Mist found herself sitting up all night in bed, thinking about the day's events. It was hard to believe that just like that the one thing that she had felt was missing from her life had suddenly appeared. The void that Ike had left in her heart when he had left them behind had suddenly been filled. Ike was back, and more than that… he had fallen in love. She had not even considered how much she wanted him to settle down, but now that he had she realized just how desperately she had wanted that to happen.

She liked Samus. In spite of all the mystery surrounding who she was and how she and Ike had met she could see just how Ike could be drawn to her. Most who did not know him assumed Ike had had some kind of romance with Queen Elincia. Mist had heard stories and rumors that she and Ike had had an affair during the war against Ashnard, but in reality that had not been the case. Although they had been very close, their relationship with the war and they went their separate ways.

Mist personally suspected that if Ike were to marry anyone involved in either of the wars, it would have been Lethe, the Cat from Gallia. That had been the closest thing to a romance that Mist had seen Ike ever be involved in, and during that first war it almost seemed like Ike was interested in pursuing it. But then the war ended, the two went their separate ways, and the two drifted apart, in spite of remaining rather fond of one another. It was such a shame. Mist thought. That two people could grow so close and then just fall apart. If Lethe had not gone back to Gallia after the war, if she had seriously considered staying behind in Crimea… then it very well might have been her that would be marrying Ike, not Samus.

She eventually did fall asleep, but was up again before the sun rose. She stepped out into her living room, preparing for the morning's work, to find Samus sitting in one of her chairs.

"Oh, hello." She said. Samus looked up at her.

"Good morning." He hand was on a large, round, yellow object that Mist initially assumed was a sweater she was knitting. But when she moved her hand the thing twitched, stood up, yawned, and turned around.

Mist had to stop herself from squealing with delight: It was one of the cutest animals she had ever seen in her life. It was a bright yellow rodent with red marks on its cheeks. It yawned again and rolled over lazily.

"Oh, this is Pikachu." Samus explained, noticing Mist's expression. "He's mine…. Well, I look after him at any rate. I'm not sure I would call myself his trainer, but…"

"Can I hold him!" Mist blurted out. Samus smiled knowingly at her.

"If he lets you." Samus said, as she poked the creature with her finger. "Be careful though. You might get electrocuted."

The Pikachu yawned once more and blinked tiredly up at Samus. She gave it a nod as it turned around and leapt to the floor. It trotted along towards Mist and looked up at her. She had to stop herself from squealing again as it reached her feet and climbed up her leg.

It seemed as if it was carefully trained: It easily seemed to run up her side without cutting into her with its claws, all the way up to her shoulder. It rubbed itself against her once, and then crawled down to her arms. She wrapped her arms around it, trying not to squeeze it too hard. It let out a noise (Pika) and rubbed its snout against her chest. Her heart melted.

"He likes you." Samus said, amused. Mist smiled.

"It's so cute!" She gushed, as she moved to sit by next to her. "You brought him with you?"

"Sort of." Samus affirmed. "He's a guest for the wedding, but he wanted to explore the countryside. Pikachu… as a species, generally live in forests and wide open fields. He wouldn't want to camp with the others, he was probably looking for a place to live while we plan the wedding."

The Pikachu cried again.

"Hm." Mist said, as she gave the Pikachu another look. "I can't help but notice, Samus… uh, please don't take this the wrong way… but who are these people? I've never seen… I've never even heard of Pikachus before. And Isabelle. What exactly…?"

'There are places in the world that are wildly different than the one you are aware of." Samus explained. "There are creatures and things that no one on this continent has ever seen." She paused. "Anyone other than Ike, that is."

Mist gave Pikachu a once over. She was thinking deeply.

"Samus." She said slowly. "Where exactly are you all from?"

"We don't come from the same place." Samus answered. "But we all came together for one purpose."

"The Smash Brothers…" Mist said. Samus nodded.

"That's right." She said. "Most of us… not all, but most of us… Came together for this one purpose."

"And what is that purpose?"

Samus looked as if she were about to hesitate. But in the end she did answer.

"To fight."

Mist stared at her.

"To fight…." She repeated. "Fighting what?"

"It is difficult to explain." Samus said. "Please don't take this personally…"

"Are you fighting some war somewhere or…?"

"Not necessarily.." She said. "But sometimes… well, when a particularly strong person…" She faltered somewhat, but then continued onward. "They return as spirits. And those spirits can… and often do…. Bring harm to those who may encounter them."

'Spirits?" Mist repeated. "Like… ghosts?"

"Not necessarily." Samus answered. "But similar. I'm not sure what the best way to explain it would be… Perhaps you should speak to Ike about it. I'm sure he would be able to better explain it to you than I could.."

"Where is Ike, anyway?"

"Helping Isabelle with the Campsite." Samus said. "Do you want to come see?"

"Campsite?"

"We thought we should set up a place for the wedding guests to live." Samus explained, as she got to her feet. "This is the kind of thing that Isabelle is really good at… do you want to see it?"

Mist nodded, and within five minutes she and Samus had left the house together. They stepped on down the road to a lonely abandoned field that Mist had never paid much attention to, except perhaps during the occasional training exercise.

There, in the middle of the field, was a large house that she had never seen before.

"Oh, Isabelle." Samus sighed, as she shook her head. " We're not going to live here….!"

As they approached the house the front door opened and a rather familiar yellow dog stepped through.

"Hello Samus!" Isabelle said brightly. "And you too, Mist!"

Pikachu leapt off of Mist's shoulder and onto Isabelle's head. She stumbled a bit, placing her hands on her head as Pikachu found its place and settled down.

"And hello to you too!" Isabelle said. "What brings you two here so early?"

"I thought I would show Mist the campsite." Samus said. "I was expecting to find your tent."

Isabelle suddenly looked very shifty.

"Well you know." She said. "We're all going to be staying here for quite a while… several weeks. And Mr. Nook assured me that starting a town-"

"Mr. Nook is a businessman who wants to make more Bells." Samus said flatly. She turned to Mist. "Mr. Nook is not one of us." She said. "But Isabelle is rather fond of him and relies on him for a lot of our goods and construction…. Particularly housing."

"You make him sound like a villain." Isabelle said sullenly.

"Ike and I were very specific." Samus said flatly. "We wanted guests to simply camp out, as we would during battle. Building a bunch of homes that none of us are going to use again… it's costly and unnecessary."

Isabelle deflated. Mist had never seen someone look quite so pathetic and defeated.

"I'm sorry I screwed up." She said. "But a lot of the others want to live in homes. Wario…."

"Wario never turns the opportunity for free things." Samus said. "You should know that."

"And some of them have young children." Isabelle went on. "Chrom is bringing his wife, and daughter Lucina…" She faltered. "Uh, his YOUNG daughter Lucina." She elaborated, although Mist did not quite understand why she had to do so. "They're not going to want to camp. And you don't Bayonetta sleeping out in the open, she could get attacked by Angels at any time-"

"Attacked?" Mist repeated, alarmed, but Samus and Isabelle ignored her.

"Is this how Mr. Nook sold you on the idea?" Samus asked. Isabelle flushed.

"That's what he told me, yes."

"Do what you will." Samus said. "But please consult me next time."

"I will." Isabelle said, bowing furiously. "I will-"

"Has anyone arrived yet?" Samus asked conversationally, as she peered around the field.

"Well, no." Isabelle admitted. "I think Ken will be the first actually…"

"Well, let us know when people start arriving." Samus said. "And be sure not to let Nook put them into debt… I don't want to give him a single bell that he did not earn, do you understand?"

Isabella's tail drooped. "Yes… Yes ma'am." She looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Why don't you all come in for some tea?" She suggested.

"That sounds lovely!" Mist said brightly, hoping to defuse the situation. "What do you think, Samus?"

Samus sighed, shaking her head. "A tea would be nice." She admitted. Isabelle smiled warmly, her tail wagging, and turned into her house. Mist and Samus were quick to follow behind.

News traveled fast around the continent. The return of Ike, unbeknownst to the Greil Mercenaries and their friends, the Smash Brothers, had quite the impact.

"He's going to be married?" Queen Elincia asked frantically, as her maid dutifully stood by with a suitcase as she tore through her things. "To WHO?"

She ripped a dress from her wadrobe and tore it out, ripping it to shreds. The maid stood by, surprised, as Elincia tossed it aside and pulled out a thin, dusty looking suit of armor. The same set she used to wear into battle.

"I want this clean and polished." She told the maid promptly. "And fitted for my use."

In Daein, the Queen Micaiah considered her informant carefully. Despite now being in her thirties she still did not look a day over sixteen. Beside her husband and King Sothe stood by. He had long ago grown far past her and towered over, and had proven to be a loyal companion during her reign.

"Ike…" Micaiah murmured. "Where have you spent these past several years…?"

She turned to Sothe, who had been keeping an eye out for Ike the entire time he had been away. He had seen hide nor hair of him for years. He knew Ike far better than she did.

"I suppose." Sothe said. "The best answer would be to attend his wedding and ask him ourselves."

Micaiah smiled as she turned back to the informant. "Yes…" She said quietly. "I believe I will."

In the South, far from the eyes and ears of Beorc, the Laguz called a gathering. The first in many years. The Dragon King Kurthnaga, for the first time ever, presided over the meeting. The Hawk King Tibarn, The Crow King Naeasala and his wife Leanne, and the newly appointed Lion King Skirmir discussed at length the return of Ike, and what this might mean for Laguz countries. Ike, among the Laguz, was considered their greatest ally, and all were pleased to see his return.

"Lethe and Ranulf set off immediately once they heard… without my permission." Skirmir growled. Tibarn laughed.

"Ha." He said. "If only I could be so bold!"

"We will get the chance soon enough, I'm sure." Kurth said, smiling slightly. "If the rumors are true… if he truly is getting married… then I suppose it will only be a matter of time until we all get to see him."

"A true reunion!" Boomed Skimir. "I can't wait to see the Little Tactician again!" He laughed. Kurth gave him a surprised look before returning the sentiment.

"Neither can I." Kurth said softly, his thoughts not on Ike but on his sister, Almedha. "Neither can I…"