"So, Mister…"

"Snake."

"Snake… you've made a speedy recovery, and if you wish to leave now, you can, but if you want additional treatment, we'll be happy to let you have some rehabilitation here if you're not up to the task." The Doctor checked over Snake, who was sat up on his hospital bed.

"I've wasted enough of your time. I'll leave the bed so someone more needy can use it."

"It's not a problem at all, Mister Snake, it's just…"

"Just Snake will do fine."

"Okay, Snake. You may keep the cane if you want; it's covered by the Hospital."

"Sure, I'll keep it." He said, clutching it. "I'm ready to go now."

"Do you want to be wheelchaired out or..."

"I'm fine" Snake replied with a huff, almost taking it as an insult.

"Okay, Snake. Have a safe journey." Snake walked off, stretching out his limbs as he was finally free from the hospital. A courtesy taxi was waiting for him outside, holding a placard saying "S. Snake".

"S. Snake? I assume to mean me. What's with the limo service?" he asked with demi-sarcasm. It was only a white hatchback car.

"I'm here to take you back to the Smash Hotel. You should have been staying there for the tournament but of course the whole 'Tabuu' thing happened and the tournament was cancelled. I think you know the rest."

"This won't look good on my bill…"

"Your stay is complimentary, Snake. So is this service. It's free to all Smasher's."

"But wasn't the tournament cancelled?"

"Doesn't stop you guys from staying there, the Smasher's all went there for some R and R after the ordeal. After their journey they ended up taking advantage, but you guys saved the world after all so it was the least we could do, especially you. I heard you delivered the killing blow."

"Everyone?" Snake asked, ignoring the blatant praise.

"Pretty much." Snake's expression grew to be concerned. "Everything alright, sir?"

"How long did they all stay?"

"Some are still there. Some headed off. You'd really need to ask, I wouldn't know."

"Right…" Snake entered the taxi and they sped off towards the Hotel. Not a word was bartered between the driver and Snake after their exchange of words beforehand, but the journey was short for him due to the fact his mind was occupied with the thoughts of his angry outburst to Samus. Not only that, it was filled with doubt for his own words he viciously said. The vision of an infuriated Samus presenting herself at the door of the hotel, ready to give Snake the what for, filled him with dread. In fact just the thought of Samus's radiant face scowled up in anger filled him with dread. He left the car and tipped the man what he had and went inside. He looked at the Hotel lobby and it seemed pretty up-class, certainly a few more stars then what he's used to. He first looked around for any familiar faces from his travels before, after no luck, heading over to the receptionist.

"Ah, Mister Snake, your room has been awaiting you. Only the finest for the saviour of our world." She chirped with glee.

"It's just Snake. Or Solid Snake if you want to be that formal." He growled, contrasting her sunny glow.

"Here you are!" she passed over the keys to Snake's hotel room. "Top floor, turn right, straight ahead and you can't miss it! Your bags should be awaiting you in your room."

"Thanks." He clutched the key and shuffled off. He pressed the button for the elevator and the doors slid open where a familiar face was already on their way up.

"Well, greetings stranger." They spoke. Snake raised his eyebrows in greeting and entered the elevator. "Is that all I get?"

"I've just gotten out of hospital, so excuse me if I don't speak right, Zelda."

"So I've heard." She replied caringly. "So, which floor?"

"Top."

"Looks like we're heading up together." She quipped as the doors closed and they made their vertical journey to the top floor.

"How long have you been staying here?"

"A week or two. I heard you were in the hospital for longer then that but I'm sure you'll love it here. I apologize if I'm being to up front with you by the way."

"Not at all. I've not exactly had the greatest recovery."

"I hope you didn't rush yourself."

"You sound like…" Snake stopped himself, in case he was reminded of 'you know who'.

"Sound like what?" Zelda asked, curiously.

"…my… mother." Snake groaned out, forcing out the lie with gusto.

"I just have that knack I guess, but all the time we've known each other, you've never mentioned your mother."

"Whatever…"

"Oh Snake, you melodramatic girl." Zelda giggled to herself as Snake made a dash when the doors swung open.

"I'll catch you later."

"What's the rush? Maybe we can meet later and catch up. It's been ages!"

"Maybe later." Snake reluctantly replied, stuck in drive.

"What's your room number at least?"

"1447" He replied finally stopping when he saw he was close.

"1412" she replied herself. "Don't hesitate to knock on me. I'll be letting you get your rest anyway, I'm sure you've got masses of people worried about you."

"Probably." He replied with mock interest. "I'll see you later." He shuffled on to his room, unlocked the door and closed it, with Zelda looking on with concern.

In front of Snake's eyes were two duffel bags which looked full of his gear. Sure enough, after unzipping one of the bags, there were his weapons and his muscle suit. All of them disassembled, but at least neatly arranged, with his precious SOCOM pistol wrapped in a white cloth. He didn't tamper with them as he unzipped the second, which sure enough were his more personal belongings. The essentials and some toiletries, more of a vacationers array then anything. Inside were some mementos of his journey, obviously not packed by himself. It seemed like objects he'd seen from his travels or gifts that were given to him. Among them was a battery half covered in dirt, plucked freshly from the ground by Olimar and his Pikmin. He looked around for more. There were a bag of peanuts, traced to his encounter with Diddy Kong, and alongside it a Banana. It was fresh and bright yellow, so this bag, to Snake's watchful mind, had obviously been recently packed. His mood was calmed by these small remembrances and he dug deeper. Inside his dress shirt pocket was a yoyo, from Ness. Inside his pants pocket was a scaled down model of an Arwing. It seemed these were left here as presents and they were everywhere in his belongings. He carried on searching, his clothes laid out in one pile and piling gifts in another on his hotel room floor. Almost everyone had contributed, and it struck a smile upon the previously abused Snake. There were no more items in the bag, but he shook it anyway, inside one of the side compartments was a hard flat object which he had to unzip the pocket of the compartment to get at. It was a blue, ring binded book with no real indication of what it was. He opened it up and flicked to the front page.

"The Journal of Samus Aran. A Personal Log of the Subspace Emissary."