Finally, the banquet! this is a looooong chapter. i believe it's my longest. over 2000 words. lotsa romance to keep you ppl happy :) :) i've also updated the summary. i dont think it's much better. some feedback on that would be nice. well, no more idle chitchat, let's get on with the show. i present Chapter 20: The Banquet...
XX. THE BANQUET
"Ooh, Zelda! You MUST try this one!" Peach said handing Zelda another lipgloss.
"Mmmm. Cherry flavoured. Too bad Link hates cherries."
"Could you pass the hairspray, please?" Samus said.
"Yup." Zelda handed the can to Samus and Peach brushed Zelda's hair.
"Ooh, your hair is so soft," Peach, said, "What do you use?"
"Garnier Fructis."
"Ooh, I love that stuff!" Samus said as she sprayed her hair.
"Hmm, let's see." Peach said, rummaging through her mountain of jewellery, "Ah, these earrings are nice! Which ones are you wearing, Zellie?"
"My Triforce ones."
"Oh those will go with your dress nicely!" Peach said. "Hmm, I wonder how the guys are making out…"
---
"Marth, any more hair gel and your hair will be as stiff as a rock."
"I'm pulling off a new look!"
"To impress Samus?"
"Maybe…"
"ROOOYYY!" Link screamed, "WHERE'S MY TIE?"
"Tie? I thought it was a towel."
"WHAT?"
"Just kidding. Here ya go." Roy threw Link his green tie.
"Okay then," Link said, tightening his tie. "I'm all set."
"Well, that makes two of us." Roy said. "Honestly Marth, I think that's enough."
"Fine, let's go." The three left Link's room headed up to Zelda's room. In the elevator, they met Mario.
"Oh, ah, Mario...Nice seeing you. Here. In this elevator. " Roy said, awkwardly.
"H'lo Roy." Mario mumbled, "You're lookin'-a nice tonight."
"Yeah… say, where's your suit?"
"Not coming to HIC dinner… Luigi's gonna bring up a HIC plate for me." Mario looked so pathetic. His eyes were all red, probably because he was crying. His hat was crooked, his overalls not buttoned up; and he had the saddest expression on his face.
"Listen, about today… I'm really sorry you didn't know. I just thought Peach would tell you."
"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. It's not Peach's either… HIC. It's mine. Heh, a plumberHIC with a princess…" Mario gave a hollow chuckle. "How could I-a be so-a stupid?" Mario had obviously been drinking. Link and Marth were exchanging uneasy glances. What a perfect time and place for a conversation like this; ten minutes before dinner in an elevator. The doors whooshed open as the elevator stopped at the fourth floor. "Have fun at dinner." Mario mumbled, as he solemnly walked out of the elevator and to his hotel room.
"I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do." Roy said helplessly.
"Take my advice. DO NOTHING." Link said.
"I can't just let him beat himself up cuz Peach and I got together. "
"Look, I know it must be hard for you, and Peach and Mario, but I seriously agree with Link." Marth said. "There's nothing you can do that will help."
"I just hope Peach apologized." Roy said as the three left the elevator.
---
There was a knock on the door.
"Girls! It's us." Roy called.
"Oh, crap." Peach said, "Is it time already? Whoa, whoa whoooaaa!" Peach screamed. A thump was heard.
"Peach," Zelda said, "Do you really think you should wear heels that high?"
"Of course! Roy will love them."
"I will?" Roy asked.
"Oh just open the damn door." Link said. He reached for the knob. What Link, Roy and Marth heard next would cause severe damage their ears for the rest of their lives.
"EEEEEEEEEEKKKK!"
"AAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHHH!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The three girls were screeching at the top of their lungs. Zelda threw herself at the door, so Link couldn't open it. "WE'RE NOT READY!"
"Whoa!" Link said, rubbing his ears. "Sounds like someone just got murdered."
"Yeah, no kidding." Said Marth, who too was rubbing his ears. Fortunately, it was only another minute until the girls came out in their beautiful dresses. Zelda's hair was crimped and elaborately fashioned. Peach's hair was straightened and Samus left her hair alone. All three were donning expensive jewellery.
"Aah, Zelda. You smell of fine Hylian Roses." Link said.
"Mmmm, Peach. I love the way you smell. So exotic. Yes, the Fire Flower." Peach surrendered to a sweet, passionate kiss.
"Well then,"Marth said, "Shall we head down?"
"Yes, we'll be late!"Zelda said.She andLinkjoined arms. As did Roy and Peach; which left Marth and Samus. Marth offered his hand, to which Samus reluctantly took a hold of. The three pairs took the elevator down. As the elevator neared the ground floor, the doors opened to reveal the front lobby lavishly decorated. They walked across the marble floor to the double doors leading into the banquet hall. Link and Zelda looked so cute together. They strode arm-in-arm, staring into each other's eyes, smiling, as they whispered sweet nothings into each other's long Hylian ears. Even Roy and Peach looked happy, despite their current situation with Mario. Marth looked at the two couples and help but couldn't feel a little envious. Beside him was Samus. She was looking away, and not saying a word. She seemed so uncomfortable with Marth. Marth wanted to share his feelings with someone so much, it pained him. They pushed through the tall, oak doors and walked into an extravagantly decorated banquet hall. Fine china and silverware rested on a silk tablecloth. Candles lit up the up table from end-to-end as a huge chandelier hung over it. The six found a place to sit somewhere near the middle of the table. On one side of the table sat Samus, Peach, and Roy Across from them were Marth, Zelda, and Link. Link and Roy were soon deep in discussion about the tournament. Peach was informing Samus of all the latest in fashion. Marth was just sitting there, playing with his fork.
"Marth. What's wrong?" Zelda asked.
"Nothing Princess."
"Zelda. Call me Zelda." Zelda HATED it when people called her "Princess" or "Your Highness".
"Marth, I know something's wrong. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Well."
"Come on Marth. You can tell me."
"It's just when I see you and Link together… it's just… Oh I don't know."
"Are you jealous?"
"No. No. I just want what you have. Someone to share a smile with; share a tear. Someone who cares about me. Someone who loves me."
"Oh, Marth. I know it must be really hard to see people like Link and I, or Peach and Roy, and then not being able to feel what we feel, and do what we do, but give it time, and maybe you'll find someone too."
"You really think so?"
"Of course. You're handsome, smart, charming, who wouldn't love you?"
"Do you?" Zelda was taken aback.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Do you love me?"
"I… I love Link."
"Could you love me?" There was a long silence before Zelda spoke again.
"I… I don't know, Marth." Just then, the Smash Brothers entered the room, donning their sophisticated suits.
"Ahem. Thank you all for coming tonight." Ronald said. "We have quite a meal planned for you this evening. Your chef today is Chef Gaston Bouloir, world-renown cook. I'll let you take over."
"Right," said Chef Bouloir, "First on zee menu tonight is zee toss salad. Ze pasta come aftair zat. Then, ve vill haff zee steak and potatoes. Ve also haff many yummy deserts aftair. Enjoy zee salad and bon appetite!" An army of waiters emerged from the kitchen and served everyone a plate of tossed salad and a choice of three dressings.
"Ooh!" Squealed Peach, "Salad. I love salad. I should eat salad more often! Salad salad salad!"
"Peach… are you okay?" Roy asked.
"Salad." Peach replied and she dove into her salad.
"Ew, what are these long orange things?" Link said, holding up a sliced carrot.
"Those would be carrots." Zelda said, pouring ranch dressing on her salad.
"EW! I'm eating horse food." Link said. "I refuse to eat this. Epona eats carrots. Ew."
"Link, they're healthy for you."
"Are they now?"
"Yes."
"Well, then what are these strange condiments? They certainly don't look like dresses."
"That's dressINGS." Zelda said.
"Oh…"
"Eat up, the pasta's coming soon."
"OH! You mean like that "splugeti" you ate today?"
"Yes Link."
"Cool." Link poured on some Italian dressing on his salad and proceeded to eat it. "Yummy horse food."
"Oh, look Roy," Peach said, "Here comes the pasta."
"Yum." The pasta was served up and everyone devoured it in a matter of seconds. The second course was now being served: steak. Steak was Link's favourite food. That is until Zelda told him he was eating a cow.
"ALL THIS TIME, YOU'VE BEEN FEEDING ME COWS AT THE CASTLE?"
"That's where food comes from. Animals. I thought you knew that. You eat cuccos."
"Yes, well, cuccos serve no other purpose than to die. Cows give milk, and milk refreshes you. Not to mention they don't gang up on you and kill you. Cows are cool. I talked to a cow once, they're really nice"
"Well, whatever you say. Eat your stupid cow and potatoes." Zelda said, as she sliced up her own steak.
"EW! Peach said. "MINE'S NOT COOKED!"
"Peach, sweetie, it is," Zelda said, "It's just not well-done."
"IF IT'S NOT WELL DONE, IT'S NOT COOKED!" she screamed, "I'M GOING TO DIE FROM FOOD POISONING NOW! WAITER! I DEMAND A WELL-DONE STEAK!" Zelda and Roy sighed. Link, Marth, and Samus were staring wide-eyed at Peach, scared.
"So sorry ma'am," said a waiter, who took Peach's plate. "I'll inform Chef Bouloir you want another steak."
"And make it well done!"
"Yes." The waiter walked away. Dinner was soon finished, and waiters brought out the dessert trays.
"CAKE!" Link exclaimed, and he grabbed a piece of mocha triple chocolate double layer cake.
"Ooh!" Peach said, "Apple pie!"
"Is that cheesecake?" Marth said, "CHEESECAKE!" Marth grabbed a slice and started to eat it. "Mmmm, feeling better already." The cheesecake made Marth forget about Peach and Roy, and Link and Zelda. Cheesecake was his comfort food. Slowly, the desserts were stripped from the trays and everyone had finally had enough.
"Well Zelda," Link said, "It's been a long day."
"Yes it has," Zelda said, yawning. "Let's go upstairs."
"Won't you stay for a few drinks?" Marth asked.
"Sorry Marth. Perhaps another time." Zelda said.
"Suit yourselves." Roy said.
"Well, I think I'll go too." Samus said, stretching, "Peach?"
Peach yawned, "Yes. It's bedtime for me. You boys have fun." The four left Marth and Roy at the table, and headed for the elevators in the lobby.
"I'm surprised you didn't stay with Marth and Roy." Zelda said.
"I'd rather be with you right now." Link kissed Zelda on the cheek.
"How sweet," Peach said, "Wish Roy was like you, Link" Peach sighed.
"It's probably Mario," Said Link, "It's really been buggin' him how upset Mario is."
"Well, we agreed that we don't love eachother." Peach said, "So I'm sure it will pass in time."
"Let's hope." Zelda said. The elevator reached the third floor.
"Well, g'night guys." Samus said, sleepily, as she set off for her room.
"Take care, hon.," Peach said. The three stood silent in the elevator, tired from a long day of fighting… and shopping. The elevator stopped at the sixth floor. Zelda and Link went to their room; Peach went down another hall to hers. Link slid the key into the lock and opened the door.
"Good Lord." Link said, "What were you girls doing in here? It smells!" The scents of perfume, hairspray, and makeup lay thick in the air.
"Sorry Link. I'll let some air in." Zelda crossed the large room and opened the doors that lead to the balcony. A light breeze was blowing.
"Ahh, That's better." Link said, breathing in deeply. Zelda slowly walked up to Link and ran her long fingers through his golden blonde hair. She slowly moved in to kiss Link. Link caressed Zelda's backside as they embraced in a slow, passionate kiss.
"Mmmm." Link moaned, "Cherry."
"I though you hated cherries." Zelda murmured.
"Anything tastes good on your lips." They continued to kiss. Link eased Zelda onto the bed. As their lips parted, Link whispered,
"I love you."
"I love you too." The two Hylians lay on the bed side by side. Zelda fell asleep in Link's arms. He too fell asleep. Link's body felt so warm against Zelda's. She loved being with Link. She loved Link so very much.
But what about Marth?
How's that for LinkXZelda? hope you enjoyed this chapter.