Tarryn: Hello and welcome back to Chapter 3 of my Fanfiction! Special thanks to OldRivalShipper for being the only reviewer of the previous Chapter, thank you so much! I hope this Chapter once again lives up to expectations. One final note is that Chapter one has been edited so that it doesn't look so cramped together. No changes, but I thought you might like the chapter to be a bit easier on the eyes. Well that's all for now! Happy 2013, and enjoy the Chapter!

Part One: On the road again . . .

Ever wonder how six Smashers, two Hands, and a very limited artillery travel towards a life-or-death situation?

You would assume that it would be something like this: A long monologue from Master Hand about teamwork, Crazy Hand giving a speech immediately afterwards that pretty much contradicted the whole thing, the Smashers having a fairly good time just being together as comrades again, though they would share their personal thoughts on Tabuu and how this situation pretty much scared the living daylights out of them. And in the end they would get to know each other a deeper level, making them the best of friends, and all of those things combined would give them a renewed fighting spirit that would help them win the battle in the end.

However, that was not the case.
Not the case at all.

It actually went something like this;

"Sonic, for the last time, please stop running! You'll waste all of your energy getting to the battlefield and have no energy to fight." Master Hand pleaded, reaching his wits end as he watched the cocky young hedgehog once again attempt to challenge someone to a race and come up short because no one wanted to race against him. It had gotten so bad that it to have a rhythm: Sonic challenging a Smasher to a race, said Smasher turns him down, Sonic pouts and runs off, and Master Hand must remind him that they are, in fact, going off to a battle where all of them might not survive. Master Hand couldn't count on his single hand how many times he had already told Sonic the very same thing in the first leg of their journey, but this time it seemed to work; he began to walk, though not without a melancholy serenade of "Slowpokes." Master Hand once again contemplated his reason for running Smash Mansion, but Crazy Hand cackled at the constant repetition that was the object of his frustration rather than him; however he was cut short when Zelda joins him at his side with a contemplative look. "Crazy Hand, how can you possibly be so . . . so blasé about this whole situation? You're going to have to fight Tabuu! He was a handful for all of us Smashers, aren't you the least bit worried?" Crazy Hand erupted with laughter. "Me, worried? Never! The only thing I worry about is how much trouble I'll get in for my pranks! Swindling Master Hand isn't always easy, you know! But Tabuu has another thing coming if he wants to mess with us! I'm stronger than I look, and I'm sure you already know how strong Master Hand is!" Zelda raises her hands in a 'not gunna fight you there' gesture, but her eyes become clouded with thought. "I know how strong you both are, but Tabuu is still one of the strongest allies I've ever gone up against. Not to mention I know you surely can't have such a one-track mind. You sure you're not worried about this fight? Or even the slightest bit nervous about anything but simple pranks?" She asks the enormous Hand argumentatively as she takes a fleeting glance back towards the great hero of her kingdom. She knew she certainly couldn't have a one-track mind. With just once glance her mind was bombarded with a thousand thoughts about what had come to pass between the two. She regretted saying the things she had said to him, and knew by the look on his face that he regretted what he had done, though he was probably more focused on what he had done than taking time to regret it. Zelda knew she should apologize, but she just didn't know how. All of these things combined were the very reason why she was now stuck with Crazy Hand at the front of their small army, thought lucky for Crazy Hand; he didn't have to trudge through four inches of snow. It wasn't really a problem for people who could float, or people inside foot thick armor, but she was already feeling shivers race down her spine like a herd of wild mustangs. Zelda turns her full attention onto Crazy Hand again, who, without much warning, had started to respond to her inquiries. ". . . He won't be hard to beat when we put our heads together. As far as having a one-track mind, I guess you're right. I have been worried about other people. The Smashers, I mean. I worry that they might not come back, and I might never be able to see them again. And I worry about my brother. I mean, he doesn't need someone worry about him, but I still do." Zelda's smile starts inside, as a small happy flutter, but then quickly radiates outward as she meditates on his words. That was the Crazy Hand she was looking for. Someone who, while he played pranks and definitely lived up to his namesake, could actually have a conversation, and was truly dedicated to his job as assistant care-taker to the mansion. That was the Crazy Hand who would be able to defeat Tabuu.

She just hoped he would stick around long enough to fight Tabuu.
Otherwise, the outcome was . . . uncertain.

Zelda's thoughts once again the best of her, and she misses out on the fact that Master Hand had gotten in front of them, and had stopped the group. Link grasped her wrist and dragged her back before she hits Master Hand, and she flashes him a thankful look before she turns her head towards the front and tunes her ears to the conversation that seemed to be sweeping the odd bunch.

"I know this is not what you imagined when you pictured Christmas at the mansion."

Well isn't that the truth.

"However I hope you all know that no matter the outcome of this battle, we will still be a family. All of you know that in this battle, the odds are against us, but I know that you can do it. I may not seem like the most gracious of hosts, but I hope you know that . . . that I'm glad you all are with us at the mansion. Crazy's words actually made me think about why I have never given up my job, and I know why now. It's all because of you."

Everyone's mouth drops open as they hear his speech. Could this really be the Master Hand that had threatened to choke them all to death the first day at the mansion? Had they really changed his beliefs so much?

Did he really believe in them?

He appeared to. Which is why, in their heart of hearts, they knew why they were fighting, and they had new hope that they actually might win this battle.

If Master Hand actually believed in them, they could do anything.

. . .

Couldn't they?

Part Two: When a little Smasher makes a big decision

The mind breaks faster than the spirit; Lucas was actually okay with that.

At least he thought he was.

Now he could feel his mind breaking in ways he hadn't even thought possible. He knew there was no possible way in the great wide world that he and his friends were getting out of here, but his mind was refusing to believe it. He was still subconsciously trying to think of a way out of here, or rather another way out of here, considering so many of their plans had failed already. But each failure had been married with a new cage, each one more complex than the last. He hadn't seen his friends in a week, maybe more. He might never see him again.

All because he wanted to be free.

Which was why Lucas was now sitting in the corner of his cage, wishing that his spirit would break into a million pieces of glass; and he would know what a million pieces of glass looked like from when Crazy Hand decided to blow up a window. All he wanted to do was give up. He was perfectly content with giving up and trying to get back to the cage he had been in before. At least then he would be able to see his friends. But now all of his thoughts were on the terrible things that had been shared before the group had been separated. About the "new and improved" dark beads, and how they had all been threatened with becoming weapons if they didn't behave.

He had to trust that his friends were safe.

So why did he feel like they weren't?

More importantly, why did he feel like he was next?

Trembling, Lucas holds his hands out and creates a small ball of electricity to shed some light around the room, even if it was sparse. He couldn't see much, just the outline of the concrete cage that surrounded him. He sighs as he figures out what he already knew. He was trapped inside here, with no one to keep him from going completely insane from loneliness. He leans against the side of his cage, pleased that this time the cage wasn't buzzing with electricity. How many cages ago had that been? Three? Four? I just can't remember. . . Lucas frowns as he tries his best to focus on that question. It was really a pointless question, but that was exactly the reason he was thinking about it. He needed a distraction. But he didn't need one for long.

Because just as he started to think about it, he heard the voice.

"Ness? Diddy Kong? Pikachu? Lucas? Anyone? Please, somebody answer!"

"N-Nana, Is that you? Can you hear me? Where are you?"

Luckily, Lucas didn't have to wait long before he got a reply. "Lucas! Oh thank goodness, I thought I was the only one left!" Lucas's eyebrows furrowed at that statement. "The only one left? Nana, what are you talking about? Did something happen? What's going on?!" He must restrain himself from outright shouting at Nana, demanding an answer, and instead he awaits her reply patiently as he could. "Oh, things have been just awful, Lucas! I saw Ness being carried away, then Kirby, and then they took Popo . . ." At the mention of her brother, sobs break her words into only semi-understandable chunks that Lucas only gets bits and pieces of. ". . . they got everyone . . . just know that they're evil . . . don't want to go . . ." Lucas tries to keep his cool as he listens to her fractured sentences. "Don't worry about it, Nana. We'll get out of here together. I know you're scared, but you need to be strong, alright? Now, can you tell me what type of cage you're in?" A pause. "I-I'm in a concrete cage, with heated coils on the inside. I-I can't see them, but I know they are there, I can feel them." Lucas nods, making a blueprint of the cage in his mind as he closes his eyes, sitting with his legs crossed on the uncomfortable bottom of his cage. He meditates, trying to gather as much of his psychic energy as possible. He had only seen someone break through concrete once. He wasn't sure how, but he knew that he needed to do the same exact spell without fail not once, but two times. He knew he wasn't leaving without Nana. He just didn't have it in him. He wasn't the type of person to only fight for himself; he was a family person through and through. However today that very thing could be his fatal flaw.

"Lucas, what are you doing?" Nana interrupts his focus with a noise that made her sound like she was pouting, and it honestly wouldn't surprise Lucas. Then again, she is the one who just lost her twin brother, the only friend she had ever really had before she had come to the mansion. Lucas was actually really happy he had her . . . maybe a little too happy. Did he have a crush on Nana? Maybe. And that's why he couldn't bring himself to yell at her, even if she had made him lose his focus. "I'm just trying to do a spe- Nana! I did it!" Lucas grins as he watches the little green sparks sizzle within his fingertips. Thrusting the energy forward with all the force he could muster, Lucas watches as the green sparklers slither into the concrete. They disappear for a moment, and in that split second Lucas wonders if he had done it right, when the concrete explodes in a flash of flame and smoke, sending him flying back towards the wall.

Was crashing fun? No.
Was being free fun? You betcha.

Lucas grins victoriously as he massages the places where bruises would be forming in the next day or two, but for now he ignored the pain, and focused on doing . . . whatever it was he had done again. Closing his eyes again, he occupies his thoughts with those of the spell, Nana, Ness and the others, who he hoped he would be able to free now that he was free.

If there was even a chance they were alive.

Those evil thoughts plague Lucas, and he struggles to keep his concentration for very long. Soon he is trembling, and where sparks had once been, there was now only air. Soon tears flood his vision, and he is unable to stop his tears. The only thing he can truly see are the fears of his friends being gone forever, of him never seeing them again. Of himself, going into battle for the Subspace army when all he had ever wanted was to fight for Smash Mansion and bring peace to the galaxy. "Lucas, it's alright. I'm scared too. But I know that we'll get out of here. You need to believe that too, alright?" Nana's voice rings through the imaginary shadows that were encircling his mind, and, like a bright ray of hope that shines through the darkness, Lucas feels power surge through him once again. He gives a battle cry, and shots the emerald sparks from his fingertips once again, this time going towards Nana's cage, where they resided safely until the cage bursts open with a burst! Nana springs out, running towards Lucas, where she hugs him forcefully. "Lucas! Lucas, I'm safe! Thank you!" She exclaims. Lucas nods, and then turn around to face the door. They face their only path towards freedom.

That's when the alarm sounds.

Loud and menacing, it rings through the air at such a frequency that Lucas and Nana must cover their ears, but that doesn't keep them from running. They run fast as they could, running out the door (which had opened thanks to the alarm) and down each hallway, facing each dead end and each Primid filled hallway with rising anxieties and increasing speed as they struggle to find their way out of the prison they had been kept in for much too long.

However they had forgotten about one small detail: the other little smashers

But they remembered once they saw their friends standing before them, covered in purple auras.

Nana screams as she sees them, and Lucas struggles to do anything but hold his own scream back, let alone stop her. These were their friends, and they had to fight them. Worse, they had to finish them off, permanently. He wasn't sure he could do it. But he had to . . . right? He had to kill them? They weren't their friends anymore; they were tools, mere vessels used by the Subspace army to prevent their escape because they knew they wouldn't be able to stop them any other way. But that didn't change the fact that Ness still looked like his best friend, Popo still looked like Nana's brother, and Diddy Kong still looked like himself too. It was sickening, the torture they were placing upon the two; really it was. They were trying to make them do things that even adults would never have to do.

Most adults wouldn't have to kill their best friend.

Most adults wouldn't have to kill their twin brother.

Lucas still wasn't going to back down though. Gathering his hands together, he created another ball of electricity that he shot out of his palms and skyrocketing up towards the ceiling, where the skylight is smashed into tiny glass darts, raining down on them like deadly sleet. "Nana, use your climbing gear to get up to the top, we can escape that way!" Lucas shouts over the sounds of the crash. "B-But what about our friends? We can't just leave them!" Nana shouts despairingly, her voice starting to quaver. "I know you don't want to, but we have to. It's the only way we'll get out of here! They're too far gone to save them by ourselves; don't you get that? Now we need to go!" Lucas shouts, teary-eyed but still trying to hold his own. Nana once again beings to cry, her tears matching the shower of glass sill cascading from the sky, nut she does as asked, and soon her climbing rope is attached to the top of the strange facility. She grasps his hand, and leads him on and up the rope as don't take a second glance down at the foreign figures down below.

If they did, they would have noticed that Ness had grabbed Lucas's leg.

Lucas struggles to get free, trying to kick with his other foot, trying to get out of Ness's grasp, but soon Diddy Kong and Kirby assist him, Kirby sucking Nana and Lucas downward, and Diddy Kong helping Ness yank him off. He bites his lip, and then loosens his grip on Nana's tiny, gloved hand. "Nana, this isn't going to work out for the both of us." He says sadly, looking down at the things below. Things that used to be their friends, but now were only weapons bent on destruction. "Don't act stupid Lucas! We'll get out of this, we will!" Lucas shakes his head. "No, Nana. One of is getting out of here, and we both know who that is." Nana stops climbing and looks down at him fearfully. "No! You can't leave me, Lucas! I already lost Popo; I'm not losing you too!" Lucas isn't listening at this point. All he cares about is the too tight grip on Nana's hand. A grip that he was slowly releasing. "Nana, you listen to me. You need to get out of here! Master Hand will have a way to change use back, but you have to tell him what's going on, or we're all done for!" He is screaming at her now, though it isn't what she wants to tell her. He wants to tell her something different.

"Nana, you also need to know something."

Because I might never get the chance to tell you.

"Lucas, tell me later! Come on!"

"No, Nana! I'm letting go, but I have to tell you."

Because I know what's going to happen. I had the premonition, but ignored it. But now that my time has run out, I can't risk not telling you.

"I love you."

And with that, he fell into the awaiting shadows below.

Part Three: Tabuu vs. the Hands

This is it . . .

Master Hand faces his Smashers, his voice becoming somber as he speaks to them, possibly for the last time. "Okay, we all know the plan, but now it's time to put it into action. Each of the three teams will either be assigned to a specific world, or you will be assigned to be our backup team." Master Hand slowly drifts backwards, but his voice still held as much of a presence as his body. "With that, Crazy will decide who will be doing what job." Crazy Hand soon takes his brother's place, chuckling as he appears, bouncing in midair. "Okay! So I think that our backup team should be Samus and Sonic, as they have both speed and power, which is what we will need. Zelda and Link will be the first Line of defense, and then Mario and Yoshi should either be fighting alongside them, or make a second line of defense behind them. Does that sound good to everyone?" He asks, withholding yet another chuckle. Everyone nods, and Samus and Sonic give each other weary looks at Crazy Hand's apparent mental disarray. Zelda gazes up at him with a look of apprehension. "Pray tell, Crazy Hand, why are you so giddy? I know you're not the slightest bit nervous, but is that any reason to be jumping around like you're on a trampoline?" She inquires, her eyes glazed with an almost pleading stare. She really wanted him not to have such a positive outlook on this battle; one false move and the results would be disastrous for all of them. "Because I just know we're going to win! Tabuu doesn't stand a chance against me and my bro., and he should be very afraid of what is to come!" He cheers, and everyone shares the same defeated look. "Crazy, you really shouldn't be so optimistic. Tabuu might have new powers that we're not expecting, are you sure you want to go in there with your mind in La La land?" Master Hand demands as he tries to reason with Crazy Hand.

And if you didn't see how wrong that sentence was go ahead and re-read it.

Finally Mario interrupts the bickering bunch. "I don't-a mean to interrupt, but we're a-here." He says in his thick Italian accent, as he points a white-gloved finger over towards the staircase leading deep into Subspace, not to mention the Final Destination, where the real fight would take place. Samus and Sonic bid farewell to the rest of the group as the head up the stairs with Mater Hand and Crazy, Samus rolling around in her ball, and Sonic was finally able to run, and let his wild spirit be free.

"Good luck." Zelda whispers as she watches their decent up the stairs, though it doesn't take long before she can no longer see their silhouettes against the bright expanse of blinding sunlight at the top of the stairs. She wasn't able to muse on her last wishes long though.

Because almost as soon as the four disappear, Nana comes running up towards them . . .

Alone.

Master Hand takes one long look back towards the bottom of the stairs, and is able to see the small figure of Nana running up to them, but he has no time to contemplate the reason for her sudden appearance.

Tabuu was waiting.

They keep a good pace up the grand staircase, each step smaller than the last. No words were shared; none were necessary. But the silence still hung in the air, thick and awkward, like the dense air before a storm. But no one uttered a single sound until they get to the very top, where they faced the Final Destination. A very suiting name, if you thought about it. None of the group did though. Or maybe they just didn't care.

"You all ready?"

Everyone nods their heads, still unable to speak with the thick tension in the air. Without any reply, the group walks inside the large, extravagant purple door, adorned with blue and decorations that would lead them into the single, flat piece of land caught inside the middle of space. Master Hand and Crazy Hand take their places in front of Samus and Sonic, hoping they remembered the plan.

Because they had no time for discussion before Tabuu made an entrance.

He gracefully floats downwards toward the four, his enormous butterfly-like wings flapping harshly, causing roaring winds to cyclone around them, which sent Sonic tumbling backwards. He flails his arms pitifully as he is uprooted from the ground and thrown harshly off of the stage, with nothing but open air to cradle his fall. Samus recoils immediately, getting up as she struggles against the force of the wind. Her heavy power suit provided good enough protection from the wind, but she still had to take one agonizingly slow step after another, until she reaches the edge. Swinging her plasma whip, she barely misses Sonic as is just farther than her plasma whip could reach. "Sonic, jump as high as you can! I'll catch you!" She bellows as she hopes she is heard above the roar of the winds. Sonic understand, and jumps up safely, one of his famous springs propelling him even farther forward. Grasping the plasma whip, he shudders as the flame singes his blue fur, but doesn't have to wait long before Samus yank him up and over the platform, where he is safe, and able to release the painful rope. He nods his thanks to Samus, who merely nods back before they spring back into action.

The winds still rage above them, but Crazy Hand ignites one of his bombs in the palm of his hand and throws it Tabuu's direction, hoping for the best.

It doesn't take long.

BOOM!

Smoke fills the air as Crazy gives a victory cry. It quickly turns into one of despair as he realizes that Tabuu had simply teleported to the other side of the platform, avoiding the blast, though he is considerably closer to the two Hands now. Master Hand doesn't hesitate, as he shots familiar beams out of his hand, aimed straight for Tabuu's wings. Small bullet-hole like circles pierces them, but it does little to affect him. Tabuu waves his hand, forming a shiruken-like object in his hand as he tosses it at the group. Samus and Sonic easily jump away, and the Hands float above the blast, easily avoiding it. They weren't quite as lucky as the weapon makes its way back around like a boomerang and Crazy Hand is hit. Recoiling fast as he could, Crazy Hand skyrockets into the air and dive-bombs down, holding him fingers together like a drill. His speed doesn't betray him, and he is able to get a good hit in. Samus rapidly shots her missiles once she sees Tabuu fall and Sonic dashes over and gives a good strike as well. Tabuu disappears quickly, and reappears as soon. Just as the group were about to attack, Tabuu transforms into an enormous arrow-head like structure, and shots after the Hands. They dodge, and pick up the Smashers before he gets the chance to hit them with the whiplash. Setting them down, the Hands both coil into fists and go onto opposite side of Tabuu. Shooting off like a bullet, they head on a collision path with Tabuu. He cleverly vanishes downwards, but the Crazy Hand seems to be ready for this, because he unclenches his body and slams into Tabuu with his outstretched hand. Tabuu disperses after the hit, and reanimates a large distance above the Hands. Tiny sparks encircle his body, and soon you could tell that he had been healed. Sonic snarls and shots up after him, Master Hand giving him a boost as he rolls into a ball which damages Tabuu. He quickly disappears and comes back in the middle of the stage, where he eunfurled his large butterfly wings, sending powerful waves of energy after the Smashers. It was unavoidable for Samus and Sonic, and they are roughly thrown off the stage by the blasts. Crazy Hand catches her though, and floats to safety. Shooting off rapid-fire missiles again, Samus manages to get in a few good shots before she is joined by Sonic, who had been aided by Master Hand. Together they jump down and strike Tabuu, but he floats upward, avoiding most of the attacks. Master Hand quickly sends off his beams again, dancing them over Tabuu's frail frame. He is assaulted by these for as long as Master Hand could allow, and then he disappears, only to be slammed into by Crazy Hand again. But Tabuu isn't one to be trifled with. He waves his hand, and manifests a large gun with a dragon's head, which shots off a large beam, hitting the Hands in an evidently painful blast. He stops the assault, but only to be replaced by multiple clones of the entity, who all go kamikaze on each of the fighters. Samus uses her plasma whip to keep herself safe, and Sonic also manages on his own, jumping back to safety, though from the apparent lack of motion, they were fairly worn down. Tabuu then disperses into thin air, but when he reanimates, Master Hand was ready with a horizontal attack much like Crazy's, his hand forming a drill and rapidly assaulting Tabuu, and he is unable to escape. As he continuously pounds his fist into Tabuu, something flies off of him . . .

A Smash Ball!

"But how? He stole all of the weapons! Wouldn't he give them to his army?" Sonic asks as he gazes at the beautiful thing that danced above him, taunting him as it comes close enough for him to see, but not to touch. "Maybe he used them to make himself stronger? And when we hit him enough, he loses that power? Either way; after it!" She shouts, and Sonic quickly races after it, successfully leaping at just the right moment.

But instead of exploding into a burst of power that should have encircled Sonic, it explodes into a million beads of darkness that the Primids were made of. But why? Samus wonders, temporarily distracted from the fight taking place above her, as she rightfully should be in this situation.

Because now the beads were latching onto Sonic!

Tarryn: Okay, so the finale will include the end of the fights, the (possible) saving of the little Smashers, the inclusion of Zelink, as well as when the survivors are all gathered back at the mansion. Oh and on the fighting, what do you think? Good, needs work, awful? I'll try to do my best to make it better if I need to, but I would love some feedback. Well, see you next time! R&R!