Long Live, Vengeance (Super Smash Bros. Fanfic AU)

3 - Cotton Wool

"Not to worry." Robin muttered to himself, a strategy guide open his hands as he studied it. It was aptly named "The Smashing Way to Smash Academy". Robin looked at the cover again, in disgust this time. "My Levin Sword could write a better title than this--" He cut his little ramble short, the author of the book was Sakurai himself. He bit his lip and took back every word he said about it. Robin would have been cut up to pieces, had he continued.

Chrom was lying on the bed, his Falchion hanging on the sword racks, along with The Binding Blade, Parallel Falchion and others. Lucina was busy reading a book she had brought with her, a classic Ylisse action novel which had just been released. Her eyes were glued. Roy and Ike were sat at the table near the window which looked out to the other apartments of the Smash Academy, as well as the green forecourt underneath. The sun rays shone through the window, brightening up. Everyone seemed in higher spirits than this morning.

At around lunchtime, it would be the induction of the new fighters: Ken, Ryu, Ridley, King K. Rool, Simon, Richter. It was a change that was implemented last year. Before, it would be an "iconic" fight, for example, it was Mario and Link during the year 2014 when everything happened but now, President Sakurai changed it, so that those who were invited to the Smash Academy, would show off what they know. President Sakurai would then observe from the announcer box, take notes on them and pass it on to the teachers so that they can improve on their fighting skills, thus making them a true Smash Warrior, so that they can take it back with them to their own worlds.

"Hey Robin?" Chrom spoke up from his bed. Robin stopped in his pace, turning his attention to Chrom. "Your pacing of the room is making me so anxious. Relax, buddy." Chrom chuckled at him. "You're not even the one who's fighting in this match."

"I know but I really want to be better this year. I have limited magic in this realm and the refresh time is somewhat long in battle. I need to make sure my tactics are right." Robin said, closing his book. He put the book on the table, alongside the various tactics books he brought as well as tomes, all lined up neatly on the table. Robin sheathed his Levin sword in his side sword holder. "Going face-to-face with your opponent is something I'm used to but it isn't turn-based. This is real-time. You have to be on your toes." Robin explained. He sat on the chair, pushing his fringe* to the side.

(*Fringe is the British English word for bangs)

"See." Chrom sat up from the bed, "Fighting like this isn't any different to what you're used to back in Ylisse. You need to find a strategy which incorporates both turn-base and real-time. For example, if your Elwind book ran out of magic, and you had no more "magic" moves left, you would immediately switch to melee range, using swords, etc. That's kind of like turn-base? You wait until it's the tomes turn to take over to KO your opponent." Chrom tried to explain to him. Robin slightly nodded his head in agreement.

"Yeah, I get ya..." Robin answered. "It makes sense. I think I need to give it more thought."

There was a knock on the door.

"The event is starting in an hour. Please make your way to the stadium!" Someone called out from the other side of the door. Robin stood up from his place, looking at the others who were looking at him for a cue.

"Well, we should get going. I want to get good seats. I need to observe the fighters to see who we're up against this year." Robin said. He was particularly fixated on Simon and Richter. Who were they? Two muscly dudes, holding a very elusive weapon, perfect for slaying vampires, he thought to himself. What was President Sakurai thinking?

-------

"Excuse me, coming through, HEY DON'T TOUCH MY ROBE." Robin was ballet dancing through the stands, trying not to . The stadium near the Smash Academy had a significant makeover. The damage that was dealt to it took a few years to repair so they had a temporary location, courtesy of the Sony Academy, to hold their fights and training classes. During then, the development of the new stadium was taking place. This stadium can change environment based on 70 over worlds that the fighters come from. How it changes is a secret.