Hmm…the second to last chapter is here, and boy do I have plans! (Evil grin)
Falco: I…don't like that… O.o
Pikachu: A letter of farewells? Wait…is that the same letter as…
You bet it is; although most of you guys probably forgot all about it, with the huge hiatus and all…nevertheless, we're going to have one last angsty feel before the fic ends.
D.K.: I thought the last of the angst was before the Underworld…
So did I…but then I remembered this. Actually, I'm hoping this is the angst that wrenches the heart out in sympathy. XD
Pikachu & Falco: Yeah…
D.K.: RF doesn't own SSBM, the devils and their king, and the two demon OCs that managed to get introduced. She does, however, own The Demon King (and his Shadow), Sally Lune, Bridgett and Annette, the Hands' true forms (and names), other angels and demons that don't belong to you guys, and the devil Giga Bowser.
I've wanted to write this chapter for quite a while now, and I hope to achieve what I set out to do. Away chapter!
"So many things have happened," Bowser said. "Perhaps this is one huge lesson for us all; never ever underestimate our friends, or our sanity."
"Yeah," Pichu said, nodding. "So, Nox isn't coming back then?"
"I don't think he can," Yoshi said. "But not to worry; a new foe will appear among us soon enough, right?"
"That's our problem: we make too many enemies," Bowser said. "And you're not helping with that either!" He added fiercely, turning and pointing at Marth, who grinned apologetically. "Now, what is it you do?"
"Spy," was the prince's reply. "Just watch what you say; if you're planning on threatening the creatures of the lower world…or their majesties…you'll have the entire demon and devil race against you."
"Well, at least we know, right?" Pikachu asked, shrugging.
"Sure," Pichu replied, smiling. "Oh, but if we say good things about them, would that mean they'd leave us alone?"
"Does that mean you're letting the next demon royal and Lucifer know about the tournament?" Luigi asked.
"I have to, since there are demons involved," Marth replied. "But since Syleen, who's going to be the next queen, is participating, we won't have any trouble there. As for King Lucifer, there aren't any devils involved, so I'm sure he won't care."
"Do you know a Renegade Angel named Annette?" Young Link asked.
"Annette? Yeah, sure I do," Marth replied. "She became a Renegade before I did. She's on a secret mission for King Lucifer, so she wasn't able to stay, but we've chatted before."
"But if you didn't remember being a Renegade…" Roy began.
"I saw her before you guys came," the angel said. "She's a nice person, although she gets riled up when her mother's mentioned. Not that I can't blame her; I'm still sore with Father personally."
"I thought so—wait a minuet!" Roy suddenly shouted. "The letter! Father's letter! It's for you!"
"Oh yeah! That letter Sally gave you!" Peach said.
"I should have it right…here," Roy said triumphantly, pulling the envelope out and handing it to the angel.
It was true; Marth did recognize the handwriting on the front to be his father's. With a small frown, he opened the envelope, only to find two folded up pieces of paper. He unfolded one, and the frown soon turned to shock. "Roy!"
"What's wrong?" Roy asked, grabbing the paper. "'To the Lady Alicia. It is with most regret that we must inform you that your husband, Sir Rick, has passed away.' What? Father's…dead…?"
"Oh no!" Kirby cried.
"I'm so sorry," Zelda said. "When did he die?"
"The date says he died…a year ago," Roy said in reply. "I guess it was good we read this first; what does Father's letter say?"
The general turned to the angel, who was reading the letter. The look on his face was difficult to read, but one could sense sorrow somewhere.
"Brother?" Roy asked. "What does it say?" Marth made no reply. Instead he quickly ran out of the room, letting the letter drift to the floor.
"Marth! What's wrong?" Yoshi cried. Roy walked forward and picked the letter up.
"This…" he began, but his voice faded. He cleared his throat and tried again. "This is…a letter of farewell."
"What does it say?" Young Link, Pichu, and Kirby asked.
"Yeah, what did it say, to make Marth fall apart like that…?" Bowser muttered.
Roy cleared his throat out again before reading the letter. "'To my cherished son…"
'As I write this, I know my life is coming to an end. Promises of eternity are truly nothing more than lies…for I know I will soon fight in a battle that I will not see the end of.
'There are perhaps a million things I would like to say to you; many of them being apologies for committing a crime I truly despise. Scoffing at a crime from far away; then committing it. The word 'hypocrite' does not even deserve me as a being.
'Nonetheless, I want you to know that I have anticipated what you would do, have done, and I do not feel obliged to have your forgiveness. Yet I do not want you to dwell in regret forever should, when, I fight the battle I would not see to the end of. The heart is truly a mysterious object, and I do know that while you have shown anger, you truly have not shown hate. Words can mean so much more at times; at others, they can be nothing more than what they are, words.
'I know I will not see you before this battle, and I know this letter is perhaps not even close enough compared seeing you face to face. However, I do want you to know that I would never want your spirit weighed down with regret forever, and I feel that paper and ink are more suited than empty promises.
'That being said, I want you to know that the falseness of the black wings is slowly slipping away. I'm sure you've noticed this as well. I know Syleen will be a splendid queen, and I know that, despite who you must report to, your new job of sneaking around, like a shadow, will suit you very well. It reminds me of years long past, when you did such things as a child. I will never forget those days.
'My generation, like myself, is a failure. However, perhaps I have opened a new path for you; one that could change the world for the better. Perhaps the young black angels of your generation can change the opinion of a foolish past-minded race, and see to the simple truth: the color of one's wings does not matter. Not at all.
'Keep in mind my last advice, and also of my love; no matter what the circumstance, no matter the actions, no matter anything at all in this existence, know that I will always be your father, and I will always cherish and love you.
'From your foolish father…with all his love.'
"That's…holy…" Bowser muttered. "Wow…I can't even think of how to respond to something like that…all I can say is, your father is a hell lot better than my uncle…"
"To atone for one's crime, and to even see the positive of what appears to be a complete negative situation," Zelda muttered. "Such courage…"
"There will be regret; there always is," Jeffrey, who stood behind Bowser, said. Everyone turned to him.
"Is my brother alright?" Roy asked.
"Of course," Jeffrey replied. "I would assume he would feel sorrow for Sir Rick's death, and regret for past action, but I assure you, others who share the same situation are the best ones to talk to. Jeremy understands his pain, perhaps even more so."
"What happened?" Pichu asked.
"Our mother was quite the foolish one," Jeffrey replied, shaking his head. "She was a noble demon on the surface; inside her, the true 'her', however, wasn't so noble. She inspired many an idea that harmed mortals, and she tried forcing Jeremy and I into thinking such dishonoring ways."
"But you never did, right?" Bowser asked.
"If anything, when she died, I can say I was in Marth's position," Jeffrey replied. "I could see where she was coming from, even if I didn't like it, and regret, although not forever, that I could not make amends before her death. But Jeremy truly did hate our mother for what she did, and the pain of everything was perhaps a hundred times worse than mine."
"That's so sad…" Game Watch muttered sadly.
"We all make mistakes, and we must learn from those mistakes," Jeffrey said. "But I do agree with what Sir Rick is saying; perhaps the idea of the Renegade Angels who betrayed their fellow kin is too far back in the past. I believe, as so few of you mortals believe, the color of one's skin does not make him any better or worse. The same exact thing can be said about an angel's wings."
"They're just a different color," Luigi said. "But that doesn't mean anything, right? Renegade Angels are still Angels. They still hold the power of light inside themselves. They still have the immortality. Right?"
"Exactly correct," Jeffrey said. "Instead of focusing on yesterday, let us focus on tomorrow, and see how bright we can make it today."
"What does that mean?" Fox asked.
"While we live in today, we should focus on making tomorrow brighter instead of yesterday darker!" Pichu replied.
"You're right," Fox agreed. "And so we shall."
"Let's make a vow of it, and let everything that has happened to us serve as a reminder," Mario said. "We'll vow to show the normal people that immortals do exist, and they're not as different as they think them to be. We'll also vow to show the angels the Renegades aren't like the Renegades of the past; that they CAN be trusted, no matter their job. And we'll also vow, while we live in today, to make tomorrow brighter, instead of yesterday darker! Agreed?"
"Agreed!" Jeffrey could only watch in happiness as the smashers all cried that one word. He knew change was coming.
And he knew everything was going to be fine.
Yoshi: AND THAT ENDS THE CHAPTER!
Marth: We start out with a sad situation…and finish off with a happy ending…wow.
Falcon: But remember, we still have ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT! WOO!
Marth: Then The Demon's Staff begins! And I'm sure it's a fic everyone's been looking forward to seeing!
Yoshi: Well, with the Immortal's Tournament, a villain no one would suspect, a treasure that will eclipse everything ((Sarcastically) bet ya don't know what that weapon's name is! (Winks) XD), perhaps some more life lessons, and a definite sad ending that will close the fic up, you'll be it'll be something everyone wants to see!
Falcon: But first, the Epilogue, which should appear soon. Until then, REVIEW!