AND IM BACK WITH A BANG PEOPLE. Sorry i know i havent updated in like 3 weeks but hey ive had a life since then. Alright just to make this quick here is the last instalment in the reunions chapters and it should close up a few loose ends and provide quite a twist. Anyways please comment and review, your reviews are how i know if people are actually reading this fic
Reunions (part 4)
Smash Kingdom had changed much since the queen's last visit. This place was once an escape for her, a place where she could be free from the problems of royal life and spend time as a regular girl. Yet she was the Queen now and this escape was now more for her own sanity than anything else. She never imagined the amount of responsibility she would inherit, or the prices she had to pay to keep her people safe and happy. There was one price in particular she could not forgive herself for, something that she knew she shouldn't have…..
"Hello Zelda, EARTH TO ZELDA, anyone home?" interrupted Peach as she snapped her fingers in front of Zelda's face.
"Huh., what, oh I'm so sorry Peach. I've had a lot on my mind lately. You were talking about your new spring collection." Honestly Zelda had no idea what Peach was talking about before hand, she just assumed it had something to do with dresses.
The two Queens sat at a table just outside a restaurant sharing drinks. Both Peach and Zelda had grown in years, their once youthful looks had been replaced with a more sophisticated and mature beauty that made the heads of all men turn. Zelda, the elf Queen of Hyrule, was known for her mastery of magic, her wisdom, her leadership and her radiant beauty. Peach was the ruler of the Mushroom kingdom, a kingdom filled with all kinds of creatures and a vast pipe network. Peach was nowhere near as wise as Zelda, yet she tried her best to be for her people.
"Honestly Zelda as a Queen you shouldn't be so rude and wander off in the middle of a conversation." Said an annoyed Peach.
"Once again Peach I'm sorry, it's just that I thought I could get away from my responsibilities as Queen even for a short while, but even here they haunt me."
"Tell me about it girlfriend, I can really understand what you are going through."
"Forgive me Peach, but I don't think you relate to what I'm going through."
Zelda had tried to put her last comment in the nicest way possible not wanting to offend Peach, but Peach would take these words like a knife to her throat.
"Are you saying that Hyrule is so much harder to rule over than Mushroom Kingdom?" Peach was furious. She could not stand Zelda acting so high and mighty when comparing their kingdoms.
"What! Wait no no no that's not what I meant. It's just that our kingdoms are so different from each other, we worry about very different things."
"Oh really and does that mean I could never understand your dilemma. Please do tell me what is so serious in Hyrule that I could not understand."
"Well for one you don't have to worry about someone trying to start another race war in your kingdom, while you're away, that can cause the deaths of more than half of your people."
Peach went deathly silent. She knew that Hyrule and Mushroom kingdom were in fact very different, but she could never even imagine such a thing. Zelda had told her about the great civil war that nearly destroyed Hyrule years ago, but Peach knew nothing of these things, nothing of war and its lasting aftermath. She began to fidget in her seat while the look of annoyance on her face quickly turned to one of shame.
"I'm sorry I had no idea things were like that in Hyrule."
"Don't be and to be honest things aren't as bad as I made them sound, just that you never know what can happen when you're gone, you never know who may make a play for power."
The two Queens merely looked at each other in silence; Peach reached out and placed her hand over Zelda's. She had no idea what to say to Elvin Queen, she just wanted her to know she was there.
"I just pray nothing like that happens to my home."
"As do I my friend as do I."
They remained their frozen for what seemed for hours until they noticed someone running towards them yelling something out.
"HEY MOM! Man I'm I glad I finally found you, I've been looking for you all day."
Both queens were shocked back into reality by the screams of the young girl. She quickly ran towards them bumping into a few people on the way. Why she was in such a hurry they didn't know or why she was carrying a strange package.
"Maria is something wrong?"
"Um no not really, just that dad wanted me to find you and give you this box here. He said something like It's really important she gets it as soon as possible."
Maria handed the box over to Peach. Peach took a quick look at the box, it looked like the kind to hold flowers in. It was a simple black box wrapped in a pink bow.
"I wonder what can be so important that it needed to be….." Peach stopped as soon as she saw what was in the box and smiled. There were candied peaches on the end of long green stems. There were also tickets inside to a play that was playing that night. "That old charmer still knows exactly how to make me smile."
"I can't believe he had me run around all day just to deliver a love letter, well at least it was romantic."
"Princess Maria my how you have grown, I haven't seen you in ages."
"OH! Queen Zelda I'm sorry I was in such a rush I didn't notice you till now."
Maria was a 17 year old princess and the daughter of Mario and Peach. She had long brown hair tied into a ponytail, she wore a blue and red top, a pink skirt and long blue shorts, since she didn't want anyone looking up her skirt during the battles. Yet her favourite add to her attire was one of her dad old hats, it made her feel strong for some reason.
"So Maria where is your father anyways, I've heard he isn't competing this year?"
"Yah dad isn't exactly in the best shape to fight in the smash tournaments these days. It's just me and my uncle Luigi who are entering. Anyways last time I saw him he was with Luigi just wondering around this place."
"Speaking of old charmers, where's yours Zelda?"
"Huh what?"
"You know mister personality."
"Oh Link, he is probably in Hyrule right now either training the soldiers or honing his skills."
"Don't tell me he isn't coming to this tournament either, it's just not the same without him."
"Link well, he doesn't leave Hyrule. He wants to be ready to defend it at all times."
"Well that's such a shame. So how are things between you two, you haven't even mentioned him once since you got here?"
"Actually now that you mention it, um you see Link doesn't even know I'm here."
"What!?"
"Queen Zelda are you serious!?"
"I knew Link would disapprove of this so I just decided to come here without telling him."
"Um don't you think he would notice, heck he might be looking for you right now."
"Link and I haven't been on the best of terms lately. If he does notice my disappearance, it won't be any time soon."
"WHAT ARE YOU SERIOUS, ok what happened between you two, spill."
On the outside Zelda had not changed her expression whatsoever, she was a master of controlling her emotions and remaining calm in even the most tense situations. Yet on the inside she felt like bursting into tears, the reason for Link's anger and the price she had to pay to become queen was it all worth it.
"That's just the thing, I'm not sure I have an idea why he is so angry, but other than royal affairs he wont even talk to me anymore."
"Wow I never saw Link as the type to do something like that, have you tried talking to him."
"He is so full of anger these days it's just so hard to approach him not to mention the fact that my duties as queen have kept me from spending any real time with him.
"Oh Zelda I had no idea I……."
"Its all right, truth is I love Link more than anyone and I know he feels the same. I will eventually find a solution to this problem."
"Well then I wish you best of luck with that. I hope you two can get over your……….hubba hubba."
"Huh what?" Zelda looked behind her to see two young men walking by; by the looks of it they were about 18 perhaps 20 years old. They were both attractive young men and it seemed that Peach had already noticed that.
"My my my looks at the backside on that one mmmmm if only I was 10 years younger."
"MOM that's gross those are……"
"Oh relax darling I'm just looking, besides I don't know who those boys are, but they sure some nice pieces of eye candy."
"MOM!"
The two boys stopped and turned to look at the two queens.
"Is that, what no way. HEY PRINCESS PEACH, PRINCESS ZELDA."
"Oh Zelda look their coming this way, how do I look?"
"…….like a cougar……"
"Princess Zelda and Peach it's so good to see you again."
Zelda took a good look at the boys, but she couldn't for the life of her figure out who they were.
"I'm sorry, but who are you boys exactly?"
"Huh? Oh I guess we do look a lot different since you saw us last. Zelda it's me Ness and this is Lucas."
Suddenly Peach felt a sense of disgust fill her as she realised she had just been ogling two boys she used to read stories too.
"I don't believe it Ness is that really you?" Zelda got up and took a good look at the boys; she examined them up and down while walking around them. She then pulled both of them into her embrace. "I can't believe it, you've both grown so much."
"Well we can't stay small forever princess." Said Lucas while trapped in Zelda's embrace.
Zelda released the boys and giggled at Lucas last comment.
"Hehe no I guess you can't. Oh and by the way it's queen now."
"Wow really? Wow I can't believe I know an actual Queen."
"I see you haven't changed." Zelda took another look at Lucas, unlike Ness he had completely changed his style. "By the way Lucas why are you dressed so sharp?"
"Oh well you see not only will I win all my matches, but I'm going to look good doing it"
"Ugh not this again."
"Admit it Ness your just jealous you didn't think of it yourself, with this look all the girls will come swarming to me."
"Oh I'm jealous alright, jealous of the dead." Ness then noticed the brunette to his left, it was the same girl he had met the other day and one of the many girls Arkam had flirted with. "Um hi we met the other day miss uhhh……"
"It's Maria, Maria Mario Toadstool. You were with the elf boy the other day weren't you?"
"Oh yah sorry about him he kind of always acts like that around girls." Ness was implying how Arkam had made certain moves on Maria.
"Oh don't worry about it, I actually enjoyed it besides I know his type he was just being nice in his own way."
"Hey Ness we better get going if we want to catch up with Red."
"Oh right sorry Lucas." Ness had forgotten about Red, it seems girls had that affect on him. "Hey Maria if you aren't doing anything why not join us we're off to meet up with some friends who are also in the tournament."
Maria looked back to see her mother in what appeared to be some state of terrified shock. She also saw Zelda waving her hand motioning Maria to go with the boys.
"Sure sounds like fun, I'll see yah later mom you as well Zelda."
Zelda watched as they all left and remembered how things were when she was young. She remembered the friends she made, bonds that not even the sands of time could not break. She remembered all the attention she got from the boys, especially one blue haired prince with whom she nearly ran off with. She looked back at Maria and envied the young princess, she envied the experiences she was going to have here in Smash kingdom.
"Is it just me or has Ness taking a liking to your little girl?"
"Please don't talk about those boys right now, I just feel so………dirty."
"Serves you right." Zelda could only laugh at Peach's pain hoping that Maria would not tell Ness and Lucas that her mother had been having naughty thoughts about them.
"Wait a second……what was it that Maria said………an elf boy she met the other day…….it must be someone from Hyrule. I wonder who from Hyrule is here………OH it must be that toon version of Link, I wonder what he looks like now."
Not to far away at the Portals Restaurant, Falcon, Falco, Fox and Sonic continued to share stories of old times at the smash tournaments.
"Oh man do you guys remember that Poker game we had around the end of brawl?" Said Falcon while trying to keep a straight face.
"How can I forget, I'd never seen Samus so drunk before in my life. I also remember she cleaned you out Falcon." That night had been filled with to many stories for Fox to forget.
"Actually that was Link, what can I say he called my bluff. At least I managed to get Wolf that night; man did he have it coming."
"Speaking of Wolf, Yo Fox where is the big doofus anyways?"
"Actually I haven't seen Wolf in a few years, I don't even know if he is coming."
"Fox trust me if you're here than wild dogs couldn't keep Wolf away." Falco stopped a second to realise the irony in his statement. "Anyways nothing would keep him away, he'd still find a way here even if he was in a wheelchair."
"Oh I trust you alright, heck knowing Wolf he would modify that wheelchair to be the most lethal weapon none to us all." The sad thing is that Fox wasn't kidding. "Hey Falcon I've been wondering why aren't you entering in this tournament. You seem to be in pretty good shape and all?"
"Looks can be deceiving pal. Long story short, it's my heart that can't take the strain."
"I think it's about time you told us about that long story of yours Falcon."
"Where to start…….well I guess it all started after I took down Black Shadows biggest operation. From what I gathered I set him back to the point of bankruptcy with that one and I guess that's what started it all."
"Started what?"
"It was at the F-Zero race right after that mission, Black Shadow had entered, but he wasn't there to win the race, he was there to take me out. During the entire race he was constantly trying to bash me off the road so he could get rid of me once and for all. I did my best to avoid, but in the end he wouldn't be satisfied until I was dead even if that meant going down himself. So he crashed his car into mine."
"No way he actually went that far! Did he…….you know?"
"Yah, he died in the crash and I wasn't in any better shape. I was taken to the hospital and got some really serious open heart surgery. After that the doctors said I was in no shape to ever race or fight again. If only I had listened."
"What do you mean?"
"Racing was my life I wasn't going to let anything ruin that, so I got back behind the wheel and entered a race as soon as I got out of the hospital. Two minutes into the race I had a heart attack and nearly pushed another driver off the road to her death. I never raced again ever since then."
"You mentioned earlier that Johnny is now the pilot of the bleu falcon how'd that happen?"
"Well you see Johnny is my adopted son. After I retired he kept sneaking into my house trying to take the Blue Falcon, he thought if I wasn't going to continue being Captain Falcon then someone should. He was just a kid then and after I had scared him off a few times I decided to take him home myself and talk to whoever was in charge of him. I then learned he had no parents, no family to take him nothing. After some thought I decided to take him in, he was just so obsessed with being an F-Zero pilot. At first I tried to get him off it, but then I decided to take him under my wing and teach him everything I know. Ill tell you guys this, he is one heck of a pilot, he might even be better than me someday."
"So how good a fighter is he Falcon?" Krystal hadn't spoken in a while and her voice had surprised many of them.
"Why so curious all of a sudden?"
"I just want to know what my boys and daughter are getting themselves into."
"HAHA well then I guess you'll just have to wait a bit longer to find out now won't you."
Several hours later, Arkam, Saria and Adam had finished their "shopping" and found Adam a less embarrassing outfit. He now wore a white long sleeve shirt with a black t-shirt over it, he had traded in his baggy jeans for a tighter pair since he was much more comfortable in tighter clothing due to his Zero Suit.
"Huh suns almost down, so you boys still want to go meet everyone up at the mushroom lounge?"
"Sure sounds like a plan."
"No."
Saria and Arkam each turned their heads to face Adam.
"Oh like you have anything better to do."
"Whether I do or don't is not your concern, this idea of yours just seems like a waste of time to me."
"Oh Adam don't be like that you'll have a great time. You can meet all the other smashers your age and socialise. Besides Arkam and I will be there too so you won't feel too bad."
"I don't socialise. Now then I thank you again for your help earlier today and also for your help with my new attire, but I'm tired and need rest."
Adam walked away without looking back once. Strangely enough Adam had found their company quite tolerable, but he had had his fill of people for the week. With each step he took, Saria's temper only grew. She would not allow herself to be defeated by a man this way. She quickly went after Adam, whether he liked it or not he was going to join them at the lounge Saria thought to herself.
"HEY SARIA WAIT…….ugg ah forget it, this can only end badly. Guess it's just you and me now, so you know this place any ideas on what we can do."
"Yah a few, but why aren't you chasing after them aren't you worried about how nice Saria is being to this guy?"
"Not really, besides you've known her a lot longer then I have I'm surprised you'd even think that."
"I guess your right, I just worry sometimes. Listen I need to ask you what do you think of that guy after all he was covered with dark magic earlier."
"He seems simplistically complicated, I look forward to getting to know him much better. There's just something about him I don't know what it is, but I don't know it seems familiar."
"Normally I'd disagree."
"No really?"
"Oh shut up. The thing is I felt it to………..Anyways listen up if I remember correctly there is a restaurant around here, you can get some great drinks there."
"Thanks sounds like a plan."
"Well I've had a lovely time, so should we do this again tomorrow I can tell you all about the play tonight, knowing Mario I'm sure he has something bizarre planned."
"I'm sure it will be a lot more fun than that Wrestlemania he once took you to."
"You know contrary to popular belief I actually had a lot of fun there. So are you going to head back now yourself?"
"No not just yet, I think ill have one more ice tea and enjoy the sun set before I go."
"I guess I'll see you later then tootles."
Zelda watched Peach leave until she was out of sight. When she couldn't see her anymore a sense of relief filled her body. She had been trying so hard to keep cool and calm for the past few hours. As much as she hated to admit it she was jealous of Peach, she had it all a loving husband, a kingdom with no real worries and a child she shared a strong bond with.
"Where did I go so wrong, it wasn't supposed to be like this?"
Zelda allowed herself to be swallowed in her grief, just for a moment here where none of her friends could see her.
"Oh I hope I can still get there in time or Mario will be OUF." In her rush Peach didn't notice the young man in her path and crashed right into him. "Ouch…….Oh I'm sorry young man, are you hurt?"
"Nah I'm fine are you okay?"
"Peachy." Peach smiled as she lifted herself up and ran off to meet up with Mario."
"What an odd woman," Arkam lifted himself up and looked around the corner to see the restaurant he was looking for. "Oh hey there it is. That's it though as of tomorrow I'm getting a map of this place and a compass."
Arkam didn't get to far when he noticed a woman sitting at a table just outside. She seemed so sad and distracted by something. Normally he would have minded his business and left her alone, but he then noticed her attire and her Elvin ears. "She must be from Hyrule" he thought. He slowly approached the woman and the closer he got the more he realised something, she wasn't just any Hylian she must have been some kind of noble or wealthy woman to afford garments like that.
"Ahem um excuse me mam…"
Suddenly Zelda snapped back into reality just noticing the young man who was now standing right over her.
"Um sorry I didn't mean to disturb you, but I couldn't help but notice…….um are you from Hyrule?"
Zelda managed to regain her calm exterior before answering.
"…….Yes." Her reply was cold she obviously did not want to be bothered, but after spending the day with Adam, Arkam was more than capable of handling cold remarks such as those.
"Oh wow finally someone else here from Hyrule, I was starting to think I was the only Hylian here."
Zelda studied the boy once again. He dressed like an ordinary traveling Hylian, he wore a blue tunic, black trousers, and a pair of leather gloves. He also kept his blonde hair short easily exposing his ears. From the way he spoke to her he either had no respect for royalty or he had no idea who she was. Either way the boy seemed harmless enough.
"Why don't you have a seat young man?"
"Um thank you mam."
"So what part of Hyrule do you hail from?"
"Oh me, well I guess I'm from all over the place. I've never really ever lived in one place, my father wanted me to get a good idea what life is like all over Hyrule."
"A wise strategy, so you must be the Elvin boy I've been hearing about."
"Do I really stand out that much?"
Zelda smiled and looked the confused boy in the eyes.
"Trust me with ears like ours we stand out."
Arkam slowly began to laugh then soon so did Zelda. Their quite laugh soon turned into one to be heard from down the streets. Neither really knew why they were laughing it just felt good.
"Well I'm glad you're smiling now."
"What do you mean?"
"I just noticed that you looked very depressed before."
"Oh yes that………I would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone about that."
"Sure no problem."
"Are you an entrant?"
"Oh me yah I am. This is my first time here. It's a very strange place. I've seen machines do all kinds of crazy things here."
"Yes I felt the same way when I first arrived here, although you will soon come to appreciate all the marvels of this place."
"So you've been here before?"
"A few times, yes." Something had been troubling Zelda about this boy, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "Young man, have we met before. You seem familiar."
"Um I doubt it; I'd remember meeting somebody like you."
"Somebody like me?"
"Well yah I don't meet many nobles, um I'm assuming you are a noble from your dress, actually I think the only noble I ever met was that Sheik woman last year during that whole gate breaker fiasco."
"Ah yes you must be that young swordsman who helped Sheik defeat the shadow giant. He described you to me, although he never received your name."
"Um don't you mean she?"
"I beg your pardon."
"Well I mean Sheik a she right."
"Sheik is a Sheikan male, what would make you think he was a woman?"
"I fought by her side, no man can move like that, besides Sheik's frame and build is too delicate to be a man. Not to mention the fact that her facial features clearly show she is a woman."
"My my aren't you the observant one. The fact that Sheik is a woman is a royal secret."
"Which would make you royalty?" These words did not come out as easily as Arkam had wanted.
"My you truly are observant. Yes I am royalty, my name is Zelda."
"The queen of Hyrule right." There was no shock or joy in Arakam's voice anymore, just a cold sound to it.
"Correct and you young man what would your name be?"
"I guess I shouldn't be to surprised you don't know."
"Pardon me?"
"My name is Arkam, Arkam Kokiri Nohansen."
Suddenly Zelda couldn't move, she felt as if she was trapped at the bottom of Lake Hylia. Her calm exterior had been shattered by his words and a look of shock and fear had replaced it. Arkam waited for what seem to be hours, waiting for her to say something anything, but she just stood there unable to speak. He lifted himself from his seat and bowed to the queen in respect. The cold expression on his face was immediately replaced with that kind and gently look that he had when he first approached the queen.
"It truly was an honour to finally meat you your majesty, I hope to see you again sometime soon. Goodnight your majesty."
Zelda watched the boy leave and she desperately wanted to scream out wanting him to come back, but it was too late. She tried her hardest to fight off the tears, but not even the goddesses could fight off these tears.
"After all this time, all these years I finally see him even laugh with him…………….and I choke………………….no no no no no no why is he here, why does he have to be here. Why, why why why why do my mistakes have to haunt me here as well."
As soon as Arkam was out of sight, he did his best to fight off his tears and keep his anger in place, but it was a fight he couldn't win.
"Damn it, Damn it, Damn it, DAMN IT. AHHHHHHHHHHHH, I can't believe that just happened.
"Arkam relax after all that was…."
"I KNOW, I know who that was."
"Then maybe you should go back and talk to her?"
"No, it's not my place to approach her. If she wants forgiveness she is going to have to come to me and she knows it."
"Arkam I…"
"Please just be quiet for now, I need time to think."
Unknown to Arkam, Saria and Adam had been watching him from afar. Saria had been chasing Adam for a while, their chase had somehow led them here to see Arkams breakdown. Although Adam had no idea what was going on, Saria knew all to well what had just happened. It was inevitable especially in this place.
"What's wrong with your mate over there?"
"Ok first of all can you stop referring to our relationship as something animalistic?"
Adam looked back at her with a cold stare implying his response No.
"Second I'm guessing he is really hurt right now……….Adam where are you staying anyways?"
"I'm staying in my ship."
"Can I ask you a favour?" Adam noticed sadness on Saria's face, this was the first time he'd seen her like that. Adam never truly understood bounds such as the one between Saria and Arkam, but he could see that a fall for one meant a fall for the other. A truly stupid bound.
"Hmm you may, I still owe you."
"Can you keep on eye on Arkam for me tonight? I'm not allowed to share a room with him at the hotel here since we aren't 18 yet. So can you get a room with for the tournament and make sure he is ok."
"You do realise that I am quite possibly the worst person to improve someone's mood?"
"I just don't really trust anyone else with this. Please Adam will you do this?"
Adam had to admit the idea of sleeping anywhere besides his ship was very tempting, besides Arkam was tolerable company it couldn't be that bad.
"Very well, but this means we are even."
"Of course and thank you."
"Don't."
As Adam left to the hotel that Arkam was staying to make the arrangements Saria waited for the right moment to approach Arkam. When he sat on the ground and stared at the floor she approached, they both said nothing. She knew what had happened and he knew that she knew as well, she sat next to him and pulled him into her embrace. This was all she could do for now.
Authors Notes
FINALLY the reunion chapters are done, i hope you enjoyed them, but as of next chapter the tournament officially starts and we are gonna start seing the drama ive had cooked up for a while now. So once again people please review.