KT – DA: Hello everyone! It's another update, on time!

Roy: yay-rah.

Link: Inform the press.

KT – DA: Oh, you two are so mean. Where's Marth?

Roy: um… I think he had to take care of something. He couldn't make it today.

KT – DA: WHAT?!? Awww….

Roy: um… should I just do the stuff?

KT – DA: /nods, crying/

Roy: Right. Kuroi Tenshi – Dark Angel does not own SSBM or any of its characters.

Link: We would like to thank Zeldagurli, Daikonran, and OddLuvr4251 for their reviews.

KT – DA: /wipes eyes/ alright, here's the chapter.

Getting Over Our Troubles – So Much for a Friend to Do

Sarah Holly hadn't seen any of her friends since parting with Marth that morning, so she was glad to see Peach walk into the kitchen. Peach looked about as tired as Sarah felt. She came over to the small table behind Sarah and sat down.

"Hi Peach. Have you been with Zelda all this time?" Sarah asked, bringing a cup of tea over for each of them and sitting down.

Peach nodded. "She's still sleeping. Dr. Mario said that she's lucky only one of those spheres broke. Something about how the rest of them still siphoned off a lot of her pain. I don't know. I didn't really understand it."

Sarah sighed. "I've wanted to go see her, but people keep handing me tasks and labeling them as 'urgent.' Fox finally shoved me in here and told me to make something resembling dinner."

"I see. Then you're probably as exhausted as you look," Peach said with a smile.

Sarah smiled and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you know where Marth is? Or Roy?" she added as an afterthought, blushing lightly.

Peach apparently noticed the blush, and smiled. "Worried about Marth? Or is 'pining' a better word here?"

"Oh, stop it! Can't I just inquire about a friend? He looked after me when I wasn't feeling well this morning, so I wanted…" Sarah's voice trailed off as she realized that Peach wasn't listening to a word she was saying.

"You're falling in love with him," Peach said with a grin.

Sarah was indignant. "I'm not falling in love with him! He's just a friend! Besides, you know I don't like men touching me."

Peach shook her head. "You don't have to touch him to love him. Anyway, I saw him helping Samus and Fox with some crowd cleanup stuff. You know, ushering the stragglers off the grounds and such." She finished the last of her tea in one gulp, and then stood, smiling, and moved to the door. "I think you should go for him, Sarah. I think he needs you."

Sarah muttered to herself about Peach's crazy notions as she busied about, finishing dinner. She wasn't in love with Marth. She couldn't possibly be! It was a silly, hopeful idea on Peach's part at best, she thought.

"She just likes to gossip too much," she spoke aloud.

Unfortunately, the little voice in the back of her head was starting to tell her that she needed the sad prince as much as Peach suggested he needed her.

The Smashers filtered into the dining hall, weary and hungry. The children, Nana in tears, shuffled over to their usual table. Peach and Marth appeared soon after, plopping down at their table heavily. Sarah wiped her hands on her jeans, leaving smears of flour and sweat, before walking out of the kitchen to join them.

"So? Any news since this afternoon, Peach?" Sarah asked.

Peach shook her head. "She probably won't have any change for a little while. Dr. Mario says that she'll need to sleep a lot in order to heal properly."

Sarah propped her chin on her fist and stifled a yawn. "Has anyone seen Roy or Link?"

"I just stopped in our room a few minutes ago. They're both there. Link still isn't moving or saying anything. Poor Roy is going to have a permanent line on his forehead if this doesn't clear up soon," Marth said with an unhappy smile.

Sarah returned his smile. "I'll go visit them after dinner. Do you think I could get either of you to help me clear dishes so I can go sooner?"

Marth nodded. "I'll help you, Milady. Am I correct in assuming that you are going to see Zelda again, Peach?"

"Yes, absolutely. I know she won't respond or anything, but…" Peach bit her bottom lip in an obvious attempt to stop her tears.

Sarah put her hand on her friend's arm. "It's okay to cry, Peach. She's your best friend, and you're worried about her. We all are."

Peach nodded wordlessly and wiped her eyes on the back of her hand.

By this time, the rest of the crowd had started to leave, creating a pile of dirty dishes by the kitchen. Sarah stood up, gathering up Peach's and Marth's plates as well and moved toward the kitchen. She was halfway there when she noticed that Marth was following her.

Link was kneeling on his bed, his eyes directed at the window, but not really seeing anything. Roy looked up from his book as Sarah and Marth entered the room.

Sarah looked at her catatonic friend, stared at the one who stared at nothing. "I take it he's been like this the whole time?"

"Yeah," Roy said. His voice sounded more like a sigh to Sarah than words.

Marth moved over to the bed and looked the Hero of Time in the eye. "Come on, Link. You've got to wake up. Wake up for Milady Zelda…"

"I've already tried mentioning Zelda to him, Marth. It doesn't do anything," Roy said.

Sarah bit her lip, then moved over to sit next to Roy on his bed, drawing her knees up to her chest. "I think he needs to see that Zelda is okay. I think he feels like he's killed her, and he hasn't."

"Are you suggesting we take him to the hospital wing? It doesn't look like he's seeing anything at all. Why would he see her?" Roy asked.

"I didn't say to do it now," Sarah replied. "Besides, right now she probably doesn't look very healthy. Also, what would it hurt to try? The most that happens if it doesn't work is that he stays like this a little longer."

Marth stood up and walked over to join Roy and Sarah, pulling a chair over. He sat with his head down, hair falling around his face. Sarah could tell that he was hiding from something, but didn't say anything. Whatever it was, she wouldn't bring it up around Roy.

"It's getting late. You should go to bed, Sarah," Roy said quietly.

Sarah sighed. "You're probably right. It's been a long day."

The three friends stood and moved toward the door. Marth offered to walk Sarah back to her room, an offer which Sarah accepted.

Roy turned to her before she was out the door. "I'd hug you goodnight, but I know you don't like that. I'll just wish you a good sleep, and hope you don't have nightmares. I sure as hell know I will."

Sarah smiled. "Thank you, Roy. You are honestly one of the best friends I have ever had." She nodded her head to him once and left, Marth trailing.

Sarah was about to close her bedroom door when Marth put his hand on her shoulder, holding her back. Surprised, she turned back to face him.

"Is something wrong?"

Marth swallowed. "Can I talk to you for a while, Milady? I think I need to tell you something."

Sarah looked at him for a moment. The sadness she had seen in his eyes the very first time they met was back, stronger than ever. It scared her. "Sure, you can come in."

Marth closed the door behind him.

KT – DA: Well, there's an odd place to end a chapter, but it works

Roy: huh… Marth isn't going to do something… inappropriate… with Sarah, is he?

KT – DA: Roy, you have a sick mind. No, he's not.

Link: What's going to happen?

KT – DA: well, I'm pretty sure that next chapter we'll hear about Marth's story…

Marth: /head pops around corner/ me?

KT – DA: /squeals/

Link: Please review!