Disclaimer: I do not own SSBM or anything I could be sued for.
A week later, Marth was in a dilemma. "Ok, ok," he thought in his room one night as he paced the floor. "The deal is that Zelda wants Johin hurt because of the Spiritual Stone theft. IF Johin did steal the stone, then Zelda is positive that it's in the wand that Johin always carries around. If Johin did steal the stone, then it has magical powers associated with fire. Zelda has offered three billion rupees to me for turning Johin in so Zelda can catch her." Marth sighed as he stopped pacing and sat down at his desk "But…if I turn in Johin then, I get the money to help Altea and Zelda will be happy…however, if I do…Johin will be hurt. I'll hurt her…"
Sighing again, Marth walked out of his room. Thinking heavily, he walked out into the garden. There, night had settled calmly over the green plants and a rainbow of flowers. "Johin…" Marth whispered. "How I can save myself from this…" Seeing a white fountain ahead, Marth sat down on the rim, leaning so he could look into the water. Staring back at him, an unhappy prince with sad eyes sighed. "Johin…"
"What?"
Surprised to hear an answer, Marth looked up. "Johin!" he exclaimed as cool eyes stared back. "Why are you out here?" Feeling himself blush badly, Marth stared at Johin's clothes. Wearing her normal back boots, she wore white tight pants, and a white-collar sleeveless tunic. The black shirt that she wore under the tunic was only seen as long loose sleeves. Her black gloves were still there and her wings were loosely held behind her. No dragons' head, tail, or claws. However in her hands, she held her wand. "Hey Marth." She said, no expression on her face. "I should be asking you the same thing." Scoffing, Marth closed his eyes and looked away. "I'm out here because I want to be." He retorted. "Why are you here?" Looking up at the stars, Johin put her long wand between her wings to hold it in place. "Thinking." Interested, Marth smiled as he motioned for her to sit. "Really?" He asked. "About what?" Shaking her head, Johin sat down next to Marth and turned to look at him. "My family." She said finally.
Trying to pry information gently, Marth turned to Johin. "Johin," he asked casually. "What's with the wand?" he asked. "I mean, why are you always carrying it around?" Snapping her head down, Johin glared, but then sighed. "It's my fathers. And then his father before him and so on. It's our family's treasure. Every time a family member dies, a part of their spirit goes into this stone here. But the real power of the stone comes from the current owner. The stone is the Roya…" Turning her head away, she trailed off. "The stone is just a stone." Glaring at Marth, Johin's eyes grew angry. "I know you've been talking with my brother. And I know he's told you about my other half. Why I have wings..." Sighing, Johin frowned. "I would've told you eventually. It's not like I hate you all. But, there's a history of people not liking dragons. And I, being a half of course, I have it the worst. That's why…I tend to avoid people. Like yourself. People don't know if I'm a destructive dragon or…" Smiling at Marth, Johin sighed. "A quiet human." Marth smiled as Johin stared at her wand. "Johin," Marth began. "Dragon or human, you still have a heart. And that's all that matters…" Reaching up, Marth slowly touched Johin's hand. "To me." As his fingers brushed over hers, Marth thought almost sadly, "It's rough…like a dragon's…though not quite."
After a few silent moments, Johin quickly pulled away and looked away, her eyes showing a hint of confusion and anger. A bit surprised, Marth gave a small gasp. Then, realizing that Johin wasn't used to human contact, which made Marth grin. Then, silently, Marth held out his hand. As Johin turned to look at him, Marth smiled a bit bigger. "Here…" he said. Considering for minute, Johin looked at the hand. Then, as her dragon side took over, she turned away again. Smiling at this, Marth gently took his hand and reached for Johin's. Taking it, Marth gently put it on top of his other open hand. "There." He said. Then, turning is hand, Marth gently pushed their hands so Johin's and his were palm to palm. "See?" Marth said as Johin turned to look at him in amazement. "You're human to me." Johin said nothing as she stared at Marth and then finally pulled her hand away. Just then, a warm breeze blew, Marth saw Johin give a shudder. "Are you cold?" he asked. "It's warm here to me." Johin shook her head. "I'm part fire dragon." She explained. "Fire dragon's have to have literally cold blood to balance out the hot environment. So for me, it's getting cold." Marth nodded. "I see…" he said as he pulled his cape off. "Then, here. Take this." Then, throwing the cape over Johin's shoulders, he smiled at her shocked face. "I'm hot anyway." He explained. "This adds onto the heat. And you need it more than I do."
Johin smiled as she felt the smooth silk under her fingers. "Thanks." She whispered. Then, as a shocked expression came over her face, she quickly stepped back and closed her eyes, her hands gripping her hair in frustration. "Johin?" Marth asked worriedly as he watched her struggle. "Johin, what's wrong?" Johin shook her head. "N…Nothing…" she said. "I…I'm just confused right now…" Marth frowned and reached out for her, but Johin quickly threw his hand away. "Don't touch me!" she cried, confusion of what she was feeling rising. But Marth only stared at her sadly and said, "Johin…please…?" As Johin looked him up and down for a minute, she turned her head. "Well…all right." She said finally. "I trust you Marth." Then, getting up, Johin sighed. "Redon will be looking for me." She said. "I better go." Taking off and handing Marth back his cape, Johin smiled. "Here. I don't need it anymore." Reaching for his cape, Marth's hand got half way there, but then he pulled it back. "No," he said. "You can take it. You'll need it tonight." Then, getting up, Marth took his cape gently from Johin and gently put it around her shoulders, tying to corners together. "Blue is a good color for you." Marth said as he stepped back to admire Johin's new and temporary cape. "Really it is." Johin smiled as she turned to walk away. "Good night Marth." She said. Watching her with a light sigh, Marth smiled after her as she walked away from him. "Good night Johin." Marth said into the wind.
***
A few days later, Marth sighed to himself alone in the training room. Wearing a white muscle shirt and blue (he always needs something blue, doesn't he?) sweatpants, Marth groaned as he pushed himself up for the…he had lost count of how many push ups he had just done. Ok, so start over.
One…
Two…
Thr-
But as soon as he was on "up", the door opened to reveal Yuriko in her silver dress and a smirk on her face. "Hey Marth," she said as she walked up to him as he continued on his push-ups. "How's it been coming?" Marth just grunted in response and continued with "three". Yuriko smiled. "Not speaking huh?" she asked. "Anyway, Zelda is getting creamed out there without her stone. You really need to get it back." Marth sighed as he got up, reaching for his water bottle. "I know. I know. But, I don't think she stole it Yuriko. She told me it was from her father. How can that be the Spiritual…" But Yuriko interrupted him. "FOOL!" she screamed. "Her father's a dragon! A DRAGON! You can't trust dragons! Dragon's are nature's biggest mistake ever! Just like their half-bred frea-…" but that was as far as she got. Because Marth just grabbed her arm and brought his face extremely close to hers. "Don't you dare…" he hissed. "Johin is not a dragon! She's human. Tell Zelda I'm done with her game. You can find the stone on your own. But Johin didn't steal it." But Yuriko just smiled and stared straight into Marth's eyes. "Do you know what Marth? Do you want to know something interesting? About Johin's family that you'll want to know?" Marth glared at Yuriko. "Anything you say is a lie." Marth said as he roughly let go of Yuriko. "A lie. And I know Johin didn't take the Spiritual stone. She's human." As he began to angrily turn to a punching bag, he angrily threw a punch into the bag, causing it to fly away from him.
"Medeus."
Hearing the name of the dark dragon he destroyed, Marth winced, but chose to go back to his punching. Yuriko smiled as she saw that the name hit home. "You know that dragon, huh?" she asked. "Yes…he was an evil one wasn't he?" Marth could feel his blood run cold at Yuriko's words. "What does Medeus have to do with Johin?" he asked himself as he punched the bag harder. "Johin isn't a dragon!" But Yuriko smiled maniacally as she kept up her act. "Yes…Medeus nearly killed you didn't he?" Then as she swept her way up to Marth, she suddenly grabbed his shoulder and spun him around so his blue eyes burned into her gray ones. Then, slowly, Yuriko brought her mouth up to Marth's ear and whispered,
"Medeus…is Johin's…brother…"
As a wave of shock swept over Marth, he stood stunned, eyes wide and hurt, mouth open a little and gaping. Yuriko withdrew her head from Marth's ear. Smiling at her work, Yuriko narrowed her eyes at the quivering Marth. "So." She said as she withdrew from the room. "Now you know…see how your love will pull you through now." Then, she walked out confidently. Marth stared ahead into space. "Medeus…!" he thought. "Impossible…! It's impossible! Johin…!" Feeling himself sinking to the floor, Marth could only make small sounds of pain. "No…" his mind thought as he put his head between his knees.
"…No…!"
***
Marth walked out of the showers, his hair wet and sticking to his forehead. "Medeus…" he thought as he recalled the dragon's image in his head. "How…?" But then, an image of the books he had seen in Johin's room flashed in his head. "Those were written in Medeus's language…" he sighed. "The writing of dragon's." Turning the corner, Marth's shoulders shook as he sank to the floor. "No…" he moaned. "No…please…" As two tears fell down his face, Marth felt himself breaking. "Johin…Johin…" he sobbed. Why was he so sad? It was only a dragon.
But it was Johin's…
"Marth?"
Marth looked up as another tear made it's way down. Johin stood above him, under her dragon helmet, wand in her belt, and Marth's cape in her hands, worried brown eyes glanced at his face. "Marth…you don't look happy. What's wrong? Is there something I can do?" Marth shook his head as two more tears fell down his face. Peering a bit closer at Marth, Johin saw the tears falling. "Marth!" she gasped alarmed sweeping down to him and grabbing his shoulders. "You've got water coming out of your eyes!"
Water?
Oh, right.
Marth gave a choked laugh at Johin's alarm. "Yeah Johin." He said. "I know. But it's normal. I'm perfectly fine." But Johin frowned as she brushed the tears away with her fingers. Feeling her rough skin on his cheek reminded him of Johin's dragon half and he began to cry again. Seeing more tears, Johin grabbed Marth's shoulders. "Marth!" she cried. "Marth stop! More water is coming out! Please!" Marth stopped and looked up at Johin.
Hearing her say "please" and begging for him to feel better…
"Johin…" Marth whispered. "I…" Then, smiling at Johin's worried face, he put one hand on her shoulder, the other supporting his weight on the floor. "Don't worry about the water. They're called tears. It's when you cry." Johin stared in curiosity at Marth. Then, letting go of his shoulders after she was certain the water wouldn't come again, Johin smiled. "Where does "cry" come from?" she asked. "Is it from the head? Your eyes?" Marth smiled at discovering how naïve Johin was with human emotion. Then taking Johin's hand, he placed it over his heart. "It comes from here." Marth said. "From the heart." Johin held no expression as she felt Marth's heartbeat. "Do only tears come from the heart?" Johin asked. Marth shook his head. "No. Other things too." he said. Johin pulled her hand back. "Water coming from the eyes called tears… Hmm…" Johin said as she turned the fact over in her mouth. Marth smiled at Johin. "It's what humans do." He explained. "It's perfectly normal." At that, Johin closed her eyes and looked away. "Then…" she said sadly. "When will I cry?"
Getting up from Marth, Johin turned her back to him and folded her wings over her, sighing. Seeing his remark had hurt, Marth got up and stood behind Johin. "Johin…" Marth reassured as he turned her around. Then, staring into her eyes, he reached up and brushed a few strands of hair out of her eyes. "You will." Johin smiled as she looked back up at him. "Marth, are you happy now? The water won't come out anymore will it?" Marth shook his head as stared back. "No. I'll try not to cry anymore." Looking around, Marth tried to start conversation. "So…" he said. "How do dragons cheer each other up? You know, like if someone's feeling bad…do you guys hug or something?" Johin gave him a confused look. "Hug?" she asked. Marth nodded. "Yeah, you know…" Looking down at Johin's even more confused face, Marth sighed. "Guess not. Well…" struggling to explain, Marth tried to pantomime hugging. "You…reach around each other and then…you…um…you just…augh. Here…can I show you?" Johin nodded cautiously. Marth tried really hard not to smile as he hugged a surprised Johin. "This…"
Johin gasped in understanding as Marth broke away from her. "A hug…" she repeated. "We have something like it…can I?" Marth nodded as he gulped hard. Gently, Johin put her hands on Marth's shoulders and gently wrapped her wings around Marth's body. As Marth felt Johin put her head on his shoulder, Marth could feel his insides melting, a heat like a warm flame flowing over him like a dream. Then, as Johin pulled away, Marth nearly was about to protest, but shut his mouth just in time. Johin sighed as they finally broke apart. "I have things to do…" Johin said trying to excuse herself. Then, turning the hall, Johin began to walk away. But just before she reached the end of he hall, she turned around. "Marth…why were you crying?" she asked. Marth quickly tried to think up an excuse. "I…I just felt bad…that's all…" Johin nodded a bit and then from her hand held out his cape. "Oh, by the way…here's your cape…" Marth smiled as he shook his head. "Don't worry. I have extras. Keep it. As a gift." Johin smiled and turned around again. But just before she left, Marth reached for her. "Johin! Wait!" he called. "Do you know someone named Medeus?" Staring at him for a minute, Johin sighed. "My other older brother. If he lived…" Marth felt the same sinking feeling as he lowered his hand. "O-Okay. Thanks…see you later…" Marth said as he watched Johin go.
***
Inside her room, Johin sat on her bed wearing red pajamas much like a shirt and pants with a book.
"Well, well. Weren't you the little lover today?"
Without bothering to look up from her book, Johin sighed. "Redon," she said. "I am NOT in love with Marth. I know he killed Medeus." Redon sighed as he sat in a chair and held Johin's wand in his claws. "I know. I know." He said. "Medeus did over use his power. He should've known someone would stand up to him eventually and kill him. But…" Chuckling as best a dragon could, Redon looked at his annoyed sister. "Never did I think in a million years that it would be his little sisters lover!" Johin slammed down her book on the bed. "Lover?!" she exclaimed. "LOVER?! I don't think so!" Redon smiled as he watched his sister's brown eyes turn red. "Oh admit Johin," he said amused. "One can obviously see the boy likes you. And you like the boy. See? There's a connection. Boy. Girl. Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Boy and girl fall…"
"SHUT UP! I AM A DRAGON! NOT A HUMAN!"
Redon smirked seeing is sister's red eyes glowing. "Johin," he teased. "You're eyes are red again. You're dragon side." Gasping, Johin quickly closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them, they were back to normal. "The only reason why they're red is because you're bugging the hell outta me." She grumbled. "Now I'm going to sleep. I don't want to think about all these human emotions right now." Turning over into her bed, Johin got under the covers and with a wave of her hand, blew out the candle. "Good night!" she said angrily. As Johin closed her eyes, she was just about to doze off when a little voice whispered in her ear…
"Marth and Johin sitting in a tree…K-I…"
"REDON!"
***
Yuriko was leaning on Zelda's door as she waited. And then, Zelda came walking down the hall. Walking up to Zelda, Yuriko smiled. "Hey Zelda," she said seriously. "I have something to tell you. Can we go inside?" Zelda nodded. "Does it have something to do with the stone?" she asked. Yuriko nodded. "Yeah. But I have something to also tell you." Walking into Zelda's room, Yuriko watched as Zelda closed and locked the door. "So?" Zelda asked. "What is it?" Yuriko sighed. "First off, Marth hasn't found the stone." She reported. Zelda sighed miserably. "But he's been with Johin for more than two months now…" she sighed. "You would think…" Yuriko nodded. "The reason he hasn't found the stone is because he's fallen in love with that slut." She growled. "Now he'll never get the stone." Zelda gasped and put her hands to her mouth. "What? Johin didn't kill him?" she asked. "Really?" Yuriko nodded. "Really. In fact…I think she's falling for him." Zelda sighed as she sat down on the bed. "The Spiritual stone of power…" she sighed. "How could I lose it? I could never tell Link…" As Yuriko watched Zelda moan over her stone, Yuriko sighed. "Zelda, tell me," she asked. "What does that stone do?" Zelda sighed as she held her head in her hands. "The Spiritual stone of fire now has the power to give the owner fire magic abilities. With those abilities in the tournament, one could actually kill someone in a fight. Kill as in really kills someone. It also is the counterpart for the Triforce of power. With that stone and with the Triforce of power with it, the owner could send not just Hyrule, but the whole universe in their control. You see…" Zelda sighed.
"I put the three pieces of Triforce into the stones. I thought…that way I could protect all three. But…" Zelda shook her head as she sighed. "Now I see it was stupid." Yuriko let what Zelda just said sink in. "Control of the whole world?" she asked herself. "That means…" she asked. "The ability to annihilate whole species?" she asked almost too happily. Zelda, who was still moaning about the stone didn't catch Yuriko's happiness. "Yes…Johin can wipe out all of Hyrule in a matter of minutes if she wanted to." Thinking hard, Yuriko smiled. "Any species?" she asked. "As in any powerful fire breathing species?" Zelda nodded her head yes. Yuriko smiled as she thought about Zelda's answer. "Hmm…" she thought. "Interesting…" Then, turning to Zelda, Yuriko smiled. "Don't worry Zelda," she said. "I'll find a way to get your stone back." Yuriko smiled as she headed for the door. Stepping out and closing the door behind her, Yuriko smiled evilly. "Now I can get those dragon's back…for what they did…" Clenching an inside pocket through her dress, Yuriko felt an energy like fire flow through her fingers as her eyes glowed a tinted red. "Now for a long awaited dragon hunt…"
***