Crazyfreak: I see what you mean, hehe.

Mullenium Master: Aw, thanks I really needed that. :)

Ashley-the-b-daplayer: I'm really glad that you love the story thanks!

RoyalFanatic: Busted…hmm…what will Zelda think? Cliffhangers are evil! I don't like them. Here's the update!

Royal Kenya: I will agree Roy is a jerk, but we can't hate him forever, can we? I'm glad you love the story thanks so much.

Thank you all of my reviewers! On with the chapter!

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Link sat in the corner of Master Hand's office, leaning back in the chair as his boots rested on top of the table. His arms were crossed, as he continued to study Marth, on the other side of the room. It had been an hour, and they had another hour left.

"As a punishment, I want both of you to sit in my office for two hours in detention." Master Hand's voice reappeared in his mind, " You may not leave for anything and if you start another argument, then you both will immediately be thrown out of the tournament!"

There was nothing they could do, except listen.

How was Link supposed to last another hour with Marth rudely staring back in his direction? They were allowed to talk, but Link knew he wouldn't be able to start conversation with the blue haired prince. Even though the other smashers may think otherwise, this certainly had to be torture. Link didn't want to get kicked out of the tournament. The dance was in two days. And most importantly, he had completely missed his time with Zelda tonight.

Link briefly turned his attention to the clock. 8:30. He was supposed to meet Zelda an hour ago. How could he have let this happened? Zelda would probably never forgive him. But what could he do at the moment? Being in detention, doesn't help. All he could do was wait.

Link turned his attention back to Marth, sitting over at the table on the other side of the room. He sat with one elbow on the table, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. With his free hand, he continued to create imaginary circles with his index finger, seeming jaded and unoccupied.

Though he seemed distant, Link knew that prince was thinking about him. Calling him names and probably cussing him out in his mind, since they can't start something. Although, Marth seemed like he could care less about Link. He was just finding something interesting to do to let the time go by.

Link looked down at the ground, thinking to himself that maybe he was the one who had started all of the arguments. He was so angry with Marth, because he truly felt that he was losing the battle. He was only person who didn't appreciate Marth, even Fox and Young Link liked him as a friend. He forced himself to hate the prince, all because he figured out Marth had like Zelda.

Maybe it wasn't too late to forget about the past. Maybe Link still has a chance to destroy the enemy relationship and have them become…acquaintances.

Link took a deep breath, and lowered his feet to the ground. He sat upright in the chair, causing Marth to turn his attention over to the Hylian. Link closed his eyes and looked away from the prince, turning his attention to the door.

"…I'm sorry…"

Marth's mouth slowly hung open in surprise as he sat up in his seat. Did Link just apologize to him? " You're what?"

" I'm sorry," Link apologized louder, turning his attention back at Marth. " It was all my fault, about the arguments and everything."

Marth shook his head. " You can't put the blame all on yourself. I mean…I had all of those chances to walk away."

" Yea, but I was taking everything too seriously, because I was afraid I losing the battle."

Marth chuckled. " This isn't a competition, and if I made it seem that way, I'm sorry. I just wanted to go to the dance with Zelda, I wasn't trying to take her away from you."

" That's the problem," Link explained. "We're not together but I sometimes wish we were."

" I understand how you feel Link, and if you want I can tell Zelda to just go with you."

" No!" Link shouted. " Don't do it. Just let her pick. I want it to be fair. And if she picks you, then you're very lucky."

Marth smiled. Link couldn't believe that he had actually refused the offer Marth had given him. He wanted to go with Zelda to the dance, but wanted everything to be fair. And fair is what's it's going to be.

The rest of the hour sat in silence, but Link couldn't help but wonder, if a friendship between Marth will ever occur. He didn't hate Marth and he didn't want to be friends with him either, but he was happy to say; that they had actually agreed with each other, for the very first time.

Zelda burst back into her room, weary and frustrated. Once again, she had been tricked and left alone, waiting for two hours. She searched everywhere for Link, but the Hylian was never found. This was the second time she sat waiting, for over two hours. First it was Marth, and now her own close friend, Link, had abandoned her. Was it her? Or were they planning to do this? She didn't care anymore. She almost came close to making up her mind, that she wasn't going to the dance at all.

Zelda took her earrings out and removed her make-up. It was 10:00, another night wasted. She really was looking forward to her time with Link. Marth at least had looked for her to say sorry. He explained his reasons. He was such a gentlemen to her. She really appreciated him; she enjoyed his company.

Zelda collapsed on her bed, wanting desperately to cry. She took a deep breath, and looked at the nightstand next to her bed. There sat Marth's letter, neatly folded up. She never threw it away. She didn't know why either, something about the letter caused her to keep it.

She turned away from the nightstand, and grabbed her pillow comforting it. She wanted to sleep, but knew she wouldn't be able too. Not until she figured out what happened to Link, she won't be able to sleep a wink. He would never throw a chance away to spend time with her. Something must have happened.

The door opened, and Samus hurried into the room. Zelda sat up, when Samus walked over to her, and took a seat next to her friend.

" I was looking all over for you," Samus explained. " What happened?"

" I was a fool…" Zelda lowered her head.

" What?"

" Link never showed up, he left me just like Marth had done in the past."

" About them…" Samus started off steadily. " Um…Peach had told me a few things."

Zelda's eyes widened. " What?"

" It seems that Link and Marth were caught starting a brawl, over in the tournament building."

" Another one?"

" Yes. Master Hand had caught them and took them to his office. Nothing serious had happened, they were only put in detention I think for two hours. He had put them in the same room and if they tried to start another argument he would throw them out of the tournament."

Zelda's eyes widened as she gasped covering her mouth. " Are you serious? Did they get in trouble again?"

Samus shook her head, " No, I don't think so. I think he let them off the hook."

" That explains why Link never showed up," Zelda spoke softly, mainly implying to herself.

She was happy to find out that Link didn't forget about her. Although, because of their rivalry, they almost had gotten kicked out of the tournament. When will it ever end?

" It seems they were tracking down Ness," Samus informed. " They wanted to make sure that he wasn't going to ask you."

" That's what started it then," Zelda added. " They both ended up confronting him at the same time." She sighed shaking her head. " They will never put this behind them."

" Not until you make a decision."

" I did…" Zelda replied quickly.

" You came to a decision on who you want to go to the dance with?" Samus asked with much surprise.

Zelda smiled and nodded. She felt confident in her decision. " Yes, I just have to tell him."

" Well, now would probably be a good time."

Zelda agreed and stood to her feet. " Yes…I need to find him."

Roy sat on the leather couch in the lounge, listening to the Ice Climbers and Kirby talking at a table near him. He forced himself not to listen to their conversation, since the last thing he overheard ended up being wrong. How many people hate him now because of that? He was afraid to count. He had messed everything up.

Roy rubbed his hand through his red hair and laid down resting his feet up on the couch. His cape slowly hung off the side of the couch as he looked up at the ceiling. He tried apologizing to Marth and Link, but both of them ignored him. They both were angry with him and he was afraid to try and make it up them. He would probably screw that up as well.

" I'm such a damn jerk," Roy said to himself.

He covered his face with his arm, just letting the talking of Kirby take him in. He licked his lips, not paying much attention to whoever walked into the lounge. The conversation between the Ice Climbers and Kirby seemed to die off, but Roy didn't care to see why. Once they began to talk again, Roy heard slight footsteps head in his directions. High Heels were clicking on the wooden floor.

" Roy…you okay?" He heard a kind voice ask him.

When he felt a hand rest on his shoulder, Roy removed his arm seeing Peach hovering over him. He sighed, and sat up to give her room to sit. Peach gladly took a seat next to him, and leaned back getting relaxed on the couch. Roy crossed his arms, refusing to look at the princess.

" You disappeared ever since you and Falco figured out the truth. You okay?" Peach repeated, turning to the young prince.

" Everyone is mad at me now," Roy snapped.

" No they're not," Peach encouraged. " No one is mad at you."

" Yea, you surely were."

Peach frowned looking down at her hands. " I guess I did kind of go overboard, but I'm sorry Roy. You didn't know; you just went ahead of yourself. It was a small mistake."

" A small mistake that almost cost two smashers out of the tournament." Roy switched sides, turning so that he was facing Peach. " I mean, I went and apologized to them 1000 times. They wouldn't listen to me. Not even Marth."

Peach raised an eyebrow; a little surprised Marth wouldn't even forgive his friend. " It doesn't even seem like Marth would act that way. I mean you guys are best friends."

Roy sighed, " I know, but ever since this thing with Zelda, he hasn't been himself."

Peach looked at the ground in disappointment. " He really likes her."

" Yeah, tell me about it."

" How about I talk to him for you?" Peach suggested.

Roy shook his head, " I don't want to bring you into this."

" No, I want to help. I'll find some way to get Marth to listen." Peach stood about to head to the door. " I'll go look for him right now."

" Wait! Peach!" Roy held out his hand, but Peach was already at the door. Roy lowered his hand, and sighed. What was she trying to do? It would make him look bad if Peach tried to convince Marth to forgive him. It would make Roy look like a coward, like he can't even stand up to his friend.

" Aw, whatever." Roy waved her off, and laid back down on the couch. " Sometimes I think Peach might actually like Marth." He paused for a moment and chuckled shaking his head. " Yeah right, there's another rumor right there."

Roy turned his head to the door, where Peach had left. He thought about it for a bit…it could be a rumor, but there was a good chance, that it was truth as well.

" Hey Link!" Fox slowly entered the Hylian's dorm.

Link lifted his head from the bed, as the young fox entered the room. Link sighed deeply, laying his head back down on the pillow. The room was quiet, as Fox made his way over toward Link. He took a seat on Young Link's bed, looking down at the weary Hylian.

" You look exhausted."

" I am," Link replied, wiping his eyes. " I was stuck in Master Hand's office with Marth for two hours."

" Yea, everyone knows. Seems like rumors had spread quickly."

" What's worse, I was supposed to spend time with Zelda, tonight, and now I blew it."

" It wasn't your fault Link," Fox explained. " I mean, technically…you didn't know what was going to happen."

Link sighed, thinking otherwise. It was his fault this had happened. He could have walked away from Marth, when he had the chance. He started the argument; it was his fault for almost starting a brutal fight. Then again, it was Marth's fault as well. They both had gotten caught; they suffered the consequences, which weren't as bad as they thought.

" How did you both do?" Fox questioned.

Link shrugged, " We didn't argue anymore and came to an agreement."

Fox's eyes widened. " Really? So you guys are friends?"

Link shook his head. " I didn't say that. Well, I don't really think we'll ever be friends, but I do believe that we will finally get off of each other's back."

" So the Zelda thing has finally come to an end?" Fox crossed his arms.

Link abruptly sat up, and swung his brown boots to the floor. He took a deep breath, resting his arms on his knees. Was it fully over? He didn't know the answer to that. It wouldn't be over until after the dance. There was still a little competition until Zelda comes to her decision.

" Not really…" Link looked up at Fox and grinned.

" So what are you going to do now?"

Link bit his lip, thinking about it for a moment. Truthfully there was nothing left for him to do. He wasn't going to pressure Zelda anymore, and just put everything behind him. He was going to wait and let her make her decision. Even if he weren't picked, they still would be friends.

" I'll just wait for her to make up her decision, but right now…" He stood stretching his arms in the air. After getting a good stretch, his arms fell to his side, and he smiled. " I need to find her to apologize."

A/N:

I guess you didn't really figure out what Peach's decision was, sorry about that. You certainly will in the next chapter, which shouldn't take long since it's not going to be long at all. And just a quick note, I don't want you all to think that Marth and Link are falling for each other because of the part with in Master Hand's office. There is no male/male in this story what so ever. Some ppl think that way so I was just pointing it out. Other than that, I have nothing left to say.

Until Next time!