25. Trying to Stop
Death and Sun faced off against each other as many of the Smashers tried to take down the Cagemaster at the same time. Marth had been thrown into a wall, Fox ended up breaking his leg again, and Lucario's defensive aura was getting weaker as the Cagemaster continued her horrific advance.
Samus had tried to use her arm cannon to shoot the Cagemaster, but Death was doing everything she could to disarm the other fighters and protect Illustria from too much harm. As long as Death was still up and fighting, there was no way one was going to get major damage on Illustria.
The bounty hunter ducked as Illustria sent a beam of light straight at her, hitting Wolf instead of her original target. The anthromorph was smashed into a wall and he slumped onto the floor, unconscious.
The group of Smashers was slowly dwindling. Only a couple remained, and they too were slowly getting weaker. Nothing seemed to throw off Illustria...
Until she was tackled by Pit, the two rolling across the ground and grappling with each other. The angel seemed determined to restrain her from doing any more harm to the Smashers. Death was about to run over to the Cagemaster to help her, but-
"Leave me be!" Illustria shouted, punching Pit in the face. "Focus on getting the others, Death! Now!"
Samus shot at Death, hoping to hit her. Death immediately ducked, before leaping at the bounty hunter with her daggers raised. Samus blocked it quickly with her arm cannon, and the two realized the danger much too late.
Death's daggers had embedded themselves into the Arm Canon of Samus' Power Suit.
Both fighters' eyes widened in shock as the Arm Canon sparked for a moment, before it let out an electric current. The two howled in pain, screaming as the electricity ran through their veins and sparked them aflame.
Snake immediately realized the situation and started to try to pull the daggers out of the Power Suit. He knew that he wasn't the best against electricity, that he should have just left this up to Lucario or Mewtwo; pokemon with aura and psychic defense, but he had to help them both.
As Snake finally pulled the daggers out of the Arm Canon, the electric current stopped. Death and Samus both collapsed, and Snake soon afterwards.
Strength approached Death, checking her pulse, before sighing quickly with relief. The girl was still alive. Close to unconsciousness, but alive nonetheless.
"Strength?" Strength looked at Death's tired, battle-worn face. She appeared to be glancing at Snake and Samus for a moment, before making eye contact with Strength. "Help them...please."
The girl fell limp in his arms. Strength didn't know what to do. He froze up.
And he started sobbing, holding Death in his arms as carefully as he could.
Pit and Illustria continued to wrestle with each other, scratching, punching, kicking.
All the other Smashers went still, watching the fight.
And then Illustria was pushed backwards, weakened by a blow to the face.
Pit drew his arrow, before letting go.
And the arrow pierced through Illustria's chest completely, and the Cagemaster fell.
Pit dropped his bow and arrow, before running to the fallen Cagemaster.
"Cagemaster!" Sun was also heard screaming desperately, also running towards the Cagemaster as Pit knelt by Illustria's side. "No, Cagemaster! No!"
"Illustria?" Pit asked quietly. "Can you...hear me?" He felt so hesitant to ask anymore. He didn't even know if Illustria was even still awake.
Illustria opened her eyes quietly, letting out a gasp as if trying to breathe. "Pit...why?" She asked quietly. "Why did you...my light...why did you come back like this? After hurting me? Is it to get sympathy for your previous action of killing me?"
"Kill you?" Pit asked, shocked. "No, Illustria-"
She silenced him with a quiet look. "Tell them all my history, Pit." Illustria spoke quietly. "You know it."
"How did you know-"
"I knew that Falco took my history the day you, Mewtwo, Lucario and Samus tried to ransack the library, amist all the chaos...I didn't do anything because I knew my reign was unraveling, no matter what precautions I took. My story will end in a matter of minutes. But yours, yours and all the rest of the Smashers and the Arcane...those stories will continue." Illustria paused before speaking again. "Tell them my history, Pit. Tell them of how I started this twisted tournament...of my true goals."
All Pit could do was nod in reply before doing what she told him to do.
Every person in the room went silent as Pit began to speak.
Author note: Oh gosh...we're getting really close to the end here.
Next chapter is the last of the histories, but not the least. It's Cagemaster Illustria's history that's next.
Stuff you might want to know: I wrote this whole chapter listening to Ed Sheeran's song 'Give Me Love.' I find it just as heartbreaking as this chapter, that this fic is getting close to its end, and...I think it could relate to Illustria a bit. I don't know how yet exactly, but I can just feel it.
One more thing. Just thought I'd wish you guys a Happy Halloween, and hopefully I can get Illustria's history up soon. Thanks for all your patience!