KT: Welcome back everyone! Summer is over, the new school year has finally begun, and the third installment of The Smashketeers Trilogy is here!
Link: Whoa… you mean you actually came up with a name for the trilogy?
Marth: That's truly wonderful, My Lady! I'm so glad it finally has a title.
KT: Wait… you're all happy about the title? Not about the fact that I'm finally posting the story?
Roy: Oh, don't get us wrong, we're ecstatic about the story.
Link: It's just that we were getting so sick of you calling it "That SSBM Trilogy Thingie" all the time.
Roy: But about the story, who's the main character this time?
KT: Ah, well, I'm not going to tell you that. However, I will say that there are no new original characters in this one. Sarah Holly and Jasmine Miles are still the only two.
Karanos: Alright, you lot. Stop this emotional nonsense. We've got work to do. My ship is a mess since we left it alone this whole summer! Get to work cleaning up! Go, swabbies, or no swag for you!
KT: Right, and It's Marth's turn to do the stuff!
Marth: Kuroi Tenshi – Dark Angel does not own SSBM or any of its characters. She does own Sarah Holly and Jasmine Miles. She fancies she owns me.
KT: Well, here we go! The first chapter of "And We Are For the Dark"! By the way, this story picks up directly from where In Midwinter's Stillness ended, so you may want to go back and read the epilogue of that story, just so you know where this is coming from. Have fun!
"The bright day is done, and we are for the dark." – William Shakespeare
The group of friends rushed from the dining hall, following after a flustered Link. Sarah moved closer to the Hero in order to talk to him.
"Link, what's happening to her?" she asked.
Link kept his gaze fixed straight ahead of him as he walked toward the girls' dorms. "I don't know what's making her like this, but she's thrashing around in her sleep. It looks like she's having a fit."
Sarah could see the expression of fear on the Hylian's face. She was feeling pretty scared herself. Link had burst into the kitchen only moments ago, telling the group that something was wrong with Zelda. Sarah wondered if the Fates were out to get the princess of Hyrule. She had only just recovered from a terrible sword wound a few months ago, and was apparently being stricken once again.
Zelda was still twisting when they reached the room. The princess was sweating freely, and her face was distorted with an expression that seemed to change from fear to pain and then to anger, eventually moving to others that Sarah couldn't name. The worst part though, was the screaming. Zelda's head was thrown back upon her pillow, and her mouth was open, her throat working to force the sound out, except none came. The scene was completely silent, save for the rustling of the bed sheets.
Roy stepped forward and looked at Zelda closely. "She's asleep. I'd say she's having a nightmare."
"That must be some nightmare," Peach huffed from the corner. "Let's wake her up, quick."
Link and Marth moved to the bed and attempted to hold the princess down while Peach spoke to her. The fit grew frantic for a moment, then seemed to slow, and finally stopped altogether. The boys let go of her, and she lay still.
Jazz tried shaking her lightly, but Zelda didn't wake. "She's breathing regularly, though, so I think she's okay for now."
Sarah bit her lip. She'd feel better if Doctor Mario examined her friend, just to be safe. "I think we should take her down to the hospital wing. If something was really wrong with her, he can put a stop to it."
"I think that's a good idea, My Lady. We shouldn't leave things to chance," Marth said.
Link leaned against the bedpost and crossed his arms. "I don't see what that quack can do for her. If it was a nightmare, then Zelda's the one who knows the most about it. She does have prophetic dreams," he pointed out.
Sarah managed to hold back her laughter and kept a serious face. "I'm aware of her visions, but we can't be positive that this is what has happened here. I'd feel much more at ease if we had Doctor Mario look at her. Besides, he did help heal her last injury, didn't he?"
Link just scowled and turned around to pick the princess up. "You're probably right, as usual."
Zelda stayed asleep the whole way to the hospital wing, and Doctor Mario bustled over as Link laid her on one of the beds. Sarah watched as the doctor performed some tests. The poor doctor was trying his best to work under Link's steely glare, but it was clearly making him uncomfortable. Sarah got Marth's attention and gave him a look. Marth smiled back at her and stood beside his glaring friend.
"Link, I think I heard someone call your name out in the hall," the prince said quietly.
Link glanced at the door. "I didn't hear it."
Marth took hold of Link's arm. "But I did. Let's go check it out." He dragged a stuttering Link out the door, and Doctor Mario took advantage of the opening.
A few moments later, the doctor turned to the remaining group. "As far as I can tell, she's fine. I'll keep her here overnight if you want, but she's not in any danger."
Sarah sighed in relief. False alarms were always more welcome than real catastrophes.
Peach nodded to Doctor Mario. "I certainly would like her to stay. I don't care what Link says about you. At the very least, you're the only doctor we have here."
Doctor Mario smiled uneasily. "Thank you, I think."
With a last look at the sleeping Zelda, Sarah led the others out into the hallway, where Marth was waiting. The prince was holding Link in check by the back of his belt. The Hylian was facing away from Marth, pouting with arms crossed.
Sarah grinned when she saw them, and moved to stand with Marth. "Doctor Mario says there's nothing wrong with her, but we're letting her stay in the hospital wing overnight."
Marth let go of Link's belt and put his arms around Sarah, making her feel warm and happy. She saw Roy glare at Jazz, and had to pretend she was sneezing in order to hide her laughter. It was quite obvious to her what they were thinking. Roy's competitive side was getting to him, and he wanted to show his affection for the blond girl just as Marth was doing with Sarah. Jasmine was just a little shy about it.
"Well, she's okay, so that's good," Link said, ignoring the sudden sneezing fit at his side. "Do you think we can get some dinner here?"
"Oh! Yes, I started some while we were in the kitchen earlier. I just have to set it out," Sarah said.
Dinner was fairly uneventful. A few Smashers congratulated Roy on his victory against Captain Falcon earlier in the day, and Peach chatted animatedly about the racer's various reactions to Roy's attacks. Sarah amused herself by watching Jasmine become gradually angrier at Peach.
"Peach, I swear, if you do not shut up right now, I will go to the items closet, get one of those mallets, and whack you with it many times," Jazz called across the table eventually. Peach fell into a bewildered silence, and dinner continued.
Later that evening, while the Smashers were celebrating the opening day of the new Tournament, Sarah and Marth spent some quality time together in her office. What with her being so busy lately, they didn't often get the chance.
Marth pulled away from her slightly and brushed her hair off of her face. "You know, I'd almost like it better if your hair was longer. You could at least tie it back, then."
Sarah laughed and pushed away from the wall she had been leaning against. Well, she thought, leaning wasn't really the right word. She and Marth had gotten a little more excited than they'd meant to, and Marth had ended up pushing her up against it. She had to agree with the prince, however. She didn't like having to stop just because her hair was getting in the way.
"If I were to grow it out, it would take a long time, and it would get even more in the way while we wait," she said with a smile. She took the few steps over to her desk and opened the bottom left drawer. Marth groaned as she pulled out some files.
"Don't tell me you still have work to do?" he asked.
"It's not much. Just some clean-up from the battles today. Actually, this should be the last night I have anything to do like this. It's only because today is the opening day of the Tournament," Sarah said, looking at Marth over her shoulder. "You should go on up to bed. It sounds like everyone else has, anyway."
Marth shook his head. "No, I couldn't. I'll stay while you finish your work."
Sarah rolled her eyes. This was so like him. "Marth, you don't have to act so chivalrous all the time, you know. Go to bed. I'll be up in a half hour, at the latest." She made shooing motions with her hands.
Marth smiled and laughed. "Fine, I'll go, but don't even think of complaining about my leaving you here later on!" He kissed her once more and left.
Sarah sighed. She wished she hadn't sent him away, but there was no way she could get her work done with him there. She wouldn't be able to concentrate after such kisses as those. With a smile, she drew the files across the desk and began her work.
KT: Wasn't that fun?
Marth/blushes/
Roy: KT, you've got to stop giving Marth kissing scenes. It takes him hours to regain his natural color.
Link: This is not a very interesting start.
KT: Oh, be quiet you. None of my starts are very interesting. Trust me, this is the best start of the whole Trilogy.
Karanos: You bet it is. I thought it up. Now stop lollygagging and swab those decks! And you! Readers! You know what I'm going to say, don't you? That's right. Review!