BabyGurl here with the next chapter. I won't say much so you can get right into it.

Enjoy!

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La Belle

Chapter 9

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The next thing Falco knew was that he was standing back in the tournament room right in front of the portals. He blinked examining his body perplexed by what happened. He was perfectly fine, along with Mario who finally teleported in front of him. Their match was cancelled and the reason being was unknown.

Mario shared a similar expression to the bird as he stepped forward studying the empty room. Falco turned his head, questioning where everyone had gone. He had a strong feeling something had happened. Did another smasher die or was another clue uncovered causing more to the chaotic mystery?

"What happened?"

Falco shrugged. "You're asking me? I was with you, remember?"

" Mama mia something had to have happened." Mario panicked pacing around the room, anxiously.

Falco raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you the brave one?" He questioned. Mario suddenly stopped turning to the smasher. Falco took a deep breath as he headed for the door. "Let's go figure out what's going on."

Mario nodded agreeing as he followed this competitor out of the room.

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"Master Hand is gone! Master Hand is gone!"

That was the only sentence that kept coming out of Captain Falcon's mouth. His heart raced in his chest and sweat beaded down his forehead as his legs continued to run toward Albrecht's office. Master Hand was dead, and it was going to leave the smashers in fear. Falcon was already anxious, because the murderer had finished Master Hand quickly. He didn't have a chance.

Captain Falcon's scream echoed through out the hallway, as he continued to run. Stopping wasn't an option. He passed Zelda on the way just as he let out another scream.

"Master Hand is gone!"

Zelda stepped to the side, watching Falcon pass. "Where did he go?"

Falcon finally stopped turning back to the princess. "He's dead, Zelda."

Zelda's eyes widened as fear was clearly seen within her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand, shaking her head unable to accept the fact given to her.

"What?" She stammered, dropping her hand to her side. "No…"

Falcon nodded, panting. "It's true. I'm going to Albrecht to tell him."

"I'll go too…" Zelda replied. "This is terrible."

Falcon agreed as he continued to hurry with Zelda at his side. The two continued down the hallways silently, for they both were thinking of what's going to happen next. Master Hand was gone, which also caused the mystery to become easier. They were now aware that Master Hand wasn't the one who murdered them. The one thing was still for certain, none of them deserved to die.

The murderer was going to pay.

Falcon and Zelda both reached Albrecht's office and barged right in calling his name. Falcon entered first, with Zelda following close behind. Falcon entered the room but suddenly stopped. He looked over at Albrecht. He held his back to the smashers, before turning to face them. His emerald eyes fell upon Falcon in the middle of the room.

"Mr. Albrecht sir…" Falcon spoke nervously. "Master Hand is dead!"

Albrecht frowned. "Are you sure?"

Falcon nodded. "I saw him, he was impaled. He's dead!"

"What's going to happen?" Zelda question.

Albrecht sighed stepping out from behind his desk. "This is not good. That murderer is not playing around."

"We should call off the tournament." Falcon suggested, he turned looking at Zelda. "We can't risk any more--"

"NO!" Albrecht shouted, surprising the two smashers. Zelda and Falcon both froze at his striking voice as they stared up the older man. Albrecht shook his head, his voice calm. "The tournament will still continue. I will get to the bottom of this."

"Should we tell about Master Hand?" Falcon questioned.

"Everyone has the right to know." Albrecht replied.

"And you're going to be in charge of the tournament, right?" Falcon finished.

Albrecht nodded silently in response. Falcon and Zelda both exchanged glances. "Right now, a battle was stopped. It must continue."

"Falco and Mario's?" Zelda asked, turning her attention back to Albrecht.

He nodded. "Yes. Go find and tell them to continue with the battle."

Falcon and Zelda both nodded and obeyed Albrecht's words as they hurried out of the room in search of Falco and Mario. Their minds were still focused on Master Hand, but also a new worry that developed within them.

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"Marth, where are you going?"

The blue haired prince ignored Peach's call as he continued down the hallways to the medical facility. They had just figured out about Master Hand's death from Zelda, and he wanted to go check up on Roy. Roy was still recovering, and he was starting to get worried about his friend. Things were just chaos at the mansion now. It wasn't safe and anything could happen.

"I'm going to check up on Roy."

"I hope he is okay." Peach explained softly.

"Me too. So much stuff is going on right now."

The two turned the corner heading closer to the facility.

"Do you think Pikachu really is the murderer?" Peach questioned.

Marth shrugged and sighed deeply. It was silent for a moment, and only their footsteps were heard walking down the hallway. He turned his head to Peach. "To many people are being accused."

Peach nodded. "You're right. It's insane."

"I'm not really ready to point fingers, right now." Marth turned his head back as they reached the medical facility.

He opened the door and stepped inside looking around at the empty room. Peach's eyes widened as she and Marth both looked around the room. Marth's blue eyes fell to the bed where Roy was supposed to be lying. It was empty. The white sheets were thrown to the floor and the pillow was hanging off the edge. A half filled glass of water sat on the nightstand next to his bed, with the remote to the TV.

Marth stepped over to Roy's bed perplexed. He sighed deeply. It was the second time Roy left the medical facility. What was his excuse this time?

"Where is he?" Peach questioned.

Marth sighed deeply. "I don't know."

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"Ready!"

Falco stood back on the battlefield listening to the announcer's voice. The time has finally arrived. He was ready for this battle, just as much as Mario. It was a battle between winning and losing. Life and death.

"Set!"

Mario blinked as he hunched over getting ready. He stared at Falco who waited on the other side of the battlefield. It was their moment and even though they weren't fighting to the death, death was on the line.

"GO!"

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Fox hurried down the hallways in search of Ganondorf determined to get some answers. He was followed by Bowser and Islode, who accompanied him in the search. Ganondorf was one of the suspects for murdering the smashers. He was one out of the many who were accused. The only way for them to get farther into the investigation is to start focusing on certain smashers.

Right now that was Ganondorf.

The three located him in the dinning hall just about to leave. Luckily they had reached him in time. Fox sprinted by the tables calling out Ganondorf's name. Ganondorf stopped and crossed his arms, watching the two smashers and Islode walk up to them.

His golden eyes glared down at Fox. " I didn't know I was so popular. What do you want?"

"We want to ask you some questions." Fox replied.

Ganondorf shrugged. "About?"

"Mewtwo and the control room!" Bowser spat.

Fox nodded. "A lot of things. You are accused of murdering the smashers."

Ganondorf raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Heh, so I finally joined the group."

"It's no laughing matter." Islode placed her hands on her hips.

"Don't be pointing fingers at me." Ganondorf explained sternly. "Just because I located Mewtwo's body doesn't mean I killed him."

"But how did you know where he was?" Fox questioned.

Bowser agreed. "Yeah, how did you know where he was buried?"

"I had a dream about it." Ganondorf answered truthfully.

Islode seemed surprised. "A dream?"

Ganondorf nodded. "Yeah. If I really did kill Mewtwo. Do you think I would seriously uncover him?"

Bowser lifted a finger. "But you could have done that to cover yourself up."

Ganondorf frowned. "You are pathetic."

Fox sighed deeply. "What about the control room?"

"What about it?" Ganondorf replied back.

"Master Hand said the control room was hidden. How did you find it?"

"I found it on accident." Ganondorf explained.

Bowser snorted with a laugh. "Accident?"

"You don't believe me?" Ganondorf faced the large lizard.

"Where did you find it?" Islode quickly asked before more trouble started.

"Through a white screen. It was located behind a picture on the wall." Ganondorf faced her. "A picture of Albrecht."

Fox frowned as he lowered his head. "That's strange."

Islode nodded, agreeing with the young fox. "It is. Do you think my father knows?"

Fox shrugged about to speak but the back door opened causing Popo to run in. The four turned and watched as the young boy hurried over toward the group with fear across his face. He stopped behind Bowser catching his breath from the search.

"What's wrong?" Bowser questioned.

Popo lifted his head and turned to Fox. "Fox, you need to come quick."

"Why?"

"Falco lost his match."

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Falco slammed his fists against the sliding glass door, causing it to rattle. He sighed deeply opening it, and stepping out to the back side of the mansion. He lost his match against Mario. He was disappointed, mainly with himself. He knew he owned that game easily, but how did Mario end up beating him? It was impossible. Falco knew he was stronger than that.

He closed the sliding glass door behind him and headed down away from the mansion. He listened to his feet drag across the grass as he continued to think about what happened. Today was surely not his day. First Master Hand was found dead and now he lost his match. What would Islode think if she found out about his loss? He would seem weak to her.

Falco walked down the small hill behind the mansion and stopped in front of the woods. He lifted his head, feeling the breeze greet his body. His mind was too busy focused on the fact that he lost that he failed to realize something important. It didn't finally come to him until he noticed he wasn't alone.

"Falco…" A raspy voice called out.

Falco felt his heart drop. "Who the hell is here?"

"Someone important to you."

"Who?" Falco shouted. He suddenly remembered. "We're on to you. I know why you're here and let me tell you I'm not going to fall for it."

The voice was heard laughing. "Well now. Let's see if you expect this."

Falco raised an eyebrow perplexed. He stood still trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from. Soft movement was heard coming from behind, causing Falco to swiftly turn. He didn't get much time to search the woods for the voice before he heard a quick weapon being fired. The next thing he knew, pain developed inside of his right leg. It didn't take long for him to realize he had been hit.

Falco grunted as he fell to his knees. He lowered his head at the arrow that pierced his leg. Falco felt the blood trickling down his leg as he tried to remove the arrow. The pain only increased with each struggle. When he thought it was over, he heard the same noise. Falco looked up only to be greeted by another arrow, this time hitting his chest.

"Damn!"

Falco fell to his back as the pain doubled. His heart throbbed and his breathing became heavy. He tried to pull the arrow out, but they continued to come. More and more arrows dug their way into his skin, causing him to scream. Eventually the arrows had stopped, as they covered his body. One was dangerously close to his heart. He managed to pull out a few, but the blood began to soak his clothes.

"Falco Lombardi is no more…" The voice exclaimed.

Falco leaned his head back as he reached for the arrow closest to his heart. He used the remainder of his strength to try and pull the arrow out, but found he was too weak and the pain was unbearable.

"Fox…Islode…"

Eventually, Falco had taken his final breath.

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Author's Notes:

Ta-da!! Another chapter completed and over with. Yay!! I'm still glad that even with my broken laptop I am able to write, so thankfully you guys didn't have to wait too long. Heh.

Hope you enjoyed it!

Until Next Time!