"What happens now?"

  Luigi's question hung in the air as everyone turned to the Master Hand to hear its answer. The Master Hand looked back at them all. What was the next step for this world? When everything started, only a few days ago, this had just been a game. A competition that it had threatened them into joining. But that wouldn't be right anymore.

  "I can't send you home," the Master Hand admitted. "The barriers between the universes are in flux right now. That said, it's possible that those from other worlds could be brought here still. It's possible that one day things will stabilise and you'll be able to go home, but until then, I will convert this mountaintop for you."

  The hand snapped its fingers. The top of the mountain broke off, and began to float through the sky. Stone tore itself from the sides and floated into the air. It was forming what looked like a house. More than a house, it was a mansion, more than five stories tall. The front doors opened, revealing a spacious hallway with stairs that led up to the higher floors.

  "This will be the Smash Mansion, and it will exist above the world," Master Hand explained. "I have granted all of you the power to return here whenever you choose - likewise, you will be able to return to the world's surface whenever you so choose. If you must live here, then at least it can be in comfort."

  Luigi frowned. "This mansion isn't haunted, is it?"

  "...no. Why would it be?"

  He shook his head. "I just wanted to check."

  "What about Ganondorf?" Zelda asked.

  She pointed over to where Ganondorf was still lying unconscious on the ground. The area around him was still being changed by Master Hand's power, and as they looked it shifted from stone to a bed of flowers.

  "We should throw him off the mountain after all the trouble he's caused," Captain Falcon suggested.

  "I would sooner not kill any of you," Master Hand said. "That said, Ganondorf aided Crazy Hand and, unlike Mewtwo, shows no remorse. I cannot simply let him roam free. As such, until such a time when he is ready to change his ways, I will have to seal him."

  Link frowned. "I can't see that happening. Dozens of lifetimes and he's still evil."

  "Maybe he will surprise you," Master Hand said. "But, for now..."

  They all watched as Ganondorf's body hardened, with a base like that of a trophy grew from the bottom of his feet. Ness gasped. "That happened to me, when Luigi and I fought Mario and Link!"

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  "Yes," Master Hand said. "He is now a trophy. He cannot move like this, and maintains only a small awareness of what is going on around him. All of you have the potential to take this form, now that you are true inhabitants of Smash."

  Mario raised his hand. "What's that?"

  There was another structure behind the mansion which had only just grown enough for it to be visible. Mario had asked what it was, but it was obviously a stadium - the question came as more of an accusation.

  Master Hand faltered. "It is for you," it said. "And a little for me, I admit. When I brought the first of you to Smash, I forced you to do battle with one another. That was wrong, but this stadium will remain. If you do not want to use it, then it will only be a monument to my mistakes so that none of us can forget them. But if the spirit of competition should take you, then it's there for you."

  Fox laughed. "Everything's come full circle, huh? We're living in a fancy mansion and fighting each other."

  "Except that now you have a choice," Master Hand said. "And the other thing - I will not be here."

  Nana gasped. "What?"

  "I have done enough damage," Master Hand said. "I also have to atone for what I've done, and so I will. I will stay at the border of this world and try to stabilise it, so that the rest of you can go home. I don't know how long it will take - as I say, you are on your own."

  "Seems convenient," Fox muttered. "Leaving so we can't all yell at you."

  Master Hand began to float upwards. "I leave you all to make your own path," it said. Then it winked out of existence, leaving them in front of their new mansion.

  Mario suddenly realised just how tired he was. The stress of the last few days had been at the back of his mind until now, but with the satisfaction of knowing that everything was over came the exhaustion. He all but collapsed, and Peach had to steady him.

  "I think the best thing to do for now would be to all have something to eat," she said. "I know that I can make a cake for anyone who wants some - any other chefs can help out too. It's time we all got to know one another properly."

  "I feel the same," Princess Zelda said. "However long we're all going to be living together for, it'll be best if we know how to get along. So, first, let's all go in and choose a room, then we can work out the next steps."

  Ness ran towards the front door. "I want the top floor!"

  "Bad choice, best option is next to the kitchen!" Popo said, following him in.

  Following the advice of the two princesses, they all began to enter the mansion. Kirby walked at the back, watching them all. Mario and Link were with their respective princesses. Captain Falcon was telling Donkey Kong about some fight. Some ran ahead to get to the room selection before the others, while others hung back to take in the building.

  At the top of the steps, he stopped and turned around. He walked away from the mansion and to the edge of what had been the mountaintop. The mansion grounds, they would have to be called now. Ganondorf's trophy stood in the centre of a flower bed, like a strange statue. It seemed to be looking at something, and Kirby could understand why.

  There was something out there - something powerful that wasn't the hands, or any of the other fighters. But it didn't feel malicious, or evil. It was simply there.

  "Kirby!" he turned around when he heard Mario calling him. "Come on! We're going to make so much dinner that I bet even you can't eat all of it!"

  Well, that was a challenge if he had ever heard one. He ran back to the mansion.