As the forces of Peach's castle returned from the battlefield, the atmosphere was not one of celebration but of quiet relief and bittersweet reunions. The weight of Mario's loss lingered in every heart, but the sight of Samus Aran—alive after so many had feared her lost—brought a flicker of joy amidst the sorrow.
The courtyard was filled with murmurs of disbelief as Samus stepped into view. Her presence was like a beacon in the dark, her armor scuffed from battle but still gleaming with a strength that seemed unshakable. Friends and allies surrounded her, each of them eager to see her, speak to her, and confirm that she was truly there with them. There were no grand cheers or celebratory shouts but instead the gentle warmth of relieved smiles and quiet words exchanged between comrades.
Amidst the reunion, the sound of engines hummed above them, and the Great Fox—a symbol of hope and strength—descended gracefully into the courtyard. The Starfox team disembarked swiftly, and Fox McCloud, his cool and composed exterior faltering just for a moment, approached Samus with a confident grin.
"Look what the Lylat System dragged back," Fox quipped, his voice casual, but there was a glint in his eye that betrayed his excitement.
Samus smirked, folding her arms. "Miss me, McCloud?"
Fox chuckled, doing his best to maintain his usual demeanor. "I'd never admit it. But yeah, we all did."
Behind him, Falco muttered, "He wouldn't shut up about it," earning a playful glare from Fox.
Despite the lighthearted exchange, there was a deeper sense of camaraderie between them—veterans who had seen too many battles but who were grateful for every friend they could still stand beside. Samus and Fox exchanged a nod, a silent acknowledgment of all that had passed and all that was yet to come. For a brief moment, they could allow themselves to be just friends—before the weight of war pressed down on them once again.
As the reunion continued, Luigi sat alone in a quiet chamber. His thoughts were heavy, his heart burdened by guilt and grief. Mario's covered body lay on a stone platform nearby, and the sight of it tore at Luigi's soul. His chest felt hollow, as if every breath he took carried with it the weight of his failure. Memories of Mario flashed before him—the times they had laughed, the battles they had fought together. And now, because of him, those memories were all that remained.
"I should have done more. I should have saved him," Luigi whispered to the empty room, his voice trembling. Every decision he'd made since this war began had led them here. He couldn't shake the gnawing thought: What if it was my betrayal that sealed Mario's fate?
The door creaked open, and Zelda entered the room quietly. She moved with grace, but there was a deep sadness in her eyes, one that Luigi recognized immediately. She, too, had suffered a terrible loss—Hyrule was no longer hers, and her people were scattered. She knelt beside Luigi, placing a hand gently on his arm.
"Luigi," Zelda began softly, "I know how much Mario meant to you. You fought bravely for him."
Luigi glanced at her, his eyes red and puffy. He swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion as he asked the question that had been gnawing at him since Mario's death. "Zelda… the resurrection chambers you told me about, the ones in Hyrule… Can't we… can't we use them to bring Mario back?"
Zelda's heart ached as she shook her head, her voice filled with regret. "The resurrection chambers… they can only restore the lives of Hylians, Luigi. They are tied to the ancient magic of the Goddesses, magic that only works within our bloodlines."
Luigi's face fell, and he looked away, his grief deepening. "So there's nothing we can do… I couldn't save him. I couldn't save my brother."
Zelda's own tears welled up as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "We've both lost so much, Luigi. I lost Hyrule, and you… you lost Mario. But we're still here, and we have to carry on—for them. We have to honor their memory by continuing to fight for what they believed in."
The two sat in silence for a moment, their shared losses binding them in a quiet understanding. Though their grief felt insurmountable, they found solace in knowing they weren't alone in it. Together, they would find the strength to move forward, even as the pain lingered.
After a long, somber pause, Zelda stood and gave Luigi a gentle squeeze on the arm. "When you're ready," she said softly, "come join us. We're with our friends, and so should you be."
Luigi hesitated but finally nodded, watching as Zelda left the room. The quiet in the chamber felt overwhelming, but her words had planted a small seed of hope within him. He wasn't alone in his grief, and maybe, just maybe, he could find the strength to continue.
Once outside, the atmosphere lightened slightly, though the weight of loss still hung in the air. Sonic, ever the optimist, was enthusiastically introducing Roll to the wonders of chili dogs, his animated energy providing a much-needed distraction from the tension. Roll nodded along politely, but her mind drifted to the battlefield, to the faces of her fallen allies, and to the war that was far from over. Sonic's words faded into the background as she stood there, lost in thought. It wasn't until Sonic nudged her playfully that she snapped back to reality.
"Come on, Roll! You've gotta at least pretend to enjoy it!" Sonic grinned, completely unaware of her momentary lapse.
Roll managed a smile, accepting the chili dog, grateful for the distraction, even though the weight of the war still pressed on her circuits.
Peach stood beside Samus, her shoulder just brushing against Samus's arm. The contact was brief, almost accidental, but it sent a warmth through her that momentarily drowned out the heaviness of the war. She smiled, feeling safe for the first time in a long while.
Samus, standing tall and steady beside her, nodded toward the group. "We're not done yet," she said quietly, her voice firm but filled with warmth.
Peach nodded, her heart swelling with something beyond determination. Being beside Samus made the impossible seem within reach, and though they were surrounded by their friends, for a moment, it felt as if it were just the two of them against the world. "And we'll win. Together," she said, her voice soft, a promise meant for Samus as much as the others.
As the stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky, they stood side by side, their bond stronger than ever before. But as Peach's eyes traced the horizon, her heart clenched with a familiar unease. The battle with Bowser had ended, but this war was far from over. Somewhere, out there in the darkness, Bowser and Robotnik were already planning their next move.
"We can't rest yet," she said softly, more to herself than to Samus. The night was calm for now, but Peach knew that peace was always the prelude to the storm.
The group fell silent, lost in their own thoughts, until Donkey Kong stepped forward, commanding their attention. His usually carefree demeanor was replaced with one of steady resolve, his eyes scanning the faces of his comrades.
"Things have changed," Donkey Kong began, his deep voice resonating with the gravity of their situation. "We've lost a lot. What Bowser did to Mario—controlling him, turning him into a puppet, and then… killing him—there's no forgiveness for that." His fists clenched at his sides, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. But after a breath, he continued, "But we've also gained new allies." His gaze shifted to Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. "And we've found strength we didn't know we had."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Samus came back to us. We've got Sonic and his crew fighting by our side now. We're stronger together than we've ever been. And even though we lost Mario… his spirit is still with us. In each of us." Donkey Kong's voice softened, but the fire in his eyes blazed with determination. "We'll make sure Bowser pays for what he's done, not just for Mario, but for everyone who's fallen in this war."
He glanced at Peach and then Samus before turning back to the group. "This war isn't over. But we've got hope. As long as we stand together, we'll keep fighting. And we will win."
The murmur of agreement spread through the group, the weight of their losses still heavy, but the flicker of hope reignited in their hearts. The night might have been dark, and the war far from over, but in that moment, they knew they weren't fighting alone.