Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros or any of the characters involved in it. I am earning no profit from this story, other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others! I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Robin and Queen Zelda nodded. The orbs did seem like a viable power option.
"But, if Master Hand created them, won't their power be weakened just like the robots?" Shulk questioned.
"They will," Palutena admitted. "But they won't be depleted. And we should have enough to make up for their depleted power level. Master Hand kept thousands of them."
"How many will we need?" Chrom asked.
"Let me get one and tell you how much power it has," Palutena decided. "Then, Robin can calculate the number and everyone with inventory bags can work on collecting that much."
There was a general nodding of heads from around the room.
"Told you they would figure it out," Link stated.
"We don't know if this will work yet," Cloud answered evenly as Palutena left the room.
"It will work," Ash said firmly. "It has to."
Link nodded. If this plan failed, they'd be out of time to come up with anything else.
Palutena quickly returned from Master Hand's office holding a single orb. Its glow had diminished considerably. She whispered something to Robin, who nodded slowly. He took the whiteboard marker from Zelda, who was holding it, and began furiously scribbling down numbers and equations. He worked quickly, covering the board with symbols that Link couldn't make any sense of.
After a few minutes of writing rapidly, Robin capped the marker and turned to his audience. "Link, Queen Zelda, I forgot to ask you something. What do you know about the Hero of Time?"
"Why is that important?" Queen Zelda questioned, glancing at Young Link curiously.
"Because we need to know if we need to make another portal for you," Shulk explained. "See, you, Link, Zelda, Young Link, Toon Link, Sheik, and Ganondorf are all from Hyrule, correct?"
"Yes," Queen Zelda answered slowly. "I still don't understand."
"Well, you're not all from the same Hyrule," Shulk went on. "Ganondorf, Sheik, and Young Link are from the same Hyrule. Young Link is from a different time period than Ganondorf and Sheik, but they're from the same Hyrule. Time travel requires less power than world hopping. Anyways, Toon Link is from a different Hyrule. According to Toon Link, there was a legendary hero a long, long time ago- the Hero of Time, or Young Link- who saved the kingdom then returned to his own time with time travel since he'd used time travel to save the kingdom in the first place. Young Link did do that, but his Hyrule is the Hyrule he returned to when he went back to his own time. Toon Link's is the Hyrule he left behind. Sheik's Hyrule is during the time Young Link spent saving the world in the future, but that's just a different time period. Then, there's Zelda's version of Hyrule. According to her, the Hero of Time died during his quest and Ganondorf took over the world-"
"Too bad that didn't happen!" Ganondorf snapped.
"You know that's not true!" Young Link cried.
Shulk cleared his throat, and the two enemies quieted down, shooting each other nasty glares. "But it did happen. It was another possible future. One that happened in an alternate universe of Hyrule. Zelda's Hyrule. That was a long time ago according to her history, and since then Hyrule has gotten back on its feet, but it did happen. Make sense?"
Queen Zelda nodded.
"Right, so back to the original question," Robin butted in. "What do you know about the Hero of Time? We need to know if we need a whole other portal or just a time portal within someone else's portal."
"According to our history, the Hero of Time was successful," Queen Zelda replied. "He saved the kingdom by going into the future, finding proof that Ganondorf was truly evil-no offense, Ganondorf- and then returning to the past and having him executed for treason. Then the execution failed and eventually led to another calamity with the Twilight Realm, but that's a whole other story. In any case, I believe the answer you're looking for is that my and Link's version of Hyrule is the same as Young Link and Ganondorf's, just a lot farther into the future."
"Got it," Robin agreed. He continued writing with the whiteboard marker. "We need 259," he announced after a few more calculations. Fighters with inventory bags began hurrying into Master Hand's office, ready to collect at least 259 orbs.
"You know how to count, Link?" Cloud asked the hero. "I know you can't read, and we need to get those orbs collected.."
"I can count," Link muttered. He hadn't remembered how when he first woke up. But it quickly became apparent that he needed to know if he wanted to ever buy anything. He'd had a little help learning again from Prince Sidon, who understood Link's condition and therefore didn't care that a fully grown Hylian couldn't count. Link was mostly familiar counting in fives, twenties, and fifties, since those were the most common values of rupees, but he could count in ones with only a little difficulty.
"Good," Cloud replied. He and Link followed all the other fighters with inventory bags back into Master Hand's office, Charizard still assisting Link. Link hadn't been in the cursed room since his fight with the giant glove. The office was a complete wreck. Most drawers were open and looted. Broken pots littered the floor. There were dents in the wall from where victims of Master Hand's flinging had collided with it.
Most of the fighters nodded to Link as he passed them. Most muttered things like 'Good job' or 'I'm glad you're okay' or other things like that. Link did his best to acknowledge everyone who spoke to him, but the effort of walking around this much was beginning to take quite a toll. Young Link noticed Link and rushed over to him.
"What're you doing up?" he exclaimed, closely studying the way the older hero leaned heavily on Charizard for support.
"I'm fine," Link replied, already knowing where that conversation was going.
"You don't look fine," Young Link objected.
"I'm going to be helpful," Link insisted.
"You've already been helpful," Young Link retorted. "Without you, we'd still be stuck here! Go rest!"
"I'm not tired," Link replied.
"Sure you aren't," Young Link sighed. "Look, if you want to work yourself until you pass out, that's your choice. I better go give the orbs I collected to Robin." He hurried out of the office.
"You really should go back upstairs," Cloud added.
"No," Link answered curtly. "If I go back up there, everyone else will have to wait for me to come back down once we're ready. We might not have time."
Cloud shrugged. "Alright. Just don't kill yourself. Zelda thought you were dead earlier, and she almost lost it."
Link didn't reply to that. The two silently filled up their bags with as many orbs as they could fit before returning to where Robin and Zelda were collecting them. The tactician was counting them. Zelda was busy double-checking his math. Shulk anxiously watched the clock. Link dumped his orbs onto Robin's pile before heading to the table to sit down. Charizard stood next to him.
"You may return to Ash if you wish," Link said to the large dragon. "I can sit by myself. And you have my deepest gratitude for helping me."
Charizard shook his head and sat down on the ground next to Link.
Zelda looked up from Robin's messy work on the whiteboard, now finished checking it. She smiled when she saw Link. The smile faded when she noticed him leaning his head on the table, trying not to pass out again. She rushed over to him.
"Link!" Zelda exclaimed happily. "Are you alright? You look terrible."
"I know," Link answered. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You-"
"I'm fine. Go. Help Robin and Shulk make final preparations. Everyone is counting on you."
"Your queen can cover for me. I want to be with you while I can."
Link sighed heavily. "Yes. I suppose we won't be seeing each other anymore, will we?"
Zelda shook her head sadly. "I suppose not. We both have too many responsibilities to leave behind. I know you value your position as a knight more than anything, and you know I can't leave my kingdom. I just hope it's still intact. I don't have any heirs, so who knows who's been running it!"
"I'm sure your people managed without a ruler," Link answered. "Mine did."
"They did, didn't they? Well, I suppose you're right. I'm sure everything will be fine."
They sat together for a few more minutes. Link rested his head on the table, keeping his eyes on Zelda. He didn't let himself close them, for he feared it would be a while before they opened if he did. His princess alternated between staring at him worriedly and making sure Robin and Shulk didn't need any help. They always insisted Zelda should sit with Link for the last few minutes they'd be together.
Author's Note: Hopefully that whole world/ time travel thing about Hyrule made sense. I tried to write it in as simple a manner as possible, but you know stuff like that just can't be simple. It makes sense in my head but putting it on paper is…difficult. In any case, thanks for sticking with me so far!