Roy squinted his eyes as he strained to read and understand his father's scribbled handwriting. Using his eyes which seemed to be located on the back of his head, Eliwood spotted his sneaking son and sternly said, "Roy, take a seat next to Link." Grumpily asking himself how he saw him looking, the teenage redhead obeyed and sat down next to Link, who cautiously eyed the whispering Fox and Falco. When the two members of Bowser's company suddenly looked at him, the pointy-eared male noticeably jumped in his seat and trembled as he glared back. Are they going to try to take him away once when his friends' guards are down?

"I have questions to ask you two." Eliwood sternly spoke, eying Fox and Falco. The two henchmen mentally groaned in infuriation. More questions?! "How long did the company had Link in their control?" he asked.

"A month." Fox answered.

"Is it true?" Roy asked Link. The blond shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't been keeping track of time ever since when he was captured. He focused all of his attention on just surviving.

"How often was he fed?" Eliwood asked before scribbling something down in his notebook. He kept his piecing navy-blue eyes on the duo.

"Three times per day." Falco answered. Link's ears perked up slightly. That's not true!

Ike noticed Link's gesture and inquired, "Less than that?" The blond shook his head yes. "Twice?" Ike guessed. Link shook his head no and feebly held up his index finger. Eliwood sadly sighed to himself. No wonder why Link is so weak! Fox and Falco exhaled noisily. Lying is the equivalent of not saying anything.

"What did you feed him?" the red-haired doctor questioned. Fox swallowed nervously. They didn't actually feed him nourishing food.

"T-Table scraps." Fox replied.

"Did he have any clean water to drink?" he asked again.

"We gave him some water." Falco responded, "But it wasn't guaranteed clean."

"Was Link confined in a small area? If so, describe its condition." Eliwood demanded impatiently. Fearing Ike's, Eliwood's, and Roy's reaction to the truth, Fox and Falco kept their mouths shut. "SAY IT!" Eliwood barked angrily, slamming his fist on the desk, causing everyone else in the office to jump.

"H-He was locked in a small cage..." Fox shakily explained. "…in a dark room."

"How was its sanitation?" Eliwood enquired, "Was Link ever let out?"

"Link was…" Falco began. He inhaled loudly as he felt pairs of blue eyes gazing at him. "…never let out. When Fox and I checked on him, the room would smell of-"

Roy suddenly tumbled out of his seat and exclaimed, "Ewww! Dad, I think that is enough description! Stop it!" A chill shot up Ike's back and he sympathetically put a soft hand on Link's tense shoulder, who was tightly hugging himself as he began to remember those long, miserable moments.

"What did your co-workers think of him?" the red-haired doctor questioned, "This is the last question."

"Like us, they only saw him as an energy source." Fox admitted, hating himself for confessing, "When we are on break, we would… pester Link when he is… t-trying to sleep."

"Roy, take Link back to his room." Eliwood strictly ordered. He watched his son coax Link out of his seat. Vigilantly watching Fox and Falco as he left the office, Link suddenly scurried down the hallway. Roy quickly trailed him, shouting at him to slow down. "From what I gathered from your answers, Link is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder" Eliwood explained. "It is an anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to traumatic events."

"How can Link recover?" Ike asked.

Eliwood pondered for a moment. Hmmm… Link is deathly afraid of Fox and Falco… Fox and Falco need to learn that Link isn't just an energy source. "Post-traumatic stress disorder is usually treated by consoling." He explained, "But I would like to test something. Fox and Falco, I would like to lock both of you in Link's room." The two members of the Anthropomorphic Tribe cringed in shock. They don't want to spend time with that mute blond!

"What's the point?" Fox protested, "We're just going to scare him! Also, he can't talk!"

"Ah, but he use gestures." Eliwood added, getting up from his seat, "You might learn a few things from him."

Link and Roy were calmly sitting on the bed when they saw Fox and Falco hesitantly walk in. Seeing Link quiver slightly and hurriedly burying himself under the warm covers for protection, Roy kept a sharp eye on the two henchmen. "Roy, can you do me a favor?" he heard his father whisper loudly to him. He looked up and saw Eliwood and Ike peering from the doorway.

"What is it Dad?" Roy asked, getting off the bed. He headed towards his father with a raised eyebrow and a confused gleam in his eyes. "Why are these two guys here?"

"I decided to lock Fox and Falco here with you and Link." Eliwood began to explain. Roy flinched and groaned. Is his dad crazy? Fox and Falco may use this as another chance to steal Link! "This method may make Link befriend Fox and Falco. Can you please keep an eye on them?"

"Well, sure." Roy uneasily answered.

"Good." He replied. "If anything goes room, holler for me."

With that, Eliwood shut and locked the door. Suspiciously watching Fox and Falco, Roy jumped onto the bed, causing Link to let out a muffled scream and protrude his head out of the covers. Noticing that it was only Roy, the shocked blond relaxed and rested his head on the pillow with a weary sigh. His pumping heart was beating uncontrollably on his chest. Looking at each other for a second, Fox and Falco slowly approached the two. They NEED to do this, even though it seemed stupid! Link jumped and clutched Roy's thin arm tightly. Although he was afraid, Roy kept his emotionless mask over his face and eyed them.

"J-Just to let both of know, we're not going to do anything." Fox spoke, hoping to ease the mistrust. Roy's eyebrows lowered in doubt. "Honest!"

Falco went by Link's bedside. The falcon's fierce eyes met the pointy-eared boy's shy azure eyes, which immediately turned away in wariness. "So…" Falco said awkwardly, finding it hard to start a conversation, "…What is your favorite color? Mine's is indigo." Link sat up on the bed and began to gently pull on the dark green fabric of his jacket. "Is it green?" Falco asked to clarify. The blond nodded before looking at the pure white covers.

"I don't know what is my favorite color." Roy spoke up, joining the stroppy conversation, "I can't decide between blue and red."

"Same here." Fox added, "I like both green and blue."

There was an awkward silence. Fox and Falco looked around the room while they tried to think of another question.

"Do you like being here?" Fox asked. Link coyly raised his hand and slanted it. Fox tilted his head in confusion. What did he mean?

"I think he kinda likes it." Roy added, seeing the confused look on Fox's face, "I have a question! How old are you?" Link first held up ten fingers and then six. "Sixteen?" the redhead asked again. The blond nodded his head yes and curiously pointed to Fox and Falco.

"You're asking us?" Fox queried. Link nodded and twitched his ears. "Both of us are seventeen." Is Eliwood's plan actually working? Link is slowly coming out of his shell!

"Scariest thing ever?" Falco questioned. Link rolled his eyes and scowled at the Canidae and falcon. "Oh, y-yeah. Sorry, stupid question." Falco felt a drop of sweat roll down his head.

"What is your favorite thing to do during your free time?" Roy asked. Link looked up as he thought. Hmmm, he does have a lot of favorite hobbies… Quickly choosing a hobby, Link gently set his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. "You like to sleep!" Link smiled before opening his cheery blue eyes.

"Both of us like to sprint." Falco spoke up, "Too bad Bowser hardly lets us off work." Link growled ferociously at the mention of the tyrannical turtle's name.

At that moment, Ike and Eliwood were walking down the hallway with Marth and Samus, who just returned from their trip from the store.

"I hear talking." Eliwood said, listening to the four's conversation, "I think the method is working."

Suddenly, they heard Link's livid snarl. Thinking that Fox and Falco were up to something, Ike hurriedly unlocked the shut door and stepped into the room with a shout. The two teens, Canidae, and falcon jumped slightly. Realizing nothing was happening, a roll of sweat dripped down the embarrassed Ike's face and said, "S-Sorry, I thought there was trouble here."

"Hey Ike," Roy spoke up before the bluenette left, "Fox and Falco aren't that bad."

"Well, alright." Ike approached Fox and Falco with a small smile. "Are you three friends now?"

"Y-Yes." Fox answered, doubtful of Ike's grin. "I think we befriended Link." He turned to Link. "So… are we friends now?"

All of a sudden, Link threw the covers off, lunged at Fox like a cat, and embraced the Canidae tightly with an endearing noise. He was glad to know Fox was willing to be friends. Speechless and not knowing what was happening, Fox slightly struggled in his arms. Hesitant, he set a kind hand on the blond's wavy hair.

"Stop it Link." Falco said, walking towards the blond and pulling him out of his tight cuddle. "You're suffocating him." Link turned to Falco with a beaming grin and gave him a humongous hug. "Urk! L-Link… I can't breathe…" Link released the falcon and delightedly went by Ike's side. Marth, Samus, and Eliwood, who were watching all along, smirked to themselves. Yep, Fox and Falco are now officially Link's friends.

"I've thought of a plan to lead Link back to his home." Fox suddenly said.

"Tell us how to get to Link's world." Marth replied.

"There is a secret passageway in this city that is only known to the top members of Bowser's company." Fox explained, "It leads to an abandoned city that is only used as a base for Bowser's most trusted and loyal henchmen. If I remember correctly, there is a lift that takes us to a passageway, which leads us to Link's world."

"Do you think most of Bowser's men are waiting for us at the hidden city?" Samus asked.

"Unfortunately, yes." Falco answered, "Because Link is missing, they are smart enough to guard the only entrance to his freedom. Don't worry, Fox and I will think of something to trick them!"

Roy watched Ike, Marth, Samus, Fox, and Falco discuss plans. Then, he eyed the beaming Link, who still looked pale and sickly. Aren't they forgetting Link's condition? It would be a waste of time and effort if he were to suddenly die during the journey. Even though if Eliwood gave them the medicine for his current illness, they may not know what to do if Link suddenly developed symptoms gained from the wearing trip.

"Hey guys!" Roy shouted over his friends' voices, "I think I should come too!" Everyone immediately silenced in shock. Roy should tag along?! But, he's only fifteen! He can get seriously injured!

"Roy, you can't." Eliwood spoke up uneasily. He went towards his son and sat next to him on the bed. "It's too dangerous."

"But, if someone gets hurt, I can heal them!" Roy protested.

"You're not a professional doctor like me." Eliwood calmly argued back.

"At least I know what to do if Link starts having sickly syndromes!" Roy opposed. Eliwood paused; Roy had a good point. "You can't come because you have lots of patients to take care of! And if Link's health gets worse during Ike's journey, he and the others wouldn't know what to do! Please Dad, let me go with them! Pleeaase?" Roy looked at his father with wide, begging puppy eyes.

"Well," Eliwood began grudgingly, "Can you please promise that you'll always be in one piece and remember me?"

"I promise!" Roy replied cheerfully. The teenage redhead turned to Ike with a small smile.

"You can come along." Ike said eagerly.

"Yeah!" Roy exclaimed, jumping happily in the air. His childish smiled turned into a mature look however. "We're leaving tonight?"

"Yes." Falco answered.

"Let's pack our stuff, Marth." Ike spoke, walking out of the room. Marth nodded and speedily followed his best friend. Link decided to trail the two bluenettes but as he dashed after them, his windpipe suddenly tightened, causing him to violently collapse onto the floor. He clutched his aching chest and wheezed uncontrollably for fresh air. Ike and Marth heard Link panting nosily and immediately turned around.

"Oh no, Link!" Marth hurriedly said, rushing to Link's side. He took the gasping blond into his arms.

"Dr. Eliwood!" Ike quickly shouted, rushing for the red-haired doctor. "Link's having an attack!"

Ike returned with Eliwood, who hurriedly poured some medicine into a spoon. Not wasting a precious second and caring if Link did not want to take the bitter liquid, he shoved it into the breathless blond's mouth. Link gladly swallowed it and waited for the effect to kick in. Strangely, nothing happened yet. The panicked Link's heart rate began to increase. The others peered at the terrifying event from Link's room. What should they do?! Should they stay here and let Eliwood take care of this, or make an effort to help Link breathe?!

"Link, calm down!" Marth pleaded, putting a hand on the panicking male's sweaty back.

"Why isn't the medicine working?!" Ike anxiously asked.

"This had never happened before!" Eliwood replied shockingly, his fists tightening in fright. "It seems that… Link's body is rejecting the medicine!"


Author's Notes: CLIFFHANGERS! CLIFFHANGERS EVERYWHERE! /hit in the face with cream pie. Well, at least Fox, Falco, and Link are friends now.

This chapter took a while for me to type, since I actually had no clue what should happen. (Don't worry, I'm not going to go on a hiatus. I know what's going to happen next). I'm currently working on the Pit and Roy fanfic; don't worry followers!

Also, I've set up another poll. I have ANOTHER fanfic I've been dying to write about but I can't decide which character should have this role. So please check out my poll on my profile. I simply can't decide! (Again!)

Story Questions:

When Ike and his friends sneak into the secret base, what do you think is going to happen?

If you were Fox and Falco, how would you try to befriend Link?