Green was pretty sure that Red's weird friends that weren't completely human and definitely weren't Pokémon either, were going to be heading back home soon. They were just cleaning up after themselves, tying ropes around the Grunts to prevent them from running and… talking to Red.

Green couldn't stop the bitter frown that crossed his face- while Green was off actually doing his duties (and Lance stood at a empty throne waiting for someone who would never come) Red had been off with a group of weirdos. The Sonic guy laughed as he leaned against the human (Snake was it?) that had saved Red from being skewered for a second time had been Red's companion while everyone thought he wasted away ontop of Mount Silver.

Whatever. Besides, according to the message that had finally reached him, Lance was ready to take up duties of Championship if needed. Which it probably was. Red looked happy enough around them.

Wes, Ruby and Sapphire were quietly talking off to the side, exhausted Pokémon tucked into pokéballs and not intermingling with the odd group that was beginning to gather around Red. None of the three were intimidated by the group- they just didn't want to intervene if they weren't asked too quite yet. Besides, it wasn't like the group was hostile to Red- the exact opposite judging by the (one too many) friendly greetings and pats.

Green straightened on his bum leg, ignoring the pain that came up with it to march up to Red. "So. You leaving or staying?"

Red's eyes widened minutely. "Hadn't thought that far huh? Well, better make a choice quick. That way I can know whether or not I have to clean up the rest of this mess with or without you. Don't give me that look Red, you know very well that you'll go nuts having to fill out the paperwork and reports after this. It's your last chance to escape before Championship duties come down on your head."

Unlike Red who had straight up charged the Championship knowing nothing about it, Green knew all of the ins and outs and duties of a Champion. Not that Lance had been doing half of them in Kanto, but he'd gotten better and Red was making his decision.

"I'll stay."

Green blinked. Once, twice- "Really? You're not pulling my leg or going to disappear again like you did before, right?"

If Green had cared to look, he would've seen Red's startled glance and gentle eyes. He would have seen the warm caring in those surrounding him, even though they didn't know him. He was a child of Kanto though, and this warmth from adults to children was unknown.

That's why he only relaxed when Red grabbed his wrist, squeezing lightly. (only depend on that which was physical, and the strength of the bonds between Pokémon and Human, that was the way of a Trainer) "Alright fine. I get it."

Green waved a hand in a mocking salute. "You finish up whatever you need to here and then come and get me. I'm going to start looking for Kyogre and Groudon. Smell ya later Red."

Across the flat (completely destroyed) mountain top, Sapphire twitched, head coming up like a bloodhounds. "Kyogre and Groudon?"

Red watched as Green walked off confident despite being in pain, before he slowly dragged his eyes back forward. Mario, Link, Captain Falcon, Donkey Kong, Fox, Kirby, and Samus as the 'unoffical' leaders of the Smash Manor as being among the longest running Smashers gathered in front of him. "You're going to stay, aren't you Red?"

Red nodded. He… He didn't feel the need to leave Green and his memories behind this time. This time, when he had needed Green, Green had been there. This time when he had needed someone, people had been there.

It was a rather liberating thought- and one he enjoyed quite a bit. Link shifted his shield further up, "Master Hand will probably lecture you when you come back, but we will be happy to have you back."

Red nodded shortly, toying with the thought of telling them he might not go back. A Champion's duties were many, and Red was going to be busy for quite some time. Plus well… Being with Green had reminded him all too well just how easy Green understood him, something no one else had ever managed.

Red bit back a yawn as his eyes flickered over towards the airships. If Green were here, he'd know that Red wanted to check in on his other friends and fellow kids- the other Smashers didn't understand until he signed, "Where is Lucas, Ness, Nana, Popo and Toony?"

He owed Lucas at least a note in explanation, and he did want to thank the others for coming to his aid. Mario pointed towards the airship, "Peach is with them now."

Red nodded, and gauged how much strength he had. He could make it over without keeling over… hopefully. He carefully started walking there, not noticing when Lucario fell in beside him, a paw on his shoulder until he stumbled but didn't fall.

Lucario helped right him, as the Smashers pretended they didn't see and continued on with their business. "Lucario?"

"I am here. I will help."

The psychic voice reassured him, and Red leaned a little on the bipedal Pokémon. It was always easier to rely on Pokémon then on humans. "Thanks."

"It is my pleasure."

But humans weren't so bad as well, Red knew as he climbed into Falcon's air ship and found Peach with Toon Link's head in her lap, holding him close as he cried out in some nightmare brought on by exhaustion. There wasn't any pity in her eyes, only understanding and sorrow.

Mr. Game and Watch beeped past, a basin of water sloshing over as he walked to Lucas and Ness. Red could see them now, twin lumps of unmoving blanket except for the gentle rise and fall of their chests. Hands clasped, a very slight, weak psychic power sparking between them. They were probably sharing dreams in an effort to keep away the nightmares.

Red pulled himself to their head-level, hand lightly falling on their foreheads. They were warm, but Mr. Game and Watch carefully placed the basin of water down. Red dipped and squeezed out the cloth, letting cool water run between his fingers and placed the cloth onto Lucas's and Ness's foreheads. They eased, slightly, at that piece of contact, and leaned into his hand. Red scribbled a few words to Lucas on a piece of paper, tucking it into Lucas's free hand.

He glanced over- Nana and Popo were curled around each other, hands intertwined and peaceful. They didn't need anyone but themselves. Still, Red touched their foreheads gently, checking for their temperature. It wasn't too high.

Red glanced at Peach, holding Toon Link and soothing away his pain. Lucario padded forward, the Smash Mansion Pikachu bounding next to him to settle on either side of the child. Toon Link moaned, "Ary…ll… Aryll- ARYLL!"

He thrashed, hands reaching out to empty air- Peach caught his hands, saying softly, "She's safe Link. You rescued her. She is safe."

Link's hand dropped, and hazy eyes forced their way open. "P-Princess?"

"That's right." She smiled, "Princess Peach. You're safe Link, and so is your sister."

Toon Link shook his head automatically, struggling to sit up. "I-I should go check on her and Grandma… Grandma was so sick…"

Peach nodded decisively, "I will get you home Link, I promise. But for now, you need to rest."

Toon Link nodded slowly, sinking in her arms with a warm, soft sigh. "Tetra will be glad…" he mumbled the words softly. Red nodded slightly to her, writing a few words for Toony as well. It was nothing much- just thanks. Thanking him for everything he did, and how he really was worthy of being known as Link.

The child took the paper, squinting at it. "Read it later Toony. Read it later."

Toon Link nodded, paper crumpled in one hand. He managed a grin at Red though- "Looks like Sonic was right."

"About what?" Peach questioned gently as Lucario adjusted the blanket over the exhausted child.

"He did show up fifteen minutes late. I just wish he had remembered his Starbucks…" The words startled a quiet laugh out of Peach, and a slight tilt of the lips from Red. "Hah! Made you laugh!"

Lucas had said once that happiness was drawn to Toon Link like Butterfly Pendants, and Red could certainly tell why. Red sighed as he smoothed back blond hair from a sweaty forehead. He wished he could give them all something, a little token of the world that they had traveled across.

As if in response to his thoughts, his hair began to itch. Red pulled off his hat, shaking it out slightly- Rainbow Feathers drifted to the ground gently. They shimmered softly, the warmth expanding gently from the very core. Red smiled at the sight. Even if Ho-Oh was captured and changed, these feathers glowed with all of the assurance that Ho-Oh would be fine. Who knows- maybe if they found Jirachi, Ho-Oh would automatically be restored to its full status.

Red glanced at Peach, staring at the feathers in curiosity. "Can you make sure that they get these?"

The others had seen a copy of Ho-Oh, its power downgraded. It wasn't half as beautiful or as stunning as the real thing in motion. When Ho-Oh would turn a blue sky full of rainbows, gorgeous and dazzling, when you could feel the power roll down into your very marrow and know it was indeed a Legendary. Red took a deep breath as he moved back to Lucas, and Peach carefully tucked the feathers away to the same place as her parasol.

Lucas mumbled softly, "B-Boney… Dad..."

Ness breathed out, "Paula" at the same time. They were both dreaming of… home.

Red took a deep breath- he'd like to go home now too. Back to Mother, where he would need to apologize to her for vanishing for so long. Back to Professor Oak's warm smile, and Green's quick smirk. Back home where he could eat whenever he wanted, and was told to clean his room. Where the air was clean and cool, a sea breeze always ready to blow in.

Red began shakily climbing to his feet- Lucario was there in a heartbeat, arm companionably thrown around Red's shoulders and assisting him towards the door.

Red usually didn't look behind. He didn't linger, he didn't pause- but this time he did. He paused, and looked back towards the other children of Smash Manor. Princess Peach smiled at him- "Don't worry Red, we'll take good care of them. I'll even send you pictures."

Red nodded, before finally disembarking from the plane.

Snake was never a happy person when it came to facial expressions. His face had been set in a permanent scowl since he was three. Otacon liked to poke fun at that, but Snake didn't much care. He was a spy and espionage expert. And despite Sonic's teasing, he did have a sense of humor- it was just different then most everyone's else's sense of humor. Besides, it was all just a game.

Snake rolled one shoulder, feeling it burn from a Pokémon's claw swipe and Ike's sword. Sonic was busy napping on a wing of a Fox's airship. Despite his protests, he too was exhausted from the tremendous amount of energy he had expended racing around the Pokémon world.

Snake brought his eyes back to where Red limped along, Lucario helping. The Pokémon was obviously concerned, but did nothing to stop Red, merely helping him. The kid with the shock of green hair (was it really natural?) was casually striding over to him, covering up the wound down his side.

The three that had to be rescued from the waves of grunts, underlings and mooks had disappeared off the top of the mountain, leaving the groaning piles of humans behind to go after Kyogre and Groudon. Apparently the two were trapped and captured somewhere further down the mountain-

Snake's mind came back to the present when the green-haired kid punched Red in response to a rude sign. Red bit back, teeth sinking into a tender forearm. The two kids went down a flurry of limbs and teeth. Snake snorted, a half-smile appearing on his face. Despite the acts of violence, the two seemed to be enjoying themselves. They were careful too, in a way that spoke of long, deep experience with each other. They knew where it wouldn't hurt, where to poke and prod.

Snake reached up casually to where Sonic napped, tossing the blue hedgehog across one shoulder. Sonic barely even stirred- he mumbled sleepily, recognized him as a friendly, and went back to sleep. Megaman clambered onto Falcon's airship, and Snake pulled himself up as well.

In his pocket, the invitation to attend the tournament once more crinkled.

Lucario settled into a sitting position next to the two boys who seemed to of exhausted themselves, and just lay there, staring up at the clear blue sky. Snake smirked dryly. "Let's get out of here before anyone else comes along, shall we?"

Engines fired up, and ships began to take to the sky, aiming for the portal back to Smash Manor- and home.

None of them were there to see Gabby and Ty cry over their broken camera set that missed all of the weird people who had come to fight. There were no smashers there to see Red and Green sprawled along the ground and snoring. There was nobody to see Wes, Ruby and Sapphire bid goodbye to Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza, wearily troop up to the top, and pass out next to Green and Red.

But that was how the Champions found them a few hours later.

Lance, Steven, Wallace and Rui crouched above their respective charges, Rui with a huge smile, Lance with a slightly softer one, and Wallace and Steven with looks of absolute panic and joy on their faces. Lucario stood then, silently walking away- he could find his own way to where he wanted to be. For now- he wanted to give them room.

And nobody saw how Wes hugged Rui close and tight, how Lance carried his two challengers, and how Steven and Wallace carried their protectors out of the battlefield as Gym Leaders from several regions began the work of cleanup. They didn't see Parents sobbing over their returned children, or children who woke up and immediately begin their teasing and comparing of Pokedex's. That was memories, held tight and close to hearts.

Several Months Later (on an pokemon island region)

Grace and Stephen playfully chased circles around each other. Seven badges lay abandoned in their play. Wally, Sapphire and Ruby watched them run around, quietly laughing. Wynaut's jumped up and down on the island that was outside of time. A Gardevoire perched on the soft ground nearby a still, shallow pool.

He glanced into the water, watching the reflection ripple, change, and shift- for a moment, the sight of a human child dressed in a bright yellow shirt appeared, a smile on his face. Gardevoire's eyes closed, hands reaching out to the still pool of water. Stephen and Grace trotted closer. "Ionia?"

Ionia hummed softly, feeling the power that rolled beneath his hands. The Joy Pendant and scarf tied around his neck was warm underneath the sun. "Ionia, isn't that Lucas?"

Sapphire and Ruby perked up at the name. They were the ones who found Tropius's pokeball, damaged by the fight and laying abandoned. Buried. Forgotten. The humans gathered around the small pool of water, as Ionia focused on the power.

"Ionia." The voice was distant, and far away. "Ionia, I'm sorry. I can't come back like I promised." Ionia's face betrayed no surprise- even as a Kirilia he had realized Lucas would not be back. "But- I wanted to make sure that you're happy. Red promised me, he'd make sure of that much in his letter. You look very happy you know Ionia. And, I wanted to thank you. For accompanying me on my Pokemon Adventure, thank you so much. You and Doria helped me out a lot!"

Lucas's voice faded, before coming back, soft, but reassuring. "Thank you Ionia, and I love you."

The vision, the mirage, vanished.

Ionia silently wept, Doria offering him a little comfort.

A pokemon journey is full of hellos and goodbyes, but most of all, it's about finding where you belong and going there.

Lucas spun in wide circles, Boney barking behind him. He could see the old dog's tail wagging furiously, a steady beat to the world as it spun around in blue and gold. Sunflowers, mothers favorite flower, rose up to the sky proudly, the golden light filtering through their petals to the boy below. In his pocket, a feather glowed and shone, a warm, steady, gentle light unfaded despite being in an alternate dimension.

Outside of the small patch of sunflowers, a man stood, cowboy hat pushed back, a smile on his mustached face. There was a young women sitting next to him, leaning her head on the shoulder of another man. Her bright pink hair contrasted with his. "Looks like Lucas is happier now."

"…Yeah."

"C'mon Duster, smile a bit, I know you're excited as I am." Duster blushed with his whole body, a slight red.

The woman smirked, looking up at the standing man. "Bet you're glad, aren't you Flint?"

Flint nodded slowly- Lucas's return home and what Lucas had told him weren't known. Only the boy and the father knew exactly what had gone on that starry evening when Lucas finally came back. Kumatora didn't pry as she leaned back, a huge smirk on her lips. She knew a little bit, Lucas yelling at Flint for abandoning him, leaving him alone- and how the only reason he came back was through therapy and a letter of encouragement from someone named Red. "Still, wonder if the kid is going back to that Smash place."

Flint hummed softly, "We talked about it. He's allowed to go back if he wants… He'll just come home for supper at least once a week."

Kumatora laughed again. "Boy, what a shocker. Instead of Lucas doing the waiting, it's us for once."

Flint pulled his hat further down, hiding his face. "Yeah. But… I think it might be better this way. He's a tough one, but I want to try again."

Try again? Try being a family? Try being a father? Try being together? Kumatora didn't really know, and while she was rather nosy and curious, the question was put off for now. She could always head-lock Lucas into admitting it later.

"Anyways, I better get going, have a country to run and all that. C'mon Duster. See ya later Mr. Flint. Make sure Lucas doesn't make himself sick."

Lucas fell back with a happy laugh- Boney lept on him, licking and lathering his face with praise. Flint watched the two, face not revealing what he thought.

They were finally ready to begin anew. Just like the world Lucas had created with his own two hands, but this time it would be built by many, many people.

They had been helpless for so long, unable to make their own choices but now they were making the future they wanted.

Red sighed loudly, melting across the table. The huge stack of paperwork (immigration, criminal organizations, etc.) wasn't diminishing no matter how long and hard he worked at it. Maybe he ought to run away again-

Mother swept in, smiling gracefully as a tiny Evee bounded at her heels. She carried a tray of food in her hands. "Good morning sweetheart." She kissed her son on the top of the head, where scars hidden by hair lurked. "How are you today?"

Charizard, head poking in from the window, whined loudly, proclaiming his thoughts on Red's state of not playing with him. Mother laughed at that pitiful whine. "You two can fight later. I believe that Gold and Crystal, the boy and girl couple have been coming over lately trying to catch you and challenge you to a double battle. There's also been this strange redhead hanging around…" Mother trailed off thoughtfully as Red leaned back in his chair.

The paperwork was never going to diminish. Never.

Lance had cackled gleefully when he dropped it off at Red's room, and flew away on his Dragonite before Red could protest. Red glanced sideways, to a picture of Ruby and Sapphire standing side-by-side, grinning brilliantly.

Hadn't that been a spectacular battle, especially as it was a double battle with Green…

Red abruptly stood up, snatching his hat from off his table, and recalling his Pokémon through floors, ceilings, and some distance away. "Mom, I'm going to go double battle with Green. Be back again tonight."

Mother shoved the food at him as he went dashing past- "Don't forget to eat to keep up your strength Red!"

Green, as if reading his mind, was waiting outside of the house, leaning on his sister's doorframe and quietly chatting with her. She had a packed bag, and a few Pokémon scurrying at her side- she was about to go compete at contests, wasn't she?

"I'll be gone for a few months, but make sure that Grandpa doesn't hole himself up in his lab, understand?"

"Got it Sis. You be safe now, alright?"

If Green knew he was being watched, he wouldn't of been showing such concern (Or maybe he would, Red was relearning his friend slowly, piece by piece). Daisy pressed a kiss against her little brother's forehead. "You certainly have grown up strong Green. I am so proud of you."

Red leaned against the boards of his home, with a slight smile. When Green finally turned away, towards him, the face wasn't set in a scowl, but there was a light smile tugging at his lips instead. "C'mon Red- I just got a phone call from Gold and Crystal. They're gonna challenge us at the Fighting Dojo. We're gonna give them the beat down of their life!"

Charizard and Pidgeot took to the air gracefully, as the sun peacefully shone down.

It was so good to be home.

Dear Hero

It pleases us to announce that you have qualified for an inter-dimensional tournament called Super Smash Bros. This tournament will put you and your skills to the test and push you to the limit. There are many available slots open to those who wish to attend, and we believe you will be a valuable addition to our tournament.

If you would like to join, please proceed to the marked portal on your invitation as soon as possible.

We hope to see you soon-

Master Hand and Crazy Hand

a/n: Well, here we are! The ending! I hope I wrapped up all the plot points and made it worth reading. Thank you all for sticking with me and reading until the very end. I hope to see you all again in future fanfics (when I figure out what I'm going to write).