Day 2.

In which we give Marth a candle.


Did everyone feel like that, coming down after a sugar high? Marth sighed. They should try coming down from a sugar mountain.

He groaned. He still blushed to think of what he'd done. He couldn't believe he'd hugged Ike. Blushing with embarrassment, yes, because he was still humiliated about it, not blushing because he could still remember the realisation of just how big and strong Ike's chest had felt against his – no, no, nothing like that.

He sighed and slid slowly off his bed onto the floor, feeling underneath the bed for the small pack of candles he had bought the other day. He'd been too preoccupied yesterday with the sugar and subsequent embarrassment to do this, but today he'd remembered and had been waiting for the evening to carry it out. Now he sombrely took one pale vanilla candle from the pack and slotted it into a holder on his bedside table. Matches, matches… He looked around for a moment, trying to remember where they were, and then found them in the drawer a few moments later. Tenderly he struck a match, watching the small flame grow at the end before touching it lightly to the candle wick. As the flame grew steady he stood once more and crossed the room to turn out the lights and make sure the door was soundly closed. Pit might come back to the room in a little bit – he'd better keep this quick.

He crossed the room again and knelt in front of the bedside table, meditating for a moment on the candlelight. It was something he'd done every Christmas – not to mark the passing of weeks as they did in churches – but as a personal memoriam to his mother. She had always loved Christmas. He took a deep breath, and swallowed.

"Hi mummy." He looked down at his lap for a moment before looking back up at the candle. "I hope you're well. I haven't done a lot of exciting things this year, but I've tried to work hard at school. I still don't mix with the other boys much apart from Pit, but the girls are really kind to me. I'll try harder to talk to the boys more this Christmas, I promise." He paused. "You'd like Zelda – she's smart, but very caring. Peach still giggles at everything. A girl called Daisy joined my art class in September – her and Peach are friends now. Samus is still flirting with the Maths teacher." He paused again, folding his hands a little tighter in his lap. "I miss you." The candle flickered a little as he breathed out the words, and he waited for it to steady again before continuing. "Once we sewed decorations for the Christmas tree, do you remember? Little stockings and star shapes. And you used to help the cooks in the kitchen with the Christmas roast, even though you weren't meant to, because you liked cooking. Father didn't approve much but your excuse was that you were just being generous because it was Christmas. I remember you smelt of oranges…" He laughed a little, sadly, briefly lost in reminiscence. The smell of vanilla comforted him as he finished. "Merry Christmas, mummy."

Just then there was a knock at the door and a moment later it opened, Pit peeking through.

"Marth?"

"It's okay, you can turn on the light."

"No, I'm only passing on a message. Peach was asking for you. She's baking scones."

"Oh – I almost forgot! Just coming." He stood and followed Pit out of the room, leaving the candle behind him, flickering brightly in the darkness.