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!
Toon Link dumped his broccoli in the trash the moment Zelda was gone. No one bothered to scold him. Young Link, Cloud, and Link shared nervous looks.
"Will this change anything?" Cloud asked.
"We could get out of here before they arrive," Young Link answered. "The plan shouldn't change."
"Perhaps Zelda and the others have more to consider than just that," Link stated.
"Like what?" Young Link asked.
"Well, it will be easier to get out of here the more of us there are, correct?" Link questioned.
"Yeah, so?" Cloud asked.
"If we wait for them to get here, retrieve their equipment, and get them an orb, our fight will be easier," Link explained.
"We should wait to see what Zelda decides," Toon Link stated.
"Obviously," Young Link agreed. "But I think we should go on and get out. We should spare whoever it is from having to even come here. Plus, I don't feel like waiting that long."
"I concur," Link said. "But there are some clear benefits to waiting that long…"
"You're one to talk!" Young Link spat. "You took 100 years to save your princess!"
Link was taken aback. "I was not in control of how long that took," he said, his voice dangerously low. "If I remember correctly, it took you seven years to save yours, simply because the Master Sword decided the age of seventeen was old enough to be a hero. If it had decided otherwise, you couldn't have done anything about it."
"Whatever," Young Link muttered. "And gosh, I didn't mean to offend you. Just saying that not all of us have as much patience as you."
Link did not say anything else.
Cloud cleared his throat. "In any case, you both have a point. If we can spare our mystery person from even coming here, that would be great. But if we wait for them to come, then our plan has an increased chance of succeeding."
Awkward silence followed.
"I'm glad I'm not the one who has to decide!" Toon Link decided, getting up from the table. "I'm going to bed."
"You didn't eat your broccoli, did you?" Young Link sighed.
"Nope!" Toon Link answered proudly. He left the room.
"Oh well," Cloud shrugged.
"Not like he's going to die," Young Link agreed.
"I shall be heading to bed as well," Link stated. "It has been a long day."
"Aren't you hungry?" Cloud questioned. "You didn't eat anything."
"There is not anything in the fridge," Link pointed out. "And the robots are no longer hurrying to fill it."
"Well, if you are all leaving, there's no point in staying up," Young Link decided. All three headed upstairs to their respective rooms. Sleep found Link quickly tonight. For the first time in a long time, he was not nervous. Whatever conclusion Zelda, Robin, and Shulk came to, Link could respect it, and carry out whatever plan they decided on. And for once, Link actually began to believe that things were beginning to look up. Perhaps he would be seeing his own Princess Zelda again soon. Link couldn't help but wonder if she had even thought of him recently. He had been gone for a long time. How long, Link didn't know anymore. For the first few weeks in the mansion, Link had counted the days. But he had quickly given up as the hopelessness of his situation settled in. It had seemed impossible to escape back then.
But now, Link was beginning to allow some hope to creep back in. They had successfully stolen the orbs and gotten back their weapons. Zelda, Robin, and Shulk would doubtlessly be able to come up with all the details of their attack on Master Hand and Crazy Hand. And perhaps it would really work. Perhaps they could get out. Be free again. Link didn't even remember what that felt like.
His memory of Hyrule had faded to a hazy idea of a land filled with rolling hills and lush forests and a stark desert. He no longer thought of it as his home. He knew it was where he came from, but his home had become the mansion, with everyone else who lived there. But soon, that would all change. Link would return to his Hyrule and see his princess and everyone else he had left behind. Perhaps they would be happy to see him. Perhaps not. Either way, Link couldn't wait for the moment he got home. A moment that no longer seemed like such a fantasy.
The next morning, everyone in the mansion headed down to breakfast early, awaiting the amended plan decided on by Zelda and the others. The trio, however, was noticeably absent. Nervous mutterings occupied every conversation. Link supposed they had either stayed up really late discussing the plan and were tired, or they were delaying coming down as long as possible, not wanting to deal with the enormous amount of people that were expecting an answer from them. Link's imagination, of course, came up with countless other scenarios, none of which he allowed himself to consider for more than a second.
Finally, Zelda, Robin, and Shulk appeared in the stairway. Everyone stood up expectantly. Instead of making a loud announcement, which would be heard by the robots posted at each doorway, the three stepped down off the stairs and whispered something to whoever was closest to them. Nodding, those three turned and whispered to whoever was closest to them. And that was how the plan spread.
The person closest to Link happened to be Bowser. When the news reached him, the Koopa King turned to Link and bent over to whisper in his ear. "We're going to wait for the new fighter to get here before fighting Master Hand and Crazy Hand. Pass it on."
Link nodded, but everyone else in his area had already heard. Shulk and Zelda sat themselves in their usual spots. "Brilliant communication method," Palutena commented.
Shulk nodded. "We figured we couldn't make a huge announcement without attracting the robots' attention, but we knew everyone would want to know what we decided."
"So, Link was right," Young Link muttered dryly. "We're going to wait."
"I know that it means more waiting," Zelda sighed. "But it will be worth it."
"Shulk," Pit began, "did you see who was coming?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Link questioned.
"Oh, you haven't had a new arrival during your time, have you?" Palutena asked.
"I have not," Link agreed.
"Not much to be excited about," Cloud stated. "Master Hand forces us outside to watch him bringing in his latest catch. Then we have to watch them get cursed and cotted away before going back inside. And someone has to fill out the stupid clipboard. That decision is, of course, up to Zelda, Robin, and Shulk."
"Sometimes Shulk has visions of who's coming!" Toon Link added. "He had one for you, Link!"
"You did?" Link questioned.
"I did," Shulk confirmed. "It usually happens when whoever's coming will be of some significance to me or people I care about."
"Like my memory ability," Link concluded.
"Yes, like that," Shulk agreed. "I didn't know you could do that at the time. I just saw Young Link and Pit meeting you while you were lying in bed."
Link nodded. That was such a long time ago.
"So, did you see who it was?" Pit asked again.
Shulk took a deep breath. His eyes flicked towards Link's, but they didn't quite meet. "No. I didn't."
"That stinks," Young Link sighed.
Shulk nodded.
"Who's doing the questions, then?" Cloud asked.
"We think Link should do it," Zelda answered.
"Me?" Link questioned. "I cannot even read."
"I'll help you," Zelda promised.
"But why me?" Link asked. "I'm afraid I still don't understand."
Both Shulk and Zelda hesitated before answering. "We, uh, thought it might be a good opportunity for you to learn to read," Zelda replied finally.
Link nodded, but he was still confused. If they wanted to help him learn to read, why not just teach him normally? And if they were helping people learn to read, why wasn't Pit involved? The angel couldn't read either. It didn't make sense, but Link was certain Zelda had her reasons. And if she didn't feel comfortable sharing them with him, Link would respect that. Even if that thought sent a pang through his heart that he wasn't quite sure what to do with.
The three weeks before the new fighter's arrival went by quickly. It seemed that Young Link wasn't the only one who disapproved of Zelda, Robin, and Shulk's decision. Many fighters seemed disheartened. Others seemed angry. But the trio insisted they made the right decision.
Besides that, life continued as usual in the mansion. Link only had one fight. Against Lucina. Fortunately, Link won. He obtained one of the power orbs and nailed Lucina with his Ancient Bow and Ancient Arrow, ending the fight. Cloud, Young Link, and Toon Link also had fights, but they didn't have to relive theirs the way Link did.
And before anyone knew it, the three weeks were over. Pit explained to Link at breakfast that morning that Master Hand always brought in the new prisoner right before lunch. Shulk seemed very nervous that morning. He refused to meet Link's eyes, even when the hero asked him direct questions. Link supposed Shulk was simply worried about making the plan to fight against Master Hand. He didn't think much of his friend's strange behavior.
Just as Pit promised, when lunch time normally began, the fighters were herded outside by the robots. No one dared to resist. Everyone walked outside obediently. Toon Link took Zelda's hand nervously. Zelda patted his head in a reassuring manner. The robots forced the fighters into the corner of the outside grassy area, leaving a huge clearing for Master Hand and his newest captive. For about five minutes, they all waited in heavy silence. No one seemed happy. Even Kirby, who always had a smile on his face, looked crestfallen. Zelda, Robin, and Shulk received many glares. But they didn't pay it any mind. They stared straight ahead towards the sea of clouds beyond the grassy edge of the mansion's courtyard.
The mansion floated in the sky. That was something that all the residents there had come to accept without much thought. To most people, the empty sky that doubtlessly occupied a few hundred feet between the mansion and the ground was more than enough to ensure no one jumped off. But Young Link had actually tried jumping off when he first arrived, he had been so angry. The robots caught him and he was sent to the torture room for a whole week. Since then, robots had been posted around the edge of the courtyard, and no more escape attempts were made in that manner.
After several minutes of anxious waiting, Master Hand could be seen on the horizon. The ominous white glove floated towards the mansion lazily. Behind him was the cage that carried the new arrival, held aloft by four robots positioned underneath it. The cage was just as Link remembered; mostly thick glass with a white infrastructure made from some impenetrable metal. As Master Hand and his entourage approached the mansion, no one said a word. Many of the fighters had removed their hats and held them against their chest in a sign of respect. Link stared into the cage as it grew closer, trying to see who was inside.
When it got close enough to truly discern what poor person or creature had been brought to the mansion, Link's heart stopped beating for several seconds. Inside the cage was someone he had believed for a long time he would never be seeing again. Someone he had been longing to be reunited with, but not like this. Inside the cage was his princess.