Chapter 3: Changes
For the weeks gone by, everyone began feeling more and more concerned for Link, who continued to stayed up each night to try to keep Sephiroth from taking over, however, it seemed it wasn't working.
As much as Link wanted to stay awake, he grew more and more tired with each day, hour and minute that passed, to which Zelda and Fox tried to keep him safe and he knew he mustn't sleep.
Ike and Pikachu were fully healed, thanks to the support of Samus and Lucario and soon they too were trying to keep Link safe.
The third party characters were pretty much on watch the whole time as they noticed the small changes that was affecting Link bit by bit.
In fact at one time, Sephiroth almost controlled Link's mind at breakfast where he unexpectedly grabbed Lucas' throat and was about to choke him to death until Ness told him to snap out of it, which he did and apologised to Lucas afterwards.
Cloud worried on what happened if Sephiroth did manage to free himself and take control of Link's mind.
The main reason was because if he did, he knew he would have to fight him, and he hated thought of killing an innocent life to stop Sephiroth.
On the other hand, Mario, Pikachu, Kirby and Pit were keeping a close eye on the villains, confusing Bowser, Mewtwo, Dedede and Bowser Jr, while Ganondorf played it cool, as if he didn't notice, but Cloud began to suspect that Ganondorf was up to something as he grinned at him whenever he walked past him.
Luckily, Tifa had arrived at the mansion, alongside Fox's lover, Krystal, who she picked up.
As Krystal reunited with Fox, Cloud and Tifa went to the lounge where Bayonetta was polishing her guns, Ryu was meditating, while Megaman, Pac Man and Sonic were playing Wii Party U for some odd reason.
"So how is Link coping?" Tifa then asked as she and Cloud sat with Bayonetta on the couch.
"Not so well. I can see that Link is struggling. He cannot stay awake much longer." Cloud said in reply.
"He needs some sleep." Bayonetta commented, only for Snake, who had been hiding in his box in the corner, emerged from and said. "If he did, then that freak show would take him over and we'd have to subdue him."
"Right. We have to be prepared. Cloud, I know Link has beaten you before, but can you beat him when Sephiroth will have control over him?" Tifa asked, concerned for both blonds.
"If so, then I have to train." Cloud said as he rose up and picked up his sword.
"You're going to train? But who will be your sparring partner?" Megaman asked.
"We will." Came a strong, male voice, causing everyone in the room to turn to see Ike and Zero Suit Samus by the door, to which Ike then said. "I need to start if I ever want a rematch with that Sephiroth guy who was using Link at that time."
"And I want to help Ike get back in fighting form. We would appreciate the help, Cloud" Samus said.
"Alright then." Cloud nodded.
-In the Pokemon Stadium 2 stage-
Cloud and Ike locked swords as they begin their rigorous training, clashing their huge swords back and forth, before Cloud leapt into the air and used his Blade Beam, to which Ike leapt over the attack.
Samus, meanwhile, had asked Ryu if he could help her in training.
Ryu accepted as if he would need to train if he was ever up against someone as dangerous as Akuma.
"Ike, there's something I have to ask you." Cloud then said as he used his Climhazzard attack on him, only for Ike to use his Great Aether, cancelling the attack. "Samus cares much about you. Mind telling me why that?"
"Oh, I can answer that." Samus interrupted as she dodged Ryu's Hadoken, before she confessed. "You see... Ike and I... we started dating."
"What!?" Cloud and Ryu asked in shock.
"It's true. It happens before you two arrived. You see, we took part in a stock match and Samus was in peril because Ridley attacked her while we were in a match." Ike explained.
"And I wasn't in my armour. I was in my Zero Suit, leaving me vulnerable to Ridley." Samus said, knowing she could handle various enemies without her Varia Suit, but facing Ridley without it would be a disaster.
"But I saved her by slashing Ridley off the stage and beating him. Samus then called the match and then ask if she would be my girlfriend." Ike said, scratching the back of his head, causing Samus to smile and giggle at his reaction.
"Guess love can be sought differently while on the battlefield." Ryu commented.
"Cloud!" Tifa's voice suddenly came from the speakers. "Something's happening to Link! His hair slowly begin to change colour!"
Cancelling their match, Cloud then called out. "We're on our way!"
-In the Smash Mansion lounge-
Link looked in shock that some of his hair strands had silver in it, the same colour as Sephiroth, which concerned all, especially Zelda.
"Link, is this because of Sephiroth? Because I know you're way to young to have grey hair." Olimar said.
"I think so. He's trying everything he can to control me. But I won't let him!" Link replied.
He looked tired, but knew he had to stay awake.
"Link, please, don't give up." Zelda said as she rubbed his cheek gently.
While Cloud was concerned too, he then remembered Sephiroth's words. "Just watch the changes."
"Cloud, can't you do something?" Fox asked, before adding. "Link is losing it badly."
"I don't know. But if he does come out, I have no choice but to fight." Cloud replied.
"If you do, don't hold anything back." Link told him sternly as he looked at Cloud. "Defeat me with everything you've got. Don't hold back, even if it was me you're fighting. Got it?"
Cloud nodded silently before he, Ryu, Snake, Tifa and Bayonetta left the room.
As they walked away, they ran into Rosalina, who had been searching for them.
"There you all are. I've been looking for you, Cloud. I have to talk to you." She said.
"What's wrong, Rosalina?" Tifa asked.
"I just need to talk to Cloud alone, if you all don't mind?" Rosalina asked in reply.
"Sure, I guess." Ryu said as the others walked off, leaving Cloud and Rosalina alone.
Alone with Rosalina, Cloud then asked her. "What's is it?"
"I have a question to ask you. I dreamt a strange dream of a woman with golden hair and a white dress and she seems to have some power of light in her?" Rosalina said.
Cloud looked up at Rosalina. "Does she have harmonious powers?"
"Yes. And for some strange reason, you were there, along with nine other fighters that I never seen before. One wearing blue armour and a helmet, one with a red rose, one is a small child, one is..." Rosalina began, to which Cloud then said. "A white and blue armor knight, a wanderer, a girl with strange powers, a young man with a black jacket, a boy with a tail and a teenager with a ball?"
"Yes. How'd you know?" Rosalina asked.
"How do you know about the Goddess of Harmony, Cosmos?" Cloud asked.
"Cosmos? I don't know. But how does this affect Link?" Rosalina questioned.
"Hmm... I'll find out the mystery." Cloud then said in reply, as he then ran out to his room and looked through his old clothes pocket to find a small green orb that glowed with harmonious powers.
"Cosmos... are you actually there?" Cloud asked, remembering his battles from Dissidia as he held onto one of the crystals she had given him.
Outside the mansion, unknown to everyone, a white dress was seen watching Cloud's room, while long blonde hair blew in the wind.
Three weeks had gone past and things had gotten worse for Link.
Currently, Link was extremely tired as he scrambled to his room.
He couldn't even fight right so Master Hand had to ordered him to his room to sleep, but he couldn't.
"I can't go to sleep. He might..." Link groaned as he held onto his head, his hair even more white now.
Just then, he saw a shadow above him, causing the green clad hero to spin and gasp out. "Ganondorf!"
But it was too late to react, for Ganondorf then knocked him out cold as he slammed his Sage Sword onto his head.
With Link to passed out, Bowser and Mewtwo then entered the room.
"So you believe this Sephiroth will listen to reason?" Mewtwo questioned, having doubts on trusting humans and humanoid based life forms.
"Link carries the Triforce of Courage so I bet Sephiroth would gladly give it to me." Ganondorf said, before he smirked darkly and stated. "And with that in my possession, I will gladly rid Zelda of her life and take her Triforce too."
"Ah, so that's why you knocked out Link?" Bowser then said, before all three left the room.
-Midnight-
The alarms went off as Mario, Fox, Pit, Marth and Shulk ran up, as someone has broken into the vault.
"Someone has broken into the vault, I am sure of it!" Marth said as they all ran to see what had happened.
They were shocked to see the vault open and they saw someone in the vault.
"Someone in there!" Pit said.
"And he's got Sephiroth's sword!" Mario cried out as a shadowy figure pulled out Sephiroth's sword free.
The shadowy figure appeared in the light to see a familiar green tunic hero, but his hair was now all silver and his eyes were now green, as he glared at the heroes.
"Link!?" Fox gasped in horror, for he couldn't believe what Link had done.
"I see the cavalry has arrived to stop me. Well you're all too late." A different voice exited from Link's mouth.
"Pinch me! Link's acting like that Sephiroth guy that Cloud told us about." Shulk said.
"You poor fools! I am Sephiroth! Hahahahahahahaha!" 'Link' laughed as he held his sword out, which then glowed an evil purple, radiating with absolute evil and shocking the heroes that Sephiroth was free and was now controlling Link.
A/N: Oh no! Sephiroth now has total control over Link. Mario, Shulk, Fox, Marth and Pit has to stop him or it's too late. Also, decided to add some Dissidia reference in this as well.