Chapter 21

Maria

"Adia, thanks for letting me talk to you." Maria said sadly.

"Sure, Maria." Adia replied, pointing a hand toward the sofa, inviting Maria to sit. "What's the matter?"

"It's, uh... it-it's, um..." Maria felt the heat rushing to her face. "R-read my mind, I'm too embarrased to say it."

"Ha! No need. I can just read your face. Link, right?" Adia grinned. Maria blushed brighter. "Let me guess, you're curious as to why you feel so strongly for him?"

"Yeah. I mean... I'm an exact clone of Mario, right? I'm him, only female, right? So, why would I feel something that Mario doesn't? I am Mario, aren't I?"

"Of course not." Adia said, still grinning.

"Wha-?"

"You're not Mario, you're Maria."

"Y-yeah, and Maria is-"

"A seperate entity from Mario. Therefore, a different person. While you were Mario, but transformed, you were him. But, once you seperated, you stopped being Mario. No two entities or beings are exactly the same. There are always differences. You are your own person, Maria. No longer Mario's other self. You are your own self."

"So... these feelings...?"

"Are entirely your own. Created by your own heart, increased by your own experiences with Link. All you."

"I... I see... th-then..."

"You're worried about it, still, because Link is married, right?"

"Yeah..." Maria sighed.

"That's fine. It's normal, fine, normal. Nothing to worry about. But, I think you should tell Link how you feel."

"B-b-but! I-I can't! He's m-married, and-"

"Shush! Shushush!" Adia raised a hand. "Seriously, shush. Link would appreciate it if you were honest with him. If you keep acting weird around him, without telling him why, he'll start getting concerned. Then he'll start getting sad because he can't help. You're a valuable friend to him, Maria. He likes you alot, and he wants to be able to help you."

"But he won't be able to help me with this, unless-"

"I know. And he'll know. But at least he'll know why. It'll make it easier for both of you. Trust me, Maria."

"I... I trust your judgement, Adia."

"Hm." Adia smiled. "Glad I could help."

"Thnak you." Maria stood up, then teleported to Hyrule Side.

-

Maria stood outside Link's house, hand half-raised to knock on the door. All of a sudden, her nerves failed her. She didn't dare to confess her feelings to Link. What if it destroyed their friendship? Link's friendship meant so much to Maria; she didn't want to ruin that. But, all the same... if Link had to find out later, from someone else, that could ruin it, too. So, what was she to do?

"C'mon in, Maria." A voice said suddenly. Maria half-yelped, coming to her senses. Link stood at the front door, holding it open. "You seem spaced. Is everything okay?"

"L-l-link? I-is Malon home?"

"Hm? Yeah, she's in the kitchen. Why?"

"I-I need to talk to you. In private. Please."

"Sure... uh... hold on." He turned to look toward the kitchen. "Malon! I'm heading out for a little while!" He called.

"Come back soon." Malon's voice returned.

"Will do." Link replied, then stepped outside and closed the door. "Let's go somewhere quiet." He grabbed Maria's hand and teleported to Great Bay, Termina Side.

-

"No-one here at this time." Link said happily. "We can talk in peace." It was almost sunset.

"S-sure..." Maria agreed nervously. At the same time, she cursed Link. Couldn't he have picked a less romantic location for her confession? This wasn't making it easier for her.

"So, what did you want to talk about." The muscly elf asked her, smiling gently. Maria almost swooned. The setting sun streaking across his gentle, smiling face was almost more than she could take.

"I-I-I-I-I u-um... ma-ma-ma... uhhh..." Maria flustered. He had such pretty eyes... "I-I..." She shook her head. "L-link, I need t-t-to talk to you... it-it's serious... a-and it might af-affect our... r-r-r....r-relationship... uhm... I-I..."

"What? C'mon, Maria, you can tell me anything." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Anything." Maria whimpered, and started trembling.

Link's hand! She thought frantically. He's touching me! His big, strong hand...

"Maria?" Link's concerned voice sounded.

"I-I!" Maria gasped. "Link, I..." She felt her courage fading.

"Maria... c'mon, it's okay. Nothing'll affect our relationship. Definitely not in a bad way. It's okay, tell me."

"I.... I...." She felt tears welling in her eyes. Why was she getting so emotional? Why? "Link, I..."

I can't say it!

"Maria." Link removed his hand from her shoulder, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Tell me. C'mon. You're just being silly now. What could be so hard to say, that you'd fall over every word?"

You! You can't tell?! Isn't it obvious? How could you be so blind? Maria thought angrily. N-no, wait... no... it's not that. It's just that he only has eyes for Malon. That's right.

"Link, I'm gonna go ahead and say this, no matter what happens." Maria said, managing to stop her voice from quivering.

"Go ahead."

"I... I love you, Link. I'm in love with you, and I have been for a long time." She stared steadily at the ground while she spoke, afraid that looking directly at Link would drain all her confidence.

"Oh." Link said after a moment of silence. "Oh... oh!" He gasped, as the gravity of Maria's statement hit him. "Oh! J-jeez!"

"I'm sorry. If you don't wanna be near me any more, I understand. I don't want to make things hard between us. I just... I had to tell you. It was killing me, keeping it secret... I'm so sorry..." The tears fell freely now. Link sounded distraught. Maria still looked at the ground, not daring to look at Link. Who knew who anguished he was now?

"Jeez, Maria... I honestly didn't know, I... wow, I feel like an idiot... I should've known..."

"How could you have? You thought I was exactly like Mario. Mario doesn't have feelings for you."

"I never thought you were exactly like Mario, Maria. Don't be silly." That statement made Maria raise her head.

"Huh...?"

"Maria, I knew that you were different from Mario the moment you told me that you two had decided to seperate. No two people are the same. I knew you were different. You were you. And I should've realised your feelings."

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't say sorry. You didn't do anything wrong." Link sighed, smiling lightly at her. "Hey, c'mere." He gathered Maria in her arms. "Thanks for telling me, Maria. At least now I know what's up. I can't do anything, but..."

"Y-you could... love me back?" Maria whimpered, then cursed herself for being so stupid.

"You know I can't." Link sighed.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I just... wanted to tell you, that's all." She pulled away from the hug and smiled, though it was false. "Well, see you later, Link."

"Maria-" Link began, but Maria had already teleported away.

Link

"Adia, I need to talk to you." Link said glumly when Adia answered the door. He had teleported to Koholint Side a few short moments after Maria had left him on Termina Beach.

"She confessed, did she?" Adia asked.

"How'd you know?"

"I'm kinda the one who said she should."

"Why?"

"It'd make things easier for you two, in the long run. Oh, c'mon inside. Let's talk." She stepped aside, granting Link access. She showed him to her living room, and the pair sat. "So, how're you feeling?"

"Lousy." Link replied. "Really lousy. I should've realised how she felt. But, I didn't. Goddess, that must've made it so hard for her..."

"You can't blame yourself, Link. It's not like you were being intentionally ignorant. I'm sure Maria understands that you only have eyes for Malon."

"Of course I do. I'd never think about another woman that way, when I've got her."

"Exactly. Maria knows that. That's why you didn't realise her feelings. Don't let it bother you. Just give Maria some time, and some space, and I'm sure things'll be alright between you again."

"But... we work so well together. I'm gonna miss having her at my side when I'm fighting."

"You'll have to bear with it, I'm afraid. Maria might not dare to face you for a while."

"Jeez... what does she see in me, anyway?" Link sighed.

"The same things that Malon sees in you. And me."

"Oh, not you, too."

"Don't worry, Link. I'm not in love with you. I love you to pieces, but only like a big brother. Nerra fell for you, too, remember?"

"Yeah." Link groaned. "But, she doesn't feel that way now, at least."

"Oh, I'm sure she still has some feelings for you."

"You're great at this 'making people feel better' thing, aren't you?" Link grumbled sarcastically.

"Well, Link, I'm just telling the truth. To be honest, I don't know how I'd react if someone told me they loved me, and I definitely wouldn't know how to say it to another person."

"You've never been in love?"

"Never." Adia smiled. "But that's okay. I'm young, and I've got alot of time ahead of me. All the time in the world."

"Must be great, living for so long." Link said, getting to his feet. "Well, I guess I feel a little better about it. I'm gonna go home now. Malon told me to go back soon."

"Take care of yourself, Link."

"You too, Adia." Link replied, before teleporting home. When he was gone, Adia slouched slightly on the sofa, and sighed.

"I don't know how to say it to him." She mumbled, and sighed again. "Well, I guess I'm too young anyway."

"Tell who, dear?" Majora asked as he walked down the stairs. "Got a special someone in your life?"

"Yeah, but he's kinda spoken for."

"I see..." Majora said slowly. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine." Adia assured him with a sweet smile. Though Majora knew that she was faking the smile, he chose not to pursue the topic any further.

-

Link was now at home, wondering about what Adia had said. He was sure she was lying when she'd said she'd never been in love, and her smile had seemed sad. After a long time thinking, Link concluded that she must be in love with someone. The question was, who?

Majora

"Keep a close eye on me, love." Majora muttered to Lakitu as the pair stood in his office. Majora held a bowl of sand in his hands.

"Of course." Lakitu replied. As a spirit of sorts, Lakitu could no longer look into the sand. Majora sat on his chair, and plunged his right hand into the bowl.

The Future

"You're gonna kill us?" Fionie asked, a slight sneer on her lips. She and Vincent faced Pent, Connie and Rune.

"Yes." Connie whimpered, her eyes overflowing. "W-we have to. Fionie bad..."

"How could you say that? I thought you were my best friend? That's a horrible thing to say."

"But..."

"So, we aren't friends any more? You don't like my any more?"

"No, Fionie! I love you, I do! But you do so many bad things. Fionie... can't hurt people any more. Bad." She trembled as she spoke, and her voice cracked.

"Fionie, we'll defeat you for the good of the worlds." Pent said.

"Oh, stop sounding so cliche." Fionie snapped, then turned to her boyfriend. "Vincent, they want to hurt me. You won't let them, will you?" Her eyes looked pleading.

"No... no-one will hurt my Fionie." Vincent replied, his voice sounding distant, his eyes empty.

"Thank you, Vincent. I love you so much." She gave him a kiss on the cheek then, and Vincent stepped forward, a sword of light appearing in his hand.

"Vincent, no!" Connie wailed. "Friend, Vincent! Vincent, Connie, friends! Please, Vincent!" Vincent launched a dark energy ball at her. On pure instinct, Connie dodged it with great agility. When she landed, she sat and hugged her knees, rocking slowly. "Friends... no hurt..." She sobbed. Fione and Vincent's betrayal had broken her. Pent growled, and launched himself at Vincent. Rune prepared a spell, aimed at Fionie.

Lakitu

"Oh, Gods!" Majora gasped. The vision had alarmed him. The thing that had alarmed more, however, was that he had almost been unable to wake from it. "I don't think I should consult the sand any more, Lakitu."

"I agree." The tortoise said slowly. "We should have Adia do it from now on. She has a knack for it." He conjured a glass of water in front of Majora, who took it and drank deeply. "What did you see?"

"It seems that Fionie will turn evil, and Vincent will join her. Connie will be shattered, and unable to fight. From the looks of things, though, Vincent is under some form of control, most likely by Fionie herself."

"I see... what of Pent and Rune?"

"They fought. Fiercely. Pent, as I'm sure you have already realised, has somewhat of a crush on Connie. Vincent attacked her, and that infuriated Pent. Rune supported Pent completely."

"Yes, she is in love with him." Lakitu nodded. "I worry. What could possibly make Fionie evil?"

"Perhaps her dark alignment confuses her?"

"Perhaps. If so, we should have Luigi and Adia steer her along the right path. But... is there any other way she would turn?"

"I don't see one. Eo would never convince her, and I don't think anything would make her snap. It's... strange. The visions seem so certain that Fionie will look to the dark side, but I don't think it possible."

"We should be careful, all the same."

"Yes. I already know what you want me to do, Lakitu. I'll sort it out right now." He teleported away.

"Poor Fionie." Lakitu sighed. "I hope, for all our sakes, that the sand is wrong for the first time ever."

As do I. Sounded another, female, unfamiliar voice. Yet, this voice sounded exceedingly familiar at the same time.

And who might you be? Lakitu asked.

You forget me? I'm crushed, Lakita, I really am. Why, I've only just been able to speak with you. Do you truly hate me so?

If I knew who you were, I might be able to answer that question.

Perhaps you should search your memories, Lakita. Search yourself. You'll know me.

And if I still don't?

Then the ties between us will have been completely severed, as I fear they will, and I will not be able to speak to you again.

That would be a great pity, Morlina.

You still enjoy teasing me. The voice chuckled. You knew who I was all along, didn't you?

No, I only remembered when you spoke of ties. Lakitu found himself smiling. It's been far too long, Morlina. Did you miss me so much that you broke free of Death's hold?

In a sense, my dear. Morlina said fondly.

So, what can I do for you?

Your company would be appreciated. In exchange, perhaps you'd care for some advice?

I'll take whatever is given at the moment, my dear Morlina. Things aren't looking too good.

I noticed. So, what do you need help with?

Gaea

Gaea faced the being before him. This being, small in stature, reaching perhaps to Link's hips, returned the stare. He, for it was male, was round, sporting a grey mask with a single hole for his yellow eyes, and a cloak. Though, the cloak was really his disguised wings. He held a yellow-bladed sword with six short, curved spikes protruding from the blade; three on either side.

"Hoo, it seems I finally caught you." Gaea said.

"You have been chasing me for some time." The being replied. "Tell me what it is you want."

"Merely to enlist your help, Meta Knight." Gaea told him. The being's eyes widened.

"My help?" He asked, his eyes narrowing again. "For what?"

"You know a tortoise named Lakitu, I believe?" Again, Meta Knight's eyes widened.

"Him." He growled. "He promised me a spar, years ago."

"He requires your help. In exchange, I'm sure he will happily spar with you."

"What help does he want?"

"Fighting, of course. What else would he ask of you?"

"Fighting..." Meta Knight chuckled. "Of course. I suppose I do owe him that much. After all, he returned my Halberd to me after it vanished.

"Indeed?" Gaea mused.

"Yes. So, will you lead me to Lakitu?"

"Of course." Gaea recovered himself. "Take hold of my wing." He extended his left wing forward. Meta Knight grabbed it with his gloved white hand, and the pair teleported to Koholint Side.

--

"Why the large gathering?" Gaea asked as he entered. Adia, Lakitu, Majora, Erk, Nino, Kae and Darius were gathered in Adia's house. "Is something going on?"

"No, not really." Adia replied. "Just a strategy meeting, more than anything."

"Strategy meeting? What for? Has something happened?"

"Not beyond the New Heroes training. We're discussing how we can keep safe until Luigi says they're ready."

"I see. Well, I have brought Meta Knight." Gaea nodded to the small swordsman. "Perhaps he could help."

"Meta Knight, my friend." Lakitu said lightly, greeting him. "It's been too long."

"Far too long." Meta Knight replied. "We are overdue for a spar."

"Some other time. We have more urgent priorities to deal with."

"Yes, I suppose."

"So, we've all but decided. All that's left is to fill Gaea in, and then wait until the children are ready."

"How long will that take?" Darius asked. Lakitu looked over to Erk and Nino.

"Why us?" Nino asked.

"You should know." Lakitu smiled. "I have an approximation, as does Adia, but I'd bet you have a more accurate guess."

"Let's hear your guess first." Erk said, grinning.

"Several months. Between three and seven."

"Not bad." Nino mused. "What did we agree on, Erky?"

"Four and a half." The Wise Mage replied. "Four and a half months, if they go at a steady pace."

"Then, let's give ourselves five months." Lakitu announced. "Five months of clearing out Eo's armies. Should be plenty of time."

"Then, if that's done, Nino and I have somewhere to be." The two Mages got to their feet.

"Can Pent handle it?"

"I've told him, so he should be prepared." Erk said, but he sounded a little unsure.

"Then, best of luck." Lakitu told them. The pair nodded, then teleported away.

Nino

Erk and Nino appeared in the courtyard of Sarasa Castle. Luigi was already waiting for them, a small smile on his face.

"It's good to see you again, Nino." He said. "And you look very healthy."

"Rebirth feels really good." She smiled.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you before, but..."

"I know, I was told."

"Good. Then, let's go see your son."

"Before that, Luigi, I have to thank you. For taking care of him, and for helping me through the birth."

"You're most welcome, Spirit Mage." Luigi's smile widened, and he turned toward the castle. "Come on, Pent's in his room with Rune."

"Rune?" Nino asked.

"I'll explain later." Luigi promised, walking away. Nino quickly trotted to catch up with him, while Erk followed behind at a leisurely pace.

-

"Pent?" Nino called, knocking on the door. "Pent are you in there?"

"Just a minute." A voice replied. Nino blushed and grinned happily, looking forward to meeting her son for the first time. The door opened, and a young man around eighteen years of age stood before Nino. He was an inch or two taller than her, had thick, bouncy green hair, and deep sapphire eyes. He stared at Nino, his mother, and his eyes widened. "M...mom?" He whispered, as if he thought he was hallucinating.

"It's me, baby." Nino sobbed, tears rushing down her face. "It's me." Pent's eyes filled with tears, too, and he embraced his mother tightly, crying into her shoulder. Rune, behind Pent, coughed lightly, then trotted away down the corridor. Luigi and Erk smiled, then walked slowly away.

"Mom! Mom!" Pent sobbed, squeezing Nino tighter. "When Dad told me... I-I wasn't sure... I didn't think you'd-"

"I'm here, now. And I'll always be here." Nino assured her son. "I love you, Pent."

"I love you, too, Mom..."

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Chapter 21! Man, progress has been slow. This chapter was short, too, but that last section seemed the best place to end it. Expect a long break before the next chapter, as I'll be thinking about roles, and one or two other things about certain characters, and how the story should progress from here.

-

It seems I will be glossing over the training. A few segments, maybe, of combat, or bonding, but nothing more than that. I get the feeling that there'll be alot of side-stories for other characters, just to imply the passing of time while they train (five months, how am I gonna write all that? _;; ), and to give some forgotten characters some much-needed story time (like, what happened to Mitrea, the Rebels, Rapas, Kuryu, and the Companion Boras?). Also, I'll need to research Dreamland and Meta Knight, so I can write him a little better. If I can't find out enough, he'll pushed aside. (sorry, Meta Knight fans).

-

Thanks again to all who read this. It means alot to me (how many times have I said that now? lol.).

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