Heyheyhey! Guess what? This is the chapter before the last! Everything's falling into place and I know where I'm going now x33. It's been fun guys, and I'm really enjoying it. I'll do more of course, though I might take a break from Smash Bros for a while. Maybe.... maybe not. If you guys have any non-specific plot ideas, go ahead and throw them out there, I'm all open for ideas.

For the record, "yoshi" means okay.

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Marth returned to the Smash Manor hall, nodding a farewell to Meta Knight as the puffball disappeared into his own room. The young prince's hand hovered above the doorknob to Ike room, and then turned it. The door swung open softly, filling the room with light from the hallway. He closed it softly, listening for his boyfriend. A soft snore told him that Ike was asleep.

He walked into the room and looked at the silhouette of the man lying on the bed. He was still in all his armor and clothes, and hadn't even bothered to pull up the covers around his muscular frame. Marth's thin fingers gripped the sheets and pulled them over the mercenary, a soft smile touching his lips. He looked so peaceful there… sleeping. He bent over and let his lips brush the man's cheek, causing Ike to mumble something incoherent.

Marth wanted to cuddle up next to him, to feel the warmth of his lover pressed against him… but he knew Ike might not appreciate that. After all, he had been pretty mad. However, at the same time, the teal haired prince didn't want to leave the mercenary's side. So he decided to lie on the sofa, curling up into a little ball and closing his eyes. It wasn't the most comfortable bed, but Marth concentrated on the sound of Ike's snores to lull him asleep. Eventually he fell into a dreamless slumber.

Ike walked along a red path, covered in rose petals. On either side of him rose large black trees; they blocked him in, giving him no option but to continue to follow the path. At last a clearing peeked out at the end, a large circle of space walled in by the black trees and with one tree in the center. This tree was also black, but had been stained red, as if by blood. From its limbs hung two ropes, and from those ropes two limp figures. He couldn't see who they were, but they hung lifeless, ropes about their necks…

Ike turned and looked back. He could always go back the way he came… but the hanging figures remained in his mind. If he went closer, he could see who it was… but did he really want to? At last he let his feet take him closer… closer… until the faces came into view.

Ike sat up with a jolt, body shaking. His hand ran against his head, wiping away the sweat that had formed there. It… it had just been a dream. Just a dream. Sapphire eyes scanned the dark room, and fell upon a figure curled up on the sofa. A smile touched his lips, Marth had come back. He slid off the bed and approached the sleeping prince. With careful hands he lifted him into his arms, making sure that he didn't wake the boy, and took him back to the bed with him. He set Marth down and climbed in next to him, pulling the covers over them both and wrapping his arms around the prince's lithe form, pulling him close. His mind wandered back to his dream, and his face snuggled into the prince's hair. "I'll keep you safe Marth," he whispered.

The light of the morning sun shined on his face and woke the drowsy prince. He yawned stretched a little, his hands falling to those which wrapped around his waist.

Wait… hands…

His head turned carefully and looked at Ike. The mercenary was asleep still, a content smile on his face. Marth turned his body so that he was facing the man, and leaned forward, placing a kiss on his lips. Sapphire eyes opened softly, "Hey," the mercenary said with a soft smile.

"I… I'm sorry." What else was there to say?

His words seemed to bring realization to Ike's mind; his smile disappeared. "Why'd you do it?"

"I… I… It just… happened… Roy, he… I collapsed when I went to look for you, and Roy found me and then he took me to his room and…" tears welled up at the corners of the prince's eyes, spilling over. "Oh Ike… please don't hate me."

"Hate you? No, never," he kissed away the tears falling down the prince's cheeks. "I could never hate you Marth, never. I love you; that's why… I wish you had told me. Finding out from Peach, I… that hurt."

"I'm sorry," tears continued to fall. "I'm so sorry, I just wanted to forget, to pretend it had never happened."

The mercenary's eyes softened. His grip around the boy tightened, "Don't cry Marth, you know I hate it when you cry."

"I-I can't he-help it," he sobbed. "I… I didn't mean to- to hurt you Ike… I l-love you s-so much."

"Shh, shh," Ike tried to soothe him, "It's alright, you know I love you; you don't have to cry anymore." He quieted him with a kiss. "It's alright…"

Marth snuggled closer to the man, "Aiku-kun… please forgive me…"

"Of course I do…"

Ike was kind. He was forgiving. He loved unconditionally and was hurt by betrayal. He'd act rashly sometimes, but he never held a grudge. He loved Marth and the prince knew that he'd never betray him. Marth loved him in return as well. Silently, the prince made a list of these things; next was Roy. He'd give Roy a chance too; and then decide.

He found the chance to do so an hour later, after Ike had drifted back to sleep. He wiggled out from the man's hold and slid off the bed. Careful hands pulled the covers back up over the mercenary. "I'll be back," he promised softly, though Ike couldn't hear him. With those parting words he left the room, stepping into an empty hall. It was too early in the morning for anyone else to be up. His hand knocked on a door, and after a moment it was opened.

Brows raised in slight surprise, a smile touching at Roy's lips. So, he'd come running to him had he? "Marth."

"H-hai, Roi-kun. Could you… could you come with me to 'our spot' for a moment?" Their spot. Even Ike had never gone there with Marth, it had been 'their spot.' A clearing just inside the forest.

"Of course, Marusu-kun. But… let me get dressed." He looked down, and Marth realized that the flame prince was only in his undershorts, and he blushed slightly. "Would you like to come in?" Roy's voice was seducing.

"N-no," the teal haired prince took a step back. "I'll meet you there, yoshi? "

"Alright," Roy shrugged, closing the door. Hm, he could use this to his advantage… To Roy it was obvious why Marth was calling him out to their special place, and the prince's refusal to come into his room only solidified that fact; he was choosing Ike. No doubt he thought that Roy would just accept the fact and move on. That's what the Roy of two years ago would have done.

But not this Roy, oh no. He wasn't going to let his little prince go. If Marth was going to choose Ike over him, well, then he'd just have to get rid of Ike. And he knew just how to do it. He'd show Marth how much he loved him… he'd see…

The banging at the door forced Ike to rise from the bed. For a moment he didn't even think about the fact that something was missing from the bed there. He opened the door to find… nothing. No one was there. With an angry mumble the door was closed again, and he turned to walk away when his foot stepped on something paper. Something had been slipped under the door. Ike picked it up:

Ike.

I have Marth; and I'll do anything to see that he stays mine, even if that means killing him so that you can't have him. If you want him to live, you'll agree to meet me. I'll let Marth live in exchange for your life. Come to the clearing located just inside the forest northwest of Smash Manor. And don't try to pull anything funny, or you'll regret it.

Roy.

Ike's heart skipped a beat, his chest felt about ready to explode. He ran back to the bed, eyes searching it wildly; Marth wasn't there. Roy… damn him, would he really kill the young prince? Was he that crazy? Ike cursed loudly, banging his fist against the sideboard. A clearing in the forest? For a split second his mind returned to his dream; but he pushed the thought away. That was… that was just a dream. Well, if Roy wanted a fight, he'd get one. It was time he paid for all the shit he had put Marth through during the past week.

This would end.