Disclaimer: Balsk and Granash belong to me. The other original characters belong to those who submitted them and I have permission to use them for this story. Bleh!

"Hello everyone and welcome to the Third Super Smash Brothers Tournament!" shouted out the announcer over the coliseum's loud speakers. A massive roar greeted this welcome as the assembled fans cheered. Almost every conceivable race and species was there. From a small clutch of Chozo in the front row to the massive amounts of goombas and koopas scattered all around the stands. The Smash Coliseum was a gigantic structure, easily capable of holding up to fifty thousand people at once, slightly less if some of the crowd was exceptionally large.

"Let's give a round of applause to our returning two time champion, Mario Mario!" said the announcer as Mario walked out of one of the two tunnels leading onto the coliseum floor. The crowd roared once again as Mario walked to the center of the circular platform and started to say a few words.

The host of the Third Smash Tournament reached over and flicked a switch that cut in the room's white noise generator. He didn't need to hear Mario's speech, Mario had submitted it to him in writing just the day before and he had approved it. He swiveled his chair around to face his desk and adjusted his name plate on the front of his desk. It read Khell, and that indeed was his name. Khell persisted in wearing a plain T-shirt and jeans to his office even though Sherry, his secretary, quietly disapproved. Khell brushed his spiky blue hair back and wondered how the entrance of the new Smashers was going to go over. He had spent quite a bit of personal and political clout to get this to work and he hoped a few hotheads wouldn't jeopardize everything.

Khell turned back to his wide window and flicked the sound back on. Mario was finishing his little speech and the other Smashers were arrayed behind him. There were slightly less then last tournament but that was no worry. Jigglypuff had done so badly last time that she had simply upped and left without a backward glance, although all the scribbles over everyone's faces when they woke up certainly showed how displeased she was. Pichu would have continued on but he evolved into Pikachu sometime between this tournament and the last and couldn't come back. Dr. Mario had quit fighting and was sticking around as the Coliseum's physician. Mr. Game & Watch had retired but was also staying around, mostly from lacking anywhere to go. He had promised to update the new guys on the various rules and what not and be there to provide any information that might be needed.

As Mario finished, a shadow fell over the coliseum. Khell looked up and saw the giant insect-like shape of the Space Pirate frigate, Durnok's Bane. It took a second for what was happening to fully sink into the minds of the crowd, but when it did they started screaming and panicking to get out. The announcer began shouting out that there was no need to panic, that this was a controlled operation and that nothing bad was going to happen. Some people listened and returned to their seats but most still ran to the exits that Khell has wisely locked and barred. As the two shuttle craft departed from the frigate the crowd had begun to calm down somewhat. They couldn't get out so they might as well sit back and see what the hell was going on.

The first shuttle that launched headed for the landing pad outside of the coliseum and Khell gave a little grimace. He had offered that the Space Pirates contribute somewhat to the fan base but at the time the Space Pirate hadn't taken him seriously. This might cause some complications. While Khell was reminiscing on past hasty decisions, the second shuttle had landed on the arena, right in front of Mario. Although the veteran Smashers had been alerted to this earlier they were still a little agitated. The worst of the bunch was of course, Samus. But then again she had an excuse, Space Pirates had killed her family after all. The shuttle landed and a section of the hull lowered itself to the ground so as to form a walkway.

The new Smashers came out one by one and were introduced to the intrigued fans as they exited. Granash was the last to leave and he motioned to the pilot before stepping out. As soon as its charges were away the small craft withdrew its landing gear and leaped into the air, followed shortly by the second shuttle. The crowd finally decided to cheer again and did so with great gusto. The new Smashers were lead into the main complex (For Fighters Only) and the announcer was beginning to announce the first matches. They had been decided well in advance and the first few fights included none of the newbies so they could have some time to get used to their surroundings. As the first match started, Pikachu vs. Peach, Khell leaned back in his chair and permitted himself a self satisfied smirk. He had seen the way that Balsk looked directly at him through the window and the crowd and was glad that his scheming snagged just the draconian he had wanted.

(scene shift)

The large group of Space Pirates moved across the parking lot with the unstoppable intensity of a tidal wave. There was fifty of them total, not including the two Elite Pirates that thudded along behind. Their leader indicated the entrance they would use, a back door, obviously intended for large loads. It was guarded by a frightened looking human in a black and red uniform. The pirates stopped a few feet away and their leader stepped to the front.

"We are here for the Tournament." Said Arack, leader of the Space Pirate ground forces, to the human, "We have a special invitation from Khell himself."

"Umm...Ah...Ok...I n-need you to t-turn in your w-weapons." Stuttered the guard.

Arack sized up the guard and turned toward his four Tempest soldiers. Physically imposing, a Tempest is usually half again the size of a normal Space Pirate and half again as intelligent. The four were equipped with heavy, extended range, repeating plasma rifles, a concussion missile launcher, an energy sword, and a limited cloaking charge. They were a fearsome sight to behold and even worse to fight. Only these four and another ten Tempest's currently existed in the Space Pirate armed forces. Their small numbers were due to their insanely expensive equipment and their long and extensive training. A single Tempest is generally the equivalent of five fully manned pirate squads, which were about ten apiece.

Arack muttered something in the growling language that was native to the Space Pirate's to the Tempest's, which caused them no great deal of amusement. The other pirates began laughing as well, but the two Elite Pirate just sat there like a pair of small mountains, which happened to be about the level of their intelligence. The security officer started to chuckle as well, mainly because he was nervous and had no idea what Arack said but didn't want to appear stupid. This concern was rendered moot as Arack's blade suddenly appeared in the guard's skull.

Arack tossed the corpse off his wrist blade and wiped the blood off on the unfortunate guard's uniform. When he was finished a Tempest casually incinerated the body with a blast from his rifle. Muttering something about 'Foolish trusting humans' Arack strode through the door, closely followed by the rest of his troops.

(scene shift)

The cheering fans behind them, the veteran Smasher's and the new Smasher's walked down a long, cool stone passage way that lead to who knew where. Rune had latched on to Mewtwo, and judging by the way they were talking, knew each other already. The rest of the new guys were scattered amongst the other Smashers and were either walking along in silence or chatting it up with various fighters. The two vampires were lagging behind and conversed quietly to themselves while Lendiseth took off a pair of gloves she had put on and pulled the hood of her jacket down. All of a sudden, Balsk's scaly head thrust itself in between the two and his eyes rolled about to look at each girl separately, as most reptiles can.

"Hello ladies." He started off, "I would be most pleased if you could tell me why we don't have two extra crispy vampire bacon bits lying on the ground back on the arena."

The two vampire's jumped back, startled, which resulted in them crashing into Balsk and sending them all tumbling to the ground. They had apparently forgotten that Balsk popped up from behind them. Balsk just lay back and laughed while the two pried themselves off of him.

"Ha ha ha!" He chuckled, "I guess that's what I get for startling you two." Balsk pulled himself to his feet, layed a hand on each shoulder and gently propelled them along. The two vampires casted amused glances at each other.

"We can walk on our own you know." said Arielle.

Balsk grinned, which showed at bit too many teeth, and replied "I know. But who could resist the urge to pal around with two lovely ladies. You gonna answer my question?"

Lendiseth got an uncomfortable look on her face when she heard that, "Uh...Aren't we a little too...mammalian for your tastes?"

"Do you want me to answer that?"

"Not really."

Balsk's grin just grew wider and toothier. Arielle rolled her eyes and reached under the collar of her shirt. She pulled out a small medallion that was half black and half white and looked like a yinyang symbol. Balsk looked at it in interest. He could feel the magic radiating off of it.

"This yinyang amulet negates the sun's effects on me. I'm still easily sunburned and my eyes are sensitive but the worst of my problem, namely the dying part, is no longer applicable while I wear this amulet." Said Arielle as she tucked the medallion back under her shirt and then pointed at a pair of sunglasses in her overcoat's pocket.

Balsk then turned his gaze on Lendiseth, who seemed a little creeped out by Balsk's continued grinning. She sighed and pointed at her ears, which had pointy tips.

"I'm actually not a full vampire. I'm half elf also. I basically have the same thing as Arielle does except that I'm also a bit weaker during the day." She explained.

Both Balsk and Arielle looked at her quizically and Arielle asked the question first.

"Half vampire? How can someone be only half vampire?"

Lendiseth looked troubled and annoyed by this question but decided she might as well answer it. "My mother was an elf and my father a vampire. Things were...difficult." Her cheeks grew flushed and she stopped talking. Balsk's grin vanished and he nodded sagely.

"Family problems. I have the same thing."

Lendiseth looked at him, "Both your parents dead?"

Balsk stared right into her eyes, "Both of them want me dead."

He then pushed past the two girls and moved back into the main mass of people. Lendiseth and Arielle were left looking at each other in bewilderment at the draconian's strange behavior. Any further comments were prevented when the two collided with the rear ranks of the assembled Smashers. They had emerged into a large locker room with what looked to be a personal locker for everyone in attendance. Mario had climbed onto a bench to be seen but that didn't seem to work, given Mario's short height. DK solved this problem by lifting the plumber up onto his shoulder and turning to face everyone.

"Okay everyone. We are-a in the communal-a locker area. This is-a the place-a you will-a be a spending most of-a your time between-a fights. Through-a these-a doors is-a the housing area. Come on-a then." said Mario.

DK set the plumber down and opened the door. A short walk down a well-lit, steel gray corridor and another pair of doors lead into the housing area, dubbed Smasher Mansion. The mansion was a complex that was mostly underground and consisted of many dozens of rooms. A long and detailed tour of the premises followed. Only Mario, Zelda, and Marth accompanied the new Smashers this time. The others had returned to whatever they were doing before they needed to go out.

They were showed to the common room, which was the room that lead into the locker room, the training room, with the latest in holographic technologies, the cafeteria, which looked like any other cafeteria in exsistence, various other places, and the tour ended at the dorms. One door lead to the men's rooms, and the other to the women's rooms.

"None of you will be fighting today, so you can go too your rooms and rest or anything else you want, as long as it doesn't involve breaking, injuring, or killing something." said Link, only partly in jest.

Kane coughed and said in a stage whisper, "Damn, there goes my weekend."

A few people laughed half-heartedly. Rune, however snorted in disgust and made a bee line for the door. Yuki then raised her hand.

"Yes?" said Mario.

"Do we get any personal stuff? I mean, when we woke up there weren't any bags that held any stuff that we would normally bring on a trip." she asked.

Mario was about to reply when he abruptly shut his mouth and nodded to someone behind everyone. Suffice to say, everyone succeeded in turning around more or less simultaneously.

"I might be able to answer that question for you." said the tall, blue haired figure walking toward them. "I took the liberty of gathering such things at the same time we choose you. They should be waiting in your rooms."

"YOU!!!" shouted Balsk. Almost instantly, his large sword was clutched in his hands. Slywolf, Arielle, and Darkmagnus took an involuntary step backwards. Balsk's eyes were glowing a bright red and he was breathing heavily.

"Hello Balsk, nice to see you to." said the man. He made an arcane gesture with his hand and suddenly his appearance shifted. He went from a typical executive look, with his immaculate suit and slicked back hair-do, and changed to something more befit a traveler of sorts. He was now wearing an ankle length brown cloak with his hood back. Used looking blue jeans and a nondescript black shirt completed the outfit. He also had a sword sheath strapped to his waist and a gnarled staff in his left hand. His hair was also now spiky and stuck out at odd angles. He shook himself a bit and smiled widely, "I've always felt better like this. Doesn't help your complexion though." he said to Balsk.

The draconian was twitching visibly and was obviously holding himself back through sheer force of will.

"Khell." he growled, his voice full of promised violence and sheer menace."I thought it might be you that had done this. Where is it?"

"It is where it always has been, my friend. But you can have it if you win."

Balsk seemed to deflate with these words. He looked highly troubled by these words.

"Are you saying...that anyone could win it?" he said. His sword drooped to the ground and an almost defeated look crossed his face.

Khell laughed, "No no, Balsk, you misunderstand me. You will get it if you win. They could get something else. What if Mario here wins? He could get lasting peace for Mushroom Kingdom. Or young Kane could learn where his sister is."

Kane staggered back as if someone had punched him, but otherwise said nothing.

"What I'm saying is that if you win, you will get anything you want that is within my power to give. And I can do many things, one gets quite a few contacts and debts owed when one is like me." said Khell with a quick glance at Kane.

The assembled fighters were stunned by this news. Anything they wanted! Thoughts from the self-sacrificing to the dastardly flashed across thirteen minds, Rune had come back at one point. Balsk sheathed his sword and glared at Khell. The human laughed lightly and strode away, leaving the others to converse quietly among themselves or think to themselves, as they preferred.

XXXXXXXXX(end)

Ok then. Uh...I really have no excuse for my not updating until now. I hope you can forgive me. The first fight will be next chapter, as will a couple of very late additions. Also, look forward to more Space Piratey goodness.