A/N – Welcome back readers. I'm starting to wonder if anyone actually likes this story. Well, as long someone is still reading, I will keep updating. PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW! *ahem* As I was saying, I have decided to do Samus for this chapter. Ike and Link will come later. *audience groans* Yes, I know, but I thought it would make more sense with the current storyline. Please tell your friends, enemies, friends of your enemies, enemies of your friends, frenemies, and anyone else about this story. Now, on with the show.

Chapter 10: Samus

YOU MORON! Samus thought to herself. You're a feared bounty hunter, and you BLUSH?! In front of a GUY?! Not any other guy, but SNAKE! Samus sighed. Maybe this whole thing has made me go soft. Samus had never actually had any sort of crush on Snake; she always thought he was a dark, mysterious, mad man with a box* who never played well with others. What she had seen just minutes earlier made her think twice about him.

Samus sighed and paced around the room. She had no idea what to do next. Should she do something for him in return? Ask Ike about him? Forget about it? Samus assumed that that was the best idea, for now. She glanced out the window, which had a perfect view of the courtyard. The fire was out, and firefighters were putting out the last of the embers. All of the grass was burned, and a bit of the building was charred, but that was about it.

Samus decided to the usual thing she did when she needed to get her mind off things; polish her power suit. She had a specially made addition to her own room as a storage area for her suit. Samus quickly took a look at the clock and sighed. Polishing would have to wait.

"Any second now….." she said to herself. Almost as a response, the intercom tone came on, and Master Hand's voice filled the mansion.

"All Smashers please report to the auditorium for a brief meeting." He said before the intercom shut off. Samus groaned. Master Hand's "meetings" were never brief, but she might as well attend. She walked out the door and downstairs to the auditorium. A crowd had already formed in the lobby, and everyone was slowly making their way into the auditorium. She caught a glimpse of Snake talking to Ike before Zelda approached her.

"Greetings, Samus" Zelda said. Samus turned to her.

"Hey, Zelda. Crazy day today, huh?" Samus replied.

"Yes, today has been quite the commotion. I believe this meeting will most likely be about the fire." Zelda said, the two following the crowd.

"The fire. Right." Samus said. She could still feel the heat from the blaze on her skin. She shivered slightly.

"I saw what happened with you and Snake. He's very brave don't you think? Risking his life for the sake of another. A true warrior." Zelda said. Samus started to blush again, but fought to control it. If Zelda saw, she didn't show any sign of it. Samus cleared her throat.

"Anyway, how did I do during the battle?" Samus asked, trying to change the subject.

"I thought you fought very well. Why do you ask?" Zelda replied.

Samus shrugged. "No reason, really." She said as the two walked into the auditorium. They found two seats and sat down as the lights dimmed. A spotlight shined, and Master Hand floated onstage. With him were Bowser and Red, the Pokémon Trainer. Charizard stood next to Red. They were looking guilty, and kept their heads down.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I'm sure you're aware of the fire that broke out earlier." He began. The Smashers nodded.

"Good, good. Now, I would like to start off this meeting with a brief reminder about the Mansion's fire safety policy…."

Two and a half hours later, Samus felt herself being woken up by Zelda. Samus yawned. The last thing she remembered before nodding off was Master Hand talking about the price of the courtyard grass. She looked around. The meeting was over, and the other Smashers were getting up to leave. She yawned again and stood up with Zelda. Together, along with the rest of the crowd, they made their way to the dining hall. Master Hand's "brief" speech had gone until dinner time.

As she passed the lobby, she glanced over to see Snake talking with Ike. They were standing in the middle of the room, under the Grand Chandelier. Snake and Ike looked like they were having a very heated conversation, but kept their voices down so they wouldn't be heard. This piqued Samus's interest. Whatever it was, it was probably very important. She looked up.

That's when she saw it. A movement, hidden within the crystals of the chandelier. Everything seemed to go in slow motion. The fixture slowly and silently detached from the ceiling. Samus had just enough time to react.

"WATCH OUT!" she screamed while jumping at Snake. The impact landed them both against the wall, the second the chandelier crashed to the floor. Ike barely made out of the way, just in the nick of time.

"What….." Snake started to say but stopped when he saw the damage. He then looked at Samus, who groaned and slowly stood up. She looked back at the spot where the chandelier had crashed to the floor. She had to feel sorry for Master Hand. She turned around and helped Snake back up.

"I guess we're even, now" Snake said, as he rose to his feet.

"I guess so" Samus chuckled. Their eyes met, but longer than last time.

"Thanks" he said, their eyes still locked.

"Happy to help" Samus said back. She cleared her throat and averted her eyes. Snake chuckled. Samus looked up at him quizzically. "What's so funny?" she asked. Snake nodded his head to behind her shoulder. She looked back.

Zelda and Ike were standing, gawking at them like two children at a carnival. Samus couldn't help but laugh to herself. She shook her head and looked back and Snake.

"All this saving your butt as worked up an appetite. What do you say we join the others for dinner?" Samus asked, sporting a sly smile. Snake smiled back and cocked an eyebrow.

"I thought you'd never ask"

A/N – Yay! Little late on the update, I know. Stuff happened. So, anyway, hope you enjoyed chapter 10. No one complained about the last chapter, so I threw in a little extra Snakus, just for the heck of it. Please review, favorite, and follow. Next will probably be Red, so I can explain how the fire started. ERASE ALL MEMORIES OF THE CHANDALIER ACCIDENT FOR THE SAKE OF THE NEXT CHAPTER! Oh, and did anyone catch the Doctor Who reference? It was at the very beginning. So anyway, Prepare Yourself.