A/N: Mainly, this fic has been about Link. But in this chapter, we'll delve into Samus much, much more. She is, after all, quite important to part two, whereas it was Pit in the first one. I'll be focussing on Pit as well. You'll see why, if you haven't caught on already,

Part four

"These wounds are awfully deep," Sheik stated remorsefully, hunched over the Pokémon Trainer who was stripped of his blood-sodden shirt to reveal gashes made by Ridley's immense claws, cutting near to the bone. The boy, by then, was becoming weak and some of his senses were becoming impaired. He could barely see, hear or feel the grass beneath his bare body. He couldn't talk; it hurt his chest to do so. Breathing pressed his cracked ribs into his lungs, sending a wave of acute agony through his body, forcing him to scream and let out his breath faster. Besides feel pain, he could only taste and smell. Taste bitter defeat and smell the musty, chilling scent of death. Sheik took out her harp- a last resort- and plucked at the strings in a melancholy tune. The Song of Healing had to work, or the boy would die. Zelda continued to press a cloth, which had been white beforehand but had been dyed crimson, to his wounds to staunch the blood flow and give Sheik enough time to fix him up. Sheik began to become temperamental as her efforts continued to be fruitless and she began to practically tug at the strings, making the song louder and louder.

"Sheik, it isn't working," Zelda mumbled, removing her gloves before the blood from the boy transferred any more; they were becoming uncomfortable. Sheik's face contorted into a grimace beneath her scarf and she threw her harp down in rage.

"DAMN IT!" she cursed. Even she seemed shocked at her actions- it was unusual for her to ever lose her temper. She was generally the calmest of the bunch. It had to be the tension of upcoming doom, making one do something out of character for them.

"Just calm down," Zelda instructed, reaching over and patting Sheik's back, "it's not your fault… That any of this happened…"

"Whose fault is it then? I'm partially responsible for this nightmare milady, as are you and every other being who calls themselves a Smasher… It's our fault for not dealing with these goons more efficiently."

"Don't say such a thing Sheik. It's not even over yet. We still have a chance to redeem ourselves."

"We have lost so many valuable fighters…" Sheik stated slowly, "if he dies, we lose even more because most of the Pokémon here need to take orders."

"You can't die in the wor-" Zelda was cut off by Sheik.

"You can with Subspace present, as long as the attack isn't intended for trophication. Anyway… If Link doesn't get back in time, we lose even more. Ganon and Bowser are dead. Snake and Sonic have left and aren't going to come back. Generally, I look on the bright side of things but this is just too daunting for that. We are going to lose Princess!"

"I refuse to believe such blasphemy Sheik," Zelda scorned, "Link is coming back… They'll finish off Ridley and come back… And then Subspace is toast…"

"Is Link one to be trusted though? He's already abandoned us once," Ike pointed out, seating himself next to Sheik.

"I thought you forgave Link," Zelda mumbled. Ike nodded.

"Yes, but… I don't even know. If Link, Pit and Samus don't come back, we may still have a fighting chance."

"They're the keys to our victory Ike, you heard what Link said before he left," Meta Knight told him. Ike looked to the ground in defeat.

"All those poor people…" Zelda serenaded, looking to the dying Pokémon Trainer, "people who don't deserve this… Innocent blood I cannot bear seeing spilt."

"Are we going to save him?" Toon Link bounded over, holding a large bottle full of orangey-yellow liquid in his hands. He stopped and looked into Sheik's crimson eyes brimming with remorse, and then into the faded eyes of the trainer, which glinted with a last spec of light. Sheik looked to the dust, trying not to watch Toon's expression as he realised the hope had been lost. Toon Link scowled at Sheik and jabbed her shoulder with his Wind Waker, "Sheik. Don't be that way. You can't just let him die."

"Saving him is impossible."

"Nothing is impossible. See this liquid?" he shoved the bottle under Sheik's nose. It began to give off a meaty scent which distracted the mind from all other thoughts but the growing hunger within, "this is my Grandma's Elixir Soup. She sends me a bottle every week to keep my strength up, because it lasts a while and is a great source of survival. My Grandma is old, she's nearly a hundred. Her legs don't work anymore and she can hardly see. But still, she makes this soup for me even with her problems. When Aryll, my little sister, and I were younger we kept trying to make a pig unearth a treasure in the ground. Yet the pig was stubborn and wouldn't listen to our commands. We returned home and grovelled to Grandma, and she told us nothing was impossible and if we tried we could work it out. We decided to coax the pig with food and it obliged to our commands. The same goes for my Grandma still making soup, and also for us saving the Pokémon Trainer's life and defeating Celus. Give the Trainer this soup. If I die in this battle with lack of healing potions, I want to die a hero, because I'm alone here, but Trainer has his Pokémon to look after. I'm going to risk my life for him now, because I know that's what Link and any real hero would do," Toon Link finished his speech and uncorked the bottle. He trickled a sliver of soup into the Trainer's mouth and coaxed him to swallow.

"Toon Link…" the trainer rasped, "why do I feel weird?"

"I think it's working. Look at his wounds," Zelda pointed out.

"What wounds? I see nothing." Marth inquired, walking over with Peach.

"It IS working," Toon smiled, "he's alive!"

The Pokémon trainer's fingers began to twitch and a strange sensation coursed through his body like a golden river of hope. He began to regain strength and feeling; his senses began to return to their former glory. The immense agony Ridley had inflicted on him began to fade out as if the attack had been a dream. The wounds closed like they were being mended by invisible stitches, leaving behind noting but little scars which began to turn from salmon pink to white as the throbbing faded. A grim momentum of his near death experience, and a lasting reason of why he- like many others- hated Space Pirates.

"How do you feel?" Zelda whispered, handing him a clean shirt from his bag.

"I feel guilty…" he muttered, sliding the fabric over his head and feeling a rush of warmth as the scent of his belongings overthrew the putrid stench of blood. Zelda looked confused and coaxed him to elaborate with her cerulean eyes. "I feel guilty because… I always thought Samus was an attention seeker… acting like her life was a wreck just to get guys waiting on her hand and foot. I didn't know the severity of what she really does until now… and I feel sorry for being so spiteful about her, behind her back. Ridley is terrible, and now I've had a close encounter I know for sure she wasn't lying about everything. If Samus doesn't make it, I'm going to finish her battle for her. I'm in this 'til the end."

"Me too," Toon stated, swinging the Master Sword in a victorious pose.

"I'm going to fight. I can't do much, but I want to help," Zelda affirmed.

"I'm not backing out. I fight for my friends," Ike swung Ragnell over his shoulder and grinned. Meta Knight, Marth and Peach all nodded, and then all of them looked to Sheik.

"I don't want to fill you all with hope," she mumbled, "but count me in."


"Wow… It's beautiful out here. So serene… So peaceful. It reminds me of home…" Link mumbled, looking out to the sun. The Dragoon had come to a slow pace, soaring gently on the soft wind current.

"It's hard to believe everywhere behind us is becoming dark," Pit sighed, twisting his head to watch the billowing clouds of Subspace advance towards them. The tip of the tower from the Ancient Ruins was slowly being ensnared by the cruel, indigo hands and it was catching up to the dragoon fast.

"I thought we had more time," Samus grunted disapprovingly, "it can't be happening this quickly. I wonder if I can speed this up," she reached for the tip of the dragoon and Pit dragged her back.

"DON'T! You think you know what you're doing Samus, but really you don't. You're going to get us KILLED!"

"Pit, get off," Samus hissed, "you're hardly being fair; I'm trying to save our butts from that stuff!"

"Not like Subspace can hurt us… Just, you know, drag us into an alternate dimension."

"We are no longer trophies Pit! We are human and it might just kill us. After all, it's US they want. Huh? So, we have to go faster."

"Its die or die," Link said solemnly, "so you guys seem intent on believing."

"No, it's not like that!" Pit stated, worried.

"Shut up Link," Samus hissed. Samus had something about her that made her scary when she was angry, like she had a demeaning aura about her that became much more visible when something ticked her off. Due to this, the boys simply had to oblige to her words and shut their mouths. Samus smiled at her command over her two friends and closed her eyes, losing herself in thought. If they were to be stuck in the air for a while, it'd be the perfect opportunity to mull some things over.

She was confused, to say the least. The things that were on her mind at that moment were not like her, and she hadn't the faintest clue as to why.

'Accursed Angel, leave my mind… This isn't like me…' she inwardly scolded, 'if there's one thing I know, it's that I like Pit.

No, don't be silly. I love Pit. That seems about right. He's so sweet… Argh, this isn't like me at all… He's brave and courageous, a real hero. That's what I'd say.'

Samus looked back at the boy behind her, who was tapping the side of the dragoon dreamily. No-one could blame her for being in love with him. He was an angel in more than one way.

'How do I know what love feels like'?

Images of her mother and father, holding their little girl in their arms and grinning for a camera flashed before the Bounty Huntress's cerulean eyes, her vision rippling as tears brimmed. The warm, fluttery feeling in her heart. Happiness, a sense of belonging to someone who loves you back. Her parents loved her and each other. She loved them both.

'No, no, no, get out of my head!'

That was love, but since she lost them, she never felt love. Only hate.

Every time she was close to feeling that, Ridley ruined it and death claimed her heart alongside the one she felt for.

Why Pit though? Why not her best friend Link?

'Pit is the one I love… Pit stole my heart. He's so kind, so loving… he has the most gorgeous eyes… in a life of despair and fighting, one needs a guardian angel. And mine is Pit…'

Samus shook her head and began to think of something else. The upcoming battle to be precise.

'I think I'll plunge a Super Missile into Ridley's skull and watch the bones shatter.

Listen to me, thinking about murder... is it murder to kill someone like him though?

In a way, we're as bad as each other though. He's killed people, I'm well known for genocide.'

Samus soon came to realise Link and Pit were staring at her. Had she said that out loud? She flushed red.

"What do you want?"

"Didn't you hear me? I asked you a question," Link stated. Samus felt the knots in her stomach untangle.

"Aah, phew… What was it?"

"How do you feel? You've been through a lot of pain lately."

"Oh, I'm…" deeply and most certainly in love, "fine. Just as normal, haha…"

"It's impossible to believe you Samus… Totally impossible. You're always far from truthful. Just get your head into battle, okay? We have a big fight ahead of us."

"I'm trying not to think about it. I'll get mad if I do…" she looked aside to the tiny world below, now having an ominous purple glow cast over the landscape. Everything was so beautiful down there, and soon it'd be a big scar of ugly Subspace, ruined like K-2L had been after the raid. It was painful to think about it. Pit looked at Samus with a concerned look in his sapphire eyes. She seemed slightly off, even for her, but it couldn't put his finger on it as to why.

'Why do I feel so concerned for Samus? She's strong, mature and independent. If something was wrong, she'd tell us or sort it herself. I needn't worry. Just because she's mortal doesn't mean every little thing can kill her.

I guess it's because I'm in love with her. I'm going to worry about her wellbeing if I'm in love with her.

I hope Palutena accepts that I love a mortal lady. If she didn't, I'd have been condemned by now. She obviously believes Samus and I were meant to be. After all, I'm her guardian angel.'

Pit gazed at her and smiled stupidly. Even her armour was pretty when the sun glazed off it. Samus was amazing, no matter what she wore, from her skin tight Zero Suit to her bulky Varia Suit.

'She's the most beautiful thing alive. But she'll never love me back.'

Samus couldn't help but look back to the angel.

'Pit is my one and only. But he'll never love me back.'


Lurking in a forest nearby the camp, a dark figure in a red cape was pacing the floor, glittering with melted snow. A large, blue dragon stood over him, his soulless, orange eyes looking about the area. Celus tapped his scabbard impatiently, and then finally spoke.

"Bowser is dead?"

"Yes…" Ridley heaved a sigh and looked at the floor.

"And Link is not?"

"No…"

"Well, in that case, we will have to attack. Every Smasher must be destroyed, and Link must die by my hands. We gave them a chance, but every last one of them blew that chance."

"So they must die?" Ridley's eyes lit up in malicious joy. Celus nodded.

"Yes. We will kill every Smasher, just you and I. We are unstoppable!" the man began to laugh, his laugh naught but a laugh of menace, a laugh you'd hear before a blade plunged into your body, your blood splattering the ground and your bones cracking beneath the weapon. This was the kind of thing Celus would laugh at. The Subspace made man informed Ridley on what to do, and the dragon nodded, pushing himself off the floor with force that uprooted the ground and flew off, his wings beating against the calm winds.


The forest clearing was growing evermore darker as Subspace swallowed the lake. The remaining Smashers stood, facing the tangled pathway that lead out of the trees, waiting. Waiting for a sign of life, whether it be ready to attack or their three comrades coming back from their journey, safe and ready to battle Celus. Hopefully they would have slaughtered Ridley already. To do battle with ruthless Space Pirates would exhaust the fighters, and exhaustion was the key for evil to corrupt the galaxy and all who dwelled in it, like the perpetual Twilight that once covered Hyrule. Zelda's fear-struck, cerulean eyes looked aside her shoulder, to where the Pokémon trainer stood with all his Pokémon ready to fight. Lucario nodded his head at her and Zelda turned to Ike.

"Lucario says he senses three new Auras."

As Zelda's Triforce had impregnated her with the ability to use telepathy, Lucario's form of communication to humans, she could talk to him at will.

"Good signs or bad omens?" Ike inquired, his grip tightening on Ragnell. Lucario nodded again and Zelda reported back.

"One of them radiates courage and another isn't mortal. Do you think it might be them?"

"I don't doubt it…" Ike sighed, "can Lucario sense the Auras of the dead?"

"Ike, don't be ridiculous!" Marth scolded.

"Hey, I'm just stating something that is POSSIBILITY!" the blue haired mercenary snapped back.

"The Auras are becoming more prominent and precise. They're good Auras, he can tell now," Zelda recited.

A dark figure in the air began to fly towards the forest. The smashers looked up at it.

"Right, now we jump," an unmistakable, cold and monotonous voice of a woman stated.

"WHAT!" the voice of a young man cried in disbelief. If you could see the woman's face, you'd see her smile a devious grin. A heavy cannon came down on the young man's back and he fell rather ungracefully to the ground, his face planting the dirt before the Smashers. The woman followed with a graceful third figure, wings spreading from his back as he glided.

"What did you say about them being dead Ike?" Zelda grinned, helping Link to his feet. Link brushed twigs out of his hair as Samus clunked to the ground and Pit landed lightly after her.

"Hi guys…" Ike mumbled.

"Did you do it?" Meta Knight inquired, "is the pirate dead?"

"He wasn't there," Samus lied, "but we heard some strange folk tale that deciphered the Smasher Song. Heh, apparently I'm the chosen one. Cool, 'eh?"

"Just… Get your head into battle Aran," Ike sighed. Samus nodded, though many things bounced about in her mind, overshadowing the battle.

Pit

Ridley

Death

Samus looked to her feet and sighed. She'd been going through so much in her life… her head began spin with everything that ever happened.

I'm Samus Aran. I'm part of the earth colony K-2L that was wiped out years ago by Space Pirates. I was three. I was raised by the ancient, extraterrestrial race of the Chozo, infused with their blood, trained to be a warrior. I eventually became a Bounty Hunter, and joined the Smash tourney. Link is my best friend. But now I am in love with an angel.

"It sounds so STUPID!" Samus said aloud.

"What does Sammy?" Peach asked, seeming to have lost her optimism.

"Nothing…" Samus groaned lightly at her nickname. She realised the only stupid thing there was herself and resorted to keeping her mouth shut and envisioning Ridley drowning in lava. After deciding trying to guess what Samus was smiling about was futile, Link turned to his more trusted swordsman friend, the blue haired nobleman Marth, and began to toss him queries about what was going to happen.

"Well, the man Celus wanted to kill you. But upon realising you were gone, he declared that he'd overrule this galaxy lest we found you and let him kill you in three days."

"But it's not me who can kill Subspace… Samus, she's the one the legend talks of."

"They're not in this for Subspace. They're in this to avenge Ganon."

"Why me though?" Link sighed.

"Because, my hero, you were Ganon's greatest enemy," Zelda stated, "I killed him, but Celus wants you."

"Are we going to get attacked by Space Pirates?" Lucas inquired, quivering and pulling on Link's tunic.

"Course not Lucas," Samus reassured triumphantly, snapping into Bounty Hunter mode, "we will destroy those creatures by force, for they are naught but weaklings. You guys are acting so morbid, considering we are going to win."

"Samus, you are a foolish woman," Meta Knight sighed, "you may be able to best Ridley, but we are weak, with little defence. That is our main flaw."

"Some of us have reflective powers or equipment," Fox pulled out his reflector.

"I can send Nayru's love out further than myself, but it doesn't last long. We'll be better off with depending on our own defences. And Franklin Badges."

"The store hut is too far. We fight here, in the forest," Ike lifted Ragnell up to the sky. It had begun to rain, washing away the snow. It turned quickly into a summer thunder storm during in winter, a sign that evil advanced. At the entrance of the forest, Celus and Ridley readied both their armies. Several Gerudo and Koopa stood among the Primids and Space Pirates, desperate to avenge their dead kings. In the clearing, the Smashers became sodden. None of them spoke. Memories the rain brought clouded their minds. Some were heart wrenching, some brought rage unto the Smashers and made them boil with bottled anger.

Thunder clashed like cymbals.

It had been raining in Hyrule that one time when Ganondorf had crushed Link's best friend in the world.

Thunder storms meant battle was coming; they were a symbol of bloodshed.

It had begun to rain when Wario had taken Ness and left poor Lucas all alone.

Lightning lit up the entire sky that was purple with Subspace.

Samus had always liked rain when she was growing up.

The Subspace Army began to advance.

The Pokémon had never fought a proper battle. Life to them was a game.

Wolf and Wario felt slightly uncomfortable fighting for good.

Lucas had stopped crying now. Watching everyone facing death motivated the small boy to fight like a man.

Ridley wasn't dead. Meta Knight felt slightly happy; he could help Samus kill him.

Pit wondered if he'd ever forgive himself if Samus died and he couldn't save her.

"I hear footsteps," Captain Falcon announced.

"Well the… To the death," Link raised the Master Sword.

"For the entire Galaxy. To avenge all innocent blood spilt across the history books."

"Kirby, I promise I'll be good if we both make it out alive," King Dedede stated. Kirby cracked a smile. That smile soon faded as a dark, caped figure walked into the clearing, followed by an army and the large Space Dragon Ridley flying overhead. Everyone readied their weapons. It was time.


"Such a pleasure to see you all here, ready to die," Celus grinned deviously, holding the corrupted sage's sword, "ah, Link, I'm glad I can finally meet you at last. You're shorter than I envisioned."

"You must be the scum I've heard of," Link snarled.

"Hm, scum? You're even dressed in the appropriate colours to be scum yourself, Link."

"Why are you here?" Link asked. The young man had become serious and stood in a pose that screamed authority.

"I am here to kill you. Is it not obvious? You are a great threat to our army. It is as the song depicts. You are the one in the song."

"You're wrong!" Samus hissed. A little message came up on her visor reading 'Super Missiles selected'. The Huntress smiled and aimed her cannon at Celus, who burned with fury at Samus's outburst. He stepped up to her, a little shocked to realise she was a good head taller than him. Samus had a very demeaning appearance, which did intimidate the man slightly, but he built up a fearsome personality.

"Oh, am I? I suppose you think you're so big in that armour little girl. Let's see how big you are now," he shot a wave of acute agony up Samus's spine. She twisted in pain and winced.

"Stop…"

"Why am I wrong?" the pain was driving Samus down to her knees. Celus was showing he meant business, and watching Samus fall under the torture was torture for her friends to watch.

"The legend is about me…" Samus winced. Celus was using the same force he used on the Pokémon Trainer, who was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

"Lies!" Celus boomed. Whatever he did to Samus, it made her yell in ear-splitting agony as she crumpled like a sheet of paper, falling to the floor and continuing to scream. The pain was so much, too much. She wanted it to end, she wanted someone to kill her and cut short this torture. Celus seemed to be enjoying watching the Bounty Huntress squirm, and Ridley had landed to watch, a hint of an evil soul coming into his eyes.

"Ridley. She's yours," Celus smiled when Samus fell limp, the pain becoming too much for her brain to work with and thus meaning her limbs began to stop functioning. It hurt too much to move.

Celus suddenly jolted and stopped the torture, clutching at his arm. Smiling at his sharpshooting skills, Toon Link put away his bow.

"Samus get up!" he called. The pain was becoming less and less, and Samus managed to do as the small boy told her without hurting too much. As Celus recuperated from having an arrow pierce his upper arm, the Huntress dashed away to the rest of the Smashers, who had formed a crescent shape around the villain.

"You think you can fight back!" Celus snarled, removing the arrow and snapping it like a twig, "weak, insufficient fools. The majority of you are mortal and human mortals at that."

"You underestimate the abilities of 'human mortals'," Link stated darkly, "yes, there are some of us here who have no divine abilities or unusual attributes. Some of us here ARE just good fighters alone. And yet we stand here before you, some of us completely unarmed. Some of us with weapons that any old person could pick up and use, some with only physical strength to rely upon. And yet you see no fear in our eyes. I can see that you are scared. You have four armies at your disposal, and there are less than forty of us in total. And still, I doubt you actually realise what we're capable of. I highly doubt you and your thousands of men can take us down."

"You are too optimistic."

"And do you know why Celus?" Link asked, ignoring the man's remark, "because we are warriors. We are the Smashers," each Smasher began to glow the colours of fire, their eyes becoming lifeless and yellow, "we will destroy you with divine powers that only we bestow."

The sky became pitch black. The rain stopped.

"What is this madness!" Celus backed off as Link approached him, followed by the other swordsmen, while everybody else went to deal with the armies and Samus, her nemesis Ridley.

"Ever heard of a Final Smash?" Ike grinned.

"It's our strongest move that generally, only one person can use at a time," Marth explained.

"In a fight, it generally ends with a one hit KO," Toon Link added.

"But for you, it ends with death," Link smiled.

Meta Knight began the chain of attacks with his Galaxia Darkness, enveloping Celus in darkness with a swing of his cape and sending him flying upwards, which was when Ike leapt up with a cry of:

"GREAT AETHAR!"

As Marth and Toon Link moved in, Link watched as Pit's Centurions flew out to attack the Koopas, Gerudo and Space Pirates, the image of Palutena lingering in the sky. Three Landmasters began to crush those unlucky enough to get caught in the blasts of the machine's cannons. Both Zelda and Sheik shot light arrows out at random angles, their multiple shots showing these Final Smashes were somehow eternal until the last black heart fell. Koopa Troopers yelled in agony as Kirby cooked them into Turtle soup. The Blue Falcon swept Gerudo off their feet at breakneck speed, causing the women to crash to the floor with most every bone in their bodies busted. Monsters swarmed in and ripped Pirates and Primids to pieces as Olimar in the Hocotate flew off into the sky. Donkey Kong laid down a consistent beat down on his bongos, knocking the armies about and flinging them into Luigi's negative zone, where the strange forces within made them lose control of themselves. It began to grow rather hot in the forest as trees and shrubs were singed by the tremendous Zero Laser Samus focussed entirely on Ridley. The dragon screeched in agony and stumbled about as the beam scorched his skin off and burned up his bones. Having never used this before outside of tourneys, Samus didn't know what damage it could do to her enemies. And herself. As the beam thinned and Ridley began to die, the ashes from his body drifting in the breeze from other Final Smashes as it burned at massive temperatures, Samus's suit began to break away. With a last pained screech, the dragon had gone, carried away by the wind. Reduced to her Zero Suit and the beam gone, Samus dropped to her knees. Pit caught her body crumpling out of the corner of his eye and stopped giving orders to his troops, racing over to her before she fell backwards, catching her in his arms. Her hair had been singed by her beam and she had become almost unconscious. The pirates had been completely destroyed soon after their high commander, and the remainder of the Primids, Koopa and Gerudo began to run off while they still had limbs, not wanting to become mince meat. Many finished their Final Smashes once their armies had been completely removed from the forest clearing. All but Link, who hadn't yet unleashed his.

"Must all of Ganon's creations be killed this way?" Link sighed, looking to Celus who stumbled about weakly before him. Still blessed with the Final Smash within him, Link looked to the Master Sword and back at the man with his completely yellow eyes.

"Well done Link. I applaud you," Celus's lifeless eyes glittered, "but a Final Smash cannot kill me, or I would be dead."

"I'm one of the ones of legend," Link growled.

"The other two wasted their powers though," Celus flashed a grin at him, malicious and dark, "you may have the Triforce boy, but YOU cannot kill me alone."

"Shut up! I can try!" Link snapped.

"I have to fight him…" a weak voice mumbled from behind the two swordsmen. Pit held Samus tighter, stopping her from getting up to complete the task she'd just set herself.

"No Samus," Link looked down, "you'll kill yourself."

"Link… You must… Weaken him… Within me, I feel that it must be me to finish him off…"

"Samus, no…" Pit whispered.

"I have to do this Pit…" she flung the angel off her and stumbled over to Link.

"Samus, you're too we-"

"Have I ever been WEAK Link? Sure, physically I have been worn to the bone, but I'm the last person you can count out," even her voice and posture became stronger as she spoke. Pit stepped in to drag her back, but Captain Falcon put a hand on the Angel's shoulder.

"Don't kid. Sam's a feisty woman. If she's got her mind set on something, it'll bother her if she never does it."

"But…" Pit decided argument was futile.

'Besides… I should be up there fighting…' Pit shot an arrow, knocking Celus down. Link concentrated his Final Smash solely on Celus and began to Triforce slash him. At every cut, shadow bugs poured from the wound instead of blood. Samus began to take Pit's bow from him sneakily; her suit had to be restored with another Final Smash and her Paralyser wouldn't do anything extravagant. Pit allowed her it, and the Bounty Huntress waited for Link's Final Smash to be done. The hero reverted back to normal and came to his feet. Celus was being swamped with shadow bugs from his own wounds.

"How… could I lose?" he asked himself. Samus held Pit's bow up to the darkened sky and plunged it down into Celus's chest. The man emitted an agonizing cry and shadow bugs covered the Goddesses' weapon, causing Samus to pull it out and hurl it to the floor. As the last of Subspace died at Samus Aran's hands, the sky cleared. It was morning; they'd fought throughout the night. The shadow bugs faded into nothing, leaving only a rain soaked, muddy camp site that had somehow remained intact. Zelda walked over to the discarded Sage's sword and picked it up, "this belongs with the sages. I'll return it tonight, Fox may you give me a lift?"

"Sure thing my lady," the mercenary bowed his head, "but I haven't an Arwing… I'll call the Great Fox."

There was a loud thud and all eyes turned to Samus, who had yet again collapsed from exhaustion into Pit's outstretched arms.

"Samus!"

"It's okay Pit… I just need to sleep…" she mumbled, "I haven't in a while. I'm tired…"

"Okay…" the angel whispered, "just… don't hurt yourself…" she wasn't going to die. He'd know. She was so soft in his arms, so warm, so slender. He loved how she felt in his arms.

'I love her…'

Samus looked weakly into Pit's endless blue eyes. Those beautiful, endless blue eyes. She could fall asleep gazing into his eyes.

'I have to tell him.'

"Pit I… I have to tell you something…" she mumbled.

"Yes?" Pit's eyes widened.

"Man, this is hard to say… I don't know how to tell you this…" she sighed.

Pit could see it all in her eyes. His heart skipped a beat.

"May I tell you something then? Maybe it'll loosen your tongue."

Pit put his hand on the back of her head and sat her up.

"Samus Aran… I love you…"

Samus was never one for words, but was always good at actions to leave a mark. Pit was knocked aback in surprise when Samus grabbed his face forcefully and kissed him. The Angel's wings twitched and his eyes crossed. He had no clue on what to do with himself besides go with what Samus was doing. It seemed to last an eternity, blazing strings of fire binding them together. Samus slowly began to feel drowsy, the burden of the last few days kicking in. She drifted away from the kiss after forever had passed and rested her head on his chest, dozing peacefully off in the arms of her lover. Pit cracked a grin and looked to the sky.

"Thank you my Goddess. I am eternally grateful."

Giving his two friends a little privacy, Link stood at the mouth of the forest, looking out to the trees that were once again brimming with life. He'd forgotten what peace and love felt like, but now as evil had been exterminated, he was finally regaining those emotions. They mingled with the chilly, winter air and gave a pleasant aroma that seemed to smell of forest off. There were a few heavy clumps of footsteps behind him, and Ike came to stand beside the hero, having discarded his sword by his bed.

"Hello Ike," Link sighed, watching a fly dance around in front of his face.

"Listen, Link," Ike began, his voice melancholy with a hint of apology in his tone, "I'm sorry I doubted you. Hell, I'm sorry about how I've always been with you. I've been a bit big headed and full of myself, and it seems like I look down my nose at everyone. I now realise I'm not better than you just because I'm higher ranked, in tiers and in status. You're a fine swordsman and a damn good hero."

"Thanks Ike… I'm sorry for snapping and hurting you. I should have known you wouldn't understand, I can be pretty complex sometimes."

"I'll say. I though you were with Samus."

"Why would you think that?" Link looked to him. Ike shook his head.

"You two seemed so close. Like, inseparable close. Lovers."

"We are inseparable. Sam's my big sister that isn't related to me. We're misfits, and misfits have to stick together. Pit's the glue that binds us, see?"

"Seems feasible," Ike nodded, "hey, Zelda's just as good as Samus. She just needs to grow a spine. No offense."

"None taken," Link grinned, "anyway, we'll always be there to protect that feeble little Princess. We're the Smash Bros, aren't we? Like the Goron tribe of Death Mountain, who cares about looks and origins? We're all family, even if not through blood."

"Seems a nice thing to believe, considering blood of our real relatives has been shed. And it's thanks to them that we're here, I guess. I wouldn't be here if my dad's Mercenary passed on to me after he died."

"I never knew your dad died," Link frowned.

"I guess I'm not the kind of guy to dwell on the past. When I do, it shows my soft side… It's actually making my heart sink now. I trust you Link. Please don't tell Marth I can be a softie, or he'll never let me live it down."

"You have my word," Link smiled, "hey, speaking of Marth. A few months back, we were going to have a battle. We never completed it. I say we fix that stadium, grab our Princess Martha and commence our battle. Just for fun, not to prove anything."

"I accept," Ike stated, "oh, hey Link, I just remembered what day it is."

"Hmm?" Link tried to think. He'd lost track of time, however, "what day?"

Ike pointed to a large pine tree that dwelled just on the borders of the forest clearing. Several Smashers were hanging an assortment of shiny decorations on the tree's branches. Link chuckled to himself.

"Oh yeah… Merry Christmas."


The rest of the year was peaceful and serene. The Smashers combined forces to restore the stadium back to its former glory. Everyone was friends with everyone once more. Dedede, Wolf and Wario had agreed to end their villainous ways, and even Meta passed up his semi-dark side, having seen the light in Link, Pit and surprisingly Samus who seemed to have become less negative about everything since she found love. Maybe everyone just needed someone to love and accept them to turn them around? The day of Link and Ike's mini fight came up a week after December turned into January, and most fighters seemed to be there. Zelda and Peach had shoved Marth (who was gagged and bound with Falchion confiscated) into a dress and he had to threaten everybody who had taken a picture that he'd 'find a way to destroy the flashy picture boxes and have them hanged.' Link didn't mind that Samus had left the stadium half way through the fight. The painful screeches in agony that came from the ship dock indicated she was dealing with something important for herself. Though relieved Snake and Sonic had returned alive, she still felt it necessary to give Doctor Mario something to do in the otherwise empty infirmary. Samus didn't pass up the first chance she got to fly her beloved ship again, and insisted Link and Pit come for a ride. The three of them hovered above the World of Trophies, looking down on the matchbox camp site below them. It was so beautiful watching the sunset from up above with your two best friends in the galaxy. Samus felt Pit's hand slip around her neck and Link rest his head on her shoulders. Pit covered the two as best as he could with his little wings, kissing Samus lightly on the cheek.

"It's so gorgeous," Link sighed, watching the orange tinted waters of the lake rippling beneath the setting sun. No longer did any monsters inhabit that lake. Never again would he pierce the heart of a Bulbin with his arrows. Defeating Subspace had driven evil from the galaxy and left it in the state it should have been all along.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day that this happened," Samus smiled, "I'm so grateful… Grateful to be alive."

Watching the hovering Gunship from above floated two white glove-like entities, both of them feeling content.

"I am proud of myself brother," Master Hand stated, "I chose wisely of who to allow to fight here."

"These people are gonna fight forever here, right brother?" Crazy inquired.

"They will fight here until they die. And so will their children and their children's children. We, like Pit are immortal. Maybe one day the angels of our current fighters will float besides us in generations to come, watching their distant relatives fight in that very stadium."

"I hope so!" the excitable Crazy Hand squealed.

"But you know what brother? We have lost fighters. I think a few more will do."

In a few weeks, Master Hand's invites reached several heroes and heroines across the Galaxy and beyond. They'd heard the stories of how the current Smashers had abolished evil. To them, it was an honour to join the tournament, to be with the heroes that had avenged the innocents who died in those thousands of years spent in darkness. It was the dawn of a new era. The dawn of a new time. The dawn of a new light. And forever would that light shine. Forever would people remember the names of the Smashers. And yet three stood out more than every other name that existed.

Link, the Hero of Time.

Pit, the Goddess's top fighter.

And Samus Aran, the greatest Bounty Huntress the Galaxy had ever known.

THE END