Chapter Five - Roy's Last Wishes

Author's Note:

This chapter explains…a lot, about our young flame haired friend and some of Marth's past for those who didn't already know.


For the rest of the day Link and Marth avoided each other. They weren't mad, but neither could look at the other because of sheer embarrassment. With this Link decided to go out for a walk. As he walked he heard something rustling in the bushes.

"YAAA!!" something tackled Link to the ground. Link gasped and clutched his head. When he looked up he scowled. Roy stared down at him with deep blue eyes.

"Unh…Roy that…hurt." Link groaned, rubbing the back of his now very sore head. Roy shook his head.

"Link, Link, Link…" he sighed. "I knew this would happen."

Link blinked. "Knew what would happen?"

"You and Marth ignoring each other. Honestly, everybody gets a kiss every now and then." said Roy, laughing. Link frowned and narrowed his eyes.

"And I suppose you are the cause of this?"

"Who else would come up with such a fabulous idea?" Link rolled his eyes. "So, you gonna make up?"

"…"

"Link answer me."

"…no, I'd rather keep avoiding Marth for as long as possible." said Link. Roy narrowed his eyes. Link frowned. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"When they don't learn, use Plan B." said Roy. Link raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? Plan B? What're you--" Link's eyes widened as Roy grabbed Link's shoulders and forced him into a kiss. Link pulled away and stared up at him in confusion. "What the hell was that!?" Roy chuckled and wiped his mouth.

"Lemme put it this way, my anti-social friend. If you don't settle this problem between you and Marth, I'll personally come after you and torture you again and again." said Roy, triumphantly. Link stared at him disbelievingly.

"You wouldn't." Roy grinned.

"Want another?" Link remained silent, making Roy's grin wider. "Good. Now I'm off to go beat some since into your Ice Princess for you."

"He's not my--"

"Ah! You're not getting my point twinkle socks." Link's eye twitched at the nicknames Roy came up with. "Listen and stop correcting and thinking. You judge Marth too quickly. I gave you a chance to grow from this experience." Link sighed.

"So, oh great mastermind, what lesson should I have learned?"

"Basically that if you don't stop pushing away your feelings and find yourself a mate someone else may come up and bite you in the ass. Hence, last night's drunken mess. Lesson learned?" Link was furious but he understood. Roy was a friend, and he only wanted to help. Link nodded.

"Yes. Lesson learned." Roy winked.

"Take care now." Roy got up and disappeared back into the forest. Link sighed and pulled himself up. Maybe Roy was right. Maybe…he shouldn't push Marth away. Maybe he should just give Marth a chance.


Marth sighed. Although he was thoroughly embarrassed by last night's events…he couldn't truly say he regretted it. He had already accepted that he was falling for Link. And this was just another instance in which to reinforce that conclusion.

So, Marth decided to calm his nerves by picking up a book. Reading. Now that wasn't so bad. He looked at the title and turned the book over in his hands. "War and Reality?" he said puzzled.

"It's a sham." Marth turned and frowned at his companion.

"And how would you be able to conclude this, Roy?" said Marth. Roy shrugged.

"Just can. I've seen a lot of stuff like that. Tales claiming to know everything there is to know about war and death. Of the sorrow's of mankind. You know…the like." he said. Marth continued to stare at him.

"And I suppose you know all there is to know about war?" Roy looked over at Marth quickly and shook his head.

"Not all…just a lot. And the thing is, the people who write that stuff…" Roy wrinkled his nose. "were only watchers. Citizens who stayed indoors and see it all from home. They never truly understand what it's like on a battlefield. But not many people around here are good for knowing such things."

"What do you mean?" Marth placed the book down and sat across from Roy. It seemed the young and fiery redhead had caught the prince's full attention.

"I mean I don't know anyone else who's had the warlike experiences I've had you know? Samus may have but she battles in space. And solo fighters like Mario and Link haven't any experience in war battles. Yah there have been some wars in Hyrule but Link's never seen them and I don't recall the Mushroom Kingdom being plagued by droves of armies." said Roy.

"S-solo fighters?" said Marth, confused. Roy nodded.

"Yah. They have adventures of their own. No one else to help them with it. Now how can you experience war with no allies? No one to see die before you. But still, solo work is just as dangerous. You…" Roy's tone became soft. "You don't have anyone to rely on. When you are about to see the end…you don't have a friend to help save you. You're on your own. Sometimes I admire Mario and Link because they go on such quests. I rely on allies and can't imagine if I had to fight all alone like that."

"You mentioned a war in Hyrule. When was it?" said Marth. Roy looked up, puzzled, and scratched his head.

"Um, when Link was just born I think. His father and mother fell to that one. All he said was the name of the thing. 'Great Hylian War' they called it. That's all I learned." said Roy. He sighed, making Marth raise an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"I'm going away…" said Roy. He seemed calm now and mildly lost in thought. Something Marth had never seen. The unusually hyper teen was now unusually quiet.

"Going…away? Where to?" Roy looked at Marth and smiled.

"Home. As soon as the trials and battles are over. I'm going back to where I came." said Roy.

"Are you not coming back or something?" he said, suddenly wondering what it would be like to not have the spunky redhead here in the Smash House. Roy shook his head.

"Nah. I don't belong here. I mean, yah it's great fun to fight alongside all these heroes and villains and it's a nice change from Home's troubles but…every man has his place in life. I've realized mine is not here. And besides, I've got a father at home I'd like to rant to. Tell all about my experience here." Roy smiled. "Yah. I'd sure like to see the look on his face when I tell him all the things I've seen. Big puff balls named Kirby and small men named Mario. A space warrior and a fox who can talk. All kinds of stuff. Heh heh, he'd probably think I was just trying his patience but…all the same."

Roy looked at him. "You got a father. What's his name?" Marth's eyes were now fixated on the fireplace.

"Cornelius. Like Link I too have lost my father…I have a sister, Elice, and did have a wife but…well. She's no more." said Marth. Roy nodded.

"Sorry, about that. Your father and wife I mean." said Roy. Marth nodded.

"And you?"

"Eliwood. I got my looks from him. They say having red hair is a magical thing. You tend to be more strong willed." Roy's eyes brightened and for once Marth joined in Roy's jovial moments.

"Then what does that make me huh?" said Marth, chuckling. Roy pretended to stroke an imaginary beard and 'think' about what Marth's bright blue hair could possibly mean.

"Hmm…I'd say you have…a really icy view of things…but are 'cool' when you aren't being a girl." he laughed and Marth hurled a pillow at him, laughing as well.

"I'm no girl Roy." he said, trying to catch his breath from laughter. Roy stood up on the couch and struck one of Marth's infamous poses.

"Minna, Miteite kure!" he almost shouted. "Everyone, please look!"***

Marth tackled him and Roy struck him with another pillow, laughing as hard as possible. Both boys, when they had settled their dispute, collapsed on the cold, hardwood floor of the library. Marth turned to Roy.

"Thanks Roy." Roy chuckled again.

"For making fun of you? No problem Princess." he said. Marth rolled his eyes and smiled. Roy was a good friend after all. Marth pulled himself up onto the couch and sighed, taking in the air and sighing softly. Roy climbed back up onto the opposite couch and sighed as well.

"So, haven't seen you and blondie hangin' around lately." said Roy. Marth shrugged.

"I haven't seen him around period. I don't know what's going on…but I don't like it." said Marth, wrinkling his nose.

"Hmm, well, he could be out walking. Or maybe he's chatting with the other 'veterans'." said Roy. Marth raised an eyebrow.

"Veterans? And please don't give me the definition. I know what the word means. Why are they called it?" said Marth. Roy spread out on the couch and placed a pillow on his face. Marth rolled his eyes and pulled it off. "Explain or I'll attack you again."

"Veterans are the smash people who have been here before. Like Samus. She was here last term too. So was Mario, and Link. Pikachu, Peach, etc. They were all 'veterans' of the Smash House." Roy grabbed his pillow back from Marth and placed it on his head. Then, slightly muffled, finished explaining. "If you came back here next term, then you'd become a veteran too. Besides, people tend to trust veterans more than us newcomers more often anyway. That'd be the only reason I think that Link would be speaking to them. Otherwise he'd be back up on the top floor staring out the window like always."

Roy turned to Marth. "Satisfied?" Marth nodded and Roy sank down into the couch even lower, starting to drift off. "By the way Mars Bar, I've been watching you and twinkle socks for a while now. You…make a great couple."

Marth blushed ten shades of red. "H-how…?" Roy chuckled.

"Don't give up on him Marth…you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Trust me. You're a good person, he just hasn't figured it out yet." Marth thanked him and Roy nodded.

Marth got up and quickly left just after Roy had fallen asleep.


Veterans. What does it mean to be a veteran? I sighed, couldn't come up with an answer on the spot. It was one of those, 'delve deeper and you shall find' type of meanings. Being a veteran, to me, didn't quite mean just coming back for second or third terms. No, it must mean something more. And even then I wouldn't put a clear definition on it.

Then there was the matter of Roy's leaving. Yes he's annoying and while I admit I do enjoy his company sometimes he's quite troublesome and easy to figure out. But that goes without saying, if he left then what? Will some other swordsmen take his place? What about me? If I so choose…I could leave and never look back. Would someone take my place too?

Would Link leave?

All these things made me think more. I was curious. Why would anyone leave? I felt no home away from here. Sure it was dusty and full sometimes of wretched scoundrels…but it was better than a wasteland. And what of the others like me? I felt closet to Roy and to Link. They seemed to understand. To know. To feel what I felt. I sighed again. I wasn't getting anywhere. I turned and began to walk, not looking ahead of me. So, I ran right into him.

I fell on the floor and groaned. Ugh. It hurt, but not too badly. But before I could pull myself up, someone had taken hold of my arm and yanked me up. I came face to face with Link's enemy, Ganondorf.

He eyed me suspiciously, not letting go of my arm. I gave him a decent scowling too. Just to piss him off. I'd learned much about this one. Evil, like every other villain out there, and somewhat sour towards his hero opposite. I sometimes saw Ganondorf and Link arguing in the hallways loudly while Zelda tried to pull them apart. That's why the villains lived in separate quarters…until battle time.

"I'd watch where I was going if I were you." said Ganondorf in that gruff, annoyingly scratchy voice he had. I glared at him.

"And you? If I recall you're not supposed to be walking these halls." I retorted. Ganondorf grunted.

"What are you getting at?" I leaned in for affect and took on one of those grins I'd seen the villains at the manor make.

"I'm saying, get out of my hallway. Would you like me to mop the floor with your worthless hide?" I said. Ganondorf was about to attack me when I heard Zelda's voice call out.

"Ganondorf. He's right. You shouldn't be in here." she said. Ganondorf turned to her and grinned, viciously pushing me back down to the floor. I scowled up at him again. He mockingly bowed to her and walked off, laughing as he went. Zelda at once turned to me.

"Are you a fool Marth Lowell?" she said, walking over and pulling me up. I couldn't look at her. Was she…helping me?

"No. Just…want to take out some anger on him is all. He shouldn't have been down here in the first place." Zelda shook her head exasperatedly.

"So you tried to pick a fight with him and thought that would be the better route? Honestly! Link's right about you sometimes. You get yourself into such a mess!" she said. I almost apologized. Zelda was like a mother.

"Uh…yah. Well, I guess I'd better go um…find something to do." Zelda nodded.

"Agreed, before trouble finds you again or better yet you go looking for it." and with that she turned on her heel and walked off to the library. I sighed and continued on my way. Maybe Zelda had a change of heart. It seemed a lot of the ones who disliked me the most had taken a turn for the better towards me lately.

Most of the smashers were busy at work in the stages. I watched. The crowd cheered and I would at least try to remain interested. But I had other things on my mind. I was so lost in thought, that I wasn't prepared for a voice and a person to show up next to me.

Link sat down calmly and looked at me. I looked back. "Hey." he said. I nodded. Link cleared his throat.

"Zelda told me about that spat you had in the hallway with Ganondorf." he said. I was afraid he'd start lecturing. Good thing I was wrong.

"Yah I was stupid she already told me." I said. Something about that way he said things made me feel guilty. Link shook his head.

"You're not stupid Marth. You just let your anger get the best of you. And that's okay sometimes…just as long as it doesn't become habit. You understand?" I nodded. Link was still calm. "Come, we need to talk about something…"

I got up and followed him. He led me up the stairs to our room and closed the door. I sat down and curled up suddenly remembering something I didn't want to remember. Link just stood there. Something odd had taken hold of him. He spoke with a voice much deeper than his own. I looked up and felt my face grow pale.

"M-Marth…" Link's eyes became hollow. It was like something was possessing him. "You're a…d-isgrace…to Anri's…n-name."

I remembered. "Cornelius." I said in shock. It was then that I realized what was wrong. My own memories had possessed Link. He pulled his hand back and anger erupted in his eyes. I gasped and felt the sting of Link's hand across my face. It was the memory of my father hitting me.

I placed my hand to my face, feeling hot tears stream down it. I refused to blame Link. It wasn't his fault. It was my own. Seconds later I felt Link's arms around me and his voice in my ear.

"I'm sorry." he said. I shook my head.

"Don't be. It's been stuck in my head too long…you must've picked up on it or something. I don't blame you." I looked over at him and smiled weakly. "Okay?"

Link nodded. He pulled off his gauntlet and pressed his hand to my cheek. It was turning red from the smack but it was fine. I smiled at him again and pulled my arm around him as well. All the time hoping that the memory was gone for a while.

And I was glad Link was talking to me again. Just as Roy had predicted.


***Minna, Miteite kure!*** basically means, 'Everyone, please look!' in Japanese. For those of you who didn't know or those who probably won't read this, I had Roy say both the Japanese and English exclamations. Melee and Brawl players will recognize this as one of Marth's three taunts that comes after he swings Falchion [his sword] around in the air. Roy is teasing Marth for it.

Author's Note:

:O Love this chapter! I got to fully utilize Marth's taunt!

The little issue with Link stems from his long history with the Triforce of Courage. Why not give him an added quirk? :P I like Link crazy…it suits him.

ALSO! Link's slapping him was all in reference to an occurrence from Marth's story. In Fire Emblem, his father apparently slaps Marth for not taking the life of an animal during a hunting trip. Cornelius wants Marth to grow up strong like Anri and does not approve of Marth's tenderness. Just to clear things up.

Review please! :D