SMASH GAMES 2: CHAOS | Super Smash Bros.

11 - The Trophy

Little Mac

They went to lunch, packed some supplies, and headed out shortly after. According to Palutena's watch, the mark was a couple of miles to the north of the Barracks, deep in the woods. Unfortunately, they found that the mark began to move away from them as they descended down the hill. Little Mac hoped that they wouldn't have to play cat-and-mouse with this mark-he was too used to opponents being confined within the ring. 

"What's that smell?" Palutena said as they entered the treeline. 

Little Mac blushed. And here he'd hoped that the sweatshirt would keep the Wario-waft-stench in. "Very funny," he grumbled. 

Palutena pulled in a long breath, her eyes half-closed. "It smells like...ozone," she commented. "A storm is coming." 

Little Mac glanced up at the sky he could see between the trees. Clear as day. He gave Palutena a rankled look. What's she been drinkin' today? 

A mile or so into the woods, they suddenly came upon a curious site-a metal billboard stuck into the blanket of pine needs and dead leaves underneath their feet. As they approached, Little Mac saw that it said, INTO THE WILD, with an arrow pointing directly north. PRESS THIS! a smaller notation demanded underneath it. An arrow pointed to a red button beside a speaker.  

"The heck?" Little Mac muttered as he jabbed the button with his thumb. 

A recording began to play, a little crackly at first, but it gradually grew clearer. Little Mac scowled as he listened. It was Wario's voice on the recording. 

"Welp, looks like yer goin' into the wild now, fresh meat!" he cackled. "Good luck, and make sure to bring some game back for yer ol' pal Wario! May the odds ever be in yer favor!" 

Click! The recording ended. 

Little Mac glanced up at Palutena. "The heck was that all about?" 

Palutena wasn't listening-she was currently studying a pine needle, twirling it between her fingers. Little Mac had half a mind to leave her right there to study the forest floor's detritus, but she was the one with the locator-he wouldn't be able to find her mark otherwise. 

He was stuck with her, for now.

The continued deeper into the woods, heading relentlessly towards their target. For a while there, their mark seemed to have been heading away from them, but now the marker was still, as if the Prey had stopped. That was good. Little Mac's legs were getting a little tired. 

Soon, they came upon tracks. Little Mac was no hunter (not really) but even he could see the huge, oblong prints in the forest floor, heading north, exactly where they were going. He couldn't tell how long ago the tracks had been made or anything like that, but he had a gut feeling that they were close. He got excited. Freedom, here I come! 

Little Mac and Palutena continued north for a couple more miles. The forest grew thicker here-more shrubs and berry bushes, instead of spread-out pine trees. Little Mac zipped up his jacket all the way-not just to keep his stench in, but because it was growing colder, despite the thicker vegetation. He pulled his hood up and yanked up his boxing gloves from where they'd been swinging across his shoulders. He fitted them on and flexed his fingers within. Ah, that was better. Not only did it feel great to have his boxing gloves back on, but they kept his fingers from freezing up, too. 

"I think we're close," Palutena said suddenly. Little Mac gave her a skeptical glance, doubtful that she was awake enough to notice that they were getting close. But he grabbed her wrist and took a look, and sure enough, the marker seemed to be dead ahead, within a hundred feet.