Chapter 3

-o-

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head


Zelda walked downstairs, straight into the living room where most of the Smashers had already gathered. Quite understandably. The bedrooms were not much to see. But her heart sank when she saw the groups that had already formed. Circles that were already closed and complete.

"Zelda," Link called out to her as he hurried down the stairs. "There you are. My room is on the third floor."

"Where exactly?"

"Somewhere in the middle, I'll show you later," he said when he, not very unexpectedly, spotted a familiar face – or in this case: a familiar helmet.

"Samus!"

Link waved at someone who could easily have been mistaken for a robot because of its fiery-colored metallic suit, not to mention the cannon attached to the right arm. Until Zelda could make out the slim deducing pair of eyes behind the green visor she believed that to be the case, but such eyes could impossibly be artificial. The strength in them was striking, even though it felt to the princess as if she was merely hinting them behind leave-covered branches of a tree moving like a green curtain in front of them.

The princess lingered in the background while Link gave the stranger a friendly pat on the huge globe-shaped shoulder pieces. This person surely gave off an impression to be someone one would do better to respect. Samus in turn seemed to get an impression of Zelda as the red helmet was turned in her direction.

Zelda decided that Samus had to be a woman. She was tall as a man and of what the princess could make out of the eyes they were neither very masculine nor feminine but it was something about the way she moved and the defining waist of her suit. The Hylian princess held out her hand and put on a smile when Link urged her to the front with a gentle push.

"This here is–"

"Zelda," Samus filled in cooly.

"How did you know?" Zelda asked as Link was busy staring.

"Based on what I have been told it was apparent.," Samus said, her head turning the smallest bit towards Link.

By now Zelda was convinced that Samus was female. Her voice sounded as if it came from a loudspeaker or a walkie-talkie. It was deep, but definitely the voice of a woman.

"Nice to meet you," Zelda said. Even though she had told herself she was convinced beyond a doubt she hesitated before she added, "it's nice to meet another female Smasher. Of what I have understood we are quite few."

"I guess," Samus said and took her hand after a moment's hesitance.

"Wait, wait." Link cut in. "Why did you call Samus a woman?"

"Her voice..." Zelda trailed off. Had she been too hasty? Samus did have a very firm and manly grip.

Samus let go of Zelda's hand and gave the back of Link's head a light slap.

"Sometimes my voice is not enough for people to draw that conclusion, like with this dolt."

"Chipper as always," Link muttered and snatched Zelda's released hand to leave. "See you later, Samus."

"It was nice meeting someone..." Samus said and Zelda tugged at Link's hand to make him stay long enough for her to say goodbye. "It was nice meeting you, Zelda."

"Likewise," Zelda said over her shoulder.

They only got to take a few steps before Link stopped so suddenly Zelda all but walked into him. Of all things, the hero found himself face to face with a ten-year-old version of himself. Meddling with the flow of time was nothing new to the Hylians but that did not mean that one would casually wave and say hi if oneself showed up right before one's eyes.

"Z-Zelda?" The younger Link blurted out with burning cheeks when the princess stepped out from behind his older self.

Memories of the first time Zelda met Link rushed over her. He had been so trusting and openhearted, and here he stood exactly the same. She found herself melting at the sight of his big blue eyes that had widened at the sight of her.

"It's you, isn't it, Princess?"

"Yes," Zelda said, smiling.

"W-well, I should know, it was just so long ago... I mean not that long ago..." The boy looked down at the floor. Judging by his words he had already seen her in this form, and that in turn meant he had once been the seventeen-year-old Hero of Time and been returned to the past by her to his current form – which would in time turn into the man beside her.

"Does this have anything to do with the Temple of Time? Or is it some kind of trick involving the ocarina of time?" Young Link mumbled to the ground. "But I swear I did not play that song. Or did you?" He raised his head.

The other Link had been carefully eyeing his miniature doppelgänger and now he grabbed Zelda's shoulder.

"This could be some kind of trick," he said and pulled Zelda back behind him again. The young boy noticed her stumble on one step and in an instant the short Kokiri Sword flew out of its sheath.

"Don't hurt her," the boy said, trying his best to sound threatening. He did neither sound nor look like much in comparison when his older self pointed the much more impressive legendary Master Sword at him. His same fierce expression came across as a lot more menacing on a grown-up's face.

"I would never," the older Link said.

"I know you never would," Zelda interrupted them and seized the opportunity to lower her friend's arm. Really, drawing weapon at a child. But he had to know that deep down without her telling him off. Her eyes moved to the boy who was one second looking back at her and the next staring at her hand on Link's.

"Are we?" he uttered shakily.

Link saw where this was going. The little pipsqueak would ask if they were a couple. He gestured wildly for the boy to stop while Zelda bent down and smiled reassuringly at him.

"Zelda are we…"

Link mouthed shut up but his younger self did not seem to get the point and Link cursed himself. How could he not get a hint from himself? This required drastic measures.

"D-did we…"

Link leapt past Zelda and knocked his younger self with the hilt of his sword so that he toppled unconscious to the floor.

"Link!" Zelda cried and jumped to her feet.

"I can take it," he attempted to calm her, and before she could reply they were interrupted by a loud chuckle.

"Bickering like a married couple," the dragon-like creature called Bowser snorted out before he broke into laughter.

"They wouldn't become a couple if so the goddess Nayru herself wished for it."

The Hylians froze. Zelda recoiled at the very sound of that voice. A power-hungry thief, enslaver and murderer. Ganondorf Dragmire, the king of Hyrule's outcasts from the desert. The Gerudo people. He was the reason to the death of her father and her seven years of watching Hyrule fall asunder while in hiding. He was the reason why Link had to accept his fate as a hero and slaughter the soulless creatures that had poisoned their kingdom. All for a sickening desire of one man to claim for himself the power the three goddesses of Hyrule, Din, Nayru and Farore, had left behind for the world they had created. But the three goddesses were crafty and only one third had been taken by Ganondorf's evil heart and Link and Zelda had become the guardians of the remaining two pieces of the Triforce. Together the hero and the princess had sealed the Gerudo away, but if Young Link could be here, then...

His dark skin had a greenish tone to it. His enormous build was even more intimidating than either Link or Zelda remembered. He could have looked ugly with his monkey-like pierced ears, the big pointy nose, high forehead, mean slanting eyebrows and wild fiery red hair but together these features seemed to define the strength and power radiating from him. Most outstanding were the eyes of a warm golden color that expressed such haunting evil it made one feel anxious just being in his presence.

Link mumbled his name before he found himself and walked around Zelda to make sure she was behind him. "Who let you in?" Link demanded and pointed his sword at Ganondorf.

"It doesn't really matter if people let me in or not," Ganondorf replied and shrugged. "I enter whichever place I want to."

"I will personally throw you out," Link growled.

Ganondorf glanced past him at Zelda's right hand. "Rash as always, I see. Unfortunately, there is something keeping me here. Or should I say someone? Someone I might pay a nightly visit to if you will not keep out of my way, boy," Ganondorf said while his gaze remained transfixed upon Zelda's hand where the triangular mark of the Triforce of Wisdom could be seen. As if alarmed by his presence it glowed faintly through her glove.

Meanwhile young Link lay forgotten on the floor.

"They aren't a couple?" Bowser broke the tense silence.

"What's it to you?" Ganondorf said. "Bowser, I take it? I thought that there was at least one person here who was not a delusional idealist but I can see there's nothing more to you than an ugly surface."

"What? I am very, very evil! Just so you know I have kidnapped a princess – a true princess – a billion times!" Bowser tried to boast and heaved his chest out to make himself seem bigger, which was completely unnecessary as he was already disturbingly large.

"The same princess? You must be very good at kidnappings," Ganondorf said with a great amount of sarcasm and raised an eyebrow at Bowser. Somehow he forgot to mention that he too specialized in the kidnapping of a princess.

"W-well, she is actually pretty tough and she has her hero that saves her all the time…"

Ganondorf tapped his chin and seemed to accept this as he himself had the same problem with Link and Zelda. Not only was Zelda difficult to abduct, every time he succeeded Link came running before you could say the "tri" in Triforce. At that moment a shrill voice drenched all others – quite an effort for your information.

"Did you see the rooms? White walls! I can't believe it. The first thing we'll do tomorrow is to go shopping. Right, Mario?"

Peach came marching down the stairs with a short man with a most amazing mustache and a red cap following her. Bowser's eyes were immediately drawn to her and Zelda's ears perked up at the sound of the name Mario.

"Sure, sure, Peachie," Mario, the short man, said as he observed the ceiling. He looked ready to break into a smile at anytime. Not a rude one but rather one lying in waiting for Peach's sake. Zelda immediately took a liking to him.

"I am lucky you know your plumbing, honey," Peach said. "Only one toilet!" She stared at the ceiling as if to ask God why this had happened. "And Bowser is here too! I looked forward to a couple of relaxing weeks of peace and quiet. Just the two of us."

"Don't-a worry, it'll work out. Luigi is-a here too and with the Mario bros together Bowser does not-a stand a chance," Mario said, not showing the smallest sign of worry and the awaited smile appeared.

Ganondorf glanced at Bowser, correctly deducing just which princess the Koopa had targeted.

"It must be a lot of trouble kidnapping that princess and fighting a plumber."

"That evil witch can use a frying pan in ways unimaginable," Link interjected to Bowser's defense.

"Yeah!" Bowser quickly agreed with faint hopes of regaining his pride.

One look at Peach's face and it would have been clear to anyone that she had heard Link. That was the downside with having a strong voice and always speaking one's mind. Peach pulled out her frying pan as if from nowhere and came at them with long strides. When Link noticed her it was already too late to run but fortunately for Link Peach tripped over the unconscious Young Link.

"Peachie!" Mario cried out and was over by them in a second.

Peach rubbed her forehead, took a peek at the unconscious child lying face down on the floor and glared at Link.

"So you're a child abuser too?" she quickly accused him.

"What makes you believe that I," Link began but then remembered that it actually was his doing. "He deserved it," Link finished promptly and crossed his arms.

"You… evil…" Peach mumbled through lips that she struggled to press shut.

"So they are not a couple?" Bowser asked Ganondorf again and pointed at Link and Zelda.

"And they never will be," Ganondorf said curtly.

"Wanna bet?"

"How much?"

"50 coins."

"Humph… I say 200 rupees."

"Rupees?" Bowser mumbled but when Ganondorf raised his eyebrows and looked far from impressed by this response he shook his head and pulled out an emerald from his shell.

"How about jewels? Now that's a real better."

Ganondorf gave the emerald Bowser was holding up a look of deepest dismay. It looked like one old regular rupee to him. He would not gain anything on this.

"At least go with silver."

"Okay then, whatever's-ya-name. I want a one year limit."

Link and Zelda watched them in silence, Zelda speechless and Link completely scarlet. Peach was busy checking if young Link was all right and gasped once she had turned him on his back.

"This can't be true! We were told about people coming from different times but having two of that awful, awful, awful, awful, awful, awful…"

Link glared at her.

"…Awful, awful, awful man!" Peach finished, pointing at Link. "But a child is still a child. Isn't there a doctor around here? This is a fighting competition after all."

As if on command a man looking exactly like Mario, but wearing doctor's clothing, came running and took place next to Peach at Young Link's side.

"Hit with a blunt object at-a the lower base of the back-a of the neck," he muttered while he examined the Hylian. Everyone could but to stare. Two Marios too? And this one sounded like he came straight out of Scrubs or Chicago Hope.

"This is-a great," Mario said enthusiastically and gave the doctor's back a friendly pat. "Twice as fun-a."

"T-two Marios?" Peach stuttered out anxiously. "What am I going to do? I-I'll have to choose?"

The Marios did not appear to have any problem with each other. They were in a heated discussion about which time they came from and sharing memories.

"Why can't you be like that with your other self?" Zelda said and turned to Link.

"Because I'm a whiny and stupid brat."

"Yeah," Young Link said dazedly as he sat up. "I should thank the goddesses I haven't made Zelda mad at me in the future." He touched his head that still hurt while he tried to get up from the floor.

"What?" Link all but yelled and balled his hands into fists.

"You're whiny and stupid. Deal with it," Ganondorf snapped.

Peach got up along with the young Hylian and dusted off her dress. "Well, this is getting a bit too rowdy for me. There has been a lot of new things to take in, this being our first day here and all. I might just have to go shopping immediately to get a chance to relax. Will you join me, Zelda? It could be fun."

Zelda allowed Peach to pull her away. The other princess seemed better at keeping a smile on her face under these circumstances and the Hylian could agree that things already were becoming a little too much. There was also the part of her that wanted to befriend Peach and that part was more than willing to unquestionably follow in her tow. Perhaps she ought to be more careful but at the same time it was rare to get such an open and warm invitation. Besides, it seemed as if Peach really needed her right now. Her kindness was not charity.

Once out on the porch Peach allowed herself one sigh before she was smiling again.

"I'm so lucky you're here Zelda. It's not that I mind there being few girls but I would be a tad intimidated if you were not here. There are just a small puffball and a little girl besides us and, well, not that men are bad at talking but I feel that we really connected," Peach said.

"Have you met Samus?" Zelda said, noting the absence of the name.

"Oh? Yes, why? Why should I mention him?"

At that moment a loud explosion was heard and both princesses hurried back inside to be greeted by a newly installed exit; a big round hole in the wall with black burnt edges. Samus stood, with her gun-like device which was attached to the right arm of her suit, aiming at the hole. A figure – a toasted figure – showed up on the other side of the hole and started to climb back in. That anyone could survive such a blow was quite a miracle.

"Cranky as always, Aran. You won't even say hello to an old rival? Just because I asked if you had anything going on with that elf girl. I was only trying to break the ice." The person dusted himself off enough for Zelda and Peach to see that he wore a red helmet and bright blue close-fitting clothing.

"It's Captain Falcon," Peach said. "He's a racer."

"You know him?"

"Please," Peach giggled, "I've said hello to everyone."

Samus was so angry that she was shaking and fuming.

"I can't believe it," she said with a demonic voice, unfortunately making her appear as less feminine than Ganondorf. "How many times do I have to tell you? Didn't you get it at all, not even suspect anything, during the full course of the last contest?"

"What?" Captain Falcon asked and contradictory to his confident posture there was a hint of uncertainty to his voice.

"Let's go," Peach said to Zelda walked back out the door. "Where were we before... Oh, yes, why would we bring that violent guy Samus along? He's doesn't talk that much either."

Zelda scratched her temple, trying to figure out how or even if she should tell Peach that Samus was not a guy, when the door flung open and Link came running after them.

"Zelda," he panted. "I think it's best if I… come along."

"Why?" Peach said and raised an eyebrow at him. Link pulled out his shield to keep Zelda out of earshot before he leaned over and whispered to her.

"Zelda has never been to such a big city and even if I'm not an official one I'm still kind of her bodyguard – or vice bodyguard but right now her regular bodyguard isn't here. She's the single heir to the throne of Hyrule. I can't let her out of sight unprotected."

Zelda rolled her eyes since she could hear every word. Peach was busy glaring at Link, not listening to a word he was saying as she was much too busy thinking about the indecency of setting up this kind of privacy for a talk, when she suddenly came to think of something.

"Silly me, I almost forgot." She gave her own head a light knock, ran inside and came back just as quick with Mario.

"Then I guess we're ready."

"You're actually letting me come?" Link asked in disbelief.

That was the start of five long hours, of which three were spent at the same mall. It had not taken long for Link to understand why Peach had let him come. He was carrying so many bags, boxes and products that he gladly would face off against any of Ganondorf's big beasts all over again if it would mean a chance to get away from this. He was only there to carry their stuff.

"I can carry my bags if you want to," Zelda offered for about the tenth time when she heard Link muttering some quite nasty words about Peach and her new ultra deluxe hair dryer and its complete master kit. Pliers inclusive.

"This is nothing, Princess," Link said and made sure to sound as if he was enjoying himself thoroughly. "Hers on the other hand," he added darkly and glared at the back of Peach's head.

"What was that?" Peach swiftly turned her head in their direction. "You're not having fun?"

"Does it look like it?"

"You're not enjoying yourself?" Zelda said. "I always assumed you... Have I been dragging you along?"

"I'm having plenty of fun," Link quickly checked himself. "It's fine. I mean, this is nothing."

Link looked over at Mario. Or at least that was his intention. The only sign that Mario was still existing behind the mountain of things he was carrying was that one could hear him whistling. A shadow fell over the Hylian's face and he moved over to Peach.

"You can carry your own things," Link told her and held out the bags she had made him carry but the princess turned her head away.

"You said you'd carry them. I guess it was stupid of me to expect you to hold your word."

"When did I ever say anything like that?"

Peach shrugged. "You said you'd join us shopping. Isn't it natural? You're a lot stronger than us fragile ladies. At least Mario's always a gentleman enough to offer an extra pair of hands."

For a moment Link fell silent when at least three arguments were fighting to get out of his mouth. Meanwhile it dawned on him that it was futile to try and have a serious discussion with this woman. He heaved all of the things he carried over on top of Mario's gigantic pile, making the plumber sink ominously closer to the ground with shaking arms.

"You're as far from a fragile lady as anyone can come," Link spat and grabbed Zelda's hand tightly. "Let's go, Princess."

"Now just wait a minute! I was the one who asked Ze..." Peach began but Link had already begun to stomp off in the opposite direction. Peach furrowed her brow. That Link was really one of the most horrible people she had ever met, and she would not easily think of any person as horrible. Either he pulled Zelda along like a rag doll or stayed glued to her like a parasite. He completely lacked manners and, most important of all, he was a pervert! She had to make sure that Zelda was saved from such bad company. That would have to wait until tomorrow though.

"It's getting dark and you must be really tired carrying all of those things, honey. Should we take a cab home?" Peach said and took an armful of bags from Mario.

"You're a pearl-a, Peachie," could be heard from behind the rest of the stuff.

"I love you," she chirped.


Link and Zelda did quite enjoy themselves on their own now that there was no Peach there for Link to spar with. The whole atmosphere became a lot more cheerful but in less than an hour, and just as the stores were closing, a heavy downpour started. Not believing their bad luck the Hylians ran to seek shelter before they got soaking wet.

"Just what we needed," Link said, grabbing on the his hat. "It's a really long way home."

"We'll be all right. Haven't we gone through worse things than a little rain?" Zelda said in-between breaths and laughed through the curtain of raindrops.

"Can you run all the way home or should we find a roof or something and wait till it stops?" Link asked while they ran along the pavement.

"I have a feeling that this will continue on through the night. We better get home. Don't worry about me."

If she said so. They ran until they were wet to the very skin and exhausted. There was no use running as they could hardly avoid getting any more soaked and so they slowed down.

"Great day, huh?" Link grinned at Zelda when they strolled side by side down the street as if it was a sunny Sunday. His blonde hair was plastered to his face and his clothes sticking tight to his body. The street before them faded away into blueness between the tiny falling droplets creating silver lines in the darkness.

"Yes, we'll have to do this again sometime," Zelda replied in her most lady-like tone of voice and grinned back. It stiffened and she shuddered a little as a cold wind swept by. "It certainly is cold," she commented.

Link suddenly stopped and took one long look at here standing there with arms wrapped around herself and staring quizzically back. He should not have listened to her. He should have taken her to a spot where she could have kept dry. Here he had nothing to warm her with and, truth to be told, he was freezing as well. His own soaked tunic was probably not any better than her dress and he did not have a coat or a cloak to offer her either. He had nothing.

If only he was not such a coward he could have embraced her right there and then. It would not have to mean anything. It would simply be what he could do for her, but what warmth would that give her?

Zelda regretted her words as soon as they were spoken. She had not thought that it would bother him that much that she was a little cold. He had to be as well. What was the difference?

"Yeah, it's cold. Let's get back as soon as possible," Link said softly and maybe it was because of the rain but his smile looked sad and strained. He started walking again, slowly, but he did not notice that Zelda remained where she was – with eyes on his back while he dragged his feet down the pavement. When she sighed it was almost enough for one to think a sigh must be the sound of a heart breaking.

The same moment a feeling of warmth enwrapped her. Zelda blinked and her hand closed around dark fabric, damp on its face side but still dry and warm on the inside. She looked up and found herself staring straight into the deep blue eyes belonging to Prince Marth. In an instant all words escaped her. She could not even utter his name in surprise. She was not even aware of how he had not yet let go of the cape, only him staring her down, his mouth a straight line. One would wonder if he felt resentment or something entirely different he tried to hold back.

"If you walk around like that you may catch a cold," he said, his voice as velvety as she remembered. As calm as he sounded, his grip around the dark blue cape still tightened.

It took some time for her to collect herself enough to say anything.

"Thank you." She eyed him cautiously. "But what about..."

"I have no need of it but please return it."

He let go and she wrapped his blue cape a bit tighter around herself. Her eyes moved on their own to where they had last spotted Link. He was still within view not too far away and must not have turned around once, nor noticed Marth appear as if from nowhere. She looked back at the prince whom she found was observing her face closely. Her goodbye was delayed for a second but before it could pass her lips he lowered his head as a sign that he was leaving and she, more out of habit than making a conscious action, curtsied.

Marth glanced in Link's direction and disappeared out of view from the main street into a side alley. Zelda gazed after him, a bit shaken over the whole thing. What a strange time to run into another contestant and, although he seemed kind, the image she had formed of him was different from this. Actually, she would expect few to approach someone they had merely exchanged greetings with and offer their own clothing to protect a stranger from the rain. She shook her head, turned around and started running. Link had still not noticed her staying behind.

"What are you mumbling to yourself about?" she said to grab his attention. "Now we're going home together."

He looked disoriented for a while but quickly found himself and the smile that warmed Zelda more than anything else in the world appeared.

"We better get a move on," he said. "We've rested enough, right?"

It took some time for Link to notice the blue cape the princess had wrapped around herself. There was something about it. He had a nagging suspicion he had seen it somewhere before.


(A/N)

I was kind of preparing myself for not getting any reviews at all but I did, and they were so nice too! I was feeling quite down at the time but reading them cheered me right back up.

After writing this I think that might need some time to get the actual story started. Right now everything is a big mess. Have I made it seem as if I dislike Peach? Because I love her. She is an awesome character and very funny to write about (btw, that Super PMS Peach joke makes me laugh – I want that game) but I guess I have not exactly made her drown in flattery. Speaking of which, if she wins her matches or not will probably depend on what mood she's in.

My intention is not to focus on the pretty characters but I guess that things will turn out that way. Zelda is the main character after all but I have given other characters' roles some thought. They might be very OOC though. Fox and Falco will get brilliant ideas about how to woo the girls. Young Link, Ness, Kirby and Popo will create The Club of Men and Popo will be having a hard time not to get thrown out of it. He has to choose between Nana and his bossy friends. Luigi will live a bitter life in Mario's shadow. Bowser will be a real softy underneath his hard shell and constantly make bets with Ganondorf. Mewtwo thinks everything is pointless and is followed around by Donkey Kong who thinks they are best friends and so on. But I guess it will take time for me to get into it. So many characters and so much to think about. I mean… This is all for fun, I'm happy if people like it and I am writing it so I can look back at it all and laugh.

I will end this A/N by thanking the reviewers again. Thank you!