5th chapter: The Test

So much happened last chapter and I gave you a cliffhanger. But, I won't start off where I left off. I will start off… someplace else…

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The room was very dark. The man inside didn't like putting on the lights in his office; he preferred the dark as much as his pokemon, Persian. He was a tall man, full of greed and power. Most of his attempts at controlling the world were futile. It was on account because of his main team. They were foolish and incompetent. They all wasted their time trying to capture a stupid little mouse named Pikachu. It was highly annoying but if they did manage to capture it, that small pokemon could give them a lot of power.

A knock sounded from the outside. "Who is it?" He said in a cold, gruff voice.

"James, sir at your service." A man from the outside said. A kick was heard from the outside, followed by a cat scream. James squealed and added, "Jessie and Meowth as well, sir.

The man groaned and rubbed his temples; he didn't want to see them right now. Then he reconsidered and said, "Fine, enter. But it'd better not be bad news."

They entered. James had bluish hair that went to his chin. He had soft, blue-gray eyes, and wore a thick velvet hooded cloak that obscured his body. He wore leather black gloves and rubber boots.

The woman would be beautiful, were it not the mad, power-hungry gleam in her hard emerald eyes. She had long bright red hair, and pink lips. She too, wore a black hooded cloak. She wore fingerless rubber gloves that went to her arms and high-heeled boots that went to her knees.

A small figure was in between them. He was inhuman. In fact he was a pokemon. He had white fur and gleaming silver claws. His cat eyes were abnormally big and eerie. Fangs protruded from his upper lip. At the tip of his curled tail was a brown tip. And his feet were brown tips as well. Whiskers protruded from his face at somewhat odd angles. What was really strange though, was the gleaming nugget that was stuck on his face. People called his species Meowth. And all Meowths had golden nuggets at the top of their heads. What set him apart from other Meowths and all other pokemon was that, unlike them, he could speak English.

"James blew the whole plan, Gio." He spoke to the tall man. The tall man's name was actually Giovanni but Meowth called him Gio. If a human had dared called him that in front of him they would never be the same again, physically and emotionally. But Giovanni had a soft spot for cats.

Giovanni narrowed his eyes in disgust at James who cowered in fright. "It wasn't my fault, boss! That girl knows how to fight! And then I almost had her when this one guy saved-"

"SILENCE!" Roared Giovanni. He slammed his fists on his the table so hard, the whole room seemed the shiver. James let out a tiny little "meep" and fell silent, as he slipped behind Jessie.

"I thought that you, out of all people would actually fulfill this job! But I see that a stupid, cowering slime ball cannot even take a simple piece of that map."

"If it's so easy," Said Jessie, before she could even think. She was so sick and tired of working for Giovanni, "Then how come you couldn't do it. Huh, Gio?"

She covered her mouth like she'd let out the most awful, swearword in front of her parents. "Forgive me Gio, I mean boss."

He stared at her. Then he relaxed. He put his feet on his desk and leaned backward, putting his arms behind his neck. "Perhaps I could. But then again, that's why I have you. I want that map piece from that girl! Meowth, you said that you saw a cloaked figure give it to a blonde-headed girl right?

"Right, Gio."

"Then, this time, get it from her." He added in a dangerous voice, "And this time, don't fail.

§¤§¤۞¤§¤§

Zelda's POV

"Malon… dead?" Peach, went an even starker white.

"Yes!" Snapped Saria, who had the blanket pulled up to her chin. She was very red in the face; Malon and she were best friends. "Don't say it again." A tear rolled down her cheek and onto the blanket.

Samus sat at the edge of the bed. She was looking out the window, muttering softly to herself.

"What is it?" I asked, walking up to her.

"Nothing." She quickly said. I frowned at her.

Peach ran a hand over her face, looking around. She seemed to have lost the desire in doing anything.

So many things had happened in just one day. Saria and Link seemed so long ago, and so unimportant now. First Peach almost getting raped, then Malon. To top it off, Samus was being so quiet and acting weird. I had nobody to confide into. Link was gone from my life. Peach had far worse problems. Saria was currently my enemy. Samus seemed to be the only one I could tell all my worries to, but she was really quiet.

An uncomfortable silence drifted across the room. Peach managed to get on the bed. She smelled like cologne. "You might want to shower." I told her. She just gave me a blank stare. Then she got up, as if in a trance and went into the bathroom.

I stared at the note that was on the table. It read:

Dear Inhabitants of this room,

We regret to inform you that we had a big accident in the ride called, "The Tornado." Around 15 people died on the ride and 15 more severely injured. One of the dead was one of your room mates. Malon was one of the unlucky. If you wish to take part of the funeral, it will take place once everyone manages to complete "The Test." Once again, we regret to be the heavy burden of the news.

Master Hand

Crazy Hand

I practically memorized it. I felt so suffocated. I had never, ever lost anyone I knew personally. I began twisting the paper until it started to rip. I kept ripping up the paper slowly. Malon was one of the unlucky…And I saw Malon in many images. Malon comforting Saria because of something. Malon laughing at something stupid. Malon studying for a hard test. Malon crying. Malon sticking up for one of her friends. Malon.

I couldn't take it anymore. I sobbed into the pillow. I barely even saw Samus slipping outside to the balcony.

§¤§¤۞¤§¤§

Samus's POV

"How much more will suffer?" I asked myself softly, staring at the night sky.

"More than you think." Somebody said behind me.

Very slowly, I turned around and saw my masked man. I scrutinized him. It didn't make sense anymore. I didn't care about anything. I wish I never responded to the stupid invite. What if it were me next? I turned again, but he caught my arm.

"Listen, I heard about what happened. I'm sor-"

"NO!" I shouted at him. "No." I whispered now. "You don't understand how it feels to lose somebody. Somebody you spent a night with. Somebody you knew. I never knew how it felt either. I thought we could all live happily ever after." I looked at him squarely. "I was wrong." I choked out the last words. "I was wrong." I repeated." I jerked my arm away from him and turned to the rails, leaning against them.

"I knew Malon too." He told me. He was leaning against the rails too. "Malon would want you to mourn for her, but she wouldn't want you to give your life up just because she's gone. She'd want you to continue life."

That was true.

"Who are you?" I asked him.

This time his voice was lowered. "In time, you will be told."

"What if you're next?" I asked.

"I won't be." This time his voice was steely.

Another thought struck me. "How do I know you aren't looking for Peach?"

He looked startled at the prospect. "I would never, ever do anything like that to anybody, much less than to Peach."

"You know she almost got raped. How do I know it isn't you?"

"Just trust me."

"Why can't I know who you are?"

"Because…"

I looked at him. "Why?"

He seemed suffocated and trapped. He seemed hesitant. "Because… because I love you. And I'm too shy to reveal myself."

I was shocked. "You don't even know me that well."

"But I do."

"You've been stalking me?"

"No! I've seen you by your lockers, I see you with your friends. You don't know how much I just want to… to just say those words. But I've never even told my best friends who I like." He laughed bitterly. "What makes you think I'd tell you?"

I reached out to uncover his hood. I had to know. But he caught my arm swiftly and pulled it downward, as gently as he could. Then he leapt onto the rails. His eyes shone out from his hood. I couldn't tell what color they were. Then he closed his eyes, and darkness swallowed him up.

¤§¤۞¤§¤

Marth's POV

I opened my eyes, and blinked. It had been a long night. Thankfully, none of my roommates died. I put a hand on my hilt of my sword that hung from my hip. I shook my head, making my hair look casually messy. Once done with the bathroom and dressing up I went downstairs into the breakfast room. I saw Peach, Zelda and Samus all talking. Daringly, I walked up to them and asked, "Mind if I sit here?"

Peach and Samus looked up at me. "No." said Zelda.

"You can sit here, if you'd like." Samus reassured me. I looked at them, and then sat down. I sighed, rubbing my eyes.

"Had a long night?" Peach asked.

"You bet." I said without looking up at her.

I grabbed some already buttered toast and started chewing slowly. I looked at Samus and asked, "Where's Saria?"

Samus gave me a dirty look and nodded at Zelda's direction. I got the point. "Oh never mind, I remember." I said quietly.

Samus leaned toward me and whispered in my ear so softly that I could barely hear, "Link's comforting her. Nonverbally would be our guesses."

I frowned. Link would never ever do that. What was more; these girls had no clue what Link was going through. Did they even know that he didn't like Saria as a girlfriend? But Link didn't want me to tell anybody why he was spending so much time with Saria. So I wouldn't.

"Link, would never do that." I told her.

"How do you know?" Samus asked.

"Because he's my best mate, and I know that he isn't what you think. I know him better than you do."

At that moment the doors swung open and Roy strode in, with Pikachu at his heels. Peach watched them, her eyes determinedly on Pikachu.

"Hey." Roy sat down and Pikachu leaped on his lap.

Peach scowled and abruptly got up from the table. "Well, nice chatting, but I've got to go. Nice to see you out of the hospital, Pikachu. Jigglypuff and Pichu were looking for you." She paused to scratch the pokemon behind the ears, and then glided out serenely as possible.

"What was that all about?" Roy asked, trying to look bewildered.

"As if you don't know, Roy!" Zelda exclaimed, looking at him.

"What?" He asked. "What did I do?"

She sighed as though it was so obvious. "Do you really want to know?"

"Yeah."

"The first time Peach ever saw you she had the biggest crush ever on you. She remembered the first time you talked to her. She had the biggest crush on you before the other girls started adoring you." Zelda told him.

"And then when yesterday happened, you began to be so rude to her. You made her cry, and at the hospital you made her feel like the biggest jerk. You broke her heart. Now she hates you for that. She hates you because you never gave her one thought. You thought she was just some other girl who liked you just because you were popular. No, Roy, she liked you for who you were. But she was wrong when you talked to her yesterday." Samus told him.

Roy snorted. "It's my decision who I like or not. I don't like Peach."

"Roy." I said sternly. "I know when you lie or not."

"Dude, I don't like that girl." He faced him squarely in the eye. I gave him an intense stare but said nothing. I crossed my arms defiantly as Roy sipped his orange juice in what he clearly thought was a dignified silence.

Worrying that Peach might be in trouble again, I decided to go outside again and look for her. "Well, I'm going out, so Peach doesn't go looking for trouble. Or trouble doesn't find her."

Peach's POV

I hated that stupid swordsman. I hated everything about him. So then why did I have this crazy urge to go back in and talk to him like a girlfriend would? I wandered around, looking for things that aroused my interest. I was about to go on a ride, but decided against it; Malon was one of the many things in my mind. A shadow crossed me. I stiffened, but stifled it, hoping my stalker didn't notice it. I wandered into another dank alleyway, hoping he would follow. This time, I was prepared. This time, I would think clearly. And this time, he would regret that he ever came to me.

I reached the end of the alley. I stood there, fidgeting with my turquoise ring. I waited for three seconds and whirled around, slapping the caped person with my hand as hard as I could. He was caught completely off guard.

I grabbed him by the neck of his cape and lifted him up jerkily, bringing him face to face with me. "Why are you stalking me?" I growled. "Tell me!"

I could see his bluish-gray eyes from the slits of his hood. To my satisfaction, they held fear. "Y-your map piece." He half stammered, half gasped.

It was my turn to be off-guard. "My map piece?" I asked as the hostility in my voice dropped. I looked him in the eye.

"Yeah. You got it from that stranger. That cloaked stranger on the balcony. Meo- I mean my friend told me. My boss needs it." He said.

"Who's your friend?" I said, the hostility returning back. "Tell me!" I shook him by his neck of his cloak violently.

"I won't tell you."

"Who's your boss then?"

"I won't tell you."

"Then I'll find out myself." I said, yanking off his mask/hood. I blinked at his face, and then pushed him away. "James!" I yelped the word out. But it had fit. The bluish hair. The gray-blue eyes. Pikachu's enemy. And Giovanni must've sent him. And his "friend" must have been Meowth.

"Where's Jessie?" I asked the teen who was sprawled on the floor.

"Not here." He mumbled at the mention of his girlfriend's name.

"And what is this map piece you were talking about?" I asked. That question was still nagging me.

He sighed. "Meowth saw a blonde from your room out on the balcony at night. A masked stranger gave her a map piece and disappeared. We know that you're a blonde."

I thought about it. The only person who went on the balcony at night was Samus. "Well, just to tell you, out of us five girls there are three blondes. So sorry, but it isn't me. And Meowth was mistaken about the room. Nobody has been on the balcony at night."

I kicked him as hard as I could in the shins making him wince as I went out. "That's for raping me."

I jogged to back to the hotel, to demand an explanation from Samus. I met up with Marth. "What happened to you?" He demanded, when he saw me sweating and a little ruffled.

"Explain… later." I panted. "Where's… Samus?" I asked.

"In the lobby, eating breakfast." He looked at me strangely. "Has your… rapist been at it again?"

"Later. If you want to know the whole story, come with me."

He asked no more questions but lead me to the lobby, where Samus, Zelda, Roy, Pikachu, and Link were sitting.

"Is something wrong?" Samus asked me, looking worried. "Did, it happen again?"

"Sort of." I sat down heavily and chugged down the whole glass of orange juice. Everyone was looking at me, concerned, including I noticed, Roy. I briefly explained what happened.

"Samus," I addressed her, ignoring all the questions bombarding me. Pikachu was looking relieved that I had gotten my revenge and knew who my stalker was. "You were the only one on our balcony. You have to tell me who that cloaked person was and what map piece James was talking about. Now." I added, as her eyes darted from side to side and she licked her lips nervously.

"All right." She sighed. "The first night I saw somebody looking at me through the window. So I went outside. I saw a cloaked person and I asked him why he was on our balcony. He said that he needed to give me this. He gave me this map piece and said that it would help me in the future for "The Test." I didn't know what he meant by that. Then when Malon died, I went out again. He gave me some vague clues to who he was. He said he knew Malon. Sort of. He also said he knows me so well he," She stopped and blushed, looking down at her hands.

"What?" I demanded.

"That he knew me so well he loved me. And he said with so much passion that I believe him. And I trust him." She added.

The others at the table looked shocked at each other. Zelda avoided Link's eyes as he tried catching them. Roy looked all around the table. Pikachu's cheeks were glowing; a form of shock. Marth was grinning, like it was some kind of joke that she was making up. My eyes were transfixed on hers, waiting to hear more.

"Then?" I whispered.

"I tried finding out who he was, by pulling off his mask, but he stopped me from doing it. Then he left."

"I don't like the sound of this." I frowned at Samus. "What if it's somebody trying to harm you?"

Marth opened his mouth to add something, perhaps but Samus butted in angrily, "No Peach! If you heard him, you'd know that he's not somebody trying to harm me. He's…" She said the next words with relish, "Kind, gentle, and… If I actually knew who he was, I might actually love him back. I'd have to look into his eyes and to see if it was the truth. He seemed so sincere, even though he didn't even know if I loved him back. His voice seemed so… soft and too good to be true. Like silk water flowing down a glass window. That's how smooth his voice was." She carried on, with Roy, Marth and Zelda listening. Link seemed to pay attention to how much Zelda was paying attention to it. His eyes shone more than usual. A great sadness filled me. I and Link were somehow on the same boat. We were both rejected by somebody we had wished for. But was it I who created the mistake?

"I'm going back up." Roy's voice cut into my thoughts like a sharpened knife. I jerked my head up. "Does anyone else want to come?"

I abruptly got up the table. I didn't want to keep on listening to Samus's fantasy. It was too painful. Link stood up too.

I walked into the elevator, and as the doors closed I glanced at Roy's fiery head. I had a mad desire to walk up the stairs with him, but while I struggled with the notion the elevators closed and it was too late to go on.

An empty hole fit into my stomach. The elevator ride seemed to take so long. I slid to the floor, remembering the elevator ride with Roy. He'd hated elevators. I almost smiled, but then I remembered how embarrassing I acted. Like I was all that. No wonder he'd sounded so mean to me. He probably felt like an idiot and just to cover it up he acted mean. Tears leaked out of the corner of my eyes. I closed my eyes as the tears went passed my cheeks and tilted my head toward the ceiling. I opened my eyes and felt a weight drop in my stomach. Water was seeping in the tiny room on the sides. What was more was that somebody had shut the power off and the elevator was stuck on my floor. The doors weren't moving.

Panic gripped me. My tears dried up instantly. Was James behind this? I screamed for help as the water slowly rose past my ankles. I tried to go use the emergency phone but the tone wasn't working. I swore nonstop for a few minutes and by the time I stopped the water was at my knee. I looked around for escape. There was none. I pounded on the door, and yelled again. I slipped in the water. I got up again. It was up to my waist now, and I couldn't see any sign of escape. How would I get out of this? Would I die like Malon did? I took off my high heeled shoes and threw them at the door as hard as I could. It left a dent. I searched for the shoe. It was a good thing I'd worn those today. But the water had risen up to my neck and I'd soon have to start swimming. I tried to pry open the door with my shoe. It began to work but the heel broke off. Nevertheless it'd left a tiny hole, so that the water began to pour through it. It wasn't enough though. I searched for the broken off heel and began to try making a bigger hole. I was becoming tired of swimming; all my jewelry and my dress were weighing me down. I panted. I yelled one last time and it quickly became gurgled as water went into my mouth.

Roy's POV

"I'm going to go to the vending machines. Want to come?" I asked the troubled, good looking elf.

"Huh?" He looked at me, with his blank stare. "Oh no." He looked down at a photograph of an attractive girl. To be precise it was Zelda.

I walked out of the door and went down the lobby. That's when I heard a vaguely familiar scream from the elevator. Then it became gurgled. I ran toward the noise. I knew it was too late to call for help. I rushed down the hallway, gripping my sword. Then I looked at two elevators, wondering which held the person who had screamed. I then noticed a small hole in which water came out of. I unsheathed my sword and fit it between the two and began to pry it open. But my sword started bending. I quickly withdrew it. Then I stabbed at the door, hoping that the tip didn't touch the person inside. I focused all my energy in creating a hole. But that wouldn't work. So I concentrated on putting my sword again between the doors. I opened it slowly at first. Then suddenly the doors jerked open and icy cold water greeted me along with a blonde girl. She crashed into me, completely unconscious. I was knocked backward with her on top of me. I realized that it was Peach. I didn't know what to do. So I picked her up, from legs and arms, in a laying down position. Her hair dripped and she shivered violently. I pressed her to me more, so that she might stay warmer. Then I ran to our room. I knocked on the door hard. I swore when nobody opened it and fumbled for my keycard. Finally I managed to get it open. Link wasn't in there, but I saw a note on the table. I laid Peach down carefully on the bed and read the note:

Roy, sorry but I needed some fresh air. It works wonders with a pressured, depressed elf like me. Meet you later, mate.

Link

I finally went outside. Peach needed to be warm. I obviously couldn't keep her warm, as she needed dry clothes. Samus and Zelda A thought popped into my head. I ran downstairs to Samus and Zelda. Zelda stopped short when she saw me. "Wha…?"

"It's Peach." I gasped. "She's… Something's bad happened to her."

When they were in the room, Samus said at once, "I'll call Dr. Mario. He's on this floor." Then she dashed out. I looked at the shivering, bedraggled Peach.

"What can you do about her?" I asked, watching her eyes swimming uneasily underneath her eyelids. Zelda walked up to the other princess.

"What she has done for me." She answered in an odd, yet calm voice. She went on her knees by the bed. She closed her eyes as her hands emanated a soft red color. She placed them on Peach's waist and held them there. And slowly, yet surely her clothes and hair became dry once again and her violent shaking subsided a little. Now she was twitching oddly.

"Is that all you can do?" I asked the elf who looked at her friend. "Can't you do better?"

She looked at me in the eye. "Nay. That's all I can do. She has drained my energy from me. If I could do more, I would lose the ability to even breathe, and even then Peach might not make it. She has suffered much in a short time. Now she must recover in her space." Her eyes softened, "But your concern is touching."

I was puzzled by that. I did not love Peach. I just… needed to save her. Was I supposed to let her die? "I don't love Peach." I automatically croaked to her. I felt weird and unguarded when she looked at me like that.

She raised an eyebrow. "It's time for you to stop lying to your emotions, Roy. It is time to stop being proud." And then the door opened and Samus and a short, chubby doctor strode in.

After checking her pulse and a series of other things he looked around at us all dramatically. "Her pulse is somewhat irregular, and she's suffering from a nightmare which is depriving her of rest. That's what she needs now she needs to be relaxed. Also this; she must not be removed from the spot which she lies. Doing so could wake her up, and her consciousness might not allow her to breathe properly. I will tell the maids this for you. But don't disturb her in any way.

Peach's Dream

I was walking through the trees, light and carefree. Like an angel. I smiled at the sunlight happily. Then I noticed a shadow. And when I noticed it, I also noticed the scenery of the twittering birds becoming cawing crows. I noticed the sun had disappeared behind some of the blackest clouds I had ever seen. They didn't hold rain in them; they were simply black. The trees suddenly lost their green and bushiness and became black morbid looking trees, like a warning of danger. Every life form had vanished, except for me. And those crows. I took a shallow breath, but I found I couldn't breathe. Frantically, it seemed like I was dying. But I was still alive. I suddenly noticed that on one side I saw Malon and a few other people I'd somehow recognized. The other side held, Roy, Zelda, Marth, Samus, Link, Pikachu and Saria, Mario, Luigi and a few other close friends. I didn't know where to turn. I was stuck in the middle. I wanted to run toward Malon and ask how she was. But the path leading there was dark and ominous and morbid looking. The path leading to Roy, Zelda, Marth, Samus and the other's was ominous too. And then I took a step toward Malon. My breathing was more muffled. I took a step toward my close friends. My breathing became easier, but it was hard taking those steps. Like Malon's eyes burning into mine prevented me from doing it. I looked over my shoulder and my eyes held sorrow for her. Then I took another step.

Wow! This is probably the longest chapter I've written. I think it is! Well, you know what to do. Review, review, review!