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's princess was unmistakable. Her blonde hair that flowed down her back in a perfect sheet of gold. The sky blue tunic and tight black pants she was so fond of. Her glowing, emerald green eyes. Eyes that were currently covered in a thick haze. It was clear Link's princess was barely conscious. She struggled to remain standing, and had to lean on the wall of the cage for support. Her face was bruised badly. Her clothes were covered in grass stains.
As soon as Link's stunned mind had taken in his princess's horrible condition, rage rushed through his veins. "Princess!" he screamed. He reached up to unsheathe the Master Sword and charge the robots. He knew it would be pointless, but he could not stand by and let his princess be treated in this way!
Someone grabbed his arm. Link whirled around, furious. Pit was holding Link's right arm, keeping him from reaching his blade. "Calm down," he said gently.
"How can you say that?" Link snarled.
"I know," Pit sighed. "I know. But you won't do her any good getting yourself into the torture room. If you want to help her, keep yourself out of there so you can help her adjust to life here."
"Why should I do that?" Link thundered. "I should rip apart every robot here with my bare hands for the way they've treated her!"
The robots' red eyes perked up at that sentence. They began slowly approaching Link, daring him to continue his ranting.
"Get yourself together," Pit snapped, running out of patience. "I'm telling you the best thing you can do for your princess right now is to stay out of the torture room!" He let go of Link's arm, backing away from the robots.
The robots came to stand right before Link. Link stared back at them, his stare just as devoid of emotion as theirs, slowly lowering his arm. Pit was right.
The robots stood before Link for several seconds. Then, deciding that his words had been spoken out of anger rather than out of any real intent to attack them, they returned to their posts. Everyone in the crowd relaxed slightly.
Link returned his attention to the cage. The curse gun had been retrieved and was currently aimed at Zelda's chest. She clearly seemed confused, but wasn't quite conscious enough to understand how much danger she was in. Then the robots pulled the trigger, and the gun fired its rainbow blast. It slammed into the princess's gut, eliciting a high pitched scream from her. Link quivered in fury.
"It's alright," Zelda promised, though her eyes were just as saddened as Link's were angry. "She'll be alright."
Link forced himself to nod.
His princess collapsed onto the ground, now wholly unconscious. Link's blood continued to boil with fury. It took all the self control he had to not rush to her aid. Zelda brushed her hand against Link's absentmindedly. Needing something to hold onto, Link grasped her hand desperately. Zelda seemed momentarily startled, but she quickly relaxed, giving Link's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Robots exited the mansion with a cot, scooped the princess up off the ground and dumped her on it, then began carting her away. Master Hand turned to his audience. "Who's doing the clipboard?"
"I am," Zelda called.
Master Hand handed the board of questions to her. She gestured for Link to follow behind her, and they headed inside. As the pair walked upstairs, neither spoke. Link still couldn't believe his princess was here. In the mansion. And he was still furious. He despised Master Hand even more now. At least twice as much as he had before.
Zelda seemed to understand Link's anger and his wish to be left alone. She walked behind him as he hurried up the stairs, remaining completely silent. When Link wished to talk, he'd make that known.
Link arrived before his princess's room. Because of Master Hand's manner of sorting rooms, it was right next to his own. Link hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Then he turned the doorknob, and pushed the door inwards. The princess was lying on her bed, all her injuries displayed prominently. The robots had not pulled the sheets up over her. They had just laid her on the bed and left. Link sat on the end of her bed, staring at her bruised face and stained cloth.
"We need to get a red potion," Link declared, standing up again.
"Master Hand made it clear that we are not to give her one," Zelda reminded him.
"I don't care," Link muttered. "I will not let my princess remain in pain any longer than necessary."
"You'll get put in the torture room!" Zelda exclaimed.
"My own pain is inconsequential," Link insisted. "I'm going."
Zelda stood in his way. "Well, it's not inconsequential to me... But I've got an idea. Give me five minutes. If I'm not back by then, you can go get a red potion."
"...Fine," Link decided.
Zelda smiled gently and exited the room, leaving Link alone with his unconscious princess. Link sat back down and stared at her some more, his mind spinning with a million thoughts and questions. It had been so long since he'd last seen her. He couldn't help but wonder if she'd missed him. Or if she even remembered him. For all Link knew, it could have been years since he'd last been in Hyrule. He wondered if she had a new knight now. He wondered if whoever it was was more qualified than him.
Zelda opened the door, startling Link out of his thoughts. She smiled triumphantly and held up a blue bottle. "Blue potion. From Toon Link. Heals injuries and restores magic."
Link nodded.
Zelda held out the bottle to him. He took it gratefully, and gently poured the liquid down his princess's throat. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then her injuries began healing themselves. Her face removed it's disgusting bruises. Her broken ribs mended themselves. Then she coughed and sat up, her eyes widened in alarm. Link bowed before his princess. Zelda stood in the corner of the room awkwardly.
The princess slowly absorbed the room she was in, as well as the two people in it. When her eyes landed on Link, she gasped. "L-Link! Is it you?"
"It is me, princess," Link answered, remaining in his bowed position.
Link's princess smiled brightly. "Please, stand up!" Link did as he was told. The princess studied him closely before speaking again. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
"As did I," Link agreed.
"I…" the princess began hesitantly. "I thought you were dead!"
"I am not," Link stated.
"Yes, I can see that," she laughed. She turned to Zelda. "If I may ask, who are you?"
"I am...Princess Zelda," Zelda answered.
The princess's jaw hit the floor. "W-what?" She looked at Link. "Is that true?"
"It is, princess," Link replied.
"I'm from a different version of Hyrule than you are familiar with," Zelda explained.
The princess nodded slowly. "Then...if we're not in Hyrule, where are we?"
Link sighed. He explained the mansion and why it existed and how controlling Master Hand was. He also added their impending plan of escape, and promised his princess she wouldn't have to remain here long.
The princess struggled to digest the information Link was giving her, but she nodded along halfheartedly as he spoke. When he finished, Zelda held up the clipboard. "And as part of Master Hand's whole scheme, he requires us to ask any newcomers some basic questions about themselves."
"Well, alright," the princess decided.
She obediently answered all the questions Zelda asked her, though Zelda knew already knew all of the information from Link's detailed accounts of his time back in Hyrule. When they were finished, Link suggested they head downstairs to the main room.
"Yes, we should," Zelda agreed. "I'm quite certain that everyone else will be excited to meet you, Zelda."
"Who else is here?" the princess asked.
"That list is far too long to explain in words, princess," Link answered simply. "Come with us."
The princess nodded. She allowed Zelda to lead her out of her room and down the stairs, Link trailing behind her. When they got downstairs, all the fighters politely greeted the new princess before returning to whatever they had been doing before. Link's princess goggled at all the strange creatures that resided in the mansion. She seemed particularly afraid of Ridley, who was playing darts with Dark Samus, Dark Pit, and Bayonetta. She also seemed fixated on the bizarre arrangement of outfits and weapons that were present. She studied Fox's gun closely and stared for several seconds at Richter's whip.
"This is where you've been, Link?" she questioned.
"Not by choice, princess," Link answered.
Suddenly, the bells signaling Master Hand's arrival began ringing. All fighters dropped to their knees immediately. "What's happening?" the princess whispered fearfully.
"Bow, princess," Link commanded.
"Why?" she demanded.
"Just do it!" Link hissed.
Link's insistence only made her more afraid. Shaking slightly, she lowered herself to the floor. Master Hand appeared before the fighters. He noticed the princess, who was fully healed. Zelda tensed.
"Zelda," the glove began disapprovingly. "I thought I said to not give her a red potion."
"You did," Zelda confirmed. "And I didn't."
"Then why isn't she in bed?" Master Hand continued.
"I gave her other medicine," Zelda replied.
"What did you give her?" Master Hand asked.
"Blue potion," Zelda stated, shivering slightly. Link rested his hand on hers gently, in an attempt to calm her. His own Zelda noticed the action, and scowled. Link didn't notice.
Master Hand sighed. "That's basically the same thing. Robots, take her to the conditioning room." Robots began swarming towards Zelda from their posts. Her blue eyes widened in alarm, fear filling them rapidly.
"No!" Toon Link screeched from across the room, attempting to stand and help her. Shulk held him down.
"You wretched glove!" Young Link roared. Both Cloud and Pit were needed to keep him on the ground.
Master Hand laughed as Zelda was dragged away. She didn't even resist, for that would only make her punishment worse. Toon Link started crying, and buried his face in Shulk's clothes. Link forced himself to remain bowed. He would not get in trouble as well. His princess needed him. Nonetheless, Link held on to Zelda's hand until several robots forced their fingers apart. As soon as Link let go, Zelda looked away from him, willing herself not to cry. Tears rimmed her eyes, and sadness tore apart Link's heart. But there was nothing he could do.
When Zelda disappeared down the hallway, Master Hand began speaking again. "Since our newest contender is all healed, I may as well introduce her. This is Queen Zelda of Hyrule. You all are dismissed." He snapped away.