Civil Dispute part 20

"Epilogue,"

"Hey he's waking up now," came a voice through what all was seen was darkness. Light started seeping in bit by bit as the new world was being experienced, or more like re-experienced. Lucas blinked his eyes a couple of times to see if what was really happening was true or just a dream. He was looking at the ceiling and his body was in tremendous amounts of pain. He knew nothing was broken, but gosh was he sore. Good thing the bed was elevated already, otherwise sitting up would be impossible. Lucas then glanced around the room to see a wide array of smashers there. He was shocked to see just about everyone in the house in his room. Clearly it was a tight fit since some people were uncomfortably smooshed against the wall, but gave just enough space for Lucas to breath. Lucas automatically picked out his three friends. His eyes fell on Lucario though who was bandaged as well, with his arm in a sling. "Whew, had us worried there," Sonic said with relief.

"Ugh…what happened?" Lucas questioned. "Feels like I was hit by truck..."

"What do you remember?" Ness asked. This made Lucas think for a moment.

"The last thing I remember was you and Sonic leaving after our little adventure in the sewers,"

"Boy that was a while ago. Eggman Nega must've taken control of him at that time," Fox said with a displeased look.

"At least he's safe now," Zelda spoke.

"Yeah, and less crazy," Falco added.

"What did I miss?" Lucas asked finally, while being thoroughly confused.

"Well, basically you missed the climactic battle that brought all the Smashers together again to take down Eggman Nega," Sonic said giving a very brief version.

"Oh is that all?" Lucas responded.

"Basically," Lucario began. "Arnold Namgge was really Eggman Nega, a villain from Sonic's universe. He orchestrated this entire split of the Smashers to distract us from finding out about his operation to find the pieces of the Dyn Tablet, those rocks we saw in the sewers. He had taken control of your mind, and mine as well to stall everyone while he put the finishing touches on his weapon. Once the others figured out the truth they went to stop him, but were detoured by us," Lucario explained which made Lucas cringe at the thought of taking on every Smasher in the house.

"Trust us, you were not easy to get by," Link said scratching his head.

"Once we were able to stop the connection that kept you guys controlled, Sonic took off toward the city, like he was gonna save the day all by himself," Pit huffed with his hands on his hips.

"Naturally," Sonic stated.

"But of course he got his blue butt handed to him," Ness added.

"Lucky thing Ness had brought Sonic's Chaos Emeralds, or we would've been sunk," Toon Link stated.

"True-a, but-a it was a group effort," Mario said confidently.

"How come no one else's Final Smashers work outside matches?" Nana asked curiously.

"Basically, all of our Final Smashes rely on the power we draw in from an energy source known as the Smash Force. It's easier to access this power when were in matches then out of them. Besides, the emeralds Sonic uses in the matches are only for show, since the Smash Force directly powers his super form," Samus explained walking into the room. Everyone was glad to see the bounty hunter on her feet again after such a long time out. Lucas even let out a sigh of relief to see her mostly intact save a bandage on her face. Along with her are Pikachu and Popo. Nana instantly rushed over to him to hug the boy despite his injuries and protest. Pikachu simply rested on Samus's shoulder comfortably. "Nega did his darnest to keep us from fighting back. That tablet was so powerful it kept us from gaining power from the Smash Force, since that dumb rock was able to manipulate minds it obtained a link to the Smash Force through maybe me, Pikachu, Popo, or someone,"

"Wow, that's a pretty genius plan!" Lucas exclaimed shocked about the complexity of it all. He's somewhat surprised that the Smashers survived this experience.

"But Sonic still obtained his super form though," Captain Falcon pointed out.

"That's because Sonic keeps the real Chaos Emeralds here,"

"Why do you have them here?" Ness said.

"It was either take them here or leave them back home for a madman to get the key to unlimited power. Basically the madman we just beat," Sonic explained.

"Ah good thing,"

"SONIC'S TRANSFORMATION WAS AN UNFORESEEN VARIABLE, AND SONIC'S MOST DANGEROUS WHEN YOU CAN'T PREDICT WHAT HE'S GONNA DO NEXT," R.O.B pointed out.

"True, true," Sonic said nodding.

"But what happened to him, and where is he now?" Lucas asked.

"Sonic isn't into ending his opponent once and for all like some of us are," Link said somewhat annoyed at Sonic's choice of action.

"It's not how I roll, the guy's been placed in a nice comfy jail cell. Next chance I get I'll drop him back off on his world, so he can be Blaze's headache,"

"Who is Blaze anyway?" Ness asked.

"This fire princess from another dimension and she's a cat," Everyone gave Sonic a look. "She's pretty tough," Sonic then began to think. "That's probably why Mario's fire attacks were so effective,"

"Wouldn't he make sure to have his stuff fire-proof?" Meta Knight stated blankly.

"He's an Eggman, who knows how they think," Sonic said shrugging.

"So, what now?" Lucas asked after taking in everything.

"Oh, now that Lucas is awake turn on the TV so we can see Master Hand," Ness said. Red did the honors of grabbing the remote and pressing the power button to turn on the TV that hung from the ceiling.

"What's this?" Lucas asked.

"Master felt that with everything that's happened that some new policies needed to be instituted to ensure nothing like this happens again," Lucario explained. Everyone turned to watch the TV to see what had to be said. Master Hand seemed to be making a speech at what could be seen as an conference room filled with politicians representing districts of the city and at Master's side were the members of The Senate.

"Citizens of Smash City, and to everyone who is hearing this, I know that I usually don't make State of the Union Addresses, but I felt this time was an exception. I realized that I've turned a blind eye to what goes on in this world and this city," Master Hand began sadly. "However, that changes as of today. I shall personally assist in the next choice of mayor for the city alongside The Senate. The problems of this city were much farther along than I thought. An enormous crime rate, a huge super villain population, ruined neighborhoods, numerous people who have lost their homes due to these out of control villains, and the lack of equipment to deal with them. And it took a madman for me to see all of this, well it's time I take responsibility," Back at the castle the Smashers leaned in closer to hear just what the Hand would say. Even Crazy who floats next to him freezes on the spot to listen. "The one thing that Eggman Nega showed me, it's the Smashers need a presence here. So, effective immediately each district of this city will be assigned a Smasher or more depending on their need. It's time to show these villains they can't simply do what they want anymore, and in doing that more people will receive hope. There is such a thing as a hero, and this city has only gotten it's first taste!" At the end of this statement the crowd listening let out a cheer.

This is when the television was turned off and the Smashers were left to ponder on what just happened.

"What just happened?" Wolf asked needed to hear what was said in a different way, a small part of him hoping he misinterpreted it.

"He wants us to go around rounding up bad guys?" Nana said with confusion.

"That's what I gathered," Meta Knight said.

"This is supposed to be a break from all the responsibility!" Falco whined.

"When you think about it, it really isn't," Zelda stated in wonder. "We hail from worlds where heroes are willing to do the right thing and defend others from injustice wherever it may hide…this world…isn't like that at all…"

"She's right!" Peach gasped. "I mean, had we all not been here, the Suspace would've over run this world in a matter of days!"

"They're right, this world is without heroes…" Link said sadly.

"But it's covered with villains of different shapes and sizes," Fox said with his arms crossed.

"So, what does this mean?" Pit asked.

"It means we have our own worlds to worry about and we don't have time to play hero here," Wario grunted in annoyance. Most of everyone in this room gave him dirty looks at his comment. "What?"

"I think this-a better," Luigi said.

"I think so too, like, I never realized how bad these super powered bad guys were till we fought some of them," Ness said.

"We spend so much of our time just lazing around the castle anyway," Ike said.

"Doing something constructive wouldn't hurt," Marth said.

"Well this type of constructiveness could!" Toon protested.

"This sounds like a whole new registration bill to me," King Dedede mused.

"It's not," Meta Knight stated. "Master Hand knows we understand the troubles of the city now. Honestly, can anyone of us say we don't want to defend the innocent against these criminals?" The room fell silent at his question. Everyone looked around, but gazes mostly fell to the morally challenged members of the Smashers, ie Bowser, Gannon, Dedede, Wolf, and Wario.

"I still don't see the point," Bowser grumbled.

"Come on, you guys play the villain role all the time," Red said.

"Because that's who we are, but I'm sure Master Hand won't try to force this burden on us," Gannon said dryly.

"You know what, I don't mind this…" Sonic said finally throwing in his two cents.

"Yeah, like, can we really call ourselves heroes if we're not willing to protect people," Ness said.

"We made the innocents safety our responsibility, and unfortunately that can't take breaks," Lucario said.

"Ya know…" Lucas began quietly drawing attention to him. "I always hated the word hero…it just symbolized someone who could never fail, and always arrive in the nick of time to save the day. So much bad stuff has happened to me and all of us…if anything we shouldn't allow other people to suffer what we would. I mean, if you had the power to save someone's family, wouldn't you?" Everyone was quiet as if thinking about the answer. Everyone knew Lucas's answer, and some people already knew their own answers.

"I would," Sonic said.

"Me-a too," Mario said with a firm fist raised to his chest.

"I would," Lucario said.

"So would I!" Ness exclaimed.

"Yeah I guess I would too…" Falco said with folded arms.

"I would," Fox said. Meta Knight nods, as Kirby jumps up shouting Poyo. Yoshi cheers in agreement with the other silent responses.

"Of course," Pit said.

"Yes I would," Zelda said.

"Me too," Link said.

"As would I," Snake said with his back to the conversation.

"Me um…14th," Toon Link said smiling. As soon every Smasher was in full agreement, no one would willing destroy a family. The strength of their resolve become a resounding roar of approval. The Smashers were in agreement, they were going to be heroes no matter where they are or where they go, its who they are, and it's what they do.

It was late at night in Smash City a few days after the announcement of Smashers reporting to certain districts. Of course since Eggman Nega was removed from the picture the villains had no reason to stay connected so they went their own ways. They thrived on working solo, and solely for their own gain. Suddenly an explosion shot out a jewelry store and out rushed a person covered in rock armor. A super villain known as Earthlor took it upon himself to rob a jewelry store that was already having a hard time making payments. The family owned business would easily be ruined if the robbery was successful.

"Um, excuse me," a voice behind Earthlor caught his attention. He turned around with the bag of jewels in his hands to a blue hedgehog. "I don't even think you know a lady to give all that too,"

"Uh, what the heck, you're supposed to be at Smash Castle!"

"And you're supposed to pay for those, but I guess we're both a little disappointed in what we're seeing right now," Sonic responded smashing the stone hand to pieces with a spin dash and making him drop his bag of jewels.

"I'll smash you into a blue jelly!" Earthlor cried as he came charging at the hedgehog who stood in place smirking. However the villain was struck from behind making the Hedgehog tilt his torso out of the way of the rock beast.

"Blue jelly, that's-a rich," Mario stated walking up next to the hedgehog.

"Hey, best material, I've heard all night," Sonic said with a hand on his hip. Suddenly, a boulder went flying at them, but both heroes merely tilted themselves out of the way easily. Earthlor came out the dust cloud enraged as he rushed at them. He began swinging madly at both heroes who remained untouchable by this asphalt villain.

"To think, you-a could-a actually do some good with your powers-a," Mario said leaping over head.

"Like what, go into real estate?" Sonic questioned bouncing off the man's face with a spin attack.

"No, like-a actually helping shape-a the planet, create natural barriers against natural disasters, or even I don't make rock candy,"

"I don't know if I want this guy building barriers, can't really stop the disaster happening right now," Sonic said while doing a hand stand on the brute's fist.

"Well that's-a why he should give up fighting, and do-a something he's-a actually good at,"

"Cause buddy this ain't it!" Sonic said performing numerous spin dashes to break apart his rock armor.

"Keep-a looking!" Mario exclaimed performing a drop kick. After Mario's attack Earthlor went down hard as he landed on the ground unconscious. "I don't-a know how you do it Sonic. Banntering and fighting is-a whole lot harder than-a it looks,"

"I know right, you guys so don't appreciate my sense of humor enough to come up with that stuff on the fly," Mario turned to look at Sonic attaching a note to the bag of jewelry.

"Do-a you have to leave that everywhere-a time we stop someone,"

"What, I gotta have a trademark," Sonic said as he lay the jewels on the side of the street. Mario rolls his eyes as he leaped off. Sonic soon followed after him in a burst of speed. Soon enough a few police officers arrived on the scene to see Earthlor unconscious and a bag of jewels on the side of the street. One of the officers smirked at the unconscious Earthlor.

"Who do you think took care of this one?" one of them asked as the other inspected the bag.

"I'm guessing the more eccentric type," he said smirking as he showed the other the card on the bag. The other officer looked at the card then smirked.

"Yep, eccentric is right!" he laughed. On the card it had a wavy design with a smash ball symbol in the background. In cursive letters it said:

Courtesy of your Super Smash Brothers,

Weather kicken butt or taken names, you can count on us to spread some pain,

Sincerely, Sonic the Hedgehog your local Smasher