Thanks so much for the reviews!

I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. The final battle!

Enjoy!

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What Lies In the Dark

Chapter 22

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The coat was off. The identity was revealed, even though the three smashers knew who they were facing. It was just like the pictures, they had seen. The same face was staring back at them. Everything was completely the same.

Bleached blonde hair that fell to the tip of his brown eyebrows. Striking, yet powerful green eyes stared fiercely at the three smashers, eying each of them equally. He wore a loose fitting brown t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, and baggy black pants that fell to his black boots. It was him. Craven Handler.

Fox felt a smile creep in his lips, as he continued to gaze upon Craven in front of them. The final murderer's identity was revealed. They had one final task to complete, before they could relax and rejoice. That task was standing right in front of them, looking them straight in the eye. They all knew what they had to do. Words didn't need to be said. The three smashers were smart enough figure it out, but where they strong enough to put an end to it?

Craven's coat fluttered in the wind, as it blew across the road over to the grass on the left side of the mansion. Thunder crackled violently above them, causing Peach to jump frightened. She clutched the book tightly, looking up at the dangerous gray clouds hovering above them.

Craven's green eyes eyed the book. He chuckled deeply, before letting out a series of laughter. " So the book was your key to helping you."

" Of course…" Fox replied. " All of this started because of the book."

" I know." Craven spoke deeply, in an eerie voice. " I am pleased. I must surely thank your friend, Falco. For writing it."

" He's gone." Fox explained, solemnly.

" I know, it's sad…" Craven smirked.

" Mr. Game and Watch killed him…" Fox muttered.

Craven laughed once more, holding his hand on his chest. Fox lifted his head, to the man in front of them, pondering on the thought of what was so funny. Death was not something to laugh at. Of course, if death pleased you…it was surely a different story.

" You seriously think that, that pathetic 2-D smasher killed your best friend?" Craven questioned, curiously.

Fox opened his mouth; fully understand what Craven was leaning toward. " At first…"

Craven shook his head, " Pity…"

Roy's eyes widened, as he pointed his sword at Craven. " You!"

Craven nodded. Fox's eyes widened, as he shook his head. " You…you killed Falco." Craven only smiled. " You made the first kill."

" I made first kill, and I made the last." Craven explained, proudly. Thunder cracked once more, causing it to suddenly shower. " And you know what?" Craven began to walk toward the three smashers, a determined and pleasing expression was held upon his face. " I plan on killing some more…"

Fox, Roy and Peach all had gotten ready as they noticed Craven heading in their direction. Rain pounded on them, as it continued to fall harder, now at a heavier pace. Roy's grip on his sword never loosened and Fox had almost grabbed his laser gun, but then decided to keep it hooked to his holster. Peach's grip on the book finally loosened, as the book fell from her hands, and ended up back by the front door.

Craven didn't waste any time as he immediately charged at the three. Fox, Roy and Peach all dodged out of the way, the two boys jumping to the left while Peach jumped in the opposite direction. Craven decided to take the princess on first, as he immediately engaged in combat.

Fox watched frantically, as Peach and Craven began to throw punches and block each other's attacks, as they used the entire front of the mansion as their battlefield. Roy suddenly ran passed Fox, and headed over toward the battle, teaming up to help Peach.

Fox noticed that Craven had no weapon. Most of the time he killed a smasher, he had used someone else's weapon, or their own. Craven's attacks were only his fists, which automatically gave Fox the idea that they would easily win. But Fox knew better. Craven was much more powerful and smarter than that.

Peach and Roy began double teaming Craven, using their special attacks that had surely helped them throughout the tournament. Surprisingly, Craven was keeping up well with the two smashers, and Fox soon began to worry.

Eventually Craven managed to knock Peach into to tree, causing her to fall to the ground unconscious. This had let Fox know, that it was his turn to step into the battle. He had to avenge Falco's death, and wasn't going to let Craven leave this battle alive. It was time for the final murderer to be the last one to fall.

Craven had knocked Roy away from him with a kick, which caused Fox to jump right into his spot. Sweat dripped down Fox's forehead, mixing in with now shower rain that fell on them. Their clothes stuck to them like glue, and numerous amounts of raindrops fell down their faces, causing them to spit it out of their mouths.

Fox had never been so determined in his life, and imagined it like he was still in the tournament. He imagined Craven as a smasher as they were both competing for the grand prize. There was no way Fox was going to lose; he couldn't when so much relied on him.

" Give up Fox." He heard Craven whisper.

Fox ignored Craven, as he continued to throw in punches and special moves. Eventually, Roy had came back into the fight, and the two began to double team Craven once more. Craven managed to keep up with both them, but couldn't block all of their attacks. Roy managed to cut Craven right in the arm, causing it to bleed, while Fox punched him to the chest. Craven managed to grab Fox's shirt, and violently toss him back to the lone tree in the middle of the island.

The young smasher landed hard on his back, noticing his lip and nose was bleeding from some of Craven's attacks. Fox looked over at the two fighting. Craven was surely dominating over Roy, though the redheaded prince had gotten in a few good attacks, leaving more cuts on Craven's body.

Just as Fox was about to get up, a large bright lightening bolt had struck the tree Fox was laying under, causing it to fall over. Fox's eyes widened as he immediately jumped out of the way, landing hard on the many rocks covering the ground. He recovered from the fall, and stared over at the tree that laid halfway in the road, now on fire.

" Fox!"

Fox turned his attention to Roy and Craven, standing to his feet. He hurried over to the two and began to jump back into the fight. Pretty soon, Craven began to speak once more.

" I know the truth Fox." Craven explained. Fox ignored him once more, as he continued to put all of his strength into fighting. " I know why Falco picked those smashers to die…."

" Stop…" Fox grunted, as he fiercely swung his fist in. He missed Craven, causing the murderer to swing under, punching Fox right in the chest. Fox found himself back on the ground, but immediately stood back to his feet, once recovering.

" He hated them all…he didn't like those who had died." Craven explained.

" Don't listen to him Fox!" Roy shouted, as Roy now began to fight Craven.

" No…" Fox whispered. " That's not true."

Craven pushed Roy back to the ground, and turned back to Fox. " Yes…"

Fox shook his head, noticing that he had let his guard down. By the time he had discovered this; it was too late. Craven's plan had gone into affect. Enormous amount of pain erupted inside of Fox as he felt himself continuously getting punched over and over again. Craven fists moved so quickly, it didn't seem real. The pain was unbearable.

In the end, Fox found himself being knocked to the ground once more. He laid on his stomach, listening to the clear beating of his heart. He heard himself pant, as if his breathing was the only sound in the area. He had no one to blame, except himself, and now moving was impossible.

Craven must have thought Fox was out, for he went and focused on Roy next. Fox listened to Roy, who continued to give it all he got in stopping Craven. Craven managed to kick Roy back to the burning tree, causing the prince to drop his sword along the way. Roy landed hard on his back and steadily sat up, once seeing Craven heading in his direction. Fox steadily lifted his head, watching carefully as he spit a small amount of blood out of his mouth.

Roy's sword was in Craven's hands as he stood in front of Roy. Roy frowned, his eyebrows arched in fury as he leaped forward to pounce on the murderer. Craven stepped back and thrust Roy's sword forward, causing it to cut straight through Roy's chest. Fox's eyes widened, as everything went into slow motion. Roy gagged, as his eyes fell down to his sword in his chest. Craven pulled the sword out, causing Roy to fall back to the ground.

Fox managed to stand to his feet, despite the pain and carefully make his way over toward Craven and Roy. Roy laid on his back, trying to catch his breath as he looked up at Craven, holding the sword above his head. Blood began to soak Roy's clothes, as Roy tried to prevent the blood from pouring out. His hands shook uncontrollably, his eyes dreary and watery.

" I almost killed you before..." Craven muttered, as blood poured down his chin from his busted lip. Rain dropped from the ends of his soaked hair, his bruised eye staring down at Roy. " I will make sure, I will not fail again…."

Roy leaned his head back, as if giving up hope. Fox stopped behind Craven, and took out his gun aiming it at Craven. He held his side in pain with the other free hand, and closed on eye.

" I don't think so." Fox said softly.

Craven had heard Fox behind him and turned around, but it was too late, for gunfire already echoed into the night. Once the gunfire had ceased, all movements seemed to have stopped. Roy's sword fell to the ground, as Craven hand's suddenly let go of the weapon. Blood poured down his face, from the bullet that he pierced the Handler's forehead.

Roy immediately used the rest of his strength, to lift Craven up and fling him back into the fire behind them. Fox dropped his gun to the ground, and ran to his friend's aid, bending down next to the wounded prince.

" Are you…"

" I'm okay." Roy explained. " I'm okay, really…" Roy clutched his chest, still keeping his hand firmly over the wound.

Fox let out a sighing relief, as he stared upon the lifeless body in the midst of the flames. Craven Handler was no more. The final murderer had perished, died. He was now where he belonged, and two smashers silently watched his death, as he continued to burn.

" You killed Captain Falcon…" Fox muttered. " Now you can die the same death he faced…"

Roy let out a sigh and smiled. " It's over…" He whispered. " It's over." He soon began to laugh, as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Fox sat down on the ground next to his friend, and turned to the fire that was slowly dying out from the rain. He listened to Roy's laughter, and stared at Craven's body, feeling a small hint of laughter rise within him as well.

Roy was right. It was finally over.

And for the very first time, ever since the tournament had ended, Fox finally found a reason…to truly smile…

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A/N:

That had to be the most action packed chapter in this entire story! Wow, that was amazing and I must say very fun to write. I enjoyed it a lot, and I'm really sad to say that there is only one chapter left. It's not the epilogue either. It's just the final chapter.

It will be out soon, so keep your eyes open for the final chapter to What Lies In the Dark! Sniff…

Until Next Time!