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 felt like he had been hit in the head. He turned to his princess. Or rather, his queen. He didn't know what to say.
The queen, noticing Link's shock, sighed. "I was going to tell you, Link. I promise. But then you started explaining all this crazy stuff and I was confused and I just...forgot."
"I understand… my queen," Link decided.
Zelda looked at the ground. "Please don't call me that."
"What would you have me call you?" Link asked.
"My name!" Zelda exclaimed. "Zelda!"
Link's eyes flicked towards the hallway that Zelda had been dragged down, thinking about her. "If that is what you command, then it shall be."
The queen looked deeply saddened, though Link didn't understand why. She stared down the hall as well, her jaw clenched tightly. "Well. I don't want to make you do anything. Call me whatever you like."
"Are you certain, my queen?" Link questioned.
"Quite certain," she answered.
"Link!" someone called. Link turned around. Young Link was approaching the two of them. And he did not look pleased.
"Who is this?" Queen Zelda asked.
"Not important," Young Link answered quickly, brushing past her. "Link. Zelda's in the torture room."
"I noticed," Link answered dryly.
"What are we going to do?" Young Link demanded. "Certainly not leave her there!"
"What else can we do?" Link questioned.
"Execute our attack earlier," Young Link answered firmly. "Save her, then continue on our way."
"Robin, Zelda, and Shulk haven't even begun discussing the details yet," Link protested. "Not to mention my queen would need a power orb."
Young Link sighed. "We're so close to freedom, and yet it feels like we're just as powerless as ever."
"We're getting there," Link promised. "Have faith. This simply sets us back a few days."
"And gives Zelda a few days of pain!" Young Link exclaimed.
"She'll get over it," Link stated. "You did. I did. She's strong. She can handle herself."
Young Link nodded slowly.
"And if it's any consolation," Link went on, "pain always gives people a reason to fight even harder than before."
"Yes. Yes, it does," Young Link agreed, looking up at the older hero. His mouth twitched slightly, forming something between a malevolent smirk and a fierce snarl.
"May I introduce you to the queen now?" Link asked.
"I suppose," Young Link shrugged.
Queen Zelda smiled. "My name is Zelda. Though you already knew that, of course."
"My name's Link," Young Link replied. "Though I'm guessing you'll just call me Young Link. Everyone else here does."
"You're...Link?" the queen breathed.
"That's my name, yeah," Young Link agreed. "But, your knight and I? Very different people."
"I can see that," Queen Zelda stated.
"There you are, Young Link!" someone's relieved voice called out. Pit raced across the room towards the young Hylian, followed by Palutena, Cloud, Robin, Toon Link, and Shulk.
"We were afraid you'd gone and done something stupid," Cloud snickered.
"I thought about it," Young Link answered. "Link talked me down off that ledge, though."
"Thank goodness," Shulk sighed. "Well done, Link."
Link nodded in acknowledgement.
"Is this the princess we've heard so much about?" Palutena questioned.
"Yes, it is," Link replied.
"And you all are?" the queen asked. She seemed rather shocked by the group now standing before her, in particular Pit's wings, Palutena's green hair, and both Cloud and Shulk's bizarre blades.
They all gave their names. Queen Zelda nodded along, trying not to appear to overwhelmed. Especially after Toon Link introduced himself. "It is a pleasure to meet you," she sighed when they finished.
"You too!" Pit answered excitably.
"Forgive me for asking," Queen Zelda began hesitantly, "but...what are you?"
Pit laughed. "It's alright, I get it! I'm an angel."
"An angel?" the queen repeated.
Pit nodded. "I serve Lady Palutena, the goddess of light."
Now Queen Zelda looked even more shaken. "Y-you're… a goddess?"
Palutena nodded. "I am."
"And you're stuck here too?" Queen Zelda questioned.
"For now," Palutena sighed.
"Not too much longer, Your Majesty," Shulk promised. "We've-"
"Please, call me Zelda," Queen Zelda interrupted.
"Well, alright," Shulk agreed nervously, his eyes flicking towards the hallway.
The queen pursed her lips. "Unless that name has already been taken, of course."
"I-I'm sorry," Shulk stammered. "I can still call you that if you want."
"No, that's alright," Queen Zelda decided. "Address me however you like."
Shulk nodded quickly. "Right. Thanks. Anyways. We've created an escape plan, that we intend to enact in six weeks. We'll need to get you armed with a power orb and retrieve any weapons you brought here, and then Robin, Zelda, and I will plan the final details of the attack on Master Hand and Crazy Hand."
"Link already informed me," Queen Zelda stated.
"Did he tell you how helpful he's been?" Toon Link asked.
"No, he didn't," the queen answered. "He's humble as always, I see."
"You speak too highly of me, my queen," Link stated.
"Are you kidding?" Cloud exclaimed. "You deserve all the praise you can get! Thanks to you, we're getting out of here. Thanks to Link's amnesia, and his memory-recovering ability, he was able to remember these orbs from his fights."
"You forget the fights?" Queen Zelda questioned. "How?"
"Something in the injection the robots put in you," Shulk answered.
"How does it work?" the queen asked.
"I don't know," Shulk sighed. "I wish I did. I've been thinking about it a lot, but without being able to closely study it, I have no idea."
"You would like to study it?" Queen Zelda asked.
Shulk nodded. "More than anything. I'd like to study a lot of things here."
"Perhaps we can after we get out," Pit suggested.
"I'd love to help!" Queen Zelda exclaimed. "I love researching! In fact, back in Hyrule, I was the one who figured out how to get the Shrine of Resurrection to work properly! Or, almost properly, I suppose. I didn't count on the whole amnesia part."
Shulk grinned.
Master Hand's alarm bells began ringing again. Everyone dropped to their knees, including Queen Zelda. The hand appeared and surveyed its prisoners. Not finding anyone doing anything wrong, he stated, "Our fighters for today will be Queen Zelda against Pikachu. Dismissed." Then he disappeared.
Queen Zelda's face paled. "I have to fight?"
"You won't remember a thing," Pit promised.
"Count yourself lucky, my queen," Link muttered.
"And who is 'Pikachu?'" Queen Zelda asked, sounding out the strange name awkwardly.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu cried from behind her.
Queen Zelda studied the strange, electric mouse who scurried up to her. Pokemon trainer, whose real name was Ash, hurried after him. Following Ash were his three Pokemon; Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard.
"That is Pikachu, my queen," Link stated, gesturing to the small yellow creature. "And this is Ash. He serves as most Pokemons' translator."
"Except Mewtwo," Ash sighed. "Even I can't figure out what Mewtwo's trying to say!"
Queen Zelda nodded slowly. "Nice to meet you, Ash. Pikachu."
"Pika!" Pikachu replied.
"He says it's nice to meet you too," Ash translated.
"What are these...these creatures following you?" Queen Zelda asked. She seemed more curious than frightened.
"These are my Pokemon," Ash explained. "In my world, they're all over the place! There's over 900 kinds of Pokemon that have been discovered. I'm trying to catch them all!"
"You just capture them? For fun?" Queen Zelda questioned. "What if they don't want to be caught?"
Ash shrugged. "I change their minds. I treat all my Pokemon super nice. Or, I did. They're probably pretty lonely right now. I...haven't been around for a while, you know?"
"Because you've been stuck here," Queen Zelda sighed.
Ash nodded. "But it's alright! We're getting out of here soon!"
"That's right!" Pit agreed. "As soon as Zelda gets out of the torture room, she and the others will finish making the plan, then we'll go and finish Master Hand and Crazy Hand."
Ash smiled. "Anyways, Pikachu wanted to come meet you before he fights you."
"That is considered respectful around here, my queen," Link explained. "As is visiting your opponent afterwards."
Queen Zelda nodded. "I see. Well, I appreciate the gesture, Pikachu."
"Pika pikachu," Pikachu answered.
"He says he's sorry you have to fight," Ash sighed.
"It's alright," Queen Zelda sighed.
"Come, my queen," Link commanded. "We must get you ready for your fight."
"Get me ready?" Queen Zelda repeated. "What do I have to do?"
"In addition to pitting us against each other," Young Link growled. "Master Hand also makes us play dress up for his matches."
"Whatever he gives you, you have to wear," Cloud added.
Queen Zelda sighed. "Well, might as well get this over with."
Link nodded. "Follow me, my queen."
"We'll see you both at dinner," Pit said, waving.
Link nodded.
Queen Zelda smiled weakly.
Link led her upstairs back to her room. He preferred walking behind her, but she had no idea where she was going, and he did. Link opened the door for his queen. There was a robot inside waiting for her. "I shall wait outside for you, my queen."
"Thanks, Link," Queen Zelda replied.
"Of course, my queen," Link said. He shut the door as soon as the queen entered. He waited outside patiently. After about ten minutes, the robot opened the door and allowed Zelda to exit the room. She was wearing her white ceremonial dress. It was a strapless dress with a tight, golden belt around her waist, adorned with a triforce on the buckle. She wore a necklace shaped like the Hylian crest. Ornate, golden bracelets tightly clung to her wrists. And she looked miserable.
"You look beautiful, my queen," Link stated. He had thought he'd never see that dress again. He hadn't seen it since he rescued his queen from Calamity Ganon.
Queen Zelda shook her head slowly. "I hate this dress. This is the dress I wore while I fought against Calamity Ganon for 100 years. This is the dress I wore to the goddess's springs whilst trying to unlock my power. This dress is a reminder of my failures."
"It is also the dress you wore when you finally unlocked that power, my queen," Link reminded her.
"After I failed everyone else!" Queen Zelda retorted. "After all the Champions, everyone in Castle Town, and my father were already dead, thanks to me!"
"That's not true, and you know it," Link muttered, staring through her, his eyes trained on something only he could see. "I wasn't strong enough either. I couldn't save them. I couldn't save you. If anyone failed that day, it was I. Not you, my queen."
Queen Zelda shook her head. "Whatever. The sooner I can get this infernal outfit off, the better." She turned and began walking back downstairs, her steps short and stiff and her fists clenched tightly. Link followed behind her silently.
Queen Zelda paid no mind to anyone who noticed her when she got downstairs. She walked across the room towards the hallway without acknowledging anyone who spoke to her. The robots guarding the hall stood aside to let her pass. Link had to let her continue on by herself now, as much as he hated to do that. He had just gotten her back. He didn't want to let her out of his sight again. But he forced himself to stand still as the robots moved to block his path forwards. He stared after his queen until she had entered the room where she would wait for the robots to inject her. Link assumed Pikachu was already there.
He felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Pit was standing behind him. "Are you alright, Link?"
"I'm fine," Link answered.
"You don't seem fine," the angel insisted. "You haven't been yourself since Queen Zelda got here."
"Whatever do you mean?" Link questioned.
"You follow her everywhere. And you haven't been talking much."
"You know I don't speak much to begin with."
"Well, yeah. But you've been talking even less than normal."
Link shrugged. "With the queen around, it is not my place to state my opinions."
Pit sighed. "Look, I get the whole duty thing. If there's anything I want, it's to serve Lady Palutena! But that doesn't mean I can't ever have my own thoughts or do things by myself. I don't even know where she is right now. Maybe you need to take the loyalty level down a notch. Also, I think it annoys her."
"You do?" Link questioned.
Pit nodded. "She hasn't looked happy since she's gotten here."
Link scoffed. "Of course she hasn't. Can you blame her?"
"I mean, no," Pit admitted. "But still. Maybe you should just try laying off of her a bit. At least tell me you'll think about it."
Link nodded slowly. "I will. Thank you, Pit."
Pit smiled. "You're welcome. Everyone's heading upstairs to Cloud's room. He says he's got a stash of food up there. You coming?"
Link hesitated. He had been going to watch his princess's fight, but Pit's words caused him to rethink his decision. "Yes...yes, I'm coming."
"Good," Pit replied. "Come on! That food isn't going to eat itself!"