"Like the darkness? Why would I wanna trust you?"
"Just as I anticipated; in the past, darkness has always been seen as the prime corruptor, but look at what the light has done to this world; Everyone you know is dead."
"You're lying. YOU DID THIS!" Luigi shouted forcefully turning to him-fireball in hand.
"I only reacted to Galeem's wrath. If it weren't for him and the Master Hands, I would not have had to release my army of monsters against the light's puppets, nor end up killing your friends in the process."
"What are you talking about? I don't have to listen to you."
A cloud of darkness showed Luigi a tinted projection of the extent of each of the massacres, which Dharkon manipulated to make it appear as though absolutely no one had been spared; then a look into Galeem's collection of puppet fighters. Mario, in particular, seemed to be suffering, as his essence was used to produce clones for both of the brothers. Meanwhile, Ike had just been pummeled by Crazy Hands led by Marx, Ludwig was turned to stone, Alucard's spirit was forcibly inserted into a Simon clone controlled by his father, and Cloud was barely holding on in his own clash with Ganon and even more Crazy Hands. Finally, it shifted toward a scene of pure nightmare: a hologram of Death; its scythe inches from Luigi's chest.
The sequences struck Luigi relentlessly. "It can't be! I don't wanna die! I can't! Why did this have to happen?" Dharkon knew the next stage in his plan had worked; he continued to relish Luigi's emotional breakdown.
"I am aware, but thanks to you, it doesn't have to be that way forever."
"What do you mean; and where's Nino?"
"Throughout your journey, your group has slain an impressive amount of Galeem's puppets, weakening his shield and the seals imprisoning me. As for the girl, the puppets have imprisoned her. Now, help me to finish our destiny. I'll even let you keep your soul if you prove yourself willing to cooperate, for puppets are just that: beings with no identity of their own; no nerves to strategize—nothing but a burden to the forces that pull the strings."
"K-keep…my soul?" Luigi sighed. "I have no choice. I'll do what ask of me Dharkon."
"Good."
The dark forces expanded and created a stairway to a far-off tundra region.
"Now go."
Luigi laid a flower on Leaf's chest, then reluctantly climbed the stairs, taking one last look at her before leaving the World of Light.
"Brr…Where did you say you were?"
Dharkon directed Luigi's attention to a small gathering of spirt-controlled clones, which he made quick work of.
"How many more of these guys do I have to beat up?"
"It will only be a matter of time before you have weathered Galeem's influence enough to where we can face him head-on. Then, we can find all of them a new home of their own desires."
Red walked up to Leaf. This time, she woke up.
"Huh? Red! It's so good to see you again!" She hugged him as hard as she could.
"Leaf, how did you get here?"
"Ugh. All I remember was the attack. Huh? Who left this flower here?"
"Don't worry, we're here to rescue you."
"We?"
In front of them was everyone rescued in the World of Light, including Bowser, Peach, and Pichu.
"And it's all thanks to Kirby here!"
"Hi!"
"I'm so glad. You have no idea how happy you've made me!" she squealed hugging Kirby and Pichu.
"There's still plenty of more work to do. Now, let's face down Dharkon, together!"
"Wait! There's something you should know." Leaf told them her story-about Luigi, Ike, Cloud, and Alucard.
While meditating in a replica of his old manor, Luigi heard Kirby, Mario, Pit, Marth, Simon, Lucario, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Greninja, and Rosalina & Luma; they were looking for him!
Mario's call to his brother echoed through the icy wind. Hearing them, Luigi turned around and took a good look at this particular ensemble. He slipped on the ice, falling on his face. After getting back up, he developed a headache and placed his right hand on the side of his head. He then spoke to them: "Guys? You came…Nrgh. Not me…Not again…Stay away from me!" In his anguish, he threw five fireballs at them with his other hand. None of them hit, but they did generate steam upon contact with icicle stalagmites.
Everyone gasped in sheer terror.
"What has he done to you?" Mario exclaimed in complete shock.
"Nothing, my beloved brother. I assure you that I'm the Luigi you know," he said as a dark red aura around him grew visible, "I am no longer at the mercy of Death; I AM DEATH! Now face a' me and be free! We will overthrow Galeem and restore this world!"
"This is not you."
"SILENCE! Spare me your façade and our new lord and savior will grant you mercy. Please…surrender, for my sake…I want my family...and…all my friends back…more than anything…the warmth of life…I long for it again. Do you know…the pain…I've been through…up…to this moment…Of course, you do; You caused it; YOU TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME! But I've come here to end it all. Now make like the Falchion and be awakened!"
Mario gasped once more. Lucario placed his palm in front of him. He mediated, focusing all his senses on Luigi's aura: "He speaks the truth."
"What? Then why is he attacking us? It's us!"
"The soul and body you see are his, but he has become a servant to Dharkon; he sees us here now but has also seen our fates on that day, over and over again. Dharkon is twisting the confusion, anger, guilt, fear, and passion inside of him to turn him this way. I'm afraid he can't be reasoned with in this state."
Pit spun his blades. "Well, I say it's time to teach this fool to face the light and the truth!"
Luigi scoffed as he called for a Death's Scythe to materialize in his hands; "I cannot lose," thrashing Pit mercilessly after grabbing him with his tether and kicking him to the side.
"You're the fool. Light only TAKES from life!" Luigi said to Pit in a sinister tone about to slash him. The angel was only able to escape back to Mario's group after Luma fired some Star Bits to distract Luigi.
"Poor choice of words, Pit," Lucario grunted.
Luigi brushed some diamond dust off his shoulder. "Mario…Rosalina…Kirby…Jigglypuff…Simon…please stop. I don't want to hurt you. Each of you…I…don't know what I'd do without them...All puppets…MUST DIE!" He belted out a drawn-out deranged laugh, "Die. Die. DIE!"
Mewtwo stood forward. "I'll take care of this."
Lucario reproached his psychic contemporary; "No. Do you really want to further mess with an already broken mind?"
"Well, what do you suggest we do?"
Jigglypuff hopped in the air and gave her Pokémon cry to get Mario's attention; "What is it, Jigglypuff?"
She gave him a Brewster Spirit, equipped the magical Spirit of Azura on herself, and initiated a mock fight with them. The others agreed to allow her to charge up her Final Smash and attempt to prove her innocence, and once she did, she grew to a gigantic size, grabbed a microphone, and began to sing;
Jiggaly...puff...jiggaly...puff!
Jiggaly...puff...jiggaly...yyy…puff!
Of course, every one of her comrades (barring Mario) instantly fell asleep upon hearing her Sing. Mario helped too. Luigi trembled just as he did when the dark aura triggered the visions—now in the form of waking nightmares—Dharkon had cursed him with. He tried to lash out at Jigglypuff in an effort to end the turmoil. Yet, the song was also indirectly weakening the darkness's hold on him; for how could a puppet sing so beautifully? Was this truly his close friend reborn?
Jigglypuff continued to sing even as she shrank back down to normal size, then she remembered the tune Cloud was humming right before she was overtaken and began to sing to it.
"It's going to be alright, Jigglypuff. We will find a way to rescue you. Remember: you're not alone."
(Colors weave into a spire of flame
Distant sparks call to a past still unnamed
Bear this torch against the cold of the night
Search your soul and reawaken the undying light!
These little sparks cling onto life, and then the storms of change
They fan the flames scattering ashes to the wind!
As fate spins its threads, without end, new life draws its first
Breath blossoming in a soil reclaimed from the past
Here where we stand hand clenched in hand, everyone
This is the day we find a way!
Stepping into our tomorrow
Every soul contains a whisper of light
Trust that in your heart, nothing will stop us from loving you
Everything is going to be okay!
Though times seem bleak, a ray of hope can still appear
Step back into the light, and remember the hero you are!
Friends and souls reunited in this World of Love
You were never alone
Light and dark alike, we'll vanquish this veil of lies
Now that you are home
Colors weave into a spire of flame; distant sparks
Call to a past still unnamed
Bear this torch against the cold of the night. Light will guide
You to the Ultimate Fight!)
The dark aura disappeared completely. Luigi got closer to Jigglypuff and hugged her. "Jigglypuff, it really is you; I can feel your warmth; there was someone else after all…Thank you." Luigi then fell sound asleep with a smile on his face.
Mario came and started to carry his snoozing little brother over his shoulder back to the World of Light. "C'mon. Let's a' get him out of here before Dharkon finds out."
It was at that moment Jigglypuff saw everyone else sleeping and became angry. By now she knew better than to draw on everyone's faces, but she couldn't help but bear the thought; so, she just stole Mario's Brewster Spirit and woke everyone up that way.
Mario announced that he was temporarily returning to the World of Light.
"I'll come with you," offered Rosalina. Luma spun and squeaked in unison. While Kirby ran to give Mario one of many hugs.
Mewtwo asked them; "But are you sure you know the way?"
Marth added, "We'll meet you at the Gravity Dojo."
The rest waved good-bye.
"Are you awake?"
Luigi opened his eyes and hugged the voice that softly called him; it was Rosalina. Mario and Kirby were there too. They joined in.
"I've missed you all so much!"
"Don't worry; we'll take care of you."
"But what about…"
"Shh. Only when you are ready."
Luigi took a moment to admire his new surroundings. They were in a divine forest up in the sky. The sun was shining, the grass was soft, there were no threats, and his friends' eyes were as blue as the sky. He was crying again, but these were tears of joy.
"We missed you too Bro," Mario said, "And we've still got more work to do, a few more Fighters to save, and a Dharkon to beat up."
"I don't understand."
"Hm?"
"As long as Dharkon is alive, I fear I may lose control again. What does he want anyway?"
"The embodiment of chaos and darkness, he wants to engulf the world in…well, darkness; I'm not sure how I can fully explain it."
The flashbacks came back to him again. "Have we truly been forsaken?"
"I…"
Rosalina spoke to him again; "In their eyes, yes, but just like any opposing force, we have the power given onto us to resist. For every storm of hate, there is always love to help us weather through it—to help us keep going. There is no reason to give in to the storm if you are able; some run, some hide, and some face it directly. You, of all people, should know that."
"You're right; even when you aren't here, just by cherishing our lives and stories, I never truly gave up on anyone. The only reason I gave Dharkon my word was, so I could keep going, to keep my body and soul together so I could keep looking for you, and now that I know you're safe, I want to stay here, with you."
"We understand fully; it's been rough on us all."
"Poyo!"
"Kirby says that of the three thresholds giving him his power, we have destroyed two of them, and most of the others are battling the third," Rosalina said.
The pink puff nodded.
Mario chimed in, "Okay, Kirby and I are going to finish the fight, but we'll be back."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Byiii!" Kirby squealed.
Mario kept running before he saw the clash of light and darkness up in the sky. They then turned to him and Kirby. Zelda informed them that the others had successfully defeated Dracula and rescued nearly all the others. The final battle had begun.
"There's almost too many of them!" Samus shouted; Galeem and Dharkon's armies against them both. There were clones of all shapes and sizes, Master Hand, and Crazy Hand, and four last Puppet Fighters to defeat. It took all of the Fighters' strength to weaken them enough. Richter returned to unite Starfy and Starly, Hinawa and Claus supported Lucas, and Ike destroyed Mother Brain—just to name a few.
In a late fight, Donkey Kong took on a Gold Ridley clone inspirited by the Legendary Pokémon Lunala. A Moongeist Beam injured DK greatly, but he was still able to fight. They were both charging up their specials when the Ridley clone was struck from behind. As it collapsed, the moonlight shone down revealing the accoster: Luigi, facing right. He then turned to DK making finger gun gestures with both hands and pretending to shoot them, saying. "Bang! Bang!"
In response, DK beat his chest and gave him a big toothy grin. The two then joined the others in the fight.
After the last Fighter was rescued, all of them rallied behind Mario and Kirby to make the climb to Galeem and Dharkon.
"We will fight to protect all that is good, the world where our freedom rings true, neither for light nor darkness, but for love, with you at my side." Pichu jumped in front of them, cheering everyone on.
All the Fighters watched Galeem and Dharkon fall into the ocean and explode.
"I can feel the new breeze already," said Isabelle.
Palutena laughed. "I'm the only real Goddess of Light around here, and I commend this to be the most beautiful sunset in the history of forever!"
The rest joined in, as they watched the sunset and all the Spirits enjoying their newfound freedom.
Luigi was the last Fighter to leave; he just had to see Nino again. In the starlight, she approached him. She then gave Luigi a necklace made out of fallen flower petals she had found while they were in the meadow, then a brief cuddle. They both had only four words they wanted to say to each other before she left to join the other Spirits: "Thank you, and farewell."
The Fighters returned home to find a group of several mysterious people and an anthropomorphic cat, outside planning a party for them.
The cat said to them, "This will be the biggest party of all!"
"So, this is Smash? Hm. Well, this is Joker; the mission is "go."
He then inserted a card into the jukebox. The screen displayed a name none of them except Cloud had ever seen before: "Life Will Change-instrumental." Kirby ran straight to karaoke.
Mario shook Joker's hand. "Ha! Ha! You know, I bet the jukebox is right; life will change, for the better obviously. Anyway, welcome to Smash: World of Valor! Hey, I kinda like a' the sound of that!"