Green is the New Black
"Over here! I wanna go next!" sang out Link.
"Very well," said Master Hand. "Tell us your story."
Link rose and stepped daintily to the podium. "Hi, guys," he said.
"Hi, Link," said everyone else.
"As you can see, I share something with Luigi, and I'm not just talking about the color green," said Link. "The both of us—we may not look like the perfect heroes, but we can get pretty darn heroic if we want to. I'm just an elf who just so happens to know swordplay, and he's just a plumber with a side job as a ghost hunter and a princess rescuer."
"Hey! Listen!" piped up Navi as she flew around Link.
"I'm getting to that part, okay?" Link told the fairy as patiently as he could. Navi retreated.
"But I guess she's right," he sighed. "I should stop being a bore and just tell the story. Here goes…"
1999
"Here we go," said Link as he and Luigi waited at Hyrule Castle for their opponents.
"I'm still nervous," confessed Luigi.
"Just breathe, L," advised Link. "Just breathe."
So, Luigi did, quickly finding the pace which soothed his nerves. Link listened to the deepening inhales and slower exhales, surprising himself when he found his own breathing falling into that rhythm.
"Thank you for doing this, Link," Luigi said finally.
"Don't mention it," Link said jovially. "I'm honored to be your teammate in this battle. I also find it pretty—symbolic—that we're both wearing green. Gives a nice touch, you know."
"Mmm-hmm," murmured Luigi.
"Hey! Link!" Navi popped out and flew lazily around the two men.
"Is that your fairy?" asked Luigi.
"Yep. She's at my side, no matter what," smiled Link.
"I wish I had one," sighed Luigi.
"With a brother like yours, you don't need one."
Luigi brightened. "You're right."
"She just told us that our opponents are on their way—and they're going to be pretty tough," said Link.
"Link," said Luigi, and the elf turned to look at him. Gone was the nervousness and unease. Behind his eyes, steady determination flamed, spirit crackling all over his handsome face, and no boxy-looking N64 graphics would change that.
"We are the Green Team," Luigi went on, his voice intense. "We're tough. We're gritty. We're titanium. And we never—ever—back down."
Link was grinning from pointy ear to pointy ear. "You sure got that right, L. We can take them! We'll take them twice, if need be!"
Navi continued to buzz around them. "Hey, listen!"
She retreated into Link's pocket as he pulled out his ocarina. Sitting with his back against the castle wall, he brought the instrument to his lips and began to play.
Luigi sat next to him, closed his eyes and listened.
By the tune's end, Luigi was completely relaxed, ready for this Team Battle. "I really needed that," he said to Link.
"So did I," smiled Link.
They leaped to their feet as their opponents finally arrived.
"Falcon and Pikachu?" asked Link.
The racer snorted. "An elf and a plumber? This'll be a piece of cake, Pikachu."
"Pika, pika, pika!" Pikachu called happily.
"Time to smoke some turkeys," said Falcon as he got into a fighting stance, with Pikachu soon following suit.
Luigi, burning his eyes into his opponents, now turned to Link. He held out his hand.
Link grabbed it.
And then they shook.
2013
"Here's a question for you: Which turkeys were smoked that day?" concluded Link.
Luigi smiled. "I don't know, but I'm sure somebody ate his words," he said. He swiveled around at looked at Falcon, who pretended not to notice.
"We're the perfect team, L. I hope to be allied with you in the next tournament," said Link.
"Hey, listen!"
Link's eyes widened. "Oh! I almost forgot!" he cried. He reached into his pocket and handed a bow-tied box to Navi. She flew over to Luigi and gently placed it onto his lap.
Luigi undid the bow and opened the box. It was a personalized ocarina!
"Wow, Link! You're one of the best!" gushed Luigi. "Could you give me lessons?"
"Sure," Link assured him.
"Thank you, Link. You've been amazing."
"Ditto to that, L."
As Link returned to his seat, Samus Aran rose from hers.
"If I may, I like to go next," she said.
Please R&R.