Disclaimer: I do not own SSBM or anything I could be sued for.

***

"Wake up…wake up Marth, prince of Altea…"

Groaning, Marth opened his eyes and looked around him. "Augh…" Marth moaned as he raised a hand to his forehead. "I've got a splitting headache…" Slowly, Marth opened his eyes and began to look around him. "What…?" Looking around, Marth stared at his surroundings. "…How did I get here…?"

He was in Johin's room.

On her bed.

Ooookaaayy…

And standing over him was a black dragon with red eyes glaring out at him.

"WAAAAAGHHH!!!"

"No! No!" The dragon said as he reached out a claw for the screaming Marth, grabbing him by the arm, his black claws digging into his skin. "Ow!" Marth cried as a bit of blood drew out. Then, automatically reaching for his sword, Marth grabbed the hilt and pulled. But before he could get half of the sword out, the dragon had reached with his other claw to stop Marth's other hand. "Listen!" The dragon cried as Marth struggled back. "I'm not going to eat you! I'm here to help!" Marth scoffed as he threw the dragon's claw off is sword, drawing it. Then, with a swift counter move, the dragon was on his wingless back staring up at Marth. Pointing his sword at the dragon's throat, Marth glared down at the dragon. "Alright," Marth said angrily. "Now let's play a little truth or dare. You tell me the truth…or…I dare to SLICE YOU OPEN!" Not wavering, the dragon got up and bowed his head. "I admit it was rude for me to barge in like that on you. But I had to sneak you in here; it's the only safe place to talk." Marth considered while eyeing the dragon up and down and then finally sheathed his sword. Crossing his arms he glared. "All right." He said. "Talk."

"I am Redon. If you don't already know, Johin is my sister." Redon said gracefully. "And I know that you tried to be friends with Johin." Marth glared and looked away. "Tried is the key word." He muttered. Redon nodded. "Well, you see, my sister…she's part dragon, you know…" Marth raised an eyebrow. "Dragon?" Marth asked himself in his head. "That's where she gets her fighting skills…" But Redon continued. "Father…Johin's father…and I have both agreed that Johin needs a companion of her own kind. A human. But…" Sadly, Redon looked away. "No one wanted to stay with her…" Turning to Marth with almost a heartbreaking look, Redon held out a claw for Marth. "Please…I know it will be hard, but please…become friendly with Johin. Then…then she will learn about her true half. Her human half." Marth stared down at the claw. "It's the same deal as Zelda's deal…" Marth thought. "It wouldn't matter if I took it or not…but since I'm going down the same road anyway…" Reaching out for Redon's claw, Marth slowly slid a hand in. "All right Redon." Marth said. "I'll try." Redon smiled at his new friend. "Thank you." He said. "For Johin."

Marth grinned back as he let go. "So…" Marth said. "About Johin…" Redon smiled sheepishly as he tried to find his words. "Johin…she's…"

"Redon?"

Marth and Redon turned to the door. "J-Johin?!" Redon silently cried looking at Marth. "She's here early!" On the other side of the door, the door knob twitched madly. "Redon? It's me Johin. I got back early from the grocery store and I forgot my key. Are you in there?" Looking at Redon, panicked, Marth shrugged at him. Thinking fast, Redon grabbed Marth and shoved him roughly inside a closet. "I…Johin, I'll be there in two minutes!" Redon shouted. "I…I just got out of the shower!" Behind the other side, Johin sighed. "All right, but I've got food in this bag!" Shoving blind objects out of his way, Marth could only see through a small sliver of open slits at the top. Looking through the slit, Marth could see Redon swiftly walk over to the door and open it. "Johin!" he cried happily reaching for the bag. "Here, I can take that…" Silently Johin stepped into the room. What Marth saw, made him gasp in surprise.

Johin was wearing a simple black collar tunic with her same brown belt with her long sleeves and gloves. However, her helmet and baggy boots were gone, replaced with tight gray boots that folded over when they reached the knees and her head was covered with layered long night hair with golden streaks, two strands of gold fell down. Neatly folded behind her were her two black wings, her wand held up by both of them. In her hands she held a brown grocery bag. "Redon…" Johin said as she stared at him with brown fiery eyes. Looking around the room with a hint of confusion, Johin began looking around. "Has someone been here?" she asked. Redon's eyes shifted to Marth's closet. "Uh…that guy…Marth visited by here looking for you." Redon lied. Johin turned to Redon. "Are you sure?" she asked. "That jerk?"

Inside his closet, Marth could feel his collar getting really hot for some reason. "Jerk?" he asked himself hotly. After thinking for some time, he realized why Johin said what she did. "Oh…" Back outside of the closet, Johin sat down in a chair close to Marth. In fact, she was sitting so close to him, Marth could see her strands of hair. "So," Johin asked casually. "What did Marth want?" Sneaking a glance at the closet Marth was in, Redon cleared his throat. "(Ahem) he was looking…for…for…some…sword polish…yeah…" Johin raised an eyebrow. Nodding furiously at Johin's response, Redon took a deep breath. "I think it was nice of him to try and find you. Johin, please give him a chance." Johin shook her head. "He didn't see you did he? If he tells father you're here…" Redon shook his head trying desperately to keep his cool. "I didn't respond, but he hung around a bit before you came outside the door." Johin nodded in approving. "Fine." Then getting up, Johin sighed. "I'm going out. Probably to get a drink of soda in the cafeteria. I just got you what you need, so please don't eat it all at once." Redon nodded his head and closed his eyes. "Shall we join together?" Redon asked. Johin nodded. "One thing though. Redon just because you are my older brother doesn't mean that you can help me in the tournaments. I fight on my own." Redon nodded as a blaze of fire enveloped him. "Of course…" he said as the fire began to swirl around Johin. As Marth watched, Johin began to glow and then, in a small flash of light, her dragon smasher suit appeared. As Johin walked out the door, Marth fell out of the closet, trying not to break anything. "Johin…" he thought as a broom fell to the side. "This is gonna be harder than I thought…huh…isn't there a dustpan with the broom?" Then, a dustpan hit him in the head.

"OW!"

***

Two days later, Marth decided he had given Johin enough time to cool off and so he decided to try a better approach. At the cafeteria at lunch, Marth finally spotted Johin as she began to walk away finished with her meal. "Johin!" Marth called. "Johin wait up!" Not bothering to turn, Johin did stop to let Marth catch up. "What do you want Marth?" Johin asked coolly over her shoulder. "I have a fight to go to with Ness." Trying to make conversation, Marth cocked his head. "Really?" he asked. "Ness has some really powerful moves you know." Johin paid no attention to him as she kept moving. "I'm NOT worried." She growled. Feeling his chance slip away, Marth caught up to her again. "Well, I mean, that I want to apologize…" This caught Johin's attention as she stopped. "What?" she asked. "For what?" Marth felt himself blushing as he stopped too. "For what?" he repeated. "For a few days back when I uh…called…you…something…" Trailing off in embarrassment, Marth looked down to see Johin's hard brown eye. The other was naturally hidden from Marth by the fangs. Then, if it was Marth's imagination or if he really saw it, Johin's eyes softened, even if her expression didn't. "It's alright." Johin said as she reached the door that led to the fight. "I didn't care."

Marth sighed. Johin was always so cold to him; he didn't understand how someone like that was making him feel bad. Normally, people like this he just ignored.

But Johin…

"Does this mean that you care now?" Marth asked. Waiting for a response, Johin's eye turned cold again as she opened the door and walked through.

***

Johin walked the door, the fight over and the hospital coming to pick up Ness in a few short minutes. Placing her wand behind her wings, she sighed. The wand was made up of a single round red stone with a distinct design inside a ring of gold and two rings connected to the bottom of the large ring making a distinct jingling sound when shaken. The bottom had three rings but they were still set up as a triangle so the wand could support itself if needed.

"Congratulations."

Turning quickly Johin saw Marth leaning against a door opening, his arms folded across his chest, he was grinning. Johin sighed heavily. "Marth, what now?" she asked herself turning to walk away.

//You know, you should talk to him. //

Inside Johin's head, Redon spoke to her in secret only she could hear.

/.../ = Johin talking to Redon

//…// = Redn talking to Johin

/What? You need a CAT scan./

//I'm being serious! Johin, talk to him! //

/NO!/

//…You're grounded. //

/WHAT?!/

//You heard me! //

/You're not father! /

//So? I'm the next best thing right now. So talk or pay. //

Johin sighed as she turned around, only to smash into Marth's chest causing her to fall into him. "Whoa!" Marth said as both recovered. "Sorry about that." Then, the both realized the positions they were in. Marth had his arms around Johin and Johin's hands rested softly upon Marth's shoulders, both of them closer than intended. Leaning over to try and see her face, Marth grinned. "So even you can be surprised." Johin glared as she shoved Marth off her. "Back off!" She growled. Marth smiled down at her. Something about her attitude, her strive to get to the top, seemed to amuse him. Not in a bad way, no, but…

He couldn't really explain it right then.

"So," Marth said. "That last fight looked like a piece of cake for you. How about we go get a drink together?" Holding out a hand for her to take, Marth smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. Glaring and not saying anything, Johin ignored the hand and brushed past him, knocking her slim shoulder into his. "Fair enough." Marth said as he walked after her, happy with his making of the run to first base. Inside Johin's head, Redon seemed extremely pleased.

//Johin, I'm so proud. This one still has his liver inside him. //

/I hate you. /

***

The next week, Marth was walking around the cafeteria during dinner, looking for a place to sit. Finally spotting Johin, he casually began to walk to her. But before he could reach her, he felt a hand pull on his cape.

Zelda.

"Marth!" Zelda greeted as she sat with Gannondorf, (Hey, this isn't Ocarina of time) Peach, Samus, Ness, and Mario. "Hey." Marth nodded hello in response. "So," Zelda asked. "How's it going?" Marth knew she meant how was the plan working. "I…I'm doing fine." Marth responded. But deep inside, Marth knew that he was doing something he would seriously regret later. "So Marth," Gannondorf said as he leaned closer. "How's your new girlfriend?" As snickering followed, Marth glared down at Gannondorf. "She's not my girlfriend and you know it. At least she hasn't kicked my ass yet. I'd like to see you try to take a shot at her, if you think you're so hot." Gannondorf grinned and flicked his hair. Or how much there was. "Girls know they can't resist me," he sighed, his voice like honey. This got a laugh from the girls at the table. Samus clasped her hands together and blinked, fluttering her eyelashes. "Oh, Ganny," she cooed. "You're so strong and brave…soooo courageous." Ness and Mario laughed too, but politely as the girls pretended to be in love with him. Snorting, Gannon got up from the table. "Fine." Then as he passed Marth, he glared. Marth smiled as he watched Gannondorf take an uninvited seat at Johin's table. Turning his head, Marth grinned. "Three…two…one…"

PHWOOSH!

Marth opened his eyes and stared down the now toasted Gannondorf who was smoking, haven taken a third class flight through the air and back into his seat. Clapping a hand on his shoulder, Marth grinned. "Well Gannon-dork," he teased. "Now you can honestly say you're really ARE hot." Snickering to himself, Marth left the crispy guerdo to sit and cough smoke. Walking over to Johin, he smiled. "Hey Johin," he greeted nicely. "May I sit here?"

On the other table, Gannondorf laughed. "Watch this," he laughed to Zelda. "He's gonna get smoked too…"

Johin stared up at Marth with one eye. "It's a free country." Johin said as she went back to her food. Flashing a triumphant grin at a shocked Gannondorf, Marth sat confidently down in the seat. "So Johin," he asked. "Have you been fighting anyone recently?" Without looking up from her plate, "Falco, Bowser, Ice Climbers, and Yoshi." She responded. "What about you?" Marth coughed with a tinge of embarrassment. "Only Peach and naturally Link and Roy." He admitted. "I haven't been fighting much…" Johin closed her eyes. "We're being watched." She said. Confused, Marth looked over to the other tables where he saw everyone stare at him for a split second, realize he was staring at them back, and then turn around as if nothing was happening. Letting out a snicker, Marth ignored the others and looked at Johin. "Johin…" Marth asked. "Do you have any friends…back home? I mean, is it-…" but Johin interrupted him. "No. Just Redon and I. That's all." Just then, someone shouted, "YO! PSYCHO BABE! I'LL BE YOUR FRIEEEEND!"

As a roar of laughter erupted from the group, Johin angrily got up and began to walk away, embarrassed, but not showing it, her cape swishing angrily behind her. "Johin!" Marth called reaching for her. "Wait!" As he raced after her, Marth could hear hearty laughter coming from a table behind him.

***

"Johin!" Marth called. "JOHIN wait!" Angrily, Marth turned down another hall. "Why does it seem that I'm always doing this a lot?" he growled as he sped down. As he turned another corner, Marth stopped panting for breath. "I…I could've sworn she turned this corner…I saw that black tail!" he hissed. "Johin!" Getting a sinking feeling, Marth slowly fell to his knees on the floor. "I know…" Marth thought as he pushed himself to lean on the wall. "I know it was all suppose to be a set up…but…after all this time…now, I don't know what to think." Sighing again, Marth bent his head and closed his eyes. "I guess the chances were a million to one."

"Well then there's still a chance."

Marth looked around, surprised someone said something. "Who's there?" Marth asked spinning around. "Who said that?"

"Look up."

"What?" Marth stared as he lifted his head upwards. There, Johin stood, her claws securing her in the stone ceiling, keeping her upside down, looking back at Marth, a few strands of her front golden hair falling out. Then, Johin opened her wings and gently fell to the floor in front of Marth. Then, holding out a hand for him to take, Johin gave Marth something none of the other smashers had seen.

Johin smiled.

"Here."

Marth stared in surprise at Johin's hand. As he stared, he could see the rough skin; half hidden under black finger cut gloves.

Almost like dragon's skin.

Smiling, Marth reached for her hand. "Johin…" Marth said as he stood up. "Thanks." Johin just smiled and said nothing as she began to walk away. Watching after her, Marth smiled. "So, I'll see you tomorrow right?" Stopping for a minute, Johin turned around, her eyes no longer smiling, but this time without expression. Then, turning back around, she disappeared again, leaving Marth alone with his thoughts.

And another figure watching him from the shadows

***

"What a day!" Marth exclaimed as he fell into his room. "First Johin hates me, and now I think she actually likes me!" Pulling off his armor and sword, Marth slowly reached for the dresser drawer that held his pajamas. Pulling out a blue pair and throwing them on the bed, he began to change. "I mean, it's not like I love her or anything. She's rude, and mean, she hardly talks, she speaks her mind, independent, secretive, trusting, beautiful, and…" Dawning upon a new truth, Marth sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Aw, damn…"

***