AN- Ahhh...Writer's block. You gotta love it ;A;. Also another reasons why this chapter got delayed was...MY LAPTOP BROKE AGAIN, RIGHT AFTER I FINISHED MY SUMMER SCHOOL DIPLOMA!!! It's still in the repair shop, sadly (because the guy who was suppose to check it up last Friday...was sick D:) So I asked my Dad if I could have new Laptop. Since I'm in grade 12 this fall and hopefully going to University next fall, I'm in need of a good and new one too. So we out shopping and guess what...I got one!! :D :D with a great deal too (and it's really good :3 it's SONY too =w=...u gotta love Sony haha!)

Sadly school starts this Thursday. So I'll be busy as hell! But, once again I'll try my best to update (maybe once a month for something like that) however...still can't make any promises T_T. Sorry the one month plus wait everyone! Also, thank you for everyone who has reviewed, fav, alerted, etc this story. I think this is the only one I think I'm actually doing decent on haha xD;; so thanks again for the patience and everything :3 *hugs everyone*

So you know the drill...if there are any grammar errors please notify me :)

Also, I would like to warn you. In the beginning there's a tennie bit of blood.

And so, Without further ado....

Enjoy Chapter 6 :)

Chapter 6- Secrets revealed

--

Right after hearing Peach's ear-breaking cry, Ness started to see fast blurry visions that played repeatably inside his head. He tried to shake them off, but with no success. In fact, it actually made it a bit worse.

Although the scenes were blurry, he could still make out a few of the images and recognize some of the people that were shown. However, they weren't those nice and happy images. They were disturbing and dark images that would make someone want to scream their lungs out. But of course, Ness wasn't that type of boy.

First, he was shown every single place they explored during the 'Darkest hour' slowly falling apart and beginning to be covered by dark stormy clouds that stretched for hundreds of miles.

After wards, the scene switched to outer space, where Ness could see the outside of this world. Shining in it's glory with a beautiful blue aura surrounding the gorgeous bright planet. However, the shine did not last because it was soon covered by a blanket of darkness, that quickly spread the whole area of the planet in a matter of seconds, leaving a dark dead planet in it's wake.

The last scene that Ness was shown, was one of the worst he has seen by far. The scene took place in a run-downed type of environment, where he saw Lucas as the only person around.

Ness then saw him running towards him, yelling at him for something. But, he couldn't hear Lucas's voice for some odd reason, for the whole scene was completely silent. But, he could tell he was yelling by his facial expression and how wide is mouth was.

Once Lucas was about arm's length away from him, he could feel him shove him a few centimeters back from where he was standing. Just like Ness did when Wario tried to turn him into a trophy.

However, that wasn't possible anymore. Instead of being turned into a trophy, Lucas was impaled right through the chest by a sharp pointy object.

Red liquid slowly trickled from the corner of the blonde's mouth and his shirt began to quickly stain with the same red liquid. Ness obviously knew it was his best friend's blood. The sharp object quickly retreated from the blonde boy's body letting it fall to the ground. Letting it wait for death to come.

Ness felt himself rush towards his critically injured friend side. The appearance of Lucas was nothing he has ever scene before. His eyes were pretty much lifeless, Ness could only see a sliver of life left in them. His face was beginning to lose it's peachy tone, along with his 24 hour rosy cheeks that him and Ness shared. The pool of blood that was running under Lucas, stained his sunflower bright hair.

"Ness...hel...help...me...." That was the only thing Ness heard throughout his whole vision, Lucas's weak voice calling out for his help. "Ness help me....Ness help me, Ness Ness Ness Ness Ness..." "Ness?!...Are you okay?!"

Ness was jolted back out his nightmare reverie by a familiar voice. He was no longer in front of a bloody, dying Lucas being surrounded by a pool of blood. Instead, it was replaced with a very much alive Lucas that had a really worried face staring right at the red-capped boy. "Ness?"

Ness shook himself to make sure he wasn't in his reverie still. "Er...yeah...I'm okay." He replied groggily, while holding his forehead. However, Lucas wasn't really convinced.

"I've called your name about 20 times now, and you wouldn't respond to me. And all this time I was trying to get your attention, you were spaced out for the entire time. And you call that being 'okay'?" He questioned.

"Oh come on, you think seeing me like how I was 5 second ago was weird? You should've seen me when Jeff and I went into Moonside. Boy, we were beyond spaced out then. Even a mouse in the room, where we supposedly thought was Moonside, thought we were nuts." Ness retorted, gaining back his senses.

"O..kay then..."

Ness scratched the back of his head. "So where's Kirby? Wasn't he with you?" He quickly changed subject.

Lucas frowned. "Well, he was with me about a minute ago. But after what sounded like a scream, he dashed out of here without saying anything. I was gonna catch him, but I was too late. So I came to check on you, so you could help me find him and find out where that scream came from. And that's where I found you just staring off into space." He let out a sigh.

"Oh I see....well we better find the little guy then." Ness then looked down "Plus, I have a really bad feeling something bad is gonna happen." He muttered under his breath.

"Yeah...I agree with you. I wonder what's going on here...like through the last 24 hours. Strange things are happening...I really don't like the feeling about this." He started to get panicky.

Ness stood up and dusted himself off. "Well we better hurry then." He put the book inside his backpack. Lucas tilted his head in confusion.

"What's that?"

Ness rolled his eyes. "What do you think it is?...Obviously it's a book."

"Okay, let me rephrase that. What I meant to say was, what's in the book? Did you find any good information?" He repeated himself once again.

Ness was hesitant to answer. He didn't want to Lucas to find out what this book has to say about this world, at least not yet. They had more important thing to do currently. So he made up a quick excuse. "I'll tell you later Luke. Not now, we have to find Kirby and where that scream came from."

Lucas pouted. "You always say that. But you always end up forgetting to tell me."

"Well, this is more important. So I'll make sure to tell you." Assured Ness. "Now come on, stop lollygagging and lets hurry!" He then urged, going up ahead.

Lucas nodded his head. "Uh...right!"

"....How am I suppose to tell him, what I just saw."

Once the two Earthbound boys exited the library they were in shock at the scene that was starting to unfolding. Right in front of them were Red, Marth, and Kirby surrounding a fading away Peach. They quickly dashed towards the small group.

"Peach! Peach!" Marth cried out holding the Princess on his lap, while holding one of her hands.

"What the heck is going on around here?!" Ness asked in shock.

Red noticed the two Earthbound boys."Oh hey there Ness and Lucas. I dunno, we just found her lying on the ground looking like this. I-I have no idea what going on either..." His voice was quivered in fear.

"Poyo poyo!" Kirby added sadly.

They all looked at Peach again, not knowing what do as she became more and more translucent as each second past. At times you could barely see her.

Kirby grabbed the princess's other hand. "No poyo! Please stay with us Peach!" He exclaimed, starting to have tears run down his cheeks.

Suddenly, Peach's eyes slowly fluttered opened. "Please...if you can...please take me...where Mario...and Luigi are..." Her voice was very frail and hushed.

Marth nodded. "I got understand, Princess. But, do you know where they are?" He asked.

"In Yoshi's room." Ness answered almost immediately.

"Ness, how do you-" Red was about to ask, but was interrupted by Ness. "No time for an explanation! I just know! Now, let's get her up where she wants to be!" Ness exclaimed.

Everyone nodded in agreement. So, Marth picked up Peach bridal-style and hurried up to Yoshi's room, before she could disappear from his hands. Everyone else quickly followed behind.

When the small group reached Yoshi's room, they couldn't believe what was happening with Luigi. His body was lying on a tearful Zelda's lap, slowly disappearing just like Peach. Mario was holding his brother's hand tightly, hanging his head low.

"Guys! What's going on with Luigi?!" Red questioned the other small group gathered around Luigi.

Ike shook his head. "I dunno, this dark-like figure just took something from Luigi, that was supposedly his 'life'. I have no idea what it meant though." He then sighed.

Peach opened her eyes once again and saw the two people she was wanting to see. She stretched out a hand for them. "Mario...Luigi..." She quietly whispered.

Marth knew what had to be done. So he placed the Princess beside the Mario Bros.

Peach wearily took Luigi's free hand into her own and placed her head on one of his shoulders. "Luigi?..."

The green plumber fluttered his eyes open and took notice of the translucent blonde hair near his face. "Princess..." He breathed. "What-a happening to us? Are-a we gonna die?" He tiredly asked, tears were collecting on the corner of his eyes.

Peach too, started to form tears in her beautiful sparkling blue eyes. "I really don't know...but if that's so...I'm happy that I'll be dying at the side of my most dearest friends..."

Zelda looked at the other princess, with tears streaking down her face. "No! Don't say such things! Your not going to die!" She cried out.

Both Peach's and Luigi's body were starting to dissolve into pink and green sparkles that gently flew into the air above them. Upon seeing this, Ness, Lucas and Kirby quickly grabbed hold of Peach's only free hand. "No, please Peach and Luigi! Stay with us! Please, were begging you!" All 3 of them cried in unison. "Peach if you go...were gonna miss your homemade cakes! And Luigi, if you go, were gonna miss your funny jokes!!"

Peach gave off a faint smile. "Children...you are too sweet...But, I'm so sorry...Please take care of each other and everyone else...stay strong..."

Luigi faintly smiled also. "Took the...words right-a outta my mouth..." And with that the green Plumber and Princess disappeared into the air, leaving the 3 young fighters and Mario holding onto nothing but air.

Ness hung his head low, lips trembling.

Lucas started to rub the tears off his eyes.

Kirby started to cry aloud.

Zelda sniffled, trying to wipe her tears away.

And everyone else had their hand hang low. Leaving the room in a moment of silence.

Mario broke the silence by standing up, head still hung low. "I'm-a gonna talk to Master Hand about this..." He quietly muttered and quickly took his leave.

"Shouldn't someone go with him?" Wolf suggested. "I think Mario needs someone to talk to right now."

Ness stood up, rubbing his eyes. "I'll go." He volunteered.

"Ness, are you sure?" Lucas looked up.

Ness nodded. "Yeah. Don't worry about me. I won't disappear like what happened....to Luigi and Peach..." His voice had a hint of sorrow.

"Okay, please careful then." Zelda said in a soothing tone. The boy nodded and took off after the distraught Mario.

Once Ness got down the stairs, he saw Mario just entering the room where Master Hand usually was. Ness walked over to the door quietly and decided to place an ear to hear what was going on. Since, he thought it would be rude to barge in.

Of course, the red-capped boy didn't get far at his eavesdropping plan. Because he could hear Mario's voice very close to the door. "Ness, I know you-a are there. It'sa okay, you can-a come in."

Ness jerked his head away from the door, surprised that Mario knew he was out here. However, he took Mario's 'invitation' to come in. He slowly open the door and peaked in.

"Er...sorry, I just thought it would be rude of me to just barge in into here." He explained himself.

"It's okay, besides, you are one of the originals anyways. There's something I need to talk to you two about, since strange things are happening right now." The hand's voice was in a serious tone.

"Are you-a sure it's okay for-a Ness to listen on? He's justa a boy." Mario asked.

Ness turned to Mario. "Mario, please stop treating me like I'm some 5 year-old. I'm 13, I think I'm old enough to understand serious situations now!" Ness defended himself. Feeling a bit offended at Mario still thinking he's a baby.

"Don't worry, I'm sure it's okay for the boy to stay here. Anyways back on subject, there are somethings that I have kept hidden from everybody, especially the originals, for a long time now. I think it'll be a good time for me to spill the beans now. Since, apparently, a new enemy has found out..."

After Lucas tried to calm the little pink puffball for about 20 minutes. He eventually was able to reduce his long stream of tears to small sniffles.

"What the hell just happened now?" Wolf shook his head in disbelief.

Red let out a heavy sigh. "I have no idea..."

"P-Poyo...first Yoshi...Peach then Luigi..." Kirby whimpered and sniffled. The puffball snuggled into Lucas's arms even more.

The blonde boy looked up from the puffball. " W-What do we do now?" He asked the older fighters. They all just filled the room with their 'hmmms.'

"As much as I hate to say it... but there's nothing we can really do now..." Marth sadly admitted, while letting out a sigh.

However Zelda couldn't admit to defeat yet. "No...I believe there's something we can do!"

Kirby sniffled. "Poyo, Zelda...can't do magic and help Weegee and Peach poyo?" The princess put a hand on the pink puffball's head.

"I'm so sorry...but sadly I can't do that, Kirby. There's no way that...that...I can revive someone who has passed on. My magic is great, but reviving someone is something that is far too great for my magic." She said in a soothing tone.

Kirby's eyes started to well up with tears again. "No no, please don't cry again. Remember what Peach said. 'You must stay strong.'" Zelda gently wiped the so-to-be-tears from Kirby's eyes with her other free hand.

Just as the Princess of Hyrule finished wiping the pink puffball's tears away. A loud voice boomed the whole household, gathering everyone's attention.

"Attention everyone! Please make your way to the main hall immediately for a mandatory meeting! I repeat, mandatory meeting!" The voice of Master Hand echoed loudly throughout the whole household.

Wolf scratched his head in irritation. "Maybe the disembodied hand can shed some light on this."

Red nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, hopefully he can."

Zelda helped the two young fighters up onto their feet. After they brushed themselves off, they departed for the main hall. Who knows what will be said there. Whatever is was, it must be very important.

Once the group of 7 arrived at their destination. They bid their good-byes to each other and immediately separated to their own ways. Leaving Red, Lucas and Kirby with one another.

Lucas then started to scout for his red-capped counterpart friend within the already-crowed room.

It only took a few moments of searching before the boy could spot his friend inside the crowd, standing by himself. Lucas walked over towards him and waved his arm frantically. "Hey, Ness! Over here!" He hollered, hoping Ness could hear his voice through all the commotion around them.

Luckily for the blonde boy, his counterpart heard his voice and turned his head towards the voice. Lucas formed a smile, happy to have accomplished something today. However, his smile was short-lived once he saw Ness's uneasy facial expression.

Lucas tilted his worry-some face. "What's wrong?" He curiously asked. "You seem kinda...tense."

It took Ness a moment to speak up. "Er...um...Lucas...I..." He then started to trail off.

Lucas was starting to become very curious about Ness's strange behavior. But before he could push Ness further on, a voice interrupted him. "Hey! There you guys are!" Called out a familiar voice.

Ness, Lucas, Red and Kirby turned towards the source of the voice and found out it belonged to Pit. Along with Nana and Popo.

Kirby quickly rushed up to the angel "Poyo, any luck find Yoshi?" He asked with a worried face. The angel shook his head sadly and kneeled down to the puffball's level.

"I'm sorry Kirby. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any traces of him. It's as if he disappeared from this place."

Kirby started to sniffle once again. But tried to stay strong for Peach's and Luigi's sake. "Y-Yoshi too poyo? Just like Peach and Weegee poyo."

Popo widened his eyes. "Huh? What about Peach and Luigi? Did something happen to them?"

Red quickly stepped into the conversation. "Well...um...where should I start? I guess to make a long story short...you could say that-" However, the trainer was interrupted by Master Hand's voice coming from the front of the room.

"I would like to have all of your undivided attention please!" Quickly, the sounds of the thirty-plus fighters died down.

"I'm sorry that I've called you all here on such short notice." The Hand apologized. "But there is something important that I must tell you...something that I've kept from all of you for quite sometime now."

The fighters started to talk amongst themselves. Master Hand waited patiently for them to finish their opinion towards each other.

"First, I would like to say..." He cleared his voice. "That Yoshi, Peach and Luigi are no longer with us." The room was quickly filled with everyone's (with the exception of a few individuals) gasps.

"WHAT?!"

"What the hell are you getting at?!"

"What do you mean?!"

"Bullshit!"

"Impossible!"

"How is that possible?! We can't die in this world! You even told us so!"

The Hand spoke up, before anymore opinions could be shot out at him. "Please! Listen to me! After we defeated Tabuu, I removed everyone from their trophy curse to prevent anything like that from happening again! I really thought that Tabuu was our last threat to this world. But, I'm afraid I was fatally wrong to think that and to remove everyone's 'curse'. Apparently, there a new enemy that is arising."

"Now what the hell are we going to do now?!" Questioned Snake.

"First, we have to protect the original 12, also known as the 12 full-veterans from the new enemy. The reason being is that if the new enemy gets it's hands on all of them. It would result in the end of everyone of you here and this universe. In this world, they are the lives of everyone here. If they die, you die too." Master Hand explained.

"What do mean by that?!" Irately questioned D.K.

"For example, if the enemy gets it's hands on Fox and removes a special orb within him. Both Falco and Wolf will also die along with him, since both of them are from Fox's universe. For those who have 2 full-time veterans, like Mario and Luigi for example and one of them dies. Either Peach or Bowser will die, it'll be chosen randomly. Since Luigi's gone, Peach is gone also. That's why Bowser is still with us, because Mario isn't gone." Master Hand answered.

"You said that Yoshi is gone too! I don't see anybody 'dying' when he disappeared!"

Master Hand let out a sigh before answering. "I'm pretty sure that he was the first to go. He was just the start of everything. Has anyone looked outside this morning? Even though the air is 20 below, the snow is melting like it's 20 above out there. However that is just step one, things will get even more worse if the original keep on 'dying'. Under normal circumstances, since Yoshi has no one from his universe, someone...like say Pit, would die along with Yoshi. But since he was the first to go, nothing has happened to those who represent their own universe alone...at least not yet. However, nonetheless, we must protect the original 12 at all costs! Or else it'll be the end for all of us!"

"So that's what Lucario meant when he said 'Ness is my life.'" Lucas thought to himself.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner about this?!" Roared someone.

"If you told us sooner, we wouldn't be in this mess!" Another pointed out angrily.

"I am very, very sorry everyone, for keeping this from you all this time." The hand deeply apologized. "I don't know what to say to make you guys happy. But rest assure, I'm trying to figure out a way to get everyone safely back to their own universes without harming this universe too. And figure out on how to get back the ones we have lost. But, that may take some time sadly. So, please...I beg to all of you that you protect the originals...and each other from this new unknown enemy." Before any could throw anymore questions at him, he quickly took his leave by disappearing into the air.

The crowd started to growl in anger.

"Come back here!" Angrily hollered someone.

"We still have some questions to ask!" Roared another.

However, despite the angered fighters pleas and calls. The Hand never came back to the room. Later on, the crowd of thirty-plus fighters died down to talking amongeset themselves once again.

Eventually, the crowd started to exit the main hall one by one and proceeded to what they were previously doing. Many were confused, some were pissed off, some were actually kind of frightened.

"Come on, let's go eat some lunch. I'm starved!" Ness said out of the blue, and made his way towards the eating section of the household.

Red frowned. "You think Ness is alright?" He asked the other younger fighters.

Nana put a hand on her cheek. "Maybe, he's just a bit shocked that all these are happening on such short notice." She then sighed. "After all, he is one of the people the bad guys are after."

Nana's brother nodded in agreement. "Yeah, maybe that's it. We should follow him, like the Hand said 'We have to protect the orginals at all costs.'"

Kirby stepped up and took the stage. "Poyo, even though Kirby is target. Kirby will protect Ness and everyone!" He put up a determined face.

Red bent down to Kirby's level and put a hand on his head. "That's very brave of you Kirby." He praised the puffball. "Were going to need everyone's cooperation right now. Just like we did 3 months ago."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and with that departed to dining room.

2 shadow emerged in front of Chaos. "Sire, it seems like the fighters and Chosen 12 know the secret now." One of them reported.

"So, the Hand has finally spread the word to the others huh? Well no matter, I already knew that secret for quite some time now." Chaos snickered. "I might as well take care of the other Hand, myself. I can't let him send the Chosen 12 and the others away yet, can I?"

"What shall we do, while you take care of the Hand?" The other shadow asked.

Chaos thought for a moment. "Well, I was wanting to take the small boy tomorrow. But, since you have nothing better to do, might as well do it today. Follow, the one who holds the Earth's fate in his own hands in the shadows until you feel he is vulnerable enough to subdue him. And when he is..." He snickered with a wicked grin. "You know what to do from then."

"Yes we do, Sire." The 2 shadows spoke in unison, also putting up a wicked smile.

"I must warn you though. The boy isn't normal, he has strong psychic powers and abilities. So hide yourselves well." Chaos cautioned his servants.

"Understood." And with that they descended into the dark abyss.

"S-Stop, don't hurt them..." A weak voice protested in his captor's actions.

Chaos sneered in disgust, and looked over to his right. "You're still alifve? I thought I've finished you a while ago." He then snickered once again. "You think you can stop me and my plot of destorying this damn universe. You're the one who told me everything about this universe.....Crazy Hand."

"S-Shut the hell up! You were the one who forced me into telling you the secrets of this universe!"

"And I thank you for that. You were a pretty useful and fun toy." Chaos then yawned. "However, I'm through with playing with you. Now, I shall dispose of you now. Like, how a child does to one of his old toys." Chaos turned one of his arms into a pointed sword and thrust it right through Crazy Hand's body.

AN- I hope I explained everything alright!*Sweats*

Just so you know. I'm planning to make the next chapter shorter. (I think 2-3k max :s...maybe...I dunno...I suck at predictions haha!)

Again thank you for your patience :)