Chapter 3! Final!

Ok, I know people are going to hate me, but there is a death at the end like I promised

No flames plz! It's more IkexMarth-ish in the end

I wasn't really sure if Marth was going to come after what happened, but he did. He didn't wear any armor, he didn't have his sword or cape. I thought it was a bit casual for him, but that was the same for me.

"Did you wait?" Marth asked.

"No, not much."

"Ha ha, it sounds like we're on a date or something."

Marth laughed like yesterday night was just a bad dream or something. I couldn't understand why. We didn't talk too much along the way, until we found a natural tunnel. The tunnel had no concrete coatings inside, so it looked like a stampede just ran straight through it.

"Wow... I didn't even know this was here."

"It looks safe to go in, want to?"

Marth walked in it, his head cocking back and forth at the rough carvings of dirt. I followed slowly behind. We were halfway through when he started talking again.

"You know, this world is so weird. Me, Mario, Link, even you, all came from a different world. And yet, we met. But then if you think about it, this world is only a newborn baby still, so maybe it's not that surprising that these kinds of tunnels and stuff are made."

"...what do you mean?"

"There's so many things happening, and there's so many things we lose at the same time. Don't you think every single one of them is a thing we should love?"

Love...?

Marth sighed, like I was a kid who couldn't understand an easy question.

"You know, you're keen sometimes, but you're really slow to understand these kinds of stuff. ...I was trying to connect with yesterday's conversation, but never mind."

"Sorry, geez."

He made a quiet chuckle, that clearly was to make fun of me. He turned away again, and I took a good look at him. In battle, Marth's always so swift and his lashes are like gusts of wind with deadly blades. But as I watch him like now, he's just a slender prince. I've never seen him practice any sword fighting, but how does he get that swiftness? Every time I see him, he's either talking, or reading with a cup of tea in hand.

Marth's voice broke off into a stifled sigh. The blue hair waved in the wind coming fron the exit.

"Roy, you know...

...he,

...he died in war."

"Huh...?"

Time felt like it stopped except the wind. I slowly came up to him, because his shoulders shrunk again.

What, what did he...?

"He went back to his world, and he was doing fine at first...

...He got caught hostage by his enemies, and...they, they forced him to tell about Smash Brothers, and all the people he met. It was probably because Roy got really strong ever since he came back, and... they wanted to know why.

...he, he...didn't say a word until the end...

They, b, beat him up with whatever they had, and...

when his army came in, finally getting through the mass,

Roy, he...was...already, already..."

His calm voice fell apart like a tree in autumn. I knew Marth couldn't take it anymore, and I pulled him to my chest. I didn't really think, but when I realized, he was shivering like a dog wet with cold water.

"We sent letters to each other, and.."

"Shh, don't talk anymore."

"...you don't even know how I feel...!!"

"But it was hard for you to accept, right?"

That quieted him down. For a long time, I had Marth cry at my shoulder, and I patted his round back. I didn't know why I would just grasp him in my arms, but I didn't really care. He was terribly heart-broken, and someone had to make them feel better. That someone, was me. My shirt was wrinkled and wet, but I didn't care.

"Thanks, it helped a lot."

"Sure, ...yeah."

He wiped his red eyes and nose, and kept on talking.

"On that first day we walked down this road, ...I thought that if I kept on walking, I could've met Roy.

I know, it sounds stupid to you, but he used to say stuff like that a lot. Like one time, he said 'If I stared at the sky long enough, do you think I could fly?'...I thought it was a joke at first. But Roy had big dreams and imaginations. Not just me, it inspired everyone. Whenever someone was hurt or gloomy, Roy would say those kinds of things, and it gave us hopes."

I wondered what the "us" meant. ...Am I in it also? Even if I've never met Roy?

Marth quietly continued, "Everyday, I would walk down here...trying to find him. But you know what, I never did. How could I? I already knew Roy's imaginations and dreams were mostly things in fairy tales and such, but I couldn't shove it away.

...then you came up to me."

There was a silence, but it didn't feel so awkward.

Marth pulled out a folded piece of paper from his pocket, and carefully opened it like it was his most valuable treasure. He said it was the last letter from Roy, and started reading it.

"Dear Marth,

Are you doing fine? Sorry I didn't reply so quick..I was a little busy. I guess I'm doing okay, but I have another thing to deal with so I won't be able to return for some time again. Don't worry alright? It's a piece of cake.

How's everyone over there? Good? Are you getting in touch with Link and Mario and all? I always worried about how the Smashers are doing when I write a letter to you. Write some letters to them too, and give me their address in the mean time if you ever do. I like keeping in touch with you guys.

I wanted to show you the look on my people's faces when I came back. They said I changed a lot over Smash Bros, but I don't really know for myself. But I now know that I have faith in myself and my people, thanks to you guys.

Man, I wanna see you again. If there's another Smash Bros later, you better scrub your sword and wait for me to go smash you away! Alright, see you soon.

Roy"

The writing wasn't so pretty, but it was bold and easy to read. Marth folded the letter up carefully, then slid it in his pocket again.

"Roy's good friend gave me a letter a couple weeks later, ...reminding me. I was so emotional when I first knew, I thought I was losing myself. But...thanks to you, I think I feel better."

"...you're welcome."

"...yeah. And anyways, you or Pit look nothing like Roy."

Marth smiled.

Not with the watery eyes, not with a sniffle or a red face.

A real, smile. From the bottom of his heart.

It was like, out of all the smiles he's reluctantly given me, this one was a sun peeking through the clouds. A smile he often gives to Kirby or Link, or everybody else. A smile I could've only saw far away.

...now, it was to me. When I noticed, I was smiling too.

Marth's mouth gaped open.

"Wow...I've never seen you smile."

"Huh, um...really?"

"Yeah! ...wow, today's a good day."

"...mm-hmm"

When we exited the tunnel, the sun was high up. On the way back, we talked about what lunch was going to be, maybe tell Peach what happened, all those kinds of stuff.

Is this what you call "happiness"?

We were a step to the door when Marth turned back.

"I'm...sorry I ignored you, and how I've been so, I don't know, cold..to you. But from now on, lets be good friends. Rivals sometimes, but friends."

"Of course."

"I thought I was losing myself because of you, but it was the opposite, wasn't it? You helped me out of it."

"...you're welcome."

Marth smiled again, and this one was as beautiful and empty as the sky.

He'll probably never forget about Roy. Maybe he'll cry sometime, mourning him. But, I want to be at his side, whenever that happens. ...I still can't really say that to him directly, but...

I'll be his most important person, and maybe I'll try to be his only important one.

...even if I can't be Roy's substitute.

Marth went back in with that smile, and I was about to follow him in,

when I felt someone looking at me.

...It was a young red-headed man, a little short for his appearing age. His purple cloak billowed gently as his faint smile.

A tear streamed down his eye, then disappeared like I forgot about him.

Was he...?

...The End! Yes, this is the end. I love these kinds of endings, sorry. ...I made him die, but I'll write some stories about Roy too. I just thought this could be one way how Ike and Marth would start out. It's rated M, and it didn't have any love scenes!! Sorry if that was the reason you hate this story.

Thanks for the reviews, it really helps me keep on going. ...if I get more I might think of making another one. Oh well. Spread! The circle of Ike and Marth!!