Sorry! I haven't been able to post chapters for a long time. PLease read and review! This is a lllooonnngggg chapter, so read to the end! You will be glad you did!
Believe it or not, Sheik slept late. She woke up with the alarm blaring. Sheik tried to sink back into the peaceful world of sleep and dreams, but her clock wouldn't allow that.
"ugghh," she sighed and clambered out of bed, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Sheik stared around her room, lost in a daze.
Wait. she thought. Tonight's the Dance! A smile traced itself around her face. Tonight she would be dancing with Link, and everything would be perfect. No worries, no brawling, just her and the Hero of Time.
Sheik dressed quickly and hurried downstairs to breakfast. The place was much more conversational than usual, but that was because it was Valentine's Day and the dance was tonight.
Breakfast was great as always. Kirby had made heart shaped pancakes in honor of the holiday and overnight some people (or person) had put up decorations. Balloons and banners, pink frilly things hanging from the wall; there was only one person who would do such a horrible thing. Peach.
After breakfast, Sheik went down to the Training grounds. She reminded herself that it wasn't just the dance coming up, there was also the Tournament. Sheik knew if she practiced now, while others were preparing and doing their last minute shopping, she might gain the upper hand in the brawls. The ninja began testing herself on the hardest battlegrounds with Kirby, who had come down too. It was tiring work for both of them.
By the end of the practices, Sheik was sore from Kirby hitting her with his hammer but, thankfully, she was not visually hurt. Kirby happily offered her some of his lunch (which, by the way, had to be wheeled to them on a cart), and she took a sandwich just before the pink puffball inhaled the entire platter (including the cart). Kirby staggered a bit on one foot, looking almost drunk and a bit puffier, like he had just inhaled an entire all-you-can-eat buffet (which he had), but Kirby dissolved it down quickly and got his balance back. It was very funny to watch.
Kirby told Sheik he had to go start making the dinner for tonight, and he left saying,
"Bye sheiky!" Waving his little cone-arms above his head, Kirby left to the kitchens.
"Sheik," Samus had appeared behind her. Sheik was almost scared by the tone of her voice. Was she mad? Did she figure out that Sheik and Link were in love? "Peach wanted me to tell you that it's time for to get ready," Sheik nodded in relief and they went through the hallways and up the stairs into Peach's room. It was covered from head to toe in pink. Pink walls, pink ceiling, even the carpet was a fluffy, furry pink, making them feel like they were walking on cotton candy.
"Sit down right here Sheik" Peach gestured to a - yes, pink - chair. She sat down, and soon was thrown into a pit of nightmares.
After having her hair pulled and de-knotted, thrown above her head in uncomfortable twists, pinched with bobby pins and sprayed with a disgusting smelly hair spray, dress shopping seemed almost tame. Sheik had been saved from the make-up, thanks to their masks, but even she could not find a way for Peach to pull out her black studs and replace them with long, heavy gold earrings. But it was kind of worth it. Almost. Even Sheik had to admit, she looked pretty. Her blond hair had been glossified and put in an elegant twist above her head, leaving two strands hang down by her cheeks, light as air. Sheik had a spagetti thin headband placed in her golden tresses, the same fabric and color as her dress.
"It's time to go," Peach said, straightening herself. Everyone put on their masks and walked slowly and regally, like princesses, down the stairs. They followed Peach to the doors of the Dining Hall, where they would be dancing. The mushroom princess, no longer looking silly or girly in her mask and dress, pushed open the great oak doors, smiling.
Whooossssshhhhhh. A sound like a soft breeze whispered through the people who were already there. Sheik realized it was the sound of many people gasping in unison. Ike immediately swept Zelda away, probably making sure no one else would take his girl before he got there. Krystal and Fox disapeared off together soon after. In a few seconds, Sheik was left alone, looking around helplessly for Link.
Where is he? she thought, and worries began to creep into her mind. Sheik reminded herself that he was most likely late, as most boys are.
Something smooth and warm slipped into her hand. Sheik looked up and saw Link, smiling. Filled with relief, she smiled back, but then remembered he couldn't see it through the mask.
Link had actually took the time to get nice for the Dance, unlike some boys Sheik was shameful to admit she knew (*cough* *Wario* *cough*). He was wearing a formal black tuxedo, and his hair had been combed so it wasn't messy anymore. Link's deep blue eyes were the same as always, sparkling, and his smile just seemed to make the whole world brighter. Slowly, Link took Sheik's other hand. He held them higher, smiling wider.
"Shall we dance?" Link asked, gesturing with his head towards the dance floor. Sheik felt a bubble of happiness rise inside of her, knowing they were perfect for each other.
"I thought you would never ask," Sheik replied, and they stepped, greatly in sync with one another, onto the raised gray floor, where others had already started dancing to a lively but slow-ish tune. Sheik was never much of a dancer, yet she still found her way across the floor easy, in perfect time with her partner. Their steps matched, Link twirled Sheik with such grace that the majority of the audience's eyes fell upon the couple.
They were more than just dancers. They were two parts of one song, two musicians in a single duet, working in harmony, forever criss-crossing and weaving in and out, sometimes far away, sometimes close to each other. They had to be together to make the song work. One half could not play without the other. That was the beauty, the harmony and power of the Sheik and Link together. They were inseparable pieces of music. But, sadly, a different piece of music, no matter how beautiful, could not be fit in to the song that was already playing.
Samus watched Link and Sheik dance together. She had tried to convince herself that they were just partners in the dance, allies in the Tournament. But what she was seeing now, right in front of her eyes, was proof against it all. Samus knew they were absolutely perfect for one another, but that just made it worse. Link, so strong, so kind and quiet, flawless in every way, had eyes only for Sheik, that good-for-nothing tomboy who deliberately stole the one she loved. Samus removed her mask, but then regretted it, only seeing the dancers in clearer vision, seeing more of what made her heart pang with sadness.
Tears, like tiny drops of rain, trickled down Samus's cheeks. She hadn't noticed or bothered to brush them away until Marth came over. The blue-haired swordsman, in a gray tuxedo, had noticed Samus crying. He didn't want to ask why, it was probably something personal. Marth didn't understand it either. This was such a happy event, everyone was smiling in some way. He wanted his precious Samus to be happy, he wanted to see her smile, because she almost never did anymore, almost never made Marth's heart melt with love for her.
"Here," He leaned down and gave her a tissue. Samus looked up and took it gratefully, dabbing at her damp cheeks and red eyes. Marth sat down next to her and put her hand into his. Samus didn't try or want to pull it away. It might have been the last thing holding her down, the only tether that kept her from sliding away into a pit of insanity and rivers of tears. But Samus didn't love Marth. He kept her mind off of Link, and when she wasn't thinking about the green warrior, she felt happy with Marth. But Samus didn't believe it was love. Marth was just a... distraction. A distraction from Link, keeping her away from the terrible reality. That was all.
When the song ended, Link took Sheik by the hand and led them down, off the dance floor, near the rows of tables, each one lit by a single candle. Master Hand had certainately done this purposely, making it as romantic as possible. They were both red in the face, and Link said he would go get them drinks. Sheik sat down at the table, watching the candle flicker and burn. She was having a great time. Her eyes wandered to Kirby, who was wearing a tie. What made it funny was that since he couldn't really wear it the correct way around his spherical body, he had worn it around his head, reminding Sheik vagely of Snake. Kirby was dancing with Jigglypuff, who wore a crown made of pink pom-poms. And they weren't really dancing. The two pink puffballs were just bouncing up and down, smiling. Next to them was Samus and Marth.
"Here you go," Link was back with the drinks. Sheik ignored him for a second while she watched Samus dance. She looked spectacular in her blue dress and mask, but something was wrong. Samus didn't dance with much spirit. Something about her was sad, the way her feet purposely dragged themselves across the floor instead of being light, or how her eyes had lost their usual glint and sparkle of life. Why was she upset? Marth was definately the one for her, why couldn't she see that? But then Sheik noticed that every time Samus turned around and faced them, her eyes were on Link. Link! How could Sheik have forgotten? Samus loved the green warrior, but he only had eyes for Sheik. Sheik felt so guilty, so mad at herself for making her friend upset. She wished now that she had never fought Link during their first brawl together, any other person except him. It had gotten them all into this horrible mess, which was just getting bigger. If Marth found out, he would be pulled into it. Link was going (if he wasn't already) to fall into it too; just being next to her made matters worse. But she didn't want to leave his side, Sheik didn't want them to be apart. She didn't understand how she had gotten by without him before. It was all so complicated, so confusing, so, so, heartbreaking.
"Sheik?" Link's voice sounded far away, so echo-y and blurred that it took a while for Sheik to register it. It was like a rope, pulling her out of the murky depths of thought and back into the bright, musical reality.
"Sheik?" He asked again, much clearer to her this time. Sheik shook her head, and looked straight into his deep blue eyes.
"Sorry, what?" Sheik asked, pretending nothing was wrong.
"I was just going to say that the song is going to end soon," Link told her. "We can go back in for the next one if you want. Or do you want to want to cool off a little more? I don't mind either way," Sheik answered immediately, embarrassed that she had been staring off into space while Link was trying to talk to her.
"No, I want to dance some more," she said, slowly standing up. The song ended. Link stood up too and took her hand; they made their way onto the dance floor. Sheik noticed that Samus and Marth were still dancing, though they looked a little red in the face.
The new song began. Everyone knew this one; it was the traditional waltz. Sheik clasped her hands around and behind Link's neck, and he put his around her waist. Slowly, they got the feel of the music and began to move easier to it, swaying with the tune. Sheik and Link had locked gazes on each other. The couple had noticed it only once before, but vaguely. Now, they could not take their eyes off of each other, completely oblivious to the outside world. Link's heart was melting in her fire red eyes, and her heart was drowning in his blue ones. The rest of the world around them was blurry, vague, and simply not there. Sheik's hands were warm against Link's neck, and she moved them up a bit until they reached his hairline, resting there. He clasped his hands a little tighter around her waist, pulling her closer. Sheik didn't seem to mind. In fact, she smiled and let the dance continue, not taken aback in the least. It seemed to last forever.
"Are you happy, Sheik?" Link asked, after the song had ended and a three minute break had taken place. Behind her mask, Sheik was smiling, but he couldn't tell. All he saw was her gorgeous sparkling eyes.
"Of course I am, Link," Sheik replied, not a trace of doubt in her voice. "Why on Earth wouldn't I?"
"I want," Link paused, considering something. "I want this to be the most spectacular night of life. I don't want you to ever forget it. That would break my heart."
"I will never forget tonight," Sheik said, but Link continued.
"I can only think of one way to garantee that," He told her. "Close your eyes Sheik,"
Sheik did, and felt her mask being slipped off her face by Link's smooth hands, cooling down her skin. She heard some people gasp, but all other sounds were so far away, so distant and faint, that she didn't care. Sheik felt Link run his hands up her back to the nape of her neck, where he held her head in his hands. His lips pressed themselves against Sheik's. He wasn't forceful in any way, Link was just gentle and soft, simply waiting for her to kiss him back, almost polite. She did, leaning in to kiss him even more passionately. Sheik ran her hands through his hair, feeling smooth locks of it rub against her skin. Link's fingers traced circles on her neck, back, and ended at her waist, pulling her closer, closer than when they were dancing. He angled his head so they could kiss better, and by then Sheik's head was swimming.
Oh god its so good! Her thoughts were shouting. Link is rocking my world. There was no way she would be the one to pull away first. Link seemed to have the same thoughts, because they stayed, trapped against one another, on the dance floor.
Finally, Link who was thoroughly pleased with himself, pulled away. Sheik and Link just stared at each other. She couldn't speak, and she didn't want to try, in case it came out as gibberish. Link was smiling, and he pulled a lock of stray hair out of her face. Sheik let out a long gasp of breath, her head swimming in giddiness. Several other people were looking at the two of them in wonder, some had hands over their mouths. The room was silent. Then the break ended and a new piece of music began to play, switching from formal to something a little more modern.
"And it was only just a dreeeaaaammmmm..." The speakers had been cranked up, and Nelly echoed in everyone's heads. Soon others began to enter the dance floor, overcoming the shock of what had just happened. Sheik waited for Link to suggest what they do next, because she could barely comprehend a thing.
"Come on, I want to show you something," Link said, taking her hand. Sheik followed him like a dog on a leash. They wound their way through the dancers, to the doors to outside the Dining Hall.
"Link, the-" Sheik began, noticing that they were leaving.
"I know," He replied, sounding completely confident. Sheik shut her mouth and let him lead her outside the Dining Hall, through some hallways, and then to a clear glass sliding door. He pushed it open, letting the cool night air rush out at them.
Outside was cool, not cold but not weirdly warm. It was nice. The sunset's oranges and pinks were beginning to fade but still visible. A few of the brightest stars had shined their way into the indigo parts of the sky.
"Tell me Sheik," Link said, staring into the sky. Sheik looked at him. "Sheik, will you ever forget this day? I have done all I can, but I need to hear it from you," She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He returned the embrace, kissing her once on the neck.
"Link, I don't know how I will ever forget," Sheik told him. She opened her eyes and looked up at Smash Mansion. Someone was watching them through the window. Her face was red and tear-streaked, her blond hair hung limply at her cheeks, and her face showed utter grief, sadness, anger, and most of all, betrayal. Sheik was ruining Samus's life. Her face showed it all. Tommorrow morning, during the Tournament, would be when Samus got even. She would never let this go.
Samus would never forget.
Okay, once again, really sorry I couldn't add anything for a while. Though I'm so glad you read to the bottom! :). Please review! My sister is really mad at me because she doesn't like how Samus has to be the bad guy in this, but I want your opinions! Thanks for reading! :)