and this, everyone, is going to be my advanced new year gift to every one of you! yay! *applauds*

I hope you are still enjoying my story! Thanks for all the support and reviews, they mean a lot to me, really. Love you all and belated Merry Christmas, folks. Enjoy.

I don't own SSBB.

Today was club day which meant students' involvement in a variety of activities such as art, sports, debate, music, and many others. Marth loved Wednesdays while Ike found a day ordinarily boring, but being the competitive person he is, there was no way he would give the limelight to Marth.

Art club was the first class Marth seemed like attending so he brought his writing and coloring materials. Once he entered the classroom, he saw one of the few rarities in life – Ike being in the same club with him. He cringed a little at the sight of the mercenary asleep and went to the other table where no one still sat.

He laid his things when Zelda and Sheik sat down with him, the princess greeting him with a sincere smile while the ninja staring at him nonchalantly. Pit and Meta Knight arrived, sitting where their roommates sat. Once everyone had settled down, Pikachu, out of nowhere, ran inside the room with Lucas and Ness chasing after… it like lunatics. Both of them were shouting and howling like wild animals though no one was really bothered with the noise they were creating.

In fact, they were all used to it. Ness and Lucas were actually supposed to be in elementary school, but their IQs were too high they skipped so many who-knows-what grades. And as for Pikachu… no one knows where it came from. No one even knows its real gender. All they knew was that it was just a pet of the two which was allowed to attend school along with them for no valid reason.

Marth watched the children in amusement, wishing he was around their age, carefree and playful, when at the corner of his eye he saw someone flinch. At this, he thought he was going to be entertained for awhile.

"Three…"

Marth smirked while the royalties eyed him in confusion.

"Two…"

The shrieking continued as he counted.

"One."

"WHAT THE FUCK CHILDREN LOWER DOWN WILL YOU?!" exploded Ike, his voice reverberating across the room. The two kids stopped causing a ruckus at once, even Pikachu.

"Thank you, little bastards," he mumbled grumpily and went back to sleep. Lucas and Ness bowed their heads in shame, having no energy to play again. Oh, they understood Ike well. It was their fault after all. They knew he hadn't meant those hurtful words, it was just that he was in the worst of moods.

They muttered an apology even though he wouldn't acknowledge it and sat on an unoccupied table in the far corner. A few minutes later their teacher came right after Link rushed beside Ike. The burly male rolled his eyes. What would be the reason why his best friend is here right now? One answer: to be in the same club with Zelda, no doubt. He sighed and rested his chin on the palm of his hand when their clumsy teacher made his way to the front.

"Oh my, forgive my tardiness, dearies. I had to talk to my brother about something important… ah, look at me yapping nonsensical words. Why don't we start?"

Clean sheets of bond paper were distributed to the class as they waited for Luigi's instructions. "Okay students. First, each of us should have a writing material in hand. Pen or pencil, marker or crayon, whatever."

Marth took out his mechanical pencil and looked over at the table beside his to see Ike getting his ugly, chewed-up pencil. He shook his head as if disappointed and turned to Luigi.

"Good, I see you are all prepared. The activity today is very simple, class. All of you have to do is to draw someone in your table without lifting your pens, pencils, markers… yes yes, now start!"

Ike looked at the two people who sat with him on the same table: Link and Meta Knight.

Okay. Ike glanced at the blue ball for a few seconds. He looks pretty easy to draw… compared to the elf moron beside me.

He put the lead on the blank paper in front of him and traced Meta Knight's face. When he had finished, he marveled at his very own masterpiece. It looked… good. Yeah, it did, actually. Ike, pleased, looked over at Marth's table to see if the blunette was better than him. He scoffed at the sight of Marth who was overly focused on his drawing.

Thinks he's great at this stuff… let's see the result of his "hardwork", Ike laughed silently at himself then checked Link's only to wear a disgraced frown.

"What the hell… were you even listening?"

Link held out his paper in happiness. "What do you think? Beautiful, isn't it? Huh?"

Ike did a facepalm at his friend's obvious stupidity. "You can't draw someone who's not in our table, idiot. And Zelda, for your information, is not with us. So you only have me and Meta Knight. Do you even get it?"

The elf scowled at his friend. "Mr. Smartypants is just jealous," he said and stuck his tongue out. Ike rolled his eyes at Link when he heard Luigi praise someone's sketch.

"Would you look at this! My, my, how splendid! Look, everyone!"

Intrigued, Ike turned to see what the fuss was all about: an intricate portrait of Zelda.

"We have an artist here! Marth Lowell, you draw… well! Hihihi!" Ike felt his head throb in annoyance. Marth. Again. He was seriously agitated with all the attention the blunette was receiving… and the irritating pun Luigi just said.

He narrowed his eyes at the drawing. He had to admit though, it was drawn very well, as if Marth raised the pencil and… Ike grinned devilishly.

"Hey teach, I bet Marth Lowell lifted his pencil a little bit right there… I can see something's not connected with the other lines."

Marth glared at Ike indignantly. "How dare you? Did you even see how concentrated I was to make it perfect? I must say, Zelda has such an extraordinary face, so I was eager to try tracing her features on paper. And, well…" He shrugged, a little boastful, while Zelda smiled at his flattery. Luigi was puzzled at the moment, not knowing what to say.

"Is it true, Marth? That you lifted your pencil?"

Marth was about to speak for himself but Zelda was faster. "Sir, I saw it with my very own eyes that Marth did not at all lift the pencil he was holding."

Link let out a muffled giggle which earned him a disgusted look from Ike.

"Are you sure?"

Zelda nodded. "Certainly, sir Luigi. I am telling the truth."

Marth smiled in relief and gratitude after Luigi took his drawing so as to be posted on the best works board. "Alright, students. I'd also love to see other works. Anyone who would like to volunteer?"

Now that Ike had seen Marth's, he felt slightly… inferior if he compared his to the blunette's. Link wanted to raise his hand and show to the whole class how strong his love was for Zelda, but no. It wasn't the right time. Not yet, not now. Meta Knight didn't even draw anything. If he did, it would be his own face anyway. But still, his paper was left blank and unused. So Zelda took all of their places instead and revealed what was on her paper.

"I'm sorry if it isn't neat but I hope you all know who I tried to draw." Link suddenly wore an offended pout after seeing the man who she had drawn. "And I thought she had been drawing my face…"

Ike shut him up and stared at Marth coldly. The prince caught his stare and smirked at him mockingly.

I have a way more beautiful face than yours.

Ike's eyebrows wrinkled.

As if.

Yes, they understood one another through the look in their eyes. The messages they delivered were always through glances and glares, and they both knew what the other wanted to say. It was their means of communication… kind of. Everyone applauded after Zelda's sharing when the bell rang, finally ending the first period of the day.

"It's time! Pack up, everyone, and get ready for your next club!" Luigi announced and ran off in pursuit of his brother. Pit, who was mostly silent the whole time, paid no attention to anything but what Luigi had said. He knew it was none of his business, but… what was that important thing Dr. Mario and sir Luigi had to talk about? The angel was curious, and he had no idea why. What the heck.

yes guys, club day! This is still the first of it, so watch out for upcoming chapters of the different clubs Marth and Ike will be attending woop!