With the sun shining through the window and reflecting off his armor, Shovel Knight trotted through the halls of the Smash Mansion. Today, he was on one of his patrol routes, keeping watch for any miscreants that would jump at the chance to cause trouble. Technically, it was a self-appointed role, but nobody seemed to mind him roaming around.

The sun glinted off his trusty shovel. In truth, when he had first received the letter long ago, he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. Being called upon to assist in what sounded like gladiator battles? Featuring many famous warriors from many different worlds? It all sounded like some outlandish fantasy! But his adventurous spirit had shone through, and he followed the map to arrive at a stately manor in the World of Trophies.

"And who knows?" Chester had said right before he set out. "You might be able to find some good loot in that Smash Siblings place! Make sure to let me know if you do!"

Shovel Knight hadn't found any interesting relics so far, but he had found something far greater. Indeed, he had made plenty of stouthearted allies among his fellow Assist Trophies! He was quite fond of Riki, the Nopon capable of using many Arts to confound his foes, and Kapp'n, the kappa that drove around as a chauffeur. They seemed quite strange on the surface, but Shovel Knight wasn't one to judge people based on outward appearances. He trekked on.

The knight's patrol took him down a flight of stairs and out the back doors of the mansion. The air was clean and the world looked fresh, like a shiny new penny. Perfect adventuring weather.

He trotted through the courtyard. Birds were flying and singing overhead. Who knew what he could accomplish on this day? Perhaps he might go on an old-fashioned treasure hunt… Or maybe he could go fishing with one of the Villagers! Truly, the day was full of potential!

"Ah, excuse me!"

Shovel Knight turned to the source of the voice. Sitting at a table was the royal fighter, Princess Peach, and Meta Knight, a pint-sized, serious and somewhat (or very, depending on who you asked) intimidating knight from the planet Popstar. The princess was waving Shovel Knight over. "Excuse me, Shovel Knight! Could you come here for a moment?"

Shovel Knight scurried over to the table and bowed on one knee, offering his Shovel Blade in service. "Good day, Your Highness!" he declared. "How can I be of service?"

Peach laughed softly as a gloved hand came up to cover her mouth. "Oh, Shovel Knight, there's no need for formalities here! We're all equals here!" Meta Knight, sitting in his high chair, silently nodded his agreement.

"Ah, is that so?" Shovel Knight got up. "Well, at any rate, what can I do for you, then?"

The princess took out a pink clutch from somewhere on her person. "Would you mind taking this back to my room for me?"

Shovel Knight extended his hand. "But of course!" he said, taking the clutch from Peach's hand. No sooner had he grasped the purse than it immediately dropped to the ground with a clang, surprising both knights present at the table.

"Er… Princess?" began Shovel Knight. "If I may ask, what exactly is in this purse?"

"Oh, you know, just my parasol," replied Peach with a wave of her hand. "And my golf club. And my tennis racket, some spare gloves, a Quartz Charm—" she began to count on her fingers— "a War Fan, my favorite music box, aaand… roughly thirty or so turnips. You know, as you do," she finished sweetly.

"I… see," acknowledged Shovel Knight, lifting the purse with great effort. "Do not worry, Princess! I shall drop this off—oof!—posthaste!" And with that, the little knight trotted away, although at a much slower pace than previously. Princess Peach waved him off as he left.

"You know, Princess," intoned Meta Knight, who had observed these events quietly, "I could have easily dropped those off for you."

Peach sighed, a sound more disheartened than annoyed. "Now, Meta Knight, you're always working so hard, training or, quote, 'keeping watch for enemies'. Isn't it time you relaxed for a while?"

It was Meta Knight's turn to sigh. "...I suppose," he conceded at last.

Peach's mood gladdened instantly. "Perfect!" she chirped. "And just as well, too! I've got the whole day ahead of us planned! After this, we'll be attending a musical performance by Kirby and Wario! Now, I know Kirby's singing isn't… the best, but he's told me that he's been practicing really hard! Won't that be fun?"

Meta Knight shuddered.

Up, up, up the stairs Shovel Knight jogged, purse in hand. Or rather, he ascended slowly, considering the bag's considerable weight. At last, he reached the princess' sleeping quarters, where he swiftly dropped the bag. After its contents spilled out on impact, however, it then fell to him to place everything in its proper space.

Shovel Knight wiped his brow as he closed the door behind him. Who even used that many turnips?! And he could have sworn one of them had glanced at him as he put it away. Well, at any rate, that was over and done with. Where would he go next?

So, the knight continued his patrol through the mansion, giving a quick nod at a passing Krystal. He passed by the training room, where Gray Fox was instructing Isaac and Lyn. He happened upon the music room, where Diddy Kong was jamming out on an electric guitar. He passed by a simple closed door, completely ordinary in every possible way. He traveled past a—

…

Well! What was this?

If Shovel Knight had learned anything on his adventures, it was to leave no stone unturned. Perhaps this could be a secret treasure room! The thought was very enticing to the little knight. With a great heave, he pushed the door open.

"...Hm."

It was not a treasure room, as Shovel Knight was mildly disappointed to find out. Instead, behind the simple, plain-looking door was a simple, large, plain-looking room, with a perfectly ordinary white wallpaper, flooring and ceiling. More than plain-looking— it was completely empty, save for a window and a small wooden chair in the corner.

Shovel Knight carefully stepped inside, as though he was intruding on a sacred place. Quietly closing the door behind him, he looked around, searching for any secret compartments that might hold treasure inside. Perhaps a section of the wall could be removed, allowing him access to a secret passageway. Yes, that must be it! All he'd have to do is—

Suddenly, the door began to open. Shovel Knight jumped as he heard the doorknob turn. Although a part of him knew that he was in no real danger, his hand flew to his Shovel Blade. The door swung open, and the sound of footsteps, heavy yet careful, filled the room. Shovel Knight whirled around, and found himself meeting the sharp crimson eyes of a black hedgehog with golden rings around his wrists and ankles.

Shovel Knight hesitated. The hedgehog started upon noticing the knight, then peered at him with narrowed eyes. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

At last, Shovel Knight broke the silence. "Good day to you, ah… Shadow, was it?" he spoke in his normal, chipper tone. "What brings you here?"

Shadow's eyes narrowed further. "What are you doing here?" he questioned.

"Oh, uh, I was just… searching for hidden treasure!" explained the knight.

"Searching for hidden treasure," repeated the hedgehog.

"Yes!" replied Shovel Knight.

"In an empty room."

"...Yes."

Shadow paused for a moment, then rolled his eyes. "Very well. Do what you will," he said.

Shovel Knight peered at Shadow for a minute. "If I may ask, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I come here to get away from the… noise." Shadow explained. From his tone, noise sounded less like a concept and more like a person. "What of it?"

"Oh! Oh, I was just curious, is all." The knight was silent for a moment. "...It's kind of nice here, isn't it?"

"Mmmm." Shadow was facing away from Shovel Knight, his arms crossed and his eyes closed, deep in thought.

Shovel Knight looked around the plain, undecorated, eerily empty room. "...Why is this room so empty, anyways?"

"How many questions do you intend to ask?" said Shadow curtly.

"I'm just wondering! Shadow, how long have you been coming here?"

Shadow paused for a bit. "...Since the Brawl era," he said at last. "It's empty, because… nobody ever really bothered to put anything here, I suppose."

Shovel Knight thought on his words for a moment. "I see…" There was a long silence between them. Shadow stood there, staring off into the distance.

…

…

"Would you like to redecorate?"

Shadow blinked. "What."

Shovel Knight had turned to the hedgehog. "Perhaps if this room had some furniture, it would seem a bit more welcoming!"

More welcoming…!

"Welcoming…" repeated Shadow. Something about the way he said it… intrigued him. He stared at the walls, empty and devoid of life. He stared at the chair, simple but elegant in its construction. He stared at Shovel Knight, his eyes brimming with hope and justice.

Or at least, Shadow assumed they were. It was hard to tell with that helmet on.

"…Very well," he said at last. "I suppose I can help you in your little… endeavor."

Shovel Knight raised his shovel in a show of appreciation. "Excellent!" he declared. "Let us be off, then!" He trotted off into the hallway, with Shadow trailing behind him.

"Now wait just a minute," said Shadow. "Do you even know where this furniture of yours is?"

Shovel Knight halted mid-stride. "Ah." As a matter of fact, in his newfound excitement for redecorating, he had forgotten that he had no idea of where to actually find any furniture. "Well, I…"

"You don't have any," finished Shadow, his eyes narrowing.

"I will admit, I don't have any furniture on my person at this moment," began Shovel Knight, "but we can still—"

"Excuse me," came a voice. "You say you need furniture?"

Shadow started, and looked around warily. Shovel Knight gripped his Shovel Blade. The hallway was completely empty save the two of them. "Who's there?" growled the hedgehog.

"Ha! Same old Shadow, grouchy as usual!" laughed the voice. "You said you needed furniture, right?"

"Er… yes, I did," stated Shovel Knight, his hand still on his shovel. "But all the same, are you ally or adversary? Show yourself, if you are friendly."

"Well, aren't we brave today!" taunted the voice. "I'm right behind you, you know."

Both assistants whirled around to face the source of the voice. But to their surprise, no one was there. The hallway was completely empty, save for their shadows on the ground, which winked at them.

…

…

...Wait a minute.

Shadow's shadow began to ripple and contort on the ground. Shovel Knight leapt back, his Shovel Blade at the ready. Something was definitely rising out of the ground now. Shadow pulled out a glittering green gemstone, gritting his teeth. Particles of darkness began to rise and concentrate just above the ground. There was a loud crack, and standing before the duo was a small imp with a large helmet.

"...Oh."

The imp grinned cheekily at the duo, floating at their eye level. "Well, what do we have here? Shadow the Hedgehog, waltzing around with one of the newbies!"

Seeing that she meant no harm, Shovel Knight lowered his shovel. Shadow gave her no such courtesy. "Greetings, er… Midna, correct? I am Shovel Knight, on a quest of redecoration!" He raised his shovel high to emphasize his point.

Midna stifled a giggle at the knight's speech patterns. "Seems like the others were right. You and Link are cut from the same cloth." She glanced over at Shadow, whose shoulders remain tensely raised. "Well?" she asked.

Shadow's eyes narrowed as he made eye contact with Midna. At last, his quills relaxed and his shoulders slumped, though his hands remained cautiously balled into fists. "Midna," he said by way of greeting.

Midna rolled her eyes. "I couldn't help but overhear that you two were looking for furniture."

"As a matter of fact, yes, we are!" replied Shovel Knight. "Do you know where we can find some?"

"Eee hee hee… Do I ever! But…" Midna paused, taking in Shovel Knight and Shadow's expectant faces. "You two better keep this a secret, alright?"

"O-of course," replied Shovel Knight, "but what kind of secret is this?"

Midna floated over to a brick high on the wall. It was the same color as its neighbors; no one would have noticed it otherwise. As she gently pressed on it, it sank back into the wall, making the bricks below it shift to the side, revealing a long, winding staircase leading downward.

Shovel Knight could've sworn he heard a strange sequence of notes.

Shadow's eyes widened at the sight. "What is that?" he asked.

"You'll find out soon," replied Midna, already descending down the steps. "Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked, throwing a smirk over her shoulder. "Follow me!"

The trio crept down the stairs, each step creaking under their weight. At the bottom, there was a wooden door, marked with a symbol that looked like two leaves, one of which had a bite taken out of it. Midna knocked twice.

"Who's there?" came a gruff voice on the other end.

"Customers!" said Midna.

There was a click as the doorknob turned. Standing in the doorway was a tall man in a leather jacket and sunglasses, with gold and silver jewelry on his arms. He stared scrutinizingly down at the hedgehog and the knight. "Whaddya buying?" he asked.

"'Sup, Rodin," said Midna, morphing her hair into a fist to bump his own.

Shovel Knight was known throughout the valley he called home for his strength, skill, and immense bravery, but even he was a bit… unnerved by the man standing before him. "Uh… Good day to you, sir! I am Shovel Knight, on a quest of redecoration! And this is my faithful companion, Shadow the Hedgehog!" An unintimidated Shadow simply raised his hand in greeting.

Rodin grinned at the knight. "Heh. Got ourselves a real knight in shining armor, don't we? Now then, you folks here for business or for pleasure?" he asked, opening the door to let them in. "Either way, I'll hook you up."

Shovel Knight blinked as he took in the sight of the shop. It was decently sized, with wooden walls and plain flooring, but what really jolted him was the actual decor. Small wooden chairs he'd almost call cute, a stately little cash register on the counter, and that double leaf symbol plastered everywhere. And Rodin simply stood there, leaning against the counter as though nothing was amiss.

"This place ain't mine, you know," said Rodin, snapping the knight out of his thoughts. "While those little raccoon kids are out helping on the battlefield, I get full reign of the joint for a while." He crossed his arms and sighed. "This place makes me miss the Gates of Hell already… So, what'll it be?"

"We're looking for new furniture," explained Shovel Knight. "Would you happen to have any?"

"Furniture, eh?" Rodin rubbed his chin in thought. "Should be in the back somewhere. Don't know how they turn it into leaves…"

Shovel Knight followed the demon's directions, with Midna and Shadow trailing behind. Dozens of chairs, dressers, clocks, and lamps lined the shelves and walls, stretching as far as they could see.

Midna let out an appreciative whistle. "Dang, this place is a lot bigger than the last time I came here," she muttered. "How much furniture do you guys need?"

"Enough to fill an empty room, I suppose," replied Shovel Knight, who was closely examining a television in the shape of a puffer fish. "You're welcome to join us, if you like."

The imp shrugged. "Eh, why not? Oooh, what kinda vase is that?" She floated over to get a closer look.

While Midna and Shovel Knight were shopping, Shadow simply stood awkwardly off to the side. He hadn't really expected to find any furniture at all, nor had he expected to find this little store that had apparently existed for quite some time. He sat down in a chair, pink and with a heart-shaped back, to think.

"Hey, hey," called Rodin from the front of the store. "You sit in it, you buy it."

Shadow groaned and rolled his eyes as he stood back up. Very well. It seemed he would have to buy at least one thing here. If nothing else, it would make Shovel Knight happy. He began to pace along the aisle as he browsed the shelves. If he were to spruce up a room with some new furniture, what would he use? If it was according to his own tastes, it would be something economical. Nothing too fancy or luxurious. Then again, he was the Ultimate Life Form, and the Ultimate Life Form deserved nothing less than the best. Perhaps he could splurge a bit. In that case, perhaps he should purchase something a bit bigger. Maybe something black, with red accents. Yes.

And as luck would have it, here was something that fit that exact description! It was an elegant, ornate-looking pendulum clock to be hung on a wall, with golden hands and a handsome gold trim around the casing. Perfect.

Shadow smirked to himself as he picked it up. This would make a fine addition to that dreary old room. All he had to do now was check how much it cost. And according to the price tag, the clock would cost three hundred fifty thousand Bells.

"…"

Remembering the exchange rate in this world, Shadow quietly put the clock back down.

Shovel Knight poked his helmet out from behind a chalkboard. "Have you seen something you like yet, Shadow?"

Shadow blinked. "There's… this clock here, but it's a little on the pricey side."

"What?" said Midna, popping out from behind Shovel Knight. "Lemme see that." She snatched the clock out of the hedgehog's hands and winced upon seeing the price tag. "Jeez," she muttered, scratching the side of her head. "Where the heck do they get this stuff?"

"Hmmm… this is very well made," said Shovel Knight, holding the clock up to the light. "Fascinating…"

As Shovel Knight (and Midna, surprisingly) continued to admire the clock's handiwork, something on the shelf behind them caught Shadow's eye. He pushed past them to get a closer look. Sitting on the shelf, nestled between a rococo lamp and a roll of wrapping paper was a small, blue, inoffensive looking throw pillow.

For some reason, the pillow attracted Shadow's attention like nothing else had that day. He stared at the pillow, as though doing so would unlock the secrets of the universe and beyond. He stared and stared, barely even registering Midna nearly toppling a stack of model curling stones on his head.

"...Yo, Shadow, you alright?" asked Midna.

"Yes…" The hedgehog's voice was barely above a whisper. He picked up the throw pillow and drifted back to the front of the store.

Rodin glanced at the pillow in his hand. "...Is that all?" he asked.

Shadow frowned up at the taller man. "And what of it?"

Rodin simply arched an eyebrow. "Hey, I ain't here for interrogation. I'm just here for business." He took the pillow from Shadow and scanned it. "But in any case…" He lowered his voice as if not to be overheard. "You feel it too, right?"

"Feel what?" asked Shadow, handing Rodin the money.

"Something big is comin' up, hedgehog, and I've got a feelin' we're all gonna get caught up in it sooner or later." The man's face was grim as Shadow fixed him with a steely glare. "Now, I know you didn't ask, and I don't care. But if you want my advice? Keep your ear to the ground and pay close attention. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got customers." He turned back to Shovel Knight and Midna, their arms full of furniture.

Rodin's words stuck in Shadow's head as he began to walk out of the shop. According to hearsay around the manor, Rodin was among the most powerful beings in his homeworld, and possibly even in this world as well. Shadow found that a bit hard to believe, considering his own presence here.

But then again, he had seen how Rodin fought on the battlefield. Summoning demonic limbs forth, all while remaining calm and collected… he reminded Shadow of himself. If such a powerful being spoke of danger, then what could possibly be on the horizon?

"We're all finished!"

The knight's words brought Shadow back to reality. Shovel Knight and Midna were marching out of the store, pushing a shopping cart filled to the brim with furniture. Midna caught his eye and gave him a sly wink. "See?" she smirked. "I told you this was a good idea!"

Shadow smiled wanly. "Yes," he said. "I suppose it was."

"Man, this place is already looking great!"

Indeed, the old, abandoned room that Shovel Knight had discovered was coming into its own. With several bookshelves lined up in a row, a secret snack-and-coffee station, and a chair shaped like a frog, the room was slowly but surely developing its own personality.

"Yes, I suppose so," agreed Shadow. "Of course, it's mostly due to my discerning tastes," he added half-jokingly.

This got a hearty laugh from Shovel Knight. "Well, if you ask me, I'd say this room is coming together quite nicely!" He glanced at the throw pillow, sitting harmlessly on the couch. "I do especially like that throw pillow, Shadow."

"Y'know," said Midna, reclining on the frog-shaped chair, "I never woulda guessed you'd pick something like that."

Shadow turned to face the imp. "What do you mean by that?"

Midna shrugged. "Well, it's just… I thought you were gonna pick something a little… a little more…"

"Edgy?" Shadow finished.

"...Well, I wasn't gonna say it like that, but…"

"Believe me," said Shadow, rolling his eyes. "I've heard that far more often than you'd think."

"Well, if nothing else," cut in Shovel Knight, "it definitely ties everything together!"

"Yeah, I guess," nodded Midna. "Makes the place seem more welcoming!"

More welcoming!

More welcoming…!

"Isn't this wonderful, Shadow?"

The girl stood there in front of him, her smile wide. In her hands, she held an ottoman, the same shade of black as his fur.

He nodded excitedly. "Where are we going to put it?" he asked.

"Hmmm…" She put a finger to her chin in thought. Then, she turns to him and smirked. "Where do you want to put it?"

He started. "Me?" He looked around the room. Stars dotted the infinite cosmos just outside the window, a stark contrast to the pale blue planet below. He settled on a spot, just a few paces from the glass. He placed it on the floor, positioned just right, so as to take in the view.

The girl clapped her hands. "Perfect!" she said. She sat down on it, and he followed suit, crouching down on the cold metal floor next to her. "If nothing else, it makes this place seem much more welcoming!"

He nodded. "Mmm." The two of them sat there in silence, watching the world go by.

"...Hey, Shadow?"

He turned to the girl. "Hmm?"

"What do you think it's like down there? On the planet?"

He paused. "I… don't know," he admitted.

"Oh, come on!" laughed the girl. "Use your imagination!" She paused, then shut her eyes. "You wanna know what I think?"

He nodded. "Well, go on."

"I think it's just like Grandpa says. With those beautiful, silver moons and warm sunrises. Skies of blue and clouds of white. Bright blessed days and dark—"

"Now you're just quoting that song," laughed the hedgehog.

She stuck her tongue out. "I'm serious, though!" she said, kicking her legs on the ottoman. "I just… I think it—" She shook her head. "No, I know… it's a place filled with hope. You get it, right, Shadow?"

"A place filled with hope…"

Hope…

"Shadow? Shadow, are you all right?"

"Hey, earth to Shadow? You okay?"

Shadow blinked, suddenly remembering where he was. There was a knot in his chest that wasn't there before, and his eyes were shining. He didn't dare turn around to look at the two behind him. He remembered Rodin's words from earlier. Something big is comin' up, hedgehog, and I've got a feelin' we're all gonna get caught up in it…

"Shadow?"

The hedgehog in question was quiet for what seemed like an hour, thinking on Rodin's warning. The memory of that day with Maria was still fresh in his mind. He was suddenly aware of Shovel Knight and Midna, standing expectantly behind him.

...He wouldn't get them involved. Not yet. He turned to the two assistants, but did not meet their eyes. "This has been nice, I suppose. I should go now." And before either of the two could say anything, he had turned on his heel and left.

Shovel Knight stood there, staring at the spot where Shadow once was. Midna simply frowned. "Ugh… he's doing that thing again." she groaned. Seeing Shovel Knight's confused reaction (as much as she could through his helmet), she went on. "Oh, yeah, you don't really know Shadow that well, do you? He has this loner persona that he keeps up, even when he's working on a team. So there's that."

Shovel Knight rubbed his chin in thought. "I see… I'm familiar with people of that sort."

Midna nodded. "But this time was different. You know what I think?" She leaned in closer. "I think this time… he's hiding something much bigger."

Shadow stared off into the distance, watching the sun set. Those words played in his head, as they had so many times in his life.

For all the people who live on that planet… give them a chance to be happy… Let them live for their dreams…

...Very well. If it meant protecting both this world and his own, he would begin investigating. It was what he'd promised to her so long ago.

Author's Notes: I still say Shadow should've been playable but whatever.