Warning: If you haven't read the crossover oneshot "A Place To Belong," PLEASE read it first, since this fic is the sequel to that one!
This fic takes place post-game for both The Last Story and Super Smash Bros Ultimate's story mode! Also, assume that ALL the DLC fighters from SSB are here. They all exist in this fic. Yes, this is a huge crossover, and I expect it to be a long multichapter fic (though if I get any lore from any of the games wrong, I apologize in advance). I hope you look forward to reading all the chapters!
I also want to give you all the heads-up that this fanfic has been divided into two to three arcs. The first arc will be about 9-10 chapters long. When I've got a better idea of how long the next arc will be, I'll let you know!
This was challenging for me to write considering that I had to invent Final Smashes for all the The Last Story characters involved in combat in the fic, but also really fun! I'll be revealing each Final Smash as the story progresses, so stay tuned!
It was also super fun trying to imagine how all the Smashers live together. I know it's common in a lot of fanfics that all the Smashers just live in a massive mansion and/or castle so they can all train and fight together whenever, but the exact build of it differs depending on the fic. Because of this, it was also entertaining to figure out how I wanted my own version of the layout the work for this fic.
Other warnings: Canon-typical violence, mentioned character death, lots of exploring of lore, and major spoilers for The Last Story since it takes place post-game. There are also established relationships already (such as the canon Zael/Calista) and other pairings may form later on, though they're not a major focus of this fic.
Super Smash Bros: The Next Story
1. Back Again
Zael was glad that he was here – here among all the other fighters, known as Smashers.
He was glad that he was part of their permanent roster, and even happier that he found a place to belong.
But – Dagran and Asthar's resurrections, thanks to his use of the Outsider during a Final Smash, were a mystery. Both were alive and well, even if they were still resolving the pains of their past together. But the fact that they couldn't leave the Smash dimension to go to Lazulis Island was a whole other matter.
Zael and the others had guessed that since the Outsider was a 'world seed,' meant to give life to new worlds, and that Dagran and Asthar had been resurrected in the Smash dimension rather than in Lazulis, it therefore made them residents of the Smash dimension and not Lazulis Island. Figuring out how to enable them to step foot on the island would be an issue since Dagran and Asthar technically didn't 'belong' to Lazulis Island anymore.
Asthar and Dagran both offered to help research ways to figure out how to get back, and Zael was glad that both of them had always been great at research – Asthar had worked with Mirania to learn more about the Outsider and Lazulis Castle's secrets in the past, and Dagran did his own research learning about the Outsider and the legends surrounding it as well. But until then – the rest of the Smashers came to the general group decision that Dagran and Asthar should also go through trial periods to see if they, too, could become Smashers.
Zael thought it would be fun – a great opportunity to spar with Dagran once more and also duel with General Asthar. After the two were fully recovered from their initial appearance and resurrection in the Smash dimension, both wasted no time getting into training.
Zael knew, however, that it was hard for both to first speak to each other – after all, Dagran killed Asthar. He'd failed to realize that Asthar had simply taken the blame for the soldiers that destroyed Dagran's village in the past. And Asthar, on his end, never had the chance to clarify that to Dagran – hadn't helped that Dagran went in for the kill the moment he had the chance.
But here Zael was on the battlefield with them, as well as the female version of Byleth – it was her turn to train with them and keep an eye on their skills. All the Smashers took turns training along with Zael and the others to see what their strengths were, their weaknesses -and, Zael guessed, to assess whether they were ready to become Smashers.
Zael had guessed that everyone in the area just went through the group effort of analyzing potential Smashers' abilities, since they'd gone through a similar process with him when he was going through his 'trial period.' Even though Dagran and Asthar couldn't go to Lazulis Island, Zael hoped that the two of them training to become Smashers would give them something to occupy themselves with for now, and get adjusted to being alive again in general.
"Final Smash Ball is here!"
It was Byleth calling out that snapped Zael out of his thoughts, just in time to see Asthar and Dagran both dash for the ball. The floating, rainbow ball drifted out of the way of Dagran's attack, and Asthar managed to get a hit on it with his sword. However, Asthar's attack wasn't enough to entirely shatter it, and it drifted toward Zael.
"Yes!" Zael took out his crossbow, aiming, before firing. He could feel the immense power of the Final Smash course through his body, and he grinned as he looked toward Asthar and Dagran before activating it.
His right hand lit with the familiar light of the Outsider, blue and shimmering, before the rest of his body did the same. At the same time, he noticed Asthar and Dagran both slow in their movements, Asthar struggling to get out of Zael's path while Dagran braced himself for the attack to come.
It was fruitless – Zael knew that – because both wouldn't get out of the way of his attack. He charged at both, slashing at them relentlessly with his sword, before he held out his right hand. The mark of the Outsider glowed brighter, and he concentrated his power to blast out toward them.
Dagran and Asthar were immediately blasted out of the arena, and Zael heard Byleth chuckle.
"Good one, Zael! I think we can end our session for today there."
"Thanks, Byleth." Zael looked toward her with a soft grin. "We should probably see them outside."
Outside the main arena area where stages were summoned was a green room or waiting room, of sorts. There were plenty of screens for eliminated fighters to watch the rest of the battle, if they were kicked off the stage early enough, and Dagran and Asthar were already waiting there when Zael and Byleth arrived.
"Good work, Master Zael." Asthar offered Zael a soft smile. "You've grown stronger since the last time we sparred."
"That was literally yesterday." Dagran noted, golden eyes glancing toward the General, but Asthar shrugged lightly, looking toward him.
"You've both gotten stronger, if that's what you're concerned about. And to be honest, training more made me feel a bit more like myself again rather than dead."
"At least all our heads are on our shoulders." Zael reassured both of them with a soft grin. It was impossible to straight-up kill someone in a match within the Smash Dimension – or if not impossible, at least not easy.
"True." Asthar glanced between Dagran and Zael. "Both of you having the Outsider's power though…I'm surprised by that."
Dagran had retained being able to use the power of the Outsider after being resurrected, but it glowed orange – probably because he stole said power from the remains of Zangurak at the time, before he and Zael engaged in their fateful, final battle. And now that Dagran was alive, he still had said power. The best course of action was him having mastery over it – but it wasn't as bad as Zael thought it would be, as far as he knew so far.
Before Zael could speak up, a sudden booming noise rattled through the green room, the floor shaking slightly underneath them. Zael's breath hitched as he steadied himself, looking around. "What was that!?"
"I don't know." He noticed Byleth frown, shaking her head. "But I think I'm going to go check it out."
"I'll come with you!'
"You know we're not going to just let you go alone," Dagran muttered, shaking his head. "I'm coming too."
"Then I might as well see what the matter is as well." Asthar chuckled lightly, and Zael couldn't help but smile at hearing the other's amusement. "Maybe it's another random brawl between two of the other Smashers…"
Considering that all the Smashers came from various dimensions and worlds and that not everyone got along swimmingly, Zael knew that he wouldn't be surprised.
Zael was wrong.
Very, very wrong.
He, Asthar, Dagran and Byleth all made it outside, in one of the giant courtyard areas to see two figures – one was half trying to crawl back, a familiar cane on the ground a few feet from him. His left limbs, made of metal prosthetics, glinted in the afternoon sunlight.
Zael took a couple steps forward to get a better look at who they were. Standing opposite the man, with two swords drawn and entire body glowing blue, was an extremely familiar Gurak – one Zael hadn't seen since their last battle in The Last World.
"Zepha!?" But isn't he supposed to be dead!? Yurick killed him back then, so… Zael glanced toward the other man on the ground still trying to back up as much as he could, trying to get to his feet with some difficulty.
"What?" Zael heard Dagran speak up, and he turned toward the other in time to see Dagran and Asthar catch up, along with Byleth. Dagran's eyes widened at the sight of seeing the two new figures. "Is that…?"
"Zepha and Count Arganan," Asthar breathed, and Zael glanced toward Arganan, the older man trying to get up.
"What the hell are you doing!?" It was obvious Arganan was panicked, his wavy blond hair in disarray as he tried to maintain distance between himself and Zepha, but Zepha snarled at him. With a wave of Zepha's hand, blue ice magic barely missed Arganan by a few inches, eliciting a shriek from the other.
"Finishing what I should have started, human." Zepha's eyes flashed as he got closer, his right hand glowing with more magic. "I don't know how you're alive now, but I'll just kill you this time."
"No!" Byleth rushed forward, taking out her bow before shooting an arrow at Zepha. The arrow missed – Zael realized it was intentional, trying to force Zepha's attention her way, and Zael noticed Asthar rushing to Arganan's side.
"Count!" Zael heard Asthar call, the General's eyes widening. "Are you…?"
"G-General!?" Arganan was confused- and Zael knew that he shouldn't be surprised at seeing the shock on the other's face, given that Asthar died in the war long before Arganan did. "How are you…!?"
"I'll explain later. Are you okay?'
"I-I'm fine…but where the hell am I!?'
"Zael! Help!" It was Byleth calling, and Zael moved in toward Zepha, taking out his sword. Zepha had been tough to fight, the last time he and his companions fought the Gurak, but…this was different now. Zael took out his arrows and crossbow, firing the arrows at Zepha, but Zepha dodged, flying out of the way. The Gurak summoned a bright red shield, and Zael cursed.
"Damn it! Does anyone have fire magic or fiery attacks!?" Elemental shields – Zepha used those in battle often. Unless it was hit with the right element of magic, all other attacks – magical or otherwise – would bounce off, often hitting the casters who used said attacks.
"I don't," Byleth admitted, just before someone else yelled out –
"PK FIRE!"
Bolts of fire appeared, hitting the shield, breaking it and and blasting Zepha back a few feet. Zael turned to see Ness, who'd just finished casting the attack, rush over, as well as several other Smashers – Bayonetta, Mewtwo, and even Isabelle and Fox.
"What's going on here!?" Fox rushed over to Zael, the anthropomorphic pilot looking between Zepha, the still-terrified Arganan now clutching onto Asthar for physical support as Asthar helped him stand, and then toward Zael. "Is this like last time?"
"You mean like when Dagran and General Asthar came back to life?"
Fox's eyes widened. "You…used your Final Smash just earlier, didn't you?"
"We were training." Zael hadn't used his Final Smash once, and sure, the first time he used it led to Asthar and Dagran accidentally coming back to life, but bringing back Arganan and Zepha was not intentional. "I-I didn't think it was going to bring more people back to life!"
"Back to life…?" It was Arganan that spoke, his good eye widening.
From the corner of Zael's eye, he noticed Zepha snarling, raising his a hand, but Zael noticed purple light surround Zepha. The Gurak soldier flinched, trying to move, but he couldn't, struggling. Zael looked around, only to notice Mewtwo's eyes flashing – clearly the Pokemon used his powers to stop him from making any further attacks.
"I can relate your contempt for humans." Mewtwo's telepathy echoed through the entire clearing. "But I will not have you rampaging around this place and harming anyone. Stand down now, or face the consequences."
Zepha glared at Mewtwo, but he paused, and Zael noticed Zepha's gaze flicker across not just Arganan, but all the rest of the Smashers in the area, readying their weapons. Even though Zepha was a powerful spellcaster in his own right, there was no way he could take on all of them alone. A sigh left the former right-hand man of Zangurak, before the magical glow in his hands vanished, and he lowered his hand to his side.
"Very well." Zepha uttered, and the purple glow around him vanished as he descended, landing on the ground on his own two feet. "But, someone is giving me a clear explanation as of why I'm here, and what the hell is going on. And you…"
He looked toward Zael, eyes glaring daggers, and Zael swallowed – he knew that if looks could kill, Zepha probably would've killed him right then and there.
"You are not off the hook. Not after everything you and your filthy companions have done!"
"That's enough," Byleth spoke up, frowning as she looked between the group. "I think it's best that we all gather in the main hall. Isabelle, Ness, Fox, Bayonetta, can you all go let the others know the situation?"
"Got it!" Isabelle waved, and Zael watched her and the others go.
"What the hell is going on, Zael?" Zael looked toward Arganan, who was now approaching him – albeit leaning on the cane he often used for support. Asthar followed him, brows furrowing slightly. The former Count of Lazulis looked Zael in the eye with his one working blue one, a half-scowl on his face. "And where are we?"
Zael swallowed lightly as he glanced between Arganan and Zepha, the latter still clearly frustrated by the total confusion and inability to just lash out. Zael had a feeling that neither Arganan or Zepha were going to take news of the current situation well, but what else could he do? A sigh left him, resigned to his fate, and he hoped that the two wouldn't try to kill each other (or anyone else) too soon.
"I can explain…"
Zael's Final Smash: Zael's right hand lights up with the blue light of the Outsider's power, before his entire body glows blue. Meanwhile, al opponents will have their movements slowed down significantly. Anyone caught in Zael's path will end up being caught in Zael's attack of being sliced at with his sword, before following it up with a full force blast of the Outsider's power, blasting them out of the arena.