First off, what the fuck.
Second... ONE-WINGED ANGEL IN SMASH HOLY SHIT
Finally... World of Light has gone MASSIVELY off the rails with this new character reveal, I've had to consult with several writer friends to make changes to the plot.
Also, for further notice: If you leave a review on any of my stories and you're only begging for characters like Sora, I'm deleting it. I'm not putting up with this anymore. If you want to see the characters you want in Smash fics, then write the damn fic yourself.
Within Galeem's pocket dimension, as Tabuu, Ultra Necrozma, and the ball of light himself continued to watch over the Smashers, Sephiroth watched them from the shadows with utter contempt. The tarnished crown jewel of SOLDIER began thinking of the visions he had seen in the Lifestream, the most bizzare of them being him doing battle against Cloud... on a platform in the middle of space, with a white glove watching in the background.
Master Hand, still under Galeem's control, began to float over to Galeem to provide a reading on the group of Smashers within the Dark Realm, only to be blasted with a trio of shadowy energy attacks. Turning around, Master Hand was then stabbed right through his purlicue, causing a wave of pain to ripple through him, and the Swarm, under the command of the Master Core, took action, fixing the wound to the point where it looked like it had never been there at all. Turning towards the culprit, which turned out to be Sephiroth with a cold, knowing smile on his face, Master Hand began, "You... freed me from Galeem's control... huh." Taking a closer look, Master Hand realized, "You're Sephiroth," before taking on a more suspicious tone and asking, "What's your motive?"
"I simply want another shot at Cloud... and also to get rid of that meddlesome false god over there," pointing the Masamune at Galeem for emphasis.
Master Hand cupped an imaginary chin in thought, trying to understand why Sephiroth wanted to kill Galeem. After a while, he asked, "What do you say we come to an alliance?" taking on the human form he had used to disguise himself when recruiting some of the newcomers for the Smash Bros. tournament, and extending his right hand out of the trenchcoat to offer a handshake.
"What's in it for me?"
"I'm sure you already know who I am," Master Hand boasted as he lowered his shades, revealing two jet-black eyes that had white lines slashing through them in an asymmetrical fashion.
Taken slightly aback, Sephiroth realized, "You're the host of that great fray..."
"Indeed I am. And I already know who you are, Sephiroth. Former SOLDIER First Class, killer of the last Cetra, crossed dimensions to fight whimsical beings who wield keys as weapons," muttering to himself, "That's a ridiculous concept," before finishing, "And... what's this I see about a plot to destroy the very Arbiters of Fate that hold your universe in the balance? You've got quite the impressive resume."
Sephiroth's eyes flew wide open and he demanded, "How did you know?"
"I know everything." After a dramatic pause, Master Hand said, "That, and the Lifestream has flowed beneath our hosting site for the tournament ever since Cloud joined... and I sensed your presence almost immediately within it, being held back by the courage of a lone Cetra... Aerith Gainsborough."
"The girl was nothing more than a fearless fool."
"Then how come you had to wait two whole years to take your revenge?"
"Enough of this small talk, hand, what are the terms of your deal?"
"See... I've wanted to make my tournament as big as it can possibly be, and I've come to realize just how iconic Cloud's world is to the masses who've watched it. In fact, our ratings septupled for his very first match, though weirdly they subsided when he kept on winning. In team matches in particular he was incredibly unpopular from a spectator's perspective..." Looking up at Sephiroth, Master Hand said, "But that's not the point I'm trying to make. I want to be able to replicate what I did with Cloud back then. You in?"
Sephiroth firmly clasped Master Hand's extended arm, and coolly replied, "You drive a hard bargain. Now, your terms?"
"First, we need to keep up appearances for Galeem. Can't execute this bargain if we're both vaporized, after all. Secondly, I need all my fighters to be alive by the end of this whole mess."
"You seem quite confident in their ability to overcome this... predicament."
Beneath his trenchcoat, Master Hand chuckled, replying, "You don't even know half of what some of our competitors have done, I'm sure that they'll be able to pull through. Now, my third and final condition... is that there are none as long as you abide to the first two. You can do whatever you want as long as you don't kill any of my competitors."
"That seems... awfully nonchalant of you."
"Do you know what I am supposed to represent, Sephiroth?" A blank stare from the fallen angel was all Master Hand needed to know, and he continued, "I am the symbol of creation, be it good or bad. I can create, among other things, life, wealth, resources, war, conflict, and... strife."
Sephiroth's single black wing unfurled, and he said, "This seems like the beginning of a... delightful partnership," a cruel smile coming onto his face as he shook Master Hand's hand.
Master Hand snapped his fingers and continued, "And to ensure your loyalty in this bargain..." he pulled out one of the spare envelopes he had left lying around in his office, finishing, "Welcome to the Super Smash Brothers tournament, Sephiroth. Rain despair onto Galeem... for now, indirectly."
"SEPHIROTH!"
Master Hand turned back into his normal form and said, "Remember, appearances," before retreating into the darkness of Galeem's pocket dimension.
Sephiroth stepped forward and coolly said, "How may I assist you at this time, Lord Galeem?" managing to hide the distaste in his voice as he said the last two words.
"I need an agent to spy over one of the fighter groups in the Dark Realm, and you're the only one of mine who gets stronger in the presence of darkness. As loathe as I am to admit it, we need you to get out there and accost one group of those pathetic Smashers."
"Very well then." Looking at the three visions that Galeem was showing, Sephiroth spotted Cloud and several others fighting what looked to be a monstrosity of a man and some kind of... robot? Sephiroth pointed to that particular vision, saying, "I want my revenge."
"Very well then." Galeem opened a portal to the Mysterious Dimension, and Sephiroth stepped through.
Falling through the skies of the Mysterious Dimension, Sephiroth saw an explosion go off in a nearby building and glided over. Looking through the window to see if it was indeed Cloud, a flash of blonde hair accompanied by the swing of an abnormally large sword was all the confirmation he needed, and he swung his Masamune through the building wall lengthwise, causing it to crumble.
Cloud barely managed to parry a vicious overhead swing from Pyramid Head, and was about to retaliate with a point-blank Thundaga before he heard something that sounded like rubble collapsing. Turning towards the source of the noise, Cloud's eyes widened in horror and he whispered, "No, it can't be..."
Nearly all of the action in the room stopped as everyone, Smasher or otherwise, turned to look at the newcomer; Sephiroth, with his singular wing unfurled, held the Masamune to his side and coldly drawled, "Ah, Cloud... it's been a while."
To clarify, this Sephiroth is post-Advent Children, pre-Final Fantasy VII Remake.
See y'all in 2021.