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?"