Traveling through the jungle, the fighters tried to navigate through the wet, dense flora, barely getting glimpses of the sun itself because the leaves were so thick. Each one of these fighters was struggling through mounds of broken sticks, some even trying to whisk away the flies and mosquitoes that buzzed around them.

Eventually, the gang came to a clearing, where the sun was getting rather hotter. Thankfully there was a spring where they were currently at. The oasis itself was near a stone hill where the water ran down from it.

"Finally we can rest for now," Gilbert sighed, the Mii Swordfighter slumping down on the dry mossy ground. The other fighters stopped what they were doing and quickly sat down, bummed out from traveling after so long. Now that they were at the spring, it provided enough time for them to catch a breather.

Kirby jumped into the spring, feeling how refreshingly cold the water was since the sun was starting to get arid. The red Supporter saw the pink puffball swimming around all gleefully. The puppet fighter started stirring the water surface, trying to get a good estimate of how deep the spring was. Since Primaries and Supporters were created to survive through any natural obstacle and continue fighting, this was basically easy for the Kirby Supporter to join in with the pink puffball.

"Poyo-poyo-po!" Kirby laughed, literally sitting on top of the water's surface and watching his puppet fighter friend swim towards him. The Supporter simply looked at Kirby, starting to get a little passive with its enemy.

However, this temporary peace near the spring did not last as Clementine noticed a third reflection in the water. Since there were two lightweights in the water, they were creating ripples that obstructed the view. The Inkling noticed that high above the crack where the spring's water was leaking from was a figure who was surrounded by a white aura and had red eyes. It was a Primary, no doubt, appearing in the form of Diddy Kong. Clementine noticed that the Primary was quickly charging up his Rocketbarrel Pack before slipping it off his back. The captured fighter then aimed it straight down, where the Inkling suddenly noticed the Diddy Kong Primary had got his eyes on Kirby. He took careful aim to not hit the Supporter, but it was too late as it zoomed right towards the two puffballs.

Inkling yelled at Kirby and his friend to watch out in her own language, running towards the spring. She didn't even bother testing out if the water was safe or not as she just dived in. She grabbed ahold of Kirby and the Supporter, kicking her legs as fast as she could before the Rocketbarrel Pack hit the surface. Once the explosion occurred, Clementine had managed to toss both Kirbies and herself onto the soft ground before the blast covered the spring. Just as before, the water was pure and the Inkling was safe. All of the other fighters noticed the explosion too, and they gathered near the pool to see the captured fighter that had attacked them. The Spirit that seemed to possess him was Dixie Kong, Diddy Kong's girlfriend back on Kong Island.

Feeling rather vengeful for the Primary trying to hurt her friends, the Inkling transformed into her squid form and used Super Jump to grab onto the rim of the small waterfall. Clementine was starting to slip after clinging onto the smooth rocks. Luckily, before the Diddy Kong Primary was about to shoot with his Peanut Popgun, Clementine grabbed the foot of the captured bipedal animal and jumped into the spring with him.

"Clementine!" Red called out. Because the fighters knew that the Inkling can manage this on her own, all they could do was sit and watch. Inkling had started putting the Diddy Kong Primary in a headlock, submerging the captured fighter in the spring's water. She began climbing out of the water, pressing the Primary's head below the surface so she could drown him. As the bipedal monkey struggled to breathe, his movements were slowing down until it eventually stopped. The Diddy Kong Primary's body sank to the bottom, and Clementine sat back. She thought about how she had just murdered their ambusher: the simple act of forced drowning.

"That was goddamn brutal," Fox replied. Like the Star Fox mercenary, all of the other Smashers on their team were shocked and had no comment for what just happened. Nonetheless, the Diddy Kong Primary's body floated to the top of the surface, his face out of the water. The white mist and the Dixie Kong Spirit floated out of the monkey's body, spiraling into Kirby's body. Just after the shards of the Galeem Lock and the Spirit entered the pink puffball's body, the last thing Kirby saw was Yoshi diving in to save Diddy Kong after he just woke up, struggling with drowning.


Kirby tapped the Smash Ball on his forehead to see if he was in another vision. After checking, the pink puffball looked up into the day sky, seeing the clouds float by. He looked around at the buildings surrounding Ginnungagap, seeing the Miis that could not fight keeping themselves inside their homes, locking up doors and boarding windows. Ceresor, his sons, and Ultima stood near the edge of the Pit of Fire and Ice, surrounded by the Miis that can fight, including their Ultimates. This was the day that the Shadow Bugs would emerge from the darkness of Ginnungagap with their new beast.

The rumbling of rocks falling into the pit from the fire and ice geysers startled the troops, but they were still waiting. Then, they heard the echoing of sticks clanking on rocks from below Ginnungagap. A few Primids appeared on the backs of Trowlons, drumming their battle song. Armights, Shaydases, Roturrets, and basically every enemy in the Subspace Army emerged, with those that cannot really fly riding on Trowlons. They were surrounding a large gap in between each other, with several empty Trowlons diving in.

The Mii Fighters and dragons stepped back as they saw the prehistoric beast emerge from Ginnungagap, carried by the Trowlons. The creature itself was an enormous serpent with purple scales. He had eyes similar to the Subspace Cyborg the fighters came across before but was completely different in many ways. The gigantic python stretched up to a hundred feet, coiling his long body. Fused to his forehead was a glowing-violet stone that emitted black storm clouds from it.

"Oh no… he has the Darkness of Hycto on him," the Gunner Ultimate whimpered.

"What?" Ultima asked. "What is this creature!?"

"It is the last of the Heliotrope Titanoboas, a species so powerful it wiped out major contenders of dinosaurs during the Paleogene Era and will clearly wipe out our generation too," the Brawler Ultimate answered.

"With the Darkness of Hycto in control, that snake will be an unstoppable leader of the Shadow Bugs!" the Swordfighter Ultimate finished. The clanking of the stones with sticks stopped as the Borborases blew in the sounds of dark ambient war horns. The Mizzos sparked electricity in harmony with one another, and the Armanks snapped their jaws in coexisting rhythm. The Aurori swirled around in the sky while the creatures of the Shadow Bugs chanted the serpent's name. They could not speak naturally as much as gurgle noises, but their harmonized sounds had generated a name for the Heliotrope Titanoboa.

"Gal-le-om! Gal-le-om!" the monsters from the pit snarled. Now Kirby understood. The cyborg simian that his friends went up against was in fact a titanic purple snake reawakened from cryogenic freezing in permafrost after a billion years ago to begin with. Most of the Mii Fighters trembled when Galleom hissed a deafening roar, his venomous fangs flashing from his flat mouth and forked tongue.

The huge serpentine monster quickly leaped off from the platform of Trowlons. Despite being large and clearly not fit to jump, the Heliotrope Titanoboa harnessed the Darkness of Hycto on his forehead, benefitting the stone's power. He landed on the edge of the pit, instantly attacking the first few of his targets. The Ultimates and the four dragons saw the serpent lashing out at the Brawlers, Swordfighters, and Gunners before the rest of the Subspace Army followed.

What soon followed was a massive battle taking place in the streets of Ginnungagap's city. Ultima managed to use her powers to the test, transforming into a shark-like shape and slashing through a barrage of Shadow Bug monsters in one shot. She then summoned forth a golden bracket, grabbing the Buckots in the air and slamming them into the ground. Ceresor and his sons worked together to hold back the creatures from advancing to the Mii Fighter buildings, unaware that Galleom was already smashing through buildings and devouring the young and old. Only Ultima had seemed to notice.

The young dragoness took off into the sky, coating her spectrum-colored wings in flames as she plowed through swarms of Feyeshes. The serpentine monster was moving fast, which meant that Ultima had to react quickly before Galleom escapes into the outside world of Arcus and claim it for the Shadow Bugs. Surely defeating that prehistoric beast meant victory for the Mii Fighters.

Ultima dived straight for Galleom's body, unaware that the flickering of his tongue could smell her thousands of feet away. He lashed his tail at the black-armored dragoness, attempting to crush her with his massive weight. Ultima quickly converted her own skin into metal, planting her hind legs firmly on the ground. She bit into the giant serpent's tail as hard as she could, attempting to swing it. However, the Darkness of Hycto on the purple serpentine's forehead boosted his attack power, swinging Ultima around like a ragdoll. After ramming her into a house filled with defenseless Miis until she turned back to normal, Galleon surrounded a bruised Ultima with his body, hissing with wrath.

The Miis screamed in terror as they hugged on another. Ultima watched as Galleom dove right in to bite her with his fangs. It would have been too late for Ultima if it was not for Lord Ceresor shooting an explosive fireball into the beast's mouth. The Lord of Arcus landed right in front of his young companion, roaring at the purple snake.

The Heliotrope Titanoboa did not take that remark lightly and went straight for what he saw was the elderly and weaker prey. He slithered fast and tried to snap at Ceresor, who was so high above the creature. Combining the Water and Thunder Rainbolements, Ceresor rained down puddles conducting electricity through them. Once they hit Galleom's skin, the creature roared with hisses, swinging its tail back and forth.

"You people need to evacuate the city immediately!" Ultima told the cowering Miis. "Hide in the forest and take shelter until we defeat that snake monster!"

"But my husband's still out there!" one Mii, who was supposedly a mother of the other Miis, objected.

"Your loved ones are trying to sacrifice themselves for you, meaning you can still live another day," Ultima calmly answered. "Now, gather any survivors and flee into the forest until all is well. Move it!" The Miis then retreated into the city, avoiding the attacks from the other Shadow Bugs as best as they could. Some of the Mii Fighters were also helping the untrained Miis into the surrounding forest.

Ultima started slamming her front paws into the ground, summoning a net of vines from underground to trap Galleom. While the serpentine was struggling with the vines that got tighter the more he moved, Lord Ceresor fired magical blasts in the serpent's face. Ultima tried holding down the beast as hard as possible, but Galleom was just too strong. His tail ripped through the vines, not giving Ultima enough time to react as she was flung to a nearby pillar by Galleon's strength. She struggled in pain as she looked in terror of Lord Ceresor being hit by Galleon's tail. Since he too did not see it coming, Ceresor did not have time to use his powers as he was crushed by the weight of the hundred-foot tail.

"Lord Ceresor!" Ultima screamed. Thankfully, Sozo and Hakai could hear their student's cry over their father while in the middle of a battle from half a mile away.

"…Did something happen to our father?" Hakai asked.

"Come on!" Sozo exclaimed, pushing his brother forward before flying in Galleom's direction. The two dragons dashed as fast as they could to their Father's rescue, teleporting to get to the Heliotrope Titanoboa. Ultima looked above and saw the two dragons breathing flames on Galleom's violet scales. The dragoness was constantly avoiding the serpent's swinging tail, watching as Sozo launched giant balloons filled with cyan ink while Hakai curved into a circular form, summoning a humanoid eye with a stun laser in the middle of the shape. Once Galleom was stunned, Hakai and Sozo began charging up plasma blasts. As Ultima suddenly saw another swing from the creature's tail, she quickly ducked. Sozo and Hakai avoided the attack in time by teleporting toward Ultima, landing in front of her.

"You need to leave the Mii civilians out of the city!" Sozo ordered. "It's too dangerous!"

"My bro's right!" Hakai answered. "We can't risk anyone getting injured!"

"But if we leave, that thing will just destroy all we know on this planet anyway!" Ultima objected. Hakai pondered about that question, wondering if Ultima was right about their current situation.

"…Fair point," Hakai replied. Sozo suddenly saw the purple tail swinging towards them, and he quickly grabbed Hakai with his own mouth and teleporting them into the air. Once they had managed to fly, the two dragon brothers began spitting out flaming rocks at Galleom. With enough brute strength, Galleom opened his mouth and dived straight for the two brothers. His fangs snagged onto Sozo's left wing and Hakai's right wing, both of them the wings without the "hands-in-command" scars. The serpent shut his mouth, shaking his head back and forth. With brute force, Galleom ripped Sozo's and Hakai's caught wings clean off, slamming them into the ground. The beast then devoured the wings he had torn off, looking down upon Ultima.

The wounded Dragosmo took a good look at Galleom. The Darkness of Hycto on the prehistoric beast's forehead was the source of his strength, which would explain how he had mortally wounded Lord Ceresor and permanently grounded Sozo and Hakai. She knew if she ripped the stone from the serpent's skull, Galleom was significantly vulnerable. The Mii Fighters kept pushing against the Shadow Bugs, starting to grow victorious just like many of their countless battles from before. As soon as the serpentine giant attacked her again, Ultima quickly used her teleporting ability to get into the air. Once Galleom slithered towards her, Ultima created many different clones of herself. Each one of them behaved exactly like Ultima, even moving in a chaotic pattern so Galleom had a hard time telling each one apart. Flames and icicles flew into the serpent's face as he lunged towards one of the clones. He was instead met with an electrical-charged blast from the clone's self-destruct. The storm of projectiles did not seem to do much for Galleon as he kept attacking the different clones, seeming as how he was met with explosions of lightning from each one. Once Galleom was diverted enough, the real Ultima made the remaining clones self-destruct and flew straight for his forehead, knocking the violet stone right off the beast's body.

Once the Darkness of Hycto landed softly on the grass-laden ground, Galleom was now weak to Ultima's rapid-jab slashes. The dragoness continued attacking the creature until he was at the rim of the pit, grabbing the dropped stone in the process. With one final hit, Ultima completely shattered Galleom's body into many pieces, with fragments of his long ribcage flying out with bit of organs, flesh, and blood. Defeated, all that remained of the Heliotrope Titanoboa's body fell into the Pit of Ice and Fire, with Ultima dropping the Darkness of Hycto along with him into the pit. Once the army of creatures have heard the cries of Galleom's defeat, they all quickly combusted into their original forms: the Shadow Bugs, retreating back into the pit. The Mii Fighters were successful in holding back the creatures born with hearts of ice once more. Ultima had almost collapsed in exhaustion from that encounter.

The dragoness quickly ran to Sozo and Hakai, who were holding down the areas where each of their individual wing was ripped from. Ultima then saw Lord Ceresor lying down on the ground, barely moving.

"Lord Ceresor," Ultima said happily. "I managed to stop Galleom. I couldn't have done it without you or your sons…" Lord Ceresor coughed harshly, trying to stand up on his four legs. He then stumbled, startling his young companion a bit.

"I… cannot seem to… move…" Lord Ceresor groaned weakly. "…Maybe you three can help take me back… to the Sky Temple…" Ultima was starting to cry from the fact that Lord Ceresor might die from his wounds, troubling her greatly. As soon as the Mii Fighters had gathered around the four dragons in grief, the Smash Ball on Kirby's head flashed bright once more.


A wet, cold hand touched Kirby's face. The pink puffball opened his eyes and saw Diddy Kong perching right on top of him. Since the monkey was rescued from drowning in the spring, his brown fur was dripping with fresh water. Diddy Kong then shook his body, splashing all over the place. This was enough to encourage Kirby to wake up.

"Sleeping again as usual?" Sheik asked. "Count your lucky stars that the Inkling managed to rescue you and your clone friend." The red Kirby Supporter tapped the real Kirby's face with its stubby hand, making the pink alien giggle a bit.

"Where do you guys suppose Diddy Kong came from?" Dr. Mario asked. "There's no paths around here, so this is basically a peaceful-looking dead end." Lucario placed a hand on Clementine's shoulder, using his aura powers to read her mind.

"According to this Inkling, she managed to spot Diddy Kong dropping his Rocketbarrel Pack from above the spring," Lucario answered. "If that's the case, then that must mean there's a secret way up the mountain."

"So if Diddy Kong came from above the spring, then he must know a way through," the Wii Fit Trainer replied. The monkey nodded in response, hollering as he ran off to a new location in the area. Diddy Kong stopped at some overgrowth, pushing it aside. The fighters saw that Diddy Kong had uncovered a new path that led up the barren mountain. There was a path that spiraled to the top before dropping down at the semiarid desert nearby.

"Good work, Diddy!" the Pokémon Trainer remarked before instantly running up the spiraling path with his Pokéballs in his backpack.

"Wait for us, Red!" Little Mac replied, chasing after him. Soon after, the whole team followed the Pokémon Trainer up the mountain. When they had gone halfway up the mountain, they saw another spring carved through erosion. The pool was leaking into the one down below. All they had to do was traverse higher. When the Smashers got over the edge, they saw that the top was flat, with its path descending into the desert.

The fighters looked at the view from this point, amazed at how beautiful Gallia looked. Everything was bright and colorful, with skies filled with pure white clouds. When they weren't fighting Primaries and Supporters, this island was rather peaceful in some regions, but that was mainly because most of the planet's captives were freed from Galeem's control. But if there was anything this team had learned from their travels, it was that their actions will be recognized the more of their friends they rescue, and they will be ambushed more often. This was not an exception here on top of the rocky mountain as they were about to find out.

"Alright," Fox McCloud told everyone. "Make sure we're stock up on that Miitopian grub before we head down into the desert. Anything heavy on juices is a major option." The fighters checked their pockets to see whatever liquids they could find, making sure they were not low on these kinds of vital resources. All of a sudden, a fully-charged orb of water was shot right towards Link. The Champion of Hyrule had quickly noticed in time and blocked the projectile with his Hylian Shield. The whole team quickly found out, all of them looking at Link as he pulled out his Master Sword. Emerging from the bushes in the back of the mountain were two Supporters: one of them was a feminized version of Corrin – the one who had shot the water orb with Dragon Shot, and the other was Lucina with light red hair dressed in white. With a familiar buzzing sound, a figure with a neon blue blade jumped out and attempted to slam down on Piranha Plant and Yoshi.

"Backslash!" the stranger spoke out, but that voice was one none of the Smashers would recognize. Piranha Plant was grabbed by Yoshi and dragged out of the way.

"Are you kidding me right now!?" the Mii Swordfighter asked. "You get in the mood and company shows up." The stranger that appeared before them was the Shulk Primary, sporting a white aura and red eyes like all other Primaries while the two Supporters with him had just red eyes.

"Not the peculiar type to run around with a Supporter by your side, huh?" the Shulk Primary asked in a voice different from the Hom that the others were comfortable with, noticing the Kirby puppet with them.

"Listen: we're tired of fighting minute after minute," Captain Falcon addressed. "Most of us just wanna go home. Who do you think you are to ambush us like everyone else!?"

"My name is Rex, defender from the Leftherian Archipelago!" the Shulk Primary answered, showing that Rex was the Spirit controlling Shulk. "We are here to attack in the name of Galeem – not because we chose to do it but because we HAVE to do it. Mythra! Pyra! Get those sons of bitches!" The two Supporters both drew their swords and dashed towards the fighters, ready to attack. Setting his eyes on the Pokémon Trainer, the Shulk Primary grabbed ahold of Red as they were teleported to yet another Final Destination-like location.


The Pokémon Trainer rubbed his head as he felt the soft ground underneath him. The air smelled fresh and pure, with caving cliffs that were clearly not possible for ordinary lands to corrode into. In the sky was a mechanical giant permanently frozen in place. It was Gaur Plains.

"Galeem has told me about your unique ability to summon three different creatures into battle," the Shulk Primary said. "So summon a creature and let's fight!" Red jumped to the back of the stage and quickly pulled out a Pokéball. He summoned Squirtle and began the fight. Squirtle started the match by using Withdraw, with the Pokémon curling up into his shell and rushing at the captured fighter. Just when Squirtle's shell was about to hit the Shulk Primary, the captured fighter managed to use Vision in time. The blue effect that came from the rival forced Red to switch out his Pokémon.

"Return!" the Pokémon Trainer said, summoning Squirtle back into his Pokéball. In a split second after the Shulk Primary finished his counter-attack, Red unleashed Ivysaur. As soon as the Grass-type Pokémon was summoned, Ivysaur quickly summoned vines from his flower bud and constantly slapped the Shulk Primary.

Once the captured fighter jumped out of the way, he pulled out his Monado blade and used the Buster Art. Ivysaur quickly used Razor Leaf to space himself out. Once the Shulk Primary was racked up with enough damage, Ivysaur used Bullet Seed and began shooting the captured fighter into the air. Then, the Pokémon used Vine Whip and yanked the Shulk Primary in front of him. Once the captured fighter was at a certain angle, the Pokémon Trainer quickly switched out to Charizard and made him use Flare Blitz. It was a perfect hit at the Shulk Primary, and the captured fighter instantly took a one-way trip into the blast zone. After the Shadow Bugs dissolved the background of Gaur Plains, Pokémon Trainer quickly called back Charizard before he was suspended in midair. Red then saw the body of Shulk protected by Rex's Spirit by means of the blue barrier. The Spirit Sniper appeared in Red's hand, meaning it was time for another roulette.


Back at the mountaintop, the rest of Pokémon Trainer's friends were busy attacking the Lucina and Corrin Supporters. Both Clementine and Gilbert were covering each other's backs as they both covered themselves in walls of projectiles. Once the Lucina and Corrin Supporters were knocked out far enough, Piranha Plant and Kirby managed to grab them and pummel the puppet fighters until they were released. Once the Supporters escaped, Jigglypuff and Peach both slapped the puppet fighters so hard their shields broke. Meanwhile, the red Kirby Supporter was unharmed as it simply sat near the edge of the mountaintop. Since it was two Normal Legendary Spirit Supporters going up against twenty-one, it seemed pretty fair in the amount of power both teams had. However in this case, the odds were against the puppet fighters. Bowser stomped towards them and charged a powerful lunge kick, sending the Corrin and Lucina Supporters in the red Kirby puppet's direction. They would have managed to survive if it wasn't for the allied Supporter that pulled out a flaming hammer and whacked the two puppets' heads off. Despite being Blades, the Spirits that had possessed there clones were just as weak as everyone else. Once the defeated clones disintegrated into Shadow Bugs, the Mythra and Pyra Spirits, which were red and lacked the rainbow aura, both flew into Kirby's body and got themselves absorbed into Faker's stone.

The Pokémon Trainer had arrived through the vortex, carrying the unconscious body of Shulk. The Master Legendary Rex Spirit emerged from the Hom with the mist of the shattered Galeem Locks. Kirby managed to absorb the mist and Spirit, meaning it was time for another vision much to his surprise. The pink puffball froze in place once more, his eyes glowing white.


Kirby woke up with the rainbow aura and golden eyes again, seeing that he was in a semi-dark room with candles aglow. Lord Ceresor was lying down in his bed, with Sozo, Hakai, and Ultima standing next to him. Sozo and Hakai had their wounds stitched together, and they managed to survive Galleom's threat. Their father however was not so lucky. Now the Lord of Arcus was resting on his stomach, looking at his closest companions with sadness.

"I am afraid I… cannot go on with ruling Arcus any longer," Lord Ceresor said, coughing harshly. "It is time the dragons of this planet move on without me…"

"Lord Ceresor, no!" Ultima objected. "There has to be a way to bring you back! We can use the Life and Magic Rainbolements to heal you and even regrow the wings that your son's once had! I-"

"Ultima, it isn't right," Hakai answered. "Even I am not crazy enough to go beyond those limits of... bringing our dying father back and regrowing lost limbs."

"I'm afraid my sons are right," Ceresor answered. "Necromancy and dark magic have been considered unfair for many reasons involving our lifespan, so we had to make it forbidden. Like the seasons that cycle around, we all must change… give it or better or for worse."

"But… what'll happen to you…?" Ultima asked, beginning to tear up. Ceresor only chuckled weakly.

"My dear, sweet child…" Ceresor sighed, gracing her delicate face gently with his talon. "The reason why you can neither bring back parts of someone's body or even resurrect loved ones is because… their own time has come. There are many different populations, both alien and dragonkin alike, that know immortality is not the answer. Those that are dying wish for their tale to end since they have already lived it up to the fullest. They had fought the toughest battles. They had watched their children start lives of their own. They had seen all the events that had followed. Whether good or bad, they wish to see what happens next, and my lifespan is no different. I helped you uncover who you truly are. Now it is time you take my place in the Throne of Arcus, Ultima, and show your students my teachings."

"Me?" Ultima asked. "I don't even know how to rule a planet, give or take a few days!"

"You will find your way," Ceresor answered. "I must go soon. My place in the Great Beyond is waiting for me. You did your part, Ultima. You had managed to save a species and ours. It was your fight for freedom. That is what makes you the next Queen of Arcus. Hopefully my sons can guide you through."

"…Lord Ceresor!" Ultima cried, her claws ready to tear through the bed sheets as she tightened her grip.

"…Remember what I have taught you," Lord Ceresor whispered. "The Almighty Father… is waiting for me… goodbye… my… children…" With one final breath, Lord Ceresor had succumbed to his wounds. Ultima tried holding in her tears, but it was alas impossible as she broke down on Ceresor's deathbed through weeping. The one she looked up to all her years was deceased.

"Our father was a great ruler," Sozo addressed with grief in his face. "Let's hope his legacy is never forgotten…"

The next day, as Kirby watched through another time lapse, Ultima was standing in front of Lord Ceresor's grave. The burial itself was located in the Sky Temple's garden, hence why it was decorated with flowers of all species throughout Arcus. The tombstone was a large cross decorated with stone angels blowing trumpets of glory. Dragons with each one breathing an individual Rainbolement were found at the edges. The encryption carved into the tombstone read "Ceresor: Lord of Arcus – The Dragonkin Will Not Forget You".

Ultima shed another tear from her eye, looking away in shame. Why didn't she save Ceresor when she got the chance? Even then, she doubted there was a change for the better as it is. As the Lord of Arcus said, it was time to move on.

"Depressing, isn't it?" a familiar voice asked. Ultima quickly picked up the sound, immediately recognizing it.

That voice… Ultima thought. She turned around to see the black entity and his bubblegum slime companion behind her.

"What are you doing here?" Ultima growled softly.

"I'm sorry," the entity replied. "Did I arrive at a bad time? It must be because you seem unfit for being a ruler."

"You tried to corrupt me," Ultima snapped, approaching closer to the black mist. "I don't know what is your fucking problem, but I will get to your head if it takes me thousands of years."

"Try me," the entity objected, the pink slime purring on his crystalline arm. "I have been around long before you or the most recent Lord of Arcus even existed, and I had to go through sacrifice just to get here. I am more than what you think, and I have ways of deceiving you. Once I get my way, there will be nothing that stands between me and my goal. With you as an exception, I only see dragons as corrupt and sin-driven as every other species I came across…"

"…Funny," Ultima pondered. "That almost sounded like a being I was warned to be careful of… Who are you…?" The entity merely chuckled at that question.

"You are… so clever to recognize me," the entity growled. "Like I said, I am an unpredictable force that strives for whatever he desires. What you are standing on is the birth of a new nation."

"Get out of my head," Ultima growled.

"I will vanish as you have commanded," the black mist replied. "However, I will appear before my next target tomorrow night when the moon is new. After all… don't you just love the feeling of chaos?" Through evil-sounding laughter, the black mist and his bubblegum slime vanished through the wind. Just a second later, Sozo walked in.

"Ultima?" Sozo asked. "Who were you talking to?" He only managed to hear Ultima from a decent distance, so it was hard for him to understand.

"Uh… nobody," Ultima answered nervously. "Just… practicing lines in case of political commentary…"

"We don't discuss politics anymore," Sozo answered with suspicion.

"You… never know!" Ultima said.

"Whatever you think, you are needed for the coronation," Sozo replied. "Let's go." Once both dragons walked out of the garden, Kirby's Smash Ball flashed bright once again.


The pink orb felt water from Squirtle's Water Gun move splash onto his face. Kirby turned around to meet with the Pokémon's face. Red laughed as Squirtle hopped back into his arms.

"We don't need to know you're up again," Samus said. "By the way, we got another friend." Standing right in front of Kirby was Shulk, rescued from the Lock's captivity.

"Hey, Shulk?" Fox asked. "You said there were six decillion, forty-eight nonillion, seven hundred and forty-two octillion, and five hundred and seventy-nine septillion ways this can end."

"Plus fourteen million, six hundred and five," Shulk corrected.

"Whatever," Fox continued, pretending to avoid that fact as he shook his hands in a stately manner. "Regardless of how many, can you give us a little recap of how many futures are still here? I get the feeling that a lot more are where we don't even make it up to this point…" Shulk gladly grabbed ahold of the Monado's handle, his eyes flashing blue as he looked through so many futures.

"Thankfully, there are eight hundred and fifty-three sextillion futures available to us," Shulk answered. "That doesn't mean we don't have more than one future in which we win."

"Makes sense," Fox said. "Let's head to the desert, people." The Star Fox mercenary traveled down the road to the semiarid desert up north, and the whole gang, including the red Kirby Supporter, followed after him. Kirby stayed behind for a while and quickly coughed up Faker's stone. It was still dry and lacking cracks after this whole time, still giving off that dark violet texture behind the golden Smash Ball symbol.

Kirby knew that somewhere out there is Faker herself, waiting for him to come back. If the pink demon was to return with his friends, then that stone she gets back might recover parts of her amnesia, maybe even giving the other fighters clues about Galeem's past.

"Kirby!" Captain Falcon called out. The pink puffball heard the bounty hunter call out his name, and he quickly inhaled the stone again before meeting up with his friends.

And whoever was the third fighter to survive Galeem's Movement of the Light, this person would surely meet up with this band of heroes and villains in the semiarid desert.