Disclaimer: I'm sick and tired of putting a disclaimer in every chapter!

Chapter 12: A New Hope

"Wake up, Master Link," echoed a voice, "Wake up!"

Master Link found himself in a large place, full of grass and trees, "Where am I?"

"I see you've fallen now!"

"What? Am I dead?"

"Closer to it than alive! There's still enough life in that body of yours to save you, if you hurry!"

"What?"

"You must face your worst fear, Master Link: Yourself!"

"Show yourself!"

A form appeared, "Unknown Warrior!"

"Yes, I've fallen as well. I can give you the power needed to defeat Shadowgeist. Only you can bear it!"

"Time is running out! The Shadowgeist is sure to go after the Smashers! After that, they'll destroy my crew and head to your village!"

"That is why you should undergo this test! You should prove that you're worthy of carrying the mystical sword from old: The Sun's Sword! It was wielded by the ancient nomadic legendary warrior, Masterus!"

Master Link looked behind him, only to see the other fallen fighters approach, "You too?"

They nodded, "He's unstoppable!"

"Using the projectiles you did, he couldn't be stopped! Only immense energy could stop him!"

"Unknown Warrior, you know me! I need that sword and I need it now!" shouted Master Link.

"Then tell me when you're ready to battle yourself!"

Master Link closed his eyes, and nodded, "I'm ready!"

When he opened his eyes again, he saw himself standing there, in Saiyan form.

"Oh, that ought to be good!" he muttered, attacking his super form.

SSJ Master Link kicked Master Link aside, through a row of trees.

Master Link looked up as his Saiyan form (SSJML from now on) landed in front of him, What's the matter? Can't beat your own self?"

Leona looked at him in terror.

Unknown Warrior raised his hand, blocking her way, "It's his fight, and his alone! Sorry, Leona!"

"If he fails, we won't be able to get back!" she shouted.

"Yeah!" added Smoke Rulz, "And your village would be next, without having a single chance against the machine!"

Master Link was being beaten up badly, SSJML kicked him upward, and jumped after him, intercepting and kicking him down again.

"Damn, I'm not a tennis ball!" he shouted.

SSJML punched him, knocking him off his feet, and then performed a roundhouse kick that sent him into a mountain.

"This is impossible! I can't even touch him!"

"Then you should've avoided that Spring, loser!"

Master Link was enraged, "Who are you calling a loser?" walking out the cave he just made.

Looking down, he saw a river, then looked at SSJML, who was facing him.

He jumped off, and SSJML looked at him with wide eyes, "NO!"

He chased him downwards, and grabbed onto him.

Master Link punched him in the face, then kicked him away, into a large rock that nearly impaled him.

He fell into the water, and everybody looked down from the top of the canyon.

Master Link jumped out of the water, and looked at SSJML.

"Looks like this is the end of the line for you!"

SSJML's eyes widened, "You can't stop me!"

"Oh, I can, and I will! Just as I have so many before you!"

SSJML attacked, only to be thrown back by a large projectile.

"KAMEHAMEHA!"

SSJML looked from the stone wall as the large beam of energy struck, crashing through the mountain and making it crumble into dust.

"Impressive display," said Unknown Warrior, "Now, let us hand you the sword!"

Back in reality, the Zephyrus was attacking the Shadowgeist, while neither of them was taking damage, it appeared that they were both growing tired.

Below, Host was finally having the upper hand against Critic.

Knocking the dagger away, she attacked her, pulling Critic's sword from her back and tossing it aside, "Prepare yourself, Critic, for the finale!"

Host touched her sword, and immediately started glowing.

Trey, Colleen and Ace shielded their eyes.

Host landed on her feet, or rather, Kigari.

Critic shrieked and ran away.

Kigari put her sword back in her hilt, turning back into Host.

Above them, Shadowgeist threw a punch at the Zephyrus, sending it spinning through the air.

Master Link and the others opened their eyes, and got up on their feet, "What a ride!"

Master Link looked at Leona, who had both cutlasses behind her back, then reached to his sword, only to find the Sun's Sword there.

"Here goes nothing! Shadowgeist, prepare to be defeated!"

DamoKin and DemoKin were trying to keep the Shadowgeist in place, "I can't hold it much longer! He's too powerful!"

"Stop whining, and help me control it, sis!"

A red glow appeared from below.

"Master Link! What's happening?"

He looked down at himself, "I don't know!"

He was changing, growing taller and more muscular. He noticed he was turning a bit darker as well.

"The ancient warrior returns!" said Deadly Warrior, "It's true, then! You're his incarnation!"

"Oh, you don't say?"

Masterus jumped up to face Shadowgeist, who fired at him. To his surprise, he was able to absorb the attack by his sword.

DamoKin tried to attack, only to be slapped away by a hand a hundred times his size.

DemoKin started an array of kicks as the Shadowgeist's head, with no avail.

It reached up and grabbed her, crushing her up in its huge hand, then tossing her away.

"Shadowgeist, I shall defeat you!"

Charging forward in blinding speed, Masterus started cutting into the Shadowgeist's metallic shell with his sword.

Shadowgeist opened his cannon and aimed it at Masterus, who jumped into it and started cutting off the circuitry.

He looked at the core of the cannon, which was still charging with energy, and threw the Sun's Sword at it.

Immediately he changed back, and ran out of the cannon.

Master Link managed to jump out just in time before the cannon blew up, taking the entire Shadowgeist with it.

"Good job, Master Link!" said Unknown Warrior, from his place.

Master Link landed on the Zephyrus, where the other fighters were.

"Good job!"

"thank you,"

"By the way, where's the Sun's Sword?" asked Deadly Warrior.

"I think it's been destroyed inside of the Shadowgeist."

"WHY?"

"I had no choice!"

"Of course you had a choice! You just took the easy way!"

Just then, the Sun's Sword landed on the Zephyrus, cutting through the hull.

"Wow...it cut through adamantium!"

"The only think that can cut adamantium is adamantium!"

"That's why it was too easy to cut the robot's hull just like cheese!"

Gilder stepped forward, "Guys, we have a problem..."

"What is it?"

"There's a strange object approaching Earth's orbit!"

"How do you know?"

"Omega installed some new equipment to the ship, including a radar which could cover half the galaxy..."

"And some spacecraft stuff. We can fly this baby right into space!"

Vegeta, Piccolo, Pan and Bra looked at Master Link from one side.

Vyse, Aika, Fina and Gilder looked at him, waiting for his decision.

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Leona gasped as she saw the giant form on the radar, "That's the same thing that destroyed my planet! It's coming to destroy every last thing here!"

"We won't let it do this! Gilder, sail down to the Smashers. I want them to leave back to Melee Land, along with everybody else!"

He looked at the fighters.

"We can help you, you know..."

"They need your help more than I do! Take them through the city and into the portal! Go!"

They all jumped off the ship, and ran at the Smashers.

"What's going on here?"

"No time to explain, we need to get you out of here!" shouted Spirit Dragon, "Let's go!"

They all ran together, fighting off any remaining Agency fighters in their way.

"Alright, people..." said Master Link, "Whoever wants to leave, leave!"

"This may be the most dangerous foe we have ever met so far!" said Leona, "If anybody wants out, then please walk out. I promise you that nobody would laugh at you!"

"I'm staying!" said Piccolo.

"I wouldn't leave this crew for the world" said Gilder.

"Me no go anywhere! Me stay here and fight!" said Shampoo.

"Aye, I shall stay as well, for saving this planet is like giving new life to a..." Master Link punched Kuno in the face, "Good, who else?"

He looked at Pan and Bra, who both shook their heads, "We're not going anywhere!"

Vyse, Aika and Fina looked at him, "We would be damned before we leave everybody in a situation like this!"

Vegeta scoffed, "I'm staying as well! I don't know when you may need my experience!"

Master Link just nodded, and faced Leona, "Leona?"

She looked at him with tearful eyes, "I would never leave you!"

Master Link was about to say something, but was surprised as Leona stepped closer, and kissed him.

Master Link returned the kiss. Suddenly the broke it, "If this is the end," said Leona, "If we're all going to die here..."

"I'll never let any harm get to you, I promise!"

She smiled.

A cough was heard from the door. Master Link looked at Ryoga, who was standing there.

"I was wandering in search for Tokyo, and ended up here. It's nice to see some old friends again!"

"Ryoga, we're going to a one-way mission. I don't suggest you stay here any longer!"

Ryoga stepped forward, "I shall stay here till the very end! I bet you would need all the help you can get!"

"Who is this fool?" shouted Vegeta.

"He's right, Vegeta," said Piccolo, "We do need a pawn sometimes!"

"Alright, people, let's kick some alien butt!"

The ship took off, and blasted into outer space.

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This marks the end of the chapter, and the beginning of the final phase of the story!

A couple of more chapters to go, and it's done!

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