Before this chapter, I had no idea where this was going. But I've figured out a good plot. Just expect some surprises. I'm trying to write the Nintendo version of Lord of the Rings, you hear?

Disclaimer: None of this is owned by me. (See, I'm getting lazier each time?)


It was a clear winter morning, just before dawn. The dew still hung to the slightly damp grass. The birds sang in the trees. And the sound of steel on steel rang across the green.

Ralph charged forwards, flourishing his sword. Metaknight effortlessly parried it, and countered back with a stronger attack. Ralph was thrown to the floor in a crumpled heap.

"Eugh." He picked himself up, smoothing his cape and hat.

Metaknight nodded. "Good. Try again, but this time, keep your tip steady."

Ralph nodded, and charged forwards. Expecting his attack to be parried again, Ralph swept quickly to one side, and drew his sword sharply back again in a fierce slash. Too late. Metaknight blade swung under Ralph's and pushed it to one side.

Metaknight was unmoved. "And a circular parry ends your attack," he said matter-of-factly. "Keep working."

Slowly, they went through more and more routines, Metaknight instructing Ralph on the correct parries for the different positions, and respective ripostes. Ralph tried his best to best each one, with varying degrees of success. Sometimes he came close, only to have his blade torn from his hand at the last minute. Other times he was miles off, Metaknight having ducked and retreated.

Ralph was covered in sweat. They had been training for quite some time, and it certainly made a change to the obstacle course that was the simulator. Metaknight seemed totally absorbed in the sword. Ralph was immensely curious about him. He never removed his mask, preferring to keep it over his face at all times.

As if he had something to hide.

"Come again. One last time."

Ralph gripped his sword, and traced forwards. Suddenly he retreated. Metaknight was caught off guard, and Ralph spotted and opening. Racing forwards, he beat Metaknight's blade away, knocking the caped swordsman onto the grass, and scoring a resounding hit.

Metaknight nodded. "Well done boy. Your training is over for today."

"Thanks," replied Ralph. "I've learnt a lot. Thanks for helping."

"Not at all. But remember, there is always more to learn. Same time tomorrow, okay?"

Ralph nodded curtly. "Sure," he said, then added "Master."

Ralph thought he heard the sound of Metaknight chuckling to himself as he disappeared into the shadow of the trees.


Much later, Marth was lining up to receive his lunch in the serving hall. Pushing his tray along the counters, he hardly watched as his food was dished out to him. One of the servers tapped on the edge of Marth's tray with a ladle. "Hey. You want some of this?" she asked.

Marth snapped out of his stupor. "Oh. Yeah. Of course I do." Then he noticed who was doing the serving. "Zelda?"

She grinned up at him. "Yep. How's it going, Marthy?"

"Since when have you called me Marthy?"

"Since when have you called anyone anything?"

He couldn't help it, he laughed out loud. "A while. Nah, why are you here anyway?" He glanced at her simple apron, a simple piece far removed from the dresses she usually wore. "First day?"

Zelda shrugged. "Yeah. They needed someone. Apparently there was a vacancy; since one of the previous servers just upped and vanished."

Marth raised his eyebrows. "Weird."

Zelda nodded. "Yeah. That's what they all said." During their conversation a queue had built up behind Marth. Zelda suddenly noticed it. "Oh my gods, I'm so sorry!" she called to the people behind him.

Zelda quickly began spooning soup into a bowl on Marth's tray, hardly looking at him. She kept hurriedly glancing up at the queue, accidentally spilling soup over the tray and onto the floor. Her face was red and flushed.

Suddenly she dropped the ladle. It fell to the floor with a clatter. All eyes in the room slowly turned to Zelda. The complaints from the queue were suddenly silenced. Slowly Marth bent down, and carefully handed it back to her. Zelda hurriedly made a grab for it, and their hands touched for a brief second.

Horrified she looked into his eyes; Marth was smiling broadly. Zelda cheek's turned beetroot red. They drew apart quickly, Zelda still feeling her hand as if it had been burned by a red-hot poker.

People were starting to complain again. "Hey, where's the food?"

Zelda could only shake her head dumbly. Marth seemed to have lost all notion of where he was. Suddenly some one spoke up, addressing the others.

"Hey, come on. Its her first day." The voice was cold and distant, as if it came from someone who also did not like speaking much, and was unsuited to doing so. The speaker stood next to Marth, and placed his tray on the counter.

Marth recognised the guy. He had caught his eye earlier in the week. He usually sat alone at meal times, preferring to be by himself, or with his close group of friends, one of whom Marth knew was Ephraim. Marth knew the feeling well enough. "No soup," was all the stranger added simply, before going to sit down.

Marth muttered an apology to Zelda, who merely nodded, still quiet red, then picked his soggy tray up. He almost ran to the nearest table, and slid his meal onto the steel surface, before quietly sitting himself down, making every action as small as possible. It suddenly dawned on him that the stranger was sitting exactly opposite him on the same table. He had not said a word.

Marth, assuming it was safe to speak again, decided to break the ice. "Hey," he said, pointing at the man with his spoon. "I didn't ask for your name."

The stiff man leaned back, whipping a strand of dark brown hair from his face, then his face broke into a wide smile. "Sorry. Felix. So, you wanna come watch the match?"


Late afternoon came, and with it, the first tournament match. The tournament was basically a series of singular duels, with each competitor earning points for the result, three for a win, one for a draw, or none for a loss. In the event of a draw, in which both fighters were knocked out at the same time, the judges would decide.

There were several groups, of randomly chosen fighters, who would be pitted against each other, with the highest point earners progressing to the knock-out stages. There it was literally every man for himself. On top of that, there were doubles matches to worry about as well, where competitors could gain more points to boost their scores.

Marth could sense the crowd's impatience as he pushed his way to the top box, reserved for 'Official Entrants Only'. Like everyone else he was impatient for Roy's match to begin. Marth showed his ID to a guard, then passed into it. Spotting a seat between Felix and another man whose name escaped him, he squeezed over, apologizing quickly to Falco on the row behind for blocking the view.

"Hey, Felix." Marth said. "Mind if I sit there?"

"Sure thing. Be my guest." Marth was surprised. Felix seemed much more relaxed now. He was waving his hands around, making large gestures to Ephraim beside him, who was rocking backwards and forwards on his seat. Another of Felix's friends leant across Marth to speak to him.

"And he said what?"

Felix turned to him, struggling to keep a straight face. "When the earth moves beneath my feet!"

The two burst into laughter. "And you…did, right?"

"Yeah. Suffice to say, he never bothered me again!"

Catching Marth's confused look, he introduced him. "This is Isaac. Nice guy generally, but a little soft in the head."

Isaac had a large amount of blonde hair, which stuck up in a way that Link's probably would have done had he resorted to large amounts of hair gel. A yellow cape hung over his shoulders.

"Hey!" Isaac tried to grab a fistful of Felix's long hair, but missed by miles. "Bah, humbug. You're Marth, right?" he said, and then with a slight undertone, "Roy's friend?"

Marth nodded. "Yeah. What, think he won't make it?"

"Nah, but it'll be tough. I've heard the other guy is literally out of this world."

Marth raised his eyebrows, and leant in, trying to hear above the noise of the crowd. "Really?"

"I'm not even sure if he's living."

Link poked his head between them, leaning off his chair from the row behind. "I'm sure Roy'll do fine."

Suddenly the crowd whooped and cheered. Roy had walked onto the floor of he stadium, now a dusty desert. His boots kicked up sand as he walked, his eyes downcast. The Sword of Seals was slung across his back. He looked oddly determined.

Large megaphones burst into life, sending shockwaves through the audience. The familiar announcer was shouting through them. "Please give a huge hand," here he paused slightly, just in time to catch Master Hand's groan, "to our own home-grown hero, ROY!!"

The audience went wild. Marth could almost see the stadium lift off its feet, as thousands jumped to their feet to cheer him. Suddenly a traditional chant went up.

"ROY'S OUR BOY!"

Suddenly the entire stadium seemed to be shouting it. Roy was smiling, and he pulled out his sword, letting it glow in the sunlight, before leaping forwards, and sending sparks racing across the dry earth of the stadium floor.

Suddenly the stadium hushed again.

Roy's opponent seemed to crank into the arena. Roy's first thought was that he was a man, but no man walked as he did now. The figure walked in small strides, each leg seeming to jutter slightly, like a machine or wooden doll. A hat similar to Ralph's lay across his head, with a strange bow-like emblem embroidered into it. His cape was ragged, making him seem like an overgrown vulture.

Slowly he raised his hands, and a ball of white energy seemed to form in it. Jumping up, he sent it soaring into the sky, where it slowly arched back to Earth, exploding mere metres from Roy. Roy grimaced. The entire stadium seemed to be leaning forwards, with Marth.

"And now," announced the familiar voice from the speakers, "Give a huge hand to our starry newcomer…"


I will say no more. I will leave you to guess the rest. Our mysterious newcomer is HUGELY requested for the actual game, by the way.

Yes, there will be hints of Marth/Zelda in this, as Link is preoccupied (and not in a yaoi way either). Yes, Isaac and Felix are from Golden Sun. No, Marth/Roy are not a couple. A riposte by the way, is a fencing term that means a counter-attack, so heh.

Chapter previews are so in.

NEXT CHAPTER: Roy faces his first challenge, and the plot thickens.