"It's your time, Mac! Show 'em what you got, baby!"

And because of how old this thing has been, a lot of blogs I’ve followed are either deactivated or abandoned.

For one, I’m BEYOND happy my boy was featured alongside Ken and Incineroar!  I was pulling for both of those two for Ultimate, and I’m so happy I got my wish!

Spirits, I’m feeling, is definitely a more practical version of the trophy collectibles.  And seeing Doc Louis as a Spirit trainer does my heart good.

Now the big one.  World of Light.

underdog-champion:

The Super Smash Brothers…

A group of the best fighters gathered from different worlds and many planes of existence.  One that had not only been brought together for the spirit of competition, but for the brotherhood that had been formed with each passing tournament.

Now, with a new tournament on the horizon, dubbed the Ultimate tournament, this one would blow the previous Smash tournament out of the water.  Because Master Hand made a grand announcement to all that had competed.

Everyone was here.

Whether they were one time competitors or veterans that were in every single tournament, there would be no cuts or eliminations.  Which leads to the return of one such fighter that was training and working his butt off in the gym.

Former WVBA Heavyweight Champion, and WVBA Hall of Famer Macauley Idoni, otherwise known as Little Mac, was in another brutal training session with his mentor, Jerome “Doc” Louis.  Neither had lost a step since Mac had retired from competition, and the champ still had the fire burning deep inside his soul to overcome his next challenge.

After a few hours of punching practice, now came the endurance as Mac had performed multiple sets of sit ups, push ups, curls, weights, and jump rope.  As Doc cheered on Mac and continued to push him further beyond his limits, Mac would match each with gusto.

After two hours of training, Doc called it.  “Alright, kid, great work.”  He said.  “Let’s take a break.”

Mac tossed the jump rope aside as he grabbed a water bottle, while Doc grabbed a chocolate bar on the bench.  The both sat on the ring apron as Mac was panting.

“You still got it, kid.”  Doc said.  “I think you’re gonna take the tournament this time.”

“Man, I still can’t believe it, Doc!”  Mac said.  “I didn’t think I was gonna be a Smash Brother again.  After some o’ dem got cut from da last tournament, I was thinkin’ Master Hand was gonna leave me here when I said I had retired.”

“Amazing how things work out, huh, kid?  I’m excited to see some of the fighters I never got to see last time.”

“Same!  I never thought I’d be competin’ wit’ Snake dis time!  Ya think I get to fight on his home turf dis time?”

“We ain’t gonna find out until a few months down the line.  If you’re gonna want to take on someone like Snake, you’re gonna have to push yourself.”

Mac took a swig of water.  “I know, Doc.”  He said.  “I’m just stoked.”

As they continued to chat, the door to the gym swung open.  From the bright light outside, the figure was silhouetted from the dim lights within.  It appeared to be a muscled figure, but neither Mac nor Doc could figure it out.

Doc called out.  “You need something, son?”  He asked the figure.

Ike didn’t immediately respond to the question, taking a moment to let his eyes adjust and take a look around the place.

It was somewhat similar to the battle arena that was replicated from Mac’s world in the tournament, the Boxing Ring, only on a much smaller and more humble scale. There was no big screen in the background to keep track of scores, which Ike didn’t mind in the least, as he found it to be too flashy and distracting. No stands or fancy lighting equipment, just a ring and training equipment. For all that it was still highly foreign to him, Ike felt far more comfortable here than he had out in the city streets.

Stepping further inside, Ike finally answered, “I’m hoping you can tell me if Mac’s here?”

Blue eyes went from the older man who had addressed him – Ike was blanking on his name, as he never spoke much with the man when at the Smash Mansion – to a more familiar figure that the swordsman quickly identified as his friend from the tournament. 

“I…understand if this is…last minute? Truth be told, I had no plans to end up here, but it seems I was meant to pay you both a visit before the new tournament started up,” he continued, allowing himself to relax some now that he knew he was in the right place.

“You live in a strange place, my friend. This world is…something else.”

That voice...

Mac knew that deep, but otherwise friendly tone anywhere.

The infliction was too perfect, and too noble.

When the door closed behind him, the light from outside dimmed and both Mac and Doc saw the figure clearly.

Mac’s jaw dropped.

“No way...”

After he said his piece, Mac’s mouth turned from shock to utter elation.

Even Doc knew who this figure was.

“Ike?”  Mac asked.

Doc’s smile broadened as well.  “Kid, don’t tell me Ike’s in our gym!”  He said jokingly.

“I don’t believe it!”  Mac shouted, jumping off the ring apron.  He ran, jumped and latched on to Ike’s armored frame and buffed physique, laughing as if he just saw his big brother again.

“How da heck are ya, ya big lug!?”  Mac said, ruffling the Radiant Hero’s blue hair before jumping off.  “So good t’ see ya!”

@underdog-champion

The Outrealm Gates were still a strange concept to Ike. He had initially traveled from Tellius by ship, much as he was loathe to travel by sea. Several of the lands he had come across after leaving his homeland had these…doorways into other realms, space and time not even a factor once you stepped through. He’d ended up in several places that knew of him, but saw him as some…old legend from another time.

It was an outlandish experience, to say the least. But, these gates were handy in the way that he could simply step through one, and it would transport him somewhere else – without having to travel extensively or cost him money to do so.

The draw back?

He had no idea where or when it would bring him…

Which is how Ike ended up stepping out onto a…very loud street. 

Everything was so…built up and compacted; buildings lined up close together, everything was covered in brick – or something – and there was hardly a glimpse of green anywhere to be seen. Well, not entirely true, there were a couple of trees here and there, but it wasn’t really what Ike would call natural. But…there was no grass, so the best he could guess was that he had been brought to…very large city.

But, back to the noise. It was Gods’ damned everywhere! People talking, shrill sounds going off and – what were those things again? – cars, cars beeping and honking, and creating a general racket that had Ike gritting his teeth and hunching his shoulders.

Okay, well…Best way to figure out where he was would be to ask. This was…an interesting experience – another interesting experience. Most people just kept walking when he tried to speak with them, while others asked if he was a…cosplayer? Some people would ignore his question entirely, asking him if his sword was real – of course it was real – before quickly walking away, looking concerned.

After an hour of this rinse and repeat absurdity, Ike eventually got an answer – New York. 

While not an overly familiar name, Ike had heard it a few times before, specifically in regards to “The Bronx” and specifically from a boxer. 

Huffing out a mildly amused chuckle, Ike started walking once more.

“…This ought to be a surprise for Mac…,” he mused to himself, stopping one more person to ask where he might find a certain gym. The one bit of luck he’d seemed to get today was that he was close by, as the person he’d stopped was able to give him some fairly easy to follow directions. 

Of course, considering how people were reacting to him just walking down the street, it ended up taking far longer than Ike cared for. That, and well…figuring out when it was okay to walk and when it was not in this blasted city was a harsh learning curve. If asked, Ike wouldn’t admit to running across streets, dodging those awful cars or…denting a few with some well placed kicks when they nearly hit him.

Running an exhausted hand over his face, Ike thudded his curled fist against the door to the gym Mac had told him about during their time in the Smash Tournament.

The Super Smash Brothers...

A group of the best fighters gathered from different worlds and many planes of existence.  One that had not only been brought together for the spirit of competition, but for the brotherhood that had been formed with each passing tournament.

Now, with a new tournament on the horizon, dubbed the Ultimate tournament, this one would blow the previous Smash tournament out of the water.  Because Master Hand made a grand announcement to all that had competed.

Everyone was here.

Whether they were one time competitors or veterans that were in every single tournament, there would be no cuts or eliminations.  Which leads to the return of one such fighter that was training and working his butt off in the gym.

Former WVBA Heavyweight Champion, and WVBA Hall of Famer Macauley Idoni, otherwise known as Little Mac, was in another brutal training session with his mentor, Jerome “Doc” Louis.  Neither had lost a step since Mac had retired from competition, and the champ still had the fire burning deep inside his soul to overcome his next challenge.

After a few hours of punching practice, now came the endurance as Mac had performed multiple sets of sit ups, push ups, curls, weights, and jump rope.  As Doc cheered on Mac and continued to push him further beyond his limits, Mac would match each with gusto.

After two hours of training, Doc called it.  “Alright, kid, great work.”  He said.  “Let’s take a break.”

Mac tossed the jump rope aside as he grabbed a water bottle, while Doc grabbed a chocolate bar on the bench.  The both sat on the ring apron as Mac was panting.

“You still got it, kid.”  Doc said.  “I think you’re gonna take the tournament this time.”

“Man, I still can’t believe it, Doc!”  Mac said.  “I didn’t think I was gonna be a Smash Brother again.  After some o’ dem got cut from da last tournament, I was thinkin’ Master Hand was gonna leave me here when I said I had retired.”

“Amazing how things work out, huh, kid?  I’m excited to see some of the fighters I never got to see last time.”

“Same!  I never thought I’d be competin’ wit’ Snake dis time!  Ya think I get to fight on his home turf dis time?”

“We ain’t gonna find out until a few months down the line.  If you’re gonna want to take on someone like Snake, you’re gonna have to push yourself.”

Mac took a swig of water.  “I know, Doc.”  He said.  “I’m just stoked.”

As they continued to chat, the door to the gym swung open.  From the bright light outside, the figure was silhouetted from the dim lights within.  It appeared to be a muscled figure, but neither Mac nor Doc could figure it out.

//The following is a drabble based on Super Smash Brothers Ultimate

It had been two years since he had left the World of Smash.  Two years since he competed in his first tournament as a Super Smash Brother.  Two years since he made friends, and a few enemies.

Two years.  And now, Macauley Idoni, better known as Little Mac, had retired as WVBA Heavyweight Champion, and from the boxing profession.

One year after he competed in the Fourth Smash Tournament, he got back in the ring, defending his title.  However, he was starting to get lonely at the top, always beating his opponents, and suddenly becoming the longest reigning champion in the history of the WVBA.

That was when he proposed the idea to his coach, Jerome “Doc” Louis, were he to lose three times, he’d surrender his title and retire from the sport of boxing.

After all, Mac had turned twenty years old by his second loss.  He didn’t want to shorten his lifespan and career by tempting fate.

Two close losses on him, and he had one last loss to go before he would hang up the gloves.  Mac’s final opponent would be Glass Joe, his very first opponent when he started up the long ladder to becoming champion.  One well placed hit to Mac’s jaw, and Joe triumphed over the champ, claiming his rightful place at the top, and deservedly so after an unmentionable record of losses.

Mac and Joe remained friends, as he did with Sumi Singh, the Great Tiger.  In fact, his feats were well respected, and it earned him a place in the World Boxing Hall of Fame, taking his place among people like Muhammad Ali, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield, and one of Mac’s more famous opponents, Mike Tyson.

It was a cloudy, cool day in the Bronx, as Mac and Doc visited the old training gym.  This old facility brought back many memories.  Many a sleepless night and early morning were spent training and pushing until Mac could take on his next challenge.

It was this very place where he trained to be a Smash Brother after receiving his invitation.

Now, after proving himself both in the Ring and Final Destination against the Master Hand, the young boxer felt like he could finally settle down.  He could live a normal, quiet life with his newly acquired wealth, and put himself through college.

The sky was the limit for Mac, and it was thanks to his coach who helped make it all possible.

Mac and Doc stood in silence before Doc said something.  “Been a while since we’ve been here, hasn’t it, Mac?”  He asked.

Mac nodded.  “Too long, Doc.”  He said.  “Gotta say... I miss it sometimes.”

His mentor put an arm around his shoulders.  “Same here, kid.”  He said.  “But you earned everything you have now.  It was here where we made a name for ourselves.  Where you reached high and grabbed the stars.”

“Yeah, an’ I became a Smash Brother, too.”  Mac laughed.  “I guess I feel like I done it all, Doc.”

“Of course you did, kid!”  He said.  “We did good, you and I!”

The former champ nodded.  “So, why are we here, Doc?”  He asked.  “Why’d we come back here?”

Doc sighed as he walked in front of Mac, looking around him.  The punching bag, the weights, the various equipment, and the ring they trained in all stood intact and in their racks and placements.  “I dunno, Mac.”  Doc said.  “Somethin’ about this place is keepin’ me from letting go.  Like we still have a use for it.”

“Doc, I ain’t competing anymore.”  Mac said.  “I can’t.  I’m retired now.  You know I made a promise I wouldn’t compete after my three losses.”

“I know, kid.  But... I mean, look at this place.  We spent years training here.  It just... seems sad that it’s empty.”  Doc stuffed his hands in his slacks.  “There are days I wish we were still at it.  But you made the right call, kid.  You’re twenty now.  You’ve got a full life ahead of you, and you got a lotta cash on you now.  If I were you, I would’ve done the same thing.”

Mac smiled, going over and lightly jabbing Doc in the shoulder.  “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t f’ you, Doc.”  He said.  “Da reason I’m even here is because of you.  I’m happy I’m retired.  I miss bein’ in da ring, but not too much.”

Doc looked back at the practice ring.  He sighed.  “Maybe I just wish we had one more go.”  He said.  “One more time to get back in the saddle, for old time sake.”

Mac nodded.  “Me too.”  He said.  “But I’m sure dat’s gonna come one day.”  He walked past Doc and hopped up on the ring apron, his hands shaking the ropes slightly.  “Da ropes still got some shake to ‘em, Doc.”  He said, before stepping through the ropes, and hopping in the ring, making some loud thuds in the wood and mat.  “Still got some noise, too!”

Doc couldn’t help but smile before walking to the ring and rolling in to join his former student.  He stood up and could feel the bouncing of the wood.  “She’s still got some life in here, Mac.”  He said.

Mac stopped before looking at Doc.  “Heh, seems like yesterday you an’ I were sparrin’.”  He said, before taking a boxing stance and bouncing.  “Still got a fast swerve, Doc?”

The coach took another stance, as the two of them began to play box in the squared circle.  “Hey, I may’ve been out of the game for a while, but I still got the moves, kid.”

Mac dashed his head and shoulders left and right, keeping them behind his fists as he made some light jabs, but nowhere near Doc’s face.  “Watch it, Doc. I’m still fast.”

“Oh, I see how it is, kid.  You sure you ain’t feelin’ an itch?”

“Maybe dat itch is comin’ from you, Doc.”

“Hey, c’mon kid.”  Doc chortled, keeping his fists and matching jabs with Mac.  “Give an old man a break.”

Mac and Doc laughed and play fought for a bit before the lights started to dim and go out.  Both stopped and looked around.

“Doc, what happened?”  Mac asked.  “Did ya forget t’ pay da electric bill?”

“Nah, Mac.  I just paid it yesterday.”  He said.  “The ring’s still here, but where’s the gym?”

Mac looked around, before his eyes widened.  “Holy... Doc, what happened?”

“No idea, kid!” He said.  “This is gettin’ weird!”

Mac tried to find where the exit was, but just as he turned around and expected to find a red exit sign...

What he saw instead made his jaw drop...

Doc noticed the sudden silence.  “Mac, you okay, son?”  He asked before turning around.  “Kid, what’s-”

His jaw dropped just as far as Mac’s did, before they realized what they were staring at.

“Ho...ly...-”

It was the Smash Cross.  Burning in the distance, on fire, like that of a giant sun.

Mac ran to the ropes and grasped them as he saw the giant symbol in the distance, and below it, were some obviously recognizable silhouettes.  People that he had fought with and against before.

Mario...

Link...

Samus...

Bowser...

Donkey Kong...

And there were more people within the large crowd of shadows.  Some he recognized, and some he didn’t.

They were staring back at him...

As if beckoning Mac to return...

Could it be...?  Was this a message from the Master Hand?

Was Little Mac chosen to return...?

A minute of awe-inspired staring passed, before the shadows and the flaming Smash Cross faded in the darkness before the lights came back on in the gym, revealing the entrance.

Doc took his hat off, while Mac fell to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes.  His coach knelt down and patted his shoulder.  “Kid, you okay?”

Mac bit his lip and dropped his head as tears fell down his face.  Not of sadness, but of absolute joy.  “D-Doc...”  He stammered, sniffing.  “I... Master Hand...”

He brought his face up, the biggest smile on his face.

“I’m a Super Smash Brother again!”

Doc blinked.  “...Say what, kid?”

“...I’m back!”  Mac said, elated and laughing.  “Dat was a message from Master Hand!  He’s tellin’ me... he’s tellin’ us... to come back.”

His coach knelt down to his level.  “Kid, you’re retired, though. You said yourself  you’re not fighting anymore.  Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

Wiping the tears off of his face, away from his eyes, Mac sniffled, nodding frantically.  “...Yeah, Doc.  I wanna.”  He said.  “Smash was da best time I had.  I’d give anything t’ go back and see ‘em all again.”

The former champ looked up at Doc, a confident grin on his face as he pounded his chest.

“I still got plenty left in da tank!”

Doc smiled, as he pat his protoge’s shoulder.  “Alright, Mac.  If you’re going back to Smash, I’m coming with you.  Just like old times, I’m in your corner.”

Mac smiled as the both stood up.  “Thanks, Doc.  I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

The elder coach smiled, as he looked at the lockers at the corner of the gym.  “Say, Mac... You still got your sweats and gloves?”

Mac nodded.  “Ya still got ya bike?”

“Nah, it’s in the Hall of Fame at your exhibition.”  Doc shrugged.  “But I’ve got another one at my apartment.”

“What d’ya say, Doc?”  Mac asked.  “Wanna start trainin’ first thing tomorrow?”

“You’re on!” Doc said excitedly.  He held his hand out for a handshake.  “You ready to get back in the game, son?”

Mac grabbed it swiftly, making a loud clap sound, as his eyes met Doc’s, a spark of challenge shining brightly within.  Mac’s desire to compete never left him, and despite being retired, he always wanted one more match.

His answer was resounding, paramount, and final.

Little Mac was still a Super Smash Brother.

//Since it’s been roughly a few years since I’ve done anything on here, and with the fact that we have a new Smash Brothers game on the way, I feel it appropriate to reintroduce myself!

For those that don’t know me, my name is Izzy Raimi, and I’ve written as Mac since about 2014, around the time Super Smash Brothers for 3DS and Wii U was released.  I had been in the general Nintendo and Smash Fandom for about two years before I declared a hiatus and went off to different blogs and shifted focus.

After the hype train had reached its Final Destination with the announcement of Bayonetta, the final Smash Brother to be released, my inspiration had started to wane, as the Smash Fandom had gotten much quieter after the excitement of Smash 4 died down.  I was expecting to pick up Mac once more after the release of the next game, but considering Sakurai’s distaste for sequels, and the passing of the late Satoru Iwata, I had thought it would be literal years before I had Mac lace up the boots and gloves and enter the Smash Mansion once again.

As we have so clearly seen, that time arrived sooner than I thought.

Here’s the plan.  Since the Hype Train is essentially still boarding with the announcement of both the new Smash game for Switch, along with the Inklings being new Smash Brothers, I’m going to wait a bit to see how hyped this community gets before I jump back in as Mac.  I want to try to get another solid narrative in my head first before I reuse the old stuff during Smash 4′s era.

For those of you that have followed me and RPed with me in the past, let this tell you that, for the most part, I’m back!  Just not in a writing capacity as of yet.  I’ll check in every once in a while, and until I see that my favorite bruiser has made the cut and becomes a two time Smash Brother, I’ll most likely write a drabble about his return.

@underdog-champion

“This holiday is more from your world, right, Mac?”

“Is there a reason that everyone keeps asking about resolutions, or things that they’re giving up?” Ike asked, more confused than he was curious.

Because, really, some people were saying that they’d give up sweets or drinking – yet, here they were, at a party, either getting shitfaced or going to town on all the food set out.

“Ya don’t have dat sorta thing where ya come from, do ya, Ike?”

Mac and Ike’s homes could not be any stark than they are now.  While both shared similar qualities to one another, both were vastly different.  Mac was always more contemporary, while Ike bore a greater resemblance to something as, say, the medieval period from Mac’s world.  It would come to no surprise that the Radiant Hero would be puzzled by the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, and the irony surrounding them.

“New Year’s, back where I’m from, is how we celebrate just dat.  Since it’s new, we want t’ try to better ourselves, t’ not be da same person we were last year.  Da reason everyone asks is t’ see what everyone else is gonna change about demselves.”

( Mac: )

“I think dat’s gonna work just fine!”  Mac said.  “I just hope no one asks ya t’ play guitar, since ya got dat case strapped t’ ya back for da Monado.”

That being said, Mac was pretty underdressed for New York’s bitter cold winter himself.  He would need to change himself.

“Tell ya what, Shulk.”  He said.  “Meet me at da Smash Nexus.  I gotta get changed, too.  I just gotta warn ya.  When ya step foot in New York, ya won’t be ready to leave.”

►\\ Shulk chuckled at the thought of trying to play his sword like a guitar. “There are a lot of things the Monado can do, but play music is not one of them. I’m sure it would sound horrible if I tried, too.” He joked. Then again, he didn’t exactly have a talent for music anyway. Hopefully nobody would ask for a serenade.

Seeing as Mac had waited for Shulk to get ready for the day out, it was now Shulk’s turn to extend the same courtesy to his friend. “Very well, I’ll wait for you there.” The blond swordsman said with a smile as he waved to Mac and turned to start walking away for the nexus. He was quite excited to see what Mac’s world was really like.

It only took a moment for Mac to change out of his boxing attire.  Since it was going to be a lot colder, he decided against his pink hoodie and went with a heavy green coat, complete with a fur hood for the New York blizzards. A black muscle T-shirt, blue jeans and normal shoes completed the ensemble as he rushed out of his room into the Nexus Chamber underneath the Mansion.

Shulk, as promised, was already waiting for the champ as he ran to greet the fellow Smash Brother.  “Didn’t take as long as I thought!”  He said.  “Now, since we’re headin’ t’ New York, da Nexus is gonna take us to da Boxing Ring where you and I fight.  Dat arena should be somewhere near Time Square.”

( Mac: )

“Take ya to New York, Shulk?”  Mac asked.  “Is dat what ya wanna do?”  The boxer slapped Shulk’s arm, laughing.  “How can I say no t’ dat?  Ya lived on dat Bionis, and ya’ve never seen a place like New York!  Ya’d freak just from da sight of it!”

Shulk and Mac had become close friends since they first met in the early days of the tournament, but they hadn’t had the time to really visit each others’ worlds during their downtime.  They spent so much time talking to one another, that the time always flew by.  Now that the Monado Boy was going to see Mac’s home state, he knew he was in for a fun time!

“Oh, but dat ain’t all, either!  Ya gotta see Time Square, da skyline, and ya gotta have some o’ da food, too!  Ya gonna love it, Shulk!”

►\\ “I’m quite glad you said yes!” The Homs was practically grinning ear to ear when his friend had said yes to the proposition. Not only had Shulk never seen the world that Mac was from, but he was going to go during the Christmas season to see just how festive it was during this time of the year. He could hardly wait, but there needed to be something done before they could go anywhere.

“In that case, I’ll be right back! It’s pretty cold in New York during this time of year, yes?” After waiting for an answer to that question, Shulk ran off in the direction of the suites. His outfit was not only very foreign looking and would make him stick out like a sore thumb in New York, but the lower half of his attire was not suitable for winter weather. He had some more modest clothing that he had purchased in a recent excursion with another Smasher friend and was headed to his room to throw those on.

Several minutes later, the blond swordsman returned. He was now wearing a thick red coat, a white scarf, black pants, and brown boots. Slung across his back instead of the Monado was a guitar case large enough to fit the weapon inside. After all, a large sword like the Monado being worn around a human city would likely cause panic for the residents and needed to be concealed. Shulk couldn’t afford to go to a world where there was no Ether available, as he would get very ill if that happened - or, god forbid, he might even die if removed from the energy from his own world for long enough. If it weren’t for that stipulation, he wouldn’t have even considered bringing his sword along.

“Well, does this work for attire that would be suitable on your world?” Even though he knew it was a lot more presentable than his usual Colony Attire, Shulk wanted to make super sure that this outfit wouldn’t make him look too foreign.

“I think dat’s gonna work just fine!”  Mac said.  “I just hope no one asks ya t’ play guitar, since ya got dat case strapped t’ ya back for da Monado.”

That being said, Mac was pretty underdressed for New York’s bitter cold winter himself.  He would need to change himself.