Well, here's the next chapter that all of you guys were looking forward to!
Bustman: The order's already been planned in chapter 3. And I'll think about it. I'll think about it.
Shadow Minamoto: I didn't put a few other characters in this as well, seeing as that I'm already handling more than I can.
Narrowly escaping the crazed mob of admirers, Fox snuck out of the lingerie store. He really didn't understand why they still crowded around him, despite the fact that everyone knows he's engaged.
Everything was set. Now all that was needed was for the time to come…
---
Fox twiddled his thumbs as he bit his lip. He made a mistake, and yet he definitely remembered that Squirtle went first. How could this be? Closing his eyes and feeling the wind brush against his fur, he rested his arms against the railing, fearing the fate that awaits him.
Perhaps I should die and end it all. That way I won't have to see the others die, his inner voice reasoned.
But then, another voice dug out from the recesses of his subconscious. What point is there in dying? I don't want to die. I still want to live!
As the two voices argued with each other, he didn't notice the person walking towards him.
"Fox, you've been out of it lately." The vulpine turned his head and saw his best friend with his arms crossed. "You've got to snap out of it! It's not your fault!"
"How is it not my fault?" Fox shot back. "I knew how everyone was gonna die and I could've saved them! Tell me how I can live with this!"
"Snap out of it!" Falco shook Fox with vigor. "What the hell's gotten into you? This isn't the Fox McCloud that I know!"
"Well, maybe you should look somewhere else."
"Fine!" Falco stormed off before turning back. "Maybe the McCloud I know is already dead!" He slammed the door shut behind him, rattling the room's walls.
Fox was unperturbed by this outburst. He stared out to the cerulean lake. The sparkling waters were mesmerizing. It was fascinating, almost alluring, even, as it seemingly beckoned out to Fox.
Come down here… come now…
Entranced by the waters, Fox had a sudden urge to go down there. It looked so peaceful, where nothing could hurt him. He was about to go when—
"McCloud, what the fuck are you doing?!"
Fox blinked. He suddenly realized that one of his legs was resting over the guardrail. Turning around, he saw his lifelong rival, full of seething rage. Wolf stomped over and pulled him back. Fox was dragged out of his room and into the hallway, where the lupine pinned him to the wall.
"I don't know what you were thinking of," said Wolf. "But the only way that you're going to die is by my hand. No one else's!" And with a swish of his bushy tail, he released the vulpine and left.
Fox stared blankly at his bedroom door. Was he steadily going mad? Maybe I'd be better off in a room where nothing could happen to me.
He shook out of his reverie and decided to go for a swim in the lake. The fascination was just too much for him.
---
As he went down, he passed the training room, where Link and his cartoon counterpart were busily sparring. Even though the tournament was indefinitely postponed, they still honed their skills, so that when it did reopen, they would come out as the best.
"Hey, Fox, where you going?" Link asked. Fox had just walked past, clutching a towel and his swimming trunks.
"Hmm? Oh, hey, Link…s," he finished as Toon Link glared at him. "Me? I'm just going down to the lake for a swim."
"Oh. Well, do you mind if we join you? We need a quick bath anyways and we're too lazy to go the showers."
Ew. "No, I don't mind."
---
The golden sands of the shore glittered in the afternoon sun. Two seagulls circled the middle of the lake, crying shrilly. A little dock jutted out from land. Changed into proper garb, the swordsman and humanoid fox dived into the water.
"Ah, this is the life!" sighed Toon Link. Floating on their backs, watching the clouds glide in the air, the three them drifted lazily through the water without a care in the world.
--
Link's thoughts drifted over to Zelda. Over the past week or two, their relationship grew tighter than ever. Zelda's excuse was that they could die at any time, and that it was important for them to spend the few remaining moments of their life together.
Toon Link was thinking about the charming girl that always wowed him, both in combat and out. There was something about Nana that attracted him to her. It could've been her icy-blue eyes, her sleek brown hair, or her cheery attitude. She had always cheered him on, and every time she did, a warm fuzzy feeling grew deep from within him.
Fox… well, his thoughts too, slid over to romance. He, like Toon Link, was thinking about his unrequited love interest, Peach. Even though his inner war between Krystal and the fair princess was still waging, the scales were steadily tipping in favour of the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. He soon fell into a scene where he was kneeling in front of her, presenting her with a box that would cause all women to gasp in delight.
Their contemplations were brought to an abrupt halt as the bell clanged for dinner.
"Well, looks like we gotta go back in." Fox started to breaststroke towards the shore. "Race you there!" He cried to the two swordsmen.
The rapid splashing and parting of the waters broke the thick silence. Fox clambered back onto the shore, proclaiming himself the winner. "Looks like I won—" but his ego was soon deflated with fear.
Link and Toon Link were a few meters away from the shallow end when they suddenly went into spasms. "CRAMP!" they simultaneously shouted. In desperation, the two of them started clawing at the liquid prison around them, but the fluid cunningly slipped from their flailing limbs time and time again.
Shit! They're going to die, and I can't do anything! the furry pilot thought. He uttered a shrill cry of "HELP!" before looking for anything for the two to grasp onto. He ran to the end of the dock before finding a device that suited the purpose.
A buoy attached to a long rope dangled on a post. Thinking quickly, Fox ripped it off its stand, and threw it at the two strugglers. "Grab on to it!" he shouted. As he felt a tug from the other side, he laid on the dock, steadily pulling the two towards him.
A commotion burst from behind him, everyone was there, witnessing Fox saving both Links. Just then, they lost consciousness, and their grips slackened and they were close to the shore.
The stronger fighters like Snake and Captain Falcon waded through the water and brought the unresponsive swordsmen to shore.
"Looks like they've got water in their lungs, and they're not breathing," Snake reported after a thorough survey of the two. "We need to act fast."
"How?" questioned Ike.
"CPR" was the reply.
Marth, with an evil gleam in his eye, pushed the silver-furred wolf to the front.
"What was that for?!" he growled, as it dawned upon him.
"Fuck no."
Well, I'm leaving it there. The next chapter will determine whether or not they live or die, though it's somewhat obvious.
By the way, there was a very obscure Harry Potter reference here. Can you spot it?
Fox: I can tell you that it's when—
Me: Ah, ah, ah. No spoilers. Let them find out.
On another note, I am writing another SSB fic alongside this one, so the updates will be coming in slower. If you're interested, you can also check that one out. Chapter 1's almost finished.
Until next time! Cheers!