Marth saw Mario sitting in front of a monitor, the doctor's hand covering his mouth in shock. He noticed that the pictures of his brain were opened up and Doctor Mario stared at them disbelievingly. Marth's heart throbbed wildly. What in the world was going on? Why was Mario looking at his pictures that way? The prince quickly stood up and went over to the doctor. ''What...what is it?'', he asked nervously. Mario rubbed his face and took a deep breath. He had to tell him, and if he made Marth wait, it would only be torture to him. Therefore, the doctor gathered all of his strength to tell him the incredibly bad news.
''Marth...you have a tumor in your brain.''
Marth didn't react for a while. ''Is that...good or bad?'', he asked unnecessarily. He already knew the answer. He simply couldn't believe the truth. ''It's really bad...'', the doctor whispered, still not accepting the fact that he had just discovered something this gruesome in the prince's head. Marth tried to breathe properly, but even if he tried really hard, there seemed to be no oxygen coming in. ''Am I going to die?'', he gasped, almost choking on his own words. There was no reply.
At first, it was a small drop of water, but then it turned into a heavy rainfall. The tears rolled down his face unstoppably and Marth sank to the ground, sobbing loudly.
Ike couldn't believe what he had just heard. It was like a bad dream. A nightmare. His worst nightmare. Something bad was happening to Marth, and there was absolutely nothing he was able to do. He couldn't help him. He couldn't protect him from fate. There was nothing he could do. Ike clung to Marth's cloak and covered his face with the soft fabric as he felt that it had become wet. Why? Why did it have to be Marth? Why the kindest, most innocent person in the world? It had to be a mistake. But when Ike saw Marth down at the cold floor, he knew that it was reality.
Nothing mattered anymore. There was no Roy, no lies, no fights. Ike simply ran over to Marth and took him into his arms. He didn't know what else to do. Marth buried his face in Ike's chest and cried. If he let Ike go, he would drown in his tears. So he clutched his friend and held onto him as tightly as he could. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live, with Roy, Ike, and the sword fights. All the things he loved were on this earth. He wanted to stay here!
Ike gently stroked Marth's hair. Feelings of guilt started to build up inside of him. It felt like it was all his fault. He had been the one who hadn't given up and had made him have the examination done. If he hadn't asked him to do it, Marth would be as happy and carefree as always right now. But on the other hand...Ike couldn't change reality. It had been bound to be discovered someday. The earlier, the better. Still, Ike felt incredibly guilty. ''I'm...so sorry...'', he whispered as he kept on caressing Marth.
Suddenly, a glimmer of hope awakened in him. It couldn't be THAT serious. There had to be something that could be done. ''Doctor'', Ike said, his voice shaky from the mixed emotions of fear and hope, ''There is a cure, right?'' Mario just sighed. ''I'm not sure what kind of tumor we are dealing with. I don't know if it's spreading or not. Therefore, I can't tell you yet. But it doesn't look like it's completely hopeless.''
Ike lightly shook Marth's shoulders. ''Did you hear that? There is hope. You don't have to cry anymore, Marth!'', he tried to cheer him up, but it didn't work. Carefully, he detached Marth from himself and took his face into his hands as to look him in the eyes. The prince gasped and tears kept streaming down his face. Ike tenderly wiped them away.
''Let's go to Roy.'', Ike suggested, lifting his friend from the floor and supporting him, so he could stand on his own feet. ''I..I w-want to...g-go to R..Roy.'', Marth sobbed, finding it hard to talk since he still didn't know how to breathe properly.
''I'll bring you to Roy.'', Ike soothed Marth and guided him to the door, holding him as to stable his walk. If he needed Roy, then Ike would bring him to Roy. Even if hurt him that Marth preferred the redhead over him. But that didn't matter at the moment. Everything that counted right now was that Marth became happy again, so Ike helped him walk back to the kitchen again.
Roy sat at the kitchen table and was obviously in an extremely bad mood. With an angry pout, he munched the fruits that were originally planned to be eaten by Marth. ''Screw him.'', Roy thought bitterly, ''I really don't have the nerve for this anymore.'' He looked pissed. Yes, he really didn't feel like seducing Marth anymore. Every time he was almost there, that stupid Ike came in and ruined everything. Why doesn't he run to that idiotic mercenary, anyway? Why was he so fond of him, when everybody knew he was just using people and a liar. After all, that Marth was just a stupid, naive, and annoying little princeling. ''Go fuck yourself. Or that filthy Ike.'', Roy thought loathingly, ''I don't need you. I can have anyone I want.'' With that, he stood up and went out of the kitchen, heading for his room. The bowl of fruits was left behind at the table.
It didn't take too long until he saw the two men he had just thought of walking towards him. Much to his surprise, Ike held Marth tightly and supported him walking. It looked like Marth was hurt or something. ''Like I care.'', Roy snorted.
''Roy...'', Marth quietly spoke and detached himself from Ike. He weakly went over to him. ''I...'' ''Leave me alone.'', Roy interrupted him firmly. ''Wha...What?'', Marth whispered.
''I don't want you anymore. Leave me alone.'', Roy repeated clearly. Hurt by the harsh words, Marth's just recently dried eyes became wet again. What was going on? All this seemed so unreal. ''But...but you said you love me!'', Marth screamed. ''Well, I lied. And you shouldn't believe everything someone tells you.'' With that, Roy walked away, leaving Marth in the hallway. He stared into nothingness with empty eyes. It didn't matter anymore now, did it? Why should he keep on living when there was nothing to live for? He loved Roy, with all his heart, and now he left him when he needed him the most. Actually, he didn't care about the disease anymore. It seemed like death would release him from this endless pain. Suddenly, everything before Marth's eyes turned black. He gratefully welcomed the familiar darkness as it seemed like the only escape from this torture. He passed out, falling backwards to the floor. Marth didn't notice anymore that he didn't hit the ground, but Ike's soft arms.
Ike lifted Marth up again and carried him to his room. He didn't think it would be a good idea to leave him in his own apartment, for he would be very lonely there. So he decided it'd be best if Marth stayed with him. Actually, Marth didn't have any friends beside him. Of course, he was very nice and polite, and everybody seemed to like Marth a lot, but the prince kept most people at a distance. He was just too shy and rarely opened up to anyone. For him, it must have been a terrible shock to be rejected like that, since it had been the first time he'd ever loved somebody. ''That bastard...'', Ike mumbled through clenched teeth, ''How dare he hurt Marth like that!'' He lightly kicked the propped up door open and entered his apartment. It wasn't exactly neat, and there were books and sheets of paper strayed all over the floor, but Ike didn't care about that.
He went over to his bed and cautiously placed Marth on it. It would be best if he just slept for a while. Ike looked down at the exhausted figure. ''He looks so fragile...'', he thought sadly. All of a sudden, the weight of Marth's suffering seemed to suffocate him. It was just too horrible to be true. The other day, Marth had been a devoted, enthusiastic fighter, and now he was diagnosed with such an ugly disease. That just didn't seem right. Ike gasped for air. It was like reality had just punched him in the stomach. And as he stood there, unable to do anything, fate was laughing right into his face. When he realized that, all strength left his body and he sank down on his knees. Burying his face in his palms, he wished, prayed that this was all some cruel joke.
Ike had lost track of time long ago, but when he looked up again, his room was covered in a spooky, orange light. The sun was already beginning to set. He didn't care that they hadn't shown up at the afternoon brawls, actually, he didn't care about anything anymore. When he turned his gaze towards Marth, the prince's head was averted from him. Apparently he was looking out of the window. ''Marth...?'', Ike asked silently, but he received no answer. Then, he reached out to gently touch his shoulder, but stopped as he heard Marth's voice, quiet and shaky. ''It doesn't matter anymore, does it?'', he whispered, trying to suppress his emotions.
''W...What?'', Ike blurted out. ''I have no one who loves me. There's no one who'll miss me.'', Marth quietly spoke, ''Why should I keep living...I'm unnecessary..No one needs me...It'd be better if I just died... ''
Ike was shocked. Why would he say something like that? Didn't he mean anything to Marth? ''You're wrong'', he interrupted him firmly , ''I'll always care abut you. If you died...'', Ike swallowed hard, ''I wouldn't have a reason to live anymore.'' Marth turned his head to face Ike and just huffed, ''Why? Why would you care?''
Ike took a deep breath. Should he tell him now? How he truly felt about him... Ike scrapped the idea. Marth definitely wouldn't return his feelings. He just broke up with Roy. If he told him now, he would get unnecessarily confused, and feel deceived again. No, that surely wasn't a good idea. ''You...You're my most important friend. I need you.'', he said, feeling like deluding Marth. But it couldn't be confessed. Not now. Marth looked at him intensely. ''Is that so?'', he mumbled and turned his gaze towards the window again. ''It's beautiful...the sunset.'', he stated absently. Ike lifted his head and looked into the same direction as Marth.
''Yes'', Ike confirmed sorrowfully, ''It truly is beautiful.''
