Disclaimer - I do not own Super Smash Brothers Melee, Fox, Samus, Zelda, any of the other characters, or Celebrity Deathmatch.

Note - Fox uses a few moves that don't exsist in SSBM. I just wanted to point that out for all the experts (like myself). The fact is, in a real melee, you don't use the same moves over and over, and you can aim your laser gun anywhere you want.

Apology - I humbly apologize to all of the Celebrity Deathmatch fans out there for what is said about it in this chapter. I do not fully agree with what the characters say about. I just don't like that they had 'Weird Al' Yankovic die to Al Gore (bleah) and several of my favorite celebrities die to people they should've easily beaten. My apologies, and I hope you can forgive me.

Chapter 4 - Fighting For Falco's Honor

*Samus Aran*

After Falco's funeral, nothing was the same again. Fox was in a state of depression, so deep that he rarely ever talked. We all knew he was bent on trying to figure out whom had killed' Falco, regardless of how it was obvious that he killed himself. It was very sad to see him in such anguish, especially since he always kept by himself.

The majority of us were also different. Zelda, the sweet gal whose always caring for others, seemed depressed, even though she didn't know Falco. Yoshi didn't always seem as happy as he normally used to be. Roy was a mixture of emotions: sadness, confusion and guilty.

Pichu and Mr. Game & Watch had not changed much, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY HAD AL GORE KILL WEIRD AL' YANKOVIC!!" Pichu's high-pitched voice rang out around the restaurant. "THAT'S SO STUPID!! Weird Al' would just call Harvey to eat that stupid politician!"

"I'm telling you, dude, he killed him by sucking his brain out through his eye socket!" Mr. Game & Watch replied.

It had been two days since the funeral, and today we were going to start up the tournament again. There had been many delays that brought us to this day, because of legal reasons and other nonsense. We were all at the restaurant, having all our lunch. Yet some of us were losing our appetites, for some strange reason.

"WHAT?! HE SUCKED HIS BRAINS OUT!? WEIRD AL' WOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AND RIPPED OUT AL GORE'S INTESTINES WITH A FORK!!" Pichu hollered.

Looking around, I noticed that some people had stopped eating. Ness was starting to turn a little green, Link was looking irritated, Peach looked pretty nauseous, and Fox was looking frustrated.

"Knock it off, guys!" Captain Falcon, who was the only one sitting with me, shouted at the two clowns.

"What?!" Pichu replied. " Celebrity Deathmatch' just had a stinking politician kill the greatest singer of all time! Why should I remain silent?!"

"You're grossing some of us out!" Falcon replied.

"Oh, sorry! I know, it makes me sick to think about it, too!" he turned around to Mr. Game & Watch, and could faintly hear him say, "I didn't know the Captain was a Weird Al' fan! Cool!"

I turned my attention to Captain Falcon, who was looking at his fries, as if he was going to dare to eat them. "Thanks, Falcon!"

"Don't mention it. ...I should've asked sooner, though. I don't think I can eat these now."

"What? The great bounty hunter can't even stomach a few fries? Guess you're not so tough after all!" I teased him, and he glared at me.

"You're lucky you're not in that suit of yours, or I'd challenge you to a fight!" he growled, then ate a few fries.

"You take everything too seriously! Why don't you lighten up?" I asked, somewhat impatiently.

"Hey, didn't one of our fellow Smashers just get killed? Maybe YOU need to take things more seriously!" he snapped at me.

"Excuse me? There is a difference between taking life seriously, and taking life TOO seriously! Look at you, carrying your gun around like if you're expecting to be mugged at any time!" I pointed out. "And with your strength, why should you worry?"

"I carry it around because I prefer carrying it around! Why do you have to question my motives all the time?" he asked, clearly frustrated. "Everything I say or do is criticized in every way possible! I'm beginning to wonder if you're my partner, or my mother!"

I rolled my eyes in frustration. We usually argued about this, and I was getting tired of it. Tired of arguing with him, and tired of trying to change him. He is fine the way he is, but my pride won't allow me to admit that to him.

*Zelda Gaiden*

I was sitting with Link, Young Link and Popo, trying to keep my mind off of the grizzly things Pichu had been shouting. That baby Pokémon is more crude than some of the oldest Smashers here! It just didn't seem right.

"So now Ness is really digging my sister!" Popo exclaimed, snapping my attention back to him. "It's so cool! They're even holding hands! And it's all cause of me! I paired the two together, and they're together almost instantly! I should be a matchmaker!"

"Forget matchmaker, dude!" Young Link chimed. "You should be Cupid! An eskimo Cupid is what the world needs!"

I smiled, then looked around the restaurant casually. Captain Falcon and Samus Aran were arguing again, yet quietly, so as not to disturb anyone. Nana and Ness were sharing a chocolate shake, which looked unbelievably cute and romantic! Yoshi, while Mario wasn't looking, lashed his tongue out and snagged a bunch of Mario's fries. I giggled at the comical sight.

Then I laid eyes on poor Fox. My hart sank when I saw the look of angst on his face. He had food in front of him, but I could see he hadn't eaten of it. He just stared the window, his face crossed with sorrow and confusion.

I felt so sorry for him. He had lost his best friend to what we all believed to be suicide, but he would agree with that. He barely talked, I rarely saw him eat, and he always looked like he was thinking about something. Something that puzzled him, like if he was trying to solve a mystery and deal with a heavy heart at the same time.

I couldn't take looking at him anymore; he had been sitting alone at meals and meetings ever since Falco's death. It was time one of us tried to help him.

"Hey, Link?" I said to my boyfriend. "I'm going to go sit with Fox for a bit. He looks awfully lonely."

"I think he likes it that way, dear," he replied, turning his attention from his hyped-up younger self and Popo. "You didn't see him in the last tournament; he always sat by himself. I think he likes being alone, for some strange reason."

"Yeah, but he just lost his best friend. He needs someone to talk to, at least."

Link looked at me for a few seconds, and could see in his beautiful eyes that he thought I was being a bit crazy. For a second, I thought he was going to tell me not to go over to Fox, but then he smiled.

"Go on, honey," he told me politely.

I smiled back and kissed his cheek. While picking up my tray, I heard Young Link wolf-whistle at the kiss. Smirking at him, I headed over to Fox's table and sat down at the opposite side.

He was so busy thinking and looking out the window that he didn't notice me. I cleared my throat quite loudly to intentionally get his attention. When he looked around and saw me, his eyes grew very wide.

"Z-Zelda!" he stammered. "Wh-what...,"

"Hi, Fox! I just wanted to sit with you. You've been alone for some time now!"

"W-Well...I just...don't think I'd be good company. I...I've been thinking about...Falco...and I'm trying to figure out what...happened to him...," Fox stammered as he spoke.

"I think we all are thinking about Falco now, Fox," I told him softly. "But...may I ask why you think Falco didn't commit suicide?"

"There are many reasons and points that st-state that he didn't. His laser gun...," he took a deep breath, trying to psyche himself up to continue. "...His laser gun was found in his right hand. But Falco is...l-left handed."

He extended his left hand, pointing to it as if to prove his point. "I...I don't think Falco would use his right hand if he were to kill himself."

His hand was shaking unsteadily from the emotion flowing through him. I gently took his hand and held it for comfort. Fox seemed to get more nervous, then took another deep breath. He closed his eyes, then looked at me again. "Thank you, Zelda."

"You're welcome. So...who is going to be your new partner in the next fight?" I asked politely, after releasing his hand.

He paused for a few seconds, then answered, "I...I am going to be fighting alone. There is no one available, so I'll be fighting against my opponents alone."

I was shocked. I had the fights for today's tournaments memorized, so I knew who he would be fighting: Bowser and Ganondorf.

"But...Fox, honey! You're up against Ganondorf and Bowser!" I informed him. "Surely, you'll want help for those two monsters! We could always pair up the Ice Climbers and have one of their old partners fight with you!"

He looked at me with his keen, blue eyes and smiled weakly. "I couldn't do that. Have you seen how happy Ness and Nana are together? They should spend some more time together as a team without Popo with them. I don't know much about siblings, but I do know that you probably don't want your brother or sister around you when you're spending time with your new boyfriend or girlfriend!"

I smiled, touched by his kindness. "I know probably less than you about siblings, but I believe you're right."

"YOU'RE KIDDING!! THEY ALSO HAD MELISSA JOAN HEART DIE?!" Pichu's voice shattered the mood and rang all over the restaurant.

Fox leaned back in his seat, then glanced down at his food. He picked up a few French fries, then looked up at me. "So...who are you fighting next, princess?" He asked, then ate the French fries he had taken.

"You may call me Zelda, Fox. I don't want to be referred around here as if I'm above everyone else."

Fox smiled at me, then nodded. "Okay then. I'll remember that."

"Thank you. And to answer your question, Link and I will be fighting Marth and Roy."

Fox nodded again, then thought of something. "Those two have dangerous weapons. It would be best to keep your distance, if possible."

I smiled at him. "That's kind of you, to give me advice." With a pause, I asked him, "What strategy would you take if you were fighting me?"

"Jump off the edge of the platform to save time."

I laughed at his joke, but was more pleased that he was now no longer in a depressed mood. "Seriously now though, what would you suggest?"

He paused for a second, then replied, "As your normal self, you're good at getting back to the platform with Farore's Wind. It would be best to try and send you into the horizon, or you'll just keep coming back. As Sheik, projectiles would be a good idea, since you're so good at close combat."

"Interesting," I replied. "How about Ganondorf and Bowser?"

"They both stink at jumping, so I'll have to hit them downwards. Also, they both hit awfully hard, so I'd better keep as much distance as I can spare."

I nodded, then noticed that Link had walked over to us. "Hey, Zelda? It's about time for us to go. We shouldn't keep Marth and Roy waiting."

"Oh, yes," I nodded at him, then looked back at Fox. "I have to go, sorry."

"I'll be at the stadium shortly, so I'll be seeing you soon," he replied. "Thanks for your company."

"You're welcome!" I replied. Then as Link and I turned towards the door, Fox called out to Link.

"Hey, Link? Just for a tip of advice, Marth's sword hurts for more at the tip, while Roy hurts more in the center. That might be handy to know if you sword duel then!"

I looked at Link, who replied, "I fight my own battles, but thank you." Even though Link was being polite, I could sense the irritation in his voice.

As we were leaving, I said to him, "Why did you say that? He was just trying to help!"

"Zelda, I'm quite capable of fighting for myself! It was awfully generous of him to say so, but if there is one thing I've learned when fighting, it's that you always forget strategy and just start slashing!"

I had to agree with him there. As we were walking out the door, I could hear Pichu's piercing voice exclaim, "WHAT?! THEY KILLED STEVEN SPEILBERG TOO?! THAT'S IT!! GIMME THEIR ADDRESS!!"

*Fox McCloud*

I couldn't believe it. My heart was racing a million miles an hour, which I could saw the same for my pulse.

She had talked to me. More to the point, she was concerned about me. I couldn't believe it. And here I was starting to think that she would never notice me.

As she spoke to me, as she held my hand for comfort, I remembered why I had fallen in love with her. She was so caring, so wonderful that it amazed me beyond words.

Yet when she left with Link, it just rubbed it in my nose that she was still with him, and would probably never be available to the likes of me. After all, I am a vulpine Cornerian whose technology and culture differ greatly than hers. Also, she is a princess, and there was no way I could convince her father that I would be worthy of his fair daughter.

If Falco were here, he would counter that by saying how many pretty Lylat girls would want me. Then he would probably add that this would be before they put their glasses on, just to give me a hard time and make me laugh. He would also add that Zelda would bring too much of a pain with all of her royalty rules and cultures.

But Falco wasn't here to say this. There was only me, trying to figure out who could've killed him, and why.

The first two fights went pretty fast, more quickly than I had wished them to. Zelda and Link defeated Roy and Marth, but just barely. Zelda lost both of her stock after Roy lost both of his, and Link just barely managed to defeat Marth with a well-aimed Bob-omb. This all took place on the simple level of Battlefield.

Ness and Nana took on Mr. Game & Watch and Pichu in Fourside, and the fight ended pretty quickly. Ness and Nana won without losing a stock each (but getting very high in percentages), but Pichu came out the winner in spirit. He had shouted as loud as he could, "CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH SUCKS!! MAY THE PRODUCERS BURN IN HELL!!" when he was standing on the top of the middle skyscraper. I'm sure that fans of whatever that show was were very much annoyed, but the way Pichu was carrying on about how awful and inhumane' that show was, it seemed very important to him.

Captain Falcon and Samus Aran fighting would be fighting Ness and Nana tomorrow. I had no clue who could win that fight, but now wasn't the time to think about that.

After the four were transported back, it was time for me to take on Ganondorf and Bowser. They both smirked cockily at me as they walked over to the transporter and stood in place.

As I walked past Captain Falcon, who was once again using the controls, I heard him whisper to me. "Yo, Fox!"

I looked over at him with a questioning look. "Yes, Falcon?"

"Any map you want in particular? I'd be happy to help you out against those tow scumbags!" he added.

I shrugged, then replied, "Anything but Flat Zone. No offense to our two friends who just arrived, but I need all of the flying distance I can get."

"FLAT ZONE!!" Mr. Game & Watch and Pichu exclaimed, as if on cue.

I chuckled, then looked back at Falcon. "Mushroom Kingdom II would be great, since those two wouldn't fare well in the side pits."

"Gotcha!" he whispered with a small salute. I saluted him back, then walked over to the transporter.

We were transported to the waiting room', then Mushroom Kingdom II was chosen in less than a minute. As we were transported into the arena, I couldn't help but smile. I'd have to do something for Captain Falcon one of these days.

I appeared on the left side of the middle platform. Ganondorf was on the same platform, only on the right side, and Bowser was on the ledge behind him.

"Prepare to lose, Fox!" Ganondorf snarled as he put up his fists. "You'll be committing suicide after this fight, just like your loser friend!"

How dare he! My face turned to a most angry and dangerous one, and I whipped out my laser gun and started blasting him with rapid-fire laser shots. He smirked at the little damage he was receiving, and ran towards me. However, I expected this and kicked him back.

Yet I was caught off-guard when Bowser came plummeting down from the sky and slammed down on me, sending me into the air. I quickly used my Fox Fire to hit him back, but then I was hit by Ganondorf's fist. Knocked back on the middle platform, I grabbed onto the edge and pulled myself up and kicked out at him. Yet when I was on my feet completely, Bowser's powerful fist knocked me into the air again.

It became apparent to me when I landed on the left ledge of the map that if I concentrated on one opponent, they would always catch me off-guard and beat me easily. With them both coming after me, I used Fox Illusion and dashed forward, hitting them both into the air. I landed on the middle platform, then shot at them from the air with my laser gun.

Ganondorf came shooting down with his powerful Wizard's Foot, but I rolled to the side. I rushed forward and grabbed him quickly. Remembering that Bowser come any minute, I lifted Ganondorf over my head and flung him down into the pit. Turning around, I saw Bowser stomping towards me.

There was a sudden crash, the distinct sound of someone losing a stock. That had to be Ganondorf, which surprised me, for I had no clue that I could throw him that hard! It must have been from the adrenaline and my fury towards him for what he said.

Bowser inhaled and breathed fire at me, a steady stream of hissing heat. Yet I kept my distance and blasted him with a barrage of laser fire. I kept an eye above me, making sure that Ganondorf wouldn't get the drop on me.

When he did come, I quickly jumped to the right ledge, still firing at Bowser. Ganondorf tried to punch me with a backward punch, but missed and just barely grabbed onto the ledge of the middle platform.

Bowser was now running towards me, furious and roaring, "I'll kill you, you stupid pest! You'll be joining your turkey friend in a few seconds!"

I was once enraged, my breath coming out as sharp hisses. How dare they speak like that about Falco! I would show them!

With all my strength, I drove my fist down onto Bowser's head, sending him down into the pit below him. He roared loudly as the signifying crash and short fireworks of his stock loss were seen and heard.

After that, everything went downhill.

Ganondorf jumped at me and hammered me with a hard punch when I straightening up from spiking Bowser down. He grabbed my leg and hurled me across the map, laughing wickedly as he did so. Bowser appeared and grabbed me with his claw when I hit the ground. After biting me twice, he slammed me into the ground. With a breath of fire, he added more damage to my percentage.

I could barely score a hit on them, for the two were now like a flood of strong of moves, hammering me hard and sending me riccoching between the two of them. They were toying with me, and I knew it.

I was quite certain my percentage was around two hundred when they declared that they were going to finish me off. I desperately whipped my tail at Bowser, who was closer. Catching him in the face, I punched him with all my might, but it only sent him back a few inches. He pulled back his head, signifying he was going to headbutt me.

Faster than he thought I could move, I dodged to the side by stretching my body away from his head. I could feel a slight shockwave when his head hit the ground, just barely missing my left foot. My right foot, which I was lifting off the ground, stomped down on his head.

I forgot about Ganondorf, who hit me with a Wizard's Foot. I shot into the air so fast, it hurt my eyes and brain to watch the ground shooting away.

Everything went white, and I found myself on the recovery platform. I kicked down at Ganondorf, trying to savor my precious seconds of invincibility. After landing a few blows on the armor-clad man, I soon found myself mortal to blows again, and the abuse started again.

Bowser and Ganondorf hammered me several times, not allowing me to be defeated, and hardly giving me a chance to land a blow of any kind. My sight was becoming fuzzy, and my head started to hurt. My brain was starting to fade out on me from having to picture the landscape zipping past my eyes repeatedly.

Landing rather roughly on the ground, I groaned loudly and stared up. I couldn't bring myself to look up, for I was too dizzy and my head hurt too much to even think about standing up. My sight was starting to fade away, as if I was going to slip into an unconsciousness state.

Suddenly, there was a bright light from the sky! As I lay sprawled out on the ground, I saw...FALCO?!

I blinked, and then he was gone. My eyes were wide with shock at the sight of my deceased friend. He was dressed in a cyan jacket, blue pants and a dark blue bandana. He was looking at me with an expression that I could not identify. All I knew was that I saw him, and now he was gone.

"...Falco?" I muttered weakly, reaching up at the sky.

Suddenly, I felt a tight, unfriendly hand latch onto my wrist. I looked up and saw the unpleasant, smirking face of Ganondorf.

"Falco is dead, you idiotic fool!" Ganondorf bellowed, then laughed loudly.

My temper flared, and I felt a surge of new energy. Grabbing his wrist with my other hand, I lifted him above me, then supported his heavy weight with my legs and feet as well. With a tremendous, double-feet kick, I sent him flying towards the border of the arena, where he would lose if traveled too far to the right.

It was enough. The awful man disappeared with a burst of fireworks and a shout. I turned around, my fists clenched tightly, trying to find Bowser. He was on top of the carpet, which was heading towards me.

"Who cares? I'll still beat you, you messed up loser!" Bowser exclaimed.

I didn't reply, and jumped towards him. He wasn't expecting this, so he couldn't block the upward kicks I hit him with. I kicked as hard as I could upwards on the second kick, sending him high into the air. He roared in fury as I landed on the middle platform. Looking up, I noticed that it was most likely he would come back.

Jumping off of the ground as hard as I could, I reached the highest point possible with just my two normal jumps. Powering up my Fox Fire, I shot upwards at Bowser. It was a terrible risk, for any attack from this high would surely be the end of me.

I saw his fist coming towards me, planning to uppercut me into the air. I held my breath as I shot towards him in my fiery jump.

I felt myself slam into his soft underbelly, ramming him into the air. I fell all of the way down to the ground, and when I landed on my feet, I heard the word, "GAME!!" exclaimed by the computer announcer.

I had won! I had defeated those two jerks by myself! It served them right, the way they were talking about Falco!

When I was teleported back, the crowd was cheering loudly. I saw Mr. Game & Watch and Pichu cheering loudly, jumping up and down. Captain Falcon was clapping and giving me his signature salute. Ness, Nana and Popo were all hooting and spinning their fists. The most satisfying sight, however, was Zelda. She was standing up, clapping and cheering. Link was clapping next to her and he was smiling, which is quite rare for him.

"Get him!"

Bowser's angry voice exclaimed over the cheering. Turning towards him, I saw Ganondorf's fist racing towards my head! There was no time to dodge it, for it was an inch away.

When he hit me, I felt an incredible amount of pain and also felt awfully woozy. Falling backwards, the back of my head slammed against the wall. I don't remember anything else after that.