A/N: Hello there, fellow reader! As always, I hope you've been doing well for the past few weeks. We are three chapters into this epic adventure, and so far, we've gained an understanding on only the first half of the main characters along with their motivations. So I think it's time we finally move on to our second half of heroes, don't you think? Fortunately, that is what this chapter is for! But before getting into the actual content, I'd like to give a few responses towards the reviews provided in the last chapter:
Asheris: With Joker constantly being brought up as the gentleman thief, it was natural to give him a bit of a charming attitude in his mannerisms and speech. And who knows, maybe his words will reach the hearts of one of his allies, hmmm? You're absolutely right that many of the Smashers aren't considered "normal kids". And quite an interesting list of Fire Emblem characters you've brought up. Some I can happily say will be introduced really soon into the story, although I obviously cannot say which ones as that will be a spoiler. The others, however, I'm still trying to figure out since what kind of roles they'll have since I already have so many characters to balance already.
SmashBrosOdyssey: Heheh, I figured it was natural for both Pit and Morgana to have a sort of "stans" face off, considering how deeply devoted they are to each of their respective "goddesses". And a bit of interesting trivia: the entire scenario of the heroes' "imprisonment" was a nod to the original Xenoblade Chronicles, in which Shulk and his team found themselves in the same room upon their initial arrival in Alcamoth. I enjoyed the landmark itself within the game, which you will see later on how I've planned to have Alcamoth as a reoccurring headquarters for the heroes to return to throughout the story between their missions.
Without further ado, let us get right into Episode 3. Get comfortable and please enjoy the story!
CROSSING FATES:
- Era of a New Smash Universe -
[ Episode 4: A Kingdom of Royal Reunions ]
"A princess and her devoted knight awaken in the Smash System,
uncertain of where their friends are.
The same fate befalls on another princess and her fellow tactician,
as both parties eventually team up for the same cause."
[party select: Link, Zelda]
[zone: Hyrule Kingdom]
[location: Hyrule Castle, Bedroom Quarters ]
"Wake up, Link!"
The sleeping Hyrulian knight was quickly dispatched from the land of dreams as he awoke to a soft pillow colliding with his head. With his natural reflexes, Link sat up and grabbed the nearest object around him. The Master Sword, leaning against his bedside table, found itself swung around Link's vicinity as he searched for the enemy that attacked.
"Link! It's just me!"
Looking over to his side, Link found none other than Hyrule's princess herself, Zelda, standing cautiously from a safe distance after the knight began swinging his sword erratically. Clad in her casual attire, consisting of a blue long sleeve shirt with gold and white linings, black tights and brown Hyrulian boots, Zelda appeared stunning under the morning sun rays piercing through the bedroom window, allowing her flowing yellow hair to glow with a golden shimmer.
"Z...Zelda..." Link spoke, gently setting his Master Sword to the side while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Sorry about that. I just had a dream where I was fighting against a Bokoblin until you woke me up. Guess I thought I was really in danger for a moment."
"My apologies, Link. It was rude of me to awaken you while you were in such a peaceful slumber," Zelda replied, a tad bit guilty of her action. "I did try to wake you up a few times earlier, but you were literally a rock that wouldn't budge. So I took drastic measures and used your pillow to hit you on the head."
"No worries, princess. Better than a spiked Bokoblin club, that's for sure, heheh." Link let out a lighthearted chuckle as he reassured Zelda. "So, how can I serve you for today?"
"Please, come outside. You wouldn't fathom what I'd say unless you saw it yourself." Zelda responded, gripping his hand in urgency.
Noting the concerned look on the princess' face, Link nodded and swiftly got dressed into his attire, consisting of his usual traveller's boots, trousers and the iconic blue tunic worn by the chosen Champions of Hyrule. Link also took his Master Sword and Hyrulian Shield for protection, knowing he'd need to be prepared for any action at a moment's notice. Exiting out of his bedroom found among the Knight's Quarters, Link followed Zelda through the castle hallways. Initially, nothing seemed out of the ordinary as they passed by a couple other fellow knights, all sporting their normal wardrobe while greeting the duo good morning. Although, that level of normalcy immediately changed when Link and Zelda reached the main foyer of the castle and approached the entrance.
"Hold on. Are those… mushroom people" Link whispered over to Zelda. His eyes fixated on the pair of guards standing on duty near the entrance. From what Link could make out, they were short in stature and both fitted with bulb-like caps on their head, each one sporting a red polka dot design.
"Greetings, princess! Nothing to report!" one of the Toad guards stated, saluting Zelda while wielding a spear in their other hand. The Toad was fitted in the usual Hyrulian army garb, although it was shrunk down into his tiny size.
"Uhmm… Y-Yes, thank you so much." Zelda nodded back, quickly leading Link out of the castle as they headed towards the courtyard connecting to the training grounds. A perplexed look remained on the princess' face as she confided with Link. "I have absolutely no idea who they are. I woke up and they were literally standing there without question. It's as if they think they've always been here guarding the castle."
"Maybe the king just ended up hiring a few new faces? It happens every so often." Link suggested.
"I assumed the same as well, but you won't believe what I spotted near the training grounds for the knights." Zelda stated.
Leading Link up onto the walkways of the castle's walls, both himself and Zelda peered into the training grounds, consisting of an expansive cobblestone area filled with equipment for the knights to spar and practice their rounds. Among the regular knights training, Link began to spot even more abnormalities within the crowd. More Toads were found sparring around with their own swords. A new sight Link spotted included knights sporting feline ears that sprouted out of their hair, along with whiskers near the cheeks and fanged teeth.
"W-What? Cat people?" Link stuttered, rubbing his eyes once again to confirm whether he was still dreaming or not. "Am I really seeing all this? Since when did we train cats?"
"Apparently they call themselves Gormotti." Zelda stated, worry returning to her face as she confronted these oddities a second time. "Believe me Link, none of this feels normal at all. I skimmed through the castle's library for anything recalling these mushroom or cat people in Hyrule and I could not find a single reference about them."
"Hey, hey, calm down. We'll figure this out, alright?" Link reassured the princess. "Look, how about we talk with the king? I'm sure he'll know where all these people came from."
"Right… about that." Zelda sighed, looking down with a shake of her head, further overwhelming herself with stress. "The king, my father… isn't exactly himself at the moment."
"What do you mean? Did King Rhoam wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Link asked, unable to understand as he raised an eyebrow over to Zelda. As if on cue, the king's voice called out to him as they approached Link and Zelda. Turning over to greet and kneel to the king, Link almost ended up falling backwards into the training grounds when he was met with yet another surprising change.
"Zelda! My darling daughter! You managed to run away from me so fast earlier that I couldn't even give you a big 'ol morning hug!" the king greeted in an exaggerated, welcoming fashion. Completely different from the bearded elder that Link was familiar with, the king of Hyrule instead took the form of a large, penguin-like creature clad in royal red robes lined with white fur along with yellow gloves and shoes. Wielded in one hand was a large, wooden mallet with a star-insignia on the side as the penguin casually spun it behind his shoulder.
"K-King Rhoam?" Link gasped out.
"Rhoam? Link, my boy, did you get bonked in the head this morning or something? That's not my name. It's King Dedede!" the penguin king answered, letting out a hearty chuckle as he patted Link's back multiple times, almost knocking the poor knight over while they still stood in disbelief.
Link stared back to Zelda in confusion, who could only respond with a shrug back with the same perplexed look. The same fleeting questions she was thinking began to cloud Link's mind. Who was this mysterious penguin calling himself king of Hyrule? Let alone claiming as Zelda's father? Not to mention the other odd people scouring around the castle without a care in the world.
"Uhhh, hold on, what are those?" Link stuttered in surprise once again. Pointing behind King Dedede, a group of ball shaped characters with stubby limbs, along with faces without mouths followed him. Each creature wielded their own spears and helmets akin to the Hyrulian knights.
"Hmm? The Waddle Dees? What about them?" King Dedede answered, bringing his attention to another group of them heading to the training grounds. "Oh, seems like those brethren are about to get some sparring done. I must warn you, Linkie boy! You better sharpen your game real soon. I know you wield the Master Sword, but I've noticed those Waddle Dee putting in some extra training lately. One day, we might end up calling one of them the Hero of Hyrule instead of you! Ahahahah!"
"L-Linkie boy?" Link yelped in even more confusion. "Y-Your Highness… Excuse me for asking but… Are you alright? You don't seem exactly like yourself right now."
"I feel as chipper as ever, Linkie boy, thank you for asking!" King Dedede responded with a big smile. "In fact, I'm on the way over to the dining hall to gorge on a big breakfast! Zelda, darling, why don't you join your old man this time? It's been awhile since we've had some special father-daughter bonding."
"Y-Yeah… I'll get back to you on that… F-Father..." Zelda hesitated, politely declining while grabbing Link's hand, pulling him back towards the castle's foyer. "I just need another moment with Link, if you don't mind!"
"Not at all, honey! Although, I can't promise if any of the grub will be there by the time you come back, ahahah!" King Dedede joked, waving goodbye to the duo as he and his personal Waddle Dee posse made their way over to the castle's dining halls.
"What was that all about?" Link asked, both himself and Zelda hiding alongside the corner of the castle's foyer as they discussed what just happened.
"I am uncertain. Just yesterday, everything was completely fine in the kingdom, right? But next thing we know, we've awoken into a completely different world!" Zelda expressed, burying her hands into her face as she was overwhelmed by these sudden changes around them.
Link began to recall all the events leading up to this bizarre morning. It had been just a few months after their battle with Calamity Ganon where all of Hyrule was able to unite to defeat the malicious entity from destroying their land. Link, along with the leadership of Zelda, the Champions, King Rhoam, and even the Yiga clan, had been given a second chance to avert the chaotic future their world seemed to head towards. All this had been possible by a time traveling egg Guardian that provided them the necessary details to change their destiny towards a better timeline.
When the Champions from the future eventually returned back to their original timeline, the remaining forces of Hyrule Kingdom began to rebuild their land into a new era of peace. Evidently however, Link and Zelda's paths seemed to take a sudden turn now that they had awoken into a new version of Hyrule Castle, now home to new strangers and possessing a leader completely different from King Rhoam.
"Have you talked with the other Champions about this? What about Purah? Robbie? Impa?" Link asked, referring to the loyal members of the kingdom and their allies who helped them win the war against Calamity Ganon.
"Th-They're… they're all gone! I couldn't find any of them anywhere. Mipha… Daruk… Revali. Even… Terrako. I ran around the castle looking for them, but they were no where to be found." Zelda explained in a distressed manner. "Realizing the possibility of what was happening, I immediately went up to your room, Link. You couldn't believe how relieved I was to see you sound asleep. For a moment, I-I thought I was alone..."
"Listen, princess. We will figure out what's going on. And I promise, I won't leave you, alright?" Link reassured her, grabbing her hands in order to comfort Zelda. "As your chosen knight, I'll remain by your side no matter what, okay?"
"Y-Yes… Thank you, Link." Zelda responded, squeezing back Link's hands as she felt comfort ridding the heavy burden in her heart after hearing the knight's words. Letting out another sigh, Zelda smiled back to her appointed knight. "Link… I just noticed this. You may not talk much, but when you do, you always seem to know the right words to say. So… once again, thank you."
"Anytime, princess." Link nodded back with a smile.
"Sorry, but am I interrupting anything?" another voice broke into their conversation.
Abruptly letting go of each other's hands in panic, Link and Zelda turned to the source of the voice. To their delight, standing steadfast among the castle's foyers was the towering and fierce Gerudo Champion herself, Urbosa. Fitted in her usual Gerudo adornments and iconic blue Champion's robe wrapped around her waist, Urbosa approached the young duo with a cheeky smile on her face. "If you two are busy at the moment, I am more than welcome to come back later on."
"Urbosa!" Zelda exclaimed, rushing over to embrace the Gerudo warrior while doing her best to hold back joyful tears. "I'm so glad to see you're alright. I thought you and the other Champions were gone all of a sudden."
"Sadly, that still may be the case for the other three, my young vai." Urbosa let her down gently as a concerned look remaining on her face. "I've checked all around the castle town and haven't spotted any sign of them. It is indeed a troubling predicament, but that's not our only concern right now."
"What other troubles do we dare face, Urbosa?" Link asked, curious of what her answer might be.
"The kingdom we currently stand in may not be the Hyrule we know of," Urbosa stated ominously.
Leading Link and Zelda back outside, Urbosa directed them back atop the walls of the castle overlooking the training grounds. Facing the opposite side, Urbosa pointed out the town surrounding the castle, bringing attention to the greater changes in the landscape. The kingdom's town consisted of the familiar buildings from Hyrule, but a few landmarks stood out in the much larger population. Located down the horizon was a grand coliseum where tournaments were held, which was a location that wasn't in Hyrule before. The biggest change was the ocean view near the border of the kingdom's town walls, consisting of a pier area where many more of the Gormotti people came from and an abundance of shops, vendors and an inn were located in.
"Oh my goodness, I hadn't even noticed these changes beforehand," Zelda gasped, glancing around at the new version of Hyrule Kingdom. "The landscape is immensely different. And since when did the town reside beside an ocean? Just what exactly is going on!?"
"I've scoped those unusual landmarks among the town." Urbosa began to explain, pointing over to each landmark she scouted earlier. "Apparently, the coliseum farther in the distance is Arena Ferox, while the pier is presumably a section called Torigoth, home of those Gormotti people with the feline qualities."
"There is no way this is the same Hyrule Kingdom we've known before. But how did this all come to be?" Link voiced with concern.
"I'm not sure. But whatever is responsible for these changes may also explain why some of our allies have disappeared, along with the new faces we've been seeing around the castle." Urbosa concluded, attempting to make sense of their situation. "Still, what kind of dark magic could have such capabilities of shifting our very own home?"
Just then, a commotion was heard below in the training grounds behind them. Turning their attention to the sudden ruckus, Link, Zelda and Urbosa peered down and found most of the knights circling around a fight that began in the centre of the grounds.
"Oh my, looks like it's about to get chaotic down there. Someone should stop them." Zelda expressed. She was about to utilize her authority as princess to stop the argument below only for Urbosa to intervene in her decision.
"Hold still, young vai. There's something intriguing about one of the knights involved down there." Urbosa stated with intrigue. "Call me curious, but I would like to see the swordsmanship they're about to display."
Curiosity befalling Link as well, he also looked down and immediately noticed who Urbosa was talking about. Facing off against one of the generic Gormotti knights was a unique character that stood out from the rest of the army. A young woman clad in a mysterious blue outfit and cape stood her ground against a challenger. Matching her outfit was her flowing blue hair, azure eyes and tiara adorning her head. In her hand she wielded a unique blade, crafted in silver steel, a red handle and an open-circular space design between each part of the hilt.
"Whoah…. Who is she?" Link asked.
[party select: Lucina]
[zone: Hyrule Kingdom]
[location: Hyrule Castle, Training Grounds]
"There shouldn't be any girls in the army!" the enraged Gormotti knight expressed, letting out a battle cry as he charged towards his opponent.
Lucina remained calm among the strange army surrounding her in the training grounds. With no memory of how she arrived in the mysterious castle, Lucina's first instinct had been to investigate the area and figure out where she was. Unfortunately, Lucina's curiosity got the best of her when she arrived in the training grounds and began to ask around, leading up to one of the knights taking a stab at how a girl shouldn't bother wielding a sword in Hyrule. Taking offence from their comment, Lucina argued back until their conversation escalated to the point of a duel happening.
"I'm sorry, but you were the one asking for this," Lucina said back defiantly towards her challenger. Calculating their movements, Lucina easily dodged the oncoming swing of the knight's axe, spinning around as she landed a hit on her opponent's back with the hilt of her sword.
"GAAAH! How dare you use that cheap tactic on me! I'll show you what being a real soldier means!" the Gormotti knight shouted back.
Lucina let out a small smirk, amused at her challenger's raging attitude. Watching as the knight lunged forward with their axe once more, Lucina began to parry everyone one of their swings thrown at her with ease. Around her, the knight's army continued watching in amazement at Lucina's every move. Finding an opening to counteract, Lucina began a combination of sword lunges towards her opponent as if dancing with her blade. Finishing off with a final swing of her sword, Lucina launched her opponent through the air, causing them to fly back and slam against the castle walls.
"Would anyone else like a go?" Lucina stated calmly, looking around to the surrounding knights spectating their little bout. To her amusement, all of them backed away, many voicing how strong of a swordfighter she appeared to be, while expressing their desire of not wanting to be at the other end of her blade. Satisfied with their response, Lucina sheathed her Parallel Falchion and resumed her investigation.
Off to the side, Lucina happened to notice a trio of spectators watching from atop the castle walls. Glancing up to them, Lucina noted the impressed looks coming from both Urbosa and Link, while Zelda couldn't help but call down to offer her a compliment.
"That was quite an amazing display of swordsmanship! May I ask who you are?" Zelda called out to her.
Before Lucina could answer, a familiar voice echoed into the training grounds. Turning her attention towards the entrance, Lucina gave a relieved look to finally spot a familiar face. A tactician, sporting his iconic black and purple robes, white hair and tome in hand, approached Lucina with an amused look on his face while listening to the knights around mumble about Lucina's prowess. The tactician began to speak. "Hmm, looks like you've been acquainting yourself just fine with the rest of the army. Be careful not to show off too much, alright?"
"Robin!" Lucina responded, walking up to him as the two allies reunited. She immediately began to voice her concerns regarding the new world they both found themselves in. "Do you have any idea on what's going on? I woke up and everything around us seems to have changed."
"I'm just as perplexed as you are, Lucina." Robin responded, glancing around the training grounds for a brief moment unable to recognize anything. "Hmm, I can definitely assure you that we are not in Ylisse anymore."
Lucina and Robin both recalled their experiences leading up to their awakening in this new land. It had been sometime since their victory against the Fell Dragon Grima, in which Lucina's father, Chrom, had delivered the final blow in order to seal the wings of despair away and save their future. From then on, Lucina and Robin's militia group, the Shepherds, continued helping around their home kingdom of Ylisse and ensure that peace remained in the land that they fought for. Right now, however, they had awakened in the mysterious kingdom of Hyrule with no memory of how they even arrived there.
"Have you found any of the other Shepherds roaming around?" Lucina asked the tactician.
"I've only checked within the castle walls, but sadly no luck. No Chrom. No Frederick. Not even Lissa." Robin shook his head as he responded. "Our best bet is to check around the castle's town. It's a pretty big place, but it may give us a clue to what kingdom we are in. Or perhaps we'll happen to find another ally who is just as lost as us."
Lucina nodded to Robin's suggestion. It was better to investigate themselves than to wait around and hope the answers they were looking for would appear. However, as the duo proceeded towards the exit, the voice of the king echoed out into the training ground, catching the attention of every knight in the vicinity.
"Attention, army! Bear your weapons, for we have intruders coming northwest of the kingdom's walls!" King Dedede announced from atop the castle's walls. At his command, all of the castle's knights hastily retrieved their respective equipment and armour, rushing towards their assigned posts. Glancing down to his army, King Dedede suddenly pointed down to Robin. "You! My fellow tactician! I need you out there pronto to help direct our troops!"
"M-Me? W-Wait, hold on, you have the wrong guy!" Robin stuttered out in surprise, unable to explain himself as King Dedede immediately headed out with his Waddle Dee troops. Looking over to Lucina, Robin could only point at the penguin king in confusion. "I've never seen that guy my entire life and yet he addressed me as his fellow tactician? Just who is he anyway?"
"By his appearance, I can only assume he is the king of this land?" Lucina answered, although shrugging with uncertainty as well. "Regardless, we should help out."
"Lucina, we need to figure out where we are first. And more importantly, what happened to our friends." Robin reminded her.
"I agree. But right now, this kingdom needs soldiers to protect its people." Lucina replied, unsheathing her Parallel Falchion in preparations for battle. "As the Shepherds of Ylisse, we cannot just stand by and do nothing, right? It would go against our code."
Robin sighed, shaking his head before going along with Lucina. "Heh, guess there's no way to talk you out of this one, huh? I should know better, since you are the daughter to Chrom after all."
Lucina nodded, returning a smile over to Robin. Out of curiosity, she glanced up in the direction towards the mysterious trio that had complimented her swordsmanship earlier. Between the rush of knights heading forth for battle, Lucina watched as the Link, Zelda and Urbosa talked amongst one another, before nodding in agreement as they joined the upcoming battle.
Listening her instincts, Lucina gestured Robin to follow her as they went in the same direction as the trio.
[party select: Link, Zelda]
[support: King Dedede, Urbosa]
[zone: Hyrule Kingdom]
[location: Hyrule Kingdom Walls, Gaur Mushroom Plains]
The Hyrule army, along with its Gormotti, Toad and Waddle Dee knights, stood outside the castle walls as they faced the expansive plains in front of them. The green meadows reached far towards the horizon line and consisted of many features scattered across the land, including sparkling blue lakes, large forests, and rolling hills. What made the plains unique however, were the various floating yellow Question Blocks and coins found in abundance throughout. Warp Pipes of red, green, blue and yellow also decorated the land, each leading to an underground system below filled with monstrous Pirahna Plants.
Various wild life from other worlds inhabited the Gaur Mushroom Plains. Unfortunately, a horde of creatures showcased unrest as they began a march towards Hyrule Kingdom's walls. Bokoblins originating from the original Hyule Fields approached menacingly with wooden clubs in their hand. Alongside the Bokoblins were Tirkins, bird creatures that carried their own variety of weapons such as bows, spears and javelins. Some of them happened to ride along Arduns, rhinosarous creatures with very sharp horns pointed out from their heads. Both Tirkins and Adruns originated from the world of Bionis, yet roamed around the Gaur Mushroom Plains as if they had done so their entire lives.
"Whatever could be causing them to act like this?" Zelda expressed with concern. She stood among the front lines of the army, alongside Link, Urbosa and King Dedede. Their group watched as the horde of monsters slowly approached the castle walls. "The way they move is quite ominous too. Its as if each of their steps seem calculated."
"Over there among their front lines. Do you see that?" Urbosa pointed out, bringing their group's attention to a single figure standing out from the horde of monsters. On closer inspection, it appeared to be a humanoid dressed in brown, ragged robes covering their entire body and face, concealing their identity. "That must be their leader, or more accurately, the one who is controlling these monsters."
"So some lunatic dares to threaten the peace of my kingdom, huh? Hmph! As if I'm going to allow them and these monsters to break through Hyrule's walls and harm my people!" King Dedede proclaimed, twirling his hammer around in preparations for battle. Turning back to his army, he began to give out a motivating rally cry. "My fellow troops! We all stand here today in duty to our kingdom. Let us not tremble in fear at the threat looming towards us, but stand united as we protect our people!" The collective army of Hyrule let out a unified cheer in response to King Dedede, raising their weapons in the air with a boost of confidence to their morale.
"I'll admit, for a penguin, he manages to speak some very encouraging words." Urbosa whispered over to Zelda, causing the princess to let out a small chuckle. In response to the king's speech, Urbosa unsheathed her weapons, wielding her trusty Gerudo blade known as the Schimiter of the Seven along with her colourful rounded shield. "Young vai, will you also be fighting alongside us?"
"Of course I'll fight! Even though things may not be the same in this world, this is still my kingdom and I will fight to defend Hyrule and all of its people." Zelda responded with determination.
"Zelda, darling. I appreciate your enthusiasm. But as your father, I cannot allow you to put yourself in harm's way." King Dedede approached Zelda with a concerned look. "I kindly ask that you await back in the castle where it is safe for you."
"But King Dedede- err, I mean, F-Father..." Zelda stuttered trying to reason with the king. Luckily, Link came to her rescue as she defended Zelda's decision.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'll keep a watch over the princess as we fight." Link spoke up, reassuring King Dedede. "You must not underestimate the princess. She's a far more capable fighter than you give her credit."
"I see. Very well. As your father, I will support your decision." King Dedede reluctantly agreed. He reached over and patted Zelda on her shoulder, giving her one final word of advice. "Just promise me that you won't do anything reckless. And if the battle begins to overwhelm you, I command that you retreat back within the walls, okay?"
"Yes, I will." Zelda nodded back to the king. Even though this wasn't the real king she knew, let alone her actual father, Zelda could sense how caring King Dedede's heart was for her well-being and kingdom. In response, Zelda smiled back in gratitude. Turning back to the horde of monsters, Zelda let out a few deep breaths, mimicking how she prepared for the final battle against Calamity Ganon in order to take back Hyrule Castle in her original world. Zelda believed that with the Goddess' powers now awakened in her, she could contribute greatly to defending the new kingdom they now stood in.
"So, you called for a tactician?" Robin's voice suddenly spoke up, approaching their group with Lucina by his side.
"Ah, yes! Robin! We will surely benefit with your genius tactics to defend our kingdom," King Dedede commented, motioning the tactician alongside them to the front lines. The king eyed over to Robin's partner with a curious look. "Hmm, and who is this young woman with the sword?"
"I am Lucina, member of the Shepherds from the kingdom of Ylisse. I hope to be of assistance to your army." Lucina answered, giving a respectful bow over to King Dedede.
"Ylisse? Huh, never heard of that kingdom. Alas, Hyrule is grateful of your bravery and contributions for standing with us, Lucina!" King Dedede heartily responded.
"How in the world does he know about you, but has never head about Ylisse?" Lucina whispered over to Robin in confusion.
"What can I say? Maybe the knowledge of my amazing tactician skills have finally reached far beyond the borders of our own kingdom." Robin replied in a joking manner.
"Oh please, you were never the type to be so arrogant." Lucina rolled her eyes at Robin. As the tactician went over to discuss with King Dedede of a counterattack, Lucina found herself approached by Link and Zelda. Caught by surprise, Lucina awkwardly greeted them. "Oh… Uhh, hello there. I believe I saw you two…. uhhh, stalking me over at the training grounds. My name is Lucina."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucina. I am Zelda, princess of Hyrule Kingdom. And this is my companion, Link." Zelda introduced themselves. "I apologize if our observation made you feel a bit awkward. We were simply so impressed by the swordsmanship you displayed earlier."
"Your skills are unlike any I've seen before in Hyrule. I can only assume they are special techniques you've learned from your home kingdom?" Link asked, intrigued to know where Lucina learned her abilities. "I hope I'm not already overstepping boundaries since we've just met, but I'd be honoured if we could spar together one day. I'd like to get first-hand experience on your technique, Lucina."
"Ohh, really?" Lucina humbly answered, fiddling around with her fingers whilst she was a bit embarrassed by duo's positive acknowledgement on her abilities. "Well, first of all, thank you for the compliments. But if I'm being honest, those moves I displayed were really just basic maneuvers my father taught me. It's nothing special."
"Quite frankly, my dearest Link over here is Hyrule's most skilled swordsman! If he manages to state how impressive someone's sword skills are, then they are most definitely well deserving of praise!" Zelda reassured Lucina.
"Uhhm… If I am allowed to bring this up, didn't you mention earlier that you were the princess of Hyrule?" Lucina asked Zelda, receiving a nod back. Realizing a common ground they both could relate to, Lucina came forward about her own origins. "I also happen to hold the same title in my own kingdom of Ylisse. My father is the king back home, so naturally, I am also a princess."
"Really? That's quite interesting! It's rare for myself to meet with someone of another royalty, let alone hold the same position as myself." Zelda responded "But… the kingdom of Ylisse? I'm sorry, but I've never heard about this kingdom before. None of the books within the castle's library have ever mentioned Ylisse's name."
"I have the exact same sentiments regarding Hyrule. None of the maps I've looked at before have shown this kingdom anywhere close to Ylisse's borders. It hasn't even appeared across the expanding oceans surrounding the continent itself." Lucina shared her own viewpoint. Both princess' began to ponder further about the unusual circumstances regarding their worlds. If Hyrule and Ylisse were unknown to each other, did they mean that they were of completely different universes?
"Zelda, do you think this mysterious kingdom and Lucina are connected to what's going on right now?" Link brought up after hearing Lucina's statement. "This could be another case of different worlds and people merging together, just like what we've already seen going on around Hyrule with the many new faces and locations we've encountered."
"I see… You two also sensed how strange things are?" Lucina brought up.
"Yes. There's something odd going on in this world." Zelda answered, voicing her concerns. "And so far, only a few of us have noticed these changes. Everyone else appears to not notice anything wrong, as if this is completely normal to them." Both herself, Link and Lucina couldn't help but continue to ponder on this abnormality going on. But before they could indulge deeper into their conversation, King Dedede yelled out for the attention of Hyrule's Army as they soon prepared to defend against the monster horde. Standing in front of the rows of soldiers, King Dedede began to proclaim their plan of attack he had just discussed with Robin.
"Alright army! Listen here to our fellow tactician. For he has a brilliant maneuver that will guarantee our success in defending the kingdom!" King Dedede proudly announced, handing over command to Robin.
"Taking account the horde of monsters out there, our best strategy would be to flank them from both sides and confuse their numbers," Robin began explaining their strategy. "I'll be honest though, I'm unfamiliar of what those creatures are capable of doing since I've never fought their kind myself. But we already have an advantage over them by being an army united with a strategy. Those monsters will most likely not think and will just attack by instinct. But if we outsmart them, then they'll be an easy foe to vanquish."
"And how do you suppose we flank them exactly?" Urbosa asked for their clarification.
"The Hyrulian army will split into three groups." Robin further explained to the army. "One group will remain in the middle and attack the horde head on. While a majority of the monsters are distracted by the oncoming force, the two remaining groups will each take a side and catch the horde by surprise."
"A pincer attack? I see. Quite an impressive strategy you've come up with on the spot. Especially for a voe." Urbosa voiced her opinion, nodding over to Robin as the tactician gave her a confused look.
"Voe? Sorry, I'm a bit unfamiliar with the term." Robin expressed.
"She simply means to compliment your ability as a tactician, specifically for a man she's never seen before." Zelda helped clarify to Robin. "And I must agree with her on that front. Even I wouldn't have thought of a strategy like that right on the spot. As Hyrule's princess, I'm already grateful that we have someone who is quick minded like you on our side, Robin."
"Heheh, geez, no need for the grand compliments there, princess. It's just a simple strategy that our own army back in Ylisse does all the time." Robin answered, letting out an embarrassed chuckle at the praise he was already receiving.
"He's right though. Among the countless tactics I've done alongside Robin, that is probably one of his more basic plays in his books," Lucina commented, a bit unimpressed by his strategy but agreed that it would be sufficient enough to tackle the enemy. Stepping past Hyrule army's front line, Lucina took a quick glimpse of the approaching horde of monsters and unsheathed her Parallel Falchion, preparing for the upcoming clash. "No matter what world we've awakened in, protecting others is what must come first. Once we've successfully defended Hyrule, we shall figure out what strange phenomenon is happening to both our home lands and its people."
"I agree. Our people's protection must come first." Link stated, standing alongside Lucina as he unsheathed both his Master Sword and shield. Glimpsing over to Lucina's weapon, Link couldn't help but express interest towards her sword. "By the way, I like the aesthetic of your blade. Where did you get it from?"
"It was my father's. Not only did he pass his expertise of swordplay to me, but also his blade as well. Holding it in my hands is what helps keep me close to him." Lucina explained. For a moment, she looked down with concern and once again wondered of the whereabouts of Chrom and the rest of the Shepherds still missing in this new world. Lucina immediately shook away the thought and focused on the battle in front of them. Turning over to Link, she stared in bewilderment as the Master Sword began to glow in the knight's hands. "Ohh, uhhh, is that normal? Just what mysterious power is coming from your blade, Link?"
"It's a long story," Link responded, providing Lucina a short summary of his most recent adventure. "The Master Sword is a legendary weapon I've been honoured to use in order to vanquish a great evil from our home world. Without it, Hyrule itself would've fallen to a great calamity. Fortunately, my friends and I managed to save our world and divert it from being destroyed."
"I see… Well, I'm glad to hear that your world was able to avoid a grim fate." Lucina expressed. Hearing Link's story made Lucina a bit envious, considering the original Ylisse from her timeline was unable to avoid ruin. But Lucina was still grateful for the given opportunity to travel back in time and fight alongside her father's generation. Regardless, it gave her another reason to help ensure the safety of Hyrule Kingdom. "You know Link, us chosen individuals are blessed with the weapons and experience to fight against evil. So let's not hesitate to protect those who cannot change fate themselves!"
"Right!" Link nodded back, a spark of motivation igniting in his heart from hearing Lucina's words of encouragement.
"Heheh, how wonderful that you two are already bonding after we've just met," Zelda commented, joining the duo as the rest of the army organized themselves into appropriate groups to initiate Robin's flanking maneuver. Taking a deep breath, Zelda turned to Urbosa as the Gerudo chief nodded back to with assurance. Zelda clasped her hands together in a prayer as she wished for a positive outcome. "May Hylia grace us the power to protect our kingdom and army. We shall not let what we've fought for fall today!"
"Alright, army! For the glory of Hyrule!" King Dedede yelled out. Taking out his wooden star hammer, King Dedede pointed his weapon towards the monster horde and began leading a charge towards them. The rest of the heroes and Hyrule's soldiers followed suite, each one taking their position as they began their flanking maneuver.
In response to the army's charge, the lone robed figure leading the horde of monsters suddenly floated into the air and pointed towards Hyrule's army. As if following their command, the massive group of Bokoblins, Turkins and Arduns began a charge towards the defending group as a gigantic clash would soon plague the Gaur Mushroom Plains.
[active party: Joker, Cloud, Morgana, Aerith]
[support: Pit, Palutena, Melia]
[zone: Skyworld]
[location: Imperial Capital Alcamoth, Revelation Hall]
Located on the second floor of Alcamoth's palace was the Revelation Hall, a room where important discussions were held among the monarchs. A balcony was connected to the room, providing an expansive view to the rest of the imperial capital below. For the High Entia empress Melia, the location held distinct memories of when she was first announced as the declared successor of Alcamoth in a public ceremony. In the meantime, however, Joker and Cloud's group had been summoned by Palutena and Melia to discuss their first mission to unravel the mystery of the Smash System they had awoken in.
"How was your slumber within the palace headquarters, Aerith? I do hope they met to your standards." Melia said, greeting the lone flower girl as she was the first to arrive in the Revelation Hall. The High Entia Empress noted the refreshed look on Aerith's face as they replied.
"It's quite an upgrade to my home back in Midgar, heheh. I'll admit, I got a bit lost roaming around the huge hallways of the palace. Took my almost an hour just to reach the hot springs, heheh." Aerith replied, happily greeting Melia. "Thanks again for the banquet yesterday, as well as letting us sleep over for the night, Melia. Although, don't you think it's a little bit overboard giving each one of us their own master bedroom and all?"
"Do not worry at all. Seeing as we shall be working together to figure out the mystery about the Smash System, it was only appropriate for me to provide our new teammates all the accommodations needed for them to perform at optimal level." Melia reassured her.
"Now we just gotta wait for the boys to haul themselves up here," Palutena spoke up. At the moment, she stood in the centre of the Revelation Hall facing towards a large, water fountain designed as a circular table. It's centre spout was inactive, allowing the calm waters within to provide a clear reflection of the Revelation Hall.
"Is this really a fountain? The water is so clear that I could easily mistake it as a mirror!" Aerith commented. She and Melia joined Palutena beside her, peering into the fountain table and glimpsing at a perfect reflection of themselves. Reaching a hand into the water, Aerith a tapped a finger into it as ripples emitted from her point of contact, disrupting the crystal reflection.
"This is appropriately named the Fountain of Reflection. It's an artifact that originally came from my own temple, but now sits comfortably here within Melia's palace." Palutena explained. Suddenly, she waved a hand over the fountain, activating its powers. An image of Tokyo City slowly appeared into the water's reflection, showcasing the busy streets and the population of different universes going about their normal business. "Whatever person or location you can imagine, the fountain will be able to reflect your thoughts."
"Ooooh, amazing!" Aerith commented, staring into the vivid image of Tokyo City being reflected. "So with this kind of artifact in possession, you could literally peek into any corner of the world, huh?"
"Well, like I said, it's powers reflect on the knowledge of the user's thoughts. If you aren't aware of a place or person though, it won't be able to reflect the image in the water." Palutena offered her explanation. "But with our current situation in this new world, we're practically in the dark, so our ability to use the fountain is limited in the meantime. Doesn't help that even my own goddess powers have been restricted in this world."
"So how are you going to use the fountain effectively if you can't create an image of stuff you need to know?" Aerith asked, listening intently to Palutena's solution.
"Well, it's why I have Pit scouting around the land below in the first place. He's supposed to provide us intel about the Smash System and its landmarks. Pit is the reason we were even able to discover Tokyo City and found out about you guys in the first place," Palutena answered. She began to look out towards the balcony, tapping her foot impatiently due to the angel's tardiness. "Still, the angel can get pretty distracted sometimes. He'll go off exploring one part of the land, only to find himself in the complete opposite direction to where I sent him!"
"Heheh, well he seems like a quite a handful." Aerith answered in amusement. "Quite unlike Cloud though. The man may be quiet, but you can guarantee that he'll get the job done!"
"Hmph, well hopefully Pit can pick up a thing or two from your mercenary friend. It's not that Pit can't do the job, it's just that he finds, uhhh… unique ways of finishing them." Palutena expressed, a plethora of memories from her previous adventures with the ambitious angel warrior frantically replaying in her mind.
"Sorry we're late! Had to wake up the sleepyheads myself. Who would've thought that a hot spring bath provided by the goddesses themselves would knock these bad boys out for hours, mweheheh!" Morgana's voice called out into the hall as he entered, accompanied by both Cloud and Joker.
"The hot waters felt very divine. It's nothing that my body has ever experienced." Joker explained himself, a bit embarrassed at how much he enjoyed the hot springs. Currently clad in his Phantom Thief attire, he nodded over to his comrades in acknowledgment before turning to Palutena. "Goddess of Light, what's going to be our first move?"
"Heheh, getting right into work, huh? No good mornings at all?" Palutena teased him. "Oh, and don't worry about utilizing formalities. Just refer to me as your good friend Palutena!"
"Sure thing, our good friend Palutena." Cloud sarcastically expressed, immediately getting right down to business. "But since we're now working together, we'd like to know what our objective will be from now on. So far, we know that our worlds have been pulled together to create this new universe, officially called the Smash System."
Joker followed up Cloud's statement, providing the knowledge they've learned from their first couple days in the Smash system. "Plus, we are aware that our main threat is the Master Society and their respective Strike Force, a specialized team sent to capture strong fighters for their own use. Knowing little about our enemy, how exactly are we going to combat their motives?"
"All very valid questions indeed! And no worries, I have the answers just for you! All we need right now is our angel messenger to arrive and provide us confirmation on a piece of intel we've recently discovered," Palutena assured both Joker and Cloud. As if on cue, their group heard Pit's voice echoing outside the capital as he hurriedly flew into the Revelation Hall and joined the others. "There he is! And only about, uhhh, I don't know- just about an HOUR late!"
"S-Sorry, Lady Palutena! It's totally my fault for getting distracted again!" Pit began to profusely apologize, rushing over to Palutena as he kneeled over and bowed in an apologetic manner. "You see, I was on my way back to Alcamoth when I noticed a bunch of large, yellow chickens running around a field! Turns out they all belonged to a farmer and they happened to lose track of their own cattle. So, being the good angel I desire to be, I had no choice but to help round them up! I just didn't expect how hard it was going to be just to catch one of those pesky chicken monsters!"
"Large, yellow chicken monsters? Are you talking about Chocobos?" Cloud asked.
"Aww, how interesting!" Aerith expressed with delight. "It's nice to know that the Chocobo population safely found themselves in this world too."
"Chocobos? Hmm, that sounds like one of those chocolatey marshmallow sweets that Lady Ann keeps talking about." Morgana commented.
"I'm sure it's quite an interesting tale that you can share for another time, Pit. But right now, it'd be best for you to provide us the intel we sent you to receive. We cannot afford a moment to lose!" Melia strongly advised Pit. "Uhh, you did manage to find the information, right?"
"Oh yeah, of course! Here, lemme show you guys." Pit responded. Flying over to the Fountain of Reflection, Pit motioned everyone to surround it and see what he discovered. Waving his hand over the waters, Pit activated the artifacts powers as an image slowly appeared in its reflection. It was a kingdom where Pit had been sent by both Palutena and Melia to scout. "Alright, so here is where I found another paragon… Or to be more accurate, a pair of paragons, heheh."
"Paragons? What do you mean by that?" Joker asked.
"It's what we refer you guys as!" Palutena clarified. "Remember what I said yesterday about looking out for potential warriors who've showcased the ability to change their fates against powerful circumstances? Apparently, more warriors such as you and Cloud have shown up in the Smash System. Which is why I've sent Pit to scout this kingdom for."
"I see. So basically, there are new members for us to recruit into this team of heroes you're creating, right?" Aerith clarified.
Palutena responded back with determination. "Yes! As you have experienced, our enemy is no joke. They have shown that they mean business to uphold this corrupted world order they've created from smashing worlds together without any second thought! Plus, if they are truly looking for fighters to capture or recruit for their cause, why not instead be the ones to act first and get these fighters to join our rebellion?" the goddess elaborated on her plans, which received nods of approval from her comrades.
"Yeah, that could work. Having a team of our own would prove a worth of benefits for our fight against this Master Society." Cloud offered his thoughts.
"I agree. Being the leader of the Phantom Thieves, I know how important it is to build a foundation of strong team members." Joker added, reflecting on his experience with his prior team. In his mind, Joker still remained determined to find his kidnapped friends and bring the Master Society's Strike Force to justice for the crimes they had been committing throughout the Smash System.
"So, what is this place that we are looking at exactly?" Morgana asked, redirecting the group's attention back to the Fountain of Reflection.
"It's Hyrule Kingdom. Although, not an exact replica, obviously. Just like Tokyo City, there are bits and pieces of other worlds that were smashed together to form this new version of the kingdom." Pit explained, somehow finding himself distracted by another random thought popping up in his mind. "I happened to fly around the plains of the kingdom, which is where I ended up finding those loose Chocobos. Geez, now that I think about it, there were so many of those dang chickens to collect! See, I had to use this special kind of lure to grab their attention and-"
"PIT! Enough about the Chocobos! Did you find out where the Paragons are located?" Palutena yelled out in impatience.
"GAAH, uhhh, duh, of course I did, Lady Palutena! Let me show you their exact location." Pit waved his hand over the Fountain of Reflection once more, revealing a new image. Still close by Hyrule Kingdom, the image presented an army outside the kingdom's walls, currently clashing against a horde of monsters that approached from the surrounding Gaur Mushroom Plains. The heroes watched in shock at the chaos currently ensuing outside the kingdom walls.
"Oh my goodness. Whatever caused all this madness?" Melia stated in surprise.
"Why are they fighting against all those creatures anyway? Did they get provoked?" Aerith asked.
"I'm not sure. But it seems like they're in dire need of assistance," Palutena surmised, noting that many of the Hyrulian Army's soldiers were getting overwhelmed by the outraging monster horde. "Hey Pit, are you certain that the Paragons are among the army fighting right now?"
"Yes, Lady Palutena! I have no doubts about it." Pit replied with a nod. He proceeded to bring up an important figure amongst the chaos. "Oh, before I forget. There is this notable figure I saw leading the horde of monsters before they fought. I couldn't figure out their identity since they were covered up in those ugly robes. But there is a good possibility that they are the reason all this mayhem is happening right now."
"Who could they be? Are they another member of the Strike Force we've encountered?" Morgana asked, staring into the Fountain of Reflection as he fixated on the robed figure, who was currently floating around the battle and taking out many of Hyrule army's soldiers with mysterious telekinetic powers. "Whoah! Did you guys see that? They're throwing around the knights as if they're just rag dolls!"
"Hmm, their presence is quite unexpected. This may pose a bit of a snag in our plans." Melia commented, noting the robed figure's powerful psychic abilities on display.
"Guess we have no choice but to stop them then." Cloud stated, determined to take down the new threat.
"Then it's settled then. Team! I've got your first mission for you." Palutena began to command, looking over to Joker, Cloud, Aerith, Morgana and Pit. "As the only few fighters who are aware of this new world order we've awoken to, it's our responsibility to ensure the safety of the innocent, right? I know you are all capable in fighting, so let's put our skills to use and protect those who need our help!"
"Got it. But what about these Paragons you've mentioned? Should we keep an eye out for them?" Joker asked for clarification.
"Oh, obviously! I'm certain you'll catch their attention when you join them along the battlefield." Palutena responded. "This way, we'll be able to kill two birds with one stone. We'll help protect the kingdom from these monsters while recruiting them in the process. Sound like a good plan?"
"It's efficient, I like it." Cloud spoke, nodding in approval to Palutena's plan before turning over to his allies. "Aerith? Morgana? You guys ready?"
"Of course!" Aerith responded, taking out her staff in preparations for their first mission as a team.
"We've been put into this position for a reason, so let's ensure we do our very best everyone!" Morgana encouraged, taking out his cutlass sword while raring to get back into action.
"Heheh, hey! I like the energy going on with this group right now! You know, we should really come up with a team name." Pit brought up.
"No worries, I can help figure out a name for our team later, Pit." Joker advised, motioning the others to follow him out of the Revelation Hall. "Come on, we've got no time to lose. It's showtime, everyone!"
"Whoah, hold up guys! You don't even know how to get to Hyrule Kingdom yet! That's what my job is for, so wait for me!" Pit called out, hastily following the group as he officially joined them, directing them to Alcamoth's Waypoint Chamber that connected to their next destination.
"What a unique group of individuals we've found, don't you agree?" Melia commented, turning over to Palutena with an amused look.
"Well, it's not like we have much options at the moment. We're going to need all the help we can get if we want a chance to restore our worlds." Palutena replied. Taking account their current team, Palutena believed that each of their unique skill sets would be beneficial towards tackling the bigger threat looming throughout the Smash System. Joker - with his natural abilities as a leader and powerful Persona in his grasp. Cloud – with his stoic, yet well-grounded determination driven by his experience as a mercenary. Pit – Palutena's trustworthy, yet clumsy commander of her own army. Morgana – the loyal feline partner to Joker. And lastly, Aerith – an upbeat flower girl reliable in the ways of her magical abilities.
"So far, they seem to bounce off each other well enough. But do you believe they'll work together in the battlefield, where their bonds will really matter?" Melia asked, curious to the goddess' viewpoint.
"Honestly, they're going to need a lot of time to learn from one another if they want to work together as a team. And it'll only grow more complicated from here on out with the newer Paragons we intend to invite for our cause." Palutena offered her honest opinion to the High Entia Empress. Even though it seemed like a huge obstacle for them to face, a smile still grew on the goddess' face as she looked forward to the challenge.
"It'll be a long road ahead for all of us, Melia. But I believe we'll make it work. The fate of all our worlds depend on them."
.
..
…
To be continued!
A/N: Here we go! After a long wait, more of the main cast has appeared in the story! Both the Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem: Awakening universes and their respective heroes join the Smash System. Regarding Link and Zelda's characters, both are coming from their Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity incarnations, which foretold an alternative version of Breath of the Wild where the heroes managed to defeat the original Calamity Ganon a hundred years in the past.
In regards to Link speaking full sentences, I was jumping between the idea of either having him be silent throughout the story or to even speak at all. In all honesty, it would be a lot of work writing his interactions with the other main characters if I limited him to descriptive gestures. Plus, this story is about the realities of different worlds and characters being warped by a higher organization. It wouldn't be too far-fetched if this reality also made Link a little more verbal, right? And thus, that is my official reasoning to why Link will be talking full sentences moving forward, heheh.
In Smash Bros Ultimate, Zelda's appearance was based off her look and character from A Link Between Worlds, but I've opted to use her incarnation from Breath of the Wild instead, along with that version of Hyrule Kingdom and its characters mixed into this story, beginning with the inclusion of Urbosa as well. In my opinion, this version of Zelda is my favourite incarnation due to her interest in research and knowledge of the Sheikah technology presented in her game. I figured it would offer a more interesting approach to her character, being the more technologically inclined fighter out of all the heroes. But have no fear! Zelda will still be capable of fighting alongside her allies. If you've played Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, you'll recall the interesting take on both her fighting styles, one utilizing the Shiekah Slate, while the other relies on her awakened Goddess Powers. Knowledge of Zelda's combat abilities from Age of Calamity will be a clue on how her abilities will be handled in this story very soon.
Lucina and Robin also join the fray in this chapter, both officially representing the Fire Emblem series. With every team, you're going to need a responsible tactician to help provide orders that play off every member's strengths, and that is what Robin has come here to do! From my recollection of playing through Fire Emblem: Awakening, Robin always seemed like a pretty chill and reliable dude, so I hope to reflect his wisdom into the story. As for Lucina, she is no doubt one of my favourite Fire Emblem characters from the entire franchise, and also one of my mains in Smash Bros. Her overall design and character is what I admire most, so it was a no brainer to include her into the story. A strong hearted, yet reserved sword fighter of Ylisse, Lucina is here to play a big role in the story as she teams up with the rest of the chosen heroes, so look forward to those interactions when the rest of the main cast finally unite as a full-fledged party!
This version of Hyrule Kingdom introduced into the story showcases elements and characters from other games, mainly from the Super Mario Bros series, Kirby series, Fire Emblem series and Xenoblade Chronicles series. Gaur Mushroom Plains is obviously a nod to both the Mario series and Xenoblade Chronicle's respective grassland areas. Alongside Tokyo City and Alcamoth, Hyrule Kingdom joins the Smash System's list of major landmarks that will often show up in the story, with many more imaginative locations planned to appear later on.
Oh, and with so many mentions of the Xenoblade Chronicles throughout this Author Note, we still have a pair of characters of the aforementioned main cast that need to appear, right? All I can say is, stay tuned. They may come sooner than you think! Regardless, I can tease that the next episode will be a very action-packed one, seeing as this one focuses on setting up the conflict and paths allowing the heroes to finally cross over with each other.
Thank you so much for reading this far and for all the support shown by everyone! Once again, it means a lot that you are taking the time to read this story every week. Have a blessed day and I'll see 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 ~