The celebrations lasted for days, echoing through the halls of the castle and beyond. But as the festivities began to wane, a deeper, more somber mood settled over the heroes. The weight of the battle, the lives lost, and the cost of victory began to creep into their hearts. Peach stood at the castle balcony, gazing out at the horizon, her hands resting on the cool stone railing. The sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and gold, but the peace she saw out there wasn't reflected in her heart.

"We won the war," she whispered, "but I never imagined the cost would be this high." The faces of Mario, Megaman, and Peppy flickered through her mind. A victory celebration echoed faintly below, but she felt detached, lost in the weight of the decisions that had led them here.

As a ruler, she was expected to lead them into the next era of peace, but how could she lead with so much loss still lingering in her heart? With a deep breath, she steeled herself. There would be time to grieve later. For now, she had a kingdom to rebuild.

"We've earned this peace," Peach whispered to herself, standing in the shadow of her castle. "But we must never forget the cost. And we must always be ready for what comes next."

In Hyrule, the ancient resurrection chamber hummed with magic as Zelda stood before it, her heart pounding in her chest. As the chamber's door slid open, an ethereal glow filled the room, fairy magic dancing in the air like stars in the twilight. Zelda watched with bated breath as Link blinked awake, his eyes adjusting to the light. Confusion crossed his features, followed by recognition. His gaze found hers, and a small smile crept across his lips.

"You're... you're back," Zelda whispered, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. Her voice trembled, choked by the overwhelming emotions surging through her. "You're finally back."

Link chuckled softly, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Did I miss anything?" he joked, eliciting a laugh from Zelda as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Hylian healers hurried forward, insisting that Link rest after his ordeal, but he shook his head with resolve.

"There's work to be done. There always is."

Zelda nodded, and with reverence, she presented him with the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. "These belong to you, Link. They did their job well but I am not the one who should keep them."

Zelda smiled as Link took the Master Sword and Hylian Shield from her hands, but the weight of the moment lingered between them. Link's eyes met hers, and he hesitated, studying her quietly.

"You've changed," he said softly, his voice filled with admiration. "I always knew you had it in you, Zelda."

She looked away, the weight of the kingdom still heavy on her shoulders. "It wasn't easy. There were times when I didn't think I could do it, but... I had to. For Hyrule. For you."

Link gave her a nod of respect, his hand resting briefly on her arm. "You've grown into a true leader. I couldn't be prouder."

Meanwhile, in the wreckage of the Kong Kingdom, Donkey Kong stood tall, surveying the damage to his homeland. Beside him, Diddy Kong tried to maintain his usual optimism, though his voice held a hint of sorrow.

"It'll never be the same, will it?"

Donkey Kong let out a hearty laugh and placed a massive hand on Diddy's shoulder. "No, it won't," he agreed. "But that doesn't mean it can't be better. We'll rebuild. Stronger, wilder, and with more bananas than ever before!"

Diddy's face brightened, the sadness lifting from his expression. "Yeah! We'll make this place the greatest kingdom in all the land!"

The two Kongs stood together, resolute in their determination to restore their home to its former glory—and beyond.

Aboard The Great Fox, the air was filled with the steady clinking of tools and the hum of machinery. Slippy Toad busied himself with repairs on the Arwings, muttering about fuel lines and damaged circuitry. Across the room, Falco was engrossed in combat simulations, pushing himself to his limits. Fox stood in the docking bay, staring at the spot where Peppy's Arwing had once rested. The emptiness gnawed at him, a silent reminder of the cost of their victory. His hand rested on the cold metal of his own ship, his mind drifting back to the countless missions they had flown together.

Peppy had been more than a mentor—he had been family. The one who had kept them grounded when things seemed impossible. Fox's throat tightened, and he swallowed hard, willing the memories to stay at bay.

"I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for you," Fox murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll never forget that."

The weight of Peppy's absence hung heavily in the air, a void that could never truly be filled. But Fox knew, deep down, that his mentor would have wanted him to continue—forward, always forward.

In Peach's grand throne room, the soft light of the afternoon sun streamed through the tall stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the floor. Around a large, polished table, Peach, Sonic, Daisy, Luigi, and Rosalina gathered, their faces reflecting both relief and exhaustion after the long and grueling battle. As they shared stories of their experiences and began discussing the future, a sense of calm and camaraderie filled the room.

Rosalina, her serene smile never faltering, reached into her robes and carefully pulled out the golden ring that had been attached to the Power Star. With a gentle motion, she held it out to Sonic.

"Thank you, Sonic," she said with quiet gratitude. "Without your ring, I wouldn't have had the power to send Bowser's kingdom away."

Sonic, ever humble despite his heroics, took the ring and slipped it back onto his finger with a casual shrug. "Hey, no problem," he replied with a smirk. "I'm always happy to help save the day."

The conversation turned toward the future—Peach spoke of rebuilding her kingdom, her plans filled with hope and resilience. Sonic talked about returning to his endless adventures, ready to take on whatever challenges came next. Daisy, for the first time since the destruction of Sarasaland, began to speak of her homeland, a wistful expression on her face as she contemplated what was left for her.

But amidst the lively conversation, Luigi remained quiet, his gaze distant. Rosalina, sensing his inner turmoil, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and asked kindly, "What troubles you, Luigi?"

Luigi sighed deeply, looking up at her with sadness in his eyes. "I don't know what to do next. It's… hard to be here without Mario," he admitted, his voice heavy with loss.

Daisy, always the compassionate friend, leaned forward, concern etched across her face. "Why don't you come stay with me, Luigi? We can figure it out together," she suggested warmly.

But Rosalina shook her head softly, her celestial gaze turning to Daisy. "Daisy," she said with a knowing smile, "your path isn't with your homeland anymore. You need to return to the Comet Observatory with me. You have a gift—one that allows you to hear the stars. And you must learn to understand it."

Daisy's eyes widened, surprise mingling with curiosity. "Me? Hear the stars?" she echoed, unsure but intrigued.

Rosalina's eyes sparkled with a knowing gleam as Daisy looked up at the stars, the faint whisper of cosmic voices surrounding her.

"The stars have always spoken," Rosalina said softly, "but few can truly hear them. You, Daisy, are one of the few. Their whispers guided you here, and they will guide you to your next journey."

Daisy frowned, trying to make sense of the voices. "But what do they want from me?"

Rosalina's smile was gentle. "That is something only you can discover. Together, we will unlock the secrets they whisper, and you will learn to guide others as they have guided you. Your journey is just beginning."

Then she turned back to Luigi, her voice gentle but sure. "And you, Luigi… if you wish, you can come with us. The vastness of the cosmos offers peace and clarity. Perhaps, in time, you will find the answers you seek."

Luigi hesitated, looking at his friends. His voice was thick with emotion when he finally spoke. "It's too hard to stay here without him," he confessed, the grief of Mario's absence weighing heavily on him.

Peach, unable to hold back her tears, stood and wrapped her arms around Luigi in a tender embrace. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "You'll always have a home here, Luigi."

Tears welled in Luigi's eyes as he returned the embrace. "Thank you," he said softly. "But I think… I'll go with you, Rosalina. Maybe… maybe I'll find some peace out there."

Rosalina nodded with understanding and kindness. Together, they would embark on a new journey, seeking solace among the stars.

In the lab at Peach's Castle, the air buzzed with the quiet hum of machinery and the soft flickering glow of monitors. Dr. Lights equipment was gone, except for the few items that Tails needed for his portal. Sonic stood beside Tails and Knuckles, his foot tapping impatiently as Tails finished inputting the final sequence into the control panel. The portal shimmered to life with a soft hum, revealing the lush, rolling hills of Green Hill Zone on the other side.

Samus stood a bit apart from the group. The sight of the portal stirred a sense of finality in her, but also a deep appreciation for the unlikely bonds forged during their journey.

As Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles prepared to step through the portal and return home, Samus cleared her throat to catch their attention.

"Thank you," she said, her voice carrying a rare vulnerability. "Thank you for everything. You didn't just save my life… you fought for my world, a world you had no obligation to defend."

Tails, never one to shy away from expressing his emotions, rushed forward without hesitation and wrapped his arms around Samus in a warm hug. The suddenness of it surprised her, but after a moment, she gently patted his back, returning the embrace.

"I'm really gonna miss you, Samus," Tails said, his voice muffled slightly by her armor. "You're one of the bravest people I've ever met."

Samus allowed herself a small smile, touched by his sincerity. "You're pretty brave yourself, Tails."

With a final squeeze, Tails pulled away and gave her a little wave before stepping into the portal. His small figure vanished into the bright light, disappearing into the world beyond.

Knuckles, ever the stoic, stood back and watched with his usual gruff demeanor. For a moment, it seemed like he wouldn't say anything at all. But then, with a smirk, he stepped forward and extended his fist toward her.

"You're tough, Samus," he said with a hint of approval in his voice. "Not bad for someone who doesn't have spikes."

Samus chuckled softly, meeting his fist with her own. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Knuckles gave her a nod, his eyes showing a hint of respect before he stepped through the portal himself, vanishing into the familiar landscape of Green Hill Zone.

Now it was just Sonic and Samus. Sonic shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing at the portal, then back at Samus. His signature grin spread across his face.

"Y'know, this was one wild adventure," Sonic said, his voice light but sincere. "We had some laughs, fought some bad guys, and I even found a couple of decent chili dogs. But you—" he pointed at her "—you made this whole thing awesome."

Samus allowed herself another small smile, appreciating the levity in his words. "Can't say I would've made it without you, Sonic. If you ever find yourself on this side of the universe again, look me up."

"Oh, you know it!" Sonic quipped with a mock salute. "And hey, if you're ever in my neighborhood, the first chili dog's on me."

With that, Sonic took a step back, waved one last time, and in a blur of blue, dashed through the portal. It closed with a soft hiss, the swirling energy dissipating into the air, leaving Samus alone in the quiet lab.