Listen, Everyone: You probably received this email saying chapter 13 was up awhile ago but it wasn't. That was a total accident. I was trying to replace a chapter but I actually submitted one. I'm sorry. And I also want to say that reviewers…WE DID IT! WHOO-HOO! 100 REIVEWS AND THEY KEEP INCREASING! I'M SO EXCITED! Ahem… Okay I'm done. But I want to thank all of you for helping me reach my goal, and I'll express my thanks even more later. Anyway, this chapter is short, and you guys didn't figure anything out, except one thing, which is a first for me because my stories are so obvious to figure out. Oh well. I'll tell you who did it, why it happened, and one more big thing in this chapter. No skipping ahead. You'll ruin it. Here we go.

Chapter 13

What She Didn't Want to Hear

"Samus… what are those?" Peach recovered from her shock first.

Samus didn't answer. She had stopped whimpering from the pain, but she still was slightly embarrassed her friends now saw what was wrong with her, and she was wondering what they would think of it. For the time being, she remained silent. She looked down at her injured leg. The large wound was just looking back at her with a menacing look. She knew wounds didn't have a face. But if it had a face, the scary look it would be giving Samus right now would make her sick to her stomach. The pain of the slashes was unbearable. She remembered what they looked like when she first got them. It made her whole body shudder, but it didn't quiver in hurt as much it did when she thought about how she got them.

"They're just simple cuts," Samus said quietly with no eye contact. "It's no big deal."

"Those things are anything but simple lcuts. Those are severe injuries." Zelda sat down besides Samus on the ground. Her eyes were on Samus's hands. She gently grabbed her friend's hands. "Let me see." Samus let Zelda remove her hands from the wound. As Zelda had suspected, the wounds were really deep and when she lifted Samus' hands, she saw that there was blood on them. Zelda looked at her gloved hands to see small, reddish splotches on them. "Samus, why didn't you say anything about these injuries? They're horrible and still bleeding a little."

Samus was quiet again. Zelda grew tense. She's not answering anything. There's some big story behind these injuries and she won't tell. She looked deep into Samus's green eyes. They were hurt and lost in sadness. But there were no signs of tears anywhere. "Samus, how exactly did you get hurt?"

Samus sighed. "It was some wild animal. It attacked me from behind and gave me those slashes."

Zelda sighed and silently glared at her friend. Now that was just a lie: a pitiful one to be exact. She has got to do better than that to cover her story up. I've never seen her look so hurt in all the time I've known her. She looks like she's going to crack if one more thing happens to her.

Peach sat down on the other side of the bounty hunter. "I've never seen an animal with just one sharp claw or talon. Most of the time they have three. And I would buy that lie if the three slashes were in the same place."

Samus chuckled. "Can never fool you two," Her chuckle faded out slowly.

The room fell silent. Zelda decided to take a look around their room. She found herself looking at the orange communicator on Samus's desk. She smiled as she remembered the first day she and her friends got the little gadgets.

Zelda's Flashback

"Oh, these things are so cute!" Zelda said as she slipped the pink communicator on her wrist. She looked at all the gadgets on it. "Now if I can only figure out how to use it!"

Samus placed her hands on Zelda's shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll tell you everything. I'm the gadgets expert." Her orange communicator was already on her wrist.

"This is absurd!" Peach shouted.

Samus groaned. "What now, Peach?"

"How can everyone share the same color bracelets? Zellie, doesn't it bother you that we both have pink ones?"

"Um…no. I'm just glad to have one. Besides what's wrong with having the same color?"

"Everything!"

"Oh, Peach, stop." Samus smirked. "You're creative. You'll find a way around this. You always do."

"Hmm… guess I could. Yes, I'll go look for some nail polish and decorate it a different color. I mean, no offense, Zellie. But I like to have my own style."

"None taken, Peach."

"Great, mine will look super cute and have its own unique style. Oh goodie!" Peach squealed.

Samus and Zelda giggled. "Typical Peach. Fashion comes first."

Peach laughed also. "Hey, I gotta be me."

Zelda looked at her friends. "You know what? You guys are like my sisters. Samus the tough and gifted, me sincere and sweet, and Peach…"

"The beautiful one, right?" Peach asked.

"Actually the girl with a walnut for a brain was what Zelda was really going for." Samus joked.

Peach narrowed her eyes at Samus. "I'll let that one slide."

Zelda smiled and put her arms around her two best friends in the world. "Yes, we're just like sisters."

End of Flashback

But things have changed since that day. We haven't had a fun day like that in a while. Zelda concluded. "Did someone we know do this to you?"

"… No." Samus answered, sounding very unsure.

"I think it is someone we know. Oh my gosh, was it Veronica again?" Peach asked.

Zelda freaked out at that thought of it being her. She remembered the first time Veronica had injured Samus, and it was not pretty. Veronica had made the floor slippery back at the mansion causing Samus to slip all the way down the stairs. It left her unconscious.

"It wasn't her… was it, Sam?" Zelda asked.

"No, it wasn't, Zelda. She had nothing to do with it." She responded.

Peach was looking at Samus' wounds still. "You know, those look like cuts you can get from something sharp like a kitchen knife, dagger, axe, or some kind of blade that leaves deep marks-"

Zelda gasped. "Like a sword."

Samus twitched at the sound of that word. But she shook it off quickly. They were slowly gathering up on what really happened, but she wouldn't let anything spill out. She could see that both of them knew they were on the right track now. Samus cursed herself for letting her emotions get the best of her.

Zelda looked into her friend's eyes. "It was a sword, wasn't it?"

Samus tried to stand up. "No, it wasn't." She lied again. She was successfully able to stand. She slowly walked over to the bathroom. Peach and Zelda watched Samus walk in an odd way. She was slowly limping and every time her foot hit the ground, they could hear a tiny whimper. Zelda got up and followed her and Peach stayed by Samus's bed. She walked into her bathroom and looked over at Samus, looking in the mirror at her face.

On the counter were Samus' clothes from yesterday. The clothes were covered in blood in the right places. She saw some bandages right next to the clothes covered in the same content. Zelda walked over to inspect the clothes, picking up the jeans first. Samus saw her do this in the corner of her eye and tried to stop her from doing so, but Zelda stopped her hands from grabbing the clothes. She found the spot she was looking for. Right where the bloodstain was, Zelda found a large tear in the back of the pants leg. It was the same size as the weapon she was hoping it wasn't.

Zelda shook her head. It could not have been him. I don't want to believe it, and I won't believe it. He would never do anything so cruel especially to Sam. It has to be someone else.

Samus sighed. "I guess I should start talking, right?"

"That would be nice," Peach said from the bedroom. When Samus walked back out Peach was already up. She walked over to Samus and helped her sit down on her bed. Zelda was slowly walking out of the bathroom. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear what happened even if it did not have to deal with her. Her first thought was to leave so she wouldn't have to hear, but her conscience told her to stay and be there for her friend. She hurried her pace to the room. She watched Samus and Peach sitting there quietly and waiting for her.

Zelda sat on the left of Samus and looked at her deep red gash on her leg. She knew there was one thing she could do for her friend. She raised her hand up to Samus's wound and closed her eyes. Golden energy glowed from her fingertips as she healed her friend's wound. She heard Samus say thank you quietly as she continued. She focused her hand on the leg wound. "Tell us what happened, Samus. I can still listen."

Samus gathered her composure and nodded. "Okay. I was on my way back to the arena when I found a message on the communicator Master Hand gave us. It was from Master Hand supposedly saying all the smashers were heading back to that woodsy picnic place we were at before. It said I needed to go there immediately. So, I hurried my way over there and that's how it all started…"

Samus's Flashback

Samus reached her destination in record time. When she stopped at the place she was supposed to be she looked around. There wasn't a single person there.

She was confused. "This is strange. No one is even here yet. Am I early?"

She pressed on her wristwatch and her suit came off. She was getting really hot under it. She looked around again and walked even further into the woodsy place. Nothing could be seen but trees and darkness. Not really thinking much of it, she continued forward looking for anybody.

"Hello?" she called. "Anybody here?" she sighed. "Am I at the wrong place?"

"Hey, Sam."

Samus turned around and saw Marth right behind her. He had a calm look on his face. She smiled. "Hey. Did you get the message too?"

Marth nodded and crossed his arms. "Yes. But I've been out here for a while and I haven't seen anybody."

Samus glanced around the woods. "Hmm. I think he gave us a phony address." She walked towards Marth and shrugged as she came to a stop in front of him. "Well, we better just head back to town. It's better to be there than to be in the woods." She started to walk again towards the exit of the woods. As she was walking, she heard a clear click right behind her.

"We can't leave just yet."

Samus stopped short. "What do you mean?

Samus didn't have time to turn around. As she was about to turn she saw the glint shine of a weapon speed right by her and it slashed her directly on her right leg. She screamed out in pain and fell to the ground on her knees. Samus shut her eyes in pain as she tried to grab for her right leg but a boot stepped on her hand hard. She let out another cry as the pain shot through her hand. She grabbed it instead. When the pain changed to a throb in her hand, she slowly opened her eyes. The hand that had been smashed was the one with the golden bracelet Marth gave her and the bracelet was no longer on her hand.

"We need to have a little talk, Sam."

Samus looked up to see who was speaking to her. She then wished she hadn't because she couldn't believe her eyes. Marth was standing right in front of her looking at her with icy-cold eyes. He was gripping his sword in his hand and it was dripping with blood. Her blood. Sure enough, when she looked at her right leg, blood was covering it. It hurt like thousands of knives plunged in her body. She looked back up at Marth who was looking furious. She had never seen him this angry since Roy singed some of his hair.

She could only utter one word. "Marth…"

"I really do not want to hear you speak unless I tell you to." Marth snapped.

She didn't know why, but she obeyed his words and stayed silent, She was too much in shock to say anything or even think it. He turned his back to her and held his sword out and let the blood drop to the ground. "I trusted you, Sam. Why did you do it?"

Samus didn't answer, too scared to figure out what the result would be. But also, what did he mean by "it"? Her eyes watched his sword.

Marth turned around and glared at her. "Answer me!"

Samus turned her body as she saw his sword slowly moving up again. Marth spoke up again. "Did you think it would be funny?" Samus felt his sword being brought down on her bare back on her left shoulder. She gritted her teeth as it came down but the pain was horrible. He spoke again. "Did you think I would never find out?" The sword came down again and fell on her right shoulder this time. The pain was unbearable. She didn't fight back because she didn't have the strength and she still was trying to grip the fact that her own boyfriend was hurting her like this. It was not like him at all. But there was no way around it. It was definitely Marth.

She could barely stay on her knees anymore but she kept her balance. Marth brought the sword to her face. Samus's eyes were widening as she quivered in fear, which she hardly ever did. What this fear was… was something she never thought she'd feel before.

Marth crouched down right next to her. "Well, I did find out, and now you're going to talk. Why did you do this to me? Why would you go behind my back and kiss another guy?"

"Another guy?" Samus found her voice. She tried to reach out to him "I don't know what you're talking about. Marth, I-aah!"

Her voice was cut off whenMarth grabbed her hand tightly and started to bend it in breakable places. "Do not lie to me! I am sick of your lies!"

"But, Marth I don't know what you're...my hand..."

He stopped as soon as he realized he was about to break her hand. He let go and sighed in disgust. He got up and put his sword back in his sheath. "I'm done hurting you. Any more pain caused to you will get me kicked out. If you say one thing about what happened and I get kicked out for it I swear I will hunt you down, and the pain will be much worse."

"Marth, I really don't understand what you're saying! What did I do?" Samus said.

"You stay here and think about it. I can't stand being here with you any longer." Marth glared at her with his icy eyes one last time. He left the woods not looking back. Samus sat there on her knees and looked in the direction he left. When he was gone she looked down.

She looked around and found what she was looking for. The golden bracelet was right on her left side. She tried to grab for it with her bruised right hand. As she reached for it with her fingertips she grabbed it tightly in her palm. When it was close enough, she opened her palm and looked at the bracelet. It was bent in a few places, and the chain had broke: there was no chance she could wear it on her wrist again.

Samus didn't cry. She just sat on her knees and kept wondering why this happened.

End of Flashback

When Samus was done, Zelda had stopped healing her right leg. Peach had a tight grip on her dress and one fisted hand on her chest. The story was too horrible to be true, but Samus hadn't said anything like "Just kidding". She was looking back at her barren right wrist.

"After that, I stayed in the forest for what seemed like hours. I was still trying to recover from what he did. But then that's when the storm hit and I got that message to come to the inn, but I didn't respond. I just walked out of the forest slowly since my right leg was still injured. But as I made it out and was heading to the inn, I saw him again and he saw me. Before he could reach me, I started running. I ended up returning to my buddy's house without realizing it, and that's where I stayed till morning."

"Did they see your wounds?" Peach asked.

"No, I put my suit back on and hid them under there. And then they lent me the sweatshirt and pants." Samus sighed. "And that's the story."

Zelda had finished healing all three wounds. "You should feel better now." Samus looked at all of the injuries. They were no longer visible.

Samus sighed. "The pain is gone. Thanks, Zel."

"It's no problem, Samus." She frowned. "I still can't… I mean are you sure it was him?"

"No doubt about it. I know what you mean. I can't believe it either, but it was Marth. He had the same eyes that I love, except they were filled with nothing but hate for me at that time. It could not have been anybody else." She moved her arms around and stretched. Even though from the bottom of my heart I just wish that it were just a dream, it was reality.

Peach felt compassion for friend. "I am so sorry, Samus. This must be hard for you."

"It is and I just don't what to say to him. He wouldn't listen to me that night and he probably wouldn't listen now." Samus sighed. "But I don't know why."

"Why what?" Peach asked.

"There are many why's Peach. Why did he attack me? Why did he accuse me of something like that? Why he felt no concern for me when I was hurt? Why he didn't care why I didn't return last night? Why I don't know what to feel about this whole thing?" She got up. And headed towards the outside balcony. She walked to the railing and looked at the view. Her friends were right behind her. "Why did we end up at the SSBM mansion together? Why did we meet each other? Why did we help each other through are time of need? Why did we become close and then…" She gripped the railing hard. "Why did we fall ifor each other if it was going to turn out like this?"

She felt so miserable but no tears were falling down her face. "It all just doesn't make sense. Was this how it was always going to end?"

Peach gently grabbed her hand."Sammie. You don't know if this is the end-"

"-you think so? I don't see why it wouldn't be the end for us?" Samus laughed oddly enough. "It's the end, but I can't seem to cry about it. Not one tear."

Zelda and Peach looked at her sorrowfully. They shared sympathy for their friend, but for Zelda there was something else she was feeling: rage for her friend's breaking heart. She tapped Peach's shoulder before mouthing ,"I'll be right back", Peach mouthed to her "Where are you going?" Zelda didn't answer as she quietly started to leave.

Samus flipped her head around. "Zelda, wait." Zelda stopped and turned to look at the bounty hunter. She had a serious and firm look on her face. "Do not talk to Marth about it. Please, Zel. I'm not ready yet."

"Me? Go talk to him?" Zelda giggled. "Don't be silly, Sam. I'm not going to talk to him about anything."

Samus nodded and fully turned around. "Good because I trust you won't talk to him, right?"

Zelda brushed off Samus's suspicion with her right hand. "Of course. I'm not going to say a thing. Just going to take a little walk." She looked through the corner of her eye to see Peach staring at her funny. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. "I'll be back in a while. And it'll be okay, Sam. I promise." Zelda kept her smile on till she was out the door.

Her face fell to a frown. She actually was going to talk to Marth about the whole thing. She was going to go against her friend's wishes and go talk to him anyway but decided that wouldn't be too wise. She decided to just take that walk instead.

She walked out of the hotel and into the busy streets. She didn't know where she was going but she kept going straight and kept her head facing forward. Her thoughts were still on her friend. She was still wondering why Marth would do such a thing to Samus. Those two cared so much about each other. At least that's what she thought.

She passed many stores with some lovely dresses, but she stopped when she looked in the store window at a lovely pink dress. She smiled. I wonder what Link would think of that dress.

"Well, if it isn't Princess Zelda." A voice sneered.

Zelda knew that voice too well. "What do you want now, Veronica?"

Veronica walked up to her and stood in front of her. She was wearing a purple halter-top and blue jeans. "Nothing. I'm just passing by." She looked up at the window at the dress Zelda was looking at. "I bet you were thinking this dress would look great on you and help you get Link to yourself, huh?"

"Please. I was thinking no such thing."

"Sure, you weren't. What did I tell you about staying away from my Link?"

"First of all, he's not your Link. He's no one's property. And second, I can talk to whom I want and you can't do anything about it but whine. And by the way I know it was you who started that fire in the elevator, and got us in trouble two nights ago."

"Who? Me? You must be confused. I would never do such a thing. Did you ever consider that maybe one of your friends probably did it?"

"My what?" Zelda snapped.

Roy just so happened to be walking towards and he greeted her. "Hey, Z! What are you doing with the Wicked Witch of the West?"

Veronica glared his way. "Look, pyro boy. I'm just telling her that some of her friends cannot be trusted."

"Sure you don't mean that you can't be trusted?" Zelda snapped.

Veronica frowned. "Sounds like someone doesn't know their friends too well." Veronica turned and walked away. Zelda scowled as she left. How she hated her.

"Zel, forget about her. Do you know where Marth is by any chance?"

"No! I don't know where that jerk is."

"Whoa, what's with the snappiness?" Roy asked, shocked about Zelda's reaction.

Zelda sighed. "Sorry, it's just about what Samus told me about Marth."

"Oh, you mean about him seeing Samus with another guy," Roy answered.

"Yeah? Did Marth tell you?" Roy nodded. She frowned. "I can't believe he would accuse Samus about being with another guy. Why would she do anything like that?" She's one of the most honest people I know and…"

"Um, Zel? Did Samus happen to tell you who the guy is?" Roy asked.

"No. She said she didn't know who he was talking about."

"Really? So, she didn't tell you who the guy was." Roy concluded. "That's why you're so calm about this."

"Why should I not be calm?"

Roy heaved a large sigh. He looked at her seriously. "Zel, I don't know how to say this. But when Marth was talking about the guy Samus kissed, he meant Link."

A/N: I have nothing to say except please review!