Ike strolled down the golden-rimmed carpet of the Smash Brothers mansion on a search for his boyfriend. Peeking in the kitchen, he spotted his blue-haired beauty at the counter.
"Marth, what are you doing? We were supposed to meet Link and Pit outside 10 minutes ago." Ike informed.
Marth turned to face him. "Oh it's already 10 after 3. I'm sorry. I was hungry and wanted to prepare myself something."
"A gourmet dinner?" Ike raised his eyebrow.
"I was cutting an apple. I wanted the slices to be cut nice and evenly." Marth presented his dish and the several slices of the red fruit lined up evenly on the platter.
"It took over 10 minutes to do that?" Ike asked confused. "Haven't you ever heard of quantity over quality?"
"The phrase is quality over quantity Ike," Marth shot back.
"Whatever, I'm sure I could cut the perfect apple in a way fastest rate than you." Ike smirked.
"Am I sensing a challenge?" Marth smiled popping an apple slice in his mouth."
Ike crossed his arms. "Cancel our plans with Pit and Link," he got in the prince's face. "It's war."
"You're on!"
…
Ike and Marth stood at the opposite ends of the counter. Each had a bucket of crisp red apples. Beside the bucket in the middle, was a standard cutting board and knife. On the left was the platter, where the finished product would display. After explaining the situation to Link and Pit, they wanted in. Their job was to tally the number of apples cut. Link would tally would Ike and Pit would tally for Marth.
"You two ready?" Link asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Marth answered. He stared into Ike's daring eyes.
"Start the countdown." Ike commanded.
"3…2…1…GO!" Pit shouted.
The blunettes charged at the speed of Sonic. Cutting 1 apple per second, like running machines. Their whole reputation was at stake. Slowing down for even a second would put them in jeopardy.
They were down to the last 10 seconds. The intense pressure hit them like a rock. They were moving twice as fast.
"And…..TIME!" Pit announced. Both swordsman nearly fainted.
"I can't feel my arm." Ike held his arm. "It's numb."
Marth made small whining noises.
"Well Pit and I looked at the results and….you both failed to get even one." Link and Pit both turned their tally sheets over. Both were blank.
"How is that even possible?! Look at our platters!" Ike pointed to the silver platters with the mountain of apple slices on top.
"Those are apple slices yes. But the challenge was to make PERFECT slices." Link informed them.
"These are all uneven and crooked. Clearly not perfect." Pit finished.
"I cut myself like 5 times with that knife and for nothing." Marth held his hurt hand.
"You cut your hand?" Ike asked concerned. He walked over and examined the bleeding wounds. "Marth why didn't you say you were hurt?"
"It's really nothing." Marth allowed Ike to take his injured hand. Ike untied his headband from around his forehead and wrapped it around the prince's hand like a gauze.
"We really are ridiculous aren't we?" Marth blushed as Ike held the wrapped up hand in between his.
"I'd say so, but I'm glad I got to do this fun little challenge with you." Ike grinned.
Link and Pit smiled at the two, then at each other.
"Is it weird that I can feel the love in the air?" Pit asked refusing to make eye contact with the blonde.
"If that's the case then I guess we're both pretty weird." Link held Pit's hand firmly in his. Pit was a tomato at that point.
It's amazing how ridiculous love can be.
I cannot apologize enough for my absence. I was under a lot of pressure with school and felt stressed to death. I had no time to unwind and relax this past week. Count on this challenge finished by the end of this week. I promise I won't let my viewers down!
