Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Brothers, or Nintendo, or anything that is affiliated with either of those (unfortunately).

"Ike!"

Ike, who was busy polishing his broadsword, Ragnell, did not hear his name being called. Brushing his hair out of his eyes, he readjusted his position on the floor and picked up his sword to examine his handiwork. Satisfied, he stood up to go return it to the weapons room, when something collided with him at full speed and sent him sprawling.

XXX

Link was barreling down the halls. He was going so recklessly that he misjudged a couple corners, causing him to hit the wall opposite, which left him staggering rather drunkenly. Turning down a side hallway, he finally spotted who he was looking for.

"Ike!" Link yelled as loud as he could. For some reason, Ike didn't hear him. If he can't hear me, Link thought, then I'll just have to get his attention some other way, by knocking him over. Once within reach, Link leapt forward and slammed into Ike, which sent them both flying.

XXX

Somewhat dazed, Ike looked around him, searching for what knocked him over. His gaze fell on a boy slightly smaller than him, with blond hair and an instantly recognizable elf-like green hat in his hand.

"Yo, Link," Ike said calmly, "what's got you all wound up?"

"You think I'm wound up?" Link asked as the stood up, looking around nervously. "Mario's the one who's wound up! He's gone on some sort of rampage, and is taking out anyone who gets in his way!"

Ike seemed to be taking this rather calmly. "Who is he af-"

Ike was cut off by a sudden crashing sound as a very angry Mario knocked down the door in his haste to get inside. "YOU!" he cried, pointing straight at Ike. Link put his hat back on his head. "Oh yeah, forgot to mention, he's after you, Ike."

Ike stood up and looked at Mario. "What's this all about?"

"YOU! HOW DARE YOU! PEACH IS MINE!"

"Calm down Mario, I haven't even seen Peach since we brawled yester-"

"LIES! LIES I SAY!" Mario was growing more enraged by the minute. Fortunately, Captain Falcon chose this moment to arrive.

"Greetings, fellow brawlers!"

Everyone stared. Captain Falcon suddenly became aware of the red-hatted figure in front of him. "Mario! I've been looking all over for you! Come with me to the stadium! I must practice my Falcon Punch!" Dragging a protesting Mario by the overalls, the captain left, leaving Link and Ike to stare after them. Link let out a sigh of relief. "You just got really lucky Ike. Mario was about to tear you to pieces, and there was no way I was going to get in the way of the angry little guy."

"I can't understand why he's so angry," mused Ike, mostly to himself, "I wasn't even near Peach today!"

Link shrugged non-committally. Then his blue eyes lit up. "You know, Marth's been on a bit of a pranking spree lately…"

Ike laughed. "What, you think it was him? He cowers whenever he sees me with my sword!" For emphasis, he swung it around to rest on his shoulders. Link was forever in awe of how Ike could wield such a huge weapon with such ease.

Link became serious. "You know what he did to me? He put itching powder in my hat! Zelda wouldn't talk to me for a week until it wore off! Then, Marth went and replaced all of Olimar's pikmin with candies, and we all know how dangerous an angry Olimar is."

Ike shuddered. The last time someone made Olimar mad, they weren't heard of for a week. He ran his hand through his hair. "Yikes. What's gotten into Marth?"

The Hylian shrugged again. "Either way, he's probably the one behind this mess."

Ike seemed to agree with this. "Alright then. Where can I find the azure-haired prankster?"

Link shrugged for the third time. "Don't ask me. He won't even be in the same room as me since I kicked his butt with the Master Sword for making me all itchy."

Ike suppressed a laugh. "Go talk to Zelda, she seems to have been hanging around with him a lot lately," Link said with a hint of resentment. He checked the clock. "I should go; Sheik said she'd help me fix my glove. It got caught on one of my arrows right before I fired it, so it kinda ripped." Laughing a little and twirling his hat on his fingers, Link left Ike to sort out his Marth/Mario mess.

XXX

Zelda was lying on her bed, fantasizing about Link, when a tall figure appeared in the doorway. "Oh, hello, Ike," she said, "how can I help you?"

"Have you seen Marth lately?"

"I believe he went to his room," the princess replied. "Why?"

"I, er…need to talk to him."

Zelda raised an eyebrow. "Okay, you two boys have fun, then."

Too preoccupied to ponder the implications of that, Ike set off for Marth's room, which was, to Link's utter dismay, only a few doors down from Zelda's. Ike knocked.

"Oh, hey, Ike," Marth said as he opened the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?"

"Sure." Marth opened the door a little wider and stepped back.

"So I hear you told Mario I was hooking up with Peach." Ike was not one to beat around the bush. "What makes you an expert on my love life?"

Marth didn't respond immediately. His cobalt eyes were locked on something in Ike's hand. The warrior looked down and noticed that he was still holding Ragnell. He decided to use this to his advantage. "So," he said, swinging the blade up to rest on his shoulder, "you going to answer me or not?"

Marth, now looking very afraid, stammered, "C-come on, Ike! Wh-what's a little practical joke b-between friends?"

Ike swung the sword around above their heads to rest on the other shoulder. Marth let out a very un man-like squeal as it ruffled his hair. "Yikes! Not the hair! Jeez, Ike, it was just for laughs! No harm meant…"

Ike smiled in spite of himself. Marth had confessed. "Well, you know what this means."

From between silky bangs, Marth looked up. "What?"

Ike took Marth by the collar and started to drag him out of the room. "Time for a brawl!" he said lightly, with fire dancing in his eyes. Marth tried to free himself, but the prince was no match for someone who could swing a broadsword around like it was a toy. He groaned softly to himself.

Ike laughed. "After all that, it's time for some fun!"

Across the hall, Link laughed too. He had watched it all unfold from his perch on the wall. He uncrossed his arms, put on his hat, and went to the stadium to watch what would be quite the battle. Heck, if I get lucky, he thought, maybe Ike will let me join! Marth's been getting too close to my girl anyway. Time for revenge!