If you haven't played LoZ Wind Waker then this might be a tad confusing, so now I'm going to spoil it: Hyrule Sank. Yes, it sank, it go bye bye, because Link go bye bye. Granted I don't know when exactly the flood took place, but basically Link didn't come when the people needed him, so Hyrule was drowned. About 500 years later Wind Waker takes place.
DISCLAIMERS: If I owned SSBM, then you'd never lose the C-stick attacks, and there would be something to resemble a plot along with cut-scenes. Since SSBM doesn't have that, I don't own it.
If I owed LoZ: Wind Waker; then you'd know what happened to the rest of the bloody planet, have WAY more stuff in Hyrule, and you could visit GreatFish Isle before it's destroyed. Since none of that is possible, I don't own anything.
There, I have spoiled, I have explained. Read.
End of an Era
Chapter One
The sun hasn't shone in over six months… Moblins and Redeads run amuck in every town and region. Dark, evil energy poisoning the land…The last time I saw the sky was when it filled with Red, Blue, and Green lights, the goddesses passing judgment upon us…
Then came the storms…. the rain… And the rain… Cold, dark, blanketing sheets of water…
"Sheik! We must hurry; the river is rising too quickly!"
Lightning fills the sky, thunder crashing down as white light takes a snapshot of the mayhem. I hear screams as the world seems to move so fast, broken images filling my vision. Moblins are everywhere, snarling, lanky beasts armed with clubs, beating the survivors relentlessly. Frightened, screaming people, dropping what few possessions they could drag with them thus far. Leaving them to soak on the bridge as they flee.
It's not a Battle, it's a slaughter… More of my people dying needlessly…
"She-Zelda! STOP!" Impa yells as I drop from my horse, falling into the mess of clubs and spears.
"Take the others and go!" I shout over the wind, icy rain splattering me in the eye as I ram my fist into one monster's face. Taking hold of the arm of a large, horned beast, its white amour protecting it from most any attack, I've never seen one like it exactly. I'm close too the edge, merely shifting my weight to send the hellion over the side, and into the churning black waters below. One dark creature looks up, it's muzzle drenched in blood from where it was feasting on a small child's corpse. A boy; his green tunic stained from the gaping whole in his stomach.
Never…
Never have I felt this way… This anger, no this… this hatred it's so…
"Princess!"
There's blood everywhere, a few skilled needles penetrating the moblin's skull send crimson into the rain, killing it instantly. But I don't stop. I smash another beast's skull with the first one's club, side-stepping another knight's slash before I kick it with my heel. It's helmet flying off allowing me to slam its disgusting face with my bare hands!
"My Lady!"
Another vile creature dares attack with its teeth; catching me in the arm before I slam myself against the stone barrier along the side of the bridge, feeling its ribs shattering as its jaw slackens.
I can't stop… I wont! The cobblestones wet with river water and blood, the wind and the rain cold against everything but me. I'm burning, with hatred, with pain! With a scorching fire consuming every thought, and leaving me wanting nothing more than to continue fighting this lost, pitiful battle!
'Gather the people, and take them to the mountains. Not the valleys child, the peaks… That is the only place you shall be safe…'
My eyes tear, from the rain and the sorrow welling up inside me. My father's last words to me drowning out the chorus of screams and death. I can almost see him; standing within the Temple of Time… refusing to look at me as the sun shone it's last through the stained glass windows…
Not just a child… A mother, father, and baby… an entire family… gone… Like so many others… People I'm supposed to protect, who look to me to help-to save them, dying…
'But father! What about Link? I know he will come, he promised! I've seen him in my dreams; he will return on Epona and send Ganondorf back again!'
I cannot help but scream, my own naïve voice repeating itself in my mind. I use that cry to help fuel my rage, tearing through the battle and ignoring what injuries I take in the process. It just hurts too much…
I just want this nightmare to end… Why are we being punished again?
"ZELDA!"
I turn, and the whole world slows; the sounds of the battle pause as if everyone suddenly holds their breath for a moment. Everything falls into darkness, a dull glow in the distance, a monstrous wave charging towards us. Dimly I can hear the groan of the drowned trees as they're scooped up by the water, boulders and soil adding to the wave, a flash of lightning firing through the sky as I fall. I can't scream, can't move. I'm not scared; or even angry… not now…
The stone bridge crumbles under my feet; I look to the side for a moment, everything frozen for the one instant. I see creatures and monsters all around me, the innocent people, My people, some of them falling as well. Frozen in time as they scream in terror... the dark waters splashing up to drown them like so many others. I see Impa, my kind, caring nurse, my shadow and mentor, my best friend. She's on the other side with the survivors; the last of Hyrule's best fighting along side her, protecting the scant few who survived as well. I don't know if it's the rain or her own tears, but the look in her eyes lets me know which.
I'm not angry… I'm sad… so sad… I wish I could cry, or maybe laugh… yes, laugh… Laugh at just how pathetic this is… stupid and pointless.
Like faith. Meaningless, and without cause… Faith is what I had… in you…
You left us… I believed in you, I trusted you, and then… Where are you now? Now that I'm falling like this? Now that the Zora's are being forced to leave the waters because of the poisons oozing from the soil? Now that the Gorons are drowning in their caverns? Now as that boy, that young, Kokiri boy, who dressed like you, is dead, and his cold blood mixes with the waters which are washing away our world?
Slowly, time starts up again, screams, shouts; the groan of the bridge as I at last hear the sound that came with its destruction. I feel too, the icy waters wrapping around me, pulling me deep. It's so cold… the currents pulling me deeper so that I can't fight or breathe.
It's over… It's all over… everything we fought for; everything we believed in is dead… All because you vanished… All because you denied your destiny… All because you…
Just… because of you…
Just you, Link…
"He wake a-now?"
"Shhh, Luigi; she is-a tired."
"More like dead, Doctor. Wouldn't wanna run into whatever that guy did in a dark alley."
"It's a she, Falcon."
"Oh, c'mon, Samus; look at that get-up! I'll bet you anything that-"
"Yes?"
"I'll stop…"
"Good. Now will all of you please LEAVE? Dr. Mario just said that the new Smasher is still recovering, so please everyone, lets let him sleep!"
"But-a Peach!"
"OUT!"
Everything's dark… I can't tell what's going on exactly; more than anything I'm confused though. Why am I hearing voices? This isn't making any sense, the last thing I remember, I was…
"Ah, you is awake?" one of the voices asks, the other ones seemed to have vanished. I try to look around, or to move at all, but something's holding me in place. I strain to move my head; why can't I see?
"Hey-hey-hey! You wait-a minute!" I feel a hand on each shoulder, gently easing me back down as I give a strangled cry. Pain throbbing through my collar-bone and ribs, I bite down on my lower lip to keep from repeating the sound. Nayru it hurts…
"Mamma-mia; yes, you get that when you-a move when you is-a hurt!" The same voice tisks. "You-a lay back down. You want food, yes? Peach, you get-a some breakfast?"
"Of course, Doctor," A second voice said, it's light and cheerful; bur doesn't sound very reassuring in my current position. Everything sounds odd, none of the back-ground noise I should be hearing making it through; it's so quiet… The woman's footsteps sound wrong, not hollow like on wooden floors, deadened like on dirt or carpet, they don't echo like stone. An odd humming sound also fills the air, it's annoying and there isn't even the sent of smoke from torches or candles…
Where am I? What about the others? The bridge!
"Here we go doctor; eggs, bacon, toast, and milk!" The light voice practically sings.
"Good, Peach," The… doctor… replies, "Can you-a at least open you eyes?" he asks, at first I don't know how that fits into the conversation. At least, until I realize he's speaking… to me…
I try to do as he says, cracking my eyes open and looking straight up. Harsh, white-light floods my vision and sends pain running through my head. I whimper slightly and cringe against the discomfort. There's no light that pure unless magic based, but-but I don't sense any magic!
'Farore… I really did die, didn't I? But then why am I still in pain?' I think to myself, feeling hopeless as I turn my head away. The two continue talking for what seems like forever. If their comments are directed at one another or me I can't tell, and really don't care… Can't they just leave me alone? Can't they just…
GAME!
I sigh slightly as the booming voice ends the match, Fox's friend, and one of the latest Smashers, Falco only a few feet away from the arena's end. A bit more distance and it would have meant another KO for my score.
Not that I NEED another Smash, looking up at the scoreboard I feel rather proud to notice how high my points are compared to Falco's. Unsheathing my sword, I slash and jab at the air a few times, ending the combo/victory dance by slamming it back into the sheath on my back. The crowd's cheering loudly, a wave going around the stadium as the warps open up for Falco and I.
"Good match," I say with a wink as the two of us appear in the Locker Room. A large open space with large secure closet-like safes for each Smasher too store weapons when not in the Arena or Training. Each compartment a colour to represent the person who uses it, a bold name-tag bolted to the front, along with an emblem as well.
"Next time, YOU'LL be the one heading into space," Falco jeers, holding one arm oddly as Fox struts up to smack me on the shoulder. The blue, bird-faced flyer gives the brightly coloured feathers in the back of his head a flick, awkwardly straightening his oddly-cut jacket, his tail feather's fluttering back and forth as he walks over to his Bright Blue locker. His companion with a Fox's head, large rusty ears and snout, complete with the red tail poking out from behind him.
"Way to go, Link!" the Space Captain says brightly, sparing a glance at Falco and shaking his head, "What did I tell yeah, Falco?" he asks casually, "He fight's with a sword, and dresses like it's the Renascence; but he's still damn good ain't he?"
"Humph." Is the only reply; and Fox just laughs again, looking back up at me.
"Samus, C.F. and I are having some drinks in the lounge if you'd like to join us after you clean up," the fox offered, looking over at Falco too include him in the invitation as well. "It'll be fun, whaddya guys say?"
I think it over for a moment before remembering something, shrugging at Fox,
"Dunno; I have to talk to Roy and Marth about their writing lessons." I explain, remembering that I promised to give the two some encouragement, since Roy was getting fed up real fast. "They can speak just fine, but they have the same problem I did with characters. Not that their language is like Hylian, but still." Fox waves his hand to dismiss what I'm saying,
"Hey, it's just a small everyday get-together, nothing big or anything." Fox says, "You take your time with those two hot-heads and make sure you don't get burned. Royal's, a pain in the ass I say."
"Oh really?" Falco calls, having vanished off to the showers while Fox and I spoke, steam wafts in from the tiled bathing area a ways off and around a corner. "I seem to recall something that happened near Alpha Centuri…" I have to cover my mouth with one hand to hide my grin, Fox's eyes wide and his ears rigid.
I shrug and let the two Pilots duke it out, sauntering over to my own green locker, a Triforce etched into the metal, and depositing my Hylian Sheild and Master sword in their spots. I remove the heavy mail from under my tunic, not putting the green back on since it's filthy and sweaty from the fight. The brown shirt I wear underneath just fine for the short distance to my quarters. Undoing the thick wrist-guards I need in order to swing my sword around like I do, I casually drop them onto one of the small shelves for next time, leaving my gloves in place .
"See yeah guys," I say with a small wave over my shoulder, making my way towards the door, and up the stone ste-
No, it's concrete, and it's an escalator… Nayru, I've been here seven years and still can't remember the terms. Heh, I've earned myself a few awkward moments with that; not like Marth and Roy haven't as well, but at least I spoke the language when Master Hand showed up, and dropped me off at the Mansion.
Not… the best weeks of my life…
I let the stairs take me to the top and simply step off. Pushing the glass and iron--aluminum… door, I step out into the sunlight, a large pond to my right and trees and flowers to the left. The Smasher Mansion defiantly has some impressive gardens.
"Hey Nana, hi Popo," I call, waving towards the two children freezing the water on the pond and sliding around. The Eskimos giggle and wave back, Nana slipping and her brother making a dive to catch her. I pause mouth open, expecting the ice to crack and them to sink, but they simply make more Ice, and stand up, perfectly fine. I laugh slightly and keep walking down the path, the SSBM mansion looming up ahead, Dr. Mario's hospital ward a glittering glass orb just past the mansion, and connected by a small corridor.
The ward is probably the most unusual place in the Mansion, despite the Warp-pads and floating disks… It's odd being around all the healing Ma-Technology. Un-nerving actually, Marth defiantly had a rough time when he woke up there for the first time, and didn't speak a word of the language. Good thing Master Hand's multi-lingual.
Vaulting over a short rail in the back, I walk inside through the dinning hall. A huge room like the Throne Room back in Hyr—
Eh… There's a long, fancy table with enough chairs for all the Smashers. Like the Locker rooms, each chair is detailed with coloured cushions and has a carved emblem on the back. I pause for a moment, on my way out the door as I notice a group of mushroom men crowding around, bits of saw-dust and wood flying through the air. I blink once or twice, a bit confused as I note Falco's newly made chair in the sunlight, the last coats of stain and varnish drying in the open air.
So… someone else is coming? I wonder where they're from, Mewtwo's been floating around saying something about another Pokemon, so maybe that's it.
Either way, I snag an apple from the fruit bowl in the middle of the table, taking a large chunk out of it as I open the hall door and step outside. The rest of the Mansion is far more familiar, hard-wood floors made of deep chestnut with a long red carpet down the center is familiar. The velvet-backed portraits of great fighters reminds me of manors back ho—in, Hyrule. Sure the lighting is all electric, but along most of the more dressy halls including the dorms, the fixtures are all disguised as torches or candles.
Then again, there are still other halls and entire wings which are steel plated with light panels to help make other Smashers feel welcome. I'm sure Samus and Falcon would have miniature breakdowns if they didn't see anything technological around.
On my way to the Dorms I pass by the Lounge; a comfortable room complete with big-screen TV, that damn surround-sound which almost gave me a heart-attack first day, a bar, and 'Stylish' black leather sofas scattered around. The colours are a bit dull though; white carpets, tope walls, and like I said: Black couches. Not the most vibrant colour-scheme.
But, after seven years you can learn to live with anything I guess. Walking by I notice Samus, and C.F going at it over a chess board. She isn't wearing that odd armour at the moment, and his helmet's off on the counter. I hear words like 'Turbo' and 'Warp' as I throw away my apple core, shrugging and leaving the two Smashers be. C.F's about to lose his Rook,
"Check-Mate."
Or the game.
I cover my mouth with one hand to keep from laughing as I continue down the hall, the Captain not taking the loss very well as he starts verbally recalling every move they both made.
My smile fades slowly as I round the next corner; the lights dimmer as some of them aren't even turned on. The farther I get from the lounge, the more the growing argument resembles the far off sound of Moblins skulking around. The flicker of a dying bulb appearing like a normal flame as I move silently down the hall, the clicking of Ness's jacks behind his door sounding like a Skultula hiding in the shadows. I know I look like an idiot now, but I'm just getting into it so well.
I'm in Ganondorf's castle again; jumping from shadow to shadow in search for the keys I need to enter the inner-chambers, and slice him to ribbons for all the pain he's caused! My feet shifting along the woo—along the stone floors, brushing against skulls of lesser monsters killed by their own comrades.
My door's just around this bend—no it's the chamber I couldn't enter before I killed the twisted creature mid-way through. I've searched everywhere else so the key must be in there! So many people are counting on my success; I have to do th—
"Link, what are we watching for?" Roy whispers hoarsely from behind me, making me jump half-out of my skin as reality comes crashing back. My face is suddenly burning as I turn to look sheepishly at the red-haired young man behind me, the Altean Prince behind him still. Neither one is wearing his flashy armor or sword like in the Arena. Like me both are dressed plainly in a brown shirt and grey woolen pants in stead of my white ones. He blinks and gives me an odd look at my reaction,
"Did we startle you?" Marth asks after a moment, I don't really have anything to say,
"Y-yeah," I manage, "T-there's no one, I… just got a bit lost is all…" Roy blinks a few times in confusion, Marth arching one brow before both smile slightly.
"You have stayed in the mansion without leaving for many years, haven't you, Link?" Roy asks, standing straight as the three of us start towards my room. I nod slowly as I take out the key from my pocket, sliding it into the hole and turning to hear the lock click. I twist the brass knob and step inside, allowing the two other swordsmen to come inside as well.
"You miss the world you left as well," Marth states; not as much of a question as Roy's comment.
"Yeah," I say dully, looking around the comfortable room I've called mine for almost a decade. My wooden, four-post bed with a thick brown quilt over top; a large image of the Golden Triforce embroidered into the middle. Beside the bed is my dresser, a plain mirror hanging over it. A fairly large book case takes up the far wall beside the wide window which looks out onto the pond where the Eskimos were skating before. An armoire on the left wall with most of my other cloths that aren't able too fit in my dresser. Behind a plain door to the right is the bath-room I currently have to myself, complete with a bath tub and tiled in blue and green ceramic, small Tri-angle pieces acting as accents. "Nothing here compares with… home."
Paintings, none to extravagant hang up on the imitation-wood walls. One with a densly wooded area, another showing a towering mountain surrounded by dark clouds, a third still depicting a beautiful lake at sunset, a windmill silhouetted against the red and orange. Of all the people here, it was Master and Crazy Hands who painted the images. There's another one; more breath-taking than the others, but it's hidden. It hurt too much to look at after a while…
"But, I doubt you guys came looking for me just to talk about what I think about the mansion, now did you?" I ask lightly, stepping over to the book case and taking out a sleek-looking book. On the bindings it clearly says 'Myths' but it's in Hylian, so neither swordsmen knows exactly. I don't have any chairs in my room, so when I turn back around I'm not surprised to find both Marth and Roy have made themselves comfortable on the floor. The blue-haired man holding a similar looking book in their native language.
Like I told Fox; Roy, Marth and myself can't write English characters worth squat.
When I open my eyes again, the light doesn't hurt as badly. My eyes still sting, but this time they adjust to the odd light. I'm lying on a bed with papery sheets; my ribs don't hurt as I take a deep breath, trying to stifle a yawn as I look around.
Everything looks so strange, the walls have no seams to show where wooden planks are nailed, or stones mortared in place. They're a solid tope colour with a few designs painted as well, odd mushrooms, flowers, and the initials SSBM, whatever that means, scattered everywhere adding a splash of colour. Again, I notice the odd stale feeling of the air, the light not shed by fire but not giving any magical trace. I try to push myself up, and find it much easier this time. No pain at all but for a slight discomfort as I prop myself up on my elbows.
There's another woman in the room, seemingly absorbed in the odd flip-book she's reading. Realistic pictures, defiantly not paintings, all across the front and back. Brightly coloured, clashing words in some unknown text scribbled along the pages as she flips through them. Her bright blue eyes scanning the words, her golden hair with far more volume than my own curled around her ears. An almost childish crown propped up on the top of her head, not falling off as she keeps her head tilted towards the book, white-gloved fingers easily moving the insanely thin pages.
I would have thought she'd noticed that I'd moved, but she doesn't even look up or acknowledge me. It isn't until I clear my throat that she notices, her bright eyes startled and glittering in the odd light.
"Oh! You're awake, that's great!" She chirps, closing the picture book with a loud snap and scooting her chair closer to the bedside. Something in her eyes doesn't seem right as she places one hand on my arm.
"I'm Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom. But everyone here just calls me Peach, it's so much better." She continues brightly, "What's your name? You look like you're doing better, Master Hand arrived with you last night and you were all soaked and bloody. Oh, you gave Doctor Mario and me such a scare! Not that I doubted the Doctor for a minute! Oh dear me, no. He's so skilled and even the Hands respect him. Are you still in any pain? We can take care of that, one time that big brute, Bowser broke off a spike and was in so much pain, but the Doctor re-attached it and now it's as good as new!" Every time I think she wants me to reply; this Princess comes up with something else to say or ask, it's rather annoying, but I'm still to confused with everything to do much else than let her speak. Maybe I can get some answers by just letting her talk herself horse.
"Not many of the other Smasher's know there's another member, that's you by the way. Master Hand told us to keep you quiet until you're ready to start training with everyone else in the arenas, since people like Bowser and Captain Falcon can be very critical. It's not all that bad though, you look like you're almost at full health again--" The rest of what the Princess says is blotted out as I think over her last statements.
Smasher? What's that supposed to mean, and why would I want to become one? I'm not staying here to train with people I don't even know! I still have an obligation to my people! To Hyru—
Hyrule… Wait, someone named Master Hand brought me here? But I was in the river; I should be dead right now!
"And then there's Ness who's a little brat when he lights things on fire, but Nana can sometimes keep the other kids out of trouble, then again Popo isn't the best either, I bet they're skating on the pond again! They could get hurt, couldn't they? Neither one can swim with those parkas on, last time that happened Samus ended up getting her suit rusty when she had to save them! Oh, Samus is the other woman here at the Mansion, you do not want that woman mad about her suit! Just like you should never, ever, scratch C.F.'s racer. Oh, Kirby and him were going at it in the Big Blue stadium, and when Kirby tried a meteor smash, he went through the windshield!"
"Princess," I say, not feeling bad about interrupting the other woman's rambles, "Where am I?" I ask simply, quickly realizing why she's acting so odd, when I fell into the river I was dressed as Sheik, meaning I still look like a—
"OH! How silly of me!" she giggles, looking a bit flushed, that's not good. "This is Dr. Mario's sick ward here at the Super Smash Brother's Mansion! Master Hand takes the strongest fighters from the different worlds he can see, and brings us all here to compete and see who's the strongest of all! It's really fun, but sometimes people can get hurt, that's why we're here now, because you were hurt, but are you feeling better now? You should be because Dr. Ma—" next question,
"Why am I here?" I say simply, it would probably help if I changed back, even in my weakened state, using magic shouldn't be too difficult.
"Well," Peach replies in a huffy tone, it looks like she's had to deal with plenty of men asking questions of her, "Master Hand didn't say anything more than that you're a new Smasher, it's not as bad as it sounds, what did you say your name was?" she asks, leaning in a bit with her chin in her hands, elbows on the bed near me, those big blue eyes sparkling a bit in the light.
I close my eyes for a moment, feeling the rush of power centering around my left hand, the Triforce of Wisdom shining dully as I feel my skin and eye colour change, returning to what they really are. The magic altering my clothing, the loose pants and thick scarf, which obscures my face melting away as my royal clothing returns. I open my eyes to see Peach's own still oddly wide, and the flush is still there, but her over-all expression is one of mortification.
"My name is Zelda." I say softly, noticing my hair matted and filled with scum from the river water, "I am the Princess of Hyrule, a world in grave danger, and I must return immediately." I reach out and clasp the other woman's hand, giving her a firm look; "I don't know where I am, or who you people are, but please, I must go back to my people."
For a moment, Peach opens her mouth as if to suddenly agree with me, then she looks as if she remembers something important, and her short-lived excitement dies. I search her eyes with mine for a moment, trying to see what's troubling her, but the worried look quickly vanishes, and the other Princess becomes very serious.
"First thing's first," she states. " Bath, Bandages, and Food. Breakfast is way over, so I'll go see what I can round up for your lunch, okay?" She smiles childishly at me and beams as she stands up, leaving the odd book she had been looking through on the chair as she rises. "What are you in the mood for? I'm sure I can find almost anything. Name it!"
"I'm not hungry. Princess; I don't have time for small talk." I say sternly, the other woman frowns for a moment, before breaking into a smile again,
"I'll get your bath going first, you can borrow one of my outfits while that one's washed, you must feel horrible in those clammy cloths!" She says lightly, I scowl slightly as she ignores what I'm saying,
"Princess Peach, I—"
"Just Peach, hun," she says with a wink. My scowl can only deepen at her air-headed behavior.
"Peach, I—" It only sets her off again, this time mumbling about someone named Kirby; I'm almost at my wits end. I try to keep myself calm, but by Din's Fire this girl's dense! Fed up with her idiocy, I pull back the covers, seeing that I'm still fully clothed, I swing my legs over to stand. Peach gawks at me for a moment, I have to close my eyes in pain as I wrap my arms around my ribs, cringing slightly in pain as she rushes over to grab my arm.
"Zelda, you can't get up so—Ah!" She's only trying to help, but Goddesses damn it I don't have time for this! Every moment this woman rambles, the water rises higher and higher to drown my kingdom! I can't let that happen! I grab her wrist with my other hand, ignoring the pain as I twist her arm around, fixing it behind her back.
"Don't make me hurt you." I say harshly, keeping my voice low as she arches her back slightly too ease the strain on her shoulder. "Now tell me where this Master Hand is."
Damn, well, so much for a one-shot. 20 pages is too much methinks, so I'm chopping it up starting with the first 12. Read and review please!
