Heading to some sort of chasm, Mario traveled with Marth, who was back to normal, near the edge of the pit, looking down at the sheer blackness from below. The red plumber, worried, turned to his blue-haired comrade.

"You worried?" Marth asked, putting away his Exalted Falchion. Mario nodded, looking at the humongous mushrooms filling the chasm.

"Kirby and that new Piranha Plant friend of his just saved me," Mario answered, sitting down near the ledge. "Why can't this world-a keep us together for once?" The Hero-King pondered the red plumber's answer for quite a while before sitting down next to him. Marth then placed a hand on Mario's back, knowing about the brave choice he made.

"That's known as multi-tasking," Marth replied, "and it was a pretty wise decision splitting up when you knew the other two paths would close if you would reawaken me, Sheik, or Villager." Mario looked up, satisfied with Marth's decision.

"Yeah," Mario said. "I guess you're right…" Suddenly, from the steep sides of the outside of the path Marth and Mario were traveling on, a wild clamoring started storming through the forest. Emerging from the bushes and trees, the Mii Fighters under Galeem's control rode on the back of the Cascade Kingdom raptors, pulling out their weapons and surrounding the two fighters.

"Mamma-mia," Mario growled, pulling up his fists. "Can't they just give us a break-a?"

"Only one way to find out!" Marth exclaimed, unsheathing the Exalted Falchion from his side. As the raptors were circling around the red plumber and the Hero-King, their mounters pointing their weapons, they started laughing in many different pitches of voices: some high, others low.

"Sic 'em, boys!" a Mii Brawler shouted, riding his raptor with the others. Once both Marth and Mario jumped in the air, ready to fight, a bright light flashed on another Mii Fighter. It came without sudden warning: both the Mii Fighter and her raptor mount were knocked back, and the two of them fell down into the supposedly-bottomless pit filled with giant mushrooms. The rest of the Mii Fighter troops looked over the edge, surprised by what happened. Even Mario and Marth were confused.

Before any more of the possessed Mii Fighters knew what was going on, an incoming parade of bullets flew right towards Galeem's troops, forcing Marth and Mario to duck. Some of the Mii Fighters and their raptors were hit, but a few Mii Gunners managed to reflect the bullets to where they came from. There, dodging some of the bullets he fired, was a man cloaked in black. He had hair as silky and dark as a raven, and his long coat seemed to fly behind him as he ran towards the Mii Fighters, pulling out some sort of knife. He had gloves as red as blood, and on his face was some sort of eye mask colored white with black markings. The stranger then jumped high into the air, his leather boots kicking into some of the Mii Fighters, causing most of the raptors to retreat into the woods. A swarm of Galeem's Mii Fighters glared at the stranger clad in black playing with his knife with their glowing-red eyes. Before they even laid a hand on the mysterious man as they rushed towards him, their target pulled away his mask, revealing blue flames emerging from his face.

"Persona!" he shouted. Through a mighty blast, a strange creature made out of blue flames with orange ones where his eyes should be appeared behind the black-clothed man, spreading his wing-like arms.

"I am thou, thou art I," the creature spoke with the voice of a god. "Show the strength of thy will, and rage against all challengers!" With a powerful yell, the black-clothed stranger set his fists the same glowing-blue as the creature he called forth, pulling out his knife with a powerful slash, knocking back the Mii Fighters and raptors. Once Galeem's troops knew they could not match this man's strength no matter how many of them there were, the Mii Fighters ran towards their raptors, who were running off into the woods. The glowing-blue flames disintegrated, and the black-clothed stranger placed his mask back on his face, putting away his knife back in his coat. When he looked back, he noticed Mario and Marth standing up, staring at him with shocked eyes and gaping mouths.

"And what are you looking at?" the black-clothed stranger asked, stroking his raven-black hair.

"That was amazing what you did there," Marth answered, trembling. "I've never seen anybody attack quite as ferocious as you."

"We just wanna congratulate you," Mario replied, shaking the black-clothed stranger's hand. "Thanks-a, Mr.… Uhhh…"

"Please," the stranger said, pulling away his hand. "I don't really like revealing my name to other strangers, but you can simply call me… Joker."

"Joker, huh?" Marth asked, surprised by this stranger they found out of nowhere. "Well, I'm Marth, and this is Mario. We're looking for our friends, who've been taken captive under Galeem. Think you can help us?" Joker merely took a few steps forward after turning around, stopping when he heard Marth talk about Galeem.

"You know about this Galeem person?" Joker responded, his arms folded across his chest.

"That's right-a, and we're getting everyone back for the final battle," Mario answered, curious about the warrior they just came across. "Hey… how come we've never seen you around here before?"

"Here before what?" Joker asked.

"We had never seen you or that Piranha Plant before on our team back in Arcadia or in the Galeem Void," Mario continued, "and yet somehow, you're fighting alongside us, side-by-side, even though we've never known you passing the test of Arcadia's Master Hand." Joker placed a finger on his own chin.

"You say you were taken captive under Galeem, right?" Joker asked. "Who was the only one of your group to escape?"

"Kirby," Marth answered. "He was the only one to warp out of here in time, saving himself from those beams of light." Joker merely laughed at that response, confusing Mario and Marth more.

"You thought that pink puffball could do it alone with that woman friend of his, a generic plant, and that group of misfit Spirits?" Joker asked.

"How did you know Kirby was a pink-?" Mario asked before Joker placed his gloved finger on the red plumber's lips.

"The whole world of Gallia knows about Kirby at this point, and the Forgotten Resistance has been the talk of the planet," Joker interrupted. "I've been getting gossip, knowing everything. Let's just say that… Kirby was not the only survivor." Mario stepped back, surprised by Joker's answer as he walked back to Marth.

"How do I explain this…?" Joker said, rubbing his head. "You see, during Galeem's invasion on the multiverse, almost everyone we know has been disintegrated, transformed into Spirits. Even the dead could not rest from that bastard as literally all things that we know and don't know existed were taken under his rule, forced to work for him as long as they were consumed by the light. I thought all hope was gone for me as Galeem's beams were about to get me just like they got my friends. However, I used everything I got, including my Personas-"

"Personas?" Marth interrupted.

"They're hidden powers," Joker answered, "and I'm not going to tell you what they are because I don't care."

"Anyway," Joker continued, "I managed to use my abilities and Personas, trying to stay alive as the light consumed everything. I kept fighting and running until the beams of light were gone and the environment blinded me. Before I knew it, I was floating in space. I looked around, noticing the Spirits dancing in the cosmos. Just as I expected, five more warriors that clearly kept their bodies were around me, and that Piranha Plant was one of them. I could've probably expected the Piranha Plant must've been the only one of his kind to probably hide in a pipe in time, but the other four… I don't really know how they did it. Before any one of us could figure out what was going on, Kirby on the Warp Star appeared out of nowhere, knocking us into a collision course with the planet we were floating around in: Gallia. We were split up, and I found myself utterly alone, trapped in a strange environment where it's hunt or be hunted, and where Spirits, corrupted Mii Fighters, and the Subspace Army dominate."

"So… wait," Mario asked once Joker finished. "You weren't engulfed by any of those beams of light, keeping your body as well as your memories of your homeland and backstory, along with Piranha Plant and four others?"

"That's correct," Joker answered, a smile on his face. Mario looked at Marth, wondering about this. After a short period of silence, Mario took Marth by the arm, the two of them talking this out over Joker.

"I don't-a think we can-a trust this guy," Mario quietly objected. "He might be one of Galeem's servants, and he might have been pretend-fighting with those Miis to get our attention."

"I highly doubt it was pretend," Marth whispered. "After all, I know fake expressions when I see them, and the expressions on those Miis' faces were NOT fake. It's as if they had never seen this stranger before…"

"He doesn't look friendly," Mario replied, still whispering. "I mean, none of us, excluding Kirby, were able to survive Galeem's attack. There's no way Piranha Plant and that… guy… we just met be two of the few survivors alongside our only hope out of this planet! You can't admit they're good just by looking at them!"

"And you can't admit they're bad too with a single glance," Marth whispered in objection. Mario bit his lip, knowing he lost the argument. Both Marth and Mario then turned toward Joker, ready to come with their decision.

"Well?" Joker asked.

"We were talking about you, and we thought you might not be trustworthy," Mario answered, looking down with guilt. "However, since Galeem's forces might be back, we have no choice but to have you join our team-a. Welcome aboard, Joker." The black-clothed thief smirked, glad he is joining with two peculiar warriors. As Joker shook hands with Marth, Mario walked down the path they were stuck on, shaking his head as he facepalmed himself.

"Do you guys hear that?" Joker asked, pulling out his knife. Marth and Mario heard it too, and they heard something coming from the forest. Though the rustling was not as big as the last time, the three kept their guards up. Walking out of the bushes was Zelda in the clothes that she wore in Skyloft. By her side, Richter clothed in dark blue walked next to her. Their heads were hung low as they slowly approached the group of warriors. Once they lifted up their heads, both Zelda and Richter revealed glowing-red eyes, triggering Marth and Mario.

"These your friends?" Joker sarcastically asked.

"They look like our friends, but they are solely created in the likeness of our friends and serve the Seraph of Order only," Marth answered. "Whatever you do, don't approach them unless you want to get into a fight." Joker merely shook his head, watching Mario and Marth clench their fists as the Zelda and Richter Supporters walked closer to them.

"That's not how you dumbasses fight these guys," Joker told Mario and Marth. "Let me show you how it's done." With a smirk on his face, his gray-colored eyes hidden from his mask, Joker walked up to Galeem's puppets, pulling out his pistol.

"Hey, you guys lost?" Joker teased the Supporters, changing his bullets hidden in his sleeves. "I can tell you're nervous. Don't be scared. Everyone has to afraid at some point." The possessed warriors kept looking at Joker as he approached them.

"You wanna dance?" Joker asked, hiding his pistol in his coat. "Then I'll show you how we dance." The Supporters stood in their battle stances, ready to fight the stranger that scared off an entire group of Mii Fighters riding Cascade Kingdom raptors.

"Did he just quote… Bayonetta?" Mario asked.

"I don't think Joker knows who Bayonetta is," Marth answered, scratching his head. "Even then, I don't think he cares about stealing one-liners…"

"Watch and learn, Math and Mayro," Joker said, grabbing ahold of the Richter Supporter and putting him in a headlock.

"It's Marth and Mario!" Mario yelled, about to warn Joker of the Zelda Supporter ready to strike with a fiery blast. Luckily, Joker managed to place the hilt of his knife on Zelda's neck before she laid a hand on him. With a mighty rumble, Mario and Marth knew what was going to happen next. Pieces of the ground Joker was standing on ascended into the air with the Phantom Thief of Hearts with the puppet fighters, creating another UV sphere around them. The Supporter Richter vanished in Joker's clutches soon after.

In Joker's point of view, the background turned into the Hyrule Field when it was taken over by the Twilight Realm. Trees and darkened clouds formed in the distance, and Hyrule Castle was seen in the background. The stage itself turned into a battlefield version of the Bridge of Eldin, creating three floating platforms above him. In front of Joker, the Supporter Zelda stood before him. The puppet fighter then conjured up Din's Fire in her hands, launching a small flame towards the Phantom Thief of Hearts. Just when it was about to explode into a burst, Joker jumped out of the way in time, landing with an epic pose.

"So, you wanna fight fire with fire, huh?" Joker asked, watching the Supporter Zelda create another burst of flame. After the puppet fighter unleashed Din's Fire again, Joker managed to dodge in time.

"My turn," Joker growled, taking off his mask. From behind him, the Persona Arsene appeared behind him, using the move Dream Needle. A large needle shot right towards the puppet fighter, dealing slight damage in total as it flew right into her. Even though it dealt light damage, it wasn't enough to put her to sleep. Joker then put back his mask, rushing in and slashing with his knife. He began jabbing the Supporter Zelda, not worthy to finish without a bang of his pistol right into her chest. Though the puppet fighter was down, she was not out as she jumped back onto the stage with Farore's Windfall.

After the Supporter Zelda grabbed onto the stage, she took ahold of Joker as he was about to fire his pistol again. She started using her powers to pummel Joker, throwing him high into the air. However, Joker managed to take off his mask again, landing onto the ground. Blue flames emerged from his face, summoning the Persona Asterius. As the Supporter Zelda ran towards Joker, he used the Persona he had in hand and made it use the move Titanomachia, creating a flame pillar just below her. The Supporter Zelda tried using Nayru's Love to reflect the attack, but to no avail as she was launched with high damage. Out of nowhere, the Supporter Richter was called to her aid, launching his signature Cross move at Joker after he put on his mask and pulled out his knives. With a grab from the puppet fighter's Vampire Killer, Joker felt himself flung towards the Supporter Richter, pummeled while the Supporter Zelda kept using Din's Fire, raising the damage that was impacted on the Phantom Thief of Hearts. Once he was thrown in front of the two Supporters, Joker quickly got up, taking off his mask again. With his Persona Izanagi Picaro, he used the move Cross Slash, followed by two bright intersecting lines on the two puppet fighters before putting on his mask again and starting to jab with his knives. The Supporter Zelda still kept using Din's Fire, jumping from platform to platform as Joker was busy with the Supporter Richter.

After Richter launched Joker off the Battlefield version of the Bridge of Eldin, the Phantom Thief of Hearts took off his mask again, calling forth the Persona Tsukiyomi Picaro, recovering with Abyssal Wings. Once Joker hopped back onto the stage, he grabbed the Supporter Richter, avoiding another Din's Fire, and throwing the puppet fighter off. As if it was nothing, Joker placed his white-and-black eye mask on his face, unleashing a downward slash with his knife and sending the Supporter Richter to a meteor smash death. Once Joker got back onto the stage, the Supporter Zelda was waiting for him, her hands ablaze. Since she was at high percent, Joker had no trouble grabbing her thanks to Persona Arsene and throwing her behind himself, straight into the blast zone. The stage crumbled underneath Joker once he was finished, and the Phantom Thief of Hearts felt himself levitating in place as if he was restrained. The UV sphere vanished, and Mario and Marth watched as Joker was floating in front of the Supporter Zelda, crumbling away into Shadow Bugs as the Spirit behind all this was revealed: a glowing-green Charlotte Aulin, merely the Normal Advanced type. A Spirit Sniper formed in Joker's hands, and a barrier was created around the Spirit. While the force field kept spinning, Joker noticed a small hole guarantying a perfect win if he hits. Taking careful aim, Joker managed to snipe the Spirit perfectly, free from the levitation as he landed, striking a pose. The three fighters then noticed the rescued Spirit simply floating off into the distance.

"And that's how you skin a cat, or clone, or whatever…" Joker answered, adjusting the mask on his face and putting away his knife and pistol.

"Thanks for taking care of those two for us," Marth replied.

"What I want to ask is-a… if Kirby's not here because of that stone inside his body, then where did the Spirit-a go?" Mario asked. Joker looked at the direction Charlotte Aulin flew off to, knowing something.

"I believe I know where," Joker answered. "Come on." The Phantom Thief of Hearts then ran off in the Spirit's direction, followed by Marth and Mario. After a minute or two of traveling, the three fighters came across some sort of town.

"This is where the Spirit we just rescued is staying?" Mario asked.

"Yup," Joker answered. "While I've been looking for this strange stone you recently admitted is inside Kirby, the Spirits I've managed to save are taking refuge here. However, since I'm trapped in this barrier with you guys, the best we could do is look around the town and ask questions on how to get us out of here…" Joker then walked down the pathway they were on with Mario and Marth, heading to the gateway.

"What do you mean I can't pass through those gates!?" Joker asked the town guards. This was all taking place after some time had went by and he was told he can't go through. The two Normal Spirits who were guarding the gates were an Advanced Buliara and a Novice Booker.

"We were told about Supporters and Primaries invading close to Morrowsville," Booker answered, the anipromorphic police dog from the Villager's and Isabelle's world standing in front of the barred doors.

"To avoid any sudden attacks and captures in our peaceful refuge town, we've made sure no one gets in or out," Buliara said, the Gerudo guard feeling sorry for the three fighters who could not pass.

"I'll tell you what," Buliara continued, sticking her spear into the ground. "If you and your wimpy companions look for a friend of ours, we might let you pass. However, we can't say who. You'll have to find out yourself…"

"Well, that's bullshit," Joker sighed. The Phantom Thief of Hearts then walked back to Marth and Mario, taking off his eye mask. For the first time, his face was not set on supernatural flames.

"This world is clearly not the one I grew up in," Joker told the two fighters. "Got any other plans? I know you've been here for quite a while…"

"Defeating gods behind-the-scenes of world destruction? Rules and laws of this planet changing and alternating over time after one's defeat? We've got nothing either," Mario answered. Just then, the three warriors heard beeping from Mario's watch-like device, which was still on his wrist.

"What was that?" Joker asked, putting on his mask.

"I think it's the Undying Light crew," Mario answered. "Wait right here." With a press of a button, the incoming transmission rang out with Faker's voice.

"Thank God you're alright, Mario," Faker spoke over the gadget. "We've been trying for hours to at least break through to you. We couldn't find Kirby or Piranha Plant, no matter how hard we attempted."

"It's okay, Faker," Mario answered. "I've managed to find a couple more companions. We'll be up there shortly." With a press of the button, Mario ended the transmission and took off the watch-like device.

"Joker, Marth, place your wrists together," Mario told the other two fighters.

"…Why?" Marth asked, sticking out his right arm. Joker did like Marth did, their wrists touching each other. Mario then placed his arm above the other two, wrapping the watch-like device around their wrists. With three presses of the gadget, Mario, Marth, and newly-found Joker started glowing blue, transporting themselves up above in the sky, heading towards the Undying Light.

After the teleportation, the three fighters were back on the ship's deck, where Faker was waiting for them in her dragon armor. Marth and Joker felt a little nauseous after their return back to the Undying Light, but they tried adjusting to the slightly-lowered gravity from being in the sky. The sun was setting just in time, its orange-golden rays shining on the horizon.

"Faker!" Mario said, taking off the watch-like device. "We were stuck on that planet, waiting for an answer. By the way, Sticks-a said that Flynn's accident with the transporting machine would leave us grounded and it would take at least a week to repair…"

"Well, Professor E. Gadd's a brilliant man despite lacking a body," Faker answered, rubbing her head. "He managed to kink it up so it could work on your device." The brown-skinned warrior then noticed Joker simply standing there, unaware of what was going on.

"Are we on… the ship of the Forgotten Resistance?" Joker asked, flipping his short, raven-black hair. For the first time, Faker felt her heart skip. Never had she seen someone as handsome as the Phantom Thief of Hearts, and her cheeks were burning red.

"Uh… M-Mario?" Faker stammered, tugging on Mario's overalls. "Who's this mysterious man?"

"That's Joker," Marth answered for Mario. "We just found him when we were ambushed. He wouldn't tell us his story of how he got here and just showed up…" Faker then let go of Mario's overalls, slowly walking over to Joker. Even when his mask was covering his face, the Phantom Thief of Hearts still looked intimidating.

"Do you mind if I… show you to your headquarters…?" Faker asked, her nervousness clearly showing as she held his blood-red gloved hand, looking away.

"Gladly," Joker replied. Faker then started taking Joker inside the ship, covering her face with her hand as she dared not to look at the mysterious warrior.

"Do you think Faker has some sort of crush on a complete stranger?" Mario asked, confused by the black-haired, brown-skinned warrior blushing when she looked at Joker.

"Have you heard the old saying 'love at first sight'?" Marth answered in the form of a question. "I think that's what it was…" As the sun was setting and the light turned into a violet dusk, Mario leaned against the rim of the deck with Marth, looking down on the blackened land below.

"Kirby, Villager, Piranha Plant, Sheik, wherever you are, I hope you're all-a safe," Mario sighed, worried about their safety. Meanwhile, inside the ship, Faker managed to show Joker to the bed with about a hundred beds.

"Welcome to your new home," Faker said, opening the door and flipping the switch. As the lights buzzed on, the Phantom Thief of Hearts looked around, noticing the beds that were laid out evenly, and some were even bunked on top of each other. He wasn't impressed by the common beds next to the wall, but the thing that truly caught his attention was the humungous poster on the opposite side of the room. Joker slowly walked to the cutout drawings taped on, set against a beautiful background. Faker then walked up next to Joker, looking at the poster.

"You like it?" Faker asked, making sure the Phantom Thief of Hearts was not making eye contact with her. "Kirby drew it all by himself, back when he had no one to remember when he first got on here…"

"I can see it was all crayon," Joker answered. "Judging by the fact all the pink puffball could draw is scribbles on paper, this is true art at its finest." Faker looked down on the ground, wanting to hear his compliment again. Joker then noticed the Piranha Plant in the poster, taped against the wall as the craft materials were lying on the floor.

"Did Kirby draw that carnivorous flower into the picture too?" Joker asked.

"No, actually," Faker responded. "The Piranha Plant drew himself, and it looks nearly identical to what Kirby created. You can put yourself in the picture if you like. It doesn't hurt to be one of the gang…"

"I understand," Joker said. "Thanks for your time, miss." As the Phantom Thief of Hearts glanced at Faker with gray eyes, the brown-skinned warrior quickly ran out of the room, her face gleaming red.

"You're welcome!" Faker answered, slamming the door. As soon as Faker was out, she felt her head spinning as she wiped it of her sweat. Her heart was beating fast, knowing that Joker looked so handsome and didn't want to tell him yet. Inside the room, Joker sat down on the floor, taking out the crayons and paper.

Deep in the Galeem Void, the Seraph of Order was sitting on some sort of crystal throne, watching Joker draw himself in the likeness of the poster on the wall through a magical mirror. Out of fury, Galeem pulled on the Chains of Light, dragging Tabuu along with them. Once the God of Construction got up, he knew Galeem had something to say.

"What is it this time, master?" Tabuu sighed, his butterfly-like wings wilting.

"You were quite positive that with the Off-Waves, you reverted everyone I had captured so far into my personal slaves, correct?" Galeem told Tabuu.

"That's true," Tabuu answered, looking away in regret.

"Then explain to me this," Galeem said, harshly tugging on Tabuu's Chains of Light as he pulled the God of Construction next to him. With one of the Seraph of Order's outstretched wings fiercely pushing Tabuu towards the magical mirror, the two gods knew who Galeem was referring to: a mysterious, black-clothed man cutting out a beautiful picture of himself in an epic battle pose and taping himself to the poster on the wall.

"These two new companions – Joker and Piranha Plant – claimed that they were few of six warriors that had survived my attack outside of Kirby, according to the Phantom Thief of Hearts," Galeem explained. "Tell me, Tabuu… how come it was possible for them to avoid the light and not even pass the test of Arcadia's Master Core?" Tabuu looked away, confused by the question as well.

"I… think there were a few lucky survivors," Tabuu answered with no other explanation. "Whoever they are, you would have to get rid of them, and fast…" Galeem floated off his crystal throne, wondering about the situation.

"King Bulbin!" Galeem called. Through the Seraph of Order's command, the leader of the Bokoblins walked in on his warthog steed, surrounded by the corrupted Mii Fighters riding the raptors and other dinosaurs from the Cascade Kingdom, as well as his own troops of Bokoblins.

"Tell Balder and the Subspace Army in the Marth route to take extra precautions," Galeem ordered King Bulbin. "Afterwards, bring in Galleon to take care of these fighters." Walking off, King Bulbin took the Seraph of Order's command, riding off with his troops and the Miis. As they marched off into the darkness, Galeem and Tabuu watched through the magical mirror as Joker was looking around the room he was in, admiring the small pictures on the desk with the put-out oil lamp: one with two parent dragons with their three babies, the other a photo taken ten years ago with the words "Smash Bros. 2008" drawn on it with permanent marker.