Episode Twenty-Three

THE FUTURE AS IT IS NOW! BUT ALL MAY NOT HAVE WON!

Twenty years later...

"Come on, Mom! We're going to be late!" exclaimed a voice rushing out of the home that belonged to a now aged Samus with a few grays in her blonde hair.

Samus looked up to see the door closing behind her now twenty year old daughter. Sighing to herself as she smiled, she turned to her husband, Snake, working on his latest project that had found it's home on the dining room table. It appeared to be some sort of android, now getting a few touches on its skeletal form, a set of what appeared to be eyes being the only thing making the face besides of a set of teeth.

"And what's that supposed to be?" Samus joked as she went to pick up her bag.

"Well, Master Hand wanted someone besides K.K. singing for this year's opening party for the tournament, so I offered to build androids meant for that kind of thing," Snake explained as he set down a tool and grabbed another. "I even thought of names for them already. The one I'm working on is named Meiko Haigo. She'll be the one singing this year, with Kaito Shion, the one taking up your board game space in the basement. The last one I'm building for the opening is Miku Hatsune, the one taking up your car space in the garage."

Samus smirked playfully. "Ah, I see. And the three upstairs holding up the space meant for Dakota's fiancé?"

"Kagamine Rin and Len, and Megurine Luka. They'll be singing at the closing ceremony since they won't be done on time for the opening," Snake sheepishly answered. "I've been meaning to move those three, but Luka's so damn heavy..."

"Then ask Dakota's fiancé to help with that when we get back with him," Samus cheerfully said as she turned around to head outside. "I hear he's pretty strong. Don't forget to pick up Riley at school, okay?"

"Second thing on my mind," Snake called out as Samus left. "I won't bother asking Dakota's mystery man, though. I'll call Link and Marth once you're gone."

Samus only chuckled, mentally noting to pick up Riley after her trip.

Snake turned back to Meiko.

"Don't worry, Meiko, I'll get you guys done on time..."

(Soon after, at the station...)

"Here we are, Mom!" exclaimed Dakota, her short brown hair just touching her shoulders as her blue eyes scanned the train station of Smashville. "He said his train's at three." She turned to her mother. "What time is it now?" For the girl that we have now gotten to care for and love, she was dressed rather elegantly in a nice flowered purple top, and wearing light blue jeans, her feet covered in nice black running shoes with purple accents.

Samus checked her watch. "We have fifteen minutes to spare." She looked up at her daughter, an irritated look on her face. "I still can't believe you've never introduced me to this man before! Where did you say he's from?"

Dakota smiled at her mother. "He's a halfie - part Emblemrian, and part Hylian. He's proud of it, too. Right now, though, he lives in an apartment in Castle Town, where his mother lives."

"So his parents are separated?" Samus asked with a straight face.

"There were some... complications," Dakota half explained as she turned at the sound of a train's whistle. "Hey, they're here early!"

True enough, in came the train, straight from Hyrule. Many people got off, including a tall pale woman with pure white hair, her eyes milky, being followed by a blonde Hylian man with purple eyes dressed in purple clothes. The woman, dressed in a white kimono, bumped into Samus, making her drop her bag.

"Oh, I apologize," she said instantly, turning to Samus and picking up her bag. Her companion stopped behind her. "Here, you dropped this."

Samus took it, eyeing the woman carefully. "Thank you."

"If you may, may you please direct us to the house of the Hands?" the woman asked.

"It's the biggest building in town - you can't miss it," she replied.

The woman bowed before her. "Thank you. Come, Vio. We must see Master Hand immediately."

The blonde Hylian nodded at her words and followed her out of the station.

Samus watched them leave, sceptical. "Now, they were strange."

Dakota was watching the people leave the train, and, apparently seeing the man she was looking for, began frantically waving her arms like a madman. "Hey, Mom! I see him! Come over here!"

Samus was suddenly nervous, and turned to her daughter immediately. "Uh, right."

(Meanwhile, in the house down the street from the Snake's...)

"He's at it again," complained Wolf as he peered out his window to see Snake leave his home carrying the exoskeleton of one of his androids out of the garage and into the house with the help of Link. Marth was holding the door open. "I still don't see why he just didn't hire singers. Why build them?"

Wolf, twenty years older, was seated in a wheelchair, his fur dulled down and thicker, his eyes appearing tired. He looked up at his son Kiba (who appeared the same as always), next to his best friend, Todd McCloud (also the same, but his staff was not with him). The two shrugged.

"Maybe he thought it was easier than going across the country asking chicks to sing for him," Kiba guessed with a grin.

Todd said nothing, but smirked at the idea.

A knock on the door indicated a guest. Kiba went to get it.

Not a moment later, he yelled, "Todd! Your dad's here to pick you up!"

Todd grunted. "Stupid old man..."

(Back at the Snake's, an hour later)

The front door opened, and four people walked inside the nice home. Samus looked into the living room and called out, "Snake! We're home!"

"Your mother calls your dad by his last name?" asked Shaun, his navy hair spiky and falling before his eyes, his blue eyes piercing. His ears were showing from his hair, somewhat pointed indicating his half-Hylian blood. His was wearing rather baggy clothing, his tan beige tunic appearing loose, and his denim pants kept around his thin waste by a belt. His boots were dark brown leather with straps.

"I heard from Unca' Meta Knight that my parents just took the name 'Snake' because 'Gear' sounded crappy," Dakota explained with a laugh. She turned to see her mother placing her bag on the floor and walking into a room with a computer. "Besides, my dad's a clone of some guy from Philanthropy. I don't actually think he had a real name."

Shaun raised an eyebrow. "Strange."

"I thought so, too. If he's a clone, what does that make me? The daughter of this guy I don't know, or Mom doesn't know for that matter, or the daughter of him?" Dakota pondered, appearing worried.

"Him. He's the one that fathered you, not this loser guy that donated his genes for clones," Shaun grunted, walking into the living room after taking off his shoes. "Nice place, by the way."

"Beats that dead-end apartment you live in, doesn't it?" she joked in reply, walking in without taking off her shoes.

Shaun looked a photo of Samus with Zelda and Peach. "Anything does, really."

Riley, Dakota's eleven year old brother, wandered in lugging his school bag on his back. His blonde hair fell just behind his neck, and his blue eyes scanned the kitchen before deciding to abandon his bag there. He was wearing a school uniform at the moment. He turned around to face Shaun and smiled.

"So, how'd you meet my sister?" he asked curiously.

Dakota panicked slightly, surprising Shaun somewhat. "Uh, it's none of your business runt. Don't you have math homework to do?"

"But I can't do it with Dad's freaking science project on the table!" Riley complained.

"Go over to Pear and Plum's. Don't they have the same homework as you?" Dakota offered with a shaky tone.

"But Plum's a year younger than me and Pear. She won't get it."

"It doesn't matter. Just go do it. I'll tell Mom where you went."

"Fine..." Riley grabbed his bag and walked out the door. "You owe me five bucks!" he called out before shutting it.

"Add it to my tab!" she called after him.

Shaun shook his head at Dakota's antics. "Are you always like this with your brother?"

Dakota grinned at him. "Always."

Samus walked back into the room and appeared surprised by Riley's sudden disappearance. "Where'd your brother go?"

"To Pear's," Dakota replied instantly. "I thought Dad was going to move Deadco over there."

"It's 'Meiko', honey, and the ones he was going to move are upstairs. He's moving them to the basement right now with Marth and Link's help. I also have my car space back in the garage, come to think of it," Samus replied crisply. She turned towards the door leading to the basement as soon as Link and Marth walked into the room.

Link, even in his older age, still appeared the same as ever, wearing his green tunic and pants still, but had taken off his hat and arm guards the moment his oldest son Rinku had earned the Hero's Clothes, taking on Gavin Dragmire in his own adventure.

Marth was a different case. He had moved to more civilian clothing (meaning: he ditched the cape, fancy armour, his tiara, and changed his boots to shoes) after Roy had taken control of all of Emblemria after his father's death, leaving Marth without a title. The two hadn't spoken to each other since, using Ike as a messenger. Now twenty years older, Marth's hair had dulled in colour somewhat and his English had improved greatly.

"Ah, Samus," Marth greeted happily as he noticed her. "What a pleasure to see you today."

Link nodded in agreement.

"It certainly is, Marth," Samus chuckled lightly. "Thanks for helping my husband lug his science experiments to the basement in time for Dakota's fiancé to arrive."

Marth and Link appeared surprised.

"Oh, you mean he's here today?" Marth asked, just to be sure.

Samus nodded. "Yup, he's here right now."

It was at that moment that Marth and Link noticed Shaun's presence. Marth walked over immediately and shook Shaun's hand politely.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Marth Lowell," he introduced. He gestured to Link. "This is my friend, Link Hylia. He doesn't speak much."

Shaun nodded. "Shaun Greil."

"Greil?" Marth asked, mostly out of curiosity. "As in, the 'Greil Mercenaries'? Led by Ike Greil?"

Once more, Shaun nodded. "Ike's my father."

Marth appeared dumfounded and even whacked his head. "Ah, you're Shaun! Right. Ike wrote letters about you to me for awhile. He bragged the whole time."

A light chuckle came from Shaun. "Sounds like my father."

Ringing came, causing Link to remove his cell phone.

"Hello?"

A voice came from the other side, causing Link to sigh instantly.

"You have to be kidding me."

More speaking came from the phone.

"Hmm mm..."

More speaking.

"Uh huh."

More speaking. A crash sounded from the phone, causing Dakota to mouth the word 'maven'.

"I'll be right there." He hung up and turned to Samus, appearing agitated. "I'm afraid I'll have to make my leave... That was Young Link. Apparently our brother came with his wife and twin sons and didn't bother to tell us before hand."

"And, naturally, Maven was pissed, right?" Dakota decided to add with a laugh. "Good luck with that, just be glad Zel and Rinku are in Gerudo Valley right now."

Link laughed as he turned to leave. "I'll call later, okay?"

"Alright, Link," Samus said cheerfully as she waved.

Link left.

Instantly, Samus turned to Dakota. "So, any plans?"

"Like what?" Dakota asked in return. "You mean for the wedding?"

"Of course I mean the wedding," growled the mother.

"It's going to be low-budget," Dakota flatly replied, as she watched Marth and Shaun talk about something in Japanese. "Shaun's broke and doesn't get a lot of money from his job."

"And you're marrying him?" Samus asked curtly. "Well, it's your decision, I mean, I like him and everything, but, are you sure?"

"Mom," Dakota started, turning to her mother. "I'm not twelve anymore. I'm a fully grown woman, and I'm free to make my own decisions. I love Shaun. I don't care that he's broke and sometimes he can't pay bills on time. I don't care. I don't care, because I know he loves me, and he's willing to do anything for me. He payed for that freaking train ticket to come and meet you guys; he didn't ask you to come to his place, even though that's what I suggested. And he didn't, because he knew he didn't have the space, and he didn't want you to go to a hotel. He felt bad about that."

Samus was taken aback, looking at her daughter with wide eyes. "Wait, you wanted us to travel to Hyrule instead of him coming here?"

"I told him the train ticket was a waste of his money and that you knew someone in Hyrule, so where you would be staying wouldn't be a problem," Dakota replied. "He disagreed, and said it was worth the loss of electricity, hydro, and his groceries for a month to come down instead." She frowned somewhat. "Gotta love his pessimistic humour, huh?"

Samus appeared worried for a second, but shook it off and laughed, patting her daughter on the shoulder. "Well, what do you know? I have a feeling your future husband and I will get along just fine."

Dakota weakly smiled at that one. "I'm still a bit nervous about Dad..."

"Aw, let your father whine and complain about his little girl getting married. I'll set him straight before the wedding day, don't worry," Samus said with a smile. "We might have to keep Shaun's financial situation a bit of a secret. I don't think he'll like that. Although, knowing him, he'll figure it out just by looking at his wardrobe."

"Dad always said I had to marry someone with lots of money," Dakota said blankly. "Guess I broke that rule."

Samus chuckled again. "I don't think it was a rule, honey. It was more of advice."

And, just like an omen, Snake trotted up the basement stairs and appeared at the doorway leading to the kitchen, staring down Shaun, who had stopped talking to Marth the moment everyone heard his incoming approach.

"So..." Snake began, frowning somewhat as he walked up to his daughter's future husband. "You must be the lucky man marrying my daughter."

Shaun nodded somewhat politely. "Yes, sir."

Snake inspected Shaun's clothes. "Depending on the state of that tunic, I'll guess that you work at a bar."

"Telma's bar, sir," Shaun confirmed.

"And that you're broke," Snake flatly said, causing Dakota's temper to rise. "Badly, it seems."

Shaun said nothing, confirming Snake's suspicion.

Giving an exasperated sigh, Snake held his temple. "Honestly, the people she attracts... Mario and Luigi's sons, Falcon's crapload of a son, Maven... Cain... the list goes on..."

"Cain's not so bad, Snake, she just has her mother's lack of patience," Marth said with a chuckle, causing Snake to also laugh lightly.

"True..."

Snake eyed Shaun again, trying to come up for reasons on to why his precious daughter didn't have to marry him.

He was broke, he dressed like a dirt bag, didn't eat properly (guessed that by the boy looking like he hadn't eaten a decent meal for a few days now), lived in a Castle Town apartment (those cost a lot of money to keep), worked at a bar (Telma's, no less. He was lucky Link knew her.), and he took a train here. That meant he had no transportation.

But, for Dakota's sake, he'll give the boy a secret three days to prove his worth.

Just three.

(The next day)

Samus was watering her flowers when Link walked up with his twin nephews Toki and Kaze. The twins were completely identical, with black eyes and bright blonde hair, wearing small green tunics around their small, thin frames, and over them, blue denim vests. Their blue pants finished their outfits with boots, Toki wearing brown boots, and Kaze wearing black.

"Auntie Samus!" both chorused in unison as soon as they saw her. "It's great to see you again!"

"Hey, boys," Samus greeted as they rushed up. "How's your father doing?"

"Daddy is doing well," started Toki.

"He's being a great pirate," added Kaze.

"Of course, he doesn't steal," Toki continued.

"And he says neither should we,' Kaze finished.

"Is he right, Auntie Samus?" both asked.

Samus smiled at them, kneeling down to their level. "Boys, your father is always right."

They nodded, taking her words at heart. Link sighed.

"Sorry about not calling," he began. "Things came up. Twins had nightmares."

"About what?" she asked as she went back to the flowers and the boys got distracted by Dakota's dog Otacon coming out of the house.

"Not sure," he answered. "Something about a tournament, Dakota, Shaun, and some group calling themselves 'the Elite'. Not sure what they meant there."

"Children just have very big imaginations," Samus offered.

Link frowned, causing Samus to pout. "That's not what Zelda thinks."

"And what does Zelda think?" Samus asked, interested.

"She says it might have something to do with the Triforce," he answered. "That Toon Link's own sensitivity may have passed to them."

Samus nodded, understanding. "Right... because he had to gain his own piece of the Triforce, he's more sensitive to what it did... and when he and Tetra had the twins, that sensitivity went to them?"

"What she says," Link finished.

Samus had to frown, now. Some time ago, Link had begun to become quite terse with his words, even speaking in incomplete sentences. Snake thought it was all those sleepless nights from raising his younger siblings getting to him.

"Cousin Dakota!" they heard both twins chorus, causing them to turn toward the front door, where a surprised Dakota was sitting on the porch, Toki and Kaze on her lap, an equally surprised Shaun standing behind her.

"Hey, guys!" Dakota greeted once her shock withered away. "How's my second favourite set of twins since your dad will shoot me with an arrow if I say you two are better than him and your uncle Young?"

"We're great!" the two chorused.

"Toki caught a fish the other day!" Kaze chirped.

"And Kaze caught a frog!" Toki added.

"A frog!" Dakota asked in shock. "Oh, wow, Kaze, even I haven't caught a frog!"

"Really!" Kaze exclaimed in surprise. "Wow! I'm the first one!"

"Lucky you," Toki said with a frown. "I just caught a Hylian Loach, Daddy says."

Link decided to butt in before violence took place. "Ah, but Hylian Loaches are very rare, Toki."

"Really?" Toki asked, unsure.

Link nodded silently, a smile on his face. From his reply, both the twins got really excited, jumping off Dakota and rushing to their uncle.

Dakota got up, dusting herself off. "Kids."

"How old are those two?" Shaun asked her. "They seem quite young."

"They're seven," she replied, smiling. "They're Toon Link's kids. Toony's Link's youngest brother, and Young's twin brother. Twins run in their family. Young has twin girls with Malon, and Link had Zel and Maven with Zelda, after Rinku. Out of all the kids those three had, Toon Link's are the youngest, since all of Link's kids are now teenagers, and Young's are just turning twelve."

"Don't those three have a younger sister?" Shaun added.

"Yeah, but she's not married and doesn't have any kids," Dakota answered, her smile softening. "She spends all her time taking care of their Grandmother in the Great Sea. She's not even dating."

"Poor girl."

"Link thinks so, too," Dakota finished.

(Later that day...)

Shiroi left the grand hall of the Smash Mansion, being followed by Master Hand's human form as well as Crazy Hand's, a white haired male wearing what appeared to be a tux somewhat imitating a straightjacket.

Master Hand was holding a clipboard. "And, as you can see, our World is not alone. I have a feeling that we are not in fact Sedaindo at all, but Sedaindo X."

Shiroi nodded in understanding. "I have a feeling that you are correct, Master Hand."

Vio was waiting at the door, and as soon as the three reached him and continued walking, he began to follow Shiroi loyally.

"My sister, who is close to the Hylias due to her being the Family Head, has told me of Toki and Kaze's nightmares. It seems that Marin and Sarin, the twins of Young Link and Malon, also have these nightmares," Shiroi continued as she looked down at the floor, watching her footing. "Vio, being a part of Toon Link, has confirmed these nightmares the four children seem to be having."

"It is not just them experiencing these nightmares," Master Hand added, writing down something on his clipboard. "Plum, the third and youngest child of Mario and Peach, also experiences these nightmares, as does Luigi and Daisy's second child, Jasmine."

"Has either of the parents told you the basics of the nightmares the children are experiencing?" Shiroi asked, interested in the information.

Master Hand nodded, flipping to a particular piece of paper on his clipboard. "They are all the same. Each child sees glimpses of a fight between Mario and Luigi happening on the Battlefield stage of the Tournaments, and then the stage is attacked by a group calling themselves the 'Elite'. It appears that each child, except for those experiencing the nightmares, appears to be involved in these events in these nightmares. The nightmares always end at a fight sequence in what appears to be a metal-incased room, where Dakota, Zel, Rinku, Lance and Tad are killed."

"But Toki, Kaze, Marin, Sarin, Plum and Jasmine are not in these dreams? They just experience them?" Shiroi pressed.

"That appears to be the case," Master Hand responded with a nod.

Crazy Hand butted in at that point. "It's almost as if they didn't exist! But that can't be true, as they exist today, and obviously the dreams take place as if it were yesterday! So it's almost like it's Sedaindo, but not Sedaindo, because Toki, Kaze and the others aren't there!"

Vio's eyes widened in realization. "Wait... If I may?"

Master Hand and Crazy Hand turned to him in surprise. The four stopped in their tracks, realization obviously dawning upon all of them.

"These dreams that the six children are experiencing... I think they are about what had happened to cause Sedaindo X. These 'dreams' are glimpses into the true lives that we had," Vio explained. "We are an alternate universe."

Shiroi blinked away the surprise. "By the Hand of Life..."

"According to the dreams that Dream Hand ate from Sarin, at the end, Triforce Hand cleansed the Timeline into our World," Master Hand thought out loud. "In order to do that, she would have to dump all the negative energy someplace else. But... where did she dump it?"

"Sedaindo Y?" Crazy Hand offered, earning him a few perplexed looks.

(Hello there. I am a Divider. Please free me.)

Meanwhile, on Sedaindo Y...

(Behold, the sequel bound to happen. Eventually.)

The world was scorched and ruined, the pain having been far too long due to the war that ravaged Sedaindo years ago. People everywhere ran from their homes, as Evil Hand's forces scared them away. Smoke rose from cities, and everywhere, people were tied up into chains.

As we scour and look among this scarred and barren wasteland, we discover one small boy covered in chains, tied to a cannonball, resting peacefully on the ground, dead.

We approach, intrigued by what once held life.

The blond hair was dirty, worn and thin. That green tunic barely appeared to be green anymore. He was thin, obviously having starved to death due to the harsh living conditions he was forced to live in.

But, we are shocked, as we recognize this face from Sedaindo Prime and Sedaindo X. We don't even notice the shadow of a Twilit hovering over the dead body, the red/yellow eyes glinting in the dead sunlight.

The dead boy, lying here on the brown, parched grass of the war-ravaged Sedaindo Y, was Toon Link Hylia.

(Dun, dun, dun...)

IT'S TIME FOR THE CREDITS!

Writers

Autobot Axann

Chrislma

Guest Writers

Danaxiel

Former Writers

Kageshi Hotaru

Raxas Dyme

Test-Beta Readers

K3V1N/Kyle the Hedgehog

Plot Devices

Suki Fairy

Nira Rose

Telemachus Claudius Rhade

Daxovan

LOST

Vocaloid/Hatsune Mix!

Gakuen Alice

Daa! Daa! Daa!

Super Smash Bros/Melee/Brawl

Luigi's Mansion

Super Mario Sunshine

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Sonic the Hedgehog

Fire Emblem

Yu Yu Hakusho

Naruto

Plot Help

The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku

Popipo

Tower of Sunz

Kakome Kakome

Paradichlorobenzene

Fear Garden

Regret Message

World is Mine

Melt

Dark Woods Circus

Trick and Treat

Tsumugiuta

Toeto

Cendrillon

Musunde Hiraite Rasetsu to Muk

Any other, non-Vocaloid song I credited as the opening theme to an episode,

Telemachus Claudius Rhade

Nira Rose

Danaxiel

Suki Fairy

Nianque

All other reviewers...

Special thanks to

Every fan out there,

and ESPECIALLY to those that helped out/are helping out at the Wiki!

Also, don't forget to check out the Wiki, as there's a contest going on! Let's see if YOU can win!

Big help, guys, thanks a lot. It's hard to believe that the first arc is now over... Onto the next one, eh?

:D