Only having a few small lights that only flickered weakly, the passageway was much darker than an underground city with no lights. The group's echoing footsteps stepped into the endless darkness with them. The sound of a Pokemon called Zubats squeaked and chattered softly to each other. They seemed to be asleep, yet Samus was cautious. She only knew the Pokemon's name, not their personality. Are they placid and don't mind humans passing through their territory, or are they vicious and attack at any sudden noise? Link's sensitive ears twitched in bother as he listened to the Zubats chatter to each other.
"I have a bad feeling about these Zubats." Samus spoke up quietly, carefully eying the Zubats that hang lazily on the rocky ceiling, "I'm not sure if they are docile or vicious Pokemon."
"Let's play it safe and be as quiet as we can be." Ike replied, silencing his steps.
"Are they just asleep?" Marth commented.
"Well, they are just hanging on the ceiling doing nothing…" Samus responded, "But I can't tell. Zubats don't have eyes. Then how can they track down their prey and enemies?"
"I think know why." Link assumed to himself, "They use something called echolocation to look around their surroundings."
"It's dark everyone." Ike warned, "Walk carefully!"
Marth nodded his head yes and carelessly shown his flashlight around his dark surroundings. He was a bit curious about the passageway. The bright flashlight illuminated a wide mouth with razor-sharp fangs and a drooling tongue. Bitty eyes appeared above the open mouth. Marth gulped nervously. It was a Golbat.
Furious at the uneasy Marth for shining the stinging light in its sensitive eyes, the Golbat let out a bellowing hissy screech and took a lunge at the bluenette. Completely alarmed, Marth unsure what to do. Should he take out his sword and slash it, or run away? His fight-or-flight response quickly told him to run away. With a loud yell, Marth hastily backed away from the attacking Golbat, only to run into Ike. The two fell onto the ground with an echoing thud, waking all of the Zubats up and causing them to hysterically fly around the cave in a panic with the Golbat.
"Marth!" Ike shouted to his frightened friend, "Why the hell did you do that?!"
"I-I-I saw a bigger version of a Zubat!" Marth quickly explained, flailing his arms wildly in futile attempt to shoo the Zubats away.
"Bigger version?!" Samus responded as she hurriedly towards the two freaking out young men, "That must be a Golbat, Zubat's evolved form!"
"How do we calm the Zubats and the Golbat down?!" Ike asked over the screeching Pokemon. He suddenly noticed that someone was missing. "Link?!" he cried out, "Link! Where is he?!" Dreadfully worried about his pointy-eared friend, he hurriedly pointed his flashlight around the cave. He felt a small tug on his boots and heard a loud familiar sigh. "Link! You're here, that's good!" Ike quickly said in relief when he shone the light on Link.
Link was lying on the ground, shaking slightly in nervousness. His legs were pulled up and his hands were covering his head. Noticing what he was trying to do, Ike shouted, "Everyone! Drop down on the ground like Link!" Instantly, the three hastily reclined on the rocky ground and roofed their heads with their hands, hoping that the flapping bat Pokemon won't swoop down and bite them in the neck.
Marth whimpered to himself soundlessly and clutched his eyes shut when he felt a Zubat whizz over his head. What if the bat Pokemon never calm down? Will they be stuck here forever? Do they suck the blood of another living thing for food? Marth heaved at the disgusting thought.
Because the humans were lying still on the ground like rocks, the Zubats couldn't sense their presence in their territory, as they couldn't see them because they have no eyes. Although it did have eyes, the Golbat couldn't see the four people because its version wasn't sharp enough to see through the dark. Slowing calming down, the bat Pokemon flew up onto the ceiling and went back to their peaceful sleep.
"I think it's safe to continue." Ike whispered as he slowly got up with the others, "Be as quiet as you can be, so we won't wake those Zubats up again. And look where you are pointing your flashlight!" Marth jumped slightly at Ike's stern last sentence. Suddenly having an empty feeling in his heart, he cautiously followed his three friends. This time, he was careful of where he was pointing his flashlight.
Link made a sudden startled noise in surprise when he clumsily stumbled on a loose rock as the group was walking down a short, ancient stone stairway. Luckily, Ike who was walking right behind him immediately grabbed him by his arms, breaking Link's fall.
"Whoa Link!" Ike said, pulling Link up, "Be careful!"
"Thank you, Ike." Link thanked to himself as he gave his friend a grateful smile.
At the bottom of the stairway, Marth and Samus waited for the two to catch up. Marth's eyes narrowed into a glare and his eyebrows lowered in unexplainable annoyance when he saw Ike break Link's fall. What is this feeling? He had never felt this strange emotion before. Why does he suddenly hate Link? He did nothing to hurt him! Marth hurriedly forced a smile when Ike and Link reached the end of the stairway.
As the group continued their way through the passageway, Marth continued to think about his feelings. Was he jealous of Link, since he has been given more attention from Ike? Well, maybe. Ike has always been his best friend, ever since they have met each other when they were orphaned at a young age. Marth slowly began to drift into his thoughts as he remembered the day when he and Ike met.
Both of them met in a poor, depressing orphanage. Knowing that they didn't have much, Ike and Marth appreciated each other's company and quickly became very close friends. Marth was glad that he had met Ike, as he was greatly traumatized by his family's sudden death, which happened in an untimely train accident. He felt that if he had never met his best friend, he would've been mentally scarred for life. That was why he always wanted to by Ike's side, no matter what happens.
As he was thinking, Marth felt his nose suddenly tickle and sneezed loudly, which echoed in the passageway. He sniffed softly and continued his way. Ike only looked behind to check for danger. He saw nothing but his friends, a few flickering lights, and of course, the endless darkness. The group entered a large, open subterranean cave. There were three large cavern entrances leading to another area.
"Great, now where do we go?" Marth asked, pinching the bridge of his nose when he saw the entrances, "If we enter the wrong entrance, it may not lead us to the next city and we might get lost!"
"Judging by this cavern's lights, I think this is the right path to take." Samus stated, taking off her helmet and pointing to the cavern that had lights unlike the other two, "Do you three think that we should rest here for now? I feel tired."
"I guess so." Ike answered, dumping all of his stuff on the ground.
Marth and Link both set their stuff on the ground and sat down. Feeling like taking a small nap, Link was about lie on the ground and fall asleep, when his sensitive ears picked up a small growl. His eyes glancing around his shady surroundings, he twitched his ears in effort to track down the frightening sound. That did not sound like someone's stomach rumbling due to hunger! It sounded like a monster growling!
"What's wrong, Link?" Ike asked, noticing the pointy-eared boy's eccentric movements.
"I heard something!" Link replied in his mind as he pointed to his ears quickly with his shaking fingers, trying to let Ike know that he heard a sound.
"You heard something?" Ike guessed. Link nodded with a stern look. "I don't hear anything, maybe you got something in your ears."
Link huffed in confusion and tried to calm down by twitching his fingers in apprehension. But, he swore that he heard that growl! Maybe it was so low, only those who had his ears can hear it! There was another deep snarl and Link jumped in fright. He picked up his sword and instantly stood up, his ears twitching wildly.
"Calm down, Link." Samus spoke up, eying him with a calm glare, "Are you scared because of the dark? Don't worry, we're here to protect you!"
"I heard it!" Link thought to himself anxiously, shaking slightly, "I really did hear it!"
Ike shook his head at Link and saw about to reach into his backpack to get some food when he heard a monstrous, ferocious snarl. It echoed throughout the hollow, open cavern. Preparing to defend his friends and himself, he picked up his gold sword and uneasily said, "G-Guys, prepare yourself! I heard something!" Samus put her helmet back on and Marth took his sword and turned on his flashlight.
"I heard it!" Marth said, "But, where did it come from?"
Shaking nervously, Link pointed to the cavern entrance where they just came from. His blue eyes widened when he saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes peering sharply at him and his alarmed friends. Its large feet stomping on the ground, the horrifying monster slowly revealed itself. It looked like a four-legged dragon with scaly pink skin, small-for-its-body purple wings, and a pointy orange tail. Saliva messily leaked through its jagged fangs. On top of its head was a tiny feathered creature, but because everyone was intimidated by the monster's horrid looks, they didn't notice it.
"S-Should we run?" Samus asked, preparing to fire. Ike was about to answer, when the monster deafeningly roared, making him change his mind immediately.
"RUN!" Ike shouted before running into one of the cavern entrances. With a quick glance at the monster, Samus quickly followed him.
"Whoa!" Marth exclaimed when Link took him by one of his hands and took off in a panic.
Link and Marth ran into the entrance that was the closest to them. With a threatening howl, the monster charged after the two.
"Shoot, it's chasing after us!" Marth cried out in panic, panting for air.
Link yelped when he suddenly tripped over his own scurrying feet and scraped the back of his left hand on the rocky ground. He whimpered in fear as he lied on the ground, too terrified to get up. The scaled dragon ran faster, about to lunge and rip apart its helpless prey. Marth turned around, gasped, and back to his fallen friend.
"C'mon, Link!" Marth said quickly, hurriedly helping his friend up and taking off.
Grasping Link's hand tightly, Marth looked behind him and saw that the dreaded monster was still chasing them! He looked at his sword, which was gripped in his right hand. He can throw it at the monster's eyes, but it's moving too fast! Maybe he and Link can make a sudden stop and run towards the other direction however, the monster is way too big! Suddenly, Link let out a short shriek, causing Marth to look forward. He gasped and stopped immediately. It's a dead-end! Hopeless and unable to think of a plan to defend him and the wildly trembling Link, who cowered helplessly, Marth kneeled down and tightly took him in his arms. Maybe the monster will attack and devour him first, giving Link a chance to escape!
The monster slowly approached them, its sharp, glaring eyes latching onto its prey. Marth felt his spine tingle when he heard its stomach growling for flesh. This is it. This is how it ends now. He has failed to lead Link to a safer place. Maybe he deserved it, as he was jealous of him ever since he and Ike saved him. He heard Link quietly murmur something and clutched his shaking body securely.
"Mom, Dad, Elice?" Marth asked himself, burying his face in Link's mangled hair, "Are you listening to me? I will finally see you three again."
He heard the creature's roar and expecting it to be the last sound he will hear in his life, Marth clutched his eyes shut. Yet, he heard Link cry out and the monster's yelp. Slightly confused, he looked up and saw it shoved away by a mysterious telepathic force. It tumbled on the ground with a painful grumble. Letting go of Link, Marth looked at him and saw three glowing, golden triangles on the back of his left hand. The one on the bottom right corner shined the brightest. Clutching his eyes shut in effort, Link growled fiercely as he casted a glowing green barrier around Marth and himself. The monster got back up and lunged at the barrier. Its attempts to shatter the powerful shield was futile and in heated frustration, it yowled, slimy drool dripping down its mouth. With a surprised facial expression, the bluenette took a quick glance at the straining Link, who was struggling desperately to hold up the barrier with his strength. A roll of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Knowing that Link can never hold up the barrier however, Marth looked at the monster, which was scratching the obstacle with its jagged claws. Something on its back caught his eyes. A metal button! What does it do? Is this monster actually a machine? Unable to hold up the barrier any longer, Link gasped agonizingly for air and fell onto the ground, his face red. Suddenly knowing what to do, Marth leapt into the air, onto the creature's back. Just when it was about to plunge towards the fallen Link, he pressed the button with a cry. The monster's yellow eyes suddenly lost its glow and fell onto its side, now lifeless.
"Link!" Marth exclaimed, rushing towards his tumbled friend, "Are you hurt?!"
Helped up by his savior, Link smiled weary, his blue eyes filling with shining tears. Marth raised an eyebrow. His teary expression looked familiar… Ike? That's it! Ike had that facial expression when he first met him! Glad that neither of them was seriously injured, Marth embraced Link tightly. Link made a surprised squeak at the sudden hug and tensed up, but slowly relaxed.
"I'm glad you're alright." Marth whispered into his pointed ears.
"Me too." Link thought, burying his face into Marth's sandy jacket.
"Marth! Link!" Ike shouted as he and Samus hurriedly approached them, "Are either of you hurt?!"
"Don't worry, we're fine." Marth replied calmly, "However, Link scrapped the back of his hand."
"Let's go back." Samus said.
Relieved that the monster was finally gone, the four headed back into the main cavern. Marth took Link's left hand to see how deep the wound was. Out of the corner of his unaware eyes, Marth thought he saw the same three triangles glow on his left hand, a large piece of the one on the top shone the brightest. Thinking that he was seeing things because he was exhausted, Marth blinked a few times and continued his way with his friends. Link however, clearly saw the triangles on his left hand. He felt his heart leapt in surprise.
"Is that actually it?!" he thought, "But, why did only a piece of it shone the brightest?"
Author's notes: Yess! After procrastinating for weeks, I've finally finished chapter 6! Just to let you guys now, I'm planning to edit chapters 1 - 6 if I have time so, don't get your hopes up for another chapter. (Don't worry, it's not a writer's block)
In case if you are confused, the monster that was chasing Marth and Link is the Ultimate Chimera from Mother 3. Annnd, I liked a reviewer's idea of using the worms using the worms as monsters in the passageway but I decided to add panicking Zubats (These Pokemon are annoying, especially when you are exploring a cave!) because I want to keep the story as Nintendo-related as possible.
Three glowing triangles? What can it be? Everyone who is a true expert on Nintendo video games should know what it is! But, why does Marth have a piece of "it"?
Questions for reviewers: I actually have two.
1. If you were Ike, who would you value the most: Link or Marth?
2. If you were fighting an Ultimate Chimera, what will you do in effort to defeat it?