Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros or any of the characters involved in it. I am earning no profit from this story, other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others! I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Link led the way up the stairs away from the bar and back to Zelda's room. It was after breakfast, so the princess and Toon Link would be playing board games there. That's what they always did. Toon Link was too young to play sports outside with everyone else. He was allowed to, if he wanted. But he simply was too small. He'd get run over. So, Zelda always played inside with him. Link knew where Zelda's room was, for sometimes he would join her in playing with Toon Link. Sometimes playing sports or sparring got old.
Link gently knocked on Zelda's closed door when he, Cloud, and Shulk arrived. "Come in," came Zelda's reply. Link opened the door. Zelda smiled. "Link. How did it go?"
"Did Ganondorf hurt you?" Toon Link demanded. He jumped up and ran over to Link, checking him thoroughly for any wounds.
Link allowed the younger hero to study his arms and legs before answering. "He did not, Toon Link. I am fine. It went alright, Zelda."
"Alright?" Zelda repeated.
"Link's got to learn poker," Cloud stated.
"What?" Zelda asked. "Why?"
Shulk explained what he had seen and what their plan was.
Zelda nodded. "Makes sense. And it should work."
"I am glad you approve," Link said.
Zelda smiled.
"Come on, Link," Cloud ordered. "We can go learn in my room."
"I'll let Pit, Palutena, and Young Link know," Shulk decided.
"I shall inform Robin," Zelda added.
Now that everyone had a course of action, they all went separate ways. Cloud grabbed a deck of cards from his desk drawer, and gestured for Link to sit down. He then dealt them out, explaining the rules and the objective. Link caught on quickly. He wasn't good by any means, but he understood pretty well. He was also an expert on what Cloud referred to as a 'poker face.' By dinnertime, Link almost felt ready. He and Cloud decided they would practice until bedtime that night, and then Link would challenge Ganondorf the next day.
"I hear you're learning poker!" Pit exclaimed excitedly as Link sat down.
"I am," Link agreed.
"Is it fun?" Young Link asked desperately. "Zelda never let me learn."
"You're too young," Zelda sighed. "And too rash. You'd lose all your rupees in one night!"
"I would not!" Young Link snapped. He leaned in towards Link, "Will you teach me?" he whispered hopefully.
"Me too?" Pit added. "Lady Palutena never let me learn either."
"If Zelda will not, and your goddess will not, I will not," Link stated simply.
"Fun killer," Young Link spat. He crossed his arms over his chest.
Pit just sighed dejectedly, his wings visibly lowering in defeat.
"I'll teach you," Cloud offered. "If you pay me."
"Cloud!" Zelda cried, slapping him on the wrist.
"Kidding, kidding," Cloud replied quickly.
Zelda shot him a glare.
"Are we any closer to getting out of here?" Toon Link asked.
"We are," Zelda answered gently. "I promise. Once Link beats Ganondorf tomorrow, we'll know how to get into Master Hand's office. And once we do that, we can find those orbs Link saw. We'll collect them, give at least one to every fighter, and then we'll kill Master Hand and Crazy Hand."
"So many steps," Toon Link sighed.
"I know," Zelda agreed. "But at least we know what steps to take."
Toon Link nodded thoughtfully. He didn't look convinced. Zelda took his hand.
"We're getting out of here," she promised. "Don't ever lose hope. That's important, alright?"
"Alright," Toon Link agreed.
"Now, why don't you head on up to bed?" Zelda suggested.
"It's not bedtime!" Toon Link protested.
"Here, I'll come with you, and we can play some more games, okay?" Zelda offered.
Toon Link smiled and ran upstairs. Zelda politely excused herself from the table and followed him.
"...isn't that right, Link?" Pit was saying when Link returned his attention to everyone else.
"What?" Link asked.
"He wasn't paying attention," Cloud snickered. "Too busy watching Zelda."
"I was simply ensuring Toon Link was alright," Link objected. "He seemed upset."
"Zelda had it under control," Young Link sneered. "And don't pretend we don't notice how often you stare after her."
"Whatever are you talking about?" Link demanded.
He wasn't the only one who was confused. Both Pit and Shulk looked dumbfounded. But everyone else, Young Link, Cloud, Palutena, and even Robin, were laughing.
"What is so funny?" Link asked, raising his voice slightly. He didn't understand why he was being made fun of.
"Oh, come on!" Cloud laughed. "You like her!"
Link stiffened. "I do not."
"Yes, you do," Young Link teased.
"I do not!" Link insisted.
"Link and Zelda, sitting in a tree," Young Link sang loudly.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Cloud continued.
Link got up and shoved his chair back into place. He stalked upstairs into his room.
"Oh, come on, man!" Young Link called after him. "We're just having a little fun!"
Link didn't reply. No one came after him. He sat in his room, staring off into space. Just thinking. He didn't like Zelda, did he? Not in that way...right? That would be inappropriate. A knight and a princess. Not to mention a princess from another world! Link shook his head, putting his head into his hands.
He hated this place. He couldn't wait to get out. He wondered how his Zelda was faring. He wondered if she missed him. No, no. Certainly not. She probably pronounced him dead and moved on. That is her duty as princess. The loss of a bodyguard should not be a big deal.
Someone knocked on his door.
Link looked up.
"Link?" Zelda called. "Are you in there?"
"I am," Link called back.
"May I come in?" Zelda asked.
"You may do whatever you wish," Link answered.
Zelda opened up the door. She smiled brightly. "I just tucked Toon Link in for bed. And I was looking for you. You weren't in Cloud's room, so I figured you were up here."
"You were looking for me?" Link repeated.
"Yes, I was," Zelda agreed. "I wanted to talk to you. Is that alright?"
"Of course, Zelda," Link replied hurriedly. He pulled a chair out for her and gestured for her to sit down. He sat down on the edge of his bed.
"I wanted to thank you," Zelda began. "You've done so much for us all. Without your memory, we'd still be stuck on square one. And now, you're taking the time to learn an entire new game simply to assist us in escaping. I haven't told you how much I appreciate that. So, thank you, Link. I hope you understand how much hope you have given us all. Toon Link seems so much happier, with the thought of escaping on his mind. Even Young Link has been more at ease lately."
"I hardly did anything, Zelda," Link argued. "It was you, Shulk, and Robin who created most of our plan."
Zelda shook her head. "It was not, and you know it."
The pair settled into companionable silence for a few moments.
"Do you believe our plan will work, Zelda?" Link asked eventually.
"Of course!" Zelda replied. Her bright smile faded. "Do you not?"
"I do not know," Link sighed.
"You must have hope," Zelda told him. "Without hope, the battle is already lost."
"Hope does not win battles," Link retorted.
Zelda stared at Link in disbelief. "Hope is everything. Hope gives you a reason to fight!"
"I already have a reason," Link stated. "I must save everyone."
"What's the point if you don't believe you're going to win?" Zelda questioned. "Why bother fighting?"
"Because it is my job," Link answered easily. "You forget I am a knight."
"No, I don't," Zelda corrected. "I don't see how a knight wouldn't understand hope."
Link didn't answer, choosing instead to stare at his lap.
Zelda's tone softened. "Link...are you thinking about the Great Calamity?"
"I am," Link admitted.
"That's not happening again," Zelda promised. "We're getting out of here."
"I am glad you think so," Link sighed.
"If...if I can ever help you, let me know," Zelda offered. She could tell Link was done talking.
"I will," Link agreed. But he knew he could never bring himself to take her up on the offer. It would be wrong for a knight to bother a princess with his troubles. Zelda nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind her. Link lay down on his bed, closing his eyes. Sleep came to him quickly.