The crowd roared. "LINK! LINK! LINK!" they chanted.

"THE WINNERS," Crazy Hand boomed once again. "LINK AND MARIO! THAT WAS AWESOME!" People threw flowers and money at the two. Mario picked up a gold coin off the ground. Green rupees littered the floor, as well as other currencies. Mario walked to Link and grabbed his arm and raised it into the air. The resulting cheers made everything else inaudible.

After people started leaving, Link said, "I'm starting to think you like this." Mario turned to him. "There isn't much else to like."

Ike was holding a ice pack to his head in his dorm he shared with his partner, Lucario. He was away in the infirmary. Nothing too serious. That left Ike alone in his room. But he liked it that way.

A knock echoed through the room. "Come in," he said. The door slid open and in behind it stood the same man who had cracked his jaw earlier. Mario. Ike stood up. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I came to apologize," he replied. "About your jaw. That even hurt my hand."

Ike sat back down and put his head in his hand. "You don't have to, I get it. I was in your way, so you did what you had to. In any case, I should apologize to you, you're deeper in this than I am."

"Oh. Well thank you for understanding."

"No problem."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it, it's your first tournament. I've been training for ten years. You're a team of newcomers."

"Yeah, thanks. Also, good luck out there."

"You too." And with the last words, Mario headed to his dorm to sleep.

Link twisted in his bed. He should've been asleep an hour ago, but he couldn't shake the feeling of the time Zelda left.

Seven years ago, Zelda was kidnapped and taken to be a smasher. She was so fragile, so delicate, it was hard for Link to see why they would want to recruit her. They soon fell in love, and Link always tried to protect her. But during the tournament, Ganon killed her.

And every night since, Link could never fall asleep.

Oh my, that was scary. Not really. Also, a review would be awesome. Tell me what pair Link and Mario should fight next! Thank you!