O…M…I'M SO SORRY PEOPLE! It's been WAAAY too long! (Bows in apology over and over again)

Falco: Ahh, you managed to update, and that's all that matters. I like the chapter too. I think the readers will as well.

Still…I delayed this for far too long! I feel so bad! ;.;

Falco: Well, the other collab authors forgave you, so that's good. Right?

Yes. Oh, and credit is given to Herr Wozzeck. The others below will state why. Away chapter, because it's about time!

The kids' spirits died. That's all there was to it. Young Link…dead…never to play with them again.

Ness stood silently as he heard the news from the team. It had been a draw, a tie, a loophole…unfortunately, it was already covered. And Young Link was the one who paid the ultimate price.

"It's…going to be so weird…without him…" Nana muttered sadly, tears in her eyes. "You know?"

"Yeah," Popo agreed, giving his sister a hug. "Zelda's devastated too; she came with Link, Young Link, and Ganondorf; now she has to leave alone." She looked to the Hylian princess, who was watching the ground; her eyes were red.

"That is…if she even does make it through this alive," Ness said.

"Don't say that!" Popo cried. "We'll…we'll make it through! We'll stop him before the finals end! R-right!?"

"Then we have to hurry," Fox said. "Already, others have to make the same choice as Bowser had to…" He looked to Marth and Isolde as he spoke.

The prince paled. "What do you mean?"

"The next battle's you versus Ness," Fox replied sadly, shaking his head.

Eyes widened as everyone gasped, looking towards both Marth and Islode before turning to face Ness.

"Again!?" Bowser roared. "We have to go through this again!? Why are the gods torturing us so!?"

"It's alright…" Ness said, holding up his hands. "It's cool. Really. I have no problems losing this match."

"And dying so young?" Marth asked. "You're still a child Ness! You have your whole life ahead of you!"

"But you're a prince!" Ness shouted. "You're going to be king one day!"

"I'm…not really…I was exiled, remember?"

"Doesn't matter!" Ness shouted. "You'll find a way to return home. I know it! Besides, I'm sure your people still love you! And what about poor Isolde? First Falco, now you? Do you want to put her though such misery!?"

"I…" Marth looked to the ground. "No…of course not…"

"Then let me lose," Ness said. "For both of your sakes, let me lose."

"But Ness, what about your parents and friends!?" Nana shrieked. "What about us!? We'll be the only kids left in the mansion!"

"It's okay," Ness said calmly. "You guys will be fine; you have each other. My parents and friends will understand, too. They'll know I did my best, and that I lived a full life, and that's all that matters."

"You call this a full life!?" Bowser roared. "I'm not going to stand here and watch another child die!"

"Then what are we supposed to do!?" Ness shouted angrily. "It's my life, you know! And if I say I want to end it, I want to end it! Seriously! If I do win…I'll kill myself! I swear!"

" Ness…" Bowser was speechless. "You…are you…so sure?"

"I've never been sure of anything in my entire life," Ness said in reply. "Yes. I will lose the battle, so others don't have to live in misery."

"Your friends and family…"

"They will understand!" Ness shouted. "You must trust me on this! Why aren't you!?"

"Don't hold anything back Ness," Marth said. "Even though you are so bent on losing…the guilt will still…"

"Yeah, of course," Ness said. "And please; don't feel too guilty after I'm gone, okay? I don't want anyone feeling guilty over my death."

Marth gave a small nod. "I'll do what I can. We better get ready." He gave Islode a kiss on the cheek before walking off. Ness nodded, waved to the Ice Climbers, and followed.

"Such a brave young boy…" Zelda muttered, feeling her eyes start to tear up.

"I…will always be in his debt," Isolde muttered. "Always."

"I can't believe this is happening!" Bowser roared. "This is--!"

"But Bowser, it is happening," Mario said sadly. "We knew Marth had to make a choice. And so do I…I'm fighting the Ice Climbers two battles from now…"

Bowser looked at the plumber, the Ice Climbers, and back at Mario. "The murderer's--!"

"It's not the murderer's fault!" Mario shouted. "He didn't come up with the tournament board! He didn't put us against the kids! It's no one's fault! If we have to blame something…we should just blame our emotions and judgment."

Bowser looked to the Ice Climbers. "Do you guys support this!?"

"He's right…Popo and I will always have each other…" Nana muttered.

"I trust him," Popo said. "Because we're friends."

Bowser now wheeled on Zelda and Isolde. "And you two!?"

"It's Ness' life, Bowser," Zelda said sadly. "He's the one who chooses whether it ends or not. Not us."

"I…will always be grateful to him," Isolde said. "Besides…I don't think any of us could persuade him anyway…"

At last, Bowser turned to Fox. "And you!?"

" Ness thought this entire thing out; what would happen if he died, and what would happen if Marth died," Fox said. "Personally, I agree with him; Isolde did already lose Falco, even if he wasn't exactly a boyfriend; losing Marth not too long afterwards would be even worse. Thinking of others above himself…he's a brave lad."

Bowser was speechless. Why didn't they understand!? How could they stand there and let a child die!?

"I know what you're thinking," Mario muttered. "You're thinking about Bowser Jr. and Young Link. But…sometimes we have to do things that are considered wrong. And the sooner we solve this mystery, the sooner we save the Ice Climbers. And everyone else too."

"You don't understand!" Bowser roared. "None of you!"

"So you want Marth to die!?" Isolde asked, her voice rising in her anger. "Is that it!?"

"NO!" Bowser's voice matched Isolde's. "Of course not! I never said that! I don't want either of them to die! This is just like the last time! Except this time I'm on the sidelines! But--!"

"Both surviving isn't realistic though," Fox said. "You tried, and failed. Ness must've thought that out as well: Should we choose who dies, or should the murderer?"

Bowser looked to the ground. "I…would never want the murderer to choose…it's bad enough he kills them…"

"There you go," Fox said. "And Ness and Zelda are right; it is his life, not ours. We can manipulate situations, but it is really only Ness who can choose if he wants to die or not. And despite his young life, despite all he has waiting for him back home, he still chose to take the fall. He is very noble, and very brave. We should honor him for that, and let him do what he wants."

"And it's not like Marth wants Ness to die either," Isolde added. "He was against it, remember? But when he realized Ness wouldn't change his mind…"

"Then we better head to the arenas," Bowser muttered.

"Yeah," Popo agreed. "So we can give him one last goodbye."

"Well…let's go then," Nana muttered.

As the group made its way through the mansion, Ness stood before the teleporter, watching its light pattern for what might be the last time.

While the PSI user realized that they were all right in their own aspects, he was still going to do this. No holding back, until the very end…that was all there was to it.

He had made Marth promise to go all out…and already he knew his chances for winning were quite slim. While he was confident in himself as a fighter, he always had the feeling that Marth, with more age and experience than himself, had the better skills. But now was not the time for such though.

'I wonder what one thinks about when they know they're about to die,' Ness thought, glancing around. He certainly wouldn't think about this place, that's for sure! He thought of his mother and father, his friends back in Onett, his travels to save his land. He thought about Young Link, who he would soon join, Popo and Nana, who would live the life he, and Young Link even, couldn't live. He thought about Bowser, who led the murderer into a trap and killed him. He thought about Mario, who clapped Bowser on the back. He thought about Zelda and Fox, who would be running to tell the others the news. He thought about Marth, sliding the engagement ring on a teary-eyed Isolde's finger.

Ness smiled, thinking about the happy things they would be doing when this was all over, and knew that he was making the right choice. 'Shucks! The only thing I have to worry about is Ganondorf, who's going to tell me I told you so!' He chuckled, imagining himself with a white robe and wings running away from a winged and robed Ganondorf, while the others, with the same wings and robes, laughed from the sidelines. He imagined a great, beautiful place, filled with flowers and trees and the life that had passed this world. He could see Young Link, with the other smashers and his ancestors behind him, waiting by the pearly white gate. He could hear Young Link saying. "Welcome to Heaven Ness!"

At once, the teleporter began to flicker and spiral; the time had finally come. Taking a deep breath and nodding, Ness walked into it, and felt himself being teleported away.

"READY?" Of all places they had to fight…it had to be the Final Destination…

"GO!"

For the investigation, the battle was intense; they watched as the two fighters went head to head, holding nothing back; items were sent flying, and slowly yet sure, they were losing stock. Ness would be the first; then Marth would eventually be sent flying. As things stood, the PSI user would lose the match anyway.

"I can't take this," Fox muttered. "I have to get out of this mansion. I'll be right back." He stood and left, without even waiting for the nods from the others. They were too busy watching the battle.

Then the tide turned, and soon Ness, with over one hundred percent damage and two stock, was winning against Marth, with fifty percent damage and only one stock. Ness was knocked out again, but now it was the prince who tethered towards losing, and death.

The PSI user refused to smash; he had planted the idea of losing the match firmly into his mind, and he would be damned if he ended up winning, and soon his damage counter rose to dangerous levels.

But now he realized that Marth was hesitating too; the guilt of letting a child die was obviously holding him back. For a time, the two stood, staring at each other, trying for one last time to persuade the other without words. Then Ness saw his opportunity; a bob-omb landed near Marth, and both knew what Ness was planning.

The PSI user ran forward, and unleashed a PK Fire, which caused the item to explode. Being so close to it, Ness was sent flying. Marth, meanwhile, had jumped away, holding his sword in a salute position as Ness turned into a star.

"GAME!"

Ness couldn't move…he could only barely breathe. His eyes weakly fluttered open…he was located outside the mansion. But how did he get here…? And what happened?

He remembered his sacrifice; the bob-omb's explosion seemed like a smoke bomb compared to the newly founded pain in his body though. Would he die here and now; having suffered…whatever he had after taking the final plunge? Or would someone find him?

His question was answered when he heard rustling in the bushes. Praying hard it was a smasher, Ness allowed his eyes to close.

The last thing he could hear was Fox's swearing.

When Ness was able to open his eyes again, he found he was now in the medical facility; the same room that Roy had been in not too long ago. The team, with the exception of Marth and Islode, Roy, and Peach, in her nurse outfit, gathered around the bed. "Wh…what happened?"

"You were found outside the mansion," Peach replied. "If Fox hadn't gone out to take a walk, you would've been dead by now."

"So…I survived the murderer's torture?" Ness asked weakly. He smiled. "Alright…"

"What a horrible way to die," Zelda muttered. "I must make sure to ban death by torture…no one deserves such pain…"

"Can you sit up?" Peach asked. The PSI user decided to give it a shot and rose from the bed; he was already starting to feel better. "Good! Just sit and rest, and you'll recover in no time!"

"Heh…with all the excitement going on, I…I forgot to eat," Popo said, scratching the back of his head. "I think we should all go and have dinner in celebration!"

"Yeah!" Roy agreed. "That sounds great!"

"Works for me," Bowser said. "I'm starved."

One by one the others agreed, until Peach was the only one who hadn't spoken. "Guys…I don't think that's a good idea…" She muttered. " Ness should really be in bed resting…"

"But food's essential!" Fox cried. "Besides, I'm sure a nice dinner will help him feel better. Right Ness?"

"Well, I am getting hungry," Ness admitted. "It shouldn't be bad, Peach. I'll be okay."

"But what about the murderer?" Peach asked. "He or she probably already knows they failed the job. What if they want to hurt him?"

"He'll be with us Peach," Bowser replied. "Besides, he's not battling anyone, since he lost the match, so he can't be touched."

"Bowser! I'm surprised you think that way!" Peach cried. "What if the murderer wanted Ness to be found alive? What if he dies while you guys eat!?"

"How the hell can Ness be possibly killed Peach!?" Bowser asked. "If you're trying to scare us, it's not working. We're going to eat, and you don't have to come with us if you don't want to!"

"But Bowser! I think this is exactly what the murderer wants!" Peach said. "I'm not trying to scare you guys!" She looked to everyone. "You believe me, right!?"

She was only met with silence. "Please…don't do it. Just let Ness rest here…please…"

But her words fell on deaf ears, and the others left the room, talking. Shaking her head, and feeling tears well in her eyes, Peach let a sob before making the bed.

The mansion had a kitchen and dining room, and everyone was seated in the grand table in the latter, holding up a glass of champagne or, in the younger kids' case, sparkling water or juice.

"To Ness!" Bowser cried, raising his glass. "For beating the odds and returning to us!"

"To Ness!" The others, minus the PSI user, roared, raising their glasses and drinking to the boy.

"You didn't have to do that…" He said, looking embarrassed.

"I insist!" Bowser said. "You have returned to us, and we are glad."

"Then I insist on this!" Ness said, raising his own glass. "To Bowser, the defender of the younger generation!"

"To Bowser!" The others, minus the koopa, shouted, raising their glasses and drinking now to the king.

After a few more toasts, they began to finally eat. Everyone began chatting, fleeing satisfied they had managed to outwit the murderer.

"Hey, I don't see Marth or Isolde here," Ness said, looking around. "They weren't in the medical room, either."

"Marth is spooked that you still lived, actually," Nana said. "He seems to think you're a ghost, Ness! And Isolde's with Samus trying to convince him that you're still alive."

Ness let out a bark of laughter before continuing finishing his meal. But as the food on his plate lessened and lessened, Ness felt stranger and stranger. Upon inspecting his plate, he saw a strange, white powder. First he thought it was salt, but when he lifted a piece of turkey and smelled it, it had a strange odor; bitter and faintly almond-like.

Before he could question what it was, he felt his eyelids grow heavy. His body began to slow down. In a matter of seconds, he collapsed, falling off the chair and onto the ground.

Nana noticed immediately. " Ness? Ness! Bowser! SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH NESS!"

Everyone turned as Bowser knelt at the boy's feet. "Wh-what the!? How did he…?"

Mario ran over and inspected Ness' plate. "That powder…" He carefully took a whiff. "Almonds? Could it be cyanide!?"

"Cyanide?" Several voices asked. "What's that!?"

"He's in a coma…" Peach whispered tearfully. "We have to hurry before it's too late!"

"Do you have an antidote kit!?" Bowser roared.

"I don't know!" Peach cried. "This facility isn't like the mansion back home!"

Wordlessly, Fox, Zelda, and the Ice Climbers began rummaging through the desk drawers and cabinets. Mario left for the doctor's old office, hoping to find it there.

Peach wiped Ness' forehead with a wet cloth as Bowser stared at the child. Why was this happening now? Before he could say anything, Ness began to twitch. "God! What's happening now!?"

"Seizures!" Peach cried, trying to hold him down. "Did anyone find the kit yet!?"

"Not yet!" Fox cried. "Oh man, what do we do now!?"

"Holy… Ness isn't breathing!" Bowser shouted.

"Apnea…" Peach muttered. "Then cardiac arrest…and finally…"

Several more minutes of fruitless searching followed before Peach whispered two words…

"He's dead…"

"Wha…NO!" Nana cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "And he lived through the battle! Why!?"

"YOU DID IT!" Bowser roared. You KNEW what he liked to eat, so you did it!"

"NO! I didn't!" Peach cried, tears falling like a waterfall. "I swear I didn't!"

"Of course she didn't!" Mario shouted angrily, entering the room. "She was the one telling us not to go! She was trying to save him!"

"She knew how he was going to die though!" Bowser roared. "She did it!"

"That doesn't make any sense!" Popo shouted. "If Peach was the murderer, she would've wanted Ness to go, so he would die!"

"She still knew!" Bowser roared.

"It was female intuition!" Peach cried. "The murderer is obviously trying to tell us he's toying with us now!"

"Bowser, Peach has a point!" Zelda said. "Don't blame her!"

"Female intuition my—"

"What about Pikachu!?" Nana screamed. "What about Ganondorf!? We made this mistake twice already! Don't make it a third time!!"

Everyone stopped, staring at the crying Ice Climber. Popo nodded, shaking.

"She…she's right," He said. "Accusing each other wo-won't get us…any-anywhere…w-we have to find the mu-murderer…so no one else can die…"

Bowser looked to the ground, remembering Samus' words about fear and pandemonium during the trial. He had dismissed them as garbage back then, when he was so convinced that Ganondorf had did it, but now…

Now he knew she was right.

Bowser: I've been a fool! SOB! ;.;

Marth: Geez, RoyalFanatic loves dealing with the chemicals, doesn't she? First Ganondorf dies by lethal injection; then Ness dies by food poisoning. As said above, credit is given to Herr, for suggesting cyanide.

Bowser: Yeah, tell me about it. XD So, at long last, and with many, many apologies for RoyalFanatic, chapter sixteen's up. Tell us what you think!

Marth: Review!