Outside, the villagers and Kokoro awaited the real victor. They stood in a large crowd.
"I hope Mashiro's okay." Kokoro thought in a worried tone.
After a while, Mashiro emerged with Tainai's sword draped across his chest. The villagers went wild in joy. They were finally happy to see their hero defeat their worst living nightmare. Kokoro was overjoyed and ran to hug him. The real king, stout and jolly as can be, came from out of the crowd and looked at him.
"Mashiro Shiitake, is it?" he asked.
"Yes, your majesty." Mashiro replied and bowed before him.
"No need to bow before me, my boy." the king said, "You have vanquished the worst nightmare this village has ever seen. I would like for you... To stay here in Logshka."
Mashiro didn't know what to do. His friends and family were in Hinohana, but he liked Kokoro a lot.
"I'll stay, as long as my family and friends come." Mashiro suggested.
"We'll send a carriage to this Hinohana of yours." the king accepted.
"Kokoro?" Mashiro asked her.
"Yes, Mushy?" she asked back.
"Throughout this whole journey, I've fallen in love with you. So Kokoro..." Mashiro asked her, in a proposing pose, "Will you..."
"Marry you? YES!" Kokoro was overjoyed with the proposal and kissed Mashiro as the villagers cheered and the king applauded.
After a whole month spent having his wounds healed, Mashiro was ready to go to the rebuilt church and marry Kokoro.
He had quite a handsome ensemble. His prince suit had different shades of green and brown like Link. His cape was yellow and silky like Mario's and his boots were silver and gray like Fox's. His crown was large, metallic orange and accented with rubies like Samus.
Matsu had a gold Arceus-like wheel around his waist with four different gems on it. One was red, one was yellow, one was green and the last stone was silver. His wings looked sparkly just for the occasion.
Kokoro's dress was skinny like Zelda's dress and had flowers stitched all over it. Her hair had been braided, curled, made into a ponytail and decorated with several beautiful flowers. A gold tiara accented with turquoise and peridots nestled on top of her bangs.
Surrounding them were not only the smiling faces of the villagers and the king, but also the ones of Ezra, Reno and his parents. As Mashiro marched through the aisle with his new wife, his mind was flooded with the memories of his video game heroes.
"It all started through that 'Mario World'-like gate..." he thought.
"Mario... Luigi..." He thought of himself and the brothers first rescuing Kokoro and Toad from Bowser.
"Samus..." He thought of himself and her saving Kokoro from Mother Brain.
"Donkey Kong..." He thought of himself, Kokoro and the Kongs grabbing the Controller from K. Rool.
"Fox..." He thought of himself and the team retrieving the Cornerian Onyx.
"Link..." He thought of himself helping Link rescue the girls.
"And Ash..." He thought of himself sacrificing his own life, in place of Ash, to save his comrades.
"Thanks, guys, for helping me get this far and for teaching me how to be a real hero..." He thought blissfully as he boarded the ox-pulled carriage to the castle.