An Epilogue to a not-so-happy ending story, eh?

Falco: You got that right!

Mr. G&W: Awww…why did you kill them?

Who said anything about them dying? Sure, their chances to survive were slim…but there was still a chance!

Falco: Says you!

Well, at least the story's ending, right Falco?

Falco: It's about time too!

Mr. G&W: RoyalFanatic doesn't own SSBM, Hyrule, the Mushroom Kingdom, and such. She does own Brinstar Kingdom, the now nonexistent V.A., and the Elementals.

First things first, the epilogue…away final chapter!

Did she want to cry? Or did she just want to die as well?

Zelda knelt in her shrine, located on the ancient floating temple of Hyrule. Tears slid down her cheeks as she prayed to the goddesses. Perhaps she was asking why…why they had to be so cruel…why they had to take away two lives.

Seeing only four of the six march over made each princess fell uneasy. Learning that Mario and Marth were forced to stay behind for the other four's survival…made Peach and Zelda cry.

Did she love him? Is that why every time she heard footsteps as she prayed, she hoped to see a flashed grin and blue eyes hidden behind messy blue bangs? But every time…every single time…there were blue eyes, but she always saw golden locks and a firm face.

Link and Young Link had just jumped up from the bottom level. The two had watched Roy, Dr. Mario, Peach, and the soldiers leave; their destination, the Mushroom Kingdom. Over at the Dragon's Gate, he knew that Samus, Kirby, and the few soldiers of Brinstar march towards their own kingdom. He had heard from the Star Warrior that Samus secretly loved Fox, the owner of the Yoshi Races. Link wondered if she would be able to live here freely, or if she was to stay in her castle.

Link wasn't sure what to do; he managed to help Zelda convince her father that Pichu, Jigglypuff, and Kirby were innocent and be freed of exile, and managed to break the engagement. Young Link needed a teacher; who better than Link himself?

"Princess Zelda?" Young Link asked. Link shushed the clone, but the child knew she wasn't concentrating. She stood up.

"Yes?" she asked, with a sad smile on her face.

"It's time to go," Link replied. "The wind's picking up; we don't want you to get sick, alright?"

"Yes," Zelda muttered. "Let's go…"

"Zel…I miss him too," Link muttered. "But…" He fell silent, not knowing what to say. Did they move on? He himself wasn't sure. After a few more seconds of silence, the three headed towards the castle, the place they call home.

Bowser refused to believe what everyone else in the kingdom already thought. Mr. Game and Watch, being Bowser's apprentice, also believe the Koopa Blacksmith.

"They're not dead," Bowser said. "I'm telling you, we'll see them both again someday. They're WAY too tough to just die!"

"But no one else thinks that way…" Game Watch muttered.

"Grr…who cares what they say?" Bowser asked. "I'm telling you, they're not dead. It might be a month, a year, a few years, but we'll see them again."

Game Watch nodded, and went to grab a dagger he was working on. Bowser shook his head.

"No need, Game Watch," he said. "Let's take a break." Game Watch nodded.

"Right."

"Climber's Smithy, how can I help you?" Popo asked. A customer had just came in, a group of the guards that came back from Hyrule. Nana had asked them what had happened, and if Peach was safe. As Popo went back and grabbed a preorder item, Nana gave a wail learning that Mario had died.

"He really died?" she asked.

"Well, the temple collapsed and everything," The soldier replied. "We didn't see any signs of him or the other warrior that was forced to stay behind, so we believe they're dead."

"How's Luigi? And Peach? And Roy?" Nana asked.

"Well, we're going to tell Luigi right away," the soldier said. "Roy's a little burden; he told us that Mario proclaimed him to be our kingdom's hero. And Peach is saddened. But I'm glad that the two are together; they can comfort each other."

"So they can…" Nana muttered. She watched as Popo delivered the item and the guards left. Nana told Popo everything the guard told her.

"You think Mario's really dead?" Popo asked. "I doubt it! Remember when something like this happened to dad?"

"Yeah…" Nana replied, smiling. "Yeah, you're right."

"It depends on what happened inside," Popo said. "But still, I doubt a hero of our kingdom would die like that." Nana nodded in agreement. "Come on, let's grab something to eat." The two left the smithy.

"I hate this," Samus muttered. "Why did this happen?"

"I don't know," Kirby muttered. "So, about my uncle…"

"Yeah, he lives in the court," Samus said. "He'll be glad to see you, not to mention that little diploma in your hands." She pointed to the rolled up parchment. Kirby nodded. Samus gave a sigh, pulled out a pokeball, and released Pikachu from it.

The poor mouse was tired beyond anything, not to mention a little guilty. He had completely forgotten about the fact that the crystal ball was not only Mewtwo's life but the stability of the temple. He regretted never telling them…and that two had to lose their lives.

"Samus, I'm really sorry," he said. "I was foolish."

"You weren't foolish," Samus said. "You did so much for us, and risked so much. If you hadn't done what you did, we would never have won against Mewtwo."

"But what about them? What were their names? Mario and Marth? What about them?" Pikachu asked. "I could've saved them!"

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," Kirby said. "They would never die without a fight, and I think they won the battle to survive."

"But if they're buried alive, then what?" Pikachu asked.

"We wait," Samus said. "We wait for them to free themselves and return. What else is there to say?"

"Nothing, I suppose," Pikachu said. "I cannot wait to see your kingdom."

"It'll be great, right?" Kirby asked.

"You'll see when you get there!" Samus said, smiling. "And may my father forgive me for being selfish! Perhaps if I actually pull in my pride and apologize, he might let me live with Fox! What do you think?"

"I agree," Kirby said. Pikachu nodded. "Now let's continue on!"

"What do you think will happen next?" Dr. Mario asked, looking to Luigi, Falco, Yoshi, and his new pokemon Jigglypuff.

"Things will be different, yet we must go back to normal," Jigglypuff said. "Master and Mario…would've wanted that…"

"They would," Luigi said. "We must support Roy; after all, he is the new hero."

"We must also support the people," Yoshi said. "Now, more than ever, we must stage concerts, shows, and move the people with our talents."

"But what about a new manager?" Falco asked. "As much as I hate to say it, we need to replace Mario!"

"Allow me to do it," Dr. Mario said. "Roy won't be able to travel anymore, and I know he'll spend more time with Princess Peach than me. I would love to help."

"Me too! I must support my new master," Jigglypuff said.

"Very well then," Luigi said. "How about some rejuvenating rock?"

Music emitted from the pipe, and Rocky cried.

"All betting over here!" Ness cried, waving his hands around. A yoshi race was about to begin soon. "All betting over here!" People flocked over to the young boy. Pichu was among them, placing his bet, paying half in money, the other half in pickles.

From far away, Fox chuckled. He shook his head and went to lead the final yoshi out of his stall.

It was the brown yoshi; the one Jigglypuff betted on before Zelda's capture…before the disappearances of Marth and Mario. He patted the brown dino on the head.

"If you win again, I know they aren't dead," Fox said. The yoshi nodded. Fox took out the yoshi's number and looped it over its head. "Come on, let's get you settled."

"And number six takes the lead!" Ness shouts as the seven yoshis, in numbered order: green, blue, yellow, red, black, pink, and brown raced around the track. "Six is doing well; she's had a good month lately folks. Wait…number seven is coming up fast! Number seven, the underdog, who managed to scrape a victory once before. And they're coming up…and it looks like…YES! NUMBER SEVEN WINS!"

And with that, as he watched five people and Pichu grab their winnings, Fox knew what he believed.

"Get us out of here!" Ganondorf bellowed. Trapped in the Hyrulian dungeon! How this had happened! What a weak leader Mewtwo was! Still, knowing that that annoying boy was finally gone for good was good news…the only good news he had.

"Why should I?" The guard asked. "You deserve to be here! You kidnap the three princesses…you terrorize us…you're in here for life bud!"

"What about us?" Falcon asked.

"You're in for a long while too, buster," The guard replied.

"You will not send me back to stupid zoo!" D.K. shrieked. "I will crush you and be freed!"

"These bars are impervious to elemental powers," The guard said. "You won't be going anywhere. The Mushrooms will send for you soon enough. Now shut up and rot away!" After saying this, the guard left.

"I swear…I will escape," Ganondorf said. "I will kill them all: those princesses…those pathetic clones…those so-called-heroes…I'll get them all!"

The sun was setting as Peach sat on the roof of the Mushroom Castle. She had much to think about; the highest on her thoughts the death of Mario.

Roy had been deemed the Mushroom Kingdom's new hero, and the general swore to do his duty. To protect her and the kingdom. To not let Mario down.

Although keeping her eyes to the setting sun, she heard someone enter the roof. She didn't look up; she knew who it was. She moved over and allowed Roy to sit next to her. The two sat in silence.

"It's pretty," Roy said, gesturing ahead. Peach nodded.

"It is," she said. The two fell silent again.

"Peach, am I doing a good job?" Roy asked.

"Of course you are!" Peach replied, looking at him. His face seemed to glow in the fading sunlight. It just occurred to her how handsome he was. "I know you're doing a good job, considering everything that happened…"

"Peach, I'm sorry," Roy said. "I know Mario was a friend of yours, and—"

"I'm not the only one who lost a friend," Peach said. Roy bit his lower lip and nodded. "We have to be strong, and hope for the best. Perhaps we're wrong, and they are still alive…we might see them again, you know?"

"Yeah," Roy muttered. "Peach…in their names, whether they are alive or dead, I promise to protect you…"

"Thank you," Peach said. She leaned her head on Roy's shoulder, and focused their vision on the setting sun.

Perhaps things weren't perfect…but everyone, no matter which way they leaned, knew that hidden deep inside this sad ending, there was a happy one after all…

Luigi: And The Three Maidens is finished!

Marth: Now, for a treat for you guys: a preview of the first chapter of For Power, For Revenge. One thing so you can understand: technology in Brinstar Kingdom is very much like your own. They don't have everything you readers do, but the kingdom is known for its technological advances.

Luigi: Man, this has to be the longest chapter RoyalFanatic has written! XD Let's not delay! Away preview!

They sat in the bar, slowly sipping their glasses of wine.

Both wore dark brown cloaks, way too big for them. Their clothing was hidden by the cloaks; their faces and hair hidden by the hoods.

They sat in silence, ignoring the others drinking and watching, well, shouting at the latest jousting tournament.

"Figures," one of the hooded figures said in a male voice. He brought his glass to his mouth. A block of metal, thrown by one of the watchers of the tournament, smashed into the male figure's head. "What was that for?" He asked, turning to see the person who threw it laughing at him.

"My bad," he said sarcastically. Then he spoke seriously. "The way you sound; it's as if you think you're higher than us!"

"I am," the hooded man said. The man growled and threw another chunk of metal; this time, the hooded man was ready. He melted it with a beam of fire.

"Hey! Take it outside!" The bartender yelled. He was then smacked with a ball of darkness and passed out. The man and his gang all stood up.

"You'll pay for that," the metal user, the apparent leader, said. He wore all the bearings of a Brinstar gang leader; chains, leather jacket and pants, with animal fur trimmed around the edges. He signaled to the man behind him, who conjured and shot forth a ball of water.

The fire user's companion now stood up and froze the ball of water. He caught the ice ball and threw it back at the water thug, who fell unconscious.

Enraged, the thug signaled the two men on his left, but both were frozen by the ice user.

"My companion doesn't like your type," The fire user said, his voice filled with smugness. He shot another beam of fire at the leader. "And I agree with him." He signaled to his companion, and the two set off.

"We're finally here…" The fire user muttered, as he and his companion observed Hyrule. "That's what you want to say…right?" The ice user nodded his head. "Well, let's go. It's time to see how good old Hyrule is doing…"

And so the two set off…their destination; Hyrule Castle…