Winner and Still Champion
a fanfic by DeadeyeDave and Mr. Crash
A note from Deadeyedave and Mr. Crash: We don't own all the Nintendo
characters that
appear, such as Link, Mario, etc. They belong to whoever did create
them
(You know who you are), and we swear that we would put the little "R"
symbol after
the names, except that 1. We don't know how and 2. we are lazy. Okay,
_that's_
cleared up.
P. S. We think Navi is female, and if you disagree, please don't hesitate
to shut up, we
don't want to hear it.
We do own Aaron Seemas *cough* Samus Aran *cough* (We have a very limited
repartee). We needed a person who Samus would care about, as mercenaries
generally
don't develop strong feelings to anyone.
We were baffled as to who would start the second Super Smash tournament,
so from the depths of out perverted imaginations (Mostly Mr. Crash's),
we came up
with the Master, a.k.a. Ken Itche :)
A final note: You may find out humor obscure, disgusting, obscene, insane,
ad nauseam.
Feel free to write long, threatening letters to us, but bear in mind
we will not read them.
***
Part 8: Conflict
***
Death was very near me now. Death, I knew, had never been nearer. I
looked on in
helpless terror as the flaming rock drew ever closer. A bitter, barking
laugh escaped me as
I contemplated the ironies of my demise.
I was to die alienated from everything I held dear. I would die in a
faraway land, from
which I did not know how to leave.
I would die at the age of twelve. Twelve! I was not to know life, love...
I would see
adulthood only with a fluke of time...The Temple of Time...time...time
was running out...
All the people...Hyrule...they would see me no more...the people...Darmini...Princess
Ruto...Saria...Zelda! Zelda would see me no more, I would never see
her again. And what
was to become of Hyrule? What would happen to it? I wasn't there anymore...
Why was it that now, even though I would not...could not look away from
the tower, I
felt that there was someone beside me? Yes. Zelda was here. Zelda was
beside me
watching as helplessly as I was, watching my doom.
The moon was only a few feet from the top of the clock tower. This was
it...My final
enemy...not Gannondorf...not evil monsters...not maniacs with grandiose
plans for world
domination...but a giant moon with a weird face, a goofy Skull Kid,
just a puppet for the
evil mask, and _time._
Time! If only I had my Ocarina! The Ocarina of Time! Time! I could use
it...to
manipulate time...that was all I needed to conquer that deadly enemy.
Time can work
with you or against you...with deadly consequences...
There was a noise like a clap of thunder, like a slow explosion. A huge
wall of fire rushed
forward. I could not run...where can you go when _time_ is against
you? I could not
move. The air grew thick...hot...heavy. I groped around for something
to hold on to...but
there was nothing...Zelda was not there...I knew that before...but
why do I feel so sad, not
of my own death, but of the loss of Zelda? I...I do not know...
I could not breathe... it was as if the air was a solid mass, filling
my lungs. I knew, then,
that the wall of fire was so close...only a few seconds of life left...I
felt myself crying...for
all the things that I would never see...for the parents I never had,
for the home I never
saw, for the life I'll never live, for the love I'll never know...
I was so far...away from my
home...away from Zelda...
No! It can't be...Too strong...Zelda must be standing there...I turned
my head. Zelda stood
beside me. I reached out...tried to touch her...a last embrace...but
there was nothing. She
stood, a sliver tear on her cheek. Her ghost-like lips moved...she
was saying goodbye...
My last hope died then. Zelda was not real, I would not die by her side...The
wall of fire
consumed me. It burned off my shirt, it burned off my hat, it burned
and burned and
burned...but _I_ wasn't burned. I felt the fire rushing around me...but
I didn't feel burned.
I only felt the feeling of despondency...and a nagging request to inhale...but
of course I
couldn't. I couldn't move or breathe...like I was facedown on something
soft...I felt
myself slipping...this is the end...
***
My eyes opened with a start. I jerked my head, but not my body, up.
I saw the imprint of
my face on the cushion that I recognized as the one on the sofa in
the living room of our
mansion.
Enormous, unbridled relief flowed over me. I would have sat up, but
still I was conscious
only of relief. A million thoughts went through my head.
*Ahhhh...It was only a dream...I'm not in Terminia...the moon isn't
going to crash into
the ground...and...I'm not alone...Zelda is here...the world is not
coming to an end...*
I turned around.
*...or is it?*
***
"Get up!" A sharp pivot-kick to the ribs brought me fully conscious.
I gazed upon a most
terrifying spectacle.
It was like I was in the bottom of a great valley, surrounded on all
sides by mountain-like
giants...kind of like the giants in Termina...but these were strangely
familiar.
East...a blonde holding a large menacing ray gun...West...a pink cat
walking on its hind
legs...South...a skinny girl with a ponytail in her hair...North was.......oh
my god.....
*Gulp...* "Umm...hi?"
The flaming, piercing glares of the 'giants' never wavered for a second...
"Ha, heh, hi, Katt, Misty...Samus...have...fun...?"
Still no reaction. I sat up. The giants weren't so tall anymore, but
they still were still
menacing. I glanced back at the 'valley' of the couch, then back at
the four giants. I stood
up. Now they were my size, but they still didn't let up. I blinked
twice.
The north giant said, "You go and wake the others. I'll handle _him_."
Zelda the giant
grabbed me and rapidly led me towards her bedroom. On the way I saw
Aaron with a
bandage around his head and Katt smacking Falco upside the head.
Zelda slammed the door behind her. She glared angrily at me. I knew
there was only one
thing to do: I _have_ to _stall_ for _time._
"Umm, listen, Zelda, if this is about what I think it is, then I'm really..."
"I don't want to hear it." Her coldness surprised me. I had expected
a more lecture-type
angry. But not this time...I had really done it. There was no stalling
now. I have to say
something...got to try to reason...lull her into a sense of security...or
should I just make a
bolt for the window...naah.
"Listen, I'm really, really sorry. It's not 100% my fault, ok?" Zelda
listened coldly,
forebodingly, and silently. "I didn't want it to get out of control,
and I tried to stop,
but...but..." I found I couldn't overcome that grim face and the unspoken
thought that
radiated almost visibly from her, like an aurora. My temper rose.
"We were having a good time!"
"You were vomiting on your own shoes," Zelda remarked dryly.
I glanced down at my boots. "Well, that may be true, but..." I was out
of ideas. I couldn't
see a solution...I can't say anything. I just needed more time, but
that face, that aura of
rage prevented me. She was beyond reason.
"LOOK, IF YOU'RE SO MAD, I'LL JUST LEAVE!"
Tears of anger and helpless frustration welled in Zelda's eyes. "Then
get going," she
pronounced, baring her teeth as she bit off the words. "I don't think
I want to talk to you
right now."
"Fine." I stomped theatrically out of the room, but my real feelings were not so phony...
*Oh God, what have I done this time? This is worse than I thought, I
need to do
something...where can I get some breakfast?*
***
Later:
I lay down on the bed. I ran a hand through my hair and scratched the
back of my head. I
really felt helpless. I don't know what I should do. I couldn't talk
to her, that would be no
good. I can't try to surprise her, that's asking for trouble... But
it that case...what can I
do?
***
Zelda paced unsteadily back and forth, then settled on the bed. She
ran over her reaction,
and winced.
*Oh, no. I shouldn't have acted like that. He doesn't deserve to go through this...*
She lay down, a tear in her eye. *I don't know what to do...* She removed
the pendant
Link had given her, and looked at it in the fading light of the dusk.
No, it was too
much...can't bear it...I'll go to sleep...
***
I had settled down some, and was ready for bed. I had made up my mind.
Tomorrow I
would try to talk to her, she might be more sympathetic. I put out
the candle beside the
bed.
I found the darkness unsettling. The lack of things to see caused random
memories to
surface and struggle for dominance in my brain. Faces floated past
my sight. The sneering
face of Gannondorf, smug in the knowledge of his power. The masquerade
of Majora's Mask, floating silently in the air. I shuddered to remember
its ominous
voice coming from nowhere...
"This puppet's role has just ended..."
God, I felt like a puppet. I felt used, used by her...I felt anger...but
it was suddenly
broken...
Then a new face floated by. The grim, yet soft, hurt, weak and devastated
face of Zelda,
eyes brimming with tears of helpless frustration. I turned over and
shook off the feeling
of sickness that washed over me. I drifted slowly off to a restless
sleep.
***
I awoke with a start. The light was shining through and I was suddenly
overcome by a
feeling of relief. I felt happy, like everything was going to work
out all right after all...
Wrong.
Things got off on the wrong foot (literally) when I accidentally crushed
Zelda's toes on
the way down stairs.
"Ow! What was that for??"
"What? Oh, gee, I'm sorry."
"Hm." Zelda turned her shoulders and walked off.
"No, wait! Come back! I have to talk to you!" She continued walking,
but stopped at my
bedroom door. "Ok, then, say what you want."
"Wait, we need to be somewhere more...private."
"Ok then, go in this room here." She opened the door and walked inside
as I ran after.
The door swung shut. Zelda sat down on the bed and I sat down beside
her.
"Now please, just listen to what I have to say and think about it, all right?"
"Ok, whatever."
"Now listen. I have gotten into bad situations before, and I can guarantee
you that I'll get
into more. But I know right now that this situation is the worst ever."
Zelda blinked in surprise. "Worse than..."
"Worse than anything I have ever done. I want you to know that."
"Yes..."
"And I also want you to know that I care about you, ok? Why do you think
I have
saved..."
"I know..." said Zelda, blinking back tears. "I know..."
"I can't correct the past. But I will make it up to you somehow...all right?"
"Well, I guess I..." A change came over Zelda. She stiffened. "You know,
if you care so
much, maybe you could have thought for a second before going off..."
"What...you..." I was speechless. Everything was going wrong! No...
"Listen, mister, maybe if you were a little more responsible I'd let
you go. But this isn't
an isolated incident, you know..."
"Zelda, listen..."
"I've listened enough! You never consider anything! You just do what
you feel like
doing! And it's not just making a fool of yourself...someday you're
going to get killed
on a stupid risk!"
"Please, stop..."
"GOD DAMN IT WHY WON'T YOU THINK?!? YOU'RE SO DAMNED
IRRATIONAL ALL THE TIME!"
"HEY!" I yelled, losing it. "Maybe if I didn't act decisively you'd
be dead! Ever think
when I brave certain death just to save your sorry ass that I'm acting
just a _little_
impulsive?"
Zelda recoiled, tears streaming down her face. "That's it! You're just
impervious to
reason! You've really hurt me this time, you know! And I won't forget
it! I don't want to
see you!" She leapt up, whirled open the door and slammed it shut.
***
The low, monotonous hum of the engine had lulled Pico into a false sense
of security. As
he and his Wild Goose cruised along at the speed of sound, he was confident
in his first
place position. From out of nowhere, there was a jagged scraping sound.
Flailing his four
arms wildly, Pico wrestled for control as his ship careened uncontrollably
off of the
railings. With a mighty heave, the metal snapped under the force of
the flying steel and
the car and its mad driver plummeted into oblivion.
As the car roared across the finish line a garbled alien voice burbled
the winners to the
roar of the extraterrestrial crowd. For the first time in as long as
many could remember,
the legendary Blue Falcon had not been the first to blaze across with
white-hot flame in a
blurred streak.
***
At the home of Ash and Misty Ketchem, it was a beautiful day. The sun
shone down
brightly as eager Sunflora absorbed the rays. In the cool, shady forest
behind the house,
Spearows preened themselves and occasionally darted at passing Caterpie.
A quiet brook
fed into an oriental goldfish pond that housed Misty's Pokemon. Her
Goldeen and Seadra
swam about, her Horsea floated on the surface, and in a small rock
crevasse there dwelt a
Starmie. A willow hung over the pond, and in its shade there hung from
the branch a
swinging loveseat. As a majestic Pegeot flew overhead, there emerged
the sharp buzzing
of a hidden Syther. From inside the house the couples' Growlithe scratched
itself and
barked at some passing Sintreets climbing up a tree. A small Velomoth
alighted on the
hood of Ash's new red convertible, then flew off again. Parked around
back was Misty's
_new bike._
In short, it was a typical day at the Ketchem household. Except...
***
"You totally saved my ass, you know," said Ash thankfully.
"Don't mention it," I replied. "That's what I do."
"Man, I feel a lot stronger. That strength training really works!"
"You got that right." I thumped Ash on the back. "You were pretty good
back there.
Remind me why you came with us? You aren't fighting...Ash? Ash? Hm...Must've
wandered off."
"Achhhhh...my...back..." gasped Ash on the ground. "I'm...paralyzed...
"You guys wan any food before the match?" asked Falco. (Editor's note:
You _knew_
we'd get to the food running gag soon, right?-DeadeyeDave)
"Naah, I wanna stay fresh."
"Not that you'll need it. Three on one? Ha! He won't stand a chance!"
"Help...meeeeeeeeeeeee..."
"Now, don't underestimate him. His strength is much greater now that
he's so big," Kirby
warned.
"Yeah, but the three of us can overtake him." said Fox coolly. "And
also, we're so fast.
Link's been working out in the speed training room, and from personal
experience I have
to say, he's almost as agile and fast as me!"
"And I'm so small, he'll miss. And I can shield myself with a rock."
"All right! Let's kick some hairy butt!" We walked away towards the
stadium, cracking
jokes and wondering where Ash was.
"Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrruuuuuuugh...wait...up..."
I still had some doubts, though...
***
Zelda sat in her room sulking. A small, but very complicated device
resembling a
portable T.V. was clasped in her hands.
*I won't turn it on, I won't turn it on...don't want to watch the match..._he's_
in it...who
cares...aww, who am I kidding...ok, just a little bit of the match...*
***
As we approached the stadium I lagged behind with Ash, who, for some
reason, was all
dirty and looked annoyed. He calmed down, though, when I asked, "So,
how'd Misty
take it? You in hot water too?"
"Yeah," said Ash, head hung. "Believe me, you do NOT want to be around
when _she_
gets mad. I barely managed to escape with my life!"
"How?"
"Open window. Lucky break."
"Ahh..."
"You going to be all right?"
"Well, yeah. We're newlyweds, she'll get over it."
"Wish I could say the same..."
"Huh? What's that?"
"Nothing, nothing..."
***
The blue fog lifted. The star disappeared and the Arwing flew off. The
match was about.
to start. I glanced over into the stands where the others sat. A tiny
pang of conscience hit
me as my eyes crossed the stands. Zelda was missing.
*Ahh, who needs her, huh? I can win anyway!...right?...*
But a bell rang and my attention shifted.
***
Zelda had been watching the fight on the tiny screen in her hands, alone
in her bedroom.
She was unimpressed.
*Look at him. Running around like he's God Almighty. I hope he gets
what's coming to
him...He deserves it...right?*
***
The fight had been going smoothly. Fox was right: as long as we didn't
give him an
opportunity, he was helpless. I forgot that...
"Stay back, guys!" I yelled. "I'm finishing this now!" I drew my sword
back and it began
to glow with magic.
DK slowly lumbered toward me, but I knew I could let loose...closer...closer...NOW!
I
thrust the sword forward. But it met with solid obstruction. The massive
hand of Donkey
Kong had stopped the thrust.
Then was when I began to learn the most important lesson of my life:
An inspiration can
make or break you.
And that inspiration was the woman who was failing to sit in the stands above.
***
The giant hairy paws descended for my throat. My eyes went wide with
terror as they
grasped me and lifted me into the air. My sword fell to the ground.
Kirby and Fox,
paralyzed with fear, stared open-mouthed at the carnage.
The crushing grip now descended to my torso. Struggling weakly, the
iron grip tightened
and crushed my body.
There was a distinct cracking sound as my rib cage was shattered. As
my chest cavity
collapsed, there was a sharp pain as my floating rib began to puncture
my internal organs.
Donkey Kong, despite himself, smiled.
The last conscious action I made was to look up at the grandstands.
Through the dull,
throbbing reddish haze of blinding pain I saw the total absence in
the seat that my only
hope was supposed to be sitting in.
There was a snap in my soul, a snap in my neck, and everything went black.
***
Zelda averted her eyes and switched off the tiny T.V. set, tears flowing
down her face.
Weeping bitterly, she choked out loud, "Oh no...how could this happen..."
She threw
herself onto the bed. "I knew he would get hurt on some stupid gamble...but
I never
thought...oh please be alive...Link..."
End Part 8
