Next up, they will arrive. Zelda said she was offended at how she was portrayed and Samus said something similar as well, but I decided that people usually think of themselves in a better light than they should. Anyway, I told them we all have room to grow.
The next morning all the males walked to school collectively, Mario leading the way. Marth launched into Japanese, so his conversation with Ike could be private.
"How was your roommate, Ike?"
"He was great. He likes to play cards and he showed me how to fire his missile launcher. I like him. He's my type. Strong and silent."
Marth, beginning to feel jealous, answered, "But is he really a gentle giant inside?"
Ike, who had always taken the jokes of him being a sort of softy on the inside, suddenly frowned. "What do you mean?" His voice was hard and he suddenly stepped back and fell in line with Snake and a man with a tight blue suit and a helmet and mask. Marth guessed he was Captain Falcon, Link's roommate.
The prince, feeling sad that his friend seemed to have lost all sense of humor along with growing ultra buff, stepped up to walk beside Link, who happily engaged him in conversation until they reached the school and he grabbed Marth's arm. "C'mere! I want you to meet Zelda!"
"I've met her," answered Marth, hastily trying to pull his arm from Link's grip.
"Well then let's talk to her and that pink haired girl."
"The pink haired one is named Rashida," answered Marth, and jerked his arm free.
The two walked up to the girls.
"Hiya, Marth!" Exclaimed Rashida. "This is Zelda."
"I suppose we didn't formally meet before," said Marth, bowing.
Zelda smiled. "Oh. Okay. Nice crown. I'm guessing you're a ruler."
"A prince."
Link, turning a little red in the face, coughed loudly. "Hey, Zelda, do you want to hang out together during recess? I know you want to get acquainted with everyone, so I can introduce you to some of the men."
"Thanks, Link," replied Zelda, but she shrugged. "I think I'll just try to get better acquainted with the girls, though."
"Oh, sure," answered Link, but he looked angry and maybe hurt. He turned with a little wave and left to talk with Ness.
Marth bowed slightly again and left as well.
The entire day was rather uneventful and the learning was not very hard. During training was when something interesting happened.
No one exactly knew how it started, but it was rumored Captain Falcon had knocked Snake a little too hard, Snake, after saying something fierce sounding in another language, jumped on him hurled him into Ike, who stumbled forward, but turned quickly to give Falcon a kick.
The captain jumped to his feet. "Falcon Fire!" He shouted. Nothing happened and, furiously, he leapt on Snake. Ike joined the fight, and it was an all out wrestling competition, especially when Bowser roared, "Falcon, I'll help!"
Ike and Bowser began rolling on the ground, fighting and wrestling, grunting and roaring, and Snake punished Falcon severely, getting scratched and pulled to the ground as well.
Then Mario and Luigi tried to stop it and utterly failed, getting pulled into the fight as well, which caused Bowser to hurl Luigi's cap across the room, where it hit Link in the face.
The angered Link jumped into the wrestling brawl and began punishing the fighters with pinches and kicks until Snake grabbed his leg and jerked him into the midst of the fight.
Marth, after watching Bowser solidly pound Ike's head twice with a scaly fist, threw down his sword and leapt into the brawl with a yell. He wrapped one half gloved hand around Bowser's tuft of red hair and yanked, pushing down on the scaly neck with his other hand.
Bowser choked, which meant he spit smoke right into Marth's face. This brought stinging eyes and the next thing he knew his cape was snagged and his head hit something hard.
The fight ended when the authorities shouted over the loud speakers. At that all smashers froze, in and out of the actual wrestling brawl, and the tangle of bodies became separate forms again.
Marth, sweaty and bruised, besides a little smoke-fried from Bowser's breathe, glanced sullenly at Ike, who was folding his arms, his face bruised and a bleeding bruise just above his eyes. But when he met Marth's gaze his eyes suddenly twinkled and Marth ducked his head so Ike wouldn't see him control his smile. He didn't want his rough and ready friend to think Marth approved in anyway his fighting like that.
A moment later a young woman, her hair done up in a small, tight bun, dressed in what Ike would call 'no nonsense clothes' entered the room. Her eyes darted about, steely and piercing. "There's another rule you should know," she said, her voice cold. "There is no brawling outside of the official stadiums. Consequences could be severe, even going to elimination from the game of SSB Ultimate Brawl. Do I make myself clear?"
"Listen, babe," said Snake, folding his arms. His face was scratched up a bit. Marth knew that Snake always called women 'babe', one of the reasons Rashida had dashed up to Marth earlier that day with the exclamation, 'That Snake guy is so creepy!'
The woman turned her eyes to the smasher.
"Captain Falcon knocked me harder than he was supposed to. I wasn't going to just let it happen, babe. That's not me."
"Don't get fresh with me, Mr. Solid Snake!" She snapped. "I know everything about you from files. I know everyone's personality and secrets! Okay? Pack up your stuff from your dorms. Your bus leaves in a half an hour."
She turned and exited, her high heels clicking on the tile. As soon as she was gone there was a general releasing of held breaths.
"That is a mean lady," said a young boy with blonde hair that was gelled into a spike.
"Be quiet, Lucas," said another blonde boy, but who wore green clothes and a hat similar to Link's.
"Toon Link, leave him alone," answered Ness.
Marth turned and walked out the door, passing just in front of Ike to give him a punch in the chest. It didn't do much, but it showed he wasn't pleased. Ike jerked his cape out from Bowser's foot, tearing the edges a little more then they already were, and followed his friend.
"I'm sorry, Marth." Ike's voice rumbled softly behind him as they walked towards the bus. He was using Japanese, since Snake and Marth's roommate, a winged teenager named Pitt, were walking behind them.
"Don't be."
Ike grabbed Marth's backpack, slowing the prince so he was walking right next to the mercenary.
"You didn't have to join the fight."
Marth snorted. "You are my friend. Remember how Rashida always says your slogan should be mine."
"Only 'I fight for my friends,'" answered Ike, folding his arms. "I never thought 'You'll get no sympathy from me' was ever like you at all. You were always so forgiving."
Marth rolled his eyes to glance at Ike. "I'm not holding a grudge against you, but you heard what that woman said about getting thrown out of the game for behavior like that. I'm only worried that won't be enough of an incentive, or should I say threat, to keep you to control you behavior."
"You think I can't take care of myself?"
Marth contemplated. "No. But you acknowledge yourself you get 'anger rushes'."
"Actually I've been better with controlling myself. The reason I fought was because I haven't done so in years. And it's fun. Even the getting hurt part." He grinned a little and shrugged. "You don't get it."
"Ike," said Marth, turning to walk backwards so he could face his friend. "No matter how different we are and how much I do not understand you, you just promise me you will not let it get in the way of our friendship."
"Nothing could get in the way of our friendship," answered Ike.
The statement remained to be seen.
Zelda grabbed Link's proffered hand and stepped onto the bus, turning her head this way and that to see an extra spot. As much as she liked Link's company, she wanted to sit with her girlfriends on the ride.
"I'll sit here," said Zelda, scooting into a seat next to Kirby. "Hi," she added, turning to the little pink ball.
The pink ball glanced up at her and blinked, then opened it's mouth very wide and smiled a little. "Yo yo."
Zelda turned red. The animal didn't even speak her language. She turned around and saw that Link had already ascended to the top floor of the bus. She quickly got up and moved over to a window seat. Maybe she could call to Rashida or Peach to sit by her when they arrived.
Peach arrived, Rashida beside her, and both sat down together before Zelda could say anything. She controlled herself and folded her arms, turning as the sunlight was blocked by four men entering.
She recognized Marth and his big friend Ike. The other two she didn't know, but they both disappeared up the stairs before she could get a good look at them to see if they were handsome and potential suitors.
Marth walked down the isle and glanced around, searching for a seat. Zelda wouldn't mind if he sat next to her. He seemed well bred and kind. He sat beside Kirby. Zelda paled. The only seat left now was right next to her and there was no way she was letting the hulking Ike sit down and talk up half of her seat as well with his muscles.
She quickly lifted her legs and placed her golden clad feet on the chair next to her, yanking out a book to read. Her heart beat fast. Her window shade was pulled down and suddenly all light disappeared. Slowly she raised her eyes. Oh, brother.
Ike's eyebrows, which were just slightly darker than his hair were pulled together in a killer frown and his arms were folded. "Where do you want me to sit?"
Zelda clenched her teeth and saintly took her feet off the seat's cushion, replacing them on the floor and scooting her backpack over to make room for his feet.
Ike sat down and suddenly wished the seats were a little bigger. He turned to glance at Zelda, who was squishing herself up agains the window to avoid any contact with his bare arm. Her eyes were flashing as they read the book and he knew she was probably furious.
She glanced sideways and up at him and he met her gaze. "You want me to move, Princess?" His voice grated with more anger than he felt and he saw her stifle a flinch and calmly turn her eyes back to her book. "Your choice. I'm perfectly comfortable."
"What a liar."
It was a murmured reply and she turned her head to give him a flashing stare. "I'm positively certain you are not a prince like your friend."
Ike made no reply, only stared at her, his eyes dark and stormy, until she turned away, flushing and furious. "That's what I thought," she snapped under her breath.
The ride was bumpy which necessitated her flying against Ike's shoulder quite a few times. The last time she accidentally scratched him with her fingernails. He stared down at the white line she had created on his arm and then glanced at her. She was staring hard out the window.
They turned again, suddenly, and this time Ike shot out a hand and slammed it into the window just in front of her face to keep himself from smashing her against the glass like a bug.
She stared straight ahead, her mouth in a tight line and he removed his arm as the bus straightened out and stopped.
There was a whooshing sound and then the doors opened. Ness and Lucas leapt from their seats and were the first ones out of the bus. The others followed more slowly.
Rashida waited for Peach to get out of her seat and then followed the princess. When she stepped from the bus she gazed up in awe at the towering mansion that cast a shadow over them and the shuttle. It was the tallest building she'd seen, and yet it wasn't a plain sky scraper. It was a mansion; a fairytale castle. It was gorgeous.
"Oh, my," gasped Peach, a delicate gloved hand flying to her mouth. "It's beautiful." Her eyes suddenly sparkled as she turned to Rashida. "Isn't it amazing? I can't believe we're living here! I wonder who our roommates are going to be? Wouldn't that be cool if we were together?"
Rashida smiled and cocked her head. "I've never seen a house this big." She put one hand on her hip and slung her backpack over her shoulder with the other. "I'm guessing the stadiums are behind?"
"I don't know," mused Peach, taking a parasol from her backpack and open it.
"You don't need that," said Zelda's voice behind them. "That mansion gives plenty of shade."
"Isn't it awesome?" Exclaimed Peach, glad to re-gush over the gorgeous house.
"Yes," answered Zelda, smiling. "It's beautiful. Let's all go see what rooms we have."
Rashida read the list inside the lobby of sorts by the desk. "So I guess this desk usually has someone at it who can help us if we have questions. And the map shows where the rooms are and it says there are directories throughout the mansion. Okay, here it is. Peach! You're going to be with Zelda. And I..." Rashida gave a wry smirk and rolled her eyes. "Brother. I'm with Samus."
"I bet after a couple months of living together in the same suite you guys will be better friends," said Peach helpfully.
"Yeah," agreed Zelda. "I'm sure her toughness is just a front."
"I'm not," answered Rashida, but she shrugged and grinned at them. "See you guys at dinner in an hour!"
"Bye!" Sang Peach and Zelda followed her to the stairs.
Rashida looked around for Samus and suddenly saw her walk in. But she wasn't wearing her robotic armor. And without it she looked rather feminine in her blue body suit.
"Hi, Samus!" Called Rashida.
Samus, face a little red from sweat, glanced up and blew some wisps of hair out of her eyes. "Hey." Her blue eyes narrowed and she studied Rashida before raising a slim, dark eyebrow. "What's up?"
"We're roommates."
"Hm." Samus was laden with two large carry-on's, a large backpack, and a huge and lumpy duffle bag.
"Samus, they provide extra clothes," said Rashida, smiling a little at the baggage.
Samus snorted. "They don't provide my robot suit, genius."
"Oh," answered Rashida, miffed by her tone. "You need help? Because that's gonna be hard to carry up three flights of stairs to our room."
"I'll be fine," answered Samus. "I'm stronger than most think. How do you think I got this out of the bus without any dumb dudes asking to help me."
"Well maybe because you had a smart pink marshmallow do it," snapped Rashida. "And none of the 'dudes', at least that I know, are dumb."
"You just don't have an unbiased view of them," answered Samus, as she started up the stairs, Rashida following. "I, on the other hand, have just met them."
"Did you train with anyone that's part of this smash game?"
"Nope. And glad. Everyone I trained with stunk."
"Then how do they know you're great at fighting and not just amateur if they compared you with stinkers."
"Oh, sorry," laughed Samus. "They stunk to me. Everyone here might be great or they might stink. We just don't know on what level they are until we know how the SSB authorities pick us. I guess we'll see tomorrow for ' brawl tier testing'."
Rashida narrowed her eyes, flipped her braid over her shoulder, and nodded stiffly. "Yeah, I guess we will."
That evening, at dinner, Peach could not stop glancing over at the three tables where all the young men sat. They all looked so epic and, except for Captain Falcon, they were all pretty handsome. Of course that prince with the blue hair was handsomest, the elf with blonde hair and that green cap was next. The big muscular guy and the other muscular guy were pretty cool on about the same level, but the brown bearded one looked a little more... Mean.
"Judging the males, are we?" Samus' voice broke into her thoughts and she turned red and snapped her head around to stare into the calculating blue eyes.
"I was just wondering how hard they'd be to beat," she answered vaguely.
Just then Mario walked up to their table. "Hello, ladies," he said cheerfully. Then he turned to Peach. "May I have a word with you alone, please?"
Peach turned scarlet. "Why, Mario?" She asked, her voice suddenly barely above a whisper.
"Please," he repeated, his eyes staring into hers. He put out his hand.
Deftly she took it, cast an encouraging glance over her shoulder at the ladies, who had all stopped eating and were staring; Zelda's fork piled with food, Rashida with a glass halfway to her mouth.
"I'll be right back," she said.
Mario led her out onto a huge balcony that was just off the dining room. Outside lights lit up the dark a little so she could see the pillars and marble railing and shining tiled floor.
"Beautiful, no?" Said Mario.
"Yes," she answered, beaming, and hastily toned down her response. "Yeah, sure."
Mario raised an eyebrow. "Princess Peach, you remember what we talked about."
"Yeah. Of course."
"But I just don't want you to think that not having any romantic attachment means we can't be friends. Whenever you wish to confide in someone or have trouble with something I am always available." He grinned. "And if I'm not, Luigi is."
Peach's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, Mario. You're the best. And we won't be separate. I'm sorry I've been acting aloof. I just wasn't sure how I was supposed to be."
"That's all right," answered Mario, patting her hand. "Do you have your eye on anyone yet?"
Peach giggled. "So soon? I've only met the like two guys. We'll see." She smiled and then bent to give him a big hug, whispering in his ear, "I am really sorry. But thank you so much for being such an understanding friend."
Mario grinned and patted her shining hair. "You are welcome, Peach."
There was a shuffle and both broke apart, pink with embarrassment, as they spotted Ness, Toon Link, and Lucas, all of who looked just as embarrassed and quickly dashed away.
"You know," said Peach, folding her arms. "It was this kind of thing that made everyone think we were together during training."
"I know," said Mario grimly. "But we're not, so we'll just explain when explaining is needed, and otherwise live our lives." He covered his mouth as he suddenly yawned. "I ate and I'm going to bed. See you tomorrow. And I hope we aren't pitted against each other. I'd hate to beat you on your first day here."
Peach giggled. "I think you have it in reverse. I would hate to beat you on your first day." She grinned and waved and then re entered the brightly lit dining hall to cheerfully sit down with her friends and finish her meal.
Mario was happy I cleared up the idea of romance that had been between him an Peach. As he said, 'She's taller than me, after all!' That guy is really a sweet Italian.