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 froze, not even bothering to stand up, his mind reeling. He had to fight Zelda? He had to hurt her? And what's worse, he knew he'd end up remembering it! Link desperately wished he didn't have his memory regaining ability, even if that meant they'd still be hopelessly stuck in the mansion. He didn't want to have to watch himself hurt his princess. He didn't want to feel the pain she would unwillingly cause him.
"...Link? Link?" Zelda was saying. She was now kneeling in front of him, a desolate look on her face. "Are you going to be alright?"
Link stared into her eyes. "I'll be fine." His expression suggested otherwise.
"I'm so sorry," Zelda whispered. "At least I won't remember."
Link took a deep breath and stood up. "Don't worry. I'll get through this."
"You can do it," Pit agreed.
"If it's any consolation," Shulk said, "this should be your last fight. Zelda, Robin, and I finished our plan. In less than three weeks, we'll get Queen Zelda her orb. We're attacking the next day."
Link met Zelda's eyes. "But that means…"
"Yes," she agreed. "We'll be leaving that day."
Young Link rolled his eyes. "Worry about your ill-fated romance later. If you don't want to make Master Hand mad, go get ready!"
Link nodded. He took Zelda's hand, and they headed upstairs together. Link walked her to her room. He watched her enter her room and close her door, standing outside just a few seconds longer.
Then he turned and headed up to his own room. Lying on his bed was a green tunic with a matching floppy green hat. This outfit was one of his favorites, since it didn't require him to dye his skin or change his eye color. He only had to put the stupid thing on, which wasn't that bad. When Link was finished changing, he returned to the main room. The robots posted outside Master Hand's hallway moved aside, allowing him to pass through. Link entered the lobby area for contestants. Zelda had yet to arrive. Link sat by himself for a few minutes before she opened the door and stepped inside the room.
She sighed, and sat down on the only other chair in the room. "I'm so sorry, Link," she muttered.
"You know it's not your fault," Link replied.
Zelda shrugged. "Doesn't mean I'm not going to feel bad."
Link nodded.
They sat in companionable silence until the robots arrived and injected them with whatever drug allowed Master Hand to control them.
Link woke up in his bed. Zelda held an empty potion bottle over his lips. She pulled it away with a smile when she noticed his open eyes. Cloud, Young Link, Shulk, Robin, Pit, and Palutena were also present. Queen Zelda stood in a corner by herself.
Link reached for Zelda's hand. As soon as his grip was locked, he began to breathe faster. Nausea threatened him. Then he stiffened, his eyes widening.
He stood opposite Zelda on a long, narrow platform. As usual, he wasn't in control of himself, and he could tell she wasn't controlling herself either. Her eyes were completely blank and her back was stiff. Link held the Master Sword in his right hand and the Hylian shield in his left.
The fight began. Zelda did not rush forward. But Link did. He jumped the few feet remaining between him and the princess, thrusting his blade out in front of him. Zelda twirled around, a protective blue shield coming between her and Link's blade. The Blade of Evil's Bane collided with the shield and rebounded off it, sending Link flying backwards. He landed on his back with an annoyed grunt, bruising several of his ribs, but easily got up again.
And that was how the fight went for what felt like an eternity. Link charged Zelda. She played defense. Sometimes, he'd get close enough and actually land a hit, sending her flying with a pained scream. But more often than not, Zelda was able to hold him off. Whether it be with an explosive ember, that blue shield, by summoning a purple phantom knight, or teleporting away in a shower of stinging green needles, Zelda threw Link into the ground over and over again.
And the worst part of all of it was that Link could see that she didn't feel sorry. He knew it wasn't really her, but her emotionless eyes hurt him more than her magic ever could. Every time Link was flung into the floor, Zelda's eyes didn't even flicker. They remained horribly void.
Finally, after Link was certain that every one of his ribs had been smashed to pieces, whoever was controlling him got their act together. He sheathed his sword and pulled out his bow. He nocked an arrow and pulled back on the string. Then he released the projectile. It flew right into Zelda's side, throwing her backwards.
Link nocked another arrow. Zelda still didn't rush him. He released it. This time, Zelda put up her shield just as the arrow hit her, and the arrow reflected back into Link's exposed chest. He was flung off the platform. Using his spin attack to lift himself upwards, he grabbed onto the arena's edge. He pulled himself back up, but Zelda was waiting for him. She thrust her hands forward, impaling him with millions of tiny magic particles. Link was thrown off the stage, far beyond any hope of recovery.
Link collided with the jagged, stone floor of the arena and crumpled to the ground, completely unconscious.
Link woke up in his bed. He'd been propped up so he was sitting upright. And he had been given a gag. A piece of fabric had been thrust into his mouth haphazardly. He spit it out, breathing hard. Link surveyed the people in his room.
Zelda looked worried. She was still holding his hand tightly.
Toon Link had climbed onto his bed and was hugging him, whispering over and over again, "It's okay. It's okay. It's okay."
Pit was hiding behind Palutena, who looked saddened.
Young Link looked infuriated.
Cloud had his hand on his sword's hilt, shaking his head.
Robin and Shulk stood together. They both had the same expression on their faces. There was nothing they could do to help.
Queen Zelda looked horrified. It occurred to Link that she had never watched him regain a memory. Not even his more pleasant ones from Hyrule.
"It's over," Link whispered, more to himself than anyone else, "I'm back."
Zelda smiled.
Toon Link hugged him even tighter.
"Sorry about the gag," Young Link sighed. "But you were screaming so loud, and we didn't want to attract any of the robots' attention."
"No, I understand," Link replied.
Queen Zelda approached his bedside tentatively. "This...this is what you have to go through?"
Link shrugged. "It is. But I get through it, my queen. You don't have to worry."
The queen nodded. She smiled softly.
Zelda shook her head slowly. "Link...I'm so sorry. For...for hurting you like that..."
"It isn't your fault, Zelda," Link said firmly. "It's Master Hand's. And in less than three weeks, we're going to make him pay."
Zelda nodded.