Chapter 5: The departure:

In the hospital wing, Mario, Marth, Fox, Pit and Shulk were all bandaged up and were all lying in separate beds, but, after some rest and proper treatment to their injuries, all were now awake.

However, all the Smashers were saddened on what had happened, while the third characters leaned against the wall in silence.

And despite the 'No smoking' signs posted around, Snake, to help him relax, had taken out a cigarette and lit it, before taking it to his mouth and letting the smoke fill the area around him.

"Link, why did you let Sephiroth take control of you?" Fox asked aloud sadly, while Krystal was behind him, rubbing his shirtless back in silence, showing a solemn expression on her face.

"He would never allow him to do so, but why now?" Asked Luigi, before they soon got their answers as Kirby was telling Meta Knight everything he knew.

Meta Knight nodded, listening to what Kirby had to say, before he faced the Brawlers and told them the truth behind Link's betrayal.

"Link didn't let him control him on purpose. Kirby knew that someone knocked him out."

"Knocked him out? Who would do that?" Shulk asked, stunned someone would actually want such an evil released.

"Who else? Ganondorf of course!" Meta Knight replied, causing Cloud to clench his teeth and hands into fists upon hearing that.

"Ganondorf!?" Zelda, Toon Link, Fox and Mario gasped in unison.

"Ugh... it figures." Roy said in irritation.

"But why?" Samus questioned, thinking Ganondorf to be smarter than to release a new evil that could destroy even him.

"Even Ganondorf should have realized how powerful Sephiroth is" Samus then said.

"I think he must have some kind of reason." Falco replied.

That's when it hit him.

Falco then gasped as he realized. "Oh no! Link still has the..."

"Triforce of Courage! It's still in his possession! Oh so that's why Ganondorf did it!" Lucina said, finishing Falco's sentence and equalling his shock.

"That evil monster! He'll pay for this!" Toon Link snarled.

"It's too late... he, Bowser, Mewtwo, Wolf, Wario and Ridley are long gone." Ness then said as he, Pikachu, Lucas and Lucario entered the wing, all looking as sad as ever.

Hearing that, Tifa questioned. "What do you mean they're gone?"

"They must have begun to follow Sephiroth, and they know where he went. The real Midgar." Lucas said in reply.

"What!?" Cloud got out, as the third party stood back up, to which Ryu then asked "How do you know that?"

"Pikachu found the plans on Mewtwo's desk." Lucario replied, knowing Mewtwo's intellect wouldn't require visual memorization and had to belong to one of the less intelligent villains.

"They must have gone there right now!" She then said.

"We've got to stop them!" Mario called out as he tried to get up, but then fell back due to his injuries.

"No, Mario. You and the others are too cut up. We won't let you go in battle. You must rest." Peach said as she helped Mario back down, before gently rubbing his head.

"But Link's my best friend. I cannot leave him!" Fox called out as he tried to get up, only for Krystal and Falco to stop him.

"I know, but there's nothing more we can do." Krystal said, concerned.

While the pair managed to calm Fox down, Cloud turned to Pac Man, Megaman, Ryu, Sonic, Snake and Bayonetta, who all nodded in response and then left the wing.

-Outside the Smash Mansion-

"We're going after them aren't we?" Snake asked, while Cloud held his Fusion Sword and placed the Buster Sword in the sword strap behind his back.

"Yes. I know Sephiroth's waiting for me as usual." Cloud replied.

"And we've got to stop Ganondorf before he gets the Triforce of Courage." Ryu added.

"But how do we get to Midgar?" Bayonetta had to ask. "I mean, I can fly there but what about all of you?"

Cloud then held up his keys and pressed a button, causing a black motorcycle to then appear out of nowhere.

"You guys follow me. I have a special Materia for opening a portal to my world. The villains may have taken the long way but we'll take a shortcut." Cloud told his allies, as he picked up a white Materia and held it in front of the others.

"Magic Portal, open!" He then called out, causing the Materia to glow, before a vortex leading to Cloud's homeworld and on the outskirts of Midgar opened up.

Upon seeing their entrance to Midgar, Sonic asked. "Alright. Shall we go?"

"Wait!"

Hearing the call of woman, the group all turned to see Tifa and Zelda appear before them, to which Zelda was holding Link's green hat and the Master Sword.

Seeing the pair, Cloud had to ask. "Tifa, what's wrong?"

"I am going with you, but Zelda wants to talk to you before you go." Tifa replied, causing Sonic to say. "Ok, but we gotta hurry. Sephiroth is making his move as we speak."

"Not to mention that Ganondorf is up to no good and must be stopped as well." Snake added.

Cloud walked in front of Zelda and was shocked to see her crying.

"Princess..." He said quietly.

"I knew you were going after him. You have to fight him don't you?" Zelda sobbed as she then asked. "Cloud... please. This is my wish for a lifetime. Please... bring Link back."

Cloud's eyes widen when he heard that.

"You're the only one who can save him now. We all do. Me, Fox, Toon Link, everyone. We want Link back." Zelda told Cloud, which made him have to ask. "You love Link, don't you?"

Tifa stood beside Cloud and noticed the seriousness on his face.

"Cloud...?" She asked.

Cloud then held his hands up and took Link's cap and sword out of Zelda's hands and held them.

"Don't worry. I promise I'll find someway to bring Link back. That is my sworn promise." Cloud said in reply, pocketing the cap and placing the Master Sword in his sword strap with the Buster Sword.

Zelda shed some more tears, reassured by Cloud's words and smiled.

"Thank you." She whispered.

With Link's possessions now in his, Cloud then got onto Fenrir, causing Tifa to climb onto the back and wrap her arms around his chest.

Cloud nodded to his companions and then all entered the portal, all with a clear motive...

To rescue Link and to defeat Sephiroth!