The air in the Mushroom Kingdom was heavy with the weight of loss as the forces led by Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Proto Man limped back to Peach's castle. Their heads hung low, their bodies battered, and their spirits crushed by the devastating defeat at Ganondorf's armory. The proud army that had marched out with such determination had been reduced to a weary, broken force.

Toads rushed forward to tend to the wounded. Their small hands trembled as they bandaged injuries and applied healing mushrooms to the soldiers, their usual cheerfulness replaced by somber determination. Even the colorful scenery of Peach's castle grounds couldn't dispel the gloom that had settled over the returning warriors.

Proto Man, limping slightly from the damage sustained in battle, sparks flying from the exposed wires and scorched metal of his frame, maintained his characteristic stoicism. He didn't complain, didn't seek repairs—his mind was still fixed on the battle. He silently replayed the events in his head, analyzing each mistake, every misstep, trying to figure out how they had been outmaneuvered so thoroughly.

Beside him, Zelda sat atop her horse, her posture rigid despite the ache in her muscles. She forced herself to maintain a brave face, but the weight of the loss gnawed at her like a growing shadow. She had led her people into a trap, and she couldn't shake the shame that came with that realization. Ganondorf had played her, used her tactics against her, and it had cost them dearly.

As they reached the courtyard, Zelda spoke up, trying to mask her pain with determination. "We'll regroup," she said, her voice strained but resolute. "I need to return to Hyrule. I'll rally more troops—we'll mount a counterattack. We have to keep fighting."

But even as she said the words, doubt lingered at the edges of her thoughts. She had been so certain before—so confident in her plans. And where had that gotten her? Zelda could feel the weight of each decision pressing down on her. How many more lives would be lost because of her choices?

Before she could say more, Peach, who had been waiting anxiously for their return, stepped forward. Her face was pale, and her eyes were haunted by the burden of the news she had to deliver.

"Zelda," Peach said softly, her voice laced with sorrow. "There's something you need to know."

Zelda turned sharply, her heart pounding. Something in Peach's expression sent a chill through her, making her blood run cold.

"Hyrule has fallen," Peach whispered, her voice trembling. "Ganondorf took the castle while we were distracted at the armory."

Zelda's breath hitched, and for a moment, she simply stared at Peach, unable to process the words. Her mind raced, trying to grasp what this meant. Hyrule—her home, her kingdom—taken by Ganondorf? It couldn't be true.

"No…" Zelda's voice trembled. "No, that can't be. We had forces protecting the castle! Impa was there! How… how could this happen?"

Her voice rose in panic, each word carrying a growing sense of desperation. Zelda's hands trembled as she tried to make sense of the catastrophe. She had trusted in the defenses of her kingdom—trusted her allies—trusted herself. But now, it had all crumbled.

Then, it hit her fully. The realization struck with the force of a hammer, shattering her composure. She had failed them all. Her people. Her kingdom. The Goddesses. She had believed in her own strength and wisdom, only to watch it all slip away. How could she have been so blind?

With a choked sob, she screamed—a raw, agonizing sound that cut through the air, making those around her flinch in shock.

"This is my fault!" Zelda cried out, her voice cracking with anguish. "I should've seen it! I should've known! How could I let this happen? How could the Goddesses allow this?!"

Zelda fell to her knees, her fists pounding the ground in frustration and sorrow. Her voice was filled with guilt and fury—directed at everyone and no one at the same time—at the Goddesses, at Ganondorf, at herself. She felt like a failure, a leader who had let her people and her kingdom slip through her fingers.

Peach and Daisy rushed to her side, immediately enveloping Zelda in a tight embrace as she wept uncontrollably. Her cries echoed through the courtyard, a raw expression of her heartbreak. The sight of the once-proud ruler of Hyrule breaking down like this was a sobering reminder to everyone present just how high the stakes had become.

—-

Meanwhile, far from the grief and devastation at Peach's castle, Mega Man, Roll, Bass, and their trusty companions Treble and Rush arrived at Yoshi's Island. The contrast between the two scenes couldn't have been more striking. The island was a paradise—lush, green hills stretched out as far as the eye could see, tropical trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the cheerful chirps of Yoshi's playing filled the air.

Roll smiled as she watched the Yoshi's frolic, her heart lifting slightly after the dark times they had just endured. "This place is so beautiful," she said softly. "It's hard to believe the rest of the world is in chaos."

Bass, however, stood with his arms crossed, unimpressed by the tranquil scenery. "Enjoy it while you can," he muttered. "We're not here for a vacation."

Mega Man, standing at the edge of the group, nodded in agreement. "I'm going to check in with Peach," he said. "I'll let her know everything seems peaceful here. Maybe Yoshi's Island hasn't been touched by Ganondorf's forces yet."

But as Mega Man tapped his communicator, preparing to send his report, a sudden eerie silence fell over the island. The cheerful chirps of the Yoshi's stopped abruptly, and an ominous tension filled the air.

Roll looked around, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What's happening?"

Then, without warning, the first scream echoed through the island. It was followed by another, and another. Mega Man whirled around, his eyes scanning the horizon just in time to see Yoshi's disappearing into thin air, vanishing with terrified cries.

"Magikoopa's!" Mega Man shouted, spotting the dark figures floating above the treetops. "They're teleporting the Yoshi's away. We have to stop them!"

Rush transformed into jet mode, and Mega Man leaped onto his back, charging up his arm cannon as they shot toward the Magikoopa's. His usually calm demeanor was gone, replaced with fierce determination.

"Get the Yoshi's to safety!" Mega Man ordered Roll, his voice sharp with urgency.

Roll nodded and quickly gathered the panicking Yoshi's. "Come with me!" she called, herding them toward the denser part of the island. "We'll keep you safe!"

Meanwhile, Bass merged with Treble, and the two rocketed into the sky, their combined form powerful and fearsome. Bass grinned as he dove into the fight, his energy blasts tearing through the air. "Finally!" he shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "Some action!". He surged toward the Magikoopas, dodging their spells with ease, almost daring them to try harder. The crackle of magic and the sound of his cannon fire mixed into a symphony of destruction. "Come on!" he taunted, his voice booming as he launched a barrage of energy. "Is this all you've got?"

Mega Man, meanwhile, focused on protecting the Yoshi's. His cannon fired rapidly, trying to take down the Magikoopas as quickly as they appeared, but it wasn't enough. For every Magikoopa they took down, more portals opened, and more Yoshi's were sucked into the swirling vortexes of dark energy.

Roll darted between the Yoshi's, her heart pounding as she saw their wide, terrified eyes. "This way!" she called, her voice strained as she tried to gather them. But for every Yoshi she herded to safety, another was whisked away into a dark portal, their cries for help disappearing as they vanished into the void.

The battle was chaotic and brutal. The Magikoopa's cast spells from above, summoning dark portals that threatened to pull the remaining Yoshi's into unknown depths. The air was thick with the crackle of magic and the blasts of energy as Mega Man and Bass fought to protect the Yoshi's.

But despite their efforts, the Magikoopa's dark magic was too strong. For every Yoshi they saved, another was lost to the portals. The egg-shaped devices carried by the Magikoopa's enhanced their power, making them nearly unstoppable.

"We can't hold them off much longer!" Roll shouted as she led the last group of Yoshi's toward the jungle.

Mega Man gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling within him as yet another Yoshi disappeared into a swirling portal. He fired shot after shot at the Magikoopas, but it wasn't enough. For every Yoshi they saved, another was lost.

"Fall back!" Mega Man finally called out, his voice filled with reluctant defeat. "We have to protect the Yoshi's we have left."

Even as they retreated, the weight of each loss hit him like a physical blow. Mega Man's mind raced. How could this be happening? Why were the Yoshi's being targeted?

It made no sense.