Samus listened intently to Ryu's explanation. While the Satsui no Hado seemed like quite a burden, she couldn't help but think how useful it might be.
"So, in theory, you could win any fight? As long as you wanted it enough?" she asked, truly engaged.
"Well yes. And I would also lose everything that makes me human inside and become an unstoppable killing machine." Ryu solemnly replied.
"…Oh." It was the only thing that Samus could muster. "But you know what I think?" she asked.
"What's that?" the Wanderer answered, curious.
"I think…that the constant threat of losing your humanity, ends up making you more human in the end." The words hung between the two, and Ryu got the impression that she wasn't talking about only him.
All at once, fighters started entering the cafeteria. Ryu was momentarily confused before looking toward the clock and saw that it was early morning; time for breakfast.
Samus shifted her gaze down at the table and Ryu realized that she wouldn't want to talk about these things in such a public place. Finally, he decided on a course of action.
"Hey Samus, would you like to continue this in my room?" he asked. Samus looked at him with confusion, he couldn't possibly be talking about…that, could he? she thought.
But one look in his eyes reassured her; she could tell that the Wanderer was truly pure of heart. And so, she nodded, stood up, and followed Ryu down towards the Barracks.
She really needed to talk. Hopefully, Link would be able to reassure her from these paranoid thoughts. Unfortunately, as she passed by Peach's door, she could tell that Link wasn't in his own room. Thank you, Link. I think this will help me more than you know. Peach's soft voice permeated the door, and Lucina thought it best not to intrude on a private talk.
She was about to turn around and return to her room, but she suddenly had an idea. Shulk was a techie kind of guy; what if… She spun on her heel, and dashed through the now somewhat crowded hallway towards Shulk's room.
Upon arriving, she was both relieved and surprised to find the room untouched since her last expedition, until she realized it was less than a day since. Frantically, she looked about at all the random pieces of technology she had mistaken for scrap metal until she found it.
"A camera!" she exclaimed. Once she discovered the ON button, a video playback immediately started.
From what she could tell, it was nighttime. Shulk appeared to be burning the midnight oil, working at his desk on some mechanical device the Exalted Lady couldn't deduce the purpose of.
Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door. Shulk stood up, opening up the door a crack. Suddenly, the door burst open. Shulk immediately dove for Monado and swung, slicing his opponent right across the midsection. But for some reason, the assailant was unaffected by the attack and fought back.
It was eerie for Lucina, to be standing in the very room that this video was taking place. She felt very unsafe, but continued watching for clues. Suddenly, there was a flash of light. Shulk fell to the ground, motionless.
His assailant stepped inside, their armor creaking from damage. And for one frame, right before the video ended, Lucina saw who kidnapped Shulk.
It was Samus.
After making sure that Peach was okay, Link moved toward the door and reached for the knob. However, Peach grabbed his arm and pulled him closer.
"Thanks again." she said and, after a moment of hesitation, kissed Link on the cheek very gently.
Unable to respond even if he could speak, Link merely nodded and walked out of the door, but not before bumping into it, which made the Princess giggle. In a stupor, Link meandered in the direction of breakfast.
His mind was racing. Does Peach know that I… like her? Was that kiss more than just 'thank you'? I don't know what to think… He was so deep in thought that he barely noticed the couple walking towards him.
I guess love is in the air… he smirked at Ryu and Samus, holding hands as they walked against the current of fighters and towards the Barracks. Ryu merely smiled back, and Samus gave a small wave. Something about the encounter put Link in high spirits as he pressed on.
A few more feet down the hallway, Link passed by Lucina's room. He absentmindedly poked his head inside, expecting to see her getting ready for breakfast. Instead, he found Robin sitting at her desk, seeming very annoyed.
Link motioned to move away quietly so as not to disturb the Tactician, but Robin quickly turned to face the Hero instead.
Robin, you have to calm down. Violence isn't the answer… Robin thought. So, he forced a smile towards Link and tried his best to seem his jovial self.
"Oh, hello Link. Looking for Lucina?" he asked innocently. Link, without reason to be suspicious, stepped into the frame and nodded.
"Well, she told me she was going to your room. Did you not pass her?" Robin inquired. The Hero shook his head 'no'.
"Perhaps she changed her mind and went off to breakfast." Robin asserted, and Link thought that it made sense. So the two of them set off down the hallway towards the cafeteria, in search of the Exalted Lady.
Upon arriving, Link made his way through the tables, looking at all those partaking in breakfast, hoping to see Lucina. Robin, remembering that he had a match later that day, went instead into the locker room; he wanted to make sure all his tomes were stocked.
After several minutes of searching, Link was about to give up and get his own breakfast when he saw Lucina emerge from the Barracks. He walked towards her, but, upon closer inspection, saw the look of horror on her face.
Link quickened his pace and held Lucina's shoulders, silently asking her what the matter was.
"Oh Link, it's just awful. I went back to Shulk's room and found a camera; it recorded his kidnapping. Link, Samus is the kidnapper. At least, she's involved. We need to steer clear of her, and anyone she is associated with."
Link wanted to scream, if only he could speak. He wanted to tell Lucina that he just passed one of Samus' associates in the hallway; Ryu had seemed quite comfortable around her.
Unaware of her partner's distress, Lucina continued, "I think I'll go into the locker room and see if I can't find Samus' power armor; it might have evidence on it." She then took a deep breath, and walked briskly towards her goal.
Link saw no point in following the Exalted Lady into the locker room, and, unable to warn her about Ryu, had no choice but to get his breakfast.
A few feet from the door, Lucina heard the sound of someone fidgeting with the lock on a locker. She listened at the door for a few seconds before entering and almost bumping into the other occupant.
"Oh, Luci! I'm sorry, I didn't see you." the Tactician said coolly.
"Nor I you, Robin." she responded. Her spirits were high now that she had a different suspect; she couldn't contain her smile.
"Well, I was just making sure my tomes were all stocked up for my fight today. Let's go get breakfast, okay?" Robin said.
Undeterred from her goal, Lucina said, "Actually Robin, I was going to check on my locker as well. I'll join you in just a minute."
Robin nodded and walked past Lucina towards the cafeteria. Quickly making sure she was alone, Lucina went to Samus' locker immediately, but was confused by her discovery.
It was locked. And not with the standard locks, either; this one appeared to be brand new. Unable to pick the lock, Lucina had but one option; she drew Falchion and leveled it at the lock.
"Well, this is a very nice room. Very…clean." she said.
Ryu looked around the room and realized something; this was his first time entering his own room.
When he told Samus, she giggled to herself a little. "That certainly explains the upkeep." she laughed.
But Ryu had an intuition that underneath her bravado, something was bothering Samus.
"I know this may sound like a very vague question, but what's wrong?" the Wanderer inquired. Samus found herself unable to respond, which, to Ryu, was a response all its own.
"So what's bothering you?" he asked, gently.
"I…I feel like I'm losing my mind." Samus said, the words escaping her lips before she could stop them.
"Why is that?" Ryu continued, trying to be delicate.
"There are so many reasons, but my suit…" she stopped herself, but Ryu silently pleaded with her to continue. "…My power suit, the one you saw in my locker…"
Ryu nodded to show that he understood.
"…You're gonna think I'm crazy." Samus said, hesitating.
"Just say what's on your mind." Ryu consoled.
Samus took a deep breath. "I think my suit is haunted…" Ryu paused in thought, but decided to ask why she felt that instead of making assumptions.
"Well, sometimes it moves around. I'll put it in one spot before I sleep and when I wake up, it's somewhere completely different. Sometimes I find scratches and damage that wasn't there when I last had it on. And one time, late at night, I went into the hallway and I swore I saw it walking around by itself." Samus rapidly explained.
"Well, haven't you told anyone else about all this? Someone who could help?" Ryu inquired.
"Well of course I have!" she responded indignantly. "But they all blame it on…" Her voice trailed off, so Ryu had to ask her what she was talking about.
"…A long time ago, before I ever arrived here, I was diagnosed with PTSD."
A sudden wave of pity washed over Ryu, and he found himself compelled to help Samus in any way he could. And immediately, he thought of something.
"I have an idea." he said, which seemed to pull Samus out of her doldrums a little. "Why don't I go inspect your locker, and see if anyone has been messing with your suit? Since I'm new, they probably won't think to hide anything."
"Okay, but what will I do?" she asked, but almost immediately after her sentence, a loud growl from her stomach gave Ryu his answer.
"How about you eat breakfast?"
Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Ryu saw, out of the corner of his eye, someone entering the locker room. He bade Samus go eat something, and quietly snuck over towards the door.
He opened the door silently, but was very surprised at what he saw. Lucina was there, in front of Samus' locker, inspecting the lock. Without much hesitation, she drew her blade, aimed at the lock, and pierced it with one strike.
Quickly he withdrew from the door, not wanting to be seen. Why was Lucina forcing her way into Samus' locker? Was she the one moving and using the suit? Something nefarious must be going on…
She couldn't believe it. The locker was empty. Lucina stood there for several seconds, trying to work out the possibilities. Samus couldn't have had time to fight her match with Ryu, get in her armor, kidnap Shulk, and then hide her armor. Could she have? Perhaps she had an accomplice hide the armor for her…
And then a terrible thought came to the Exalted Lady. Hadn't Robin been inside the locker room just before her, fidgeting with a lock? What if… What if Robin is somehow forcing Samus to kidnap the fighters?!
Unfortunately, Lucina didn't have time to work the theory out, because she thought she heard the door to the locker room. She swung around and saw nothing, but decided to leave anyway, lest someone see her. And so she, too, got her breakfast and sat down with Robin, Ryu, and Link.
The four sat together, pretending to be happy and discuss Robin's match against Dark Pit. However, they were all so very suspicious of the others.
Why is Lucina using Samus' armor? thought Ryu.
Why is Robin forcing Samus to work for him? thought Lucina.
Why is Lucina cheating on me with Link? thought Robin.
Why is Ryu so close with Samus? thought Link.
"They know nothing." said a very familiar voice, not far from the table. But none of the four heard a thing.
Author's Notes - Well, another long one. I'm rather enjoying writing these, and so I think that will become the new standard for these chapters. On a side note, I'd like to give two very important shout outs. Firstly to Flying Chariot, for helping me with some character direction. Chariot also writes Smash fanfics, so if you like mine, you might wanna check those out. My personal favorite is Someday. Short but sweet. And secondly, to ThatUnholyAfro, for the motivation and drive to write a better story. He is currently writing a League of Legends fanfic called The Road to Recovery, with a more informal writing style and a really original OC. Anyway, stick around for Chapter 8 (stuff is about to go down) and, until then, thanks for reading, and remember to settle it in Smash!
