Author's note: Alright guys, I promise, this is the last story I publish before finishing one of the others! Anyway, I just had a an awesome idea for a theme in this kind of crossover, one that while this chapter will only hint at, you'll see being developed throughout the story. Anyways, here's the introduction, hope you enjoy it!

Knights of the Dragon

Act 1: Two Realities, One Battlefield

Chapter One

From Heaven to Hell

"Hello and welcome to the Super Smash Brothers Champion Spotlight, featuring Ike, the Hero of Crimea!" The stadium roared in unison as soon as the show's host announced that. Ah the Smash Stadium, the marvelous space situated on the center of Nintendo's entire Universe. No one could really explain if it was on the same plane or not, due to how it appeared and phased out and how it was never accessed by any means other than the host's invitation and teleportation to the scene. Now, the host, or hosts were strange to say the least. Two flying hands. But one of them kept to himself most of the time. Master Hand, the gloved bodiless entity was the main host, Crazy Hand only appearing on very special occasions. Mostly due to its name. The stadium itself was only filled with the participants, Smashers as most would call them, I know, it's cheesy as all hell, but let's roll with it, shall we? The public were mere holographic illusions that were given voice, they were really on their home world watching from giant screens.

Back to the matter at "Hand"… I'm so funny. Master Hand had already introduced Ike, the mercenary from the elite mercenary group, The Greil Mercenaries. He had gained a name for himself on the last tournament and was now being met with overwhelming applause. The three years in-between the tournaments had served to visibly age him. Now, you would be asking ourselves, just how did he age? Well, he was taller now, about ten centimeter taller actually, and his bulk matched his growth. He now a powerhouse, toned muscles being covered by a much more tightly fitting clothing after his growth, otherwise, the only changes had been his now blue metal shoulderguard, formerly hide, the fact that his left arm was now sleeveless and his headband now being colored green. Anyway, he greeted the crowd with a quite embarrassed wave. He was used to crowds, but not this big. The Hand continued:

"Hello Ike, how does it feel to be back after your reign as champion?" The hand asked in an incorporeal voice.

"Very good! I never had quite as much fun as I did in Brawl, even more when I became champion!" He answered, pumping his fist to the audience.

"You cannot deny that there are quite a few people that point out your victory as a hoax, after Meta Knight having his power level scaled down." The hand pointed out, Ike nodding.

"Well, even Meta admitted he had felt lighter here and you told us Crazy Hand had "buffed up" his power as a joke. So, in my eyes, they are just jealous." Blunt and to the point as always, that attitude had gained adoration from the crowd. Well, if he were to insult Link he wouldn't be applauded, but really, who would?

"Right you are. And you've shown time and time again how you are a good person even in the battlefield. It's hard to forget how you shook Meta Knight's hand after you two having to settle a place in the final in a sudden death, him winning." Ike rubbed the back of his head, flustered.

"Well, the entire championship was repeated right after that so I…" Master Hand cut him off.

"There was no way you could have predicted that, but I digress. So Ike, who did you enjoy the most fighting against last tournament? And who did you dislike fighting the most?" Ike scratched his chin and answered.

"That's a though one but I'm going to go with Snake on the most enjoyable part. One, he was a newcomer like me so we were on even grounds. Two, he was just so different from the rest of the cast, almost as if he didn't have any reason to be in this tournament." The Hand coughed at that remark, signaling Ike to carry on. "The one I disliked fighting the most… this is going to get on the crowd's nerves, but Link is the one." He was right about that, gasps and boos were coming from the crowd as soon as he mentioned link.

"Why is that? I heard you like a challenge." The hand questioned.

"Well, it's not so much in the lines of hating Link, it's more that I CAN'T enjoy myself in a battle against him. He's a veteran, he has tons of weapons, which by the way, in my world is impossible, his fighting style his unlike anything I ever saw. I CAN'T have fun, I HAVE to be one hundred percent concentrated the whole fight. Beating him though… well, I hardly ever felt as satisfied as when I did at the end of Brawl. He understands. I think he took the loss pretty well." The explanation was enough for the crowd apparently, as it silenced them just in time for a playful remark from none other than the man in question.

"Go screw yourself you rock headed front smash spammer!" He was obviously joking due to his tone.

"See? Pretty well." Ike concurred.

"Well, finally may I ask, in the name of the audience not watching three years ago, who did you dedicate your victory to and where they are now?" The hand asked, this being the final question in the small interview.

"Well, I dedicated my victory to quite a few really. I got to know Roy in the prelims and I promised I'd win since I actually had to eliminate him to get to the main event. I'm glad he was able to be invited again though, I hope to see him soon. I also dedicated it to my family, the Greil mercenaries, especially my sister, Mist. She's doing… fine I guess, if not spazing out for me being addressing her right now."

Suddenly, the camera completely shifted, a small brunette teen appearing on the screen.

"I am no- Am I on air? ROLF BLOCK THE CAMERA!" She shouted, quite literally tossing the first person on her right against the general direction of the camera.

"Wait wha-" And it went static. The stadium just exploded in laughter.

"Thought so." Ike nodded, laughing like the rest of the crowd. "Well, she aside, I also did to my father, who's dead… Stefan, he was my teacher after my father. He's probably slacking in a desert again. Snake, we basically trained together all the way here. And Elincia since if not for her, I wouldn't have ever had the experiences that made me get invited. Don't turn the camera on her, she might have a heart attack." He crossed his arms and nodded, having finished the answer. "That's about it really."

"Thank you Ike. Now, the preliminaries are over and, while all the participants are now known, leaving us at fifty, only a few are here in the stadium ready for presentation. Ike, would you do the honors?" The hand then pointed at the man with one finger, creating six sheets of paper for him.

"Sure. Okay guys, first up we have one that may surprise you. Young Link, but now from Majora's Mask!" He announced.

*Cue: "Main theme of Majora's Mask"*

Before the crowd could express its distaste for another Link, a Goron came rolling into stage, only to revert back into the smaller entity of Link as it took off a mask.

"Don't worry, I'm no clone now. With these masks, not even grown up me can defeat me!" He exclaimed, getting a surprisingly positive response.

"Okay, next up, another returning member."

*Cue: "Mewtwo Battle"*

"Number one hundred and fifty, Mewtwo!"

The white Pokémon simply nodded as it appeared on the stage, still, he sent an almost heart stopping glare to the stands against a certain blue aura wielding Pokémon.

"Finally, the last returner is… well, whadaya know? Congratulations Roy!" Ike congratulated.

*Cue: "Together we Ride"*

Suddenly, from the sky fell a blazing meteorite, exploding into a storm of flames that gave birth to the king of Lycia, Roy, clad in his dark blue armor and red cape.

"It's good to be back!" He exclaimed, raising his hand for the standing ovation that came after.

"Thanks for stealing the show." Dressed in an oriental azure gown, the stunning green haired woman didn't want to wait for her turn as she walked on stage.

"Sorry Lyn, I just wanted to put a good show for the audience." Roy apologized, even then getting his ear pinched.

"It's "Mom" or "Mother" now. It's been a year already." She hissed in a dangerously low tone.

"Okay okay! Sorry Mother!" Roy pleaded, all the flare he had appeared in now vanishing.

"Well, as you can see… Lyn is no longer an assist trophy. To replace her place as Fire Emblem's assist trophy we have two trophies actually. First, Hector and Eliwood will share one for some reason. Second… of you gotta be kidding me. Master Hand, are you seriously putting her as an assist trophy?!" The hand shrugged the best he could, you know, with no shoulders

*Cue: "Isaac's Theme"*

"Fine I'll get on with it jerk… Well, another familiar face on the block is our very own Isaac! About time someone from Golden Sun got some representatives." Isaac was never one to impress, he was a simple man. A testament to that was how the blonde man in a teen's body walked into stage, waving at the crowd just on the last moment.

"I'm honored to be here. Matthew told me to thank the hand for giving him my place as an Assist trophy." He told the host.

"Don't worry, your son will fit right in." It answered, Ike turning to the last page. However, before he could get a good look at it, the propellers of a helicopter suddenly filled the stadium. Ike protected his face against the wind as the helicopter drew ever closer, a ladder being dropped. The helicopter was about ten meters above the stadium center now and the ladder carried a familiar face, one who jumped off, falling in the ground by bending both legs and arcing the body forward.

*Cue: "Encounter 2008"*

"Wait… Snake, what the hell are you doing here? You're not a newcomer." Ike asked the brown haired agent, being completely ignored as Snake started

"Master Hand, the entry forms were altered, he wasn't even invited for the prelims. Raiden got beat up and this guy took the place." Ike still hadn't read the pamphlet, ever since not only had Snake landed just in front of him but there was a cardboard box just like Snake would sometimes use behind the man in question. Suddenly… Snake emerged from it?!

*Cue: "Snake Eater"*

"What's the matter rookie? If I managed to knock the guy out, that means I have every right to take his place." The man who looked extremely like Solid Snake said, placing the former into a choke-hold. Ike took it back, this man was only eerily similar. For one, he wore a black eye-patch on his right eye, which was about the ONLY way to distinguish the two at first glance. He also had an unkempt beard and wore a green vest with black armbands with a fox's symbol etched on them, gloves and boots of the same color. Identically to Solid Snake, he had a black headband.

"You sneaked up on him." Snake replied, grabbing the man's arms and untangling himself from the grip. He then jolted his fists for an one-two, getting parried both times before going for a kick with his right leg, this last move getting him in a precarious position as the man had grabbed his leg in midair.

"That's what we Snakes do." He replied, releasing Snake and further confusing most of the crowd. "Still, where's the CQC I taught you?"

"I don't need your tricks to beat you!" Snake shouted, going for a roundhouse kick. The man ducked and swept his right foot, hitting Snake's only grounded leg, cutting his support, sending him to the ground face first. Finally, he pulled out a knife and placed it right next to Snake's neck as he turned and leaned forward, ending the skirmish. "You're pretty good… but you can't cripple yourself and expect to beat me."

"Ike, announce him." The disembodied hand told the mercenary, angering Snake.

"Hand, you're going to allow this?" A swift push of the knife cut off any more arguments from Snake, he still valued his neck quite a bit actually.

"He even went as far as to defeat you easily, I am not going to turn down such a fighter. This argument is over." The entity answered. Snake scoffed and the other man smiled knowing just how stubborn that hand could be.

"Well, okay then. Finally, our last known newcomer! Former leader of both Outer Heaven and FOXHOUND, Naked Snake!" Ike felt like a TV announcer here. And he didn't HAVE TVs in Tellius.

"Two Snakes? Really? First two Links, then we get ANOTHER Link, now this?" Samus sighed from the benches, wearing nothing but her Zero Suit. "Next thing we know it, Dr. Mario returns, we get Dark Samus and Captain Falcon gets a double."

"I don't think so really. When I was talking to Snake he told me there was FOUR Snakes where he came from, you could even argue five. Not getting another Snake was pretty hard." Fox, the, well, fox, told the bounty hunter, crossing his arms.

"You're one to talk." Samus remarked ironically, pointing out how Fox the epitome of what the public knew as "clones".

"Would you two just shut up?! I'm trying listen over here!" Falco blasted at the two, more to stop the conversation right there before it escalated into a "who is a clone of who" war.

Back at the center of the Stadium, Master Hand began to talk again.

"Now that we have introduced our newest companions, it is time we explain the workings of the tournament…" He slowed down during the pre-written speech before stopping completely. Walking around the center of the stadium and eyeing everything inquiringly was a young man whom Master Hand had never seen or heard of. "How may I help you?" He asked the man. The man had a shoulder length red man and clear skin, wearing a primarily silver garments consisting of an overcoat, a shirt, trousers and shoes. All of them had golden trims and inlays that showcased dragon-like patterns, the most prominent being the golden dragon wing on his back. Hearing the hand's voice, the man slowly turned to face it and the members of the tournament.

"You've got quite an impressive gig going on…" The tone contrasted how casual the phrase seemed, the casualness seemed to be only employed as a decoy of sorts. Master Hand had realized it just by the man's presence. Rather than what was happening, the hand looking down on the man, Master Hand felt that it was the man looking down on it with those golden eyes, stripped by a reptilian iris. "Care to share?" the tone was maintained, a condescending one, the man now stretching his arm towards the hand, opening his own hand.

"Who are you and how did you get here?" Master Hand questioned, signaling the combatants to be on their guard. Never had he felt such a looming presence of dread surrounding just one person, not even against Tabuu. "Answer me and stand down or I'll have to employ force!"

"Now now, I am the one doing the questions here. Can. You. Share. It?" The man's tone flashed in a ring of irritation before returning to its usual one.

"I don't know what you are trying to do, but if you want me to give you power over my realm, you are insane! Combatants… attack!" He ordered, he himself preparing to fire one of his patented finger missiles at the man. His instinct had told him time and time again to go with the man's demands, but he refused, and he was going to regret it.

"Wrong answer!" The man boomed, closing his hand. As he did, Master Hand felt a countless amount lightning grow on the inside, erupting to the outside of its body, paralyzing him in pain and agony.

"He took out Master Hand without touching him?" Roy barked in complete trance at the event.

"What kind of man can do such a thing?" Lyn asked no one in particular, slowly turning to the man, who had now erupted in laughter.

"Man?! I am a god even others like me fear!" He shouted. Even after his statement, he needed to swiftly step to the aside to avoid being split in half by the Ragnell.

"I've got bad news for you buddy, I've already beaten things like you!" Ike exclaimed, following up the blow with a sideways slash meant for the man's neck.

"Firstly…" With one finger, the man had stopped the blow, leaving Ike flabbergasted. The rest of the people on the stands tried to jump in, but the protective force field at the edge hadn't been lifted, meaning they could only watch, some like Ganondorf more amused than others. "You did it with help from your comrades." After the statement, he pushed Ike's sword away like a mere toy, even though it was a weapon meant to kill gods. "Second of all, you've beaten only half a god." He became surrounded in a deep golden aura, smiling as the others watched in a mix of awe and fear. "I think you'll find a true one a bit more of a…" Golden wings with silver borders sprouted from his back before the aura fully nullified any vision to the inside of it, growing larger by the instant as it did so. Soon, it was so large it barely fit the stadium, which was saying a lot. Suddenly, a silver tail-like thing emerged from it, gripping the arena by circling it and still leaving more than half to flail around the rest of the building. A bone chilling roar then enveloped the entire facility, two gigantic wings, similar to those of the men erupting from the aura and shrouding the arena in shade. Suddenly, the aura exploded in a burst of light, blinding everyone for a few seconds. Then, came the reveal.

"I have to get in." Link had been the first to recover from the flash and what he saw only served to worry him more. Towering above all was a serpent-like dragon. It's body like diamond, a golden hue appearing on his chest and the interior of its wings. The teeth ready to rip through the very essence of anyone there, the mane as crimson as the blood it had spilled countless times. It opened its closed eyes and reveled on the looks it was given, fear, awe, even hatred, its mere presence impeding most to even look at it directly. Triumphantly, he concluded:

"…Challenge." Crystalline breath escaping its maw.

"Who are you, and what do you want with us?!" Link shouted from the stands, immediately getting teleported from them and into inches away from the dragon's snout, who inspected him thoroughly.

"Oh, so you are Link. I've heard so much about you. Hero of Time, among others. If I'm not mistaken, this incarnation of you remembers it all, all of your past selves lives, am I correct?" The dragon asked, its voice echoing throughout the arena.

"What if you are?" Link spat back, receiving a booming laugh in return.

"Excellent, I wouldn't have it any other way! I need only the strongest." Link felt the same sensation as before and found himself standing next to Ike, the dragon looking down on them. "For those of you who are wondering… I am Godsbane Shinryu, the one the gods fear. You have not heard of me for the simple reason that I have not shown myself on this universe yet, nor did I know it had such juicy… prospects." There was something about Shinryu's voice that inspired dread and awe, as if they were actually talking to the Supreme Being. Even people like Pit, who worked daily for a Goddess were speechless.

"Now, I've been known to host a certain type of… struggle if you could call it that. My problem was that it did not reach the standards I had hoped, nay, it was completely sent off course by a simple mistake of mine. To pit good versus evil. Now, your tournament does not do that, it sometimes unites even biter nemesis and has you fight just for the win. I see great potential in your way and as such, I will adopt it." While he was doing his speech, Samus and the Snakes were both struggling to contact someone, even though all signals were static.

"Now now, if you could have outside help, it would hardly be a true contest, now would it? I will permit communications only during battle and only for battle commands, such as Snake calling a helicopter and Pit his army. The rest will all be blocked as you need my powers to contact with the outside world… the Void is an isolated place and we are now inside it." They had no idea what the Void was, but Shinryu wasn't about to let them ask. "Well now, I think it's time we introduce your adversaries. I'll just divide this here…" He hummed, porting everyone in the arena to the left side and filling the right side with the same aura as himself.

"So that is your army?" Link asked harshly, seeing the combatants that emerged from the light. Most of them seemed confused, some even unconscious, only a single heavily armored man seemed completely aware of what was going on as he wasn't even inspecting the area, instead chuckling heavily.

"I wouldn't say that. They are as much of my knights as you are." The dragon answered.

"So, they're your prisoners." Ike pointed out.

"I find that a harsh word." The being mocked. Ike cringed and almost lost his mind, but a gripping hand on his unprotected shoulder from Snake stopped him from doing something stupid. "But maybe I've let you in the dark for too long. Let me explain just what you're in for."

"Listen to me mortals!" The tone had changed into an almost deafening one that shook the foundations of the stadium. "I have chosen each and every one of you by hand to become my knights. As knights you are obliged to fight for your king, entertaining him as you can. The ones who serve me the better will be rewarded. Your mission is simple. Both teams will clash in succession in different types of combat, the losers being… eliminated from the competition." The way he worded it was especially dark, jolts of energy running up everyone's spine as he did. "The contest ends when one side runs out of members. The winning shall be set free aswell as the that managed to keep themselves alive will also gain one wish, some restrictions do apply though. The ones on the losing side... I haven't decided yet, I'm stopping myself from being too harsh. Know this, I'll probably not kill you all." The air had gotten stale. Strangers from each side of the benches stared at each other with apprehension, hatred, some even sadness and regret, but that speech had successfully created a rift between the two groups. The sight amused him greatly, especially for when he thought about he could further explore this.

"Now, why don't we begin with a little bout? Ike of Tellius, if I heard it right, you were the last Champion, right?" Ike nodded aggressively.

"So what?!" He shouted back his patience at his limit.

"Good attitude, you'll need it soon enough. Alright, I'm going to have to ask you to leave… oh and take the Hand with you." Shinryu simply ported everyone inside to the left side of the bench. "Don't worry, it won't count for anything tournament related."

"Why not? The faster we get this done the better!" Ike shouted, wanting to cut some numbers already.

"Be careful with what you wish for Ike. If I weren't so patient, I'd do it, but I will not. It would be unfair for both of you to fight under unknown circumstances." Ike groaned, even though he knew it to be right. First, he didn't even know who he was fighting with, two, the dragon could have changed the rules he was used to have so a practice match would be the best choice. "Now, let's meet your opponent, the so-called "champion" of the thirteenth cycle. Well, it isn't as much of a champion as it is the one that defeated what you'd call "the objective" but I digress." A small light flickered in front of Ike, leaving behind only a small girl.

"Dragon, are you pulling my leg here?!" Ike protested as he analyzed the girl. Compared to him, it was like comparing an oak tree to a sickly rose. She had no muscles to speak off, was as tall as his chest at most and had such a harmonious look Ike thought he was looking art an Heron*. Said was wearing a black and white two piece, leaving her midriff exposed, the top being mostly black with some artistic white strokes while the skirt was striped, alternating between white and black. Ike almost missed her cape, as it was nigh transparent in its light grayish blue, covering her back and her right shoulder. Now that he mentioned that in his mind, he found her skirt had a sash of the same material, the other being pure black. The boots matched her dress while the gloves were more in the vein of the cape, albeit more visible and with a golden star on each. Finally, her wavy blonde hair was being worn in a small bun, tied together by a blue ribbon and her eyes finally opened, revealing an almost otherworldly violet.

"I assure you, you won't be the first to lose if only for underestimating her." Shinryu warned, returning to his humanoid form while creating a floating throne. "Let's sound the bell, shall we?" On the giant screen, Ike and the girl's portraits appeared on the left and right respectively, a big VS in the middle. The stage was being selected, stopping at a very curious one. Suddenly, the entire stage and background changed, leaving both on top of a burning castle. Bellow their pictures it read:

Ike Ridell Crimea VS Terra Branford

Stamina Match

Castle Siege

BGM: The Devoted (Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn)

"Stamina Match, huh?" Ike commented, drawing the Ragnell and taking a good look at his opponent. She hadn't even drawn a weapon. She did have the build of a mage though. Even then, Ike noticed that she didn't appear to want a fight. "Hey, what are you waiting for? The match's started." He said, trying to get a reaction out of her.

"Why… why did it have to start again…?" Ike heard her mutter. The mercenary shook his head exclaimed.

"Look! Terra, if that's what you're called, we can talk AFTER the match, let's just get this practice match over with, okay? DO you want me to go easy on you?" The last question normally would irritate a person, but it didn't even seem to faze the girl. Hell, it did just the opposite.

"Don't. If we are going to fight, for your safety, don't hold back." Ike couldn't put his finger on it. Was she being considerate, or was she taunting him. The first option was more scary than the second, if she was being considerate… well, she had to have reason to back it up. Ike heard a coughing sound, and looked to his side to see the humanoid dragon clearing his throat.

"I hope I'm not interrupting too much, but could you… fight?" He sarcastically asked, leaning his elbow on the side of his makeshift diamond throne and supporting the head with his hand.

"Well then…" Ike began, heaving the sword into his shoulder. "Prepare yourself!" And he lunged as soon as the girl nodded. He decided to test whether or not this girl was a mage by going with a full one frontal assault. He jumped forward and brought down the full might of his sword upon the girl. He had gotten a lot faster with the years so this happened a lot faster than you might expect. Either way, he knew what would happen, and it did. Terra swiftly side-stepped and placed her hand on his chest.

"Get away!" She shouted, a large chunk of ice erupting from her hand, taking Ike with it. Midflight, Ike broke the chunk with hand and handed on one knee, grimacing and grinning in one expression.

"Hurst like a mage alright…" He was never as good at taking magic blows as he was against physical. He was also half expecting the girl to stay passive and just counter his moves, but that would be asking for a newbie. Before he knew, he saw a small spark slithering into his right foot. He could only cringe as it suddenly grew much bigger and combusted, throwing him into midair and canceling his awareness for a second.

"MAGIC!" Terra chanted, the sparks the explosion had set now congregating around Ike and detonating into a much larger explosion. Ike cursed as he was thrown off the ledge. He could see most of his companions slam the protection barrier in encouragement which helped him get himself back together. He roared and threw his sword upwards, inhumanly propelling himself after it and grabbing both it and the ledge.

"Okay, no more mister nice guy!" He exclaimed, realizing how the girl needed no help or condescendence. With just one arm he not only pulled himself up but also bolted into midair.

"Darkness of gravity!" Terra chanted, Ike seeing how a black orb was created above him, descending and pulling him towards it. He positioned himself accordingly and as soon as he hit the ground, he quick drew into the young woman, hitting her flank. Somehow, that only seemed to make her gasp and leave a superficial mark. Weird but oh well, he didn't pay much attention to it, he just tried to capitalize on it by constantly assaulting her without giving her a breathing room, forcing her to weave through his slashes like the wind. Just as he saw an opening however, he tried to capitalize by whipping his blade into her head with both hands, finding another steel. She had just summoned a sword out of thin air… Worse yet, she was STRONG for a girl that size, most of the men in the Smash tournament would crumble even after blocking that blow, he took so much pride on that forward smash of his it was like they had just punched his pride in the gut. Even worse, the blades were two. One a perfect golden blade with a silver line on the inside and a feather motif for hilt and the other a crooked black blade with crimson cracks all over it, both of them almost as tall as the girl herself.

"Oooh. If I knew she had that capability in Dissidia, I wouldn't have taken all of her memories." Shinryu whipped with his tongue as Terra catapulted Ike backwards. Ike was stumped. There was something wrong there, it was like she had fought people like him, but he certainly hadn't fought like her. He couldn't see what her weak point was, even though he felt faster and stronger, she pulled out ahead in an exchange that had everything to be favorable to him.

"Damnit!" He cursed, feeling frustrated that he was being held down by the tournaments restrictions. "If I still had Yune's blessing… and if the Ragnell wasn't…" A flash of light appeared right next to him, as if to answer his prayers.

"Oho!" Shinryu laughed, amused at the turn of events.

"An Ex-Core… No!" Terra exclaimed, lunging at the confused man. Ike wasn't a genius, but he could SEE how important that thing is and, even though he didn't know what this item did, the way it did reminisced a lot of how a Smash Ball would appear. This, combined with the girl's reaction could only mean one that it was very important. The item itself was nothing but a pure white bell, floating above the ground with four seraph like wings rising from its back. Ike had no idea if he had to break it or pick it up, but he didn't even need to wonder, as soon as he touched it… it exploded in blue flames. Blue flames that Ike knew all too well. They enveloped him, creating a shining blue chest piece that protected his ribcage and extending his left shoulder pad into a gauntlet that covered the entirety of his left arm, he also gained legguards, from his ankles to knee, all with the same blue color and silver edges. His head band was now a regal red, as was his cape, now no more tattered, just split into three with golden inlays on the division, halfway into the cape.

The audience was mouth agape, the right side knowing exactly what had just happened, while on the left just one knew.

"What the heck just happened to Ike?!" Young Link blared, a comforting hand resting on his shoulder. He looked up to see an emerald haired woman looking down on him and explaining.

"He promoted." The woman explained.

"Never saw you 'round here." Roy pointed out. "Newcomer?"

"No, assist trophy only." The woman replied. "But I'm not the one you should be worrying about… let's see Sir Ike in action!"

The board read:

Ex-Mode Activated: Promotion "Vanguard"

"This is more like it!" Ike exclaimed, Shinryu whistling in surprise. "Sorry Terra, but you've got no chance! Here I come!" He shouted as he lunged to the girl, who responded with and nod and a defensive pose.

In the next chapter:

"She can fly?!"

"You've angered the beast…"

"Shinryu, I know exactly what you're planning, and I'll never go along with it."

In truth, are we Knights or Pawns?

Post-Chapter Note:Okay, this chapter focused a lot on Nintendo's side I know, the next will focus on Square's probably. As I said, this is just a test run and it's up to yu to give me feedback. I'm confident I still have a lot in store I didn't show on this chapter since I need time to make it feel right to introduce, but of what you saw, did you like it? Oh and by the way, I'm taking suggestions for entries on both sides so, if you leave a review, which I know you will because you're awesome like that, do tell who you want in. Oh, and to make it clear, all of Brawl's and Dissidia's cast is in, so don't ask for people already in those categories, okay? See you next time, hope you enjoyed it!

Heron: Telian bird laguz race,consisting mostly of humans with swan like wings and transformations. They represent harmony, grace and peace, having no fighting skills, body or tradition.