Crud…I mean, hi! XD Well, looks like I'm up for the second time!
Falco: Yup! So, who's next on the hit list?
That something I (and the other fellow collab authors) know and you and the readers to find out!
Falco: You stink! XP
So do you.
Falco: Really?
Kidding. So, how about we get that chapter started? Away chapter eight!
"PIKACHU WAS INNOCENT!" Was all anyone could hear after Master Hand forced Pikachu into the dungeons. Pichu had a nasty bone to pick with the glove, and he made sure to let it be known.
The small mouse had ran down to the dungeons a little after waking up, and he found himself staring at the sight of his best friend soaking in his own blood and heaven knows what else.
It scared Pichu; completely. And he blamed Master Hand for it.
"HE DIDN'T KILL ANYONE! HE DIED HIMSELF!" Pichu shouted, small teardrops forming in his eyes. "HE'S DEAD NOW, AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"
"Pikachu's dead?" Bowser asked, turning to Fox, Falco, Islode, and Mario. The former three shrugged, but Mario nodded. Bowser glared at the plumber. "Care to explain why you didn't let us know?"
"Pichu woke me up," Mario replied. "How the rest of you managed to sleep through his yelling is beyond me."
"What's going on?" Islode asked.
"Guess we can't keep you out of the loop for long, with Pichu screaming murder," Falco replied, sighing. "Somebody's after us; every smasher that loses his match ends up getting killed."
"That's terrible!" Islode cried. "That must be why my dad didn't want me to come…"
"So Albrecht knows about what's going on?" Mario asked.
"Yes," Islode replied, nodding. "I overheard him shortly before I came here; he said something about someone after you guys, although I didn't understand what he meant at the time. He also said something about Master Hand and imprisonment."
"I bet Albrecht yelled at him!" Falco cried triumphantly. "And if we let him know that Master Hand got Pikachu imprisoned, then he would get it!"
"I'll go tell Pichu," Mario said. "Pichu was the closest to Pikachu; he deserves to be the one to get Master Hand in trouble."
"That's good and all, but now what?" Bowser asked.
"We head to the dungeon, that's what!" Falco cried.
"Wait a minuet…since when were you a part of the investigation?" Fox asked, eying Falco suspiciously.
"Uh…b-because I now realized the team needs my super brain and sleuthing!" Falco replied, puffing his chest out. "And besides, someone has to make sure the lady Islode is okay, since you guys will be too busy looking at the…gross stuff."
"The gross stuff?" Fox asked. Islode let out a helpless giggle. "…whatever you say."
"Then let's get to the dungeon!" Bowser said impatiently. "Come on!"
As the team headed for the dungeon, Pichu was in Albrecht's office, ratting Master Hand out.
"Pikachu was imprisoned?" Albrecht asked. "I told Master Hand not to imprison any more smashers!"
"Don't forget Pikachu died too!" Pichu cried. "It probably wouldn't have happened if Pikachu wasn't trapped!"
Silently, Albrecht thought that that wouldn't have been the case, but he nodded all the same. "It seems Master Hand has been ignoring his superior for far too long. Thank you for telling me Pichu."
"No problem!" Pichu said, smiling. "Make sure Master Hand gets it good, okay?"
"Of course," Albrecht said, giving the mouse a small smile. Pichu scampered off, glad that Master Hand would finally get what he deserved. After closing his office door, his smile became a simple small smirk.
In the dungeon, Bowser, Fox, Falco, and Islode couldn't help but stare helplessly at the disgusting scene upon them.
"The question is how he died," Fox said, walking forward. He knelt besides the lifeless mouse, ignoring the blood and…other liquids that pooled around the body. "…it seems he was shot."
"A gun?" Islode asked.
"…looks more like a laser blaster than a regular bullet," Fox replied.
"That's not good," Falco said. "You said your blaster went missing before the last match, didn't it?"
"I did," Fox said. "If this is made known, I'll be suspected for these murders."
"Well, at least that'll stop them from staring at me," Bowser muttered. Both humanoids glared at the koopa. "I'm joking. Joking. The secret's safe with me."
"Falco! Get your feathered butt up here!" Mario's voice shouted, coming from the entrance of the dungeon. "We got our battle in two hours!"
"Geez! We still got two hours!" Falco shouted. "I'll be up!" He turned to the other three. "Looks like I got to get ready for my battle; although an hour's just too long."
"How long does it take?" Islode asked.
"I'm ready for battle anytime!" Falco said triumphantly. "Even when I fall asleep!"
"That's so cool!" Islode said, smiling. "You must be a good fighter."
"You'll see my battling prowess for yourself soon!" Falco boasted, puffing his chest out. "But wait…what if your dad sees you here? What'll he say about it?"
"He'll scold me, but I won't leave," Islode replied. "Not with the situation like this; I want to help."
"Any help will be appreciated," Bowser said, as Falco jogged out of the room. "Now, let's go find Zelda and the Climbers; perhaps they'll also be able to help. We still need to find clues to pinpoint Master Hand to the crime."
"I hope he gets in trouble for locking up Pikachu," Fox said. "I mean, Roy was feeling sick; maybe he dreamed Pikachu trying to kill him."
"But he wasn't in the medical facility, remember?" Bowser said. "Master Hand asked him where he was."
"Does Roy sleepwalk?" Islode asked. The other two shrugged.
"That's possible though," Fox muttered. "I mean, I don't know, but maybe."
"Let's ask Ganondorf where he found the Control Room, and start looking in there," Bowser said.
"Do you think Ganondorf could be the murderer?" Fox asked. "I mean, he did find Mewtwo, remember?"
"It's possible," Bowser replied slowly. "But who are we going to think did this? Master Hand or Ganondorf?" Fox didn't reply. "Yeah, I guess it wouldn't hurt to be cautious, but we're trying to find clues here."
"Let's look for Ganondorf, and hear his side of the tale fully," Islode suggested. "After that, we can continue our search."
The three nodded, and exited the dungeon.
Back in Albrecht's office, a very upset Albrecht was confronting Master Hand.
"I specifically told you NOT to imprison any more smashers!" the German yelled angrily.
"Where did you hear that?" Master Hand asked, sounding confused.
"Don't play games with me!" Albrecht shouted, banging his fist on his desk. "Pichu told me of what happened. Everything that had happened."
"Did he truly tell you "everything"?" Master Hand asked. "I had proof! Roy told us that Pikachu planned on killing him and the Ice Climbers!"
"For goodness' sake Hand! The poor boy was unwell!" Albrecht shouted. "He could've been delusional! Or he could've been dreaming! Ever think of that?"
"But—"
"No buts! I told you not to imprison any more smashers unjustly, and you chose to ignore me. Don't sigh like that!" Albrecht added, after hearing the glove sigh. "If Roy had been well, I would agree, but damn it, the boy was sick! I will run this tournament myself!"
"How can you do that?" Master Hand asked angrily. "I am the one running this tournament!" He turned and floated out of the room.
"So you think…" Albrecht muttered darkly. "So you think…"
"Remind me why you had to call me up here two hours before we had to begin?" Falco asked angrily, stretching.
"Well, if you'd been around Islode any longer, I doubt you would realize the damned time!" Mario snarled. "You have a freaking match; stop going around flirting!"
"It's not my fault she's so cute!" Falco said. "Unless you're just jealous she listens to me rather than you!"
"Don't be silly!" Mario cried. "I mean, Islode does seem like a good person, and I don't have anything against her, but come on! Grow up!"
"Just because I have a chance at a love life…" Falco muttered. "Fine, fine! You win! Now, shall we have a stretching contest for another hour and a half?"
"Why not?" Mario said in reply, grinning.
"Oh, it's on now!" Falco said, grinning himself.
It was half an hour til battle time, and everyone was getting ready for the Falco Vs. Mario match. All except for one person.
Master Hand flew around his own office, cursing Albrecht. He had good proof about Pikachu! Well, okay, maybe he had a point about Roy being sick…but still!
The glove let out a frustrated sigh, mumbling to himself how he had things perfectly under control…
…until he heard his locked office door slam open. He turned around; only to find no one there.
"What is the meaning of this?" the glove asked angrily.
"You don't deserve to run this tournament," A raspy voice replied. "Your smashers are dying, and locking them away won't do you any good…they will die…one by one…"
Perspiration ran down Master Hand as fear began to rise inside him. He tried to back himself up, but found that fear held his voice tightly.
"What's the matter? Can't even speak?" The raspy voice of the murderer asked. He let out a chuckle. "Ah, the sweet bliss of fear…I've forgotten how nice such an emotion can be."
"G..get out of my office!" Master Hand cried, finally finding his voice. The murderer chuckled again.
"Is that all you wish to say? Very well. Prepare for your fall." Master Hand couldn't even turn away before finding himself pinned to the wall, a giant spike embedded into the center of his had. There were five snaps, and five slightly smaller spikes embedded into each of the fingers. All six pinned the glove to the wall. "You do not deserve to run this tournament. Farewell."
In a matter of minuets, Master Hand was dead.
"Master Hand! Five more minuets til the battle!" Falcon's voice shouted. The murderer let out a third chuckle before vanishing. "Master Hand!"
Falcon entered the room, but could only stare at the pinned down glove.
Fear seemed to have pinned his legs to the ground as a realization hit him.
"Master Hand didn't fight…" Falcon muttered. "Maybe…we're all doomed…"
Feeling came back to his legs, and he ran to Albrecht's office, screaming about the glove's murder.
Mario and Falco prepared for battle, both staring each other down on the Battlefield. But instead of the Announcer crying "Ready? GO!" He shouted something else.
"This match will not commence!"
Both competitors barely had enough time to blink before being teleported away.
Bowser: And that ends RoyalFanatic's chapter!
Marth: Master Hand died…maybe things aren't what they seem after all?
Bowser: Or maybe it's as the murderer said: MH isn't fit to run the tourney?
Marth: Only the four writers know the answer to that! We apologize for the delay, and also if it's not on par length-wise with the previous chapters.
Bowser: Review! We'll see ya chapter twelve!