The forest leading from the village to the desert was dark and murky, the sky a mix of black and purple. The team hiked through a clearing, their eyes on the clouds above. "I thought the Master Sword's role was to dispel darkness," spoke Cloud.
"It is," answered Zelda. "But perhaps Dharkon's strength grows by the minute. We must make haste."
"You think this is bad?" added Bowser. "What until you see the nightmare One-Eye cooked up when we get back!"
"Yeesh," commented Sonic. "That bad, huh?"
"You have no id-" the Mii Swordfighter paused in his tracks. "Wait, quiet! Everyone hear that?"
Link raised a hand to the Master Sword, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. At first, he saw nothing among the dark shadows of the trunks… until two purple orbs cut through the black.
"Whoa!" yelped Sonic, sidestepping past a swooping figure. His attacker flew back down with a sword raised… and Sonic rushed in to block the strike from the Meta Knight Puppet. From the trees, a Marth puppet jumped out and struck at Link. Link clashed with the imposter, sparks flying when his weapon met its weapon.
Sonic, meanwhile, was off to a rough start as he swung the Knight's Broadsword against the fake Galaxia. He hadn't taken up a sword in a long time- save for Beam Swords from the tournaments- and found himself quickly overpowered by the Meta Knight puppet. The clone swooped in again, locking blades and pushing the hedgehog back. An upward swing sent Sonic collapsing to the ground.
The Marth puppet jumped away from a slash, coming back down in a diving strike. Link raised his shield to meet it, sliding back from his opponent. With unblinking eyes, the Marth puppet dashed forth and struck its blade against Link's. The puppet dodged another swing, locking swords with the fierce-faced hero.
The Meta Knight puppet flew in, kicking Link to the side. The hero dug his sword into the ground to stop, grabbing his boomerang and flinging it at the flying foe. The Meta Knight clone simply ascended in altitude and dove for Link like a bird of prey.
The Mii Swordfighter, Cloud, Chrom, and the other two Links drew their own swords, keeping their eyes trained on the fight to see if Link needed any help. And given a flurry of strikes from the Meta Knight puppet the hero barely managed to block, he wouldn't hold out on his own for long.
The final hit from the Meta Knight puppet knocked Link into the air, allowing the Marth puppet a chance to strike. Both the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield blocked the blow but sent Link back to the ground. Link slid to a halt, clenching his teeth. He locked his eyes on the swiftly-approaching false swordsmen as they sprinted towards him, jumped up to deliver a combined slash…
...and another figure slashed them right out of their path!
The puppets sailed off into the distance, their former presence now nearly forgotten by the team. Everyone's attention turned to the newcomer, who landed with his back turned and a sword in hand.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, but… who are you?" replied Sonic. "Where'd you come from?"
The man turned, revealing blue eyes and brown chin-length hair in a bob cut. He was dressed in a purple tunic, brown trousers, and tan boots. A small bag lay attached to a belt on his waist… and he bore a strange mark on his left hand.
"I am the Chosen of Yggdrasil," he began. "I am the reincarnation of an ancient hero that saved the world from a terrible fate. I am the vanquisher of Mordegon, the Lord of Shadows, and Calasmos, the Dark One. I am the savior of Erdrea. I am… the Luminary."
Link was stunned. Did that man just say "reincarnation of an ancient hero"? That sounded very similar to Link's own heroic predecessors…
"Seriously?" asked Bowser. "A newcomer? And now, of all times, when everything's turned upside-down?"
Zelda approached the man and bowed. "Hero from a distant world. I am Princess Zelda of Hy-"
"I know who you are, princess," the man interrupted. "I have found myself in this twisted, evil land for some time now. I've noticed your arrival and the allies you have rescued. Now, what business do you have here?"
Zelda's breath caught in her throat. "Um… we travel north. Towards the desert and the fortress that awaits us."
"That is dangerous territory," the man strictly informed. "The fortress is heavily guarded by the same corrupted warriors I have evaded dozens of times. And they are commanded by a large, caped man with dark skin."
"Ganondorf," realized Zelda. "Of course he would be here."
"Um… Luminary, was it?" asked Chrom. "How exactly did you get here?"
"Please, call me Eleven," said the man. "I'm the eleventh of my line. As for my arrival, it was… odd."
"Lemme guess," Sonic butted in. "You found a weird blue crystal that zapped you to this world?"
Now it was Eleven's turn to be silent. "Um… yes. The next thing I knew I found myself here in this… monstrous place filled with dread and despair. It reminds me too much of what my home of Erdrea once fell to."
Eleven gathered himself. "But that is a tale for another day. Onward. The desert lies just beyond these-" He suddenly froze in place, staring at something just ahead. And to the others, that wasn't really a good sign.
"Link…" said the Mii Brawler. "I'm thinking that taking back your beloved sword drew a lot of attention."
Through the trees, a horde of puppet fighters emerged into view, surrounding the team from all sides. Everyone circled into a defensive position, with Chrom wearing an uneasy expression. "There appear to be too many of them…"
"Not for long! I got this!" Sonic shouted enthusiastically, tossing his sword into the air and blasting off in a blue streak. Within the enemy lines, a blue flash of light dashed through their numbers…
Dust kicked up behind him a second later with a howl of wind, blowing puppet fighters off their feet. Sonic skidded back into where he stood before, snatching the hilt of his falling sword with a twirl.
But when the dust settled, more puppet fighters stood with blank faces. If they were to wear an expression, it would be disappointment. The hedgehog's face fell. "Okay, that definitely worked the last time I tried it."
"Allow me!" called Eleven, temporarily sheathing his sword and directing his attention towards two charging puppets. "May heaven's winds propel thee hence!" He thrust his hands outward, creating a small tornado that whisked the assailants away like leaves in the wind.
"What astounding magic…" commented Zelda, unaware of a Luigi puppet that jumped at her. With a swift slash of his sword, the Mii Swordfighter knocked it away. "No time for distractions!"
The puppets charged at the group, sending them into an all-out defense. Sonic barreled through several of them, spinning himself and his sword wildly. Bowser laid down a wall of fire to block off his attackers. The two Miis fought back to back with sword swings, punches, and kicks. The two Links watched each other's back while the third fought alongside the sword-and-shield-wielding Luminary, the latter striking at puppets of Yoshi and Mario. Chrom positioned himself in front of Zelda, striking at any puppets who drew near. Cloud went into a frenzy, slashing the Buster Sword at his own attackers. And finally, Pikachu and Incineroar unleashed a torrent of lightning and fire that scarred and burned their targets.
The Luminary reached to the sky, the mark on his hand glowing with a bright light. A giant sword conjured from light appeared in the sky, which crashed down onto puppets in a brilliant display of power when he brought down his arm.
"Whoa! What was with the light show?" asked a surprised Bowser, grabbing a Mario puppet and throwing it aside.
"Quadraslash!" called Eleven, blocking an arrow from a Young Link puppet and slashing it to the ground. "An effective tactic, but only for so long against numbers such as these!" A Robin puppet shot a fireball at him, to which he blocked and blasted a fireball of his own in return. "Kafrizzle!"
Link threw a Rune Bomb into a crowd of puppets nearing Incineroar's position, sending them flying with a press of the detonator. Cloud crossed blades with an Ike puppet, parrying a strike and slashing it across the chest. Toon Link fired off arrows, holding the line. Sonic jumped and slashed at a Dark Pit clone, sending it careening to the dirt. Next, he struck at a Lucina clone who moved quickly to match the hedgehog's pace. "Not bad! I've seen Percival do better, though!"
Eleven found himself surrounded on two sides while Zelda sent two Phantoms into the fray. He pointed his sword into the sky. "Kazap!"
A bolt of lightning struck his sword and he swung around him in a circle. "RAAH!" he cried, knocking their electrocuted forms away. A Wolf puppet jumped in, drawing its blaster… and immediately got knocked back by another thrust of lightning. "Zapple!"
From nearby, Bowser paused in confusion. "Wait, did you just say 'Zapple'? What kind of attack is that?"
"Focus!" barked Chrom, slicing a Marth puppet down. Pikachu zipped between puppets, giving quick bursts to any enemy he made contact with. Incineroar snarled loudly, roasting a wave of enemies with Flamethrower. An Olimar puppet hopped onto him, prompting Incineroar to smash it to the ground and throw it into a Roy puppet.
"Kaboom!" cried Eleven, casting a massive explosion into another section of the horde. But among the puppets that fell, more advanced to take their place. Grunting, he turned to the others. "Run! There's too many of them!"
The Smashers quickly took off through the woods, Sonic and Pikachu putting themselves in charge of clearing a path. Eleven jumped over sliding ice, striking at the Ice Climber puppets who sent it. Young and Toon Link fired their bows at approaching enemies while Cloud sliced at a sprinting Sheik puppet. A Link puppet pointed its sword at the group, ordering them to give chase. A Mewtwo puppet and a Ridley clone flew in from above, bombarding the ground with fireballs and psychic blasts. Sonic tossed his sword to Chrom for a moment, jumping off Link's raised shield like a spring. Airborne, he bashed both puppets with Homing Attacks and caused them to crash into fellow fakes. The hedgehog touched down, grabbing his thrown sword from Chrom.
Outside the forest, Eleven struck at the chest of a pouncing Incineroar, knocking it to the ground. Up ahead, three puppets of Robin, Snake, and Ganondorf charged in, taking the hero by surprise. The Robin puppet slashed with its sword, the Snake puppet jumped over and kicked Eleven in the back… and the Ganondorf gave a mighty swing of its greatsword. With a scream, Eleven was sent flying back.
He slammed into a pillar of some nearby ruins, collapsing to his knees. "Ugh…" Blue slimy creatures made surprised faces, scattering off in a panic. Eleven slowly lifted his head, gazing at the faces of the approaching army of darkness.
At the forefront of the troops were puppets of Little Mac, Zelda, Captain Falcon, Shulk, Zero Suit Samus, and Mewtwo. Behind them, clones of Ridley and Bowser snarled and growled like the beasts they resembled. Even the Luminary himself had doubts of getting out of this alive, but he wouldn't waste his last moments lying in wait. He rose to his feet with his sword and shield in his grip… until a squeaking sound caught his attention.
A tiny mouse stood on its high legs, inspecting the weakened warrior. "Munchie?" Eleven gasped out. If he was here, then that had to mean…
A smile crossed his face. He readied an attack stance, shield held strong. The rest of the Smashers, surrounded by more puppets, took notice of the newcomer's predicament. "Luminary!" called Cloud. "Even with all the magic you possess, you cannot hope to take them out by yourself! Hold tight, we shall assist you as soon as we can!"
"That might be a long 'soon'," added an unsure Sonic, holding his sword in both hands. With a determined face, Eleven turned to the Smashers. "Sorry, friends… but your help isn't necessary here." He took in a deep breath, drew two fingers to his mouth…
FWEEEET!
Three figures instantly jumped out of hiding from the roof of the ruins, landing on the stone steps behind Eleven. One of them was dressed in green and white with a winged helmet decorated with a blue gem. Another was donned in a blue shirt and an orange jacket, glancing an eye at the mouse that ran up to his satchel. And the last one in the back wore a purple cloak that waved in the wind and a silver circlet with a green jewel on his forehead.
"Heroes through the ages!" called Eleven. "To me!"
The four warriors struck a pose, swords in hand and ready expressions on their faces. They lined up alongside Eleven… and on the Luminary's mark, ran into battle. The hero in green slashed upward at the Captain Falcon puppet, backflipping through the air to dodge a blast from the Zero Suit Samus imposter. The one in orange dashed in, slicing diagonally across its form with a cry. The one with the cloak parried the Shulk clone's Monado, shield-bashed it across the face, and sliced it on the chest.
The orange one blocked a Shadow Ball from the Mewtwo puppet. "Zap!" he cried, shocking the copy with a blast of lightning.
The green one held its shield up, leaving the Ridley puppet's talons to scrape at it. "Thwack!" A bolt of darkness struck the fake space dragon, making it collapse to the ground.
"Sizzle! Bang!" called the cloaked one, causing the Bowser puppet to flinch from two explosive fire blasts. Eleven rushed into the Zelda puppet, knocking it back with his shield. "Frizz!" A fireball smacked into its form, incinerating it on the spot.
The cloaked one noticed a Pikachu puppet darting for it. "Snooze!" An orb shot at the clone, dropping it to the ground in a tired state. Seeing his chance, the real Pikachu zipped in and delivered a mighty Skull Bash.
The Robin puppet shot a ball of Arcthunder at the green one, who noticed it in the nick of time. "Bounce!" he summoned a barrier around himself that sent the orb of lightning back at its caster. A Dark Samus puppet fired a Charged Shot, the energy also returning to it and obliterating it without the figure even turning around.
"Kacrackle Slash!" cried the one in orange, freezing a Wario puppet in ice with a single slice. Bowser gave the ice a mighty punch, shattering it- and the puppet inside- to pieces.
Eleven formed a defensive pose when puppets of Fox and Lucina charged at him. "Kaclang!" He encased himself in metal, turning him into a statue and shielding him from damage. Sonic and Incineroar ran in and swiftly dealt with the copies, allowing Eleven to return to normal.
A body slam from a King K. Rool puppet sent the one in orange flying. "Gah! Zoom!" In a burst of air, the warrior flew straight up and landed in front of an impressed Zelda.
The cloaked warrior engaged the Snake puppet attacking Eleven, slashing it in another electric strike. A follow-up with a fireball blew it away. Eleven whirled around, the Ganondorf puppet's fist meeting his shield. The cloaked one rolled past the clone, delivering a powerful upward thrust. Eleven added a slash of his own into the mix, sending the copy sailing away.
The green one found himself surrounded by puppets of Duck Hunt, Corrin, and Greninja. He grunted, making a face that silently told them he had no choice. He tucked his arms in close…
"Kamikazee!"
He screamed as his body erupted in a flash of light, taking out all three puppets with him. The warrior collapsed to the ground, a trophy of himself in his place.
Backed up by the three new arrivals, the Smashers took the fight to the enemy and diminished their numbers one by one. The horde's troops were reduced to the size of a single squad eventually, yet even through the negative odds, the relentless copies persisted in trying to bring down a Smasher with them. Each of them attempted to deal a killing blow… and each of them failed.
"That was a great risk you took, Luminary, bringing us out in the open like that," spoke the cloaked warrior. Eleven turned to him. "Now that these champions have arrived, we won't have to keep a low profile anymore. Wage an open war with these corrupted visages instead of a guerilla one."
"Still, they are powerful," added the other hero. "Yet, we have defeated stronger foes than mere imitators."
The orange one tapped his hand on the base of the trophy, reviving the hero in green. "Hey, you need to stop doing that! You keep freaking me out!"
"This world isn't like our own," answered the green one as he rose to his feet. "And it has different rules. We can never die here, only fall into a state where we lie waiting to be brought back."
"But still, Kamikazee brings a chill to my spirit."
"Everyone," said Eleven, drawing them together. "We have new arrivals. They travel this land towards the fortress to the north."
"The fortress?" asked the one in green. "What are they, mad?"
"You underestimate them," Eleven replied. "They can handle themselves well."
"So I've seen," said the cloaked one. "The blue one has a knack of mastering Acceleratle and mixing it with its swordplay and combat skills."
"Accele- what now?" asked a dumbfounded Sonic.
"My apologies…" said Chrom. "But I don't think we've been properly introduced to your new friends, Eleven."
The Luminary sheathed his weapons and stepped back. "These three also hail from the world I come from, but from different time periods. Regardless, each of them are legendary heroes like myself and possess incredible potential."
He gestured to the one in green, who stepped forth in a defensive pose. "Solo. The half-human, half-Zenithian responsible for vanquishing the demon Psaro and his minions."
Next, the one in orange with the bandana approached. "Eight. Born from a human and a Dragovian, he battled and triumphed against Dhoulmagus and his demonic controller, Lord Rapthorne, with the help of his assembled party."
Finally, the warrior with the cloak stood at Eleven's side. "And lastly, Erdrick. Son of Ortega and vanquisher of the Archfiend Baramos, who sought to destroy our world. Throughout his journey, he faced unexpected challenges in his search to reunite with his father."
"Did they arrive here the same way you did?" asked Cloud.
"Indeed, although we were wary of each other at our first meeting," answered Eleven. "When we realized our common foe, we became a small resistance. We struck from hiding and fled from reinforcements. We gathered as much information on this 'Dharkon' as we could. And before now, we'd never fought out in the open. Thankfully, the training we put ourselves through in this unforgiving land prepared us for the moment."
"We could use the extra help," said the Mii Swordfighter. "Would you four care to join us in the desert?"
"A march to the fortress," said Erdrick. "Luminary, are you sure that this group can handle themselves in battle?"
"They can do more than that. They watch out for each other, just like we do," came his answer. "Together, our enemy will be no match for us. Eight?"
The hero looked to the Luminary for his directions.
"Head back to camp and pack up. Then meet us at the desert's entrance."
"At once!" Eight acknowledged, heading back into the forest. As soon as he was gone, Eleven turned to the others. "Now then… I hope you all don't have a problem with sand."
…
The sixteen Smashers journeyed across the sand of the desert, leaving footprints in their wake. They passed by large sharp-looking rocks which stood out as landmarks. Pikachu climbed atop one of them, surveying the land before hopping back down.
"All this sand reminds me of the time I spent looking for the Seven World Rings inside a storybook," commented Sonic, looking around at the distant dunes. "And the fortress we're going to makes me feel like I'm going to face Erazor Djinn again. Man, that guy wouldn't stop calling me a rat…"
"You said this resembled the 'Gerudo Desert' from your world, princess?" asked Erdrick. Zelda nodded in confirmation. "That is correct. It is well-known for Ganondorf's point of origin."
"It reminds me of Gallopolis back in Erdrea," added Eleven. "Monsters occasionally roamed that land, and so too must our enemies roam here." He paused, his face filled with thought. "Link?"
The hero of Hyrule turned to the other hero.
"That weapon you carry… this 'Master Sword'. Was that responsible for the darkness surrounding this region vanishing?"
Link nodded.
"The Master Sword is a legendary weapon," explained Zelda. "Throughout the ages, it has been wielded against the forces of evil. Its light rivals the darkness, even that of Ganondorf. Time and time again, he has been vanquished by it. Yet he always returns. But once peace returns to Hyrule, the Master Sword is put back in its resting place, where it awaits the time to be called upon once again."
"A legendary sword with the sole purpose of combating darkness?" repeated Solo. "Eleven, doesn't that sound an awful lot like your weapon as well?"
The Luminary held his weapon upright as he continued to walk. "Indeed. As Link's destiny is tied to the Master Sword, so am I to the Sword of Light. Wielding this ultimate symbol of hope for my world is my destiny as the Luminary. I had to climb to the top of Yggdrasil itself to retrieve it… although my first attempt at retrieving it ended in disaster."
"What happened?" asked Chrom.
"Mordegon happened," answered Eleven. "He had possessed King Carnelian of Heliodor and puppeteered him to blame me for the coming darkness instead of acknowledging my rightful duty to repel it. The Darkspawn, he called me. Once he caught up to me on Yggdrasil, he abandoned the king's body, stole my powers, and seized the Sword of Light for himself, corrupting and transforming it into a weapon of his own desires. And one of my friends gave her life to ensure the rest of us survived."
"That's… terrible," said Sonic.
"After that, Mordegon withered Yggdrasil of its life force. And without the World Tree, Erdrea fell into darkness. I was defeated, yet not finished. My party and I reassembled, forged a new Sword of Light, and took the fight to Mordegon. Afterward, I traveled back in time with a ritual to stop Mordegon from ever obtaining the Sword… as well as undoing Veronica's sacrifice. I had to shatter the forged sword to enable the ritual, obtaining the real Sword of Light when I journeyed back in time."
"But the Master Sword and the Sword of Light have similar properties?" asked the Mii Swordfighter. At his words, the two heroes brought their weapons close together, watching the yellow and blue glows on the blades.
"Absolutely," answered Eleven.
"Guys, I think the sands are starting to mess with me," Bowser spoke up. "I think it's making me see things. And right now, I see four phonies coming right for us, which I don't think are real."
BOOM! A fireball exploded into the dune beside him, kicking up sand.
"Nope! Those are real! Definitely real!"
"Eleven!" called Erdrick. "One from above draws near! Three on foot!"
"I see them! Defensive positions!"
From the sky, a giant Charizard let out a huge roar and rained down more fireballs. Bowser stepped aside, shooting one of his own fireballs back at it. Approaching from the sands, a Samus puppet opened fire with its arm cannon and prompted Link and Eight to form a two-person shield wall. A Mewtwo puppet floated swiftly above the sands, flying right for the charging Pikachu and Incineroar. Lastly, a Young Link puppet wielding a Gust Bellows ran towards the group, It pointed the tool at the ground and blew, kicking up a whirlwind of sand that clouded the team's vision. The Charizard puppet beat its wings, sending the sand into a constant spinning state.
"Ack! No fair!" cried the Brawler.
"Augh, bleh! It's in my mouth!" gagged the Swordfighter. From above, the Charizard puppet flapped its wings with great effort, blowing away the approaching Chrom and Young Link with a summoned gust of wind.
Toon Link crossed swords with the Young Link duplicate, Zelda backed up the two Pokémon battling the Mewtwo puppet, and Solo tag-teamed the Samus puppet with Eleven. Everyone else, stranded in the swirling hurricane of sand, could do nothing but shield themselves from the howling grains that flew past their faces.
Bowser desperately shot a fireball through the dust, watched it vanish out of sight… but heard nothing but the roars of the dust storm. "Argh, no good!" he roared. "I can't get a clear shot at the Charizard! It'd be better if I could actually see it through this stupid sand!"
Holding a hand up to his face, Sonic stabbed the ground with his sword and spotted the shadow of the draconic fake Pokémon right outside. "Hey, hothead!" the hedgehog called. "Two can play the tornado game!"
He blasted right out of the twister, immediately beginning to run in a circular pattern multiple times. Each time he performed a full rotation, the wind force from his speed picked up the nearby sand and redirected it into a howling sandy whirlwind of his own. Sonic gained speed, drawing enough air towards him and creating a vacuum effect… an effect that caught the fake Charizard and pulled it towards the tornado.
The other fake Smashers were yanked off their feet, flying towards the whirlwind. While they tumbled within the miniature sandstorm, Sonic bolted up in a spinning blue ball and bashed off each one. He stomped down on the Charizard clone, sending it crashing into the sands and taking the rest of the puppets with. The Blue Blur ran out of there, and the tornado began to slow and vanish with the absence of the constant momentum keeping it spinning.
Both sandstorms died down, allowing the group to recover. Sonic took the hilt of his sword in hand, pulling it from the sand. "I've always wanted to try that."
"That won't be the last of them," reported Erdrick. "Once we are near the perimeter of the fortress, the number of foes will be greater than that last group."
"And more within its walls," added Solo. "We must remain vigilant."
The journey further into the desert brought signs of a dark presence. First, Pikachu noticed the sand beneath his feet was turning a light purple hue. Link took notice of ruined pillars and darkened clouds that blocked out the sunlight. And Eleven examined the bones of a large, unknown creature. A few more owl statues rested in the Smashers' paths, but their words fell on already-aware ears.
The Mii Brawler slowed his pace, fists instinctively clenching and eyes narrowing. The Swordfighter noticed his predicament. "What is it?"
"Quiet," hushed the martial artist. "I hear something. Something high and long… definitely artificial."
"Like an engine?" guessed Sonic.
"Uh, probably. Why'd you ask?"
"Because there's a funny-looking car kicking up dust and speeding right for us."
The Brawler turned to where he pointed. "A car?"
Sure enough, a small black and purple vehicle was driving over the sands with tires spinning and exhaust pipes coughing out flames. It held a face on its front… and the mouth opened up to reveal a cannon barrel. The cannon fired off multiple projectiles; black balls that sailed right for the Smashers.
"Get down!" Cloud shouted.
The cannonballs smacked into the sands, their sound followed by the small vehicle racing past the Smashers and driving around in a circle before coming to a stop. Behind the wheel, a small black-scaled turtle-like creature wearing a fanged bandana gave out an impish cackle. He lowered the bandana, revealing a mouth sporting a sinister grin.
"Hey there, Papa."
"Junior?!" Bowser gasped.
"We have intruders nearing the boss' fortress!" yelled the young prince, pointing an accusing finger at the Smashers. "GET THEM!"
Through the purple sand thrown up by the Clown Kart, more puppet fighters burst through with malicious intent: a clone of Marth leading the charge, four Villager copies, a Zero Suit Samus clone wielding a Killing Edge, a fake Ryu, a giant red Yoshi puppet whose footsteps were like thunder, and a female Corrin imposter backed up by a Shulk clone. Bowser Jr. gunned the engine of his kart, driving into the fray at full throttle.
Chrom lunged at the Marth puppet, striking his falchion against the clone's weapon. Pikachu and Incineroar engaged the giant Yoshi, who attempted to stomp the swift-moving Pikachu while Incineroar jumped onto its torso. Eight jumped in front of Zelda, shielding her from the fake Zero Suit Samus' weapon. The Mii Brawler battled the Ryu puppet, forced on the defensive after several hits to the head. A leg sweep knocked up dark sand into the false wanderer's face.
The four Villager puppets were fast, one of them ramming Solo via sprinting head-first into him. To keep pace with them, Sonic tossed his sword to Link and ran off after them. The hero of Hyrule switched to a dual-wield technique against the Corrin and Shulk puppets, granting Erdrick a moment to recover.
Bowser Jr. raced up to his father, switching to the Clown Car's flight function and hovering around the Koopa King. Bowser swatted away a cannonball with his arm, crushed a Mechakoopa under his foot, and grabbed a hold of the Clown Car. "Junior, knock it off!" he scolded. "Don't make me take your little toy away!"
His son just fumed with anger and activated the Clown Car's tongue, slapping Bowser across the face with it. "Hey!" He swiped at his claws at the Clown Car in annoyance, which flew out of reach.
A combo ending in a Tatsumaki Senpukyaku sent the Mii Brawler collapsing to the sands. The fighter rolled away from a downward strike, driving the Ryu puppet back. Nearby, Erdrick caught the weary appearance of the Mii. "It looks like you could use a little… Oomph!" He thrust out his hand, summoning a glowing red aura around the Mii. Immediately, the Mii felt a surge of power throughout his body, enabling him to block a punch and land a stronger one.
The Mii glanced all over himself. "Wow! Thanks for the boost, pal!" He dashed for the Ryu puppet with a flying kick.
Sonic blasted through the Villager puppets, knocking them down one-by-one. "A little speed boost just won't be enough, guys! Dharkon might've made you quick… but he didn't make you fast!" A Homing Attack landed the final blow to the last puppet. Nearby, Cloud landed a jumping slash on the Marth puppet, allowing Chrom to deliver a powerful thrust. The two swordsmen nodded in thanks.
Eight deflected attacks from the Zero Suit Samus puppet, a look of confliction on his face. "Uh… Hocus Pocus!"
His body completely vanished from sight, leaving the puppet utterly confused. It looked around for any sign of its invisible opponent… until a flurry of unseen slashes and strikes cut it down. When Eight reappeared from thin air, he let out a relieved sigh.
"That spell rendered you invisible," stated Zelda. "Why did you hesitate?"
"The magic of Hocus Pocus grants us a random effect, both positive and negative," answered Eight. "The last time I used it, I was poisoned."
"Oh."
"It all comes down to luck, really."
Climbing to the top of the enormous Yoshi puppet's head, Pikachu slammed down in an electric burst. The move paralyzed the giant dinosaur, leaving it vulnerable to a leaping strike from Incineroar. A frenzy of fire and lightning from both Pokémon was too much for the clone to handle, the combined attacks reverting it to its trophy form.
With Solo's assistance, Link struck down the Corrin puppet with a spinning two-sword strike. He dropped low, allowing the Mii Swordfgither to vault over him and plant a boot into the Shulk puppet's face. Solo lunged, landing a powerful overhead slash that sent the puppet smacking into the distant sands.
"Hi-YAH!" The Mii Brawler knocked the Ryu puppet into the air with a Soaring Axe Kick. Flying up with the enemy, he brought it crashing down with the following meteor smash. Soon, all that remained was the rowdy (well, rowdier than before) son of the prince. Bowser jumped after Junior, who hovered higher into the sky and left Bowser to crash into the purple sand.
"Hey…" the Brawler noticed. "Where are the other seven? The… Koopalings, was it?"
"They're fine," answered the Swordfighter. "Their spirits are back at the temple with Chiaki."
Sonic and Cloud threw him a confused look. "Who's Chiaki?"
"And what temple?" added Cloud.
The Swordfighter didn't even bat an eye. "We'll catch you all up later."
"Whatever," said the Brawler, punching a palm. "Let's ground him!"
Bowser Jr. launched the left wrecking ball, plowing his father in the head and releasing his grip on the Clown Car. Pikachu jumped up onto Bowser Jr.'s face, blinding him and starting a scuffle behind the controls. The vehicle spun wildly in the air, constantly rising and dipping. Snatching Pikachu off his face, Bowser Jr. tossed him to the ground. "Stupid… mouse thing!"
"Hey! Spoiled brat!" called the Brawler, holding up his fists. "Put 'em up!"
A claw shot out from the Car, snatched Chrom, and threw him against Eleven. Both of them tumbled to the ground as the Car descended to meters above the sand. Particles swirled from the air conjured by his propellers. Popping out the fork, Bowser Jr. parried a strike from the Swordfighter and jabbed him in the gut, knocking him away. With a sneer on his face, he pressed a button…
...and two purple boxing glove arms with spikes extended from the sides of the vehicle. The gloves bumped against each other while Junior devilishly giggled. "By all means…"
The Brawler ran up to the Clown Car, barraging it with a flurry of fast attacks. Junior moved the arms to block, socking a hit across the Mii's face. The Brawler kicked the side of the Car, punched the vehicle's eye, and punched Junior on the chin with an uppercut. Seething in anger, Junior fiddled with the controls…
...and set the boxing gloves into an all-out punching frenzy. The Mii blocked as best he could, but a strong hook broke his guard and an uppercut sent him flying. He hit the sand hard, the laughter of Bowser Jr. ringing in his ears.
"That… that all you got?"
"HAHAHAHA! I'm so glad you asked!" Junior retracted the boxing gloves into the Clown Car…
...and replaced them with sharp spinning drills.
"Uh-oh…"
Junior drew the arms back, putting full power into the drills until his purple eyes caught movement. "WAH!"
He moved the drills into a blocking position just in time for a spinning blue ball to meet them. Sparks flew from both the whirring drills and the Spin Dash that threatened to pierce through. Through the struggle, the Mii scrambled to his feet and made a run for it.
Junior broke the clash, sending Sonic into the air. The hedgehog landed on his feet, locking eyes with the prince. "They got YOU?!" he howled. "Oooh, you can be so annoying!"
"Funny, I was about to say the same for you!"
The drills lunged out, hitting nothing but sand. To the side, Sonic let out a taunting yawn. Another drill jabbed for him, but the hedgehog hopped onto its arm with great balance. Growling, Junior moved the other drill to skewer him…
Sonic hopped off, leaving the drill to hit the other's arm and partially damaging it. "AAAH! YOU LITTLE-!" Junior shrieked, lashing at Sonic with both drills. The Blue Blur nimbly dodged, sidestepped, and evaded until he slid underneath the Clown Car and bashed Junior on the back of his head. Junior turned the Clown Car around, raising the right drill…
Spinning in a ball, Sonic pierced the drill's arm and cut it clean off. The drill landed in the sand, its speed dying down. Bowser Jr. glanced at the empty arm, seething in anger. Before he could direct his attention back to Sonic, the hedgehog shredded through the other drill and sliced that off as well. With both arms empty, Junior retracted them back into the Clown Car and deployed a few Mechakoopas.
Sonic kicked one of them into another, jumped on top of a few more to destroy them, then kicked the last one at Junior to make it explode in his face. With an angry cry, Junior activated the mouth's buzzsaw…
"Nope!" called Sonic, dashing up and tearing the saw right off. He tossed it behind him, hearing a furious scream from Junior. "I'LL MESS YOU UP REAL GOOD FOR TRASHING MY RIDE! TAKE THIS!"
A ball on a chain launched from the car's right side, slamming into the sand and blowing Sonic away. Bowser Jr. swung it around wildly, smashing it on the ground again. Sonic jumped over it, giving Junior an unamused expression.
"A wrecking ball? Really? Dude, my first fight with Eggman was exactly like this. You should know how this plays out."
"NYAAAH!" Junior swung it again, nearly whacking Sonic this time. The hedgehog jumped over the swing, bashing the Clown Car right in the face. He hit the sand running, kicking up a wave of dark dust in his drift. Blasting towards the Clown Car again, he bashed it in the rear and shot a Homing Attack at Junior's head. Another strike to the Clown Car sent it reeling through the air in a backward spin.
Junior readied the mouth's cannon, pointing it at a shoulder-rolling Sonic. "DIE, you wretched little- huh?!" Two strong claws snagged the Car's rim, dragging it to the ground. Bowser Jr. turned to see the snarling face of his father.
"Junior, it's time-out time for you!" he roared, throwing the Car into the sky… and launching a fireball at it.
"NOOOOOOO!"
An explosion echoed through the sky. Through the black smoke, a trophy fell to the sand below. Bowser ran over, brushing the trophy clean of the dark grains.
"You really tore through it like it was nothing, huh?" the Swordfighter asked Sonic. "And you do that to robots all the time?"
"Yep. Pretty much."
A flash of light shone across the dunes, fading just as fast as it arrived. In the sands, the Clown Car was tipped over, its driver lying in the sand. "Uuuh… no mushrooms for me, please…"
"Junior?" Bowser asked, tapping his son on the head. "Junior! Rise and shine!"
Bowser Junior groaned, shaking his head. "Papa… it's too… huh?"
The prince opened his eyes, taking in the sight of the darkened skies and purple dunes. "Wh… where the heck am I? The last thing I remember was that big streak of light that nearly burned my eyeballs."
"Same here," added Bowser. "But a lot's happened since then."
Junior whirled around… and his face lit up in happiness. "Papa!" he cried, launching himself into his father's arms. "You're okay!" Bowser laughed in reply. "BWAHAHAHA! Of course I am!"
"I hate to cut the reunion short," interrupted Eleven. "But the fortress awaits."
Bowser Junior turned to the four heroes with a quizzical expression. "Wait, who're you? I don't remember seeing you guys before this whole thing started."
"We can handle greater introductions later," said Erdrick. "But for now, we are four heroes from across ages. We are on a quest to infiltrate that fortress, defeat its commander, and bring about an end to this reign of darkness."
Zelda approached Link, who stood with his eyes on the fort and returned the Knight's Broadsword to Sonic. "Link, it would be best if you lead this assault. You have more experience battling Ganondorf than any of us."
The hero of Hyrule nodded. He approached a path leading to the fortress, readied the Master Sword… and pointed it at the ominous installation in a commanding gesture. On his signal, everyone ran for the walls.
…
Roars and screeches flooded the buildings of the fortress. Bowser Junior fired cannonballs into the face of a giant Ridley puppet that attempted to swat him out of the air. His father unleashed a jet of flame in the puppet's face, causing it to lash its claws in rage.
A giant grey Charizard clone shot fireballs at the four heroes, unaware of Sonic and the Mii Brawler targeting its legs. Swift strikes brought it down to the ground… leaving it open for Chrom and the Mii Swordfighter's overhead strike.
Cloud's Buster Sword blocked an Ore Club's smash. Cloud shoved the weapon back, delivering a spinning slash to the Ridley puppet wielding it. Zelda cast Din's Fire at the puppet's head, blasting it in the face. Cloud landed a Cross Slash, sending the puppet flying into a building.
Young Link and Toon Link engaged a Palutena puppet, swords meeting staff in precise strikes. Pikachu snuck behind and gobbled up nearby food, depriving the puppet of any recovery methods. His shield blocking energy blasts, Young Link charged and stabbed at the puppet. Toon Link jumped from overhead, slashing the puppet on his way down.
Incineroar threw himself onto the giant Charizard's head, keeping it from shooting flame. Chrom, the Swordfighter, and Sonic spun into the air, driving their swords into the puppet's back. In a burst of darkness, the puppet reverted into a trophy and burst apart, releasing its spirit.
Bowser Junior whirled his Clown Car around, pummeling the giant Ridley puppet with both wrecking balls. Once it was down, Bowser launched into the air and crashed down shell-first, crushing the puppet's head. A dark-purple shroud filled their vision and faded, revealing an exploding trophy.
"That's it?" Sonic asked in a disappointed tone.
"Looks like the other guards were part of Bowser Junior's squad to prevent us from progressing," guessed Cloud.
Link trudged ahead to the north end of the fortress, where nothing but a clearing surrounded by walls lied. And in the center of that clearing was a caped man with a greatsword in hand. At the sight of the battle-ready Link, he let out a chuckle.
"Hahahahahaha… so you have come, at last, Link."
Link narrowed his eyes as his friends gathered around him.
"You take the Master Sword in arms once again and have bested its defenders. You have bested all of my warriors, only for me to be the death of you. We have clashed for what seems like millennia, Link, all across time. But this time… you shall not defeat me. I am gifted with a power greater than I have ever dreamed of. Surrender. You cannot hope to best me with that blade yet again… least of all your pathetic band."
"Don't flatter yourself, Black Knight wannabe," scoffed Sonic as he held up his blade alongside Chrom, the other two Links, the Mii Swordfighter, and Chrom. Bowser and his son growled menacingly (or in Junior's case, as menacing as he could). The Mii Brawler cracked his knuckles, Zelda lit her fingertips with magical energy, Pikachu and Incineroar bared their teeth at Ganondorf…
"Hm?"
The dark lord's eyes rested on the four heroes. He raised a brow in confusion. "What is this? Lord Dharkon never spoke of you four…"
Eleven paused. "Lord… Dharkon?"
"You mean you're not the cause of all this?" Solo asked. Behind them, Bowser facepalmed. Ganondorf just chuckled in amusement. "You fools really believe me to be the architect of this despair-filled world? No, not even I am capable of such a thing. Ever since my master was freed from his imprisonment, he corrupted this world into one of eternal darkness where he rules supreme. The light of Galeem was snuffed out, never to rise again."
"Then we shall avenge Galeem!" bellowed Erdrick.
Sonic's eyes went wide. "Wait, what?! Hold on a-"
"We four are just a few of the many who protect our world across the ages! Protectors who are champions of light! Defenders who drive back the darkness! Especially darkness from the likes of you! Now… prepare to face your judgment!"
Ganondorf smiled evilly, raising his greatsword at the heroes. "Come."
Everyone charged, splitting up to attack from different directions. The Mii Swordfighter was the first to strike, twirling through the air and locking his blade against Ganondorf's greatsword.
"Hahahahaha! You, a feeble excuse for a swordsman, wish to face me?"
Without even gripping the hilt of his weapon in both hands, Ganondorf skillfully moved his greatsword to block, parry, and deflect each of the Mii's attacks. He broke a clash and sent the Mii tumbling to the ground with the flat of his weapon. "HA! Pathetic!"
"My turn!" called Chrom, sprinting into the fray. He struck at Ganondorf with quick slashes and thrusts while the clouds above boomed and cracked with purple lightning. The King of Darkness jumped away from an upward slash, landing when thunder echoed through the sky. "Do you feel it, shepherd?" asked Ganondorf, continuing to put up a solid defense. "The power of the darkness destined to consume you all?" He disarmed Chrom of his falchion and pushed him away with a strong kick.
Next came in Cloud, swinging the Buster Sword high. The two large blades connected with a clang, each fighter locking eyes with each other. Cloud circled around Ganondorf, building up energy in each of his strikes. In another clash, Ganondorf drew closer with a sneer.
"This, Cloud Strife, is why I chose you to defend the Master Sword. Your potential, your raw power… but now, you've reached your limit. You've reached it ever since you were defeated."
Cloud gritted his teeth. "Limits… are meant… to be BROKEN!" His body lit up in a blue aura, breaking the clash in his favor. "HRAAH!" He spun in a whirlwind slash, knocking Ganondorf into the air. The King of Darkness twisted in the air, landing firmly on his feet.
He glanced back ahead of himself, seeing two Phantoms charge at him. Ganondorf laughed maliciously, striking at each of them with still one hand on his greatsword. It struck against shields and swatted away swords, giving him a fresh opening to slash them into pieces. "Ordering lifeless constructs to do your bidding, Princess Zelda? I believed you were better than that."
Something struck Ganondorf from behind, causing him to roar in pain. He swiped his greatsword behind him, but his assailant jumped over. The King of Darkness whirled back in front of himself, but too late. His attacker slashed across his chest and vaulted off of him with a triumphant shout.
"She didn't need to beat you with those!" called Sonic the Hedgehog. "Just to distract you!"
Ganondorf swung for Sonic, who swung his own weapon in time to Ganondorf's strikes. He evaded and vaulted over slashes, adding his own swings in sync with acrobatic attacks. "Ngh!" grunted Ganondorf, attempting to drive back the hedgehog. "How did you learn such expertise with a blade?!"
"I've fought knights, Ganon-dork!" answered Sonic. "Along with monsters, a dragon, and a dark sorceress! Face it! You've got nothing on the Knight of the Wind!" He lashed out at the King of Darkness in a spinning slash, the blade scraping against the greatsword. Sonic brought the sword down to initiate a clash, pressing down on Ganondorf.
Ganondorf growled, illuminating his greatsword in a purple glow. "I am finished toying with you, vermin."
He broke the clash and swung with a mighty roar. Sonic raised his sword to block… but the stronger weapon shattered the blade into pieces, leaving the hedgehog with nothing but a hilt.
"Shoot!"
POW! A darkness-imbued fist smashed Sonic in the face, sending him tumbling and skidding across the open clearing. The friction knocked his gauntlet off, the piece of armor clattering to the ground. Young Link and Toon Link jumped over his form, charging with war cries ringing in the air.
Ganondorf blocked both of their strikes at the same time, a backhand knocking Toon Link away. He closed the same hand over Young Link's face, his victim desperately swiping his weapon at him. "Heh heh heh… how amusing. The master of the Ocarina, a mere child, no match for me." He tossed Young Link at the rising Toon Link, knocking both of them down in one fell swoop.
"Perish, spawn of evil!"
Erdrick, Eight, and Solo charged for Ganondorf next, who sprinted to meet with them in battle. Erdrick engaged first, striking at the dark lord's defense. The greatsword struck his shield, and Erdrick struggled to push back.
"You call yourself a hero? Ha! You are no better than Link him-"
"Kafrizz!"
A fireball smacked Ganondorf in the face. Erdrick backed up, allowing Eight and Solo to take him on. "Psyche Up!" called Eight, bestowing a temporary attack boost upon himself. The two heroes struck from two sides, Ganondorf keeping pace with them. "Kasizzle! Kafrizzle!" yelled Solo, casting fire magic at Ganondorf. Ganondorf blocked and deflected each strike with his greatsword, drawing back a glowing arm in rage. A fist plowed Solo away, taking him out of the fight. Eight swung with precise swings, letting his shield absorb and deflect Ganondorf's own blows.
Ganondorf seized Eight by the throat and slammed him to the ground. He raised one foot to crush him into the ground…
"KAZAP!"
A powerful lightning bolt struck Ganondorf, sending him sliding back. Erdrick lowered his sparkling sword, gesturing for Eleven to take his turn. "Ugh… Heal!" Eight grunted, summoning a green light that enveloped him. Chrom and the Mii Swordfighter joined Eleven, running towards Ganondorf. His greatsword glowed with a purple aura again…
...and with a roar, Ganondorf spun in a circle. The resulting swing blasted out an arc of dark energy that blasted back Chrom and the Mii. Eleven jumped into the air, twisting the glowing Sword of Light in a reverse grip. With a cry, Eleven brought the sword down on Ganondorf, following up with a series of bright slashes.
"ARGH! That… that sword… no, it cannot be! Not another!"
"The Sword of Light is the enemy of all darkness!" shouted Eleven. "You are not the first to succumb to its radiance!"
Ganondorf brought his greatsword down on Eleven, who moved his shield to block. He thrust with the Sword of Light, sending Ganondorf staggering. The King of Darkness roared, smashing the ground with his fist to create a dark shockwave. Eleven flipped through the air, evading the tremor.
"Solo! Now!"
"Magiiic…"
Ganondorf whirled behind him to see Solo charging up his magic in a purple aura… and unleashing it in a massive explosion.
"BUURRRRSSSSSTTT! HYYYYAAAAAAAAAH!"
Ganondorf rolled along the ground, digging his greatsword into the ground to slow himself. He panted for breath, rising to his feet… and no sooner than he did, Pikachu and Incineroar attacked him. Ganondorf swatted away Pikachu as if he was an insect and Incineroar knocked the greatsword out of his grip. The two of them grappled while the Mii Brawler rushed up to Solo, who had just fallen to his knees and slumped to the ground.
"Hey! You okay?"
The hero groaned, slowly rising to one knee. "I'll… I'll be fine. It's just that a Magic Burst requires so much magic to cast, it burns through all of my energy and weakens me. I can't cast any more spells until I am recovered."
"No worries. We got your back until then!" The Mii dashed towards Ganondorf, who had just punched Incineroar away. He jumped into a flying kick; one that Ganondorf noticed and blocked. Before he could counter, the Mii vaulted off and took a stance.
Ganondorf sneered, punching an open palm. "No matter. If you wish to know my power without the usage of a weapon, it shall be a choice that leads to your doom."
"Bring it, Tall-Dark-and-Gruesome!" The Mii went for a jumping kick to Ganondorf's head, his foot only meeting his opponent's wrist. Ganondorf dodged another high kick, deflected some punches and a palm strike, and socked the Mii across the face. The Brawler bounded back to his feet for recovery, throwing a Shot Put at the King of Darkness. Ganondorf deflected the ball with a blast of darkness, advancing on the Mii. The two of them traded several more blows until Ganondorf grabbed the Mii's fist, seized him by the head, slammed him to the ground with enough force for the Mii to bounce up…
"RRRAAAAAAH!"
...and landed a powerful Warlock Punch that sent the Mii sailing right into the wall. He collapsed with a pained moan. "He brought it…"
Bowser and Bowser Junior readied a fireball and the Clown Car's cannon, blasting both explosive projectiles in Ganondorf's direction. The King of Darkness smirked, crossed his arms…
...and vanished in a purple blink of light.
"Huh?" Bowser asked, befuddled. "Where did he-"
WHAM! Another powerful punch of darkness sent him sliding to a stop. Bowser Junior popped out a drill, turned it in Ganondorf's direction… and stopped. Ganondorf had seized the drill's arm in his hand. With a grin, he spun Junior around and threw him with a mighty shout.
Bowser Junior screamed as his Clown Car crashed against the ground, knocking him out of the cockpit. The Car landed upside-down right on top of him. "Dang it…"
Zelda stood nervously while Ganondorf laughed triumphantly. All of the Smashers before her lay beaten before Ganondorf's might…
...all but one.
The blue glow of the Master Sword lit up the night, drawing Ganondorf's attention. "Your friends are defeated, yet you still persist," The King of Darkness spoke. "No matter. We shall finish this alone… with an outcome that differs from the rest."
He held out his arm and his greatsword reappeared in his grip, summoned back to his side. Ganondorf twirled it menacingly, striking it along the ground. Link approached and got into a stance. He briefly looked to Eleven, who gave him a reassuring nod.
Ganondorf rushed forward at high speed, his elbowing making contact with Link's shield instead of the hero's face. Link flipped backward, holding the Master Sword high. He swung it down, shooting out a blue arc of light that smacked into Ganondorf's form. The hero advanced, landing two successful blows before the third was blocked.
Ganondorf shoved Link back, swinging for his neck. Link dove to the side, striking at Ganondorf's leg. A quick throw of his boomerang smacked Ganondorf in the face, and the King of Darkness caught the object on its return trip. He turned back to Link… but saw a Rune Bomb at his feet.
Link pressed the detonator. The bomb sent Ganondorf into the air from its blast, allowing Link to shoot him with three arrows. Ganondorf shrugged off the projectiles, slamming into the ground with another shockwave. Link jumped over, striking at Ganondorf from overhead. The attack knocked him to the ground, where Link jumped high…
...and brought the Master Sword down on Ganondorf.
"Urg!"
Link hopped off, swinging the Master Sword victoriously. Weakly, Ganondorf rose with ragged breaths. He saw his body begin to glow with dark-purple colors. "No… no…"
Link sheathed the Master Sword, awaiting the trophy that would follow. The darkness engulfed Ganondorf from sight. Everyone kept their eyes on it, waiting for it to fade.
"NO!"
And fade it did… revealing Ganondorf still standing!
"What the-?!"
"How is he not-?!"
Breathing heavily, Ganondorf locked eyes with the shocked Link. His face clenched with anger… yet only one word escaped his mouth.
"Castle…"
And then, he was gone. Vanished in a purple flash. Immediately after his departure, the Smashers were completely bewildered.
"He… he resisted reverting into a trophy?!" gasped Chrom. "How is that possible?!"
"And where did he go?" pondered Cloud.
"I think we have Dharkon to thank for that," answered Bowser. "Along with how crazy strong he was."
"That reminds me," Eleven spoke up. "Princess Zelda?"
"Yes?"
The Luminary hesitated for a moment as if wondering where the answer to his question would lead him. Before long, he spoke. "Who is this 'Dharkon'?"
…
Back in the desert, the four heroes- along with everyone rescued in this land- were caught up with everything that had happened since Galeem's surprise attack. The sands of the desert were beginning to fade into rock… and heat from molten lava filled the air.
"I can't believe this…" Erdrick spoke. "The forces of darkness and light incarnate… our enemy?"
"The Luminary is a champion of the light," Eleven added. "It is their sworn duty to keep the darkness at bay. The Yggdragon told me to expect darkness from the most unexpected of places… but having to fight the light itself?"
"And they've been at each others' nonexistent throats since the start of time?" Sonic repeated. "Talk about your grudges."
"And they once divided an entire tribe to continue waging war on one another," added Cloud. "Tell Chiaki she has my sympathies, as do we all."
"That is a fact she knows well, Cloud," Zelda said. "And this is more than just driving back the darkness, Luminary. This is about the balance between light and darkness, not just favoring one side over the other."
Eleven said nothing. Zelda knew he had to be taking all of this new information in, as were his three companions.
"We can get back to the bigger picture later," spoke the Mii Swordfighter. "Right now, we need to find where Ganondorf went."
"What was that he said before he vanished?" Chrom tried to recall. "Castle?"
"Whoa, hey!" the Brawler gasped. "Am I crazy, or is that your Triforce thingy over there, Princess?"
Everyone turned. Sure enough, there rested the three triangles that shined like stars. Beneath its glow, a large, ominous structure was revealed where the Triforce once rested.
"Whoa… that castle, maybe?" Sonic guessed.
"Not just any castle…" Zelda whispered. "That is the castle of the Demon King."
"Definitely that castle, then."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Bowser asked, already making his way towards the entrance. "Let's go pound him a second time!"
Everyone stormed the castle, making their way through the entrance and into a courtyard. A courtyard that was burning. The Smashers looked around for any sign of their foe.
"You only triumphed previously because your allies wore me down," boomed Ganondorf. At the sound of his voice, Link stood at the ready. "But now… you fight alone." He spread out an arm at the end of his words… and flames streaked across the courtyard, forming a burning arena between Ganondorf and Link. On one side, Link found himself standing alone…
...and on the other, everyone else caught off by the flames. "Aw, come on! No fair!" groaned Sonic.
Ganondorf growled at Link "You DIE alone."
In an instant, a roar erupted from his throat and his body vanished in a blue aura. The aura grew to a gargantuan size, prompting Link to take a wary step back. In moments, the aura faded…
ROOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!
A giant figure with two swords, gleaming green eyes, massive tusks, and a pig-like face bellowed into the sky. Its angry eyes turned to Link and its swords glinted in the flames. Ganon, the Demon King, gazed down on his hated foe.
Link stood strong, both the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield strong in his grip. He fought and defeated Ganon before… he could do so again.
Ganon reared back, blasting a ball of fire at Link. The hero of Hyrule rolled to the side, the explosive blowing apart the ground where he once stood. Link steeled himself: the first thing he had to do was find a weakness. Ganon roared, breaking into a charge. Link ran up to meet him… and dove between his legs. If his instincts told him right…
He drove the Master Sword into Ganon's tail, earning a roar from the Demon King. He lashed a sword out behind him, which contacted the Hylian Shield in a loud clang. Link collapsed to the ground from the force, but he had gotten what he needed.
Ganon jumped to his position and crashed down, swinging wildly with both swords. Link dodged each swing, again rolling under the legs and striking at the tail. Ganon swiftly turned around, going into a whirlwind of blades that struck Link multiple times. The hero flew back, landing dangerously close to the wall of flames.
"Yeah, you got it!" Bowser cheered. "Kick him in his big, ugly tail! Or stab him, whichever works best!"
Link hopped back to his feet and ran forward. Ganon shot into the air, coming back down in a mighty crash. Link flipped away, facing the front of the monster before him. Ganon slammed his swords down into the ground, Link barely dodging them in time. The second sword nearly struck him, but still knocked him to the ground. Ganon raised his right foot to crush him.
Link rolled underneath and chopped at the tail. In another howl of pain, Ganon jumped back. He charged at Link horns-first, hoping to slam the hero into the air. Link sidestepped out of the way, allowing Ganon to stampede past and dig his hooves into the ground.
Ganon roared loudly, drawing his head back and charging up dark energy. Link watched him. He knew his next move was something deadly.
A beam of pure malice shot from Ganon's maw, tearing up the ground as it raced for Link's position. Link rolled away, breaking into another run. Ganon charged towards Link again, swiping with both swords. This time, Link vaulted around him and stabbed downward at the tail.
Ganon roared in pain, collapsing on one knee. Seeing his chance, Link unleashed a flurry of sword strikes across Ganon's body, including the head. After a fatal strike, Ganon shot into the air and came back down in a two-sworded slam. Link dodged away, awaiting Ganon's next move.
Ganon raised both swords over his head and slashed twice with furious effort, sending two discs of lightning spinning for Link. The hero dodged past one and slid under the other, closing the gap. Ganon slashed upward, nearly throwing Link off-balance.
Ganon blasted another beam at Link, who utilized fallen pillars to evade it and jump over Ganon. Link landed on top of Ganon's tail, driving the blade of the Master Sword into it once more. Ganon snarled in pain and rage, collapsing once again. One of his swords dug into the ground to support his form. With a triumphant cry, Link again unleashed a volley of attacks from the Master Sword. A final slash against his face earned a loud roar from the Demon King.
Purple flashes lit up along Ganon's body as he howled in agony. He lashed out with both swords in all directions: a last-minute attempt to finish Link. The hero stood back, sheathing the Master Sword. Ganon roared one last time, turning his head to the sky…
...and exploding into a purple light.
The flames around the courtyard faded, lowering the burning barrier. A trophy of Ganondorf landed in the courtyard, which Link approached. With a nod from Zelda, he rested his hand upon it…
"Argh… c-cursed light…"
Ganondorf arose with a palm on his forehead. First, his eyes met Link, who watched him warily. "You… I feel… urgh…"
"Are we sure we can trust him, Princess?" Eleven asked. "Even when he's not under Dharkon's control?"
"What?!" Ganondorf snapped, whirling his head towards Eleven. The Luminary whipped out his sword and shield, only to be blocked by Zelda's arm and a shake of her head.
"Me… controlled… again?! Not since Tabuu… whoever or whatever has done this to me shall pay! With his life!"
Ganondorf rose to his feet and strode towards the castle's entrance, his cape flapping in the breeze. "Direct me to this 'Dharkon'! I will see to it that he suffers from puppeteering the true King of Darkness!"
"Wow," Sonic snarkily commented. "Someone woke up cranky this morning."
"Silence, rat!" Ganondorf boomed, not even stopping in his path when he shot Sonic a glare. Everyone moved to follow him, and the Blue Blur glared back at Ganondorf.
"Hedgehog…" he muttered under his breath.
"I suppose that's one guardian of three defeated," The Mii Swordfighter deduced. "We should head back to the temple and await the other two teams."
"Yeah!" Bowser agreed, cracking his knuckles. "Then we're gonna give Dharkon the biggest black eye he's ever had!"
"I've had to fight an evil from beyond my world before…" Eleven spoke up. "So what makes this one any different?"
As they neared the portal leading to the main region of the dark-infested world, the Mii Swordfighter looked to the hero with a be-careful-what-you-wish-for look. "Everything."
(A/N: Sacred Land complete! Still can't believe I had to split this into two parts for the sake of space, but you gotta do what you gotta do when you want something out quick.
Got a whole bunch of characters back in the fight (my favorite among them, yay!), along with some new arrivals. Kinda relieved this part is done, but there's still some more to go through.
Next up: Dracula's Castle.)
