Once the fighters got to where the path split up, Sherry went with Greninja, Rosalina & Luma, and R.O.B. towards the spring. Marx managed to teleport in front of the small band once they got to the edge of the spring. Right behind the jester was a gold Mii Brawler Supporter, a blue Snake Supporter with a green-clothed Zero Suit Samus, and a gray Ganondorf Supporter.

"So… I've been thinking of the next question to ask you fleshlings, as well as a suitable punishment should you fail," Marx explained, placing one of his claws on his lower lip. "Which of these Spirits is a scientist? If you answer wrong, you'll have to explain yourself to Cackles."

"Cackles?" Rosalina asked. Marx snapped his talons, and emerging from the ground behind them was a birthday clown animated like a 1910's cartoon character with the squash-and-stretch animation, his lower jaw and eyes torn from his face. He had submachine guns replacing his arms, and his legs were supported by eight spider legs.

"I really couldn't think of any ideas," Marx continued, rubbing in the middle of his hat. "So I basically came up with this 2D-abomination from my twisted head. Better pick the answer fast or Cackles will mow you down without your friends to see you as a bloody mess."

"I suppose we can see that," Sherry responded, her heart beating fast with fear as she looked up at the terrifying clown-thing.

"Just solve the quiz before my pet gets impatient," Marx finished. "Oh! And you better not be fighting him. That would count as a death penalty." The demon vanished, and the four fighters slowly approached the different Supporters. The Gold Bone Spirit possessed the gold Mii Brawler Supporter, Adam Malkovich took control of the Snake and Zero Suit Samus puppets, and Andross was the main puppeteer of the Ganondorf Supporter.

"This is harder than it looks," Sherry sighed. "We don't even know if any of these Spirits are canonically smart enough to be classified as scientists…" The clown monster behind the Smashers rubbed his gun-arms together, with his upper teeth growing to a slightly longer length as it smelled their presence. Swallowing the saliva in her mouth, the ex-Gunner Ultimate Reborn had no idea that R.O.B. moved a bit closer to the Ganondorf Supporter.

"R.O.B.?" the Mii Gunner asked. "What are you doing?" The gray robot then stopped in front of the puppet fighter, moving his arms towards the puppet while he kept on beeping. In his spoken language, he had learned that Fox, Falco, and Wolf all saw Andross as a mad scientist, one who harnessed the energy of the planet Venom and threatened to conquer the Lylat System with Star Wolf by his side. However, considering that the other three fighters cannot understand R.O.B. as well as know the backstories of the three anthropomorphic mercenaries, they were noticeably confused.

"…I hope you're right about this one, R.O.B.," the Mii Gunner sighed, cocking her arm cannon as she slowly approached the Ganondorf Supporter. She looked back on the jawless clown monster, who kept on staring at them. Once the Mii Gunner and R.O.B. stepped in front of the gray Ganondorf Supporter, a UV sphere formed around them once the ground rumbled. The sphere's insides transformed into the lifeless, hazardous landed of the planet Venom, and the ground was metallic under the feet of the two Smashers. They were standing on the wings of the Great Fox, with the Ganondorf Supporter on the other side.

"Keep me covered!" Sherry spoke, charging up her arm cannon as R.O.B. went over the ship to the puppet fighter. The ex-Ancient Minister continuously spammed his Arm Rotor move, drilling into the Ganondorf Supporter on the stage before following up with a string of neutral aerials. Every time the puppet fighter jumped out, Sherry would come out and kick him back in. Every thing was fun for the two Smashers until the main Assist Trophy was summoned.

It was Andross himself… or his mechanical incarnation that in now way represented his simian facial features. The disembodied head started spitting out tiles that targeted the small team, and the Ganondorf Supporter was racking damage upon them.

"We have to keep moving around the stage and get that puppet off the ship!" Sherry told R.O.B. as she ran around the wings and avoiding the tiles. Since they were primarily targeting the ex-Gunner Ultimate Reborn, the robot saw it as his chance to attack the Ganondorf Supporter with beams and gyros, eventually helping him leading to a powerful spike before the Andross Assist Trophy spotted R.O.B. and targeted him.

After the two Smashers successfully arrived back at the spring, having just released the Andross Spirit from his puppet prison, the other Supporters once again vanished without a trace. Rosalina held tight to her Luma as she and Greninja backed away towards the two fighters, the four of them huddling close to each other as Cackles slowly approached them. Just then, Marx flashed between the monster and the small group. The jawless, blinded clown tilted his head in confusion by that encounter.

"Hey! This was a part of the deal!" Marx scolded the clown creature he made. "You let them go once I see to it that they've answered correctly." The winged jester turned around so he was facing the four Smashers, with a path of light streaming from the spring to the abandoned plane hanging from the vines.

"You guys can go over there, if you like," Marx continued. "Figured you would reunite with an old friend…" Once the four fighters slid down the light path to the slide, Marx looked back at his creation. Even though his eyes were gouged out, he could still feel the trepidations rising from Marx's cold stare. The demon's eyes dilated until they were tiny black dots, his gaze fixated on the other fighters waiting at the second path from the spring.

There was something unnatural about this version of Marx. He may be serving Dharkon for the time being, but his perturbation was at an unnatural level to the point where he would kill anyone if things didn't go his way in a violent rage of temper. He made a slick motion across his nonexistent neck with one of his finger-like talons, mainly just as a means of threatening the creature he made. It would be foolish right now to see the plans Marx had in mind. Why didn't he kill the fighters on the spot like he was assigned to? Maybe out of curiosity, entertainment before the slaughter, or both. One thing's for sure right now: both he and the fighters were being educated.


The four Smashers walked on the large branch, trying to keep their balances on the slippery bark. Rosalina's Luma hovered over the bottomless abyss down below, supporting its mother so she wouldn't fall.

"Careful where you step," Sherry warned, gently placing her foot on the broken wing of the plane. "Looks like this thing isn't well secure…" It wasn't long before what, or who, they were searching for ambushed them the second they set foot on the abandoned plane – Wolf O' Donnell possessed by Mumkhar. The Wolf Primary growled at the four fighters, pulling out his blaster and firing charged shots at the four fighters. He grabbed Greninja as the Pokémon attacked from behind, his claws digging deep into the moist blue skin and causing them to bleed. Greninja simply pushed away and pulled out blades of water, slashing at the captured fighter as the Mii Gunner tossed grenades and bombs. The Wolf Primary noticed Sherry and R.O.B. camping out with projectiles, so he pulled out his reflector and knocked back all the projectiles. This apparently caused the vines to snap, with the other vines giving up holding the plane's weight.

Greninja knocked the Wolf Primary down onto his legs, dashing towards R.O.B. and Sherry on the tree. As the captured fighter dashed towards them on the falling plane, Rosalina slapped the Wolf Primary in the face with her wand while her Luma tied the captured fighter's legs with vines. As soon as the plane was about to fall into the abyss with the Wolf Primary, the four fighters gathered onto the tree and watched with fear in their eyes as the captured fighter fell with the plane into the abyss of the Mysterious Dimension, with the aircraft exploding seconds after for whatever reason. A small moment later, the four Smashers watched as Wolf's unconscious body was carried to where the rest of their friends were waiting at via shattered Dharkon Lock and Mumkhar Spirit.

"Do you think he's…?" Rosalina asked, holding tight to her Luma like a plush toy.

"Yep," the ex-Gunner Ultimate Reborn answered, already knowing what's what. "Let's head back to our pals." Sherry slid back to the spring by the same path of light they took, with Rosalina and her Luma, Greninja, and R.O.B. following after her.


The four Smashers ran back to Samus, Lucario, King Dedede, Bowser, Lucas, Isabelle, Pichu, and Piranha Plant just in time to see Wolf's body gently lowered in front of them. The red mist that carried the Star Wolf leader flew off into the sky with the Mumkhar Spirit, never to return.

"Ugh… my head…" Wolf O' Donnell growled, rubbing half of his face with his hands as he sat up. He opened up his uncovered eye, which was lacking the violet hue it kept around all those years. "I suppose I should thank you guys for saving me…"

"Don't mention it," Sherry chuckled, rubbing the back of her head. "Let's get going now. We still have plenty more souls like you in need of rescuing." Once the group of Smashers continued down the now-wooden path, they were stopped by Marx once again.

"Back from the dead, ain't ya guys?" Marx chuckled, levitating at a height impossible for the fighters to reach. "Hope you're prepared again because it's time for another quiz!" Spawning in different parts of the wooden path this time were two Inkling Supporters: one pink and the other purple, a Pikachu Supporter in its female Pikachu Libre form, and a team of puppets consisting of Wolf, Peach, and Ike.

"Which one of these groups hails from Inkopolis?" Marx asked, snapping his talons again. Spawning right behind the Smashers was some sort of undead creature with different parts of all sort of dinosaurs from multiple eras stitched together.

"Roxy's gonna eat those who don't answer fast as well as those who answer incorrectly," Marx explained. "Don't fuck up or else you'll be inside his belly for the next millennia." In the group with the Wolf Supporter partnered with the Peach and Ike minions, they had the Gangster, Lady, and Policeman Spirit. For the Pikachu Libre Supporter was the Reporter and Wrestler Spirit, and the two Inkling Supporters had Pearl and Marina, otherwise known as Off The Hook.

"The Inklings look like they came from Inkopolis," Samus explained. "Obviously it would be these two fish creatures considering the other Spirit teams don't look like they came from a world of anthropomorphic cephalopods."

"Clever as usual, I see," Marx sighed with a bit of defeat. "This shouldn't be too hard for you then." The demon then vanished the moment Samus stepped in front of the Inkling Supporters. While the battle was being prepared, Isabelle looked to her right to see a cloudy path. Right at the end of the short route was a being with a red aura, violet eyes, and the obvious chance it is…

"Another Primary!" Isabelle silently gasped, running towards the cloud path before she realized something. The Frankenstein's monster-like dinosaur loomed over the innocent dog, his hot, sticky breath warming her coat of blond fur. Marx appeared in front of Roxy via teleportation, easing the monstrous beast.

"Easy, mutt," Marx shushed. "Leave Cuddly-Wuddly to her intentions. We don't want her spoiled for the real fun, don't we?" Roxy, with a soft growl and a sharp gleam in his pale eyes, backed away. Isabelle looked up at Marx, surprised by what he did.

"I… uh… thank you," Isabelle spoke. "For a demon like yourself, you sure do plenty of humane things."

"I appreciate what you just said, puppy," Marx chuckled, not looking Isabelle in the face as he kept his back turned. "Now hurry along and satisfy your curiosity. I wanna be seeing everyone gathered before the big day." Isabelle, without another word, ran off down the cloudy path, leaving Marx to open a visionary window to the Inkopolis stage where Samus and King Dedede were taking down the Inkling Supporters as the Squid Sisters Assist Trophy moved the blast zone closer for a limited time.

When Isabelle walked to the end of the cloudy path to meet up with the Primary, she stopped in front of the captured fighter to admire the features. The being just so happened to be the Corrin Primary possessed by the Master Legendary Azura herself.

"Who dares approach me in this realm of nonsense?" Azura's voice asked from Corrin's body.

"Me!" Isabelle answered with determination. "I came here alone and I'm ready to take you down!"

"What a terrible mistake you made coming here alone," the Corrin Primary spoke. "At least be glad you're free from the terrible pain we have endured all these years. To be locked away from our own bodies that are left to decay on desolated planets until the end of time."

"I know plenty… and that's why I am going to free you – both the Spirit and the captured fighter!" Isabelle responded, pulling out her fishing rod and casting it at the Corrin Primary. The captured fighter managed to dodge it as he jumped up and spun in circles with his Yato Blade. Isabelle quickly dodged that and planted a Lloid Rocket underneath his feet, launching the Corrin Primary into the air. The assistant mayor then hopped up and pulled out pom-poms, whacking them at the captured fighter's face. She then threw a vase into the Corrin Primary's chest before she pulled out a broom and swung it around her body, forcing the Corrin Primary to get back up on his feet.

"You can't stop all of us," the Corrin Primary spoke, the rotor blades in his glowing sword spinning around the weapon like a chainsaw.

"True… but you're in a Smasher's body," Isabelle spoke, keeping a keen eye out for the captured fighter dashing towards her in pure spite. "And every Smasher has a weakness." The assistant mayor cast out her fishing rod as soon as the Corrin Primary cut one of his bare feet from the shattered vase. As the captured fighter groaned in pain from the intense cut, the hook of the fishing rod cut deep into the skin of his other foot. Once Isabelle pulled away, the Corrin Primary groaned from the sounds on his feet. Enraged, the possessed half-dragon transformed into his quadrupedal draconic self, firing a geyser of scalding water. Isabelle's tiny heart quivered as she pulled out her arm and pocketed the geyser. She tossed it back, much to the Corrin Primary's surprise, and the captured fighter was boiled alive.

After the Azura Spirit and the shattered Dharkon Lock left Corrin's healed body, the Dragon Prince slowly opened his red eyes, which no longer held the aura of captivity. Isabelle ran to Corrin, picking up his Yato Blade and giving it to him. Corrin held tight to his weapon, balancing himself with it.

"Relax, Corrin," Isabelle spoke, taking hold of Corrin's empty hand and leading him up the cloudy path.

"I… where am I?" Corrin asked once Isabelle walked back to the group with the half-dragon. The two fighters arrived in time to see Samus and King Dedede successfully defeat the Off The Hook Spirit, freeing Pearl and Marina while the other two Spirit groups vanished with the Shadow Bugs. Roxy's stitched body, after no longer serving its purpose to watch over the fighters, let its body parts collapse into an unstitched dinosaur mess. The bounty hunter suddenly noticed Corrin from within the group, and the other Smashers were filled with relief.

"We thought we would never find you here," Rosalina spoke, with Pichu hopping into Corrin's arms and hugging his chest tightly.

"You can thank Isabelle for rescuing me," Corrin answered. "What is this place anyway? It almost looks like some sort of…"

"Weird Armageddon?" Samus pointed out.

"Exactly," Corrin answered, thanking the bounty hunter for correcting him. "Though I must ask, since most of you guys have just arrived here, would you mind telling me what this Marx person wants from us?"

"Who knows?" the Mii Gunner sighed. "It doesn't seem like he has any real purpose here. He just seems to do his own thing. King Dedede warned up that he's extremely intelligent and will do whatever it takes to get his way… depending on what his motivations are…" A light path stemming from the wooden path appeared, leading to some sort of collapsing colosseum. The massive structure was surrounded by rubble of its limestone shell, no doubt a relic from the Ancient Roman times.

"We better get going," Bowser spoke. "That little demon might not be happy if we lollygag too long." Following the Koopa King, the rest of Group C got on the path of light and slid down to the colosseum. Marx himself teleported onto the wooden path, tucking his golden wings behind his back.

"They clearly don't know about the past, do they?" Marx asked, keeping his eyes their usual big size. Just then, he heard footsteps from behind, and he turned around to face the hidden figure in the shadows.

"Don't give me that attitude," Marx continued. "You chose to stay here after splitting up from your pals. Now you'll need to rely on these flesh sacks in order for you to escape. It's bad enough that you're making my broken rules more broken. Now go follow them. Or don't. It's your choice." Marx floated up into the air, spreading his wings once more and vanishing.

This hidden figure was no doubt another survivor of Galeem's attack prior ten years ago, and they slid down the exact same path of light the group traversed.