Marth took Zelda's hand and tried to help her up, but she continued to cry limply, almost
refusing to get up, so, he went ahead and placed one arm under her legs and the other arm beneath
her neck, raising her and carrying her from the large level grounds. As he moved closer and
closer to the main room, whispers of wonder met his ears. When they emerged from behind the
first level so everyone in the main room could see them, the large glove moved up towards them.
"What's going on?" It asked.
"A draw. We are having a draw." Marth said, holding the sobbing Zelda a little more
securely. "If you could, Link and Ganondorf are both still in the level grounds. Hyrule Castle, I
believe it is. 'Erm…they're both unconscious…" Marth said a little uneasily as more whispers
came from the crowd. Among all of them, he could only see Peach who was standing silent,
staring up at them.
"So be it." Said the glove with a sigh. "DK. Two injured in 06 – go get them, please." it
called out to the crowd.
Marth steadily stepped down into the room and allowed Donkey Kong to lumber past
them and onto the connecting bridges. Walking through the crowd to the back of the room where
the benches were set, he attempted to lay Zelda down on one, but found she'd wrapped her arms
around his neck.
"Princess…please let go…" Marth said softly into Zelda's ear.
Zelda twitched, then undid her hands from his heck, allowing herself to be set down.
"He'll be fine…I promise." Marth assured Zelda, kneeling beside the bench, where Zelda
voided his eyes. Marth smiled gently and stood up, turning his gaze from her, over to the loud
thumping of Donkey Kong's large feet across the floor. He walked behind DK, following him out
into the hall, then went to the side lockers not far from there. Unlocking the one he'd stuffed his
belongings into, he put his sword against the side and grabbed his white cape, securing it around
his neck. He locked it quickly, and then continued to follow DK, but nearly fell backward as the
bottom of his cape got caught on something.
"Hey, babe." He heard Peach's voice.
"Oh, hello, Princess Peach." Marth said, turning around to see that the bottom of his cape
was caught in Peach's small-gloved hand.
"I didn't see what went on in the battle, want to…define it a little?" Peach asked,
suddenly pinning him against the wall behind the last locker, hooking the tie of his cape around
her finger.
"Uh, Prin—Princess?" Marth asked, his voice cracking half way through the word with
nervousness.
"Yes?" She asked with a devious smile.
"You seem to have caught your hand in my…'err…cape…tie…" Marth said, using the
first excuse he could think of, then tried to detach Peach's finger from his necktie.
"Huh." Peach huffed, and then changed the subject. "Alright, how about you come to my
Castle, seven o'clock, dinner."
"The one in there?" Marth nodded towards the door, referring to the "Peach's Castle"
Level.
"No, you idiot! That's just a stone replica for it. The real one. You know where it is,
right?" Peach asked.
"No…actually, I don't." Said Marth, very uneasy at this point.
"Ok, I'll have Toad come pick you up, then. Where are you staying?" Peach said,
sweeping her hair behind her back.
"At the hotel…just a block from here." Marth said, going a little pink. It was a little
embarrassing staying at an apartment while being a Prince and all.
Peach winked at him and headed back towards the main room. "Oh Ya, I'm inviting
Zelda, Link, and Mario as well." She added slyly.
Marth shook his head and sighed. 'What was that all about?' he thought to himself,
continuing towards the Nursing Room.
Link was still unconscious on one of the white beds, while Ganondorf was another story.
"Get off of me! I don't need medical assistance!!!" He roared.
"If-a you'll just let-a me fix up-a this-a wound, you may-a go!!!" Cried Doctor Mario's
voice.
Ganondorf was about to shout at him again, but spotted Marth. He gritted his teeth and
gave Marth a piercing glare. "You…"
Marth took no heed to him and continued towards Link's bed.
"You! You took away my chance at having power!" Ganondorf yelled, flinging Doctor
Mario across the room and into one of the IV's, where a nurse looking strangely like Peach
hurried over to help him.
"I simply gave you a choice." Marth said, taking a seat at Link's bedside. "It was you
who chose your ego over your power."
"You…you little…" But Ganondorf's cursing was drown out by a loud sound like an
electric sound. He was forming a large dark ball of magic over his head. He flung it at Marth,
who was now defenseless without his sword.
Thinking quickly, Marth grabbed a nearby IV and swung it at the large ball of energy.
Immediately, the metal pole melted, but it repelled the dark ball ever so slightly, making it fly
into the wall beside him, a large hole forming. Marth dropped the half melted pole and tugged on
his white cape, letting it easily slip off (All thanks to Peach who had undone the knot
considerably while toying with it). He swung his cape over Ganondorf's head and tugged, making
Ganondorf fly face first into the ground. Marth grabbed Ganondorf's injured shoulder and shoved
him back on the medical bed, making Ganondorf howl in pain.
"He's all yours." Marth said, taking a couple deep breaths and nodding towards Doctor
Mario. Ganondorf had his face screwed up in such pain; he just lay there, attempting to touch his
very large injury.
"No! Don't-a touch it! You'll only contaminate-a it further!" Doctor Mario said after
getting to his feet, slapping Ganondorf's hand away from his injury.
"Out with you! Out! Out!" Nurse Peach said (In a higher and squeakier voice than
Princess Peach), pushing Marth out the door.
Marth, once again, had to get another cape.
When Marth walked through his hotel door, he tossed his two dirty capes to the side and
flopped down on the hard rented bed. Nearly ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
Marth glanced at the clock – it was 6:30.
"It can't be Toad. I didn't tell Peach my room number." Marth whispered to himself.
Opening the door, he sighed half relief to see it was just the maintenance woman, bringing him
more towels. "Thank you." He said, taking the stack of towels. About to close the door, he
jumped to see a small midget person with a dotted hat, clasped hands, and confident grin.
"Hello, Prince Marth!" Said Toad, bowing, making himself as tall as Marth's ankle.
"Hello, Toad." Said Marth, thinking of the only person who was supposed to come to his
room at this time. "How'd you find my room?" Marth asked, trying not to sound rude.
"Toad asked at the front desk, that he did." Toad said politely. "Are you ready to go?"
