Chapter 2: The Trail of Blood

Zelda awoke the next morning to find that Link was missing from his bed, causing her to sit up and call out. "Link? Link, where did you go?"

However, Zelda quickly got out from the bed when she heard a scream, before Zelda rushed out of Link's room and bumped into Cloud.

Concerned, she asked. "Cloud! What was that?"

"That was Lucario and Samus' screams. Something must have happened!" Cloud said replied, knowing it had to be bad if Samus, one of the greatest Bounty Hunters in the galaxy who was screaming, then it would have to be bad.

"Hurry!" Marth called out, approaching the pair, before he told them. "Ike and Pikachu! They been stabbed and are covered with blood!"

"What!?" Cloud and Zelda called back as they then ran to see what had happened.

All the Smashers crowded around, as Samus was cradling Ike, who was on the brink of death, blood pouring out everywhere, from his forehead, arms, chest and legs, while Lucario was cradling the almost dead Pikachu.

"What happened?" Shulk asked, concerned that he failed to foresee such a horrid event.

"I saw Ike lying down like this, all bleeding!" Samus cried out as she held Ike's body close. "And Pikachu too. They barely alive but who'd could've done this?"

"Pikachu, please stay with us, please!" Lucario cried out, while Charizard, Jigglypuff and Greninja watched on in worry as Pikachu slowly begin to breathe.

"Take Pikachu and Ike to the hospital wing." Mario instructed, before saying. "We'll find whoevers been doing this!"

Cloud nodded in agreement with Mario's words, before he then noticed a trail of blood leaving the group, as if it was trying to get away.

"Guys... A trail of blood. If we follow that, we should find whoever did this." Cloud called out, before taking charge and saying. "Ryu, Fox, Zelda, you're with me. Everyone, take care of Ike and Pikachu."

The three nodded and followed them as the others lead Ike and Pikachu away.

Following him, Fox asked. "Who could have done this?"

Cloud, about to reply was then silenced when he and the others heard some breaths of depression coming from the lounge, while the blood trail continued from there.

Slowly, Cloud opened the door, to which he, Zelda and Fox were all horrified to find a blood soaked Link on his hands and knees, who had a horrified look on his face, while his Master Sword and his clothing were stained with blood.

"Link?" Zelda asked in horror as she bent down to Link, before she begged. "Please don't tell me you're the one who done that to Ike and Pikachu."

Link choked in despair as he looked at his sword. "I... I did it... I killed them... But how... why... they were my friends..."

"Link, calm yourself. Tell us what happened" Ryu said.

"I don't know. I just woke up and there was Ike and Pikachu, covered in blood and I saw myself covered in it. I just couldn't believe it. What's happening to me?" Link shuddered.

"It's ok, Link. Pikachu and Ike survived. They're not dead. They've been taken to Dr. Mario. He's healing them up as we speak." Cloud assured him.

"Come on, we've gotta let the others know." Fox then said as he and Cloud helped Link up.

-An hour later-

"But why did you do it, Link?" Pit questioned Link, who was cleaned up, after he had heard the whole story.

Luckily, Ike and Pikachu were awake now, all bandaged up and Samus and Lucario were taking good care of them, making sure not to leave them.

"I didn't do it on purpose. I must be sleepwalking" Link said, defending himself.

"Pikachu, Pika, Pikachu." Pikachu said, causing Lucario to gasp and say, switching from Poke-tongue to English. "You said 'He's not doing this on purpose?' You mean he was controlled?"

"Yes. He must have been. Last night, me and Pikachu woke up to the sounds of footsteps. When we got out and went to see what happened, we find Link trying to get into the safe. When he turned to look at us, his eyes became strangely green." Ike added, to which Cloud took notice from Ike's explanation, before he continued. "As Pikachu and I tried to talk to him, Link drew out the Master Sword and tried to kill us. We were cut up badly, but we know that Link wasn't doing this on purpose. And unable to take anymore, we both lost consciousness."

"So Link must have been controlled that time?" Asked Fox, concerned about his friend.

"Link, did anything happen to you yesterday that made you feel strange?" Mario asked.

Link thought for a moment, before he said in reply. "Well, after I grabbed that Sephiwhatever's sword, I begin to have horrible head pains, not to mention I saw a reflection in a mirror of a man with silver hair."

"You mean Sephiroth?" Asked Roy.

"Yeah. I think that's him. His eyes were pure evil and a strangely creepy green." Link replied.

At this, Cloud and Ryu left out of the room.

"Cloud, Ryu, where are you going?" Called Ness, only to be ignored as the pair continued to leave.

-Elsewhere-

"So what you're saying is that this Sephiroth guy must have controlled Link?" Bayonetta asked as Cloud and Ryu told her, Megaman, Snake, Pac Man and Sonic what had happened.

"Must have. It must have happened after Link grabbed that sword." Pac Man said in reply.

"Hmm... I don't like this. I think we all should keep a close eye on Link in case something happens." Snake commented, determined not to lose any more innocents or allies.

"Yeah, it may be the best chance we've got." Megaman said, before he asked. "What do you think Cloud?"

"If Sephiroth's sword must have his spirit or something, then it must have entered Link when he grasped his sword. If so then we must make sure he doesn't fall under his control." Cloud said in reply.

"Guys, if Link knew this, he would never allow himself to be controlled by an evil being. He'd run off and find someway to repel this." Sonic told them.

"I hope you're right, Sonic" Cloud said, knowing how tricky Sephiroth truly was.

-Meanwhile-

Fox and Marth helped Link back to his room, to which Link still felt shaky about all that had happened.

"Link, something terrible must have happened to you. But we just got news from Cloud. He and the third party characters will keep watch over you. Fox, you look after him. I'll go and get Zelda" Marth said, before he head for outside.

After Marth left, Link slowly rose and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Am I changing...?"

"You are the one who is foolish to grab my sword." A voice told the blond, causing Link to look up to see the silver man's face in the mirror again.

"You!? You must be Sephiroth! Why did you attack Pikachu and Ike?!" Link snapped, angry that someone is indeed inside him and using him to attack his friends..

"I was trying to regain my sword when those fools showed up. And I could have finished them off if you didn't wake up at that moment. But no matter. Soon, I will have total control over your body, Link, and when I do, the planet will become a vessel for my own conquest for my mother" Sephiroth spoke to him.

"No! I won't let you!" Link shouted back as he slammed his fist into the mirror, breaking it into pieces.

"Link! Are you alright?" Fox called out as he rushed into the room and saw Link with his fist in the mirror, shaking.

"It was him after all. He was trying to control my body. When I was asleep, he took command. I won't sleep again!" Link said back.

"You need to relax my friend. Here, we and Zelda will take a shower together and you tell us what happened." Fox advised, knowing that Zelda would be coming in soon.

-A while later-

Link, Zelda and Fox were under the showers, letting the hot water run down their bodies, while Zelda and Fox washed Link's body, trying to calm him down.

"So you saw Sephiroth in the mirror?" Zelda asked in worry, making Fox add. "And he's trying to use your body to get his sword back?"

"Yes, and after that he has plans for this world, use it as a vessel for conquest of the universe" Link said in reply.

"That's terrible. We mustn't allow Sephiroth to do this. Cloud is right. That sword is dangerous! I am not losing my best friend to that fiend!" Fox stated.

"Agreed. I won't let Link succumbed to any evil, especially to some evil spirit. We'll all keep you safe, Link. I promise." Zelda said as she hugged and kissed Link on the cheek, to which Link sighed and nodded.

-Elsewhere-

"We'll make sure Link is well guarded, Cloud. You can bet on it!" Shulk said as he walked besides Cloud, making him nod, before asking. "Thanks, Shulk. All of us are now aware. And how are Ike and Pikachu holding on?"

"They're healing just well. They should be healed soon. I can't believe Samus was concerned about Ike" Shulk said.

Suddenly changing the subject, Cloud requested. "Can you go get Mario for me? I need to talk to him about something."

"Sure thing." Shulk said, rushing off as he went up to get him, leaving Cloud all alone, that was until he heard a voice speak to him.

"Good to see you, Cloud."

He looked up to see the ghostly figure of Sephiroth above him, wearing a long black coat with silver pauldrons, black boots and black pants.

"Sephiroth, I knew it was you!" Cloud said.

"Hmhmhm. Never thought you be fighting in a place like this." Sephiroth commented.

"Just what do you want? Destroy this planet? Use it as a vessel? And if so, why did you choose Link?" Cloud asked.

"You know what I want. And that boy has power that even you cannot defeat. So I am using his body as my new host."

"No. Link will not allow you to control his body. I know he can resist you." Cloud said back.

"Hmph. Like you, he is nothing but a puppet." Sephiroth said.

"What do you mean?" Asked Cloud.

"He won't last long. He thinks he can stop me by staying awake. But it won't be for long untill he gets too tired and by then, I have complete control over him. Just watch the changes." Sephiroth cackled.

"If you do control him then, then I'll be the one who will stop you!" Cloud called out.

"Hmph. We shall see." Sephiroth said, disappearing and leaving Cloud alone once again.

"Cloud, you want to see me? Who are you talking to?" Mario asked as he then appeared.

"I... it's nothing. Mario... I need to ask you something. Can you keep an eye on the other villains? If they knew what was happening to Link, they would try to do something." Cloud asked.

"Don't a worry. Once Pikachu is healed, me, him and Kirby will keep a close eye on Ganondorf, Bowser and the others." Mario replied, causing Cloud to nod as he and Mario walked off.

However, none were aware they were watched.

"So that was Sephiroth?" Ganondorf asked as he emerged from the darkness, having also seen the ghost of Sephiroth. "And he's trying to process Link's body as his own. Still, I think I'll like to have a word with him."

He then cackled and returned to his lair, preparing the latest plans of his evil.