Mist could hardly bring herself to believe just how many new friends she had made over the past couple of days. That night she, Krystal, Zelda, Tifa, and Isabelle had sat up all night talking. They discussed many things. Their families, their children, their husbands. But inevitably the conversation drifted back to the thing that had brought them all together.

"I can't believe Samus Aran is getting married." Krystal said, shaking her head, as she set down the card. Isabelle had brought along a deck of cards and had been teaching them all to play every game she knew.

"Neither can I." Isabelle said. She was so tiny that she had trouble looking over the table. She had stand on top of a chair to get a good look at the game. "Who would have ever thought?"

"What do you mean?" Mist asked curiously, as she cast a look over her own hand. She had to stop herself from grinning as she looked over her cards. She thought she had a good hand.

"She's famous." Krystal said, turning to look at her. "For being the strong, silent type. Most people don't know anything about her, yet she's one of the most feared members of the Super Smash Bros."

"For a really long time most people didn't even know she was a woman." Isabelle piped up. "She's not… uh, often seen outside of battle."

"She's had many admirers over the years, but never really gave any of them a chance." Krystal said. "She became quite famous for it, actually…"

"And now she's marrying Ike." Zelda said, sighing. "How romantic…"

"By the sounds of things, they sound like a perfect fit." Mist said. "I don't know much about her at all, but Ike was the same way. He kept turning down every woman that ever showed interest in him. It didn't matter who she was, he didn't even really give her a chance."

"That girl, Lethe being among them?"

"He liked her more than most." Mist admitted. "I could tell. But it didn't really go anywhere after the first war… I think he's still very fond of her, though…"

"He is." Krystal said, immediately. "I can tell."

Zelda rolled her eyes.

"Krystal is an empath." She told Mist, in no uncertain terms. "She can read people's emotions and feelings…"

"What?" Mist asked, taken aback, as she stared at Krystal in horror. "You're not cheating, are you?"

"Of course she is!" Kazooie, who had been watching the game but not allowed to participate due to her temper, screeched as she flapped violently in her bag. "Switch me in! Switch me in!"

"Of course not." Krystal said smoothy. "It's not like I can read minds or… see the future…" She gave a pointed look at Zelda.

"I'm not Shulk." Zelda said, annoyed, as she lay down another cards. "My foresight is nowhere near as good as his…"

"You are way better at interpreting your visions though." Krystal said. "Seeing the future doesn't do you much good if you end up making things worse for yourself every single time…"

"Can we just assume you're both cheating?" Tifa asked, amused.

"I can assure you that I am NOT!" Zelda said.

"She's telling the truth." Krystal said, smiling. Eager to end this conversation and return to Samus, Mist cut in.

"So when did Ike and Samus decide to get married?"

"Hm." Zelda said. "It's been a while."

"A while?"

"We've, uh, been busy." Zelda explained. "After what happened with Galeem the Hand is choosing more Fighters than ever…" She coughed. "And a LOT of them are more trouble than they're worth…"

"I'm so sorry!" Isabelle said immediately, fidgeting uncomfortably. "I'll do better, I promise!"

"She didn't mean you, Isabelle." Krystal assured, her, although Kazooie shot her a dirty look.

"Trouble?" Mist asked blankly. "How so?"

"Well not everyone chosen by the Hand are good people." Zelda said casually, as she played her hand. "An Enemy of mine was chosen, and Wolf-"

"Is a much better person than you might expect." Krystal said, a little coldly, as she stared down at her card with interest. "I trust him far more than you do Ganondorf."

"Are these men coming to the wedding?" Mist asked, a little timidly.

"I don't think so." Krystal answered. "Wolf and Samus don't really get along. Wolf has a price on his head, you see, and being around Samus makes him nervous. And Ganondorf…."

"Probably doesn't even know what a wedding is, the swine." Zelda said, as Tifa laid down her hand. "True love is lost on him, I imagine. In all the millennia he's been alive, he's never married or found love. Did you know that?"

"I'm sorry, did you say millennia?" Mist repeated, alarmed.

"It's a long story." Zelda told her. "Perhaps I should say… a Legend?" She chuckled to herself and shook her head. "But yes, he's been alive for ages… A walking history book, you could say. No one knows more about our wars and religious history than he does…. Since he was the bad guy in all of it." She sounded somewhat bitter. "And now I find myself fighting alongside him. What a life."

"Why is someone like that associated with you?" Mist asked. "Associated with Ike?" '

"Sometimes." Tifa said, setting her cards on the table. "Good and Evil must set aside their differences and fight for a higher cause."

"That's a very good way to put it, Tifa." Zelda said, smiling at her. "Ganondorf is my enemy, and Link's enemy, but is still an invaluable ally."

"But a lot of you are married, right?" Mist asked. "Like… Krystal, you and Fox… and Tifa and Cloud…"

"Oh, Krystal and I aren't Smash Brothers." Tifa said hastily, shaking her head. "But yes, a lot of Smashers have been getting married lately… I mean, when even Samus is deciding it's time to settle down…"

"Who is Samus Aran, anyway?" Mist asked curiously. "You always speak of her like she's… uh, special."

"She is." Krystal said quietly. "Even before she was Chosen by the Hand, she had already been to more places and fought more creatures than many of us ever will."

"She's incredible." Tifa murmured. "She is unbelievably strong. And very brave. "

"And popular with men." Zelda sighed, shaking her head. "Oh, some people have it all…"

"But who is she?" Mist stressed. "Like… how did she and Ike meet? Neither of them will tell me."

"In battle, probably." Tifa said. "They… uh, hardly have a life outside of it."

"Do none of you know?" Mist asked, looking around the table. Most of the girls shook their heads. The only exception being Zelda.

"Well…" Zelda said slowly. "Ike's a lot like her. You know? They probably saw something in each other that other people don't have."

Mist had found it very difficult to get some time alone with Ike ever since he had returned. Most everyone they knew had been coming by to talk to him. They had barely sat down to have lunch with Samus when a frantic knocking came at the door.

"Queen Elincia has arrived!"

"Elincia?" Ike repeated, surprised, as he looked up at the messenger. Mist rolled her eyes.

"We're eating!" She said exasperatedly. "Elincia can wait-"

But Ike had already stood up.

"Where is she?" He asked.

"This way, sir…" Mist could hardly begin to voice her protests as Ike stepped past her and out into the road. Muttering to herself, she turned and quickly cleaned up their half eaten meal, before following out into the street.

Marcus and her kids were playing in the street. She stopped to ask what direction Ike had gone in, and Marcus was quick to point her in the right direction. She thanked him and hurriedly stepped off down the direction she was pointed. Along the way she encountered Zelda, who was sitting by the road playing a little harp.

"Oh, I didn't know you played." Mist said enthusiastically, momentarily forgetting her mission. Zelda looked up at her and smiled.

"Oh, it's not mine." Zelda said. "Sheik gave it to me."

"Sheik?"

"Oh, have you not met her yet?" Zelda asked, surprised. "I suppose she tends to not stick out… I'll introduce you…"

"Not right now, Zelda, I'm in a hurry." Mist told her. "Did Ike past by here?"

"Ike?" She asked absently. "Yes. I think someone you know has set camp just up the road from here…"

"Thank you!"

She took off at a run. As it turned out Elincia had erected a rather large tent by the side of the road: The very same kind that they used to use during the war. For a moment, she felt a sense of fear burst through her. But that feeling disappeared almost immediately.

"Mist!"

"Lucia!"

Lucia was smiling widely as she approached her. Her hair was longer than it had been during the last war. She was dressed far more elegantly than she had been back then. Being the sister of the Queen's husband, her own power and influence in Crimea had become quite significant.

"I can't believe it." Lucia told her. "Ike's really getting married?"

"He is." Mist told her. "Finally." She sounded a little exasperated. Lucia giggled. Ike had become very notorious for shunning all of his many, many suitors, particularly after the last war.

"Who is she?" Lucia asked, as she led Mist to the flap of the tent. "I have not met her yet…."

"Her name is Samus Aran." Mist said. "She's… uh, an explorer, of some kind."

"But what's she like?" Lucia pressed.

"Why don't you go meet her?" Mist suggested. She pointed off down the road. "Her entourage is building a village down that way… just mention you spoke to me and I'm sure someone will point you to her."

"Her entourage?" Lucia repeated. "Yes, I'll send a message immediately…" She beckoned to one of the guards, who saluted her as Mist entered the tent.

It was like she had stepped back in time. Ike and Elincia were sitting around a table, in full armor, laughing. Elincia had her hand to her mouth, holding back the noise, as Ike seemed to be finishing up some story. Mist couldn't stop staring at her: She somehow looked younger than she had in years.

"Oh, Mist!"

Elincia turned to face her, and smiled widely. Mist smiled to her and bowed.

"Your majesty." She said formally. She looked up at Elincia's shocked face and then smiled. "Hello Elincia." She said, much more warmly. "You're looking well!"

"I am!" She said, turning back to Ike. "The instant I heard you had returned, I thought… I thought I had to come see you." She fiddled with her armor a little. "To talk with you."

"I'm glad you did." Ike told her. "Lethe and Ranulf beat you here, but you were one of the people I wanted to see the most."

"The… most?" Elincia whispered.

"Yeah." Ike said. "It was really important to me that you came to the wedding."

Elincia's smile faded somewhat.

"Yes." She said quietly. "Your wedding…"

"And it's good that you got here when you did." Ike went on. "We need to find Soren. We have no idea where he is, but he needs to be here…"

"Yes." Elincia said. "Soren… of course." She shook her head. "What do you mean, you need me to help you? Don't you know where he is?"

"He never left the continent, I can tell you that much." Ike said. "But he could be anywhere. The Colony, Begnion. Goldoa."

"You never told me that you didn't know where Soren was." Mist said, surprised. She had always assumed that of all people Ike would know whereabouts. It had become a bit of a mystery those who knew him. Although Ike was considered the face of the army, Soren was its mind. Virtually all ruling parties on the continent regarded him as the best tactician in the world.

"I thought he would be here." Ike admitted. "He was supposed to stay here and look after the company…"

The flap opened again and Lucia peered in.

"Ike, you have a couple of guests." She said. "Is it alright if they come in, My Queen?"

"Of course." Elincia said immediately. "Who is it?"

Lucia stepped back, and in her place a blue haired man stepped through. He seemed to be a swordsman, much like Ike himself.

"Chrom!" Ike said, surprised, as a brown haired woman stepped up from behind him. "And Sumia!"

"Hello, Ike." Sumia said warmly, bowing her head at him. "Congratulations!" At her feet a little blue blur stepped forward from behind her.

"Ike!" It said. "Ike, Ike!"

Ike kneeled down to get a better look at it. "Oh, hello Lucina." He said warmly. "Wow, you've gotten a lot smaller since I've seen you last."

Chrom laughed, but Sumia looked annoyed.

"That isn't funny, Ike-" She began, but little Lucina rushed forward and touched Ike's arm.

"You're really getting married, Ike?" She asked.

"I am." Ike said, nodding.

"Where is the Bride, anyway?" Chrom asked. "We haven't seen her yet."

"Probably making sure that everyone is getting situated." Ike said. "Diddy Kong was causing a ruckus last night, and Jiggylpuff…"

"Ugh, don't tell me that thing still has that marker." Sumia said, shuddering. "I couldn't get that stuff off of my face last time…"

"Excuse me." Elincia said, standing up. "Who exactly are you?" She sounded more curious than upset.

"I know you!" Lucina exclaimed, staring up at her in awe. "You're Princess Elincia!"

Elincia stared down at her. "I'm… I am!" She said quickly, before kneeling down by Ike's said. "And you are…?"

"I'm a Princess too." Lucina said. "Princess Lucina!" She made a gesture as if she was swinging a sword. "Someday, I'm going to be a warrior too!"

"Are you?" Elincia said, laughing a little. "I hope not. Peaceful times are a very good thing, you know."

She looked up at Chrom and Sumia. "Perhaps you could join us for tea?" She asked. "I'd love to know more about you…"

"We'd love that, but Lucina-"

"I'll take her." Mist interrupted. "My children will look after her."

"Oh, thank you." Sumia said gratefully, turning towards her. "Um, what was your name?"

"I'm Mist."

She gasped. "Ike's little sister?" She asked. She reached forward and grabbed her hand. "Oh, I've heard so much about you!"

Mist laughed awkwardly as she cast a look back at Elincia. She couldn't quite place it, but that unusual youthful vigor seemed to have left her face. For some reason, she looked a little bit sad.