Read and review! *Puss-in-Boots-eyes* Please?

And I don't own anything.


Zelda couldn't remember the last time she had felt this much grief; the Hylian princess had just learned of the fate of Marth and Peach, and Pit had just told her what would happen to them if he failed his task.

"So Bali-Lali wants you to give up some gold, complete three vaults by this morning, and you can bring one friend along to do so."

Pit nodded

"Then, why me?"

Pit blinked. "Huh?"

Zelda shuffled her feet. "I mean, why not take Samus or Ike or someone more suitable for the job? I'm not good at this kind of stuff, I might end up getting you killed or something. So, why me?"

Pit opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He looked directly at Zelda and gulped. Zelda, with her head hanging down and her long, thin ears pointed downward, looked absolutely adorable, and the more he looked, the prettier she became. Pit just wanted to walk over and wrap his arms and wings around the Hylian princess and give her a comforting kiss on the cheek, but he suppressed the urge to do so.

"It's just that you seem to care more for your friends than the other smashers. They're always too busy to help you with anything. You just ask them for some assistance and they just say they're doing something and can't be bothered. But you…you're different. You'd understand. You're caring, sweet, nice…" Pit trailed off. Zelda looked up expectantly, and Pit could feel his heart thundering within his chest as Zelda's questioning blue-green eyes stared into his blue eyes.

Pit took a breath. "I want you to be there with me. I want you to be beside me when I do this. I…I want your help."

Zelda nodded and smiled. "Then I'm happy to help you."

"Thank you," murmured Pit. Then he added, "meet me behind the mansion at 10:30 tonight."


Long after the sun had set, Zelda and Pit snuck outside, hiding beneath the long shadows cast by the towering mansion. The faint and pathetic sliver of light that emitted from the moon did not help the duo at all, forcing them to feel their way along the forest and slide on their butts down the steep cliff, while avoiding random little rocks and stubby tree stumps. At least the Mausoleum was lit up with lights; gothic lanterns to be exact.

Pit walked over to the hooded angel. The doors located underneath the statue were closed and locked, and even after tugging on the doorknobs, they wouldn't budge.

"Damn, why won't they open?"

Zelda thought for a while. "How did you get them to open last time?"

"They were just open when I got here," replied Pit.

"Well…did Bali-Lali or Edaniel tell you how to open them?"

Pit thought for a split second. "All Bali-Lali said was to bring some gold next time…but what could that mean?"

Zelda's eyes wandered to the shallow dish that the statue held in her hands.

"Maybe the key to opening them is gold," suggested Zelda.

"It's worth a try." Pit reached into the pocket of his toga and pulled out two golden coins. He tossed them into the dish. Once the two coins made contact with the dish, the doors creaked open slowly, revealing dark emptiness.

Zelda glanced at Pit, frightened, and wrapped her arms around the angel.

Pit soothingly rubbed Zelda's shoulder. "It's gonna be alright," murmured Pit, taking Zelda's hand and walking down into the high-ceilinged chamber. Bali-Lali hung upside-down in the middle of the room with a wicked smile plastered on her face.

"Hello Pit," she cackled, and then she walked over to Zelda. "How nice to meet you…" -Bali-Lali took Zelda's hand in her own- "Zelda…"

Bali-Lali smiled. "You two will start off at Jolly Roger of the High Seas. When you finish, report back here, and we'll guide you to the next vault." A dry, evil laugh escaped from Bali-Lali's fanged mouth. "Good luck…" the spider lady whispered, disappearing through her hatch.

"Hey, wait!" Pit yelled after Bali-Lali. "How do we find the vault?"

"…turn around…"

The pair turned around, nearly jumping once they saw a pair of huge double doors. Set at the center of the doors was a plaque that read,

"Many lost souls need salvation's light,

Many do not deserve it.

Some cannot find a path through he night,

Some must find a way to earn it.

Twenty black windows look into the cold,

Behind which no remains are interred.

Twenty blue glass-panes hold evil untold,

A careful, wary hand is preferred.

Twenty white portals show the blessed undone,

Who lack courage a pathway to find,

Blessed are they who uncover each one,

Free each spirit, each soul and each mind.

But for those who are few, against ours so many,

A guide can be given to aid these.

A light in the tomb when there might not be any,

And a friend to help others to find peace.

Seek to give hope where there was none before,

Free up the souls of imprisoned two-score.

To summon Edaniel at the door,

Knock once, then twice, then twice once more."

Zelda looked towards Pit. "Should we knock?" she inquired.

Pit shrugged. "I'm knocking," he announced, rapping on the door five times. The doors creaked open dramatically, and to add to the suspense, foggy white smoke billowed out from between the doors…and a small, green, pointed cat with sharp teeth and half-moon eyes rocketed out.

"HeyI'mEdanielandI'''thaftaworry''sWorld- DA-Amnnnnn… that lady is such a hypocrite –'llcheckitofforelseyou''!"

By the time Edaniel had finished talking, Pit's brain had begin to hurt and Zelda's eyes were metaphorically spinning in spirally anime circles. Edaniel looked up at them expectantly.

"So. Any questions kiddos?"

Pit and Zelda shook their heads.

Edaniel grinned even wider than he already was grinning. "Goodie!"

The two smashers then turned to enter the dreams of the dead.

"Alright Edaniel, lead us out."