KT: Well, here we are again. Not so long between chapters this time!
Link: Yeah right. Tell that to Karanos over here.
Karanos/scowls/ It should have been updated last week.
KT: Ah… I see. I'm working on the chapter eleven now, so don't you worry a bit!
Roy: Oh, we worry all the time.
Marth: Be nice to My Lady.
Karanos: Link, do the stuff. I'm in a bad mood today, so make it snappy.
Link: Sure, sure. Kuroi Tenshi – Dark Angel does not own SSBM or any of its characters. She does own Sarah Holly and Jasmine Miles, and apparently the description of Master Hand… even though he doesn't appear in this story at all…
KT: Yeah, weird, isn't it? Anyway, today is Roy's turn to answer reviewers.
Roy: Awesome!
Max Fuchs: Yeah, tell me about it. Captain Falcon is the gayest, stupidest… ah, I digress. Moving on…
Hylian Dragoness: Oh, trust me, I'll embarrass him soon enough, just as soon as I can think of something. KT flattered that you like her stories so much. Really. She's crying tears of joy over here. I'm gonna go get my snorkeling gear, just in case.
Lemurian 04: KT apologizes for the short chapters, but she also says that that's just how they turn out. She will most certainly keep on!
Azn-Gal: Thanks for the support! I hope you'll continue to root for me, the ultimate good guy/poses/
Lvmj and co.: Hey, lvmj! Great to see you again! What? Lvmj 2? Oh, hello. Nice to meet you. I'm glad you like the story. KT is happy too. Who knows? Maybe you'll get to join Karanos's minions, too!
Tymaporer: Really? Hmm… fanfiction as anti-depressant. Interesting. I'll have to try it out sometime.
Roy RULES: Um… what, break my arm? Cause that was Falcon, not KT…
Roy: That's all of them!
KT: One last thing before we start. In this chapter, I made use of the scene break, twice. I couldn't think of any other way to handle it, but I thought I'd warn you of it, since I haven't used it in this story before.
Karanos: Okay, give me the chapter. Now.
KT: Right!
In Midwinter's Stillness – Crime and Punishment
Roy grunted as he blocked the blow clumsily with his right arm. The newly healed bone throbbed with dull pain, and the redhead had to work hard to ignore it. He sent his left hand flying to attack, trying to make up for his weak right arm. His hand was caught, and before he could do anything about it, a shoulder was rammed into his chest. He was forced to stagger out of the make-shift fighting ring.
"What are you doing? I thought I told you not to use your left hand to attack!" Jazz yelled, planting her fists on her hips.
Roy wiped the sweat out of his eyes and sat down. He was tired.
Jazz stepped over to him and leaned against the wall. "I know we worked hard to make your left arm strong while the cast was still on, but I never intended to make it your dominant one." She sighed and stared out one of the dusty windows on the other side of the room. "Now you'll have to stop relying on your left to do all the work. A two handed fighter is much more powerful that one who can only use one of his hands. That's what my brothers told me, anyway."
Roy stared silently at the ring of dust-covered furniture that defined their fighting ring. They were in one of the many unused rooms in the mansion, which was both good an bad. Good because it meant less chance for distractions, but bad because the thick layer of dust that coated everything was stirred up as they sparred, making it difficult to breathe. Jazz, however, insisted that this was just another good thing, as it would make him that much better in a location where the air was cleaner. Roy insisted that she was mad.
Jazz had told him on their first day of training about her brothers teaching her to fight. Jazz said she was the only girl in a family of eight children. Roy didn't believe her at first, but he changed his mind once she started teaching him to fight. He found that she quoted her brothers often.
Roy wanted to beat Captain Falcon in a fight. He wanted it so badly that the first thing he did after the racer had told the Smashers about his fear of water was to find her and demand that she give him a lesson right then. Of course, she put him in his place and told him that she would find him later that day. Roy had left, nursing a bruised shoulder that would serve to remind him never to interrupt her when she was working again.
Roy sighed and leaned against the china cabinet behind him. He wanted to beat Falcon so bad that he was almost forefront in his thoughts. Almost was the key word there. He'd been having these lessons for two weeks now, which was just long enough for him to know that he was head over heels in love with Jasmine. The girl did something to him every time she was near. Roy didn't understand it, but he found he liked it anyway. He had a nasty feeling that when he fought Falcon next time, he'd be fighting for his honor, his dignity, and his right to be with Jasmine.
"Hey," the girl's voice broke through his musings. "Stop day-dreaming, Roy-Boy. I thought you wanted to get better at hand-to-hand. Was I mistaken?"
Roy smirked and pushed himself up from the floor. "Oh no, not mistaken. I thought I heard you say you wanted to teach me. Was I mistaken?"
Jazz growled and lunged at him playfully. Roy blocked her with one arm and pushed her lightly away.
"Stop using your left arm!" she screeched at him.
"Ah! Okay, okay! Sorry." Roy winced at Jasmine's loud yell. "You've really got to stop shouting at me, Jasmine."
Jazz stood back and flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Why do you always call me that?"
Roy blinked. "Huh?"
"Why do you keep calling me Jasmine?"
"I… well, I…" Roy felt heat rise to his face. He wasn't about to tell her that he used 'Jasmine' because he thought it was prettier. She might figure out how he felt about her, and he didn't think he was quite ready for her to know.
Jazz rolled her eyes. "I bet you're just trying to get me to stop calling you Roy-Boy, aren't you?" She laughed.
Roy sighed lightly, relieved. He pushed his bangs off his forehead in an attempt to hide the blush that still colored his face. In reality, he was starting to like it when she called him that.
Jasmine was shaking with laughter. "You're really funny, Roy-Boy. Come on, let's fight again."
They fought again. Roy used his left arm again. Jazz yelled again. They laughed again. Roy thought it was the most fun he'd had in his entire life. And then it happened.
"You're getting good, but still nowhere near Falcon." Jazz said with a smirk.
Roy felt as though he'd just been punched in the stomach. He took a step backward. "Wh-what?"
Jazz raised an eyebrow. "I said you're nowhere near Falcon's level. I mean, he can do that chop move we've been working on with so much power, even if it is lacking in grace."
The swordsman turned away angrily, fists clenching. "And you suddenly felt the need to rub my nose in it?"
Jazz said nothing.
Roy turned to face her again, shaking. "I hate being compared to Falcon! I hate him! The only thing I want to do with him is beat him!" he yelled.
Jazz stared at him. "Well, if my commenting on your progress is going to make you act like a child, then I'll do something more useful with my time. I don't have to help you out anymore."
"Now wait just a minute! I never said anything about-"
"You don't have to get angry with me about your inability to fight Falcon! You're insecurities are getting on my nerves!"
"Maybe I wouldn't have my insecurities if it wasn't for you!" Roy was yelling.
"What are you talking about?" Jasmine was yelling, too. Neither of them seemed to notice it.
Roy fished for an answer. "Because… you… you… you don't understand how I feel!"
"Nuts to how you feel! What about how I feel, training a whiney brat like you? What about this!" Quick as lightning, Jazz grabbed a piece of china from the cabinet next to her and hurled it across the room at Roy. The redhead jumped to the right, shielding himself from the flying shards with his arms. Straightening, he glared at Jasmine.
"What the hell was that for?"
Jazz, however, was staring at the door, a look of fear on her face. Roy took a deep breath and looked as well.
Sarah was standing in the doorway.
A cluster of curious, alarmed-looking corporate officials stood behind her, peering into the room. Roy would later swear that he heard his conscience whisper "oops" right at that moment.
Sarah took a step into the room, white with fury. "What is going on in here?"
Roy and Jazz looked at each other, expressions of fear and anger mirrored in their eyes. Jazz turned back to Sarah.
"It's his fault, he started it," she said, pointing at Roy.
Roy's jaw dropped. "My fault? I didn't do anything! You're the one who said-"
"Oh, so now you're trying to pin the blame on me?"
"Who just threw a plate at my head? Oh yeah, that was you!"
"That is enough!" Sarah yelled, emphasizing every word. Roy and Jazz stopped shouting. "I want to see you both in my office in ten minutes. Be late, and I'll take more than your heads to put on the mantelpiece."
She turned back to the group waiting behind her, apologized, and asked then to wait for her in the entrance hall. She looked over her shoulder at Roy and Jazz.
"In case you hadn't figured it out for yourselves, I am not happy in the least bit." With that, she left.
Roy looked at Jasmine and was surprised. It looked to him like she was trying very hard to keep from crying.
"Look what you've done," she said, trembling slightly. "You'll make me lose my job. She's going to fire me."
Before Roy could say anything, she had rushed from the room. He felt like he had just made a very big mistake.
O0O
Ten minutes later, Roy sat in Sarah's office. Jazz sat in a chair to his left, biting her thumbnail nervously. Sarah stood before them, anger radiating off of her.
Sarah placed her hands on her desk and leaned toward them, looking like she might leap at their throats at any moment. "Do you realize that you just put on that little demonstration for our corporate sponsors?"
Jazz gasped. "Sarah, I'm so-"
"Damn in, you two!" Sarah interrupted, making them jump. "I'm supposed to be showing these guys how in control of things I am around here! I wonder what they think of my leadership skills now?"
Roy felt like he had something stuck in his throat. He couldn't swallow.
Sarah sighed. "Why must you two fight all the time? All you do is tease each other a little, but for some reason it sparks a big to-do."
Jasmine made a noise that sounded like a whimper. "Are you going to fire me?" she whispered.
"What? Fire you? No, I'm not going to fire you over a fight." Sarah sat down. "I'm just going to come up with a punishment for both of you."
A whole minute passed before anyone spoke again. Roy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Um, Sarah?"
Sarah looked up and sighed again. "Yes, I know. I was thinking. Jazz?"
Jasmine looked up. "Yes?"
"You're going to do some chores without pay. First thing, I want you to go clean up that room you were fighting in. Make sure you sweep up all the china shards."
Jasmine nodded and walked to the door. "Thank you, Sarah. I'm sorry for my behavior." She left.
Sarah turned to Roy. "Roy, what am I going to do with you? You're one of my best friends, one of my first friends here at Smash Mansion. I don't like having to order you around."
Roy looked away. "I'm sorry, too. I guess… I guess I really let you down."
Sarah shook her head. "No, don't worry about it. I'm not mad at you or Jazz, I just really wish that you could get along better. What is it that you hate so much about her, Roy?"
Roy hunched his shoulders. "I… I don't hate her. I couldn't hate her. She's just… so… I don't know what," he said sheepishly. "When she's around me, I feel like I have to get a reaction out of her, but I think I pushed it too far this time."
Sarah smiled. "You know, I don't think you have to provoke her to get her to notice you."
Roy started. "Wh-what?"
"Roy, it's so obvious that you're jealous! Before Jazz came, you never had any trouble with Falcon. Now-"
"I'm not jealous of Falcon!" Roy shouted. Sarah burst into laughter.
"Oh Roy, don't you see it? Oh, all right, I'll leave it alone for now. I can tell you know it already anyway."
The phone rang. Sarah reached for it. "Stay here, Roy. I'll get back to you in a moment."
Roy sunk back in his chair and sighed. Was he really that obvious? The possibility bothered him. What if someone else found out? What if Jasmine found out? What if Falcon found out? No, he ruled out that possibility as soon as he thought it. Falcon was too stupid to figure it out unless it slapped him in the face, and maybe not even then. Roy ran his fingers through his hair and let it fall back into place. He felt really bad about the fight he and Jasmine had just had. He really began to wish he had not returned that necklace he'd meant to give to her for Christmas, which was now only two days away.
"This is bad," Sarah said as she hung up the phone. Roy looked up at her curiously.
"We're running low on food, so Cook and I were going to go out shopping later today; unfortunately, a blizzard is coming on, real fast. Nobody will be able to go out. The sponsors will have to stay here until it blows over, too. They won't be happy about that. What's more, I have to track down all the Smashers and tell them not to go out. I just don't have the time to do it." Sarah looked like she was going to cry.
"I'll do it," Roy said, feeling useful all of a sudden. "I mean, I'll find the Smashers. You can tell the sponsors and then do whatever else you need to do."
Sarah looked up at smiled at him. "Thanks, Roy. You really are a good friend, even if you do cause me trouble sometimes." She walked out the door and Roy followed. "Think about what I said, Roy. About Jazz. Just be yourself."
Roy felt himself blushing as she walked away. He pushed his thoughts of Jasmine to the side and began his search for the Smashers.
O0O
Roy let himself fall into an armchair by a window in the common room, exhausted. He'd found all the Smashers after two hours of searching and told them of the coming snowstorm. He'd gotten varying responses from them, all the way from smiles to growls, with a few shrugs in the middle. At least he'd gotten everyone to promise not to go out. He was just happy that Captain Falcon hadn't been alone when he'd found him.
He was disturbed that he hadn't been able to find Jasmine anywhere. In fact, most of his two hour search had been looking for her. The room they'd fought in had been clean when he checked it, but she wasn't there anymore. He'd really hoped to find her and apologize. He had thought about what Sarah said, and he realized that he really didn't want to fight with Jasmine so often and so fiercely. He just loved her too much to keep letting his temper get the better of him.
Roy rested his head against the back of his chair and stared out the window. It had already begun to snow, the grey clouds appearing heavy with it. Everywhere he looked, Roy saw white.
Suddenly, there was a darker movement outside the window. Roy managed to make out the silhouette of a person walking through the falling snowflakes. For a moment, Roy was angry. Hadn't he just finished telling everyone to stay inside? Hadn't he told them it was dangerous? He stood and moved closer to the window for a better look.
Whoever it was didn't even have a coat on. A blast of wind blew a length of hair out behind the figure, betraying her to be a girl. One of the princesses? Certainly not Zelda. Link would kill her if she went out like that. Peach? No, she hated the cold. At the very least, she would have bundled up. Then who…?
Roy blanched.
Jasmine.
It was Jasmine out there, out in the blizzard, out in the cold without a coat. Roy left the common room in a flash and practically flew down the hallways. He skidded to a stop in the entrance hall and yanked open the main door. His heart pounding with adrenaline, he leapt out into the snowstorm.
Roy: What? I'm running out into the cold too?
KT: Yup!
Link/snorts/ You're stupid, Roy.
Marth: I hate to say it, but… you really are.
Karanos: This is a stupid idea! Who thought it up?
KT: Um… you did.
Karanos: What? Me? … This idea is GRAND! Splendid literary movement/continues ranting/
Roy: Please review!