Hey-o! Thanks for all the faves/follows/reviews! I really hope this story lives up to your expectations. I don't know how original it is in regards to already-existing fanfiction because I do more writing than reading, but I hope you'll enjoy it!

I got a question I should have addressed last time, but it slipped my mind. So you know, Zero-Suit Samus/Samus, Shiek/Zelda, and Mario/Dr. Mario are one character each. It would just feel a little strange to have two of them running around. Yes, I know, there are two Links running around, but I see them more as two different people, which they sort of are. I don't know. Am I making any sense at all? XD

Chapter 2: Revelation

"He can't be dead! Smashers don't just die from a simple fight!" Falco had Mario by the collar. He was shaking him furiously, sending blue feathers flying every which way. "What do you know anyway?! You're a plumber, not a doctor!"

"Get off him!" Link shouted, trying to pry the two apart. Then something strange caught his eye. He gasped. "Fox!"

Falco let go of Mario instantly and turned to his friend, eyes hopeful. But Fox had not moved from his position on the bed. Instead, his body seemed to shimmer. Through it, they could see the white sheets, stained with his blood. Fox was fading before their eyes.

"No! NO!" Falco groped for his friend's hand, but it went right through.

Link and Mario could only watch in shock, as Fox's image grew more and more transparent. Then it was gone.

Nothing remained except bloodstains and the lingering smell of burnt flesh. Falco leaned over the bed, tears falling from his eyes. Link and Mario looked on, shocked by what had just happened.

"Falco…did you kill him?" Mario dared to ask, his accent thick with astonishment.

Falco rounded on Mario, eye blazing. "It was an accident, all right?! It was a simple fight, and alluva sudden he started bleeding and burning and I couldn't save him! I never would have hurt him on purpose!" His eyes were dotted with tears. "Hell, we've had our ups and downs, but…but he was my best friend!" He motioned towards the bed, grief chasing out his anger. "He's done so much for the universe! How could it end like this?!"

Finally, he had no more words left to give. He crumpled to the floor, clinging to the crimson sheets of the bed. Silent sobs wracked his body.

Mario couldn't imagine the pain he must be feeling. If I accidentally killed-a Luigi. No, I can't even think about it!

Mario and Link backed out of the room, giving Falco a moment alone. Mario wondered how on earth they would break this to the smashers. Surely, no one would want to stay here after such a catastrophe. They would all want to go home. No more tournaments, no more legions of fans clambering to catch a glimpse of them. His heart was heavy with what was to come.

"Roy!" Link trotted over to meet his fellow swordsman, who was gasping for breath as he limped toward them. "Where is Master Hand?"

"He wouldn't come," Roy panted; glad to finally catch his breath. "When I told him, he just…got all quiet and strange. He told me to call a meeting in the Great Hall. How do I even do that?" He gazed into the hospital room with wide eyes. "Hey, where'd Fox go?"

"Leave it to me," Mario said quickly. "I'll a-gather the smashers."

"And I'll do my best to explain what happened," Link mumbled, eager to get away from this place. The entire mansion suddenly felt strange to him. It didn't feel like home anymore. He and Mario started down the hall, walking briskly.

Roy lingered for a moment, glancing at Falco. "What about him?" He jerked a thumb in the pilot's direction.

"We'll…let him a-stay there for the moment," Mario said quietly.

Roy shrugged and followed along, leaving behind Falco, who quietly continued to grieve for the loss of his friend.

By the time all of the smashers were gathered, the news of Fox's death had spread like wildfire. Everyone was in an uproar, demanding to know what had happened, but Falco was not here to give them answers. Link and Mario struggled to keep everyone calm, promising that Master Hand would be here soon, with answers.

"So where is Master Hand, huh?" King Dedede shouted, his booming voice rising above the turmoil. "Sure is taking his sweet time!"

"He'll be here soon, I a-promise!" Mario said, wishing he could believe his own words. Where was he?

"Link?"

Link jerked as Zelda placed a hand on his arm. He had been spacing out, wondering how this could have happened. He forced himself back into reality and peered into Zelda's worried blue eyes.

"Are you all right?"

He wanted to say 'yes,' if only to banish the fear from her eyes, but he couldn't bring forth words. He only managed a mute nod and turned away, his mind once again wandering elsewhere.

Just when it seemed as if he would never show up, the doors to the Great Hall flew open. Instant silence. Everyone shut their mouths and turned their heads towards the entrance.

There floated Master Hand. He seemed different somehow. His figure was hunched, his fingers drooping under an invisible weight. He moved sluggishly towards his position at the head of the table, with Mario on his right and Link on his left. Once he reached his chair, he practically collapsed into it. Mario exchanged a worried glance with his brother and then turned to address their leader.

"Master Hand-?"

Master Hand silenced him with a small wave. "Save your questions for later. We have much to talk about. Is everyone here?"

The smashers each looked about, taking note of a few empty chairs. One of them obviously belonged to Fox, but everyone had to stop and think about whom the other two belonged to.

"Well?" Master Hand snapped impatiently. "I'm not going to make the same speech twice!"

"Mewtwo and Lucario are missing!" Pit called triumphantly, proud that he was the first to figure it out.

"Does anyone know where they might be?" Master Hand asked.

Silence.

The giant hand was beginning to quiver with aggravation.

Peach timidly raised her hand. "Umm, I think they may have gone off to have a battle."

Suddenly, Master Hand was back in the air, shaking with fear. "Stop them! You must stop them right now!"

The smashers flinched at his reaction. Fear and confusion clawed at their stomachs. One by one, everyone got to their feet and started making for Battle Central. Those that had witnessed Mewtwo and Lucario's argument already knew it was too late, but they didn't say so. They were swept up in the wave of smashers that was descending on Battle Central.

When they arrived, they saw that two transporters were already in use. Master Hand rushed to the main computer and hit a button. Immediately, screens appeared all throughout the room, containing the image of Mewtwo and Lucario. They were fighting at the Kalos Pokemon League. Statistics appeared, informing the spectators that all items were off—except for Smash Balls.

"What are you waiting for? Get them out of there!" Jigglypuff shrieked.

"I can't," Master Hand confessed. His voice was full of defeat. "You can't stop a battle that's already begun."

So far, it looked like any normal fight. Mewtwo and Lucario were blurs, taking turns to dodge and attack. They could barely land a hit on the other and seemed to be evenly matched. On the stage itself, a small audience of Pokemon watched the battle.

"Go Mewtwo!" a Pyroar purred, kneading its paws on the ground.

"No, go Lucario!" a Blaziken retaliated, bristling.

Both Pokemon were immune to their cheers. All of their energy was focused on the other, and staying out of the way of the stage's hazards. When the Flood Chamber took the Blazing Chamber's place, Mewtwo was nearly sucked under when a whirlpool appeared beneath his feet without warning. As he leaped out of its grasp, Lucario found the opening he was looking for.

He lashed out with a paw, brimming with the power of the aura. As it connected with Mewtwo's head, Mewtwo felt a sharp stinging sensation. It lanced through his skull and rattled his bones.

For a moment, it stunned him, allowing Lucario to land another blow on his stomach, sending him spinning across the arena. Mewtwo caught himself at the edge, blinking. That sort of pain did not usually accompany their brawls. But it did not bother him—all he knew was that he wasn't keen on experiencing that again.

He clenched his fists, a new sense of determination welling up from within. He launched himself at Lucario.

Lucario was ready for him, having battled Mewtwo many times. He had a habit of rushing back in for vengeance after being dealt a heavy blow. Timing his hit, Lucario used Double Team. Mewtwo's attack missed, and Lucario counterattacked with a blow that sent him reeling once more. It was accompanied by another flash of pain.

Mewtwo went back on the defensive, gritting his teeth in frustration. This isn't possible. I am the world's ultimate life form!

Suddenly, color flashed at the edge of his vision. A Smash Ball!

Lucario noticed it in the same instant and began charging up an aura sphere. Mewtwo took a flying leap towards the sphere, guided by his powerful haunches. He swiped at the Smash Ball and it cracked under his power. He took another swing and missed.

Lucario waited for the Smash Ball to hover directly in front of him. Then he unleashed his aura sphere, certain that the Ball's power was his.

CRACK.

Lucario's eyes widened when there was no rush of power into his veins. The Smash Ball was still intact, but it looked ready to burst at any moment. He leaped into the air, prepared to deliver the final blow.

Then a heavy weight slammed down on his shoulders, sending him spinning back to the ground. Mewtwo smirked as he rose to meet the Smash Ball. Thank you for the lift.

The Smash Ball shattered at his touch and its power engulfed him. He rounded on Lucario, who was clambering to his feet. Mewtwo relished the flash of fear in his eyes, right before he unleashed his Final Smash.

"EEERRRRAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"NO!" A few of the smashers watching in Battle Central cried out in fear.

They could only watch helplessly as Mewtwo mega evolved before their eyes and attacked Lucario without mercy. Psychic power crackled through the air like electricity. Lucario was frozen, caught in the center of it, twitching with pain. A shrill screech broke from his lungs, unlike any other sound they'd heard before. The scream seemed to last forever.

Then it was abruptly cut off. Dark red blood burst from his ears and he collapsed into a black-and-blue heap of fur. Mewtwo stood over him, his face flecked with his opponent's blood, his eyes wide with surprise.

Battle Central had gone silent. When Lucario's body began to fade away, just as Fox's had, they burst into a renewed sense of panic.

"What happened? Where's Lucario gone?!" Charizard snarled, swinging his broad head to and fro.

"He's dead! He's dead and I'm-a next!" Luigi gasped, clutching his arms and shaking.

"No way!" Sonic shouted. "There's no way I'm dying like that!"

Diddy Kong clung to Donkey, while Olimar gathered his Pikmin around him, looking ready to throw them if necessary.

No one even noticed Mewtwo slip quietly out of a transporter and back into the room. His arms were crossed coolly across his chest and the shock had faded from his expression. He looked to the other transporters—they were empty. Lucario was truly gone.

He let the conversations of the other smashers wash over him, absorbing their panic. He felt nothing except a steely sense of calm.

"Mewtwo?"

Mewtwo looked down at his feet.

Pikachu was crouched there, peering up at him. "What happened in that battle?"

Mewtwo hesitated, wary of sharing what had happened. He didn't want the other smashers to know about the pain he had felt during his fight with Lucario. Luckily, Ryu saved him from doing so.

"QUIET!" the warrior roared, silencing the smashers with his powerful voice. "Mario has something to say!"

Mario nodded at Ryu in thanks, and then stepped forward to address everyone. "Let's-a go back to the Great Hall, with Master Hand. We won't get our questions answered by standing around here."

"For once, I agree with you," Bowser snorted. Throughout this ordeal, he had stayed close to Bowser Junior's side. "Come on, Junior," he said, giving his son's shell a small push towards the exit.

The last to leave was the group of Pokemon. All had remained behind except for Mewtwo, heads bowed in reverence for their lost friend.

As Meta Knight passed them by, he stopped to say, "I am sorry for your loss. Lucario was a worthy opponent." Then he left with the others.

"He was more than just that," Jigglypuff whispered tearfully under her breath.

"Hard to believe he's gone," Charizard grunted.

Pikachu said nothing, his throat closed with sorrow. Somehow, he felt responsible. These Pokemon were like family. I should have worked harder to bring Mewtwo and Lucario together. Make them realize this. Maybe if I had…this wouldn't have happened.

As if reading his thoughts, Greninja touched Pikachu's shoulder. "I didn't know Lucario very well, but he was one of us," she said. "And he will not be forgotten so easily."

Charizard nodded furiously. Jigglypuff sniffled and wiped away a tear.

"Now come," Greninja went on, guiding her friends toward the door. "Let us go see what Master Hand has to say about all this."

Pikachu was the last smasher to enter the Great Hall and take his seat. Now there was not one, but two chairs that would remain empty. His tail drooped as he once again thought of Lucario. The image of his crumpled body, with blood pouring out of his ears, was tattooed into Pikachu's mind. He shook his head to clear it and focused on the present.

Not a soul spoke. Crazy Hand had joined his brother at the head of the table and was uncharacteristically silent. A few spasms shivered through his body, as though he was struggling to suppress his energy.

Mewtwo stood by Master Hand, explaining what had happened.

"You didn't notice anything out of the ordinary during the fight?" Master Hand pressed.

Mewtwo hesitated.

"Tell me." Master Hand's voice was firm.

"I…I did feel some pain, but I thought nothing of it," Mewtwo confessed, keeping his voice low. "I was only focused on the battle. I never meant for Lucario to die."

"I believe you." Master Hand sounded weary. Mewtwo imagined if he had a face, he would be pressing his palm into his forehead. "You couldn't have known this was going to happen. Go back to your seat and I will explain everything."

As Mewtwo floated swiftly away, the smashers sat a little taller in their seats. It was time to find out why they had lost Fox and Lucario so suddenly and tragically—and what this meant for the rest of them.

Master Hand paused for a long moment that seemed to last decades. Everyone held his or her breath, waiting for him to speak.

Ganondorf was brave enough to demand, "Now tell us what the meaning of all this is!"

Master Hand sighed deeply. "Forgive me. I just don't know where to begin."

"Fox and Lucario died today," Ike spoke up. His voice rang through the room. "They died and you need to tell us why!" He nodded at Falco, sitting across the table from him, head bowed.

Master Hand stiffened at his demands. Then he whispered something under his breath that not even the smashers closest to him could hear.

"I'm-a sorry, Master Hand. What was that?" Mario asked, leaning in close.

Master Hand's fist clenched and unclenched. Crazy Hand quivered beside him. "They didn't die today," Master Hand repeated, his voice low and trembling.

The room seemed to grow colder. Dread and confusion pooled in the smashers' stomachs. They silently willed Master Hand to go on—but at the same time, they were terrified of what he might say.

"What do you mean?" Zelda dared to ask, her voice barely a whisper.

Master Hand rose from his chair, hovering high at the end of the table. When he spoke again, his voice was calm and controlled.

"They didn't die today," he said, "because they were already dead to begin with. Just like all of you."