A/N: Hello there, fellow reader! I am hoping you're having a relaxing and blessed long weekend. For me personally, it's been an eventful few weeks. Just received my Banjo-Kazooie and Byleth amiibos and trained them all the way up to Level 50 for my personal amiibo tournaments in Ultimate. I also started playing Genshin Impact as of recent and have been enjoying the characters, storyline, musix and overall exploration. Even with the gacha-mechanics implemented, I'm still having fun with the game and even pulled a bunch of characters with the free Wishes given at the beginning, heheh!
Anyways, here are my responses for last episodes reviews:
Persona75: Hahah, those are some pretty clever codenames for the Midgar group. Now try taking it a step further and figure out what kind of Personas they would utilize! Regardless, the mention of codenames was just a small interaction and won't necessarily be important to the overall storyline. Speaking of the Centurions and High Entia, I believe you'll have your answers very soon in this chapter!
Asheris: Ooof, didn't imagine that you hated Wario that much, but considering his terrible actions brought to light in the previous chapter, I definitely understand where you're coming from. And it's interesting you brought up the concept of the girlfriend losses. You have it correct regarding Cloud x Tifa and Shulk x Fiora. But in Joker's case, I already have a different approach for his overall arc that I'm hoping readers will look forward to. And don't worry about making reviews lengthy! I'm always looking forward to reading every reader's reactions and theories they come up, so write up reviews as long as you want!
SmashBrosOdyssey: As always, I'm glad to hear that I'm nailing the character so far. I know Ren Amamiya / Joker is a bit of a unique case, considering he's presented as a blank slate for the player to put themselves into his shoes, but he has been featured with his own established personality compared to the other Persona protagonists. I do hope that once the other characters are brought into the story that I also do them justice as well.
leo0074: Glad you've been enjoying the story so far! As I've mentioned beforehand, I am currently aiming to post an update on a bi-weekly basis, unless specified elsewhere. Also, I'm glad you brought up the concept of Joker and Lucina meeting up eventually. I already have big plans regarding interactions between the two characters, so I hope you look forward to the upcoming chapters featuring them really soon.
pkaiquesantos268: Interesting hashtag you got there. What does it mean though? Other than being a reference to Toy Story, which, if I'm being honest, I never expected to see in a review, heheh.
Without further ado - let's get on with Episode 3 of Crossing Fates: Era of a New Smash Universe! We've got a bit of a shorter chapter compared to the last one, with this one being completed at around 6,500 words, while Episode 2 was at a behemoth of 10,000. With so much action happening already, there needed to be quieter, more expositional moments provided for the characters, while also granting them opportunities to interact with each other. Also, I would like to give a heads-up regarding specific spoilers for Persona 5 / Royal and Final Fantasy VII Remake, as this chapter will focus on certain ending plot points from the respective games. Regardless, please enjoy reading!
CROSSING FATES:
- Era of a New Smash Universe -
[ Episode 3: Guidance from the Goddess Above ]
"After losing a beloved teammate, the heroes awaken in the land of angels.
The origins of the new world are spoken by the goddess herself,
who seeks to form a partnership with them."
[party select: Joker, Cloud, Morgana, Aerith]
[zone: Skyworld]
[location: Imperial Capital Alcamoth, Whitewing Palace]
Located high above the clouds were an abundance floating islands each filled with vibrant greenery, ancient temple structures and rivers that flowed off from the landmasses pouring down into the vast ocean far below. This was the remnants of Skyworld that had been pulled into this mysterious new universe. Though much of its environment remained unchanged, the biggest difference was the structure located within the centre serving as the capital.
Where Lady Palutena's expansive temple used to float, what replaced it was large futurist capital city known as Alcamoth. Most of it was surrounded by a large glass dome with towering steel structures built around it. Inside the city centre was flourishing scenery with grass, fountains and elaborate escalators leading up to the Imperial Palace. Teleporters could be found around the capital, allowing for fast transportation between landmarks within Alcamoth.
Currently, Joker's group remained in the Whitewing suite above the Imperial Palace, which consisted of a large circular room simply furnished with a long table. Although prisoners in the meantime, Joker's group were provided an extraordinary view of the entire city below through its glass windows, which was a preferred accommodation compared to a dungeon they believed they would find themselves in.
"You gotta admit, this place looks pretty clean." Aerith broke the silence among their group. She, along with Joker and Morgana, sat together near the end of the single table, having grown bored for hours waiting in the suite. Aerith ran a finger across the spotless table surface as calculations went through her head. "How long do you guys think it takes for them to clean this table? There's a lot of surface area to cover, don't you agree?"
"Uhh, I don't know." Joker responded, sitting across from Aerith as he pondered on ways for their group to escape their current predicament. At the moment, his concern grew for one of his newer allies as Joker turned over to the palace's windows where Cloud stood silently by himself. Joker called out to the mercenary, whom was staring blankly out into the city. "Hey Cloud? You've been standing there ever since we got here. Why don't you take a seat and rest?"
No response came from the lone mercenary.
"Leave him be for now. Being alone is kind of how Cloud deals with his emotions." Aerith assured Joker. She turned back to the mercenary, letting out a sympathetic sigh as she understood the difficulty of the situation the Midgar group were now facing. With three of their allies now gone, Cloud and Aerith only had each other to rely on. Although, the burden weighed more heavily in Cloud's heart with the recent kidnapping of Tifa by the hands of the Master Society Strike Force.
"So, uhh, what's the deal with Cloud and Tifa? Are they kinda… You know… A couple or…?" Morgana asked, looking over to Aerith with curiosity.
"Heheh, it's a bit of a complicated situation. I don't think that they even know what they are at this point," Aerith explained, recounting the relationship between Cloud and Tifa to Joker and Morgana. "All I know is that they've been childhood friends who've gone through so much together in the past. Fate suddenly brought them back together by the form of an adventure in Midgar, in which I ended up meeting them. Cloud would never outright say it, but Tifa is definitely someone he holds dearly in his heart."
"I see. It must be very hard for him to deal with the fact that he couldn't do anything to save Tifa," Joker responded, recalling to the incident in Tokyo. The image of Tifa screaming in pain while she was forcibly turned into stone also haunted Joker. His anger regarding the scenario grew even more knowing the other Phantom Thieve's had gone through such a horrible process as well. "What kind of heartless people are those Strike Force members? Turning people into stone if they don't agree with their sick ideology? It makes me frustrated just thinking that they believe what they are doing is right."
"It's one of the many possibilities that can happen when a group holds an almighty power in their hands without a force to truly reckon with them," Aerith commented with a sigh, giving her own insight on the situation. "The line between doing what's right and wrong is suddenly blurred when you believe your path is truly the ideal one and you have the power to impose it on others. The Master Society needs to be stopped. We can't allow them to continue forcing their ideas against everyone who disagrees!"
"I agree with you guys, but right now, we can't do anything while we're stuck in this room," Morgana reminded them, pacing atop the table as he pondered on how their group would escape. Aside their current objective of finding a way out, countless other thoughts overwhelmed their group. They could only wonder why they had been arrested by the very Centurion army that saved them back in Tokyo. And what was the deal with their commanding officer, Pit? From Morgana's perspective, the angel seemed a little too young to already lead an army. Then again, the Phantom Thieves themselves consisted mainly of high schoolers rebelling against society. Age truly didn't matter in the context of being capable fighters.
"Ugh! I'm getting so bored just sitting here!" Aerith yawned out, shaking herself from her gloomy state and forced out a pep of energy. She soon slid out from her chair and attempted to motivate their group with a plan. "Alright, that does it! Let's plan a breakout! Joker! Morgana! Why don't you lead us again? You're super good at infiltrating into places. How different can it be to break out of a place? It's only reversing the process of infiltration, right?"
"Heheh… Yeah, we have to be honest with you, Aerith. Infiltrating is definitely our forte. But breaking out? Yeah, that's a flaw the Phantom Thieve's are still trying to overcome." Morgana embarrassingly answered, scratching the back of his head in the process.
"Even if we did get the chance to escape, where would we even go afterwards?" Joker stated, bringing up a few fair points. Joker's group still didn't know who the Master Society Strike Force members came from, only that they served under mysterious masters and believed that their path was the only correct one to follow. And more importantly, Joker and his group were unfamiliar in this new universe. How could they begin their endeavour to rescue their friends and stop this new threat without the necessary knowledge to advance?
Fortunately, the proper guidance Joker hoped for was just around the corner.
The doors to the Whitewing suite opened up, surprising the group as mysterious girl walked into the room. Upon first glance, a prominent feature standing out about her was the small pair of wings poking out of her head. Her entire outfit gave off a divine vibe, consisting of a short white and blue elaborate dress, a white collar with a large pink bow, thigh-high black boots and a blue headband with white flowers. The girl's silver hair was braided in the back, with the ends styled into two large curls hanging above her shoulders.
"Oh, hello there! Are you another angel?" Aerith greeted the mysterious girl.
"Not exactly. Although, I understand your confusion due to the wings on my head." the High Entia empress replied.
"Yeah. Don't they usually have them on their back? You're sort of like an off-brand angel." Morgana commented without thinking, only to receive an abrupt jab from Joker as he gently bonked the cat on top of his head. "HEY! I'm not wrong, am I? Angels I've seen usually have their wings sprouting from behind!"
"Then what do you call Lady Ann then?" Joker teased, crossing his arms in amusement. "I'm positive I've heard you call her an angel from time to time."
"I… Uhhh, I mean she's a special kind of angel, alright? One that transcends the normal expectations of divine beauty!" Morgana answered back in defence.
"Please kindly ignore the kitten, this is just how he normally behaves. Or so I've been told to believe." Aerith apologized on their behalf, remaining courteous to the High Entia empress. "If I may ask, why are we prisoners in the first place? As far as we know, none of us have committed a crime. We all woke up in this world without a clue to what's going on. Please, may you tell us what's happening?"
"Do not worry. I can assure that you are not prisoners. That judgement call was definitely an incorrect decision. One that a particular angel is currently being disciplined for," the High Entia empress assured them. She began to motion their group out of the Whitewing suite. "If you may, follow me. The goddess will shed light to your concerns."
"Hmm? Did she just say goddess?" Aerith repeated, giving both Joker and Morgana a curious look.
"That's what I heard! I guess we have no choice but to follow her." Morgana responded. Turning back to the lone mercenary standing by the windows, Morgana began to call out for him to follow. "Hey Cloud! I think you've had more than enough time to brood, dude. Come join us now, will ya?"
"Leave him to me. You guys can go on ahead," Joker advised, nodding for Aerith and Morgana to follow the High Entia empress. Making his way over to the lone mercenary, Joker began to express empathy towards Cloud's situation in hopes of moving him into action. "Cloud, I know this is a difficult time for you and I know exactly how you are feeling right now. The Phantom Thieves have basically been my family for the past year when I've had no one to support me. Which is why we need to act if we want a chance to rescue our friends and make those Strike Force members pay for their crimes. I understand how special Tifa is to you, so please-"
"We should get going, right? Maybe this goddess we're about to meet will finally give us some answers." Cloud suddenly spoke up, immediately making his way towards the room's exit without a glance towards Joker.
"Oh… Alright." Joker responded, seemingly caught off-guard by Cloud's cold reaction. In his mind, Joker prepared a whole speech in hopes of motivating Cloud, only to realize his efforts were futile with the mercenary's sudden compliance. Then again, Aerith did warn him earlier about how the mercenary handled his emotions. Shrugging it off, Joker caught up the others as he continued to figure out how he'd improve his rapport with Cloud.
Following the High Entia empress, Joker's group made their way through the Imperial Palace, passing through the grand hallways and utilizing the various teleporters to traverse. Among the palace, Joker's group witnessed a mixture of Centurions casually flying around along with the more elaborate High Entia population, all fitted with glorious armour and large wings sticking out of their heads. Eventually, Joker's group arrived in the Audience Chamber, a grand throne room decorated with red curtains on the side, tall pillars and a large stone tablet hanging behind the throne with intangible writing, assumedly in the High Entia language. Awaiting them was the same commanding angel they had encountered earlier – Pit, who led the small group of Centurions during the encounter in WarioWare Inc.
Amusingly, Pit was being scolded at the moment by his superior, a woman adorned in elegant attire consisting of a white dress, brown footwear and numerous gold accessories. The goddess' green hair reached down to her lower legs and was fitted with a gold laurel crown. Despite her elegant appearance, the goddess' current attitude was the polar opposite as she lectured her commanding officer in a displeased fashion.
"Seriously, Pit? You told them they were under arrest? What's the point of threatening them when we need their help?" Palutena spoke, occasionally pointing a finger at Pit with every word spoken.
"S-Sorry, Lady Palutena! I-I guess I just got caught in the moment. In my mind it sounded really cool to say it!" Pit apologized embarrassingly before trying to defend his actions. "But like you said! Anyone could be converted under the Master Society's control. I needed to take precautions to make sure those guys weren't under their spell!"
"I know, I know. But there were definitely better ways in handling the situation, Pit." Palutena sighed, growing tired of correcting her loyal commander's actions. Noticing Joker's group approaching, the goddess greeted their guests, before turning to the High Entia princess that escorted them. "Thank you for bringing them over, Melia. I would've sent Pit to gather our allies, but I needed a few more minutes to really hammer down my lesson on him."
"No worries at all. Besides, it provided me an excuse to escape out of the throne room," Melia reassured the goddess. "I can't stand having to sit here all day simply giving orders to my people. Plus, the short walk was quite refreshing."
"Sorry for interrupting, but who exactly is the leader of this palace?" Aerith chimed into the conversation between the two divine heads.
"Ah yes, I did not get the chance to formally introduced myself to you all. I am Melia Antiqua, the current Empress of the High Entia. The establishment you currently stand within is the Imperial Palace of the capital, Alcamoth." Melia explained to the heroes.
"You hear that, Morgana? You just called the empress an off-brand angel earlier." Joker whispered over in a teasing manner.
"Come on! How was I supposed to know that?" Morgana sighed, lowering his head in embarrassment.
"I see. Well, if Melia is the ruler of this city, then who might you be?" Aerith asked, turning over to the goddess of light.
"I am Palutena, the Goddess of Light and ruler of Skyworld. Although that title is in a bit of a compromise at the moment, considering the mess of a world we currently stand in." Palutena answered. She reached over and patted her commanding officer on the shoulder. "I'm sure you know Pit by now. Sorry if he ended up falsely arresting you. He can be bit overly confident in his position at times."
"Once again, I was just doing my job, okay Lady Palutena?" Pit defended himself once more. Turning over to Joker's group, he began apologizing to them. "Heheh, yeah, sorry about falsely arresting you guys. I'll be honest, I did get carried away, but only because I'm serious about my job! Knowing the nature of our enemy, I had to be careful on who to trust."
"Listen, we're all grateful that you helped us and provided a safe haven. But our group has been desperately looking for answers about this world we woke up in." Cloud spoke, getting straight into business and turned over to Palutena with a serious look. "Goddess of Light, right? Do you mind shedding some truth with what's going on in this chaotic world? Our friends have been captured and we need to know exactly who we're going up against."
"That's Lady Palutena to you, sir! Use proper formalities when speaking to her!" Pit immediately corrected Cloud.
"Heheh, yeeaaahh, there's a lot to catch you guys up on. Why don't we go for a walk to the Imperial Villa while I begin explaining? These bland, dreary hallways are making me want to sleep." Palutena suggested, letting out a short yawn before motioning Melia to direct them.
"Oh yes, that sounds like a splendid idea. I may even request some of the High Entia to prepare us a feast from the dining hall for the time being," Melia added, turning to Joker's group for their input. "How does that sound? I'm sure your group is looking forward to a delicious meal considering all the chaos you've gone through in the past few hours."
At the sound of food being mentioned, Joker's stomach began to rumble. Patting it with embarrassment, Joker expressed gratitude for the meal being offered. "To be honest, eating sounds really good. I haven't really gotten the chance to eat anything since I'd woken up."
"Y'all have some sushi around here? Fatty tuna maybe?" Morgana asked, his eyes gleaming in anticipation while his mouth began to water.
"Heheh, no worries, I am certain that our staff can meet your requirements." Melia reassured with a smile. Guiding Joker's group along with Palutena, the hosts led them to the Imperial Villa found on the opposite side of Alcamoth. Along the way, Palutena began to enlighten the heroes about their current situation and the stakes that followed.
"As I am certain you've figured out already, this is not your regular reality. I hate to say it, but you all have been taken out of your own worlds by a powerful force keen on becoming gods themselves," Palutena explained, first bringing attention to Joker and Morgana's position. "In your case, you two have been pulled out of your home, Tokyo, Japan, and managed to awaken in a city manifesting similar qualities of your home. Yet that city serves as a foundation for other universes to mix in together, while also pulling in its residents from their respective worlds."
"I see. It's all beginning to make sense now," Joker commented, nodding over to Palutena's explanation. "The Tokyo that myself and Morgana woke up in felt off from the moment we explored outside. There were many odd creatures walking around with these supposed Pokemon Trainers. And these squid people with ink guns were going out and about among the streets as if it was the norm."
"Oh! You're talking about the Inklings? Yeah, it seems like many of the metropolitan universes combined together to create that mess of a city you found yourself in," Palutena added, emphasizing on Joker's point. "There's been a pattern that many of the inhabitants brought into this world don't even have a clue about these changes and accepted this new world as their normal reality. I'll admit though, its sort of magnificent to see all these worlds seamlessly combine together into one grand universe."
"Even where we stand now is the result of both mine and Lady Palutena's worlds colliding together," Melia chimed into their conversation. "Alcamoth originally came from a world called the Bionis where I used to reign from. But for whatever reason, the capital joined with Skyworld and has replaced Lady Palutena's original temple as the landmark."
"But what about Midgar? And our friends from there?" Aerith brought up, giving a worried look. Her mind directly thought about the innocent lives left behind, especially Barret's young daughter, Marlene, and her own mother back in Sector 5.
"No worries. From what we've spotted, parts of your universe and its people combined into this new world as well, although not on the same level as Joker and Morgana's." Palutena tried to explain the best she could to Aerith. "Regardless, I'm still trying to figure out just how many worlds were affected by this universal corruption. Seems like everyday a new place appears and the population increases at an alarming rate."
"Which is why Lady Palutena has tasked me to scout the new land and gain a glimpse of how everything is organized!" Pit chimed in proudly. "You see, ever since we woke up in this new world, the Centurions and I have been flying around and scoping out the land. We even began drawing our own map so we can remember important landmarks and where they fit into the whole scheme of things."
"Why is this all happening though? Does it have anything to do with the Strike Force connected to the Master Society?" Cloud demanded to know, bringing up the antagonistic group in the process. "We have evidence that they've been kidnapping competent fighters and turning them into stone if they do not agree with their corrupted ideology. More importantly, they'd taken our friends in the process."
"I understand how you feel, Mr. Strife. Sadly, that very Strike Force you and your allies encountered were once heroes from other universes taken against their own free will," Melia suddenly brought up, a look of sadness filling her eyes. "You see, a dear ally of mine fell victim into this role. You may have encountered him earlier. His name is Shulk and they've managed to brainwash him and now use his abilities for their own dark purposes. They've even captured the rest of my friends as well."
"Did they also get turned into stone statues?" Aerith brought up, receiving a sorrowful nod from Melia. Out of instinct, Aerith reached over and rested a comforting hand on Melia's shoulder. "Oh no… I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Lady Palutena and I can relate too. The Master Society also managed to take away some of our closest allies." Pit empathetically shared, counting his fallen friends on one hand. "Viridi… Magnus… Phospherus. Even Dark Pit. All turned into stone statues before we could do anything about it."
"We've noticed a peculiar weapon this Strike Force is using. They've got a golden sceptre with snake heads that transform people into stone against their will," Morgana brought up, hoping that Palutena or her group had answers on the fact. "Do you guys happen to know where the Strike Force managed to find such awful weapons?"
"That is actually the power of Medusa that they've harnessed for themselves. The snakes they've infused into the weapons have the ability to transform anyone into those horrific stone creations," Palutena answered. A thought of her former adversary popped into the goddess' head as she elaborated their relationship. "Medusa… She's an old foe Pit and I have faced many times in our adventures. Somehow the ones behind all this managed to resurrect her once again, only to use her as fodder for their ultimate plan."
"It just seems like she keeps being used against her own free will for someone else's agenda. You can't help but even feel bad for her nowadays." Pit expressed, finding himself weirded out by the sentence he just said.
"So Lady Palutena, do you know who the true masterminds are behind all this?" Joker asked, hoping to shed more light on their adversary.
"Sorry, I don't know their true identities at the moment. But I do know that they are leaders of what they proclaim as the Master Society. I can tell you though, they've harnessed extraordinary powers that even match my own goddess abilities," Palutena explained. "These so called masters are bent on establishing a world following their ideology of a perfect creation. They strongly believe their vision to be absolute. And by their definition, they've labelled this new world the Smash System."
"The Smash System, huh? Why call it that?" Morgana asked.
"Because they literally smashed different worlds together to create this one!" Pit answered. "I'll admit, its kind of a clever play on words regarding the entire situation. Definitely not something I would've come up with!"
"Which, in my opinion, is completely wrong and a totally stupid thing to do!" Palutena began to vent out. "Like, isn't the role of a supreme being not to interfere with other worlds except your own? You're totally going against the rulebook of being a god! Just because you have the power to change the order of the universe, doesn't mean you can just go ahead and do it! Ugghh, the nerve of some jerks."
"For someone who is supposed to be a goddess, she sure seems a little on the sassy side." Morgana whispered over to Joker.
"So now I've taken the initiative to clean up this mess of a world and bring everything back to its original state. Which is why I've called the likes of you guys for assistance!" Palutena announced, turning over to Joker and Cloud with a proud look. "You, my fellow gentlemen, will be the first warriors of the resistance group that I am making."
Both Joker and Cloud gave a surprised look at Palutena's statement. Seeking an explanation, Joker inquired to the goddess. "But why specifically choose us? I don't believe we did anything special to earn the position."
"Well, according to Lady Palutena, the enemy has been using powers that defy the laws of creation and allow them to abuse the fates of other worlds, proven by how they simply take them out of their own universes and smash them into this singular one we're currently in." Melia helped to clarify. "So by the goddess' reasoning, she believes the only way to counteract the enemy's mess is to utilize those who have also stood against forces threatening to change the course of their own realities."
"Which you two have showcased in your own adventures!" Palutena exclaimed, redirecting her attention back to Joker and Cloud.
"Mind enlightening us how we've done so?" Cloud asked, already losing his patience over the amount of information they had to skim through.
"Seriously? Did you guys already forget the powerful final bosses you beat up on your adventures? Ugh, here, let me remind you all." Palutena reluctantly explained, starting off with Cloud's accomplishments. "Remember those creepy ghosts you kept encountering on your little adventure in Midgar? The Whispers? Yeah, well since your party completely decimated their role of keeping destinies intact, you've managed to defy fate itself and create a new path for your friends. Isn't that super neat?"
"What? How do you even know all this?" Aerith yelped in surprise.
"Don't you recall? Lady Palutena is the Goddess of Light! She can see everything!" Pit answered, although a tinge of doubt came from his voice. "Well, that's according to her own word though. There's really no solid proof. But I just believe her anyway, eheheh. No one can match the extraordinary abilities of Lady Palutena!"
"Pfffft! Have you been hearing what this angel has been saying? Talk about a guy who overly obsesses over a lady." Morgana scoffed at Pit's attitude.
"Well, you're one to speak, Mona." Joker snarked, burning Morgana's ego as the cat accepted defeat.
"And you, Mr. Trickster! You've showcased your ability to rebel against reality not once, but twice!" Palutena exclaimed, turning over to Joker and pointing to him proudly. "Come on! How many people can say they beat up Yaldaboath on Christmas Eve? Pffft, that guy was such a control freak anyway. Good on you for teaching that arrogant cup a lesson!"
"Uhh… Thanks?" Joker could only muster up as a response to Palutena's bewildering compliment.
"Oh! And you managed to fight against a man who wanted to create a perfect reality of his own. One where he believed he was doing the right thing by making people's most desired wishes come true and establish a false sense of happiness!" Palutena reminded Joker, patting him on the shoulder with praise. "With those types of credentials, you are no doubt the perfect candidate for this sort of operation!"
Joker and Cloud could only stare back at each other with perplexed looks. Initially, they believed Palutena to be crazy about this idea she came up with. To fight against masterminds warping universes in their fingertips with a team of fighters who've defied reality themselves? The initial concept was completely out of this world. But both of them understood the stakes at hand. With the fate of other universes also at risk, Joker and Cloud both nodded as they made their decision.
"Alright, Lady Palutena. Even though everything you've said sounds completely nonsensical, it seems like we have no choice but to agree with your terms," Joker responded, affirming his stance to help out in the goddess's plan. "Like you mentioned, there are many worlds and people are under the control of those who wrongfully believe they can carve the perfect path for them. We'll fight alongside you to annihilate the hands behind this corruption."
"Right. And we have the same goals anyway. To rescue our friends and go back home to our normal universes." Cloud stated, standing by Joker's side in agreement.
"So that means you're on board? Yay! I'm so excited." Palutena happily said, clapping her hands together in a relief. "With your powers, we'll certainly flip the tables against the enemy and get everything back to normal in no time!"
"How about us? We want to help too!" Aerith asked, suddenly picking up Morgana as she stood alongside the others with enthusiasm. Morgana began struggling in Aerith's grasp, annoyed at how she'd pick him up so casually.
"H-Hey! I'm not just some pet you can casually pick up! Let me go, Aerith!" Morgana squealed in her arms.
"No worries, guys! I've got just the right roles for you." Pit spoke up, assigning their roles without a second thought. "Aerith, you can probably be our secretary or something. We'll need someone to deal with all the paperwork we'll eventually have. And Morgana, you're cuddly face is perfect to be our enthusiastic team mascot to help keep us motivated!"
"What! Absolutely not! I'm not just going to stand idly doing desk work! And when would paperwork ever be involved in this type of job?" Aerith defended herself, dropping Morgana as she crossed her arms at Pit's statement. "We're just as involved in this situation as Cloud and Joker. Knowing how strong this Master Society is, it looks like you'll need all the help you can get! My abilities with healing materia and magic will surely be beneficial for our team."
"That's right, Aerith! And there's no way I'm going to lower myself to some cheap mascot on the team!" Morgana supported her statement, suddenly pulling his cutlass sword out as he pointed it towards Pit. "You see this blade? It's tasted the cries of many Shadows I've slain! You'd be stupid to waste my unmatchable abilities as a Phantom Thief!"
"Gyaaah! Alright alright! I get it guys! Just put down the sword, scary cat dude, I-I'm sorry!" Pit stuttered out his apology, immediately backing down from his statement as he backed away from Aerith and Morgana.
"Oh Pit, how many times do I have to tell you to think before speaking?" Palutena sighed, shaking her head over to him. Turning over to Aerith and Morgana, Palutena reassured of their involvement in her plan. "Don't worry you guys. I know how each of you were integral in assisting both Joker and Cloud on their respective adventures to defy fate. You two will definitely be important assets to our team!"
"Yes!" both Aerith and Morgana exclaimed. In celebration, Morgana jumped up, reach over to Aerith as they both gave each other a high-five.
"Great to know we're all on the same page now!" Melia stated, glancing over to the Imperial Villa. "And with that grand moment of exposition, looks like we've finally arrived at our destination." Located on the second level of among the Imperial Palace, a lone villa stood peacefully at the end of the gated pathway. An abundance of colourful flowers and trees were stationed around in the villa's garden, with the building itself comprising of a tower with rounded edges and tall mosaic windows seen on the exterior. The villa offered many accommodations for relaxation and where Melia could provide this safe sanctuary to her guests.
"Talk about fancy! I wouldn't mind having a place like this for myself one day." Aerith commented. Her attention was quickly brought over to the flowers surrounding the building. Walking over to the flowerbed, Aerith knelt down began examining each plant in detail. "Ooooh, what an interesting assortment of flowers too. Some I haven't even seen before."
"Please, feel free to settle inside. I'll alert the cooks from the dining hall to begin preparing a banquet while we discuss further details about our mission." Melia mentioned, inviting the group inside the villa.
As the group began to reconvene into the building, Joker noticed Cloud pausing for a moment on the villa's bridge, staring out into the distance past Alcamoth's borders. Assuming what was on Cloud's mind, Joker approached the mercenary, joining him as he shared the wonderful view of the sun setting into the distance. Letting a short moment of silence dwell between them, Joker began to speak. "We're going to find Tifa, Cloud. I promise that. You can assure that I will do whatever I can to help you and Aerith rescue her."
Cloud remained silent, keeping his gaze out towards the horizon. Although, the mercenary listened intently to what Joker had to say.
"Aerith told me about how you and Tifa knew each other since childhood. With that amount of time and moments between the both of you, I have no doubt that you guys hold a special bond together, even if you try to deny it," Joker stated gently, empathizing with Cloud as he referred to his relationships with his own friends. "I've been very lucky with the people I've gotten to know in the past year. The bonds I've forged with the other Phantom Thieves made me realize how I'd do anything for my teammates. And fortunately, they've shown that they share the same sentiments in my case when they helped me get out of prison."
A look of surprise fell upon Cloud's face as he turned to Joker. "Prison? Aren't you just a kid? Just what kind of trouble did you get into?"
"Well, it's a long and complicated story. All I can say is that the corrupted mind of a manipulative politician threw me into an unfair fate," Joker summarized, skipping over the details as he focused on his main point. "The odds always seemed to be against myself and the other Phantom Thieves. But it was because we had faith in each other that we managed to overcome any obstacle in our way. And right now, our odds against this new world seem to be stacked against us. Which is why we need to learn how to work together as a team, Cloud."
Joker turned over to the mercenary, gently removing his Phantom Thief mask as he reverted back to his casual attire and allowing him to see Cloud eye-to-eye.
"My friends need me to break them free from this wicked fate that's fallen upon their lives. And Tifa needs you more than ever to rescue her. So I ask you officially, Cloud Strife. Not as my Phantom Thief alter ego. But my true self, Ren Amamiya, that we both join forces to save not only our allies, but the rest of the population imprisoned in this false reality we've found ourselves in." Ren proclaimed, reaching a hand out to the mercenary.
Cloud couldn't help but be impressed by Ren's maturity, especially for a man at his young age. Not only was Ren's words encouraging, but he spoke truth in the situation they were facing at the moment. Understanding how formidable the Master Society appeared to be, Cloud also thought best to team up with strong allies in order to stand a chance against this mysterious new threat. With the reliable powers of their newest partners through Ren and Morgana, his already strong bond with Aerith and the guidance provided by Palutena, Pit and Melia, Cloud gradually gained hope in their current predicament.
"Alright, Ren Amamiya, we've got a deal." Cloud agreed, returning the formality as he shook Ren's hand. "Not only will we save our friends, but we're going to make those responsible for this mess pay for their crimes."
"Right, I couldn't have said it better myself." Ren nodded back in agreement.
And thus, both heroes sealed a contract of partnership and immediately felt a stronger bond between them. With an ambitious group of allies by their side, Ren and Cloud set their sights towards their upcoming adventure in the Smash System. Deciding to call it a night for the meantime, Ren and Cloud joined the rest of their friends in the Imperial Villa for a well-deserved meal, before embarking on their mission delivered by the Goddess of Light.
...
Elsewhere in the Smash System, a knight was peacefully slumbering in his bedroom quarters. As the shining rays of the sun broke through his windows, a girl's voice began to call out to him, desperate for his presence.
…Open your eyes… Wake… up… Li...nk…
.
..
…
To be continued!
A/N: New challengers are now introduced into the story. We've officially got Pit, Palutena and special guest Melia joining the Crossing Fates storyline! Having played Kid Icarus: Uprising just last year, I really enjoyed the banter between Pit and Palutena throughout the gameplay. This aspect is something I've ensured to keep in mind when writing their characters in this story. Of course, Pit and Palutena's ability to break the fourth wall will be a reoccurring element in their dialogue, which should provide some entertaining conversations between her and the rest of the characters they interact with.
Melia Antiqua, a character originating from Xenoblade Chronicles and a prominent protagonist in its epilogue story, Future Connected. I've been quietly foreshadowing her character involvement throughout the previous chapters, with Shulk's outfit and weapon deriving solely from the epilogue she's a big part of, and the mention of the High Entia in Episode 2's ending. Out of the wonderful cast from the first Xenoblade Chronicles game, I've always found her character and background the most intriguing, so I figured it would be an interesting choice to add her in the dynamic of Smash Bros. characters in this story, considering she was never a playable character to begin with. Plus, she's also voiced by one of my favourite Doctor Who actors, Jenna Coleman.
Melia Antiqua's inclusion in this story, along with Tifa Lockhart, shows that more characters outside the playable Smash Bros. roster have the possibility to appear, along with many locations and story elements from other games. So I'm hoping you all look forward to these upcoming additions later on, just as much as I am towards implementing them.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read and showing your support for this story! It's been a little over a month and I'm honestly very grateful for the interest each and every one of you has shown for the story so far. Have a fantastic week and I'll be seeing you guys on the next installment of Crossing Fates: Era of a New Smash Universe! Bye for now!
~Azu
~I do not own any video game characters or material presented. Any relation to real world events or persons are purely coincidental. This story is strictly for entertainment usage only. The Super Smash Bros. series and its characters involved are the sole property of their respective owners, including Nintendo, Sora Ltd. Monolith Soft, Intelligent Systems, Atlus, Square Enix, and other video game related companies ~