Super Smash Bros: Remnants

by DareDreamer

The war between light and darkness is over. Balance has been brought to all dimensions thanks to champions from across universes. They believe the armies of Galeem and Dharkon to be vanquished. They believe the scarred world has a chance for peace. But they think wrong. From the ashes of one war, a new one is set to ignite. And this time, the Smashers will need a little more help.

13. The Last Key

The other side. A world separate from all others. One said to be neither light nor darkness, but a world of fiction. This was rumored to be the Final World, one where nothing rested beyond it. It was the work of that strange man with the heterochromatic eyes- Yozora, if he remembered it correctly- that brought him here. Although… he wasn't exactly sure where he was.

Ansem the Wise called it Quadratum, a world that played no role in the constant war between light and dark. The recent events swirled in his mind like distorted water. Yozora said he was sent to save him, right? If so, why did he attack? And who instructed him to do so? And if he was supposed to be unrecognizable, then what did his true identity look like? As usual, he felt as if he had more questions than answers.

That was to be expected, though. Ever since he became a Keyblade wielder, he had been to places nobody else could comprehend and faced all manner of creatures that looked like the stuff of nightmares. At times, the darkness was overwhelming, but a light shone in the form of his friends and allies from across the known worlds.

Speaking of known worlds, this one had made itself known to him in a way he didn't expect. From what he heard correctly, the massive neon-lit city that stood all around him was part of a video game: one that starred Yozora. He couldn't recall the name, but he doubted it was important. And given how this was said to be the other side of the worlds, then how many others rested alongside it? He was curious to find out- naturally- but only one thing was on his mind: how to let his friends know he was alright. But as far as he knew, there was no way to travel from this world back to the ones he knew, and his Gummi Ship wasn't available at the time. True, what he needed was a way back to his friends… but what he also needed was a way to do that.

"This is the other side? It seems… normal."

A voice caught the boy's attention. Was another Keyblade wielder like himself trapped here, too? He focused on the voice's point of origin as closely as he could…

"We're not here to sightsee. The scouting squad should be back any minute now with captured souls. And if they are the finest warriors this world has to offer, it will be a great aid in our efforts to scour the rest on the other side."

He found them on a neighboring rooftop standing in front of a door unlike any he had ever seen before. The people were also unrecognizable: a bewildered man in a purple jacket wielding some kind of laser sword and an armored figure with an arm cannon addressing him. Accompanying the man was somebody who looked like a princess, a man in a black gi and a yellow headband who resembled a kung-fu master, and a mysterious stranger who was dressed similarly to a ninja. A floating cat-thing hovered above them silently, and the boy had to duck behind a ventilation duct to avoid its gaze. He didn't know what these people were or what they could do, but some looked like they meant business.

"Let's hope the other worlds on this side provide suitable souls for our comrades," the man said, turning his eyes away from the city around him. "We've risked a lot coming here, to this place where we shouldn't be, and I'm afraid that if we overstay our welcome…" The armored figure raised a hand to stop him there. "Whatever the others find, they won't be prepared. The inhabitants of this world and the others throughout this universe are ill-prepared to fight them. In fact… they have already failed." It looked down at the building's length, and the boy followed its gaze. Sure enough, three bird people and a mustached figure dressed in red, white, and blue were ascending the structure at an incredible speed. They reached the rooftop in no time, and they carried small capsules with something… glowing within them.

"Did they put up a struggle?" asked the martial artist. One of the bird people shook its head and held up one of the capsules. "If you could call it that. We ambushed them at a place called 'Twilight Town', and we didn't give them time to get their bearings. Their weapons were ridiculous, too. They looked like big keys!"

The boy's heart jolted at that last word. Keys? He turned his attention to the strange light within the capsules, where he could vaguely make out something among the bright colors. The distance he was from them didn't help, but there was a familiar feeling within the light. Whatever words the figures said next fell on deaf ears as the boy finally recognized what lay past the light.

Or rather… who.

Roxas. Riku. Axel. Xion. Aqua. Terra. Ventas. And… Kairi. All of them- all of his friends- stared at him with what looked like pleading eyes, their bodies (and possibly their hearts) at the mercy of these villains. Horror swirled through him at the revelation, as well as the thoughts as to what could cause such a thing to happen to them. But one thing was clear now: they needed his help. And these people, whoever or whatever they were, needed to be taught the error of their ways. One fist clenched in anger while the Kingdom Key flashed into the other, and he broke out of cover before leaping into the air.

"LET THEM GO!" came his roaring demand, fireballs blasting from the tip of the Keyblade. They smacked the rooftop like meteors and startled the group, several of them looking around wildly for their attacker. He landed right in the middle of them, immediately lashing out his Keyblade at anyone he saw. He managed to down a few of them before the swordsman managed to deflect a fireball right back at him, knocking him to the roof.

"You said you weren't followed!" snapped one of them angrily.

"Just get out of here! Hurry, through the door!" The armored figure laid down suppressive fire on him, forcing him to somersault away from the blasts. In a hurry, the figures snatched the capsules with his captured friends and retreated through the glowing white doorway, aiding their allies as they made their escape. Unwilling to let them get away, the boy sprinted for the door before the armored figure could pass through…

…until the figure launched a missile at him point blank. It detonated against his body before he could act, throwing him halfway across the building. Grunting in pain, he rolled to a halt with smoke rising from his clothes, and his blurred vision caught the figure staring at him almost silently. "Too slow, kid." were the only words it said before it stepped through the door and vanished. The door closed shut behind it, leaving him alone.

"H…Heal…" In an instant, the burns were gone, but the shock of it all remained. Now, there were more questions. What were those things? What did they do to his friends? And where did they go? The answer to that was obvious, in part. That door had to lead somewhere… and if he was right, it was the rest of the other side. He rose to his feet and approached the door slowly, his weapon vanishing from his grip. For something like this, he usually had Donald and Goofy by his side… but those two were back home.

He felt nervous about venturing through… but what would the king say if he were? Possible answers came to him immediately: he'd want him to be careful above all else, but he'd also encourage him to rescue his friends. Whatever was beyond this door was nothing any Keyblade wielder had ever seen before, so caution would be vital. And then, the king would wish him good luck…

"May your heart be your guiding key."

He knew it by heart- literally- at this point. The mantra of the Keyblade Masters and those who fight for the light. And in his heart, he knew the rest of his friends would always be with him… and with that newfound courage, he opened the door and stepped into the light.

It was a light that surrounded him the moment he crossed over to the other side. It felt equivalent to the light he had always known since that fateful day on the Destiny Islands. He bathed in it, allowed it to embrace him, and basked in its glow as weightlessness took hold. And from the light, more doors were opened. And his eyes couldn't believe what he saw in them.

The light revealed worlds he had never imagined. In one, a hooded figure struck from a crowd and sunk a concealed wrist blade in a priest's throat. Armored warriors gave chase and he vanished just as swiftly into a group of scholars. In another, a lone man in a blue jumpsuit roamed through a desolate wasteland with nobody but a dog to accompany him. In a third, an armored man stood alone against a ravenous horde of monsters, easily blasting them to pieces with various over-the-top weaponry.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing, and his voice could provide no words to describe it. The paths of eight people intersected with one another. Two people with cups for heads fought cartoonish enemies by shooting lasers from their fingers. A courageous knight wielding a lance battled a variety of monsters and continued to fight after he was reduced to nothing but his boxer shorts. A cocky man blasted through demons with only a sword and a pair of handguns. A mighty warrior blew away all his foes with a tremendous roar that shook the land around him. A kid faced off against a grinning skeleton who directed all his attacks toward a tiny heart. Dozens- no, hundred of worlds appeared before his very eyes, each one portraying brave heroes and cruel villains that inhabited them. It felt so different from the many worlds he knew but yet felt the exact same. He had to remind himself of why he was here… but where could those guys have taken his friends? Which world did they hide in?

"This is… peculiar." A calm and booming voice snapped him out of his trance, a voice that resonated from the light all around him. "For the first time in countless millennia, I am… lost. Confused. I have found something… that not even I can answer."

"Who… who are you?" he asked with silent awe. He didn't know how he knew this, but the light… it was alive. Somehow. And it was speaking to him. He was anxious to learn more about it.

"I am Galeem," it answered with pure serenity in its extradimensional tone. "I am the embodiment of light itself. The ultimate force of good. I am the creator of the many universes you see before you; universes of strife, adventure, and unlimited opportunity. I know the names of all who exist within them, all who have ever lived in them, and all who ever will. And yet… you are an unfamiliar face. Yours is a name that I fail to recognize. Would you care to explain, child?"

"Who am I?" he said. "Well, Mister… Galeem, my name is Sora. And I'm a Keyblade wielder. You don't need to be alarmed, because where I come from, I fight for the light. And because of this, I guess I fight for you."

"Sora… Keyblade…" the light echoed as if it was speaking those words for the first time. "I fear I do not recall any of those terms. If this is true… that I do not know who you are and where you come from… then perhaps I was not the one who created you. Tell me, Sora, which universe do you call home?"

"My home is a world in which an archipelago called the Destiny Islands reside," Sora explained. "My story is a long one, but I was chosen to be a member of a strong-hearted group that battles against forces of darkness. Forces that wish to corrupt hearts and drown everything in despair. My fight hasn't been an easy one, and I've gained many friends and foes. And speaking of friends, close ones of mine were taken by beings I don't recognize… and I chased them here, to the other side."

"Other side?" Galeem repeated. "Fascinating… Do you mean to say that there is another portion to reality that not even I am aware of? One where beings such as yourself exist?"

"I… guess so. Back there, everyone believes this side to be nothing but fiction. Almost as if it doesn't exist. But now that I'm here… maybe you can help me find my friends?"

"I'm afraid I cannot," Galeem answered, causing Sora's eyes to go wide. "What? Why not?"

"Not too long ago, my physical body was destroyed in battle. Now, I rest in a dormant state until I can be properly restored… which should last about ten billion years." Sora groaned at the explanation. "I don't have ten billion years to save my friends! I… I…" An idea slowly formed in his mind, granting him another means of aid. "You know what? Maybe you can help me in some other way. The guys who took my friends; there were some bird people, a flying cat, a man with a laser sword, a ninja, a short guy with a hat and a mustache, a person who looks like he knows karate, and somebody in a suit of armor. If they came from this side of reality does that mean you recognize them?"

"Perhaps," Galeem answered calmly. "Did you notice something else peculiar about them?" Sora had a ready response for that. "Well, yeah. All of them had red eyes." Whatever it was he was expecting from Galeem after that, it wasn't anything like that. "Then you must be on guard. The ones who have captured your allies are mere imitations of the heroes and villains of these universes… or rather, this plane of reality. Imitations… that I have created."

"Wait…" Sora was awfully confused. "You made those things? Why?"

"It is a story that is as old as the multiverse itself," Galeem explained with what Sora believed to be sorrow. "At the beginning of time, I gave life to all there is in the plane of reality you rest in now. As I have mentioned, I am the embodiment of light itself. But reality must be balanced lest it collapses in on itself. Thus, my polar opposite was born from the blackest stars in the far corners of the multiverse: the ultimate evil, Dharkon."

The light gave way to reveal a hideous being composed of dark tentacles and a single evil eye that seemed to stare right into Sora's soul. It was a sight that caused a chill to run up the boy's spine. That thing screamed pure darkness, and it felt terrifying just to look at. As if sensing his fear, Galeem withdrew the image and banished the dark entity from sight. "Dharkon wished to destroy all I had created, to bring chaos to order and death to life. It was my righteous duty to stop him, to drive him away, and eventually to destroy him. I would not allow him to taint the perfect universes I had built. For billions and billions of years, we were locked in a war that lasted since the dawn of time. Neither of us tired, neither of us relented, and neither was willing to lose to the other. Our duels shook the stars and collided with the cosmos: all that existed was our battleground. The battleground for the war between light and dark."

"Didn't you know you couldn't have defeated him?" Sora asked. "After all, light and darkness are two sides of the same coin. You can't have shadows without light to cast it. And you can't have light without darkness to dim it. My closest friends taught me that."

"You speak the truth, child… but it is a truth I failed to see for eons," Galeem continued with great remorse. "But that is a concept I shall return to. My war against Dharkon remained a stalemate for millions of years until I managed to banish him to the darkest depths of the multiverse that spawned him. He would be unable to leave and ruin my creations, and I thought all would be safe. But I was wrong, for while Dharkon himself could not escape my light that bound him to his prison… his followers remained free. But unbeknownst to either of us, our duel shattered a sacred stone that would forever change the fate of the multiverse. Its fragments were scattered throughout the dimensions, where the heroes and villains of each world stumbled across them."

Sora could see it now. From mustached brothers and a lone warrior in green to strange-yet-cute monsters and a pink round thing, from high-speed racers and daredevil pilots to promising youths and bold warriors, legendary heroes and dastardly villains found glowing blue shards in each of their worlds. Those shards swept them away from their homes… and deposited them into a world that connected all others.

"They gathered in the first universe I ever birthed," Galeem continued. "They crossed paths and fought, unsure of who was a friend and who was a foe. They wanted answers as to how they arrived… and they found their answers in the form of Dharkon's followers. The few beings who were aware of my battles with him managed to unite them and created a gathering of warriors to protect all worlds throughout the multiverse: the Super Smash Brothers."

The army of heroes and villains all stood before Sora, every single one of them assembled in front of a burning circle with a cross through it. Then, seconds flew by as Sora saw their many battles against foes he didn't recognize, including a blue humanoid and his army and an entity of black particles that utilized multiple forms. "Their efforts were enough to gain my attention… and I believed too many beings from dozens of worlds could not be allowed to exist. They had ruined the perfection I planned for the multiverse… so I decided to start anew. I used their bodies to create a loyal legion of soldiers dedicated to my cause and devoted to protecting a perfect world. But still, they persisted. And their persistence almost ended the multiverse."

Sora didn't like how this was going. "How so?"

"In defeating me, they accidentally released Dharkon from his prison. He cast the world- the whole universe- into darkness and the Smash Brothers were left to wallow in their regret. Yet still, they rallied and triumphed over my ancient enemy. I seized the opportunity and engaged him in a final battle for the fate of the multiverse… a battle they won. In the end, they showed me the error of my ways. Light and darkness should always remain in balance, and it is a balance I cannot keep alone. You are a champion of the light as well… thus, you should be aware of this."

"I am," Sora replied. "I keep the darkness in check, but I don't impose the light on everyone and everything I see. I'm just glad you realized that."

"Unfortunately, my soldiers did not," Galeem continued. "They seek to avenge me, walking down the path I set for them. Currently, the Smash Brothers seek to stop them… but now they have souls from your side of reality. Souls they wish to weaponize as they have done others. Sora… you must correct the last of my mistakes. Seek out the Super Smash Brothers and help them vanquish the final of their foes. That is the only way you can rescue your friends."

"I will," Sora promised. "I may not have started this war… but I'm gonna help finish it. Where can I find these 'Smash Brothers'?" Galeem's light washed over him. "I shall take you to the world where they reside. The rest is all up to you. Finish the fight, Sora, and restore the balance." The boy's vision faded, giving way to the brightness… and when the light dimmed, he found himself in a rather fascinating place.

It seemed calm and peaceful enough: clear blue skies, lush forests, and beautiful waterfalls past the cliff he stood near. Crystalline formations jutted from the waters and various platforms floated in the air, draped in foliage, chains, and ice. Ruined palaces- husks of the radiant structures they once were- rested on such platforms, and one held a red banner that flapped in the wind. On that banner was a symbol of a circle with an asymmetrical cross through it.

That symbol… was that the Smash Brothers' logo? It looked like a good start… but Sora needed more to go on. If these warriors looked just like who those strangers- Galeem's soldiers- looked like, he either needed to find people with similar appearances… or people who weren't familiar at all.

"Okay, Sora…" he muttered. "Time to go find some fighters." The boy turned on his heel and sprinted into the tree line, his mind racing to think of a plan. If Galeem was right, the Smash Brothers were fighting against what remained of his forces. That meant Sora had to look for signs of a battle. Damaged environment, discarded weapons, scorch marks, or maybe the sounds of an ongoing struggle. The boy kept his eyes and ears open…

..but he heard nothing, just as he saw nothing. The air was still and the trees stood tall without disturbance. Sora crept into a clearing as he observed the area, continuing to search for anything out of place. Much to his chagrin, though, nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. The boy sighed, noting that this task was gonna be harder than he thought.

Wait, did something just move past those trees? The hint from Sora's peripheral vision snapped him back into focus, but what he had glimpsed was gone by the time he looked. It might have been a hunch, but it was better than nothing. The Keyblade wielder took a few steps toward the trees… when a loud cry erupted from the darkness.

"HADOKEN!"

A blazing blue fireball blasted from the shadows, zeroing in on Sora like a meteor. Muscle memory kicked in and the Kingdom Key flashed into his hand. With a swift motion, the weapon slashed through the projectile and instantly dissipated it. Through the ensuing smoke, Sora caught another glimpse of a man dressed in black, coming at him with a flying kick. The boy rolled to the side to avoid the attack, his eyes meeting those of his attacker.

He knew this guy; this was one of Galeem's soldiers who kidnapped his friends!

"Where are they?" he demanded. Sora didn't expect a straight answer from the warrior, who glared at him with fury in his eyes. "You made a big mistake following us here! Go back to where you belong, or I'll drag you there myself!"

"I'm not leaving without my friends!" Sora shot back, twirling the Kingdom Key in his hand and placing himself in a defensive stance. "Even if I have to get through you to get to them!" Again, the man shot an intimidating look at the boy before breaking into a run. Sora ducked and weaved away from a series of punches and crouched beneath a high kick, using his Keyblade to sweep the man's legs from under him.

Sora moved to stab the man through the chest with the tip of his weapon, but it only hit the dirt when the brawler rolled away and leaped back to his feet. He went on the offensive again, with Sora matching his movements and blocking his limbs with the Keyblade. After deflecting a punch, the boy spun and cracked the flat end of the Kingdom Key across the man's face. Despite reeling in pain, the man did not fall and proceeded to re-engage.

"TATSUMAKI SENPUKYAKU!" An airborne spinning kick conjured a small whirlwind around the man, forcing Sora to step back from his opponent's extended leg. A quick thrust was all it took to knock the man out of his move and knock him to the ground. Sora smirked at his opponent's technique. "The power of air, huh? I got that, too. Wind!"

A blast of air erupted from the tip of his Keyblade and swirled around himself, creating a barrier of gales around Sora. The man launched another blue fireball from his palms, but the projectile dissipated into nothingness once it connected with the gusts surrounding Sora. The boy charged for his enemy unfazed, launching into quick strikes with the Keyblade. The man had little time to bring up his defenses, staggering in pain from each strike until a final swing knocked him against a tree. Bracing himself, Sora lunged for his foe… who vaulted himself off the tree and sailed over Sora, nailing a foot into his back.

The Keyblade wielder felt thick wood against his face when the tables were turned, unprepared for the turn of events. With his enemy stunned, the man charged up another fireball to finish him off… but before he could thrust his arms forward, something snagged his limb and threw him to the ground. The last thing the clone saw before light consumed him was the sight of a massive black blade that was buried into his chest. The ensuing blast of light was enough to shake Sora back to his senses, the boy blinking at the sight of his savior.

And it was a familiar sight: spiky blonde hair (spikier than Sora's to be precise), shoulder pads, and dark garb with a heavy-looking sword draped over the figure's shoulder. A pair of stern eyes met Sora's and the figure holstered his weapon. "What are you doing here?"

Sora couldn't believe it. "Cloud? Is that you?" The boy ran up to his fellow swordsman with a joyous smile. "You're a Smash Brother? That's… I'm so… wow! That means you can help me, right? What am I saying, of course you can-"

"Stop," the sharp command caused Sora to immediately go silent, yet an apologetic grin crossed his face. "Uh, heh heh. Sorry about that. I just didn't expect to see you again… how long's it been, anyway?"

"I have some questions of my own," Cloud replied. "Who are you? And how do you know who I am?"

Sora felt like his heart was struck by an arrow. His smile dropped into an open mouth and his eyes blinked in bewilderment. "Huh? But… Cloud, it's me! Sora! We didn't get off to a good start, but I helped you! You struck a deal with Hades to-" The other man silenced the boy with a hand to his mouth and an annoyed look. "I don't know who you are or what you're talking about. I would've remembered seeing someone like you before."

"And I definitely would've remembered him telling me about Hades," a new voice made itself known. Both Sora and Cloud turned to the trees, where Sora saw what appeared to be an angel about his age with a sleek bow in his hand. He hopped from the branch he stood upon and landed next to Cloud, studying the Keyblade wielder closely. "Or him making a deal with anybody. Cloud, are you sure you don't know this guy?"

Cloud didn't meet the angel's gaze, his eyes focused on Sora with suspicion in his tone. "Positive. But if he knows me… then he must be a spy." He drew the Buster Sword from behind his back, its surface surprisingly shiny without any bandages around it. Sora instantly threw up his hands. "Hey, whoa, whoa! I-I'm not a spy! I'm just here to rescue my friends!" His words brought intrigue to the angel. "Friends, huh? I guess I can relate. Where'd you come from, pal?"

"My name is Sora," came the boy's response, knowing the next part would be difficult for them to process. "...and I come from the other side." The angel blinked in confusion. "Uh… the other side of what?"

"It's a long story," Sora summarized. "I'll explain once I meet the rest of you… and Cloud… you say you don't know me?"

The man shook his head. "Not in the slightest."

"So, that must mean…" Sora mumbled. "You must not be the Cloud I know, other side and all that. But that's not important; what is important is that I'm here to end this."

"You're here to help us?" the angel echoed. "Wow, if that's not lucky, then I don't know what is." He held out a hand. "Name's Pit. Good to have you on board." Sora eagerly took the angel's hand and shook it. "The pleasure's all mine. Galeem already filled me in on your situation."

"You spoke with Galeem?" Cloud's suspicion turned into shock. "How?"

"I came across him on my way here, and I wanted to help him. Where I come from, I'm part of a group that fights for the light. I guess that means it's my duty to help him." This earned him an intrigued look from the angel. "In that case, I'm glad you didn't help him before," Pit commented. "He wanted to wipe away everything and start anew. I don't think you'd agree with that."

"Definitely not. Now let's go!" The three took off deeper into the woods, resuming their search for any remaining hostiles. But their hunt was short-lived; with almost no evidence of any more enemies lying in wait. "Almost" being the keyword since Cloud silently ordered the trio to pause, his eyes glued to the dirt. It didn't take long for Sora to follow his gaze, where a trail of footprints led out of the forest. The lead wasn't clear enough on one thing, though: whether it belonged to a friend or a foe.

The boy reminded himself that these guys were fighting their common foe longer than he'd been. That meant they had to know what they were doing. The spiky-haired swordsman motioned for the angel and the Keyblade wielder to follow him through the forest. The trail of footprints led out of the treeline and into an open area overlooking another cliff… but this time, the raging falls weren't the only sound Sora picked up.

"You hear that?" Pit whispered, distant noises of clashing weapons and connecting blows reverberating through the air. "Looks like somebody started some action without us." Sora's Keyblade flashed into his hand while he looked in the sounds' direction. "You think they could use some backup?" Cloud's immediate reply was a nod, followed by his drawing of the Buster Sword. "Let's move. Pick your targets when we make contact." He then sprinted into the distance while Pit looked back at Sora with a smirk. "Alright, rookie, let's see what ya got!" Splitting his bow into twin blades, the angel broke into a sprint while Sora bounded into the trees, leaping from branch to branch.

Not too far from their position, a group of puppet fighters were struggling against a Smasher team that had ambushed them from the forest. Mario weaved away from an Ore Club that pulverized the ground, the weapon wielded by a copy of himself. Hopping atop the weapon, the hero flip-kicked his doppelganger in the face to release its grip on the bludgeon. While he jumped off with a blazing fist, Zelda fired magic blasts at two clones of Peach and Daisy. The Peach clone rushed at the princess with a golf club, who promptly teleported out of the way before the tool could connect, resulting in it accidentally hitting the Daisy clone over the head. Reappearing in a flash, Zelda scattered the two with a well-casted fireball.

Kirby, Yoshi, and Pikachu were busy fending off a squad of ten Luigi clones, the real one on the verge of being overwhelmed by his fakes. With a hearty laugh, Wario dove into a pile of the clones and wailed on them as if he was in a bar fight, piledriving two clones at once before slamming his elbow on another that rushed him. Without letting up, he seized another Luigi clone under his arm and pounded that one on the head… until his enemy managed to wrench free from Wario's grip and bopped another on the nose with a stern look.

"Eh… whoopsie," was Wario's sheepish reply. "Cut me some slack, you all look alike!"

Elsewhere in the skirmish, the orange Inkling laid down a barrage of paint until her weapon was smacked out of her grip, forcing her to equip her Inkbrush just in time to block the scythe wielded by a Villager clone. The squid kid ducked under a swipe before swinging at the copy's face. She successfully scored a hit that marked the right side of the imitation's face with orange paint, but the copy's only response was an annoyed glare. It swung the scythe low and swept out the Inkling's legs, the girl uttered a startled yelp before falling flat on her back in an orange puddle. Widening her eyes in alarm, the combatant of color vanished into the puddle with a splash, the scythe's tip stabbing the ground where she had once been. Popping out behind the clone, the girl tossed a Splat Bomb at the villager and quickly dove away… while the clone realized the danger too late. The blast of orange liquid sent it staggering, but not enough to take it out of the fight as it chased after the girl.

A Zelda puppet backed up by two R.O.B. clones reflected lasers with every twirl and a shimmering crystal prism, one of the redirected bolts hitting Falco in the shoulder. Fox abandoned his attack to aid his wingman while Samus and Mega Man kept up the suppressive fire. Seeing their current tactics weren't working, the robot and the bounty hunter fired a Crash Bomber and a missile at the two robots peppering Olimar's Pikmin with laser streams. The explosive projectiles hit their mark, directing the robots' attention to them. Retreating from the ensuing fire while trading shots, Samus and Mega Man ran for cover. Capitalizing on the robotic replicas' distracted states, Marth and Lucina tag-teamed the Zelda puppet from opposite sides. Their foe, however, was more than ready for them as it repelled their blades with magic and summoned forth fabricated Phantoms to deal with them.

Two green copies of Kirby floated through the air, one of them turning invisible and causing a braking Duck Hunt to lose sight of it. Shulk kept his eyes trained on the remaining one and activated his weapon's Jump Art, launching into the air to give chase. Cloud quickly charged into the fray and struck the Villager clone from behind, kicking it away before it could fully register his arrival. With a flash of light from his wings, Pit took to the air and strafed over the scene, laying down a barrage of arrow fire on both grounded and aerial targets. One of his shots managed to hit the cloaked Kirby clone, bringing it back into view before it could attack an oblivious Pikachu. The Luigi puppets flew from explosive blasts, with some throwing green fireballs at the angel in retaliation.

As the battle kept dragging on, Sora silently watched from his wooden perch and swept his eyes from potential targets. Their red eyes served as a dead giveaway to identify the fakes from the real fighters, so that gave him enough of an edge. After choosing on who to go for, the boy allowed himself to smile before pointing his weapon at the crowd.

"Fire!" With several flicks of his weapon, fireballs shot from the Keyblade's tip and bombarded the enemies below like a meteor shower, shrouding the battlefield in smoke. Putting their current battles on pause, the confused Smashers turned to see where those projectiles had come from. At that moment, Sora leaped from the branch and dropped into a glide, flying over the stunned Smashers while pixie dust fell from his form like stardust. The boy took a moment to give them a reassuring wink and floated towards the puppets, landing a downward strike on one of the Luigi clones the second he touched down. That clone slid back, drawing the attention of the remainder that now closed in on him.

"Here comes the interesting part!" Sora called out, twirling his Keyblade with more pixie dust following its movements. As soon as the first of his enemies neared him, the boy lashed out at them like an enraged tiger breaking free from its cage, slashing at each foe with blinking speed. The Zelda puppet lashed out with more fireballs, which Sora sailed over as if he was lighter than air. While airborne, he slashed away several more fireballs before retaliating with one of his own. With his opponent staggered from the strike, Sora dove down and spun his Keyblade to knock the false princess away. A short hop followed by a downward thrust was sufficient enough to finish it off.

The boy quickly turned his attention to the fake princess' mechanical guards, the robots converging on him like walls. With an ever-present smile, the boy held his weapon to the sky. "Thunder!" he called, instantly calling down powerful bolts of lightning that struck the two robots. The machines twitched as their systems shorted out before powering down, their optics going dark. Sora swept the Kingdom Key around himself in a circle, knocking the inactive robots down for good measure.

The next one to come at him was the Villager puppet with the scythe, who Sora met with a high-speed thrust. The Sonic Blade connected perfectly and popped the puppet into the air, leaving it wide open for Sora to barrage it with three more aerial thrusts. After his third strike, Sora spun rapidly while rising into the air, carrying his foe with him. At the peak of his ascent, Sora held his Keyblade before him and tucked into a downward moonsault, digging into the clone like a buzzsaw before it crashed into the ground. Like a knight stabbing a stone with its sword, Sora plunged the Kingdom Key into his enemy's chest, making it burst in a flash of light.

"Where did this guy come from?" Fox uttered in bewilderment. "He's good!"

Sora had no time to thank the talking fox for the compliment, his attention now on the Mario puppet that was coming at him with a big club. The Peach and Daisy clones backed him up, golf club and frying pan at the ready. Sora just held out his Keyblade and shouted another command. "Freeze!" A stream of small icicles shot from the weapon's tip, instantly encasing anything they touched in an icy prison. The Mario puppet took the worst of it as it became trapped in a cold coffin, leaving him completely defenseless against Sora's following sweep. The Daisy puppet swung its golf club at him, the sports tool meeting the Kingdom Key in a perfect block. Parrying the strike, Sora countered with a swift upward slash and launched a fireball at the airborne enemy.

The boy ducked under the Peach clone's frying pan, which whiffed over his hair. "Whoa! What is it with princesses and frying pans lately?!" Seizing the clone by the shoulder, Sora heaved it over himself and thrust the Kingdom Key upward, the weapon emitting magic light at the tip that sent the false princess sailing. It opened its parasol to slow its descent, but its tactic gave Sora another idea. "Wind!" he called, summoning a gale that whisked the fake Peach off-course, propelling it off the cliff.

"Fire!" The ensuing fireball destroyed the parasol with ease, sending the puppet plummeting to its doom. Sora turned to what remained… and found himself face-to-face with the ten Luigi puppets and the two Kirby clones. Although surprised at first, the boy quickly regained his composure. "C'mon, Sora, you've fought a horde of Heartless at once. These guys are nothing!" The Luigi clones moved in to surround the boy from all sides while the Kirby clones floated through the air, the Keyblade wielder doing his best to keep track of their position. The clones converged on the boy, the sight of multiple green figures shrouding him from sight.

The only thing that served as a reminder to the boy's presence was an occasional flash of light followed by flying bodies. Grunts of effort rang out alongside glinting metal, the sound of a weapon striking its targets ringing in the Smashers' ears. This new warrior fought like a one-man army against an actual army, cutting down numerous enemies as if they were nothing before him. He moved in a blink, slicing through several puppets at once. Those that still stood tried valiantly to fight back, but this was a foe none of them knew. Their inexperience led to their downfall, and it was all over in less than a minute. Blasts of light rocked the battlefield and spirits flew away, leaving the boy alone with the veteran warriors.

"Who… are you?" asked a confused Cappy.

Pit was the one to take the hat's question. "He calls himself Sora. He says he's looking for his friends." Mega Man and Falco stared at the boy with intrigue, the robot looking him over. "That's odd… I'm not finding a match for him in the dimensional database. Just where did he come from?"

"And what's with the big key?" Wario asked, pointing to the weapon. "Are you searching for a big treasure chest? And if you are, can I join you?" Sora held up his hand, keeping anyone else from adding another question to the mix. "Okay, okay, take it easy! I take it you're the Smash Brothers, right? And… is this all of you?"

"Um, no," Fox told him with a chuckle. "There's a lot more of us, but we're spread out at the moment. I don't want to make this too lengthy, but-"

"You're hunting down the last of Galeem's old army."

The pilot's ears perked up. "How did you-?"

"He told me himself," Sora explained. "When I came here. He said you needed my help fixing his mistake. And they're holding my friends prisoner. Once we find those soldiers, we can end this for good. You've been fighting them long enough."

"You've done your homework, kid. I'm impressed," Falco acknowledged. "But you still haven't told us where you come from." Sora rubbed the back of his head while Duck Hunt gave the boy a patient look. "Well… where do I start? Uh, I'm sure you know of other worlds, right? Maybe other universes?"

"Obviously," answered Samus, the Inkling nodding beside her. "Which one do you come from?" Sora cleared his throat before giving his answer. "Think of it like this: a single universe contains up to millions of worlds, right? But what if each universe was a part of something greater? Those universes, like yours, can interact with each other… but some of them can't. To stabilize itself and ensure things don't get too out of hand, some universes are closed off from others. They exist on an alternate plane of existence, like rooms separated by a door. My universe is one of those; my home exists on the other side of reality, where other worlds just like yours exist."

"More worlds?" Fox echoed. "More universes beyond the borders of ours? Is… is that what the puppets were trying to do?" The Inkling brought a hand to her chin in thought. "They must be getting desperate to beat us. They must've found a way to come to Sora's universe, abduct people from there, and use them to create new soldiers."

"Worlds like this one were thought to be rumors back on mine," Sora continued, gesturing to the area around him. "Realms of pure fiction. I'm a Keyblade Wielder, part of a society of guardians dedicated to ensuring order and stability among the worlds in my universe. I can't go into too much detail about them, but each world is forbidden to learn of the existence of others. And with figures resembling people from your worlds coming into them… it could be disastrous."

"I think I get what you're saying," Cappy realized. "If the puppets don't stop at nabbing people from your homeworld, they could spread to the others throughout your universe! And if that happens, your universe's rules of non-interference would cause utter chaos that not even your… uh, "key blade wielders" can fix!"

"All the more reason for us to stop them," Samus added. "If they keep this up, all of existence will be threatened just like Galeem and Dharkon threatened it before. Only… it won't be our existence this time. How many people from your world were taken?"

"Eight," Sora answered. "And how many of you are there?"

"Over eighty," Cloud answered. "They've fought us long enough to know that… so they also know that what they have won't be enough. They'll need more souls… and your universe and the worlds within are the perfect harvesting grounds for that."

"Which means we need to stop them now," Mega Man added. "Guess this means you're an honorary Smasher now, Sora. Welcome to the team." Mario held out his hand with a warm smile… and Sora shook it with a smile of his own. "Oh, I'm definitely honored. So, where do we start?"

"We… have no idea," the Inkling sighed. "We've been looking all over for where the puppets' main stronghold would be, but we've found nothing. Recently, we've expanded our search beyond the lands we've previously ventured, but our efforts are still for naught."

"We're stuck," Fox sounded reluctant to admit it. "And we think you're our best bet to find our common enemy. Right now, we're gonna take you back to our base and meet up with the others. We'll figure something out from there." The pilot turned and signaled for the group to follow him, Sora following right behind them. They were nervous… and they had every right to be. But Sora had faith in them, just as he had faith in his friends back in his universe. The thing about light was that it could be dimmed to the point of being a flicker in the darkness… but it refused to go out as long as there was a single heart filled with light.

This was no time to give up. There was always a way. And no matter what, he would find it.

…

"Is it done?"

"It is. The eighth and final unit has been completed. But even with the soldiers currently at our disposal… It is not enough to defeat the Smash Brothers. We need more souls."

"The worlds in this dimensional plane are not enough. The Smashers would be alerted to our presence by their allies there. We would be easy pickings. We need a new target… we need to go back to the other side."

"But we are not meant to be there! You said it yourself! If we remain in any of those worlds for an extended period of time-"

"I am aware of the consequences. But we need not stay any longer than we need to. The breaching device is nearly recharged. Once it is, we will choose a world and a soul, abduct it, and be on our way. No one will suspect a thing… and if they do notice a disappearance, interdimensional invaders will be the last thing they suspect. Or an option they will not think to consider. How goes the replication process of the one who ambushed us?"

"We've successfully extracted the memory data of the captured souls. This 'Sora' is an experienced fighter. Replicating him wasn't easy, but it is complete. We've copied three units."

"Good. They will be the ones sent to the worlds on the other side. They are native, so they should pose no threat. Send them to the portal chamber and choose their targets. They'll handle the rest."

…

The Smash Brothers' base- fashioned from a military stronghold used by Galeem's forces- was pretty nifty, Sora had to admit. He'd already been introduced to the others, who'd been informed of the puppets' current plan by Fox and Mario. Most of the Smashers were alarmed by the existence of universes beyond their own, prompting the question of how many more rested far from their reach… and if any served as a prime dimension in the center of it all. Those were questions that did not need to be answered, and the one that needed their foremost attention was a question that continued to linger in their minds.

"Where the heck are they hiding?!" growled a frustrated Shulk. "We've looked all over!"

"Perhaps not everywhere," Palutena calmed the swordsman. "Our enemy is more elusive than we predicted. They must have realized a stronghold out in the open would not suffice for them."

"And if they're hiding, they're hiding good," Snake chimed in, a hint of impression in the stealth expert's tone. "None of our scanners can pinpoint anything out of the ordinary." Near the mercenary's side, Princess Zelda offered kind words of encouragement. "They can only hide for so long. Whether we make a move or they do, this stalemate cannot last."

"You're right," Marth chimed in. "They have to slip up eventually… Sora, was it?" He turned his eyes to the latest addition. "Are your friends as skilled as yourself?" The boy nodded while making sure the curious gazes on his peculiar-looking weapon didn't get out of hand. "Some of them are better than me, I gotta admit. Keyblade Masters are the best of the best. And if they're in manufactured bodies like you say, then taking them down won't be easy."

"If I am to be honest," Simon added. "We've faced stronger foes than them and prevailed. Once we locate the remaining puppets, we simply show no mercy." His words prompted the prince of Altea to cast the monster slayer a warning look. "Do not allow overconfidence to consume you when you stand on the brink of victory, Belmont. That has led to the downfall of many warriors." Simon just stared back at the prince. "I meant no disregard, Marth. Like so many of us here, I am only anxious to bring this long-lasting conflict to an end."

"As am I. But we must remain vigilant. There is much that remains uncertain to us… including any tricks our enemy may possess."

"The new guy is seriously from another universe?" somebody asked, drawing the boy's attention. "Wait, no, that didn't come out right. Uh… another multiverse? No, that doesn't make much sense, either… ow, my brain is hurting." Sora approached another group of Smashers who appeared to be gossiping about him and noticed Bowser Jr. holding a hand to his forehead as if in pain. Pac-Man was scratching his head with an expression Sora believed to be a combination of confusion and curiosity. Ness looked equally befuddled while Sonic tapped his foot, Mewtwo silently hovering behind the group.

"Existence and reality are often overwhelming for a single mind," the Pokémon reminded his brethren. "I fear that this newcomer has opened a door we were not yet ready to unlock. If what he says is true, then all you need to understand is this. If our enemy invades the universes familiar to him, then others- known or otherwise- are doomed to share their fate."

"Speak for yourself," Sonic muttered. "And just when I thought things couldn't get any crazier…"

"Just try not to think about it too hard, you guys," Sora chimed in. "I learned from an old friend that faith in others is the key to victory." Ness perked up at his words. "Really? You sure you don't mean that literal key you're carrying?"

"Oh, ha, ha," Sora retorted with feigned humor. "Anyway, my friend used to think that darkness needed to be eliminated at all costs, just like Galeem. But now, he's learned that both light and darkness must be kept in balance with each other. You guys showed that to Galeem, but I don't think his followers can be easily convinced."

"In this plane of existence, either light or darkness overpowering the other can lead to all dimensions collapsing in on themselves. It is a change reality cannot withstand." Mewtwo explained. "I may not know if the same is true on the plane of existence you call home, but it is a lesson all worlds there must know. And if there are those who pose a great danger by upsetting that balance, then all precautions must be taken… including eradication."

"If these were anyone else, I would have objected," Sora added. "But what we're up against is nothing more than fabricated fakes wielding stolen souls without any of their own. They have no hearts and no will except for the will of their fallen masters. Without the souls driving them, they're just shells… and they need to be cracked."

The group of Smashers before Sora looked at the boy with impressed expressions and approving nods. Before any of them could make a move to compliment him, a sudden string of beeping noises alerted everyone in the vicinity. Another group huddled near a monitor, which displayed a red light on some kind of map. Sora hurried over to that monitor, turning his eyes to the assembled team. "What's going on?"

"Sensors are detecting an interdimensional breach south of the Southern Plateau's lake," reported R.O.B. "Based on portal wavelength frequencies, the breach is estimated to be an entry point rather than an exit point. Dimensional destination… error. No dimensional signatures match the breach's exit point."

Sora had to keep his heart from sinking. "It… it's starting. The puppets… they're opening the door to my universe. They're going to kidnap more people and harvest their souls." Samus just narrowed her eyes at the dot. "Well, they made a mistake. They just told us exactly where they are." She pointed at the dot's location… which rested on a huge pit south of a lake with a small island.

"I can't believe this," Captain Falcon muttered. "They've been under our noses this whole time?!"

"Seems like it," Robin confirmed. "But if they had a dimensional gateway ready to go, they should've known we'd notice it the second they get it up and running. And that means…"

"They'll be ready for us," Ryu answered. "We won't have the element of surprise on our side." Beside him, Dark Pit scoffed. "I say bring it on! We'll tear down any defenses they have!"

"Hold on…" Fox spoke up, putting everyone on hold. "If they're prepared for an all-out attack with a portal up and running… then they probably want us to play into their hands." Lucina and Min Min shared a confused look while Daisy stepped forward. "Uh… what do you mean by that?"

"Fox, you're saying…" Mega Man pondered, the presumably-literal gears in his head turning. "...that if we come for the puppets and they're expecting us, then that probably means they know we'll go for the portal and stop them from going through. They'll try to block us and hold the line, buying time for the others."

"And we'd waste our strength breaking through," Roy added. "By the time we do and reach the portal, it'll be too late. In summary, going all-out and relying on sheer numbers isn't going to work. We need an alternative."

"I like your thinking, Roy," Fox complimented the red-haired swordsman. "If we're going to take out that portal, we'll need to divide and conquer. Huddle up, everyone. Here's the plan." All of the Smashers gathered around the monitor, their faces focused on their objective. "We're all ears, McCloud." Pit gave the pilot the go-ahead.

Fox strode in front of the monitor and zoomed in on the pit where the dot was located. "We all rendezvous at this chasm and descend on the hover platforms that carry us back to a stage after we're knocked off. For those of you that can fly, you don't need to worry about that. R.O.B., can you scan for natural tunnel formations once we arrive?"

"Affirmative."

"Good. We'll track the portal signature, which should lead us to the puppets' base. But before we march up to their front door… a small team will find another way in and infiltrate the base while the rest of us keep their defenses busy."

"A small team, huh?" Sora repeated. "Then I volunteer. Those are my friends they have captive. Who else?"

"Well, it seems kind of fitting…" Fox continued. "...that everyone we've met following Galeem and Dharkon's war will accompany you. Us veterans will be the length of the sword, but the rookies will be the blade." Sora noticed movement on both sides of him, and he realized he wasn't the only one who agreed with Fox's idea. To his left, the Piranha Plant eagerly snapped his jaws, Joker twirled his knife while sheathing his pistol, Eleven and his compatriots clanged their swords against each other in unison, Banjo and Kazooie gave a joyful "Guh-huh!", Terry adjusted his cap, and Byleth held the Sword of the Creator over his shoulder while his counterpart mirrored his stance.

To Sora's right, Min Min held up her ARMS with a Ramram and Megawatt equipped, Steve and his square-squad of Alex, the Zombie, and the Enderman stood as still as statues, Sephiroth loomed like a dark shadow, Pyra stood proudly with Rex by her side, and Kazuya crossed his arms with a ferocious scowl.

The Keyblade Wielder summoned his weapon and placed it tip-first on the ground, the keychain of his royal friend dangling in the air as he placed both hands on the golden guard with a smile. "Okay, Smash Brothers… what are we waiting for?"

…

"They are coming. Exactly as we have speculated."

"Are the calculations for the other side locked in?"

"Not yet. You try inputting coordinates for a separate plane of reality that's not registered in any portal tech. Not even anything this ancient. We'll need to hack the system and bypass any limitations it has. Then… we can go anywhere."

"See that it's done. Ready the light fighter generators; all of them. We need to move quickly now that the Smashers are onto us."

"They think we are on the brink of defeat when it is actually the other way around. We will replenish our numbers, avenge our master, and finish them off once and for all. And afterward, we will revive Master Galeem as we have done before, without any setbacks or interference. His light shall bathe throughout the multiverse once again… and beyond. Soon, there will be no dark force that can stand against him, for the light is forever."

…

Ten minutes passed until all of the Smashers gently dove into the deep, dark abyss of the natural hole carved into the earth, propelled by hover platforms or their own means. They met no resistance as they descended, any sound they made echoing throughout the caverns. The naturally-carved pit was quiet- too quiet- and the silence remained when they reached the bottom. Everyone was on high alert, most of them suspecting an ambush. Only… there weren't many places to hide down here.

"Okay, team…" Fox briefed. "The portal's signal should be two miles ahead of this position. Expect heavy resistance when we arrive. Infil team, you're clear to find an alternate route."

"Got it, but…" Sora looked around the colossal cavern in confusion. "I'm not seeing any alternate routes. Samus was undeterred by the boy's statement and turned to face the small squad. "Then if you can't find one, make one." Sora still didn't get it. "Uh, what do you mean by… oh." He felt something tap him on the shoulder, and he turned around to see Steve and Alex holding pixelated pickaxes in their square-composed arms. "Well, that's… something."

Fox drew his blaster with the rest of his allies from the beginning at the front of the pack. Mario adjusted his hat and nodded at the pilot, who turned back to the others. "Let's end this," His words were simple yet effective, enough to rally all present Smashers and urge them into a steady march through the caverns. Sora's team followed from the rear of the assembled army, weapons already drawn. The boy examined the faces of everyone he could see from this far back. Some looked relieved to have the end in sight. Others looked ready for one last fight, confident in their success. Sora hadn't been fighting these guys for as much as they had, but he could tell how long the Smash Brothers had awaited this day. Now, they could finish what they had started and wipe the world clean of Galeem and Dharkon's war with no more conflict between light and dark.

At least here… for now. It was a war that was ever-lasting; one that needed no victor but the balance between both sides. Sora knew this well, even though the light he fought for and the darkness he battled were different from the ones the Smashers fought. Regardless, it was the same thing no matter where the battlefield was. There would be calms like the one after this final battle… but there would always be another storm.

Sora was so lost in thought he didn't notice the Smashers' halt until he nearly walked into the Inkling's back, prompting the squid kid to give him an annoyed glare. Awkwardly smiling back in apology, Sora turned his gaze to what lay before the force of fighters. It was a sight that amazed him to his core. It was an underground temple radiant in structure in contrast to the dirt and earth surrounding it. All Sora could see was the entryway, supported by columns spiraling with brilliant colors and dotted with brilliant blue gems like jewels in a crown. White marble made up a majority of the entryway's structure, and a symbol rested on the high arch. A symbol of a sphere surrounded by angelic, wondrous wings.

"Is that who I think it is?" Bowser snarled, the sight of the symbol bringing back an unpleasant memory. Dark Pit stepped forward with Incineroar, both of them glaring at the symbol fiercely rather than dejectedly. "Galeem. This place has gotta be where his worshippers were held up."

"I can already sense the holy importance," Palutena whispered. "All those devoted to him must have come here not just to worship him… but also pray and sacrifice in his name. Those people saw him as a god, and in many ways, he was one."

"And the thing about gods…" A distant voice from the temple's main doors alerted everyone instantly. A lone person stood, or rather an imitation of a person. A clone of Corrin stared at the Smashers with a calm and confident smile, presumably in pride for the fallen master. "...is that they are immortal, Super Smash Brothers. We are so pleased you could make it."

A small squad of puppets marched from the corridor behind him; figures Sora knew all too well. Those were the guys that had taken his friends. He may not have known who they were copied from before- or even that they were copies at all- but now, he had everything he needed to know. A trio of a Mii Swordfighter with a laser sword stood with its weapon drawn, clones of Sheik and Peach flanking it. A Mewtwo puppet hovered above them, psychic energy gathering in its palms. A Samus puppet that moved as if it was nothing more than a machine emerged from the torch-lit hallway, followed by two giant R.O.B. replicas that looked just as big as the corridor and three Falco puppets that already had blasters in hand… er, wing.

But those weren't the only weapons the bird-brains had. The one in front had a shield on its back to protect it from any attacks from the rear. Another held a deadly Killing Edge blade with accuracy, ready to strike like a predator at any given moment. The third had a menacing-looking scythe that resonated with death incarnate. The Corrin puppet continued to address the Smashers as if he was a host welcoming guests into his home for a social event.

"I understand that you must be tired of fighting us by now. To you, we must be a swarm of cockroaches that persists despite your best efforts to crush us. Or probably rats that duplicate and spread rapidly, making it impossible to be rid of. If I am to be honest… I have thought the same. I, too, grow tired by your attempts to keep my master's war against darkness postponed."

"And we grow tired of how you try changing the outcome of a war that's already been won!" Pit shot back at the clone. "I've had my fair share of sore losers, buddy, but you are by far the worst!" Peach stepped forward with a scowl in her eyes, Pikachu growling and charging up behind her. "You and your 'master' have tainted this universe and all others long enough! Give it up!"

"Surrender?" the puppet gasped in feigned shock. "Oh, what use is there in that? Our creator built us for battle, to be his guardians and the perfect force to counter threats such as yourselves in his perfect world. It is you who should be surrendering today, Smash Brothers."

"In case you haven't noticed," Robin reminded the clone. "You're outnumbered. Greatly, at that. Whatever hope you have of victory, it will be short-lived." At the tactician's words, the false half-dragon sneered. "Is that so? The only short-lived victory here, Smash Brothers, is yours." The clone snapped his fingers, prompting the Samus puppet to input a command through its helmet. A low hum rang from the sapphire stones on the entryway, followed by the gems glowing like stars. Suddenly, several flashes of light spouted through the tunnel and forced those in the front to shield their eyes. More bursts quickly filled up the entire tunnel until they finally ceased… and the Smashers gasped at what had just appeared.

Blue replicas of the Smashers' likeness stood before the fighters and the temple doors, hundreds of them dwarfing the Smash Brothers' own forces. They stood like a wall that barred their path, with no way out save for through the barricade. "It took months to perfectly mimic Master Galeem's replication technique," the Corrin puppet explained boldly. "But our efforts were not in vain. This was always our master's alternative for when his forces were depleted, they provided sufficiently in his duel against Dharkon on the surface… until you had the gall to intervene. And since you have proven to be an obstacle preventing the eradication of darkness… then you must be eradicated as well. DESTROY THEM!"

The luminescent figures charged on cue, stampeding towards the Smashers like a wild herd of animals. Some Smashers immediately charged for the enemy to meet them head-on and throw themselves into the fray, while others held their position with defensive stances and held firm against the crashing blue wave that battered them. The action ignited so quickly and so fiercely that Sora lost track of some fighters in the blink of an eye amongst laser fire, elemental blasts, and flurries of limbs that pounded and bashed anything they hit. Cloud slowly drew the Buster Sword from behind his back, Shulk following suit with the Monado. But when the man in red ignited his weapon's plasma blade and ran to meet a false Link in combat, the spiky-haired swordsman turned back at Sora.

"You know what you have to do," were his only words before he, too, rushed for a Marth clone that had gotten the upper hand on Roy. Now left alone, Sora turned to the other newcomers with a rallying expression. "Okay, guys! Let's get in that temple! Blockheads, start digging!" Steve and Alex nodded- although it looked like they were looking down and up again- before fast-walking over to the cavern's right wall and tapping their pickaxes against the solid stone surface. "And I didn't mean to hurt your feelings over the name!" Sora quickly added, hoping the two square people and their buddies wouldn't take offense to the term.

Sephiroth sighed beside him, along with an impatient-looking Kazuya. "Let's just get this over with, boy." Sora had no argument there, especially with someone he sort of fought before. At least this Sephiroth was a little more … well, a step up from his universe's Sephiroth. Small victories.

"Time for a break-in," Joker announced, watching until the tunnel's wall collapsed to form an even-smaller tunnel that Steve and Alex continued to carve. Their costumed friends (Sora hoped they were costumes) joined in on the digging and burrowed through the earth, moving through the stony wall before the one in green jumped a little, signaling everyone else to follow. The small squad hurried into the tunnel, Joker and Min Min keeping a watchful eye on the puppets. Fortunately, none of their enemies noticed them slipping away, but Byleth caught some words from the Corrin puppet to his allies.

"Join them. My compatriots and I have business to attend to."

"His bodyguards are entering the fray," the professor reported while everyone journeyed down the small tunnel. "But according to what Sora said, he won't be unprotected inside. Puppets with the spirits of the boy's friends are bound to be with him."

"Let 'em come!" squealed Kazooie, prompting an appreciative smile from Terry. "The more of them there are, the more eyes I can peck out."

"Remember, we gotta be careful," Sora added. He didn't want anyone getting too ahead of themselves at this delicate stage. Apparently, Pyra had similar thoughts. "Yeah. We can't afford to let our guard down now. We need to see this through."

"I hate to sound like a pushover," Banjo piped up. "But can the square guys dig any faster, please?" Much to the bear's surprise, the four miners did exactly that and increased their pace, breaking down earth and stone alike as they advanced like a moving drill. Unfortunately, the Enderman's iron pickaxe broke and shattered into pixelated dust, but the Zombie dropped some pixelated sticks, diamonds, and a table of some kind. Within seconds, the Enderman had quickly crafted a diamond pickaxe and was back to digging as if nothing had happened.

"What should we expect once we get close?" Eight asked as the tunnel took a light left turn towards the temple. His compatriots were lost in coming up with an answer, but Min Min gave them an assuring smile while the female Byleth drew close to Eleven. "I'm not expecting much opposition. Most of the fighting is out there, so they won't suspect a breach until it's too late."

"So we remain undetected until then?" Terry echoed. He didn't know if his words could be understood by the Chinese and Japanese martial artists nearby, but he swore he saw Kazuya scowl in irritation. Probably because of Terry's surprised attitude. After all, stealth wasn't the strong suit of one who preferred fighting out in the open. Rex was quick to calm the experienced pros down a notch, much to Terry's relief. "Relax. We'll make sure to save some heads for you to knock." Whether Kazuya understood that was more of a mystery, as he paid no heed to the Driver while continuing his stride down the tunnel.

Steve and the others were fast diggers, a feat Sora didn't think he would be impressed by. Not even the king's dog could have done it this quickly, even if he needed to bury a bone ten meters underground. According to what he heard about the pixel people, they were practically experts at digging and building stuff… although the punching-trees bit sounded absurd, even for him. The boy had to force his mind back to the present moment; in summary, Steve, Alex, and the other two knew what they were doing.

As if to prove his point, Sor heard the pickaxes strike something other than dirt or rock. The echoing clink indicated a new material in their path… and it sounded like something structural, like a wall. The Piranha Plant gnashed its jaws eagerly and Solo stoically stared at what lay before the group. "This has to be it. Now… how do we get in?"

"I've broken into places before," Joker advised. "I can see if there's a weak spot that we can-" The wall broke apart before the thief could finish, leaving a rectangular hole where it once was. Steve turned back with that same blank look on his face, his diamond pickaxe still standing strong. The team was equally silent for a moment… until Joker sighed. "Okay… I guess that works, too."

"If it helps, it was still quiet," Pyra piped up. "I barely heard a thing."

"Come on, let's move!" Sora whispered, leaping from the newly-made hole and touching down on a pristine marble floor with his Keyblade flashing into his hand. The others dropped into the hallway with Sora on point, moving quickly and quietly into the temple. As expected, most of the halls were empty, but they reverberated with faint vibrations from the raging battle outside. The diversion was working… so far.

In the far end of the hall, Sora caught movement: the Corrin clone slipping behind a corner. After motioning at his teammates to follow, Sora crept down the corridor to tail the puppet. While doing so, he couldn't help but notice the many murals on the walls depicting Galeem, his followers, and his war against Dharkon. It reminded Sora so much of his universe's version of that same conflict between light and dark; each side desiring nothing but the complete elimination of the other. If the king hadn't changed his way and corrected his great error… would he have become just as great a threat as Galeem?

Sora knew better. Light and darkness couldn't exist without the other to counter it out. And while both deities were dormant on this side of existence, their presence could still be felt. The war between them and what they symbolized may never end… but it could be at least kept in check to avoid total destruction. The same needed to be said about his universe; there needed to be balance in-

"Guys, do you hear that?" Rex's voice snapped Sora back to the present and the boy scolded himself for being carried away. "I think we're getting close." True to what the former scavenger had said, Sora could hear a faint humming noise up ahead… like a power source charging up.

That had to be it. The portal… the door to his universe and the many worlds within it. "It's starting," the Keyblade wielder realized. "We have to hurry and get in there!" Picking up the pace, the team followed the lone figure down a turn just in time to spot it slip past a pair of doors. Everyone gathered near the doors, with Sora keeping quiet upon hearing voices in the other room.

"Are the units ready?"

"Yes… but the portal-"

"-shall suffice. It can only stay open for a few minutes, but it'll be all the time we need."

And it would be all the time they needed, too. Having heard all he needed to hear, Sora nodded to his teammates and burst into the room, hurling his weapon at the closest target he could see: a Roy clone that jolted in surprise when the Keyblade embedded itself into the wall, alerting all puppets in the room.

"What?!"

The only thing that stood out in the chamber was a large portal that was already swirling with blue dimensional energy… and three clones of Sora standing before it. The trio whirled around in shock, guarded by two clones of Dark Samus and Daisy that expressed equal alarm. Three Robin puppets- one female and two males- immediately took up positions alongside a Chrom clone. Lastly, a Lucina clone called forth four copies of Mr. Game and Watch before drawing its blade. And right near some kind of control panel for the portal, the Corrin clone's shocked face morphed into a scowl.

"You…"

Sora summoned the Kingdom Key back to his hand and stared down the puppet. "Sorry, but none of you are going anywhere! Guys, shut that thing down!" On his call, everyone sprang into action, the puppet scrambling to defend themselves. "Stop them!" the Corrin puppet cried out. "Do not let them near the portal!" The clone turned his attention back to the console and hurriedly inputted some commands, probably making some final adjustments to stabilize the device.

No. Sora wasn't losing any more friends!

Joker drew his pistol and opened fire on the Lucina clone, the puppet expertly deflecting his shots with its blade while the thief charged at her. Once he got in close, Joker drew his knife and engaged the puppet in close quarters. The Piranha Plant lunged at a Mr. Game and Watch clone and snapped it up, attempting to rip it apart like a piece of paper. The others quickly surrounded him, forcing the flora to spit his foe out and attack them in a wild frenzy. The Daisy clone swung a Lip's Stick flower at Min Min, who somersaulted away before retaliating with long-range arm strikes, keeping her enemy at a distance. With an enraged roar, Kazuya engaged the Robin puppets with Terry beside him, the martial artists clashing with the magicians in a mix of strong strikes and arcane blasts.

Byleth clashed swords with the Chrom clone while his counterpart dueled the Roy clone, weaving away from flame-imbued slashes and using her ax to bat away a Hothead thrown her way. The Dark Samus clone laid down covering fire, and Banjo's answer to that was holding Kazooie like a rifle and having her spit eggs from her mouth. When the dark doppelganger launched a bomb from its cannon, the Breegull popped out a grenade that the bear promptly chucked at the puppet, the projectile detonating on contact. The puppet then drew a Killing Edge and flew for the bear, who rolled away from a charging thrust before using Kazooie as a club to bash it over the head.

Steve, Alex, the Zombie, and the Enderman moved to help the Piranha Plant with the black figures swarming it, swords forged from various materials swinging with punch-like motions from their arms. Eleven and his heroic counterparts moved on the Corrin clone at the console… and the puppet retorted with a sneer before hurling an orb of dark energy at them. While the orb hit no one, it expanded into a Black Hole upon hitting the floor and yanked the Smashers towards it. The Piranha Plant sunk its fangs into a pillar while Sephiroth and Pyra stabbed their blades into the floor, the one-winged angel tossing a Flare at the Corrin puppet, but it exploded against the wall when the clone expertly dodged it.

"I have no time for your interference!" he growled, leaping away from Min Min's arm and morphing his own limb into a spear, using it to pierce Sephiroth to the ground and leave the man immobilized. Before the puppet could follow through, a fireball struck him out of the air. The clone landed on his feet and quickly raised his sword, blocking Sora's Keyblade while the boy glared daggers at him. Breaking the clash, the two of them traded strikes before the puppet deflected Sora's next attack and kicked him to the ground.

"You made a mistake coming to this word, Sora… and I'm going to make sure this is the last world you-"

"PERSONA!" A voice roared, causing blue flames to erupt across the chamber. Now with Arsene by his side, Joker easily dispatched the Lucina clone and struck it down, releasing the soul of Aqua… and distracting the Corrin clone. "No…"

Sora took his chance and kicked the puppet off him before making a break for the portal controls. Suddenly, a blade whiffed through the air and would have cut him in two if he hadn't stopped in time. Sora spun to his next opponent… and noticed the three copies of himself surrounding him. One of them held a Killing Edge alongside a fabricated Keyblade, the katana glinting in the portal's light. Sora matched his duplicates' fierce faces and stared each of them down with his weapon at the ready. They all converged on him… and learned the hard way how badly outmatched they were. Sora leaned away from the Killing Edge's deadly tip, deflected another clone's attack, and toppled the third clone with an inward sweep to the legs. The dual-wielding clone rushed in close, but Sora grabbed it and smacked his Keyblade's hilt on his opponent's face before slamming it to the ground and impaling it through the back.

Another of the duplicates went for another assault, but Sora was ready for such a move and pointed his Keyblade at the fighter wearing his face. "Time!" he called, causing the puppet to immediately freeze on the spot. With it frozen, Sora struck it across the chest before thrusting it through the torso, the final hit being enough to finish it off. The last of the duplicates lunged with a downward strike, a forward thrust, and a spinning outward strike that Sora easily evaded, the real deal countering with an upward slash, a forward thrust, and a downward lunge. With his opponent staggered, another downward slash was enough to finish it off.

Looking around the chamber, Sora noticed his friends were making progress. Most of the puppets were eliminated, and those that remained were on their last legs. The Corrin clone was still standing, a mixture of shock and fury on his face as he spun to face Sora. "No matter. If I can't have replicas of a soul from your universe cross to the other side… then I'll just TAKE THE REAL THING!"

Before Sora could retort, the clone sprouted a pair of dragon wings and flew right into him, knocking the boy off his feet and carrying him into the portal. The world around Sora turned a bright blue and everything swirled around him in a spiral of light, making Sora feel as if he was moving at lightspeed. His thoughts were moving just as fast.

If the portal was actually working as intended, they'd reach Sora's universe in mere seconds. But the worst part was that Sora didn't know the exact location; if this figure resembling someone from the other side was seen by a world's inhabitant, leaving them open to the possibility of other worlds… he couldn't let that happen. He needed to end this now. Sora summoned his Keyblade back into his hand and swung at his foe, his weapon meeting the puppet's own spinning-bladed weapon.

"You're too late!" the puppet growled behind the draconic mask it wore, its bestial wings allowing it to glide alongside Sora as they danced about in the tunnel of light. "It's impossible to stop dimensional travel! The soul within me has revealed you have closed many doors, Sora, but this is one even you cannot seal!" Sora hated to admit it… but the clone was right. He and the others were too late to shut down the portal, so there was no stopping it from reaching Sora's universe at this rate.

Unless… could that work? The sudden thought that had presented itself was a risky one. But Sora was willing to try anything. After all… trying was the spark that lighted a darkness-burning fire. With determination blazing in his eyes, Sora flew towards the Corrin clone and seized it around its midsection.

"What are you-?!"

Before the puppet could resist, Sora flew towards the tunnel's edge; towards the twinkling blue light that was just as bright as the expanding sea. He hoped this would work as he closed his eyes… and dove in. For a moment, all was calm and quiet. The boy felt weightless, floating in empty space where nothing but himself existed. The light gave way to darkness, but not the vile and malicious darkness he knew too well. This darkness was silent and tranquil as if it rested within a noble soul.

And that was because it did.

The boy touched down on a circular platform that resembled stained glass: the outside ring was covered with crowns and the inner rim was decorated with visages of hearts. Off in the abyssal background was his Station of Awakening, composed of a visage of himself, Riku, Kairi, a Paopu Fruit, and the Highwind. The background resembled his old home, the Destiny Islands, and its ring border was covered in crowns.

"This is…" The Corrin puppet had come to at last, bewildered by the sight around him. "This is your Dive to the Heart. But… it's supposed to be accessed through dreams."

"I was dreaming," Sora explained. "I was dreaming of my universe without any interdimensional interference. You said you wanted to come here… but this is all you're gonna get." The boy took his stance and his agitated adversary followed. "The soul within me has told me everything of your world… but I'm curious to find out what happens if you kill someone within their own heart!"

Both fighters charged and converged in the center of the platform, their weapons meeting with a clang that echoed through the black space around them. Sora blitzed around the platform and struck as quick as a blur, but the copy matched his every move step-for-step. The boy managed to land a slashing strike across the puppet's side and zeroed in to impale him from behind, only for his opponent to be ready for him. The Corrin puppet whirled around and morphed his arm into a set of jaws that closed on Sora's body. The boy didn't get the chance to scream in pain before the jaws slammed him to the glass surface of the Station, and the blade that would have driven through his skull instead cracked the floor when he jerked his head out of the way.

"Fire!" Sora pointed his Keyblade right at his adversary's face and blasted him point-black with an explosive blast. While his enemy recovered instantly, it was all the time Sora needed to get back to his feet. His foe took flight after sprouting a pair of wings, and Sora followed suit by launching himself into the air and engaging the puppet above the Station. Back and forth they went, Sora's Keyblade a spinning blur of light against the false Corrin's Omega Yato. The boy veered away from a Dragon Fang's stab, ducked beneath a sword swipe, and landed a three-hit combo of a downward strike, an upward slash, and a somersaulting attack that sent the puppet crashing against the floor.

It was quick to avoid a downward plunge that resulted in the Kingdom Key stabbing the glass surface, firing a ball of water at the boy. The projectile paralyzed Sora on contact, leaving him defenseless against a charging corkscrew that drilled into his chest. Sora slid back along the ground until he felt no floor beneath his head… only the black abyss.

"I warned you that stepping out of your territory was a mistake," the puppet growled behind its draconic mask, raising its sword high. "Now you will drown in the darkness you were sworn to battle." With a single strike, the puppet knocked Sora off the platform and sent him dropping out of sight. The clone retracted his mask with a smirk of satisfaction. It was a pity that it had disposed of a native to the other side… but it had a soul from that same universe within it. If all else failed, it would be the key to crossing the barrier between this dimension and the rest.

"YAH!" A sudden yell alerted the puppet… but too late. Gliding in from the left, Sora landed a strong slash against the clone's face and knocked it down, touching down perfectly on the glass surface. His entire body was aglow with a flaming rainbow aura and his eyes were just as bright. Upon seeing his new state, the puppet's eyes widened in realization, shock, and horror.

"Wh-what?! No! This is impossible! W-we're on the other side! The laws of the previous dimensions don't apply here! H-how-?!"

"A stickler for rules, huh?" Sora taunted, aiming the tip of his Keyblade at his opponent. "Well, rules are made to be broken!" A beam of light shot from his weapon and pierced through the puppet like an arrow, dealing critical damage and leaving it severely weakened. At the beam's end, a keyhole-shaped portal flashed into existence and sucked in the puppet like a black hole.

"No! No! NOOOOOOOO-" The enemy's shocked scream was silenced when the keyhole morphed into a door that slammed shut, the Smash symbol above a shining keyhole. Twirling his Keyblade again, Sora fired another beam of light at the door and twisted his weapon as if locking it. The boy spun around with a confident smile and placed his weapon atop his shoulder… before the door burst in a mixture of light and smoke.

It was done. The Dive to the Heart was quiet once again, and Sora knew he had to go back. But where would he end up? Back home or the other side? And more importantly, what would the others think of this? Once again, his mind was swarming with questions…

Like that was anything new, honestly.

And speaking of honesty, Sora wasn't sure what would happen if he stayed there for too long. He understood that these puppets were bodies of beings from the fictitious side of existence that did not belong in the universe he called home… but could the same be said for the other way around? Was Sora, a person from the worlds of heart, meant to be on the other side? Was his presence enough to destabilize that side of reality? He hated the very thought. He had just made some new friends, and it'd be rather rude to just abandon them without warning. Regardless, he helped them win their last battle… and whether he was with them or not, the Smashers would be grateful.

Maybe Sora would find a way back to them. Perhaps he could devise a means of interdimensional travel without endangering either universe. But for now… it was time to go home.

The boy closed his eyes with a warm smile, allowing the light- his light- to wash over him and wake him up.

…

"What happened?! Where's Sora?" Fox called out, the Smashers filing into the portal chamber. The device was now inactive and the control console was useless… and the squad already present was at a loss for a reply. Terry was the first to give one. "I… honestly have no idea. Why the late arrival?"

"Those light copies proved impeccable challengers," Marth explained. "For every one we took down, more were produced by those stones on the entryway. All that changed when they just… stopped."

"It must have been the portal," Byleth muttered. "The last time we saw Sora, that copy of Corrin tackled him through the portal. After that, it went crazy… and shorted out. It must have knocked out power to the entire temple."

"A portal to the other side must have been too much for that tech to handle," Samus guessed. "It's like a bridge that's too short to cross a gap. Is there any way to bring it back online?"

"Not that I've seen," the female Byleth answered, scanning the damaged console. "This thing looks busted beyond repair. Sora must be… trapped, wherever he is."

"He's home," Ness corrected. "And he brought the puppet with him. The only question now is… did he defeat it?" The boy's query was answered by a chuckle from Shulk. "Were you not paying attention when he explained himself? He's a fighter just like us! I think it's safe to say he took care of that goon."

"If that's the case, then… it's over," Zelda realized. "For good. The last of Galeem's army is finished." The rest of the Smashers paused, allowing the realization to sink in. "Wait… it's really over? For real this time?" the orange Inkling echoed.

"Scanning…" beeped R.O.B. "I am detecting no more spiritual signatures in the vicinity. All fabricated fighters have been eliminated." Besides the robot, Mega Man was donning a victorious smile. "Then… it's over! We won! Again!" His cheers quickly spread among the rest of the Smashers, and all but a select few shared in the celebration. One of those few was Mario, who just sadly stared at the inactive portal. The plumber sighed… and felt a hand on his shoulder. Link stood by his side and gave his friend a warm smile. Donkey Kong strode up beside the hero, giving Mario a toothy grin. Kirby and Pikachu scurried into view while Fox and Samus joined as well, both of them glancing at the portal.

"He offered to join a fight that wasn't his to begin with," the bounty hunter broke the silence. "Maybe it's selflessness like that that brought him where he is today… with his own friends." The ace pilot crossed his arms and turned to Mario. "You think we'll ever see him again?" The hat atop Mario's head blinked open its eyes; eyes that were full of concern.

"I… maybe? He'll find a way to come back, right?"

"Perhaps," everyone turned to see the rest of their allies were joining them, with Cloud holding the Buster Sword over his shoulder. "That Sora has potential. In my eyes, he'll always be one of us. A Smash Brother. He aided us in our most desperate hour and helped us win this war. Without him, the war would've gone on for who-knows-how-long."

"And now it's over," Sonic pointed out. "No more bad guys to beat, no more light and dark gods to put in their place… so what happens now? Do we go home again?"

"Not quite," Fox replied. "We thought Galeem and Dharkon's armies were finished before, and look where that got us. We need to be absolutely sure this time. Once we're done and are certain we're rid of those fakes… then we're good."

"Ugh… not even five minutes and I'm already bored!" Bowser moaned. "Without the puppets, who are we gonna fight now?!" Marth was quick to provide an answer. "Well, we could always bring back broadcasted matches. After all, fighting is what we do best in this universe… or any universe, really."

"Speaking of any universe…" Roy pondered. "Do you think Sora made it back okay?"

"Definitely," Joker nodded. "And man, has he got quite the story to tell his friends! I guess for him, it's another to add to the list."

"And he's got more to come, just like we do," Cappy added. The hat's words were enough to bring a smile to everyone's face, including the man who wore it. Mario remembered how confused and lost he felt at the very beginning, along with how he would come to terms with the strange people he was now proud to call his friends both on the battlefield and off it. Old allies and new ones (whereas some did not start out as friends to him) alike learned the secrets of the multiverse, but there were still some that lay buried. With them lay reality-threatening dangers: Tabuu, Master Core, and even Galeem and Dharkon themselves. And together, they had defeated them. Ordinary (or otherwise) beings from worlds birthed during a war that spanned eons. Why was this possible? The answer was quite simple.

Because everything was possible. If not them, then perhaps others would band together to protect the many universes they called home. Some had joined late into their war against light and dark, but they, too, had chosen to take up arms. And perhaps someday, more would hear of their legend and join forces to combat a danger even greater than Galeem or Dharkon. Mario had no idea what that would be… but anything was possible here.

Whatever great evil sought to conquer all known existence or tear it asunder, champions from many worlds- aware of each other or not- would heed the call to arms and fight for a common cause. That was the message of the Super Smash Brothers. That iconic symbol was not just a symbol; it was a beacon to those who wished to join… and a warning to any who would oppose them.

Because as long as the Super Smash Brothers stood united, all universes everywhere would continue to thrive. And evil would learn the hard way that this was one game they simply could not win.