Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros. Melee. The characters and such are property of Nintendo. (*Although, I do wish I owned Link! He's my fav!*) All of these writings are pure fiction and came from my imagination! (*Um.. what little imagination I have, that is!*) I am also sorry if any part of my story resembles anything else that has already been done or any other idea.
On another note, I do not own Kairi, Sora, Kingdom Hearts, Yugi or Yu-Gi-Oh! since I used them in the story. ^_^
See Chapter One for additional author's notes and information.
On Another Note: This story centers around a few main characters. They are Link, Zelda, Marth, Roy, Young Link, and Samus. I try to include as many of the others as I can, but coming up with storylines for them all is quite challenging. So I add as I go along, or when I think of the perfect storyline for a particular character.
Fiction By Sherri
SSBM: What The Future May Hold
Chapter Sixteen -- Release
Marth sat in the corner of the small cell, wondering how he'd gotten tangled up in this whole ordeal. He sighed heavily as he listened to nothing but silence around him.
It wasn't me! He continued to shout mentally, wishing someone could hear him. But no matter how hard he tried to convince anyone, they always pulled the same line: "Prove it."
"Who do they automatically think it was me?" Marth asked to himself quietly. "Because I was the only one left standing?"
Marth slumped lower against the wall. The bed looked more comfortable, but the corner was his. He had sat like that all night, not able to sleep a wink. Marth felt at his side where his sword should have been. He frowned, cursing himself for even leaving the castle, where he should have been at home.
"Aw, come on, Marth, don't look so depressed, we'll get ya out of here!"
Marth snapped up at the sound of his best friend's voice.
"Roy!" Marth exclaimed. "And Link!" For the first sine the night before, Marth smiled a true smile. "What are you guys doing here?!"
"You were allowed visitors, duh," Link said cheerfully. "Would you mind telling us how on Earth you ended up here?"
Marth stood up and brushed himself off with a sigh. "I guess I may as well, as long as you guys have time."
"Of course we have time!" Roy protested. "Now, come on! Tell us, buddy!"
Marth grabbed hold of the bars. "Hope you guys don't get too tired of standing."
"Don't worry, the guard will let us in, just for a while." Link motioned the guard and the guard did as he was instructed with the snap of Link's fingers.
"How'd you learn to do that?"
"Just so happens, the bar you attended was down the street from Hyrule Castle. Now you're in one of the jails here. So these guards know me pretty well."
"Personal 'friends', eh Link?" Roy joked as they entered Marth's cell.
"But how did they know to find me at the Smash Building?"
"Because, they know you as one of us," Roy replied. "It was obvious. They don't televise Melee for nothing, you know. Anyways, tell us, Marth!"
"Very well, then," Marth said with a sigh. "Guys, I had to get away. I had to have some 'me' time. If it meant going to a bar, then I was going to do it. Everything was beginning to become to much for me to handle. Roy told me to take a vacation; I said I would do that after New Year's. And it looks like I'm in here."
"Speaking of that, does Peach know you're here?" Roy asked, leaning foreward.
Marth gasped, suprised. "Uh... no, she doesn't. All she knew was that I was going out."
"Want me to inform her?" Link offered.
"Not... not right now," Marth answered quietly. "Let me finish telling you this. I want to prolong her reaction as long as I can."
Roy and Link both nodded, understanding.
"Anyway," Marth continued. "So after deciding that I needed that 'me' time, I took a trip to the first bar I came across -- which happened to be the one nearest to Hyrule Castle. I stopped by, hoping to maybe enjoy myself. But one thing I forgot to do was leave my sword at home. So I walked inside, and did enjoy myself for a little while... "
Marth closed his eyes, remembering the events that had happened the night before.
"What's going on?" I asked myself, looking to the corner where a huge fight was obviously beginning. But even from the start, I thought this was more than a simple fight. So I watched, thinking that if anything happened, I was there to break it up. There wasn't any guard of any sign of authority around, so being a Prince, I declared myself the authority.
"I walked over to where the fight was happening... weapons were involved, to my suprise. Since such a huge crowd had gathered, I couldn't see the two people. At first, I didn't know that I was near Hyrule Castle until it became clear to me that the people were elven. Not even thinking, I unsheathed the Falchion... it was more like a reflex than a reaction. It just happened, as always when I'm facing danger. My body does what it has to do.
"It seemed as though everyone heard my sword clang against its on sheath. Heads turned, and the two opponents looked at me. One advanced on me, looking very angry that I had dared to intrude. I began to sweat, not knowing what this man was capable of doing, having never met him before. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my honor and composure, but it was obvious I was afraid... afraid of the small knife he was holding! Ha! I shouldn't have been! I had a sword, I legendary sword... It would have been too easy to win against him.
"But before I could think, this man grabbed the Falchion from my grasp! It just happened, like that! I had been so distracted with my own thoughts that I was caught off guard...
" ... and it happened in a flash. This man killed his opponent, using my sword, and before any authorities were called, he passed the sword back to me. Everyone else had fled, leaving me there with the bloody sword... and leaving the police, once they arrived, to think it was me."
Marth and Link looked over at Marth, who now had a small tear trickling down his cheek. "They thought I had done it, without even asking any questions."
"Remind me to talk to Zelda about firing the whole police squad," Link said angrily. "Marth, I'm getting you out of here. Can you tell me more about the two men fighting?"
Marth sighed and began his descriptions. Link nodded his head as he listened, and then called for a guard.
"Yes?" The guard asked, bowing before Link.
"Listen," Link said gently. "I need to speak with the cheif of police. And please, let me and Roy -- along with Marth -- out of this cell."
"But sir, he's under arrest... "
"Not anymore," Link said. "Please, let us out of here."
"As you wish," the guard replied weakly, letting out all three swordsmen.
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
"Link, what are you doing here?" King Harkinian asked his son-in-law, looking out a window to the Courtyard.
"I'm sure that you were informed of the events that occurred the night before in the bar just across the feild, right?"
The King sighed. "Ever since that stupid thing was built there, it has caused nothing but trouble. I'm deciding on having it completely destroyed."
"I had a friend who was framed for that murder, your Highness."
"Please, call me dad! And... a friend, you say?" King Harkinian turned around, looking at the three swordsmen.
"Yes, Marth, who I have with me," Link replied. "Let him tell you the story."
"The Prince of Altea!" the King exclaimed. "Marth! You were the one framed for this?"
"Yes," Marth said softly. "I went to the bar, simply wanting some alone time. But of course, as always, I chose the wrong spot."
"Please, tell me what happened!"
Marth proceeded to tell him the same events as he had described to Link and Roy. The King nodded as he listened to Marth, and asked the same question Link did about descriptions.
The Prince of Altea answered the King's questions. The King was beginning to get furious, seeing as how one of his friends had been blamed for something that was entirely someone else's fault.
"Marth, I see that you were trying to help in the situation, ready in case anything happened. But sometimes trying to help can do more harm than good, as you found out. Since I'm the judge in all the trials, I am pronouncing you not guilty. Marth, go home. I know the man that you spoke of at the bar, he's frequently in one of the jails around here. Thanks for your help, Marth, and if I need anything else, I'll let you know."
Marth smiled almost a guilty smile. "Your Highness, are you sure that it's alright to release me?"
"Of course!" The King exclaimed. "I am the King, after all! And Marth, being a friend of yours, I know that you are not capable of such actions! Now, go on home."
Marth bowed low before the King. "I will never forget this favor. Thank you."
The King simply nodded. "And I want you to tell you wife everything. If she doesn't understand, I'll have to make her take lessons from my daughter!"
Link swallowed hard, thinking about his wife. "Yes, she is completely understanding... of everything."
"Thanks again, everyone. And Link -- Thank you. So much. I'll repay you guys somehow!" Marth waved as he exited the castle, thankful that he had been lucky enough to have been at Hyrule and not some other place.
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
"Peach... " Marth asked nervously, entering the Smash Building. He had tried her castle first, but she wasn't there.
"Marth!" Peach exclaimed, her voice mixed with worry and anger. "Where have you been?"
"Must I tell this dreaded story again?" he asked drearily. "I cannot bear to speak of it again."
"Then let me do it for you," Roy said, walking over to Peach. "Marth had an awful night last night, alright? He spent the night in jail, but before you get angry, I need to ask that you remain calm and that you be understanding. Because if you're not... "
"No threats Roy, please... "
"I'm sorry, Marth. But anyway, Peach, Marth went to a bar last night, hoping to get some time to himself."
Peach opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by Roy's finger. "He's been feeling trapped, Peach. Feeling older than he really is and feeling weaker than he's letting on. He loves you, and he loves Kendall, but it's sometimes to much for him. He's still so young! He needs some time to himself. So that's what he did. He ended up getting framed for a murder. But it was cleared with the King of Hyrule, because the bar was one the belonged to Hyrule."
Peach stood there silent, so bewildered to ask for details. She knew that Marth would tell her everything later.
"Marth, you're probably hungry. Let me get you something," Peach said, taking his hand and leading him into the kitchen.
Roy stood there, skaking his head. Marth was slowly falling apart. It was almost as if he didn't know his best friend anymore.
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
"Peach, we have to get away," Marth said, looking coldy into her eyes. "I've never felt so mixed up about who I am. It's time we finally took that vacation, just as Roy suggested. Come on, Peach."
Peach stood quietly, only mumbling an "Alright" as she looked down at her gloves.
"I know that this has hit you hard, but I didn't -- and wouldn't -- kill anyone. You know that."
Peach wrapped her arms around him softly, and Marth returned the hug.
"Listen, it's not just me anymore Peach. We're both falling apart."
Peach looked into Marth's icy blue eyes. "I know."
The Prince kissed the Princess on the forehead. "You never can tell what's going to happen when, so I think it's best that we pack today and spend the remainder of our time trying to get a hotel. I don't care where we go, we just need to get our things together and just go be together, alone."
"No more delaying it, Marth. We've been married three years, and didn't even have a proper honeymoon."
"Well, then," Marth smiled, hugging Peach tighter. "This will be our chance. Kendall is with us, but that's fine. We'll spend our time as a family, and make a few memories. It'll be great."
"It sure would," Peach said softly, finally smiling. She pulled from her husband's grasp. "I'm going to start packing my things and Kendall's. You search for a nice hotel; I don't care where, just as long as it's far away from here."
"Sure thing," Marth said, smiling. "Just a few phone calls, and tomorrow, we're on our way."
** ~ ** ~ ** ~ ** ~ **
"Roy, you're so tense," Samus said, rubbing his shoulders. "You really ought to relax. Whatever this is has definetly got you stressed!"
"It's Marth," Roy said loudly. "He's just so... different."
"Everyone changes," Samus offered. "You've changed."
Roy positioned himself so that he was facing Samus. "Me?"
"Haven't you noticed?" she asked softly, stroking his face. "You've become more delicate. More sensual. More intellectual. You've grown up."
Roy blushed, lowering his head. "Since I didn't notice, I'm glad you did."
"How could I not? You're face has even grown up. Your eyes are sharper and your face is more defined. You're so handsome, when before, you were just plain adorable."
Roy kissed Samus softly. "Thanks for the compliments." Roy put his arms around Samus. His arm was now out of the sling, and he was actually able to give her a full hug.
Samus cuddled up next to Roy and just let the warmth of his body fill her. It had been so long, if ever, that she had been treated so sweetly.
Falcon was wonderful to her, she thought, but Roy just had the qualities she adored. She loved romance, which seemed somewhat weird for anyone that just took one look at her. But she too had a heart, and it needed love. Roy could provide that for her; Falcon hardly showed much emotion when it came to those things.
So she snuggled up closer to Roy, and let him hold her tighter. She knew that he had gone through so much with Kairi and Malon. She didn't want heartbreak to come to this innocent young man anymore; he deserved none of which was being handed to him. Life was cruel and unfair at times, but for Roy, it seemed to be a given.
And she silently vowed to herself: No more.
** ------------------------------- **
Author's Notes: Not sure what kind of chapter that actually was... and sorry for the long wait. And after looking at this chapter, it wasn't that long, either. But as I always do, I'll explain. ^_^
First of all, I don't know how often I will update this story anymore. I used to try to do it at least once a week, now I'm lucky if I can get to it once in a month and a half. But the reason for this? Most of you know that flute playing is my passion, and I have been blessed with the talent of playing it well. And I've recieved many honors the past month on the flute: Including Southeastern United States Honor Band, District VIII Honor Band, University of Alabama Honor Band... and the one I worked hardest for: Blue Band All-State. Try-outs for All-State were last Saturday, and I worked for hours on end on the music and scales that I needed to know. And I was awarded 5th chair in the district, along with a spot in the State of Alabama's Blue Band. The University of Alabama accepted me as a flute player for their Honor Band, and they sent a very demanding piece of music for my chair placement, so that's taking up most of my spare time. Sorry for not updating.
So in short, I guess I have to say that I don't know when I'll be able to update. I'll be out of town three weekends in a row, attending these Honor Bands... and gone for about four days in April for All-State.
Thanks for your patience, though. I really hope this story is turning out alright. Writing and flute playing are two things I love, and now, I have to split my time between both of them, so I can't spend as much time writing as I used to.
Please let me know what you think of the chapter. I tried hard on it, but not sure how it turned out. I'm sorry if it wasn't what I normally write. =)
-- Sherri
