The Smash Bros. training gym was alive with the sounds of clashing fists, fast footsteps, and the occasional grunt of effort.

To say that Mario and Sonic started off on the wrong foot would be the understatement of the century. Ever since Sonic had introduced himself by more or less saved everyone in the giant battle with Tabuu, as well as his very unique first few weeks in the Smash Bros manor, Mario and Sonic were not exactly one to get along. Mario being one to think first and take more planned approach, Sonic is one to run first think later. Not to mention their differing powers and beliefs. But that was past. Now the two have more or less gotten along better. They had evolved from adversaries to partners who pushed each other to be their very best.

Mario, wearing his iconic red cap and overalls, grunted as he held up a massive weight with ease, his muscles straining but his grin unwavering. Nearby, Sonic sped past, running on a treadmill at breakneck speeds. The whir of the machine, that was specifically designed for him, struggled to keep up with his blue blur, but Sonic, ever the confident speedster, was pushing it beyond its limits as he sipped on a large bottle of water.

"Hey, old man!" Sonic shouted playfully, his trademark grin in place. "That weight looks a little heavy for you! You sure you don't need a break?"

Mario chuckled, not missing a beat. "Ha! I-a could carry this with one hand if I wanted to! You-a worry 'bout keeping your blue sneakers on, huh?" He flashed a thumbs-up and let out a hearty laugh.

Sonic winked and kept running, his legs blurring faster and faster. Despite their banter, there was an undercurrent of respect between them, built on years of working together and fighting alongside one another.

In the corner of the gym, Link stood at the archery range, trying to practice his bow skills. The familiar feel of the Master Bow in his hands should have been comforting, but today, something was off. His grip tightened as he pulled the string back, but his concentration kept slipping. He could feel the tension in his shoulders, a nagging sense of unease he couldn't shake.

He let the arrow fly, but it hit the edge of the target, far from the center. Frustrated, Link gritted his teeth, pulling out another arrow and readying it again.

"Come on, focus...," he muttered to himself, but the moment the words left his mouth, he felt his thoughts spiral, filled with distractions he couldn't push away.

Mario, having noticed Link's difficulty, set down his weights with a soft thud. He brushed his hands on his overalls and walked over, still smiling but with concern in his eyes.

"Hey, Link! You-a look like you're-a having some trouble. What's-a going on?" Mario said a hint of concern in his voice as he walked up to his old friend.

Sonic, having slowed down his treadmill to a normal speed, zipped over in a flash, stopping just behind Mario and crossing his arms. "Yeah, man, you're usually Robin Hood with that bow! What's up?"

Link sighed, lowering his bow. He was normally steady and focused, but today something was off. His nightmares had been plaguing him, and he couldn't quite get them out of his mind, even during practice. He was good at hiding his inner turmoil, but Mario and Sonic could sense when something wasn't right.

Link sighed "I don't know... I can't seem to concentrate today. Every time I try to focus, my mind just... drifts."

Mario and Sonic exchanged a glance, both understanding that whatever was bothering Link was more than just a bad day of practice.

Sonic inhaled and let it out slowly "You've got a lot on your mind, huh? I get it, happens to the best of us." He placed a hand on Link's shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "But you're Link, man. If anyone can shake this off, it's you."

Link appreciated the support, but it didn't ease the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. The dreams, visions, nightmares, really had been intense, filled with visions of darkness and destruction. No matter how much he told himself to ignore it the anxiety they left behind was starting to affect him.

Mario, ever the optimist, clapped Link on the back, a bit more gently than usual. "You-a know, Link, sometimes taking a step back can help-a clear the mind. You've-a been saving Hyrule and all these worlds for years, you're stronger than-a any doubts in your head."

Sonic nodded, his usual smirk softening into something more understanding. "Yeah. I used to be a bit of a hotshot, thinking I didn't need anyone. Then I met this guy…" he motioned to Mario "and we spent well…who knows how long being rivals. I was all about speed, he was all about strength, but after a while, I realized it's not about who's faster or stronger. It's about staying grounded and... well, being a team. And you're part of this team, man."

Link looked at both of them, feeling the sincerity in their words. Despite the rivalry that had once existed between Mario and Sonic, they had evolved into partners who balanced each other out and they were offering that same support to him now.

He gave a small smile, appreciating their effort to help him clear his head, but the weight of the nightmares still pressed on him. "Thanks, you two. I just... it feels like there's something coming. Something big. And I can't shake the feeling that whatever it is, it's... dangerous."

Mario raised an eyebrow. "You've had those-a feelings before, right? I mean, we-a all have. But we've always faced it together."

Sonic grinned. "Yeah, man! Whatever's coming, we'll handle it. Just like always."

Link nodded, but he remained quiet. He didn't want to burden them with his dreams yet—not until he was sure they meant something. But Mario and Sonic's support was enough to help him feel a little more grounded, at least for now.

With a deep breath, he picked up his bow again, drawing an arrow and pulling the string back. He focused on the target, but this time, his mind felt a little clearer, his grip more steady.

Sonic stepped back, giving Link space, but couldn't resist one last comment. "Hey, just so you know, if you ever want me to race to Hyrule and back to clear your head, I'm game."

Link chuckled softly, aiming down the range. "I'll keep that in mind."

As he released the arrow, it flew straight and true, hitting the center of the target with a soft thunk. He lowered the bow and smiled, grateful for the support of his friends. Whatever was coming, he wasn't facing it alone.

The mid to late afternoon sun cast shimmering rays across the Smash Bros. pool, where Toon Link and Young Link were half sparring, half swimming in the shallow end, practicing agility and coordination in the water. Their swords clashed with soft metallic echoes, and every movement sent small waves rippling through the surface. Nearby, Sora, the newest member of the Smash Brothers, watched the two Links with fascination as he fiddled with his keyblade. He was currently in his merfolk form, while his top half is human his bottom half is a dolphin that glided effortlessly through the water. Sora smiled as he watched the two Links. His natural curiosity got the better of him, and he swam closer, flipping his dolphin tail to propel himself through the water with ease.

As Toon Link lunged forward, Young Link effortlessly sidestepped, dodging his attack with ease. Both Links were fast and nimble, their movements almost synchronized. But something about their presence together had piqued Sora's curiosity, he couldn't help but notice how strange it was to have three different versions of Link in the Smash Bros. team.

Sora swam forward, his eyes filled with interest. "Hey, Young Link," he called out, catching the boy's attention. "Mind if I ask you something?"

Young Link paused mid-swing, lowering his sword slightly as he looked over at Sora. "Sure, what's up?"

Sora grinned and scratched the back of his head. "I've been meaning to ask... why are you called 'Young Link'? I mean, it seems like you're stuck being... well, young, but that doesn't really explain much."

Young Link sighed softly, placing his sword at his side as he stood waist-deep in the water. "It's... complicated."

Toon Link, floating nearby, gave a small nod of agreement. "Very complicated," he added with a smirk.

Young Link turned back to Sora, his expression a little more serious. "The reason I'm called Young Link is because... well…I can't age. Not anymore." He paused for a moment, seeing the confusion on Sora's face. "It's because of all the time travel I've done. Every time I traveled back and forth between the past and future, it... well…messed me up. I can't grow up. I can't age, and I don't know…I can't...well, I can't die either."

Sora blinked rapidly, his eyes widening in confusion. "Wait... what? So, you're immortal?"

Young Link shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you could call it that. I've been stuck like this for a very long time now. It's kind of like a... side effect of using the Ocarina of Time to travel between different points in time, not to mention all that stuff with the moon crashing down into earth…don't ask. I'm from the past, technically, but I'll always stay this age."

Sora's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to wrap his head around what Young Link had just explained, as his tail moved in awkward directions. He'd seen a lot of strange things in his adventures, but this was new. "That's... a lot to take in," Sora said, scratching his head again. "But wait—there's three Links here, right? So... why are there three of you?"

Toon Link floated by, watching the conversation with a bemused smile, but Young Link was the one to answer. "Yeah, there's three of us. I'm from the past, the current Link you've met is from the present…ish…well in way he is…and Toon Link is... well..." He paused, glancing over at Toon Link with a slightly awkward smile. "He's kind of from the future, in a manner of speaking...Nobody really knows exactly when he's from, but he's part of the timeline too."

Toon Link gave a mock salute, his usual carefree attitude on full display. "The future is a bit murky for me, but I like to think I'm from some part of it."

Young Link rubbed his eyes as if trying to think of a way to explain something. "Basically somehow three timelines merged, a world where I died, I have no idea what the hell happened there, a world where I lived and went back to the past as a child, and I know mostly everything after that, then there is a timeline where I stayed as an adult…and many years later Toon Link was born…then gods and magic shenanigans, blah blah blah, timeline merged and boom it made the world where the Link we know is from."

Sora tilted his head, his confusion deepening but a smile spreading across his face as if pretending to understand what he heard. "Three different Links from three different times, huh? That's... that's actually kinda wild." He chuckled softly. "But you know, I kinda get it. My life's been... complicated too."

Young Link raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Sora grinned widely, leaning back and shrugging as he did a little dance with his tail. "Let's just say I've dealt with time travel, alternate dimensions, and people coming back to life... more times than I can count. Trying to figure out where everything fits can be pretty confusing."

Young Link chuckled at that, feeling a bit of camaraderie in Sora's words. "Yeah, I guess you could say it's like that. The whole 'three Links' thing is confusing to everyone at first, but it makes sense eventually. Well, kind of."

Toon Link, always the playful one, splashed some water at them both and grinned. "Don't worry, Sora. We'll get you up to speed on all the weird stuff around here. If you can handle your crazy life, I think you'll fit right in."

Sora laughed, brushing the water off his arms. "I guess I'll have to. Still, it's kinda cool that you all have your own unique thing going. I'm looking forward to seeing how you all fight!"

Young Link nodded, smiling softly. "You'll see soon enough. But just so you know, we might be from different times, but when we fight together, we're one team."

Sora gave a thumbs-up, feeling more at ease now as he did a flip in the water. "Got it! And hey, if you ever need help with the time travel stuff, just give me a shout. I've gotten pretty used to jumping between worlds."

Toon Link and Young Link exchanged amused glances, nodding in agreement. They could already tell that Sora, despite his confusion, would fit right in with the craziness of their team.

The grand library of the Smash Bros. mansion was quiet, save for the soft rustling of pages and the gentle clink of a teacup. Shelves towered over the room, lined with ancient tomes and modern texts alike. In the center of the room, surrounded by a small fortress of open books and scrolls, sat Princess Zelda, her eyes red-rimmed with exhaustion, a half-empty teapot, and a teacup with enough tea to sink an ocean liner 500 times beside her.

She stared intently at the pages in front of her, but her mind was elsewhere, trapped in the swirling thoughts of strange visions and unsettling nightmares that had been plaguing her and the Links. Her fingers twitched as she took another sip of tea, the automatic motion now, as if she were drinking just to keep her mind from collapsing under the weight of her theories.

Just then, Princess Peach and Princess Daisy strolled into the library, their voices soft and concerned.

Peach walked up to her friend who had been a bit mental for the entire day "Zelda? You've been here for hours, I didn't see you ever since you got off the jet. Are you alright?"

Daisy, ever the more direct of the two, raised an eyebrow as she saw the sheer number of books scattered around. "Whoa! How much tea have you had?" She picked up the half-empty pot and then the teacup and shook her head. "That's... a lot of tea…" as she took a sip then made a face "I think I have diabetes…and I can't feel my face from how lemony and minty it is…"

Zelda looked up from her book, her eyes tired but focused. She gave them a small, weary smile. "Oh... Daisy, Peach. I didn't notice you come in." She glanced at the teapot and cup as if she were seeing it for the first time. "It's been... a long day."

Peach sat beside her, eyeing the stack of books. "You've been researching something, haven't you?"

Zelda sighed, closing the book in front of her. "Yes. I've been trying to figure out what's happening with these... visions. The nightmares we've all been having, they aren't just random dreams. I'm certain of it." She rubbed her temples, clearly frustrated. "But I can't prove it. Not yet."

Daisy leaned in, hands on her hips. "What do you mean? You think they're connected?"

Zelda nodded slowly, picking up her teacup again and staring into the remaining liquid as if searching for answers in its depths. "I have a... hypothesis, I suppose. I think the visions the Links and I are having are of worlds where everything went wrong. I don't know how to explain it, but something inside me... knows it's true."

Peach exchanged a glance with Daisy before asking softly, "What do you mean, 'everything went wrong'? Like... alternate worlds?"

"So, like what, a world where everyones genders swapped, a world where the bad guys are good and we are bad, a world where oh I don't know Luigi is the older and Mario is the younger one?" Daisy said bluntly as if trying to come up with something good.

Zelda put down her teacup and leaned forward, her voice quieter now, more thoughtful. "Yes. Worlds where the timelines broke down, or where something terrible happened that twisted fate beyond recognition. I can't explain it fully, but... I feel like we're seeing glimpses of these worlds. These dark, broken versions of our own."

She gestured to the books around her, texts on prophecy, multiverse theory, and dark magic. "But I don't know how to back it up. I can't find anything in these books that explains what kind of worlds there might be. All I have are fragments of visions that the Links and I had, and yet I just know that these worlds are real."

Daisy frowned, leaning against the table. "But how can you be sure? I mean, a lot of us have weird dreams. What makes you so sure these aren't just... you know, bad dreams?"

Zelda ran a hand through her hair, looking more frustrated. "I don't know. I can't explain it. But something deep inside me…call it instinct or... magic—tells me that these aren't just dreams. I feel like there's a connection between these visions and whatever is coming."

Peach reached over, gently resting a hand on Zelda's arm. "It sounds like you're carrying a lot of this on your own. Maybe it's time to talk to the others about what you've found, even if you don't have all the answers yet."

Zelda's eyes softened, and she gave Peach a grateful smile. "I... I suppose you're right. I just didn't want to worry anyone until I knew more."

Daisy straightened up, her usual enthusiasm shining through. "Well, we're worried about you! We've got your back, Zelda. You don't have to figure this all out by yourself."

Zelda looked at the teapot again, her exhaustion now evident. She gave a small chuckle. "I've probably had too much tea anyway."

Peach giggled softly. "A little break wouldn't hurt. We'll help you, Zelda. Whatever these visions are, we'll face them together."

Zelda nodded, the weight on her shoulders easing slightly. "Thank you, both of you. I think... I think I'll need all the help I can get. Something big is coming, and we have to be ready."

Daisy grinned. "That's the spirit! Now let's get out of this library before you drown yourself in tea."

Zelda stood up, letting the two princesses guide her away from the maze of books. She didn't have all the answers yet, but with Peach and Daisy by her side, she felt a little less alone in the mystery. And deep down, she knew that whatever dark worlds they were glimpsing, they had to find a way to stop them from breaking into their own.