And now, the moment you've all been waiting for … THE FINAL BATTLE!

ENJOY!

Chapter 18.: The Final Battle!

"Ready, Lucina?" Shulk smiled.

"I'm ready, Shulk." Lucina nodded, determined.

The two readied their swords as they went down the black path. When they arrived at a circle with a Smash Ball, they were then teleported to Final Destination.

There, the two could hear the ominous laughter of Master Hand and the maniacal cackle of Crazy Hand. However … Crazy Hand seemed to be bound with cords on his fingers.

"Crazy? What …?" Lucina gasped.

"I-I have to fight you two …" Crazy Hand said, gasping at how deep the cords were digging in his fingers, "Forgive me … i-if my brother turns into that m-monstrosity …"

"SHUT IT!" Master Hand growled.

"Looks like we have no choice!" Shulk cried, and he rushed forward to stab Master Hand. "Lucina, take care of Crazy!"

"Got it!" Lucina called. "Forgive me, Crazy …" She whispered as she sent a Dolphin Slash his way, cutting him.

Master tried to grab Shulk, but he managed to dodge, and he then sent an Air Slash.

The two whittled down their HP, but Master Hand taunted, "If I die … then he's coming with me …" He pointed at Crazy Hand, indicating that their health was tied together.

Lucina stopped fighting. "Wh-wha-"

"Don't listen to him!" Crazy cried, "Do what you have to do!"

Lucina hesitated, but nodded. With a final Dolphin Slash, Master Hand cried out, and he began to shake. "TH-THAT'S IT!"

Crazy Hand was free from the cords, and he suddenly disappeared with the flames with an audible "Good luck …"

Then, Master Hand's glove was ripped open, and black swarms came out of him, transforming him into a humanoid being.

Lucina's eyes were wide, gasping. "THIS!" She cried, "THIS is what I was exactly dreaming about!"

"Well, looks like we need to take it down!" Shulk cried, lunging with a Back Slash.

The humanoid like creature grabbed his head, and he slammed his head down the ground with a massive headbutt. The duo dodged the attack, and they took the chance to strike it; Lucina with her charged up Shield Breaker, and Shulk his Air Slash. The creature roared, and it grabbed the ledges of the stage.

"HOLD ON!" Lucina cried, and the stage was suddenly lifted, making this a dodgeball game of avoiding the electrical orbs.

Both took a bit of damage, but they were fine.

"How much health does it have left?!" Shulk called.

"I don't kno-AAAAAH!" Lucina cried out when the giant dropped the stage. Lucina continued, "I don't know! It's hard to tell!"

The humanoid stopped to catch its breath, and the two took the chance again with slashes and cleaving.

Suddenly, the humanoid sent out two disfigured hands, and it circled around.

"Look out!" Lucina called.

"Wha-?!" It was too late for Shulk, however, as he was suddenly grabbed by one of the hands. Struggling to escape, he called out, "LUCINA!"

"SHULK!" She shrieked, and right before he could get sucked into the head of the giant, Lucina aimed a perfectly well-timed Shield Breaker, and it immediately released Shulk. Her face was filled with terror; she was living her nightmares.

The swarm then circled in the center of the arena, and Lucina quickly went to Shulk's side. "A-are you okay?!" She asked, obviously frightened.

"Y-yeah-LOOK OUT!" Shulk cried out, pushing Lucina out of the way. A large beast-like form nearly chomped them, and it turned to attack.

"This one is quick!" Lucina cried, and the two began their assault. Shulk chose his Monado powers, and his sword glowed. He then lunged with a more powerful Back Slash, as Lucina followed up with a Dolphin Slash.

The beast shook the attacks off, and it emanated lightning around itself, sending a thunderbolt, similar to Pikachu's attacks. Both of them dodged the attack, and Shulk finished it off with an Air Slash.

The beast roared before it dissipated into what it was, and it once again centered itself around the stage, transforming into …

"A sword!" Lucina gasped. It then multiplied into …

"Five swords!" Lucina gasped again, as if her day could be rougher. However, she prepared herself, ready to strike and evade any attacks.

The swords then readied themselves, about to strike the two. "Move, move, move!" Lucina cried, and Shulk managed to roll away in time as the swords slashed at them, finishing off with a larger slash. Shulk was hit, but he quickly got up, and he strikes with an Air Slash. Lucina followed suit, sending a Dolphin Slash.

"How many forms does this thing have?!" Shulk called.

"I don't know!" Lucina cried.

The swords then surrounded the arena above, ready to strike.

"Careful!" Shulk cried out.

The four smaller swords then slashed across the stage, then the larger, fifth sword went downwards, but Lucina countered and managed to destroy it.

Once again, the swarm centered around the stage, and it turned into a larger version of Shulk, which, ironically, did a forward stab attack like what happened with their training. This time, however, she was prepared, and she countered it. The shadow was sent flying, and Shulk rushed towards it with a Smash attack. The shadow began to grow smaller and smaller as they continued their assault.

"I think we're beating it!" Lucina called, sending a final aerial slash at the form. It then screamed, and the swarm disappeared, leaving behind a Smash Ball.

The two looked down at it. "Is this … Master Hand's true form?" Lucina asked.

Shulk wanted to say something, but a vision appeared to him.

The Smash Ball turned colors, and it suddenly sent out multiple sparks of electricity, and it hit Lucina. She screamed, and she fell to the ground, bleeding … dead.

"LUCINA!" Shulk cried, "GET DOWN!"

Before she could ask why, Shulk pushed her down, and the Smash Ball sent out sparks of electricity … on Shulk this time. The boy screamed, and he fell to the ground, bleeding. The Smash Ball exploded, and an ominous voice was heard from somewhere:

"You cannot defeat me … for I am Master Core … I am nothing …"

Lucina looked up to see Shulk seriously injured. "SHULK?!" She cried, rushing towards him. Once again, she placed Shulk's head on her chest, like last time after rescuing him, but this time … he saved her, and he was in critical condition.

"Shulk! Please!" Lucina sobbed, "Don't die on me!"

She then heard multiple footsteps, and she turned to see, once again, the other Smashers and Chrom.

"Lucina! Are you-?!" He gasped upon seeing Shulk.

Lucina looked up at the crowd. "He's hurt! Someone get help!"

The others were on the case as they helped Shulk up, carrying him back to the Smash Mansion. Lucina tried to stand up, but the injuries she sustained made her sit back down.

"Here, I'll help you." Chrom said, helping her up and placing her on his back.

"Father … is … Shulk …?"

"Let's hope so, Lucina …" Chrom said, and he brought her back to the Mansion.

It was a long journey home …

Beta Reader: Zulera301