Happy Late Thanksgiving! Don't go anywhere yet, because there is one more chapter after this one! (I know, the title isn't helping is it)
Chapter 29: The End
"What's happening?!" Dark Pit shouted.
The entire labyrinth had started quaking, even more violently than before. Ness was knocked right off his feet while Dark Pit struggled to hold himself upright. Pebbles and dust covered them. The tunnels groaned, as though alive.
"We need to get out of here!" Ness screamed over the roar of the collapsing caverns. He stumbled to his feet and began to run.
Dark Pit hurried to keep up with him. "What about Meta Knight?!" he yelled back.
Ness couldn't respond. He focused on running as fast and as hard as he could, pumping air in and out of his lungs. The memory of Meta Knight was burned into his mind—the way he had looked just before vanishing on the other side of those rocks. But there was nothing they could do for them now. They could only hope that he had accomplished his mission...and that he was okay.
Meanwhile, Link, Robin, and Olimar had been struggling to hold back the tide of monsters when all of the beasts collapsed into black dust before their eyes. The cavern plunged into silence. There was no time to question what had just happened. The shaking began immediately.
"Everyone, stay together!" Link commanded. Robin backed up to his side. Olimar raced over to join them, staggering on the unstable ground beneath him. The three fighters stood protectively by Master Hand's side as they watched the labyrinth disintegrate around them, from the top down. They stood safely at the center of the carnage. Rocks hit the ground all around them, and then broke apart into nothingness.
The labyrinth was ceasing to exist before their eyes.
However, it was still incredibly dangerous. It could still kill. Link felt a heavy feeling growing in his chest. Were the others all right?
"Over there!" Olimar shouted suddenly.
Everyone turned to look. Dark Pit and Ness had just come bursting out of the tunnel that led to the cavern. They dodged madly to avoid the falling rocks. Ness was pushing his psychic powers to the brink, flinging aside the boulders that threatened to crush them underneath. Thanks to him, they reached the others safely. Both skidded to a halt, gasping for breath.
"Master Hand!" Ness panted, falling to his knees. "He's still alive?"
Link scanned their ranks. One was missing. "Where is Meta Knight?" he asked sharply.
Ness didn't answer. Dark Pit looked away.
The heavy feeling in Link's chest turned cold.
The five smashers stood closely together, watching in relief as the labyrinth vanished around them. But deep down they were bracing themselves for another attack from Master Core. Just in case he truly had not died. But as the last of the labyrinth disappeared and Final Destination wavered back into being beneath their feet, they saw no sign of Master Core—or Meta Knight. A ghostly silence had fallen over what remained of their world.
Final Destination itself almost looked as if it was barely clinging to reality. It shimmered and flickered underneath the smashers' feet. Ethereal.
Ness felt sudden tears come to his eyes. "I think…I think it's finally over," he whispered. His heart clenched painfully when he thought of Charizard, Greninja, and Meta Knight. They should have been here with them.
"Wait. Look up there," Olimar said, craning his neck.
The smashers did as he said. High above their heads, a brilliant light shone in the dark sky, brighter than any star. It was growing bigger and bigger as it approached them.
"It's beautiful," Robin murmured.
Link's lips parted in shock. "It's the Core," he said, awestruck.
Dark Pit's hands flew to his blades. The other smashers froze, watching warily as the shining light lowered itself down to the center of Final Destination. The white light was almost blinding. The smashers backed away, shielding their eyes.
But as it touched down, nestling into Master Hand's palm, the light faded. Before them was indeed the Core, but it was no longer alive with color and movement. Instead, it was clear as crystal, with a long crack splitting it down the middle. The very center of it glowed with a pinprick of light. Even from there, Link could sense the power within. The Core was clinging to life, just as its Master was.
"Ness is right," he said, fatigue overtaking him. "It's over." He put away his sword and shield. He had used them for the last time.
"But…what now?" Olimar asked, looking to each smasher in turn.
"Now it's time to move on," Link said gravely.
Ness bowed his head. Dark Pit reluctantly removed his hands from his weapons. Master Core had been defeated after all. But that didn't bring the mansion back, or any of their friends. Loss weighed heavily on the remaining five. These past sixteen days alone contained a lifetime of grief.
"No," Robin said suddenly. She stepped forward, gazing at the orb with resolve burning in her eyes. "There is still power within. I can feel it. One of us can still return home. One of us can still return to life."
A long silence passed between everyone.
Link was the one to break it. "Robin…" he said softly. "I know how bent you were on going back…but I believe the remaining life within the Core should go to someone else."
Robin opened her mouth to argue. Link silently shook his head. The others looked at one another, perplexed.
Then Ness's eyes grew wide. "Master Hand," he said, pointing at the gargantuan hand, where the Core rested peacefully. The hand's image had begun to shiver and turn opaque. He would be leaving them at any moment.
"Yes. Master Hand," Link sighed. He kept one eye trained on Robin, gauging her reaction. She looked as though she had swallowed something bitter. She would not tear her eyes from the Core.
"I agree with Link!" Ness burst out. "After all, Master Hand brought us together."
"Yes, and he created the Core as well as this world," Olimar added. "It rightfully belongs to him. In fact, I'd almost suggest that it chose him." He motioned to the Core resting in his palm.
"Not to mention…all of the pain he endured for us," Dark Pit mumbled.
Robin could feel everyone's gazes scorching her. Her breaths were beginning to come faster as she tried to avoid their eyes. But she couldn't look away from Master Hand's limp body, as it struggled to stay in this world.
A tear rolled down her cheek. "But I've come so far…" she whispered. She could feel Chrom and Lucina, like shadows shifting in the darkness. They were so close to her. And yet, they were just out of reach. They were always just out of reach. But she was never meant to reach them at all.
"We could always fight for it—"
"Shut up, Dark Pit!" Ness snapped.
"No, no," Robin said, wiping her eyes. "I'm done fighting. I'm tired. Just…" She forced herself to meet Link's eye. When she spoke, she tried to keep her voice level. "Do it, Link."
"Very well."
Link stepped forward to Master Hand's side. Though unsure of what to do, he tried to appear confident as he reached for the Core. His fingers brushed its surface—and like fragile glass, it shattered at his touch. The Core cracked open even further and the little bit of remaining light within it spilled out. Link leaped backwards, drawing his hand away.
The five smashers watched in awe as the light seeped into Master Hand's palm and spread all the way to his fingertips. His entire body had lit up in a warm glow. His image was no longer shimmering—it was solid once more.
Master Hand rose up before their eyes. Light emanated from him like his body was a small sun. He was alive again, now more than ever. It was a magnificent sight.
"Master Hand—" Link started to say.
Then the world went dark.
Final Destination disappeared from under the smashers. Their surroundings turned cold. The air vanished from their lungs and they found themselves in a vacuum of space, unable to see or breathe.
Ness could hear the strangled cries of his friends. Fear sent his heart thundering. He knew this was the end. This was what death felt like. Cold, dark, and terrifying. But it would all be over soon.
He surrendered his senses. He closed his eyes and waited for death to take him. Wherever he was going, he hoped Lucas and the Villager would be there waiting for him.
Then came a flash of light so brilliant, Ness could see it through his lids. His eyes flew open. The light seared his retinas, burning into his skull, but he couldn't look away. The darkness had been pierced by multiple shining lights, white, yellow, blue, and red. It felt as though he were floating amidst a galaxy. He could sense the others there too.
The brightest light of all swelled before their eyes. Five glimmering beams shot forth towards each smasher. As one struck Ness, he was enveloped in warmth. He gasped, filling his lungs with precious air. A feeling of calm blanketed him and he felt like he was young again, being held in his mother's arms. He felt all of his soreness and injuries wash away. Next to him, Dark Pit's wound in his wing mended in second and the cracks in Olimar's helmet melted away as though they had never existed.
But the feeling did not last. A cold wind blasted forth, chilling the smashers to the bone. The five beams of light struggled to hold them, flickering at the effort.
"Hang on!" a voice cried from within the star. The faint silhouette of a hand appeared. The five beams of light were tethering each smasher to a separate finger. "The world is being reborn anew….! Hold on to me!"
"No!" Robin cried out. "Master Hand, just let me go! I don't want to stay here any longer!"
"I'm not keeping you here," Master Hand said, his voice straining with effort. "I'm sending you back!"
The wind roared twice as loud, buffeting the smashers.
"Back…home?" Olimar whispered in stunned disbelief. "You mean you're-?! You're bringing us back to life!"
"Yes!" Master Hand roared, full of determination. "But you must hold onto me!"
Link could feel the gaze of the hand focus on him.
"Thank you for purifying the Core and for choosing my life over yours. By doing so, you have returned all of my strength. I can create a new Core and a new world. So that special beings such as yourself can continue to meet, demonstrate their strength, and make memories for as long as I am alive. But there is not much time. I must send you back while the Core is at its most powerful, while this world hovers on a thin line between the next and the one that came before."
As he spoke, Link could sense Master Hand's age behind his words. The hand was more tired than he could imagine. And he was starting it all over, just for them. Just so that they could be happy. So they could continue making memories.
Link reached for the hand. "Master Hand," he murmured, so that only they could hear. "You don't have to do this. You should rest. Be with Crazy Hand."
He could sense the hand smiling. His voice was warm with unending fondness. "It is the least I can do after you sacrificed everything for me."
Link drifted closer to Master Hand. When he was close enough, he rested his hand on the giant thumb before him, resisting the wind. He gazed up at the hand. "Let me take the Core," he said. "I will watch over the new world in your stead."
Master Hand froze for a moment, shocked yet touched. When he spoke, his voice was brimming with emotions. "Link…are you sure?"
Link nodded, determined. "I will not let the Core become corrupted as before. I will find a way so that it can last forever. And…if it is all right with you, I would not like to hide the truth of the world from those who come to it. I want them to know what it is, what happened to them. So that they may pass on whenever they wish or spend time making memories that will last them a whole new lifetime." He smiled warmly.
Master Hand gently squeezed Link's hand in his own. "Link. You are truly a hero."
"That's not all. I want to find a way to bridge this world and the next, so those who have departed can come back and be with us again."
"You want to turn the afterlife into a two-way road, eh?" Master Hand chuckled. "You always have been ambitious. I never found way, but then, I never really sought such a thing. Perhaps you will." He lowered his voice, taking on a more serious tone. "You know it won't be easy, don't you?"
"I know," Link said. "But it will be worth it."
"Very well," Master Hand murmured. He turned to address the others. "I am sorry to keep you all waiting, but I must send you on your way before—"
"Wait!" Ness cried out suddenly, pointing into the darkness. "Look! It's Meta Knight!"
Sure enough, there was Meta Knight, suspended weightless in the ether. His body was broken. Both wings were twisted, damaged beyond repair. Part of his mask had crumbled away, revealing the blood-streaked face underneath. His eyes were closed.
"Meta Knight!" Dark Pit shouted, but the knight did not respond. He was drifting away, carried by the wind, approaching the deep darkness that loomed behind them like a foreboding black curtain. A place the light did not reach. The place Master Hand had pulled them out of.
Ness turned to Master Hand, desperation in his eyes. "You have to save him!" he begged. "Meta Knight has to go back too!"
"It is too late for him," Master Hand said gravely. "He is lost to this life."
The smashers watched, grief-stricken, as Meta Knight departed. Lost to this life. Master Hand's words echoed through Ness's mind. Just as our memories will be lost if we choose to return.
"…No."
"No?" Master Hand echoed.
The others looked at Ness in surprise. His head was bowed, his fists clenched.
"I've made my decision…and I'm not going!" Ness's head whipped up. Tears sparkled in his eyes, but he had on a great big smile. "Even though my life was short, I always took the bull by the horns every day, living life to the fullest! I saved my world! They don't need me anymore. But Meta Knight's world—" He whipped out his bat. "DOES need him!"
There was a green explosion as P.K. Flash went off. The beam of light connecting him to Master Hand sputtered. "NESS!" The hand roared. The other smashers echoed him, voices raised in panic.
"Ness, no!" Robin cried out.
"You idiot!" Dark Pit shrilled. "Just what do you think you're doing?!"
But Ness was already off, using P.K. Fire to propel himself through the darkness like a rocket. The grin remained planted on his face. "Goodbye, everyone!" he called back. "I'll never forget you! I'll carry the memories I made here in my heart forever!"
He blasted just past Meta Knight, stopping himself just before he was swallowed by darkness. He squinted at the shining star in the distance. Master Hand and some of his dearest friends. They had one more that would be joining their party.
"Batter up!" Ness shouted gleefully, gripping his bat and winding up for a swing.
He let it fly. The bat collided with Meta Knight's mask, shattering what remained of it. He was propelled through the air, straight towards Master Hand. A direct hit! Ness positively beamed when he saw the little knight get swallowed up by the beam of light that had been his own. The light would heal him and return him to Dreamland, who so desperately needed a hero. And no matter what he said, he was that hero.
Meta Knight was going to be okay after all.
But would he?
The stars were getting farther away now. Ness was sinking into icy darkness. The same fear from earlier was threatening to swallow him, but he held it at bay with a smile and fond memories of his time in the mansion. He closed his eyes and kept them close, using them to chase out the cold and the fear and the deep, black, darkness. And by doing so, he felt warmth envelop him once more.
Pulling pranks with Toon Link. Playing fetch with Duck Hunt Dog. Seeing TayTay in her pretty pink party dress for the first time. Eating breakfast and fighting side by side with Lucas, his best friend in the whole wide world and beyond.
Suddenly, Ness's feet touched down on solid ground. His eyes flew open with a gasp.
It was no longer dark. It was bright and beautiful and warm. Light filled his vision, practically blinding him. He struggled to blink the spots from his vision and make out his surroundings. He took a step forward and nearly stumbled—but someone caught his hand, steadying him.
Somehow, even without being able to see them, Ness knew who it was. "Lucas," he whispered. Tears fell from his eyes and slid down his cheeks. But he just continued to smile through them.
Another hand wove into his free hand. It was small and warm, and gripped his with a fierce protectiveness.
"Villager…no—TayTay," Ness laughed. The tears just kept coming and coming. He let them. He didn't want to let go of the hands holding his own to wipe them away.
There was a jubilant bark and Ness could sense Duck Hunt Dog at his feet, slapping the ground with his paws and wiggling his rump in an invitation to play. Then he turned and charged on ahead.
Together, the three children followed. And the further they went, the better Ness could see. Beloved faces came into view all around him. His family. His friends. He greeted each and every one with a smile and a laugh.
They had been waiting for him all this time.
Waiting to lead him forward into a new life.
