The night of the battle between Link and Mario was arranged in little time. Mario agreed to the contest eagerly always willing to please his admirers, he also found Link to be an honourable opponent. If the hero from Hyrule wanted to challenge him so suddenly then he must truly believe that the two of them can pull off a great contest, though the urgency in which he wanted it did seem a little odd.

Link himself found his nerves all over the place. He didn't feel capable of pulling off any drawn out physical contest anymore. Samus had gone through the plan with him enough times and her reasons seemed sound enough. Yet a part of him expected a double cross. There was no reason for such suspicion of course, if Link didn't win Samus would gain nothing. It was Samus's bitter tone when she had spoke to him about all this that didn't bode well with him. There again he felt much the same way as his planet hopping partner in crime, trusting each other was not the issue here.

"So," Samus started, "You know what I told you, are you ready for this?"

Link nodded.

The two of them sat anxiously in the locker room of the SSB Arena. Link was wearing his full garb including green cap and tunic, it was much tighter thesedays. The arranged contest would involve no weapons or power ups and would end when one warrior failed to recover in time for a sanctioned officials ten-count. The winner would then be declared via knockout and Smash Champion, leaving with the tournaments grand prize.

"You know," Samus added, "If you can do this on your own it would make things a lot easier for me."

Link smirked, "If I could do it on my own," he said, "I would have done so a long time ago, and you'd be out of the loop. I think it's in your best interest that you do get involved, but let's just see what happens when were out there,"

Samus smiled, "Ok. Remember, it's the final destination so no where for either of you to hide. He won't be able to use any of his power ups so you should be at an advantage." She stood up and headed to the door way, "Just keep things going, it should only be a few minutes before I arrive, that's when the winds turn our way, Mario won't know which way to turn."

The bounty hunter did not open the door. Instead she held out her arm and tore a portal into the space ahead of her. She only waved once before leaving Link alone in the silent empty locker room.

Half an hour after Samus's departure Link sighed. He then put his hands on his knees and raised himself up,

"Well," he spoke to himself, "Here goes."

The Hylian hero then stepped forward and made his way from the locker room to the entrance to the final destination.

The final destination was an open field. The large platform acted as the final stage of the SSB Tournament, it was suspended through some supernatural force in outer space. The starry surroundings added to the spectacle that was a championship contest, a clash of the stars at the heart of the universe. This time the two biggest stars, though one of those was not the same man who had battled here before.

The moment Link appeared on the platform Mario saw he was not as focused as he had been previously.

Link glanced at Mario. The portly plumber looked just as vibrantly imposing as always. It always surprised onlookers that such a man could possibly defeat the hyper heroic likes of Link and Samus, but Mario had always been convincing in doing so. As usual he wore his famous red cap and blue overalls.

Turning his attention from his opponent Link looked around. He didn't have a clue where Samus could come from, there were no ways on to the plain other than the special teleportation devices used by contestants themselves.

"Something the matter?" Mario asked in his thick Italian-American accent. He had noticed Link's apprehensive behaviour, it unsettled him further. "You look a little pale to me Link. You sure you want to a do this a now."

Link nodded hastily, "Yes," he answered, "Quickly, please."

Mario's frowned at this lack of showmanship. Why would Link be in such a rush? Before he could ask why a referee appeared.

"You guys ready?" the official asked. Link nodded once again. Mario followed and the two men came together at the platforms centre. "Ok," the official began, "Remember, there will be no power ups, no weapons of any kind, it will be a basic brawl, all kicks punches and holds are legal. When one of you fails to recovers before my count of ten then the other man will be declared the winner, you both got that." They both did. "Ok, then let battle commence."

Link opened the proceedings swinging a fist at Mario. The plumber easily sidestepped the clumsy attempt and caught Link with a kick to the gut. Link doubled over and moaned, Mario then knocked him back with a fist to the chest.

"Why you not fight a-back?" Mario asked.

Link shook his head, he was already sweating. Clutching his stomach he stepped forward once more,

"You want me to fight back?" he spat, "Alright then, how about this?" He then came at Mario with his arm outstretched. He attempted to floor Mario with a forearm to the head but Mario caught him underarm and flipped him on his back.

"What's a-the matter with you?" Mario teased, he then placed his boot firmly over Link's midsection, "You all belly and no balls."

Link snarled at Mario's mockery and grabbed him by the foot. He then tried to flip the plumber but Mario kept his balance. As Link got to his feet Mario attempted to kick him in the face, Link ducked the attack.

Seemingly aware of his opponent's lack of ability Mario held out his hand and gestured him forward. As Link did he was caught with a quick jab to the face.

Stunned, Link staggered back. He put a hand to his lower lip, it was bleeding. Now Link was shaking, he wasn't sure if he could even land a hit on his blue and red clad rival let alone keep him down for a knockout. He flashed Mario a bitter look, "Bastard," he growled.

This time when Link came forward he only feigned an attack. As Mario came forward to counter Link caught him with a kick to the inside leg. With Mario temporarily off guard the Hylian hero followed up with a further kick to the face. A third kick was caught however and Mario used Link's leg to push him back. The heroic plumber then charged forward and took Link down with a shoulder tackle. The hero of Hyrule was then left winded on the floor.

The official had been unneeded up until this point but now he began making his count. Mario stood by and waited to see if Link could recover. When the referee had reached a count of eight Link was able to crawl to his feet. Not wanting to loose his momentum Mario walked over to his ailing adversary and grabbed him by the hair.

Aware of his weakening position as well as the fact that Samus had yet to show herself Link resorted to dirty tactics to keep the contest alive. As he felt Mario take and handful of hair he raised his finger and raked them into the plumbers eyes. Mario was caught out and released his grip, giving Link a chance to regroup.

As Mario wiped away at his teary eyes Link came at him again with his arm outstretched. This time he blasted his foe with a punch to the side off the head. Link was startled at the attack and stood momentarily dazed. Mario continued his assault with a second blow to the side of the head, this time sending Link slumping backwards. Not wanting to let his rival escape Mario made finished his combo with a flying kick to the chest.

The impact of the kick sent Link tumbling and the fallen hero rolled down onto his back. There he lay sprawled face up, panting for breath with his arms limp by his side. His breathing was tired but steady, he was visibly exhausted.

Before the referee could begin his count a hole ripped open behind him. Both Mario and the referee himself were unaware of the portals presence, as was a still motionless Link. A hand reached out from the portal and caught the referee by the shoulder. The official didn't even have chance to call out before he was dragged into the hole as it closed altogether.

Wondering why the count hadn't begun Mario turned, only to find the official had vanished. As he looked away confused he did not witness another portal open, this time just beside a slowly recovering Link.

"Link," came a whispering voice. The tired ex-hero turned to his right, there he saw what should have been his saving grace.

"You're late," he groaned to Samus whose face could just be made out within the newly opened portal.

"Shut up," she ordered, "Here take these." She then passed him his sword and shield through her side of the portal. "Do whatever you need to do," she told him, "Just make sure he's out ok." Wearily Link nodded.

By the time Mario turned back to his losing opponent the second portal had gone. Link was crouched over now so his sword and shield were mostly out of sight. Mario once again went to grab his foe by the hair. This time however Link had in his arms his mirror shield. An ancient shield with a glass plated front. When Link turned he swung the shield up, bashing it across the plumbers skull. Mario was almost knocked off his feet but managed to keep his footing.

Now Link dropped the shield and took up his sword. When Mario came at him again he swung the blade, an attempt that could have took the plumber's head off. The hero of the mushroom kingdom was aware of the deception here however and evaded the attack before knocking Link to the side with an elbow to the head.

A fatigued Link dropped his weapon after being caught with the hit to the head. Mario then pulled out his own secret weapon, a brown leaf. He used the illegal power-up to gain raccoon power. He instantly grew a pair of ears and a tail. The vengeful plumber then leapt into the air before flying at Link. He took the foul playing Hylian down with a tail whip to the face. Once again Link would have been down for the count, but the referee was still nowhere to be seen.

Hoping to take advantage once again Samus opened up another portal just in front of a fallen Link.

"Get up!" she whispered, though loudly this time, "Get up you idiot, how much help do you need."

Link's glared at her with tired, beaten eyes, "ca- ca-, can't." he muttered.

Samus leant forward and grabbed Link by the collar. She was about to drag him up when she became aware of someone touching her shoulder. When she turned she saw Mario.

"Samus?" the startled plumber gasped, "What are you-a doing here?"

"Like you don't know," she scoffed. She then brought down her helmet and held her arm to Mario's face. The plumber was unable to bring up his arm as the treacherous bounty hunter blasted him in the face. "Why didn't I just do that in the face place?" Samus cursed.

Mario didn't go down right away however and Link was still in a slump on the floor.

Irritated, Samus took up Link's shield. When Mario was facing her she brought it crashing down on him, shattering it completely, "A woman's work is never done," she griped. She then shook at Link, "Come on you fool!" she snapped. She grabbed him under both arms and tried to lift his dead weight. Eventually he managed to stand though he was rocking a little unnervingly. "Ok," mused the desperate space warrior. She then re-entered the portal and threw in the missing official.

The returning referee seemed to have no idea of where he had been and only saw Link standing and Mario out cold. As was his job he began the ten count. Link looked on anxiously, but the plumber did not recover, and the count was completed. Link had become new Smash Champion!

The official disappeared immediately after the match was over. What appeared then was the grand prize that Mario had held for two consecutive tournaments. It was an item of high regard especially in the Mushroom Kingdom, the land Mario was renown for rescuing. It was a Power Wand.

Link took up the wand. He had never held it before, yet the power that flowed through him as he held it in his hand was awesome. Before he could get too comfortable with it however a portal opened once again. Samus now revealed herself to him in full.

"Well done," she grinned, though a sense of irony was certainly audible. She put a friendly arm over Link's shoulder. "You did it," she said, "You won the power wand. Congratulations."

Link looked to his abetter. He then looked once more to the immense power in his hand. Greed was what had made him bitter in recent years and he felt it unnecessary right now. Samus had helped him, no won the match for him. In eternal gratitude he handed the wand to his new found ally.

Samus looked to Link. She looked a little surprised as his willingness to hand over such an article,

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"We're a team now," Link said, "You and I, we are together."

"Then thank you Link. Though I doubt you really know what power you have here, that you would hand it over so readily. I have grand design's with this in our possession. The portal technology I have been using, it is so primitive, with this the Power Wand in hand it could be so much more. Link, I wish for you too join me in my mission, do I have you by my side,"

"As partners?" Link asked,

Samus smiled, "As partners," she said.

And so Link joined Samus. They made their way through the bounty hunter's portal and into her futuristic world. Link would take some time coming to terms with the things he saw there, but when he had he was able to open his mind to the things Samus told him. Their Power Wand combined with new technology founded by the Galactic Federation would give the pair unprecedented power, but how exactly did they plan to use it…