The trio passed through a forest or two on their way back.
They didn't talk much, but kept to themselves. But Greg began to wonder just how much Link knew about modern life, and how he was adjusting to being part of the Brotherhood; so Greg decided to ask Link various questions as they walked, to help pass the time.
The first question Greg asked was:
"So Link, what was it like when you first came to the mansion?"
'Passes the time walking, I suppose.' "It was… different. And yet it wasn't. Some of the technology there at the manor is mostly the same, some it didn't take me long to figure out, and other things I'm still confused by."
Greg was intrigued by Link's answer. He followed up with another question.
"What was you home world like, then? How does it compare to the mansion?"
"…Sadly it's far less advanced in some areas. Hyrule could have been like the manor once, but then the Sheikah died out, and practically all of their technology was lost. So everyone back home and myself will never know what level of technology Hyrule really ever reached."
Link and Greg continued their back and forth for some time. Up until Greg asked a question that had been on the back of his mind for some time. Something had he just had to know.
"What happened after you and the others left to answer Master Hand's distress call?"
Link sighed. He should have known this was coming, sooner or later.
"We all went to this cliff. There were two… metal birds - no, ships that somehow flew - …Arwings, that's the name. They had both been crashed into the ground. Then this… winged light creature appeared…" Link stopped speaking for a few moments. "And started to turn everyone to… ashes." The Hylian looked down at Greg and Ivy. "You two are the only ones I've found since."
Ivysaur looked down solemnly. he had been there and seen what Link had seen. Having to remember it was not an easy experience.
Greg, on the other hand, was shocked. The strongest people the Smash Brotherhood had to offer being taken down that quickly brought him horror. And, as far as he knew, Link and Ivysaur were the only ones to escape. It made him scared for what became of all the others.
Before any of them could speak again, a massive shadow of a bird appeared.
Ivy looked up, and for some reason began to hop up and down excitedly. "Ivy! Ivysaur!"
There was a shrill call of a bird - and then said bird gracefully landed before Link.
Greg stared. "Is that… Ho-Oh?"
The bird titled its head at the Hylian as if it were in thought, before it nodded to itself, then reached to a wing and plucked a feather from it, then extended its beak to the Hylian.
"You want me to take this feather?"
Ho-Oh nodded.
Link reached out and took the feather - and he heard a voice -
"-Wow! Ho-Oh is - wait why did he give Link a feather?"
"…Ivy?" Link looked down at the Pokémon.
"What?"
Link then looked at the feather he was holding, then back at Ivy. "…I can understand you."*
Ho-Oh then raised its wings. "You must not let foes take the Rainbow Wing, mortal. Keep it safe, protect it."
Link gazed up at the massive bird as it began to flap its wings and rise into the air. "I will… Thank you." He began to realize just what the Rainbow Wing did, and just how… precious it was.
Then Ho-Oh was gone, having flown from view behind the mass of trees.
In the near distance, Link thought he was a familiar structure. He pocketed the Rainbow Wing, then picked up Ivy, and motioned for Greg to follow him…
It took them a few more hours, but eventually, they found themselves in a part of the woods familiar to them. A part relatively close to the Smash Mansion. They traveled through the woods as quickly as they could, until finally, the Smash Mansion came into view.
Or what was left of it, rather.
"What in the name of Hylia happened here?!" Link yelled.
He looked over at the scene in front of him. Where had once stood a proud building, the headquarters of the Smash Brotherhood, now stood a mess of rubble and debris. What's worse, there didn't seem to be anyone still here. Greg sighed as he remembered the attack on the mansion. He turned towards his allies to offer them an explanation.
"Okay, so, Mewtwo sent out a message to everyone that something was going to attack. None of us knew what, but then all of these Crazy Hand copies appeared from nowhere and started to grab everyone. I was in the garden, on a makeshift camping trip - I like to have those a lot - and so I was able to get away."
"What about everyone else who was at the mansion? Do you know what happened to them?"
Greg looked at the mansion ruins. "Dunno, maybe they also escaped."
Link sighed. "Let's hope so. Knowing that all of us are now lost and scattered doesn't make me very happy."
Greg nodded and then motioned for Link and Ivy to follow him.
"Where are we going?"
"To see if anyone is still here."
However, it soon became apparent that while none of the Smashers might still have been around… their enemies were.
Link grabbed Greg and Ivy, then dove behind a few fallen pillars. The three watched in shocked silence as a group of Lizalfos, Kremlings, and other reptilian monsters walked past their hiding spot.
"Do you think they have anything to do with what happened here?" Link asked.
"I'm not sure. Like I said, it was a bunch of Crazy Hands that attacked the mansion. Maybe these guys are just scavengers." Greg suggested.
"Only one way to find out. Let's follow them. See what they do." Link suggested.
The group of monsters left the ruined room and headed for what appeared to be a still standing storage room.
Link left the hiding spot, followed by Greg and Ivy.
The trio followed the monsters to the storage room, managing to stay out of sight the entire way, however, once they reached the storage room, Link and the others found it was occupied.
Occupied by a certain fat crocodile and a young Koopaling prince.