avoid the wrath of the orange princess.)

Isabelle cradled Piranha Plant as the group progressed, her amazed by such a plant. She was rather intrigued by his teeth and the pure poison that he sometimes breathes out, and to be honest, she wanted to keep him as a houseplant and a room booby trap.

Turning to her side, she gave Incineroar a good pet because Smash Ultimate's quality is so good you can see his individual hairs.

Unfortunately for her, Incineroar seemed more interested in staying next to Terry, because the latter looked too similar to a certain Pokemon Trainer. Hero had been banned into the back of the group, but he didn't care. Joker and Byleth were giving him some good company, although they didn't talk all that much, but Hero was too focused on practicing his spells.

So it shouldn't have come as a surprise that he accidentally did Snooze again, but this time, forward to everyone in front of him.

THREE (MORE) HOURS LATER

After the group had woken up, Hero was forced to now lead the group lest he accidentally conduct Snooze again. Unfortunately (actually fortunately), he accidentally did another move, but this time, it was Zoom.

Before they all knew it, they were quickly and conveniently teleported right in front of the Smash Mansion because the author is running out of juice.

Not complaining about this, Simon promptly marched up to the grand doors, preparing to knock—

SLAM!

"UGH I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

An anthropomorphic wolf was suddenly stomping outside the main doors, barely casting the new visitors a glance. "STUPID! JUST AS I'M ABOUT TO EAT MY GODDAMN JELLYBEANS, SNAKE JUST HAD TO HAVE BLOWN UP THE KITCHEN. AGAIN!"

Banjo could only watch with slight fascination as the wolf promptly marched into a garden, kicking an innocent Pikmin along the way.

This, of course, only incurred the wrath of a certain space alien.

Olimar popped out of nowhere, causing Inkling to squeak in surprise, before he promptly whistled, and Wolf was pummeled by a grand mass of Rock Pikmin from seemingly nowhere.

Smiling at his handiwork, Olimar turned around and finally just noticed the newbies, causing him to freeze.

"...Oh hello," Richter spoke up. "Are you part of the Smash Brothers?"

Olimar was gone in seconds.

Blinking, he and Simon and the rest couldn't really have done anything—even Wolf and those weird colorful creatures had disappeared (they had carried the former off into who-knows-where. Only Olimar and Alph knows).

With that, King K. Rool stomped up to the door again and gave it a good whack. "Hurry up and let us in! We want to join you party poopers, and I need to see Donkey Kong right now!"

Silence.

"I said—"

BOOOOOOOOM!

The door opened again. Actually no. It blew up.

"COME BACK HERE, YOU GLUTTON!"

Kirby raced outside, a fruit loop flapping from his mouth, with a King Dedede hot on his heels. The puffball nearly tripped over Joker's feet but barely dodged in time. However, King Dedede, being blinded by rage, wasn't so lucky as he fell victim to Joker's foot and went bouncing off into the distance, leaving behind a slew of flabbergasted curses.

"CAN YOU GUYS PLEASE NOT RUIN THE KITCHEN ANY MORE?" Now a pink-clad princess was standing at the doorway, frying pan in hand. Terry noticed that her blond hair was a little singed at the tips.

She didn't seem to notice them as she clomped outside, dragging a Snake behind her. "This is your job to fetch them. Now!" she barked to the soldier, who only puffed his cigarette with no regrets.

Shaking out of his stupefaction, Simon tried not to get derailed from these sudden events as he turned back to the entrance of the mansion that was now, conveniently, open for them. He was about to step in before a red plumber popped up out of nowhere.

"My princess!" he called into the distance after Peach, but Simon recognized him immediately.

"Mario?" he said, catching the aforementioned plumber's attention.

Now Mario blinked, only now seeing the vampire hunter and the band of sixteen other bodies behind him.

Not recognizing anyone (Daisy had disappeared and was picking daisies from Olimar's garden), Mario quickly slapped on a customer service smile and said, "Listen, guys, I know Master Hand hasn't been paying his taxes, but I swear we're not tax evaders—"

"Oh no, we're here to join the Smash Brothers," Richter clarified.

"—oh. OH, haha, really?" Mario sputtered without skipping a beat. "Haha, how nice—I mean, did I say nice? Wait...what did you say?"

Now the plumber really stared at them, his eyes widening as a realization dawned over him. "S-smash Brothers…?"

"Yeah, fatty," Ridley scoffed. "Problem?"

"We heard there is a start of the New Tournament, and we wish to join," Byleth said.

"Called Ultimate?" Joker offered.

"Right. I believe we have to go to the Headmaster, Master Hand, is it?" Chrom said, recalling his limited knowledge of the Smash Bros here.

Banjo and Kazooie nodded while Dark Samus gave Mario a stinky look. Isabelle smiled innocently, Terry looked embarrassed, Hero wanted to practice another spell, Incineroar ached to take a nap, Ken was meditating again, and Inkling was busy painting the mansion a neon pink and green.

Mario took an uncertain glance at the group. "Well…"

A scream echoed from behind him from inside the mansion, and the plumber whirled around just in time to duck a cheesecake catapulting towards them, which made contact with Wolf who had apparently returned (he now had a Pikmin flower on his head). Needless to say, he was immediately knocked out by the sugary bullet of death.

"HEY! WHY'D YOU THROW MY CHEESECAKE? IT WAS EXPENSIVE!" came the distance shriek.

"I DESIRED JAPANESE CHEESECAKE, NOT THE AMERICAN RENDITION!" another high pitched squeal was heard.

"SAME THING, MARTH! SHUT UP!"

"I ADVISE YOU TO CONDUCT ANALYSES FIRST BEFORE INSTIGATING SUCH ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS, PEASANT."

"HEY DO NOT CALL ME A PEASANT. I AM KING BOWSER!"

"PLEBEIAN."

"...WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"

Mario turned back around, now looking antsy. Leaning in, he whispered worriedly, "Look, guys, I know this 'New Tournament' sounds cool and all, but I'm going to give you a chance and let you turn away right now and pretend you haven't come here. Okay?"

"What?" Hero said. "Why?

"I'M GOING TO POUND YOUR ACNE-FREE FACE IN, FILTHY PRINCE."

"I SHALL NOT ANSWER TO SUCH FATUOUS AMBITIONS."

"FINE. ANSWER TO MY FIRE BREATH!"

"AND YOU SHALL ANSWER TO FALCHION."

BOOM! CRASH!

A giant spiked turtle soared over all of their heads, landing into Olimar's garden. The Pikmin were quick to appear.

Now completely agitated, Mario impatiently told the group, "You see, I don't think you guys, uh, actually want to stay here. It's actually not as cool—"

"We are here to stay," Simon insisted. "We wish to enlist as Smash Brothers and be a part of the Tournament and to showcase our well practiced skill." And also because I don't want to go all the way back home with these guys… One time was enough.

"No but really—"

"Just take us to this 'Muh-stuh Hand' or whoever," Ridley snarled. "We came a long way not to be turned back. I still have a score to settle with Aran."

"But—"

Mario was cut off by seeing Piranha Plant's thick lips smirking in the back.

And suddenly, he didn't care too much about what happened to these newcomers.

"Well, if you insist…," he said slowly, more sorry for people like Isabelle and Chrom. "Um...Master Hand's office is over there…"

Simon's eyes followed the plumber's finger pointing towards another large door deeper inside the mansion, padlocked and boarded up with a sign that said, 'PLEASE KNOCK WITH YOUR HANDS, NOT ANYTHING ELSE.'

"Thank you," he told the plumber, before beckoning the group behind him to follow him. With that, he stepped foot into the Mansion and headed towards Master Hand's door as everyone else piled in after him.

Mario watched apprehensively, hoping karma wouldn't bite him back in the ass later.

"Say, what's it like being a Smasher?" Byleth asked Mario as he passed by him.

"Oh...uh...you'll see." You'll REALLY see.

"Hm. Sounds interesting and a good opportunity to get stronger," Terry said.

"Haha, you'll even become bulletproof here…"

The newcomers chuckled at Mario's joke, but the plumber didn't tell them it wasn't actually a joke.

"Anyway, this sounds fun. I think we'll be in for a rough ride," Richter said with a determined yet excited smile.

Mario couldn't say a single word to that as he watched the group finally all pass him, into the Smash Mansion, towards Master Hand's door. Then, the doors to the Mansion creaked shut, and Mario knew their fates were sealed.

"...Yes indeed…," Mario said to no one after a few seconds of unadulterated silence.

That's right. They'll definitely be in for a rough ride, that's for sure.

As in, close to death.

(...but they didn't need to know that for now).

-x- end.