The ending of Subspace

Link sighed and turned to face everyone.

Subspace was collapsing around them. All of the others, even Master Hand and Crazy Hand, were looking around. For after all, when Subspace would collapse, it would take them with it.

Finally, Pit spoke.

"Link, what did you mean earlier?"

Link sighed and tried not to look at his younger friend when he started talking.

"We're all stuck in Subspace. It collapses, we're all dead. And worst of all, Tabuu made it out."

"And took a substantial chunk of us with it," Pit muttered darkly, examining his right wing, which had been crushed. It now looked like a bloody mess, but fortunately, in Subspace, their nerves were deadened and the brawlers felt nothing.

"Is there no way to save ourselves?" asked Jigglypuff.

"Yes, there's one," Zelda replied.

"No!" Link cried. She turned to face him, and all the others as well. Link drew his sword angrily, because that's the worst he could do to her, really.

"Don't you see? I'll die anyway! We all will! If I don't do this, we'll all die!"

Link met her eyes, saw the determination in them, and lowered his sword.

"Do what you must, then," Link sighed.

"Link! NO! If she's doing what I think she is, I'll never let her!" cried Pikachu. However, all of their discussion was stopped when Pit collapsed onto the ground, shaking slightly. Marth and Pikachu ran over in shock to find their friend unconscious. It had all happened so suddenly, they'd barely had any time to react.

"The Subspace is slowly taking us with it," Zelda looked around. "Link, Pit's first. If I don't do a thing, he'll die now."

Before Link could stop her, Zelda let loose what looked like an ordinary Din's fire. However, Link knew better. As soon as Pit was hit by it, something that shouldn't normally happen between teammates, he shimmered and disappeared. Everyone gasped, but Zelda let another loose, this time hitting Samus. And she continued, seeming weaker and weaker with each fireball. And with each one, another of their teammates was spared from Subspace.

Finally, only she and Link were left. By now, Zelda could barely stand by herself, and was drawing energy from her damage meter. Subspace had engulfed everywhere except where she and Link stood.

"Zelda," Link breathed.

"You know what I did, didn't you," she replied.

"You sacrificed a bit of your life force for each of us," Link continued, tears forming in his eyes. "You sent us away from Subspace."

"But not without price," she replied. "I locked their memories away to keep them safe from Tabuu."

"What?" Link was confused now. "You erased their memories?"

"More like I copy-and pasted them," she explained. "Their true power is sleeping deep within them, but meanwhile, above, they have new lives. They are unaware who they really are, and are now normal people. However, when Tabuu rises once more, their powers will too."

"Is there no way that this could happen to you as well?" he asked. "Better anything than your death!"

"No, Link, there's not. As soon as Subspace is gone, I will be, too."

Just then, Subspace collapsed a little more.

"Zelda, I…" Link wasn't exactly sure how to say it. "I love you, and always will."

"Link, I…" Zelda answered, a tear forming in her eye as well. "I love you back. And with this love, I shall save you."

Just as the Subspace around him collapsed, Link felt the last of her energy hit him. He dropped one last gift to her, a heart container from their last brawl, which had allowed full health restoration.

Zelda smiled, utterly alone in what was left of Subspace, which was barely enough for her to stand in. She picked up the heart container, and felt comfort. She thought of her friends, now safe. Of Pikachu. Of Samus. Of Link. Of Marth. Of Pit. She thought of the others, too, but these had been among her best friends during her lifetime. No, they didn't know who they were, but that issue would come up later.

Just then, Subspace collapsed, and Zelda felt her world darken. She was sure she would never awake again.

Or would she?