Chapter 18: The Definition of Two-Timing
The question was to kill or to die? Marth could admit that perhaps he had been too hasty when considering suicide. Being betrayed by his own partner in the race and beaten by that little barnacle Link had been more than a great blow to his pride but he had survived worse, had he not? It was true that he could not even bring himself to look at the winning order showed on the wide screen TV and luckily he did not have to either because he could barely see it behind the many different sized heads in the way.
Peach who had gladly accepted to join Super Smash Brothers with hopes of proving herself a worthy opponent and raise the opinion of women had forgotten any murderous intent towards Link. The disappointment in seeing her name at the bottom of the list was too great.
"Well, can't say that the winner was unexpected," Bowser bragged. His self-satisfaction could be tolerated but Popo and Nana had a hard time forgiving him for standing right in front of the TV.
"It was only because of Yoshi you won," Falco told Bowser mercilessly and Fox nodded next to him.
"What!"
"Yoshi is really something above the ordinary, being able to win with Bowser being his partner," Dr. Mario said and failed to hold back a chuckle. The other Mario joined in although it was doubtful whether he had heard what was said or not.
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed happily.
"I dare you to say that again," Bowser threatened and stomped through the crowd to the spot where he thought that he had heard the Pokémon. Popo and Nana gratefully approached the TV together with a few others and ignored Bowser's tantrum. It would not change the fact that Yoshi was the true winner.
With Bowser out of the way even Marth had a clear view of the TV. Against his will he skimmed through the list and felt a bitter taste rise in his throat when seeing his own name. At least there was one small comfort to find on that list and then it was as if something clicked in the back of his head. How come he had not thought of it sooner?
"Remember what you promised?"
Marth could barely contain his delight upon finding the little barnacle next to him at such a blissful time. Judging by the look of worry that showed up on the boy's face he had been unable to hold back a smirk too. He quickly fixed his face back to what he would describe as gentlemanly indifference.
"It would be more than shameful of me to forget a promise. I gave you my word, did I not? May I suggest that we at once settle the details? It would truly be an unparalleled joy to me if you would be as kind as to comply."
The polite tone of voice was unnerving. That the room temperature was normal around Marth was even more so. Hopefully the prince was just trying to keep up appearances and Link decided to follow him to the kitchen.
"Now you'll stay away from Zelda, right?" the boy said quietly, lingering behind when Marth walked around the kitchen table as if he was on a tour of the house. The mix of hopefulness and pleading in his voice was like music to the prince's ears.
"Well…" Marth began, drawing it out and checking that there was no dirt under his nails. "We will get to that in time."
Link gripped the back of a chair, eyeing Marth who decided to lean against the kitchen counter on the other side. The prince took his time to cross his arms and put one leg over the other.
"You must be a devoted young man. I can imagine the efforts put into training to pull off such a performance," Marth said in such a casual way that it was more than suspicious. Young Link refused to say a word.
"No need to be shy. I have had the pleasure to hear you boast before. At least you can admit that practice makes perfect?"
"I guess."
"Excellent. I do not think that I can imagine the many great things you will turn out to be."
That was a ridiculous. Did Link not have his future self wandering around the same house? It was quite hard to miss.
"It would be strange if you would never be able to improve, even more embarrassing if your skills were to rust," Marth went on as if such a thought had just occurred to him. He even shook his head in remorse of poor Link's future.
Link wondered if he should keep quiet. It was too obvious of a trap to fall into despite the hard time he had to accept the insults. He did not like to ever think of himself as inferior to Marth, especially not at a time when Zelda's affections could be lost to him.
"You can see for yourself what I will become," young Link said boldly. "And no matter what skills I will or won't have I'll at least make sure that you don't get too close to Zelda."
Link could at once see that he had made a mistake.
"I see. It could not be so that it passed you by how embarrassingly bad you did in the race? Your much more experienced self that is. An aspiring young man at the top of his abilities, at an age that would leave him well matched with myself I would even dare say, ended up third place. From the bottom."
"W-what does that have to do with anything?" Link interjected hotly but Marth left no room for any protests.
"Oh, just a small triviality I found captivating, that I easily defeated you when you were at your strongest. Or maybe you mean to tell me that you are superior to the adult Link? Or even better, you plan to reveal that you and he in reality are two different people? Unless you do, I am afraid that all that remain is for you to congratulate me on my dinner with Princess Zelda. I believe that you are intelligent enough to understand that I cannot delay here when I must begin on the preparations to make sure that it will be an unforgettable night."
There were so many things wrong with what Marth had just said. Link could feel it in his entire body. His hands were shaking against the steady wood of the chair. How come then that he could not come up with any counterargument? Not a single word would come out of him. All he could do was to glare at Marth with all the hatred inside of him ready to burst out.
"Like I said," Marth went on, his indifference putting oil to the fire. Anger that went beyond what your body could contain, how was it to be dealt with? What was done to you? "If you don't have anything to say…"
Link mumbled something unintelligible, tearing his hating gaze away from Marth.
"I am afraid that I could not quite catch that," Marth told him callously. He was kind of surprised to hear what resembled a sob from the boy but there were no evident tears. Whatever difficulty the boy was having it was not enough to make him cry. With such halfhearted feelings Marth had no reason to pity him, if he had ever felt like considering it.
The long silence was slowly beginning to get to the prince. He was a patient man but with a troublesome and detestable little midget you could never expect things to run smoothly and he was quite eager to succeed in his persuasion. Maybe it took more to break Link?
"Congratulations on your win. I hope you and Zelda will have a good time," young Link forced out like every word had burnt his throat. His hands were still shaking terribly. The pitiable boy stood there all alone, looking small and helpless, clinging to something as worthless as a chair like it was everything he had left.
Marth cocked his head to the side and watched the child for a moment. He guessed that it would have been less sad if he had made him cry but why that incomprehensible look? It was only one dinner and he did plan to be a gentleman.
"Thank you. I am more than certain that we will enjoy ourselves," Marth said and abandoned his comfortable position against the kitchen counter. His rhythmic steps filled the silence when he walked around the end of the table and then he left with a wave over his shoulder.
Everything went just as planned. Now it was time to find Zelda and tell her the wondrous news that Link had willingly agreed to let them have their dinner.
Zelda was not one of those left in the living-room. Marth walked past the chaos and pretended not to notice Bowser hunting down the ones speaking well of Yoshi while objecting wildly to the praise of the dinosaur. He walked up the stairs and was fortunate enough to find Zelda around the corner. Sadly, she was not alone.
"I am tremendously sorry," Zelda apologized, bowing deep before Captain Falcon with her hands neatly folded in the front and her head held down. The racer appeared quite at a loss for what to do but decided in the heat of the moment to put a hand consolingly on her head. Marth was quite appalled at such a terrible lack of etiquette. Even so, he stepped back behind the corner to make sure that he would not be seen.
"Don't apologize," Captain Falcon said and tilted her chin up so that she would not miss his reassuring smile. "Even if third place is kind of irritating it was not your fault that we didn't win."
"But it is my fault," Zelda protested. She had been the one slowing him down when he had more than the potential to win. "You protected me from the explosion as well. Except for my thanks I see no other way than apologizing in order to pay back some of my dept."
"The thanks are enough," Falcon told her and put up his palm to stop her from any more objections. "I was the one taking you close to that bomb and Link asked me to keep an eye on you too. I'm just glad you're unharmed."
"Link did?"
Marth strained his ears to hear the continuation. He took a peek around the corner in time to see Captain Falcon lean back in surprise at the dark tone of voice in which the princess had spoken.
Zelda felt that she should have known that Link would do something like that. His protectiveness was driven to a point where she thought it weird that he had not yet suggested cotton to be laid out everywhere she walked. Then again, she had ended up in a situation where she could have been badly hurt if it had not been for Captain Falcon. Neither had she proved a single time that she was capable of taking care of herself. Instead of appreciating Link's concern she had most times been annoyed.
"Captain, I am glad that you accept my thanks," Zelda said serenely and smiled gently. Captain Falcon muttered "sure" while eyeing her suspiciously but he could find nothing in her behavior that betrayed any other emotion than gratefulness.
Marth decided that it was a perfect time for him to conveniently show up. He took a step around the corner and put on a look of mild surprise.
"Princess Zelda, I was just hoping that I would run into you."
"Prince Marth, how can I be of service?"
Marth ignored Captain Falcon giving him a look of warning when leaving Zelda's side. Too bad for Link that friends were so awfully overrated.
"I do unfortunately not possess any knowledge as to why he would have said such a thing but it seems like your young hero has allowed me to take you out to dinner," Marth said once he could no longer hear the sound of Captain Falcon walking down the stairs.
Zelda shot him a piercing look.
"I am not lying," he guaranteed.
"No. You're not," she agreed slowly and her gaze softened. He could compare it to the feeling of having a sword withdrawn from the body, although he could not say that he had ever had the joy of experiencing that.
"But how come that he agreed?" Zelda questioned. He should have expected her to choose the worst of all the possible things to ask.
"Like I said I can only suspect the reason."
True. He might have had a role in it but you could never know exactly what went on in the head of another. Zelda did unfortunately not seem to believe him this time but for reasons that were completely unknown to Marth she did not press him further.
"Then, Princess Zelda, I guess that it is decided that I will be able to enjoy your company for a full evening. Give me two days and I am convinced that I will have everything in order."
Zelda nodded, for some reason she did not seem too keen on speaking. Marth did not think too much about it either. He hated meaningless drabble.
He bid her adieu, kissing her hand and going through the full procedure before he left in a hurry. A smile would not grace his face even at a time like this but it was a though the weight that had been lifted off his chest made his steps lighter and it showed. This was short-lived though, because upon finding Roy cross-legged on his bed with his back against the mahogany bedpost Marth was once again aware of gravity.
"Long time no see," Roy greeted him with a boyish smile.
"I see you every day."
"Hardly. You are much too busy wooing princesses."
"You mean to say that I am the only one? May I remind you that you have been all over everything that moves in this house."
Roy untangled his legs, choosing not to answer but giving Marth's pillow a toothy grin. Marth took the opportunity to sit down at his desk, nonchalantly walking past his friend.
"Jealous?" the red-head teased.
"Hardly. I am much too busy wooing princesses," Marth said dryly.
"Speaking of which, I was out shopping, see how little we see of each other, and the cashier threw in a free magazine because I'm handsome."
Marth who had his chin propped on his palm raised his eyebrows at Roy. "Fascinating."
"Well, the thing is that the cashier, real cute with pigtails by the way, was busy looking at my face and just threw in a random magazine."
"I believe you mentioned a magazine, yes."
"It's one of those girl magazines. You know, what do the stars find attractive in men, top ten dream dates, why he doesn't take your hints, yadda, yadda, yadda. I couldn't help but to think of you."
"I am flattered."
Roy flung a pink magazine that had been lying on the bed in Marth's way, aiming for his head. Marth caught it before it could hit him and took a look at the pink front with a busty blonde that smiled adoringly at him.
Top ten dream dates? Could be useful if it had not been so that he had already been taught every single detail of courtship. He skeptically flapped the pages until he came across the huge title, surrounded by quite a few hearts, which said The Perfect Date. The list had been made from the readers' votes and when Marth skimmed through it he could find nothing that he recognized. There had to be something wrong so he read it a second time more carefully.
"Trash," Marth proclaimed and tossed the magazine back to Roy. The art of courtship had a long successful tradition and here came a magazine that did not bring up a single example of the proper ways. Movies, airplane messages, amusement parks, zoos, the beach; what kind of joke was that? Not the mention that red roses were written out to be unimaginative and cliché. Anyone would know that red roses were an unmatched classic. Chocolate boxes he had never heard of but who would be crude enough to bring a lady food? This was not the Stone Age where you could come dragging with a dead mammoth for a gift.
"Trash? Oh, I don't know about that," Roy said and found the right page again. "People seem to do it differently here."
Marth would not let himself be persuaded. Roy walked over with the magazine, which Marth refused to accept.
"Does this mean that you have asked Zelda out?"
The light faded from Marth's eyes. If he said yes there would be no end to it but if he-
"You have," Roy cheered and before Marth had time to say anything else added: "Otherwise you would have already denied it."
"I am quite sure that you and I have quite different ideas about what a date is. I will merely eat dinner with a lady that I find to be quite enjoyable company."
"My, really? Where will you eat?"
Judging by the cold look Marth gave Roy his guess that Marth had no clue where to take Zelda was correct.
"I have visited the city more than once," Marth said to save what little was left of his pride. "I know that there are restaurants."
"Do you know about the restaurant?" Roy asked smugly. Marth's eyes narrowed and the corner of his mouth twitched ominously. It was quite amusing making him out to be a fool. Roy waved the magazine before his eyes and Marth angrily accepted it, crossing one leg over the other and began reading it like Roy was no longer there.
Roy tried his best to amuse himself but the books looked boring, Marth was by the desk and would not let him touch anything there and he already knew practically all the contents in the drawers. Alas, he had nothing to do so he left Marth reading in peace.
The only people he passed by in the corridor were Peach and Zelda and they were about to enter Peach's room. He smiled and nodded and Peach disappeared with a giggle behind the door. She swirled around with a happy sigh and tended to her guest, making sure that Zelda was sitting comfortable among the many pillows and that the tea she had made before running into her friend was served in her best cups.
"Zelda, I am so sorry about the date being called off like that," Peach said sympathetically and pulled out her chair to sit opposite of Zelda.
The Hylian Princess felt a slight hesitation against telling Peach that the date, in fact, was still planned. Maybe the image she had of Peach making it into something bigger than it really was, persistently insisting to help her pick out the perfect outfit, was too much. It was tiring just to imagine it. Albeit that was a side of Peach that she liked Zelda felt that she would rather avoid wasting the energy it took to handle an excited Peach.
"Marth must be so disappointed," Peach said and took a sip of her tropical tea. "Perhaps you could ask him out to lift his spirits? I am sure that Link won't be any trouble if you're the one to suggest it."
"Speaking of Link," Zelda said, raising her chin and Peach hid behind her cup of tea. "Have you seen the younger one?"
Peach's gaze drifted to the door before she closed her eyes and thoughtfully drank some more of her tea. Once she had swallowed, she inhaled slowly and put the cup down on its small matching saucer. "Now that you mention it, I think he left the kitchen when I went to make tea, but I did not really pay him much attention."
"Peach, I am sorry for leaving already," Zelda apologized and handed Peach the full tea cup.
"But you just came," Peach said and rose when Zelda did, holding one cup in each hand.
"I have something urgent to discuss with Link."
"About Marth?"
Zelda nodded and Peach lifted her heels off the ground happily, nearly spilling the tea. "In that case you can go," she said and smiled broadly. "Hurry up."
Zelda thanked her a dozen times for her kindness before the door was finally closed. Link must have already left the kitchen which meant that there were quite a few places to look for him. Since she was already walking towards the stairs she could just as well begin looking on the ground floor.
Captain Falcon had escaped the pandemonium in the living-room and when Zelda noticed him approaching she did not hesitate to stop him.
"Captain, could I bother you with a small request? It would not happen to be so that you have seen the younger Link?"
"Eh, no," he said and took a good look at her face. "Is something wrong with him?"
Zelda shook her head. "Not that I know. I am merely wishing to speak a word with my young hero."
"Well, I'm pretty sure he's not downstairs so why don't you keep me company to my room? Then you can go to his. Sounds like a plan?"
While he said this Zelda changed direction and began walking with him. As it often were with silences, the exception being if Marth was involved in Zelda's case, it was awkward. The next thing they said was polite goodbyes and then she walked on to Link's room. She was about to open the door but there was something particular in the air, a vibrating feeling that made her hand hover over the door handle. She knocked but no one opened. She hesitantly pushed the door open, being quite certain that someone was inside.
"Link?" she asked, searching the dimly lit room for any sight of him. It was early afternoon and the lack of light made her worried. It was not like Link to pull the curtains shut. Finally her gaze landed on the small back close to the bed.
"Zelda, this is not really a good time," Link said with a strained voice, fidgeting with his hands and not turning around to greet her.
She ignored what he said and strode over to him, gently placing her gloved hands on his shoulders. She could feel him freeze under her touch but let her hand soothingly remain where they were, waiting for him to relax.
"Link, I will leave soon but I have to ask. Have you agreed to let Marth take me out to dinner?"
How could he tell her differently? He had not wanted to, not in the least, but he had given his approval. However, he could not allow himself to think of that unfair situation again. If he started shaking Zelda would definitely feel it and he could not allow her to know how childish he was being.
"I said that it was okay," he told her and turned around. She removed her hands and was slightly shocked by his calm countenance which bespoke nothing but composedness, maybe with a bit of cute prematurity. It brought an affectionate smile to her face.
"Just know Zelda that if you make sure that I find out I will come and get you and you can go home whenever you like," Link added with a very premature tone to his voice.
"I am lucky to have you always looking after me," Zelda said and caressed his cheek. "My little hero."
"I'm not so little anymore," he interjected and she laughed.
"I know."
When Zelda had talked to Link she could feel a lot more relieved about the whole situation. She knew exactly what to wear, that light blue dress again. It could not be a bad choice since she had so few opportunities to wear it and Marth had helped to pick it out himself. Although she might feel a bit uncomfortable in the dress she was slowly getting used to it. She could let the date approach without regret and soon the day arrived.
An unknowing, and therefore happy, Hero of Time was spending the afternoon in front of the TV with Captain Falcon and Mario. The racer was the one in possession of the remote and had soon scared of the kids stationed on the floor with his constant zapping between the channels.
"You'd think that sport hasn't been invented yet," Captain Falcon muttered in annoyance after coming across yet another soap opera.
"Can't-a we watch this-a then? Could be a great-a conversation starter with-a Peachie," Mario said, leaning on the armrest and lazily watching the images fly by on the TV screen.
"I really don't care about your love life," Captain Falcon said and he had already changed the channel about five times since Mario began speaking.
"Speaking of which, Falcon," Link cut in venomously. "You have been awfully friendly with Zelda since that three-legged race."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah? So what's the deal? Weren't you hanging after Samus? Do you like Zelda?" Link prompted threateningly. Captain Falcon gave him a bored glance.
"Samus? Sorry, but I don't swing that way. To me it seems like it's Samus you should worry about when it comes to Zelda and not me. Sure, Zelda's cute, like a little nun or something, but a bit stiff and too young for my preferences."
Link thought of whether he ought to make it clear to Falcon that Samus was a woman but they were speaking about Zelda and that was quite a bit more important.
"How can you speak so lightly of the Princess of Hyrule?" Link said with all the pompousness and grandeur you could put to the title.
"Aren't you being oversensitive?" Falcon retorted. "What do you want me to say? That she is heavenly beautiful and God's gift to men but I'm not interested?"
"You speak of her like that and yet you claim not to be interested?"
"Mario," Falcon said and turned to the plumber who had stayed out of the discussion. "He's always like this if he doesn't get to see her enough. Tell him to go and ask her out so that I can watch TV."
Mario shrugged and turned to Link. "Go-a and ask-a Zelda out-a."
Link snorted and focused on the TV. As long as he was quiet Captain Falcon did not mind but Mario was serious in his suggestion.
"Link-a, it-a can't hurt-a. If you-a want to see-a the one you like, you should-a," the plumber said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Like-a now. All this talk-a about principesse makes me-a wanna see Peachie."
To prove what he said he jumped down from the couch and left them, taking the opportunity to snatch the white flowers from the vase on the coffee-table in front of them.
"It can't hurt to ask her, Link," Captain Falcon said, peering at the Hylian. "I don't think she'll turn you down. She already said yes once. This is the time when you're supposed to be a bit more forward or nothing will come of it."
"Well, I'm not borrowing money from you again. What am I supposed to ask her? I can't afford taking her out every week no matter how much I want to."
"Bah, as if women, most women anyway, care about money. We have a girly garden available and a huge grassy field under the night sky. Don't they like watching stars and stuff?"
"Don't get how you can be that casual about stuff like this," Link sighed when he rose and brushed off his tunic.
"I'm not seventeen anymore," Captain Falcon replied, eyes glued to a soap opera when Link walked away.
The hero was lucky to find Zelda exiting her room the moment he reached the top of the stairs and at the sight of him she happily greeted him and waited for him to start a conversation. Ironically, he could feel his tongue tie itself into a knot the very same moment. He put a hand against the wall, trying to pull off a dashing smile in order to win some time.
So there he stood, silent and grinning like a goof.
"Link, I feel like we have not seen each other lately. I am glad that I ran into you," Zelda said after a long pause and a whole lot of smiling.
"Same here, I mean, me too. Glad, very happy, to see you."
"Did I miss the afternoon coffee?" Zelda wondered.
Din, what a fool she must take him for? Could Ganondorf not come and be a little bit threatening? Link considered himself a man of actions rather than words and what better way to show your affection could there be than heroically dashing to the rescue of the damsel in distress?
"Are you free tonight?" he blurted out, sounding pathetically hopeful and painfully aware of his ears perking up. His hands were starting to sweat too and he begged that the wallpaper would not be damaged. He crossed his arms and leant his shoulder against the spot where his hand had previously been, just in case, all while he kept smiling at Zelda.
Zelda knew she would have to answer and that quick. Why did things have to be so hard? At first she had not been able to tell Peach and now she all of a sudden felt a terrifying will against telling Link about where she was going. The thought that he could find out about it had not crossed her mind.
What could be the reason to this incomprehensible feeling? That was the first question to ask. She had a feeling that Marth and Link did not really like each other but that would not make sense in this situation. Link and Peach disliked each other and yet Zelda spent an awful lot of time with her without feeling guilty. This was no different from her being alone with Peach or Samus, or Link for the matter.
"Zelda?" Link said with a hint of worry.
How come she did not want him to know? They kept no secrets from each other. Why did she feel ashamed, like a traitor even? There was not a single reason why Link should not know the truth.
"I am sorry but I am busy, Link."
"Oh."
She could tell that he was disappointed.
"It was nothing important, anyway. Just wondered if you would like some stargazing. Maybe some other time?" Link said, smiling miserably at her and scratching the back of his head. He was such a horrible liar that it was sad. The careless attitude did not match his voice, it contradicted his drooping ears and when he opened his eyes it did not reach them.
"That sounds great," Zelda said and put on a more practiced smile. "It is too bad that I have plans. I would really have enjoyed it."
"So, what are your plans?" he asked and looked away from her. It seemed like he wanted to take the words back and she wished that he would.
"Oh, just the usual. Peach wants to have one of those tea parties again."
How natural a lie could come if you did not think too much about it.
"But that's all right to cancel, right?"
Link wished that he could just keep quiet soon. How come he was not stuttering like usual? He knew that he had feared a rejection and that he right now was trying his hardest to avoid it, while denying that she had said no. It was strange that he would feel this down although she gave him a perfectly logical reason for declining.
"I don't know," Zelda said apologetically, lowering her gaze. "I promised."
"And you can't break a promise," Link filled in to spare himself from hearing her say it. "I understand."
It was painful how gentle he looked. His fingertips moved down her cheek. Would he be this understanding if he knew the truth? He could have patience with Peach but if he knew that she willingly went to town, all dressed up, with Marth. She had to force herself not to fall to her knees and beg for forgiveness. It took all of her will to endure until he was gone.
What had she done? She hid inside her room and fell down on the bed, hugging the closest one of the many pillows to her face. She had lied to Link. Her closest and dearest friend in the whole world. Their friendship had begun on the basis that he had trusted her when no one else had.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled into the pillow.
Somewhere else in the house young Link walked around in search for a certain someone. He dragged his feet, focusing on nothing but his small quest and finally found the one he was looking for. As if in trance he approached the intimidating person who at the moment looked quite harmless when reading a newspaper.
"Samus, I need your help."
The bounty hunter lowered the newspaper and looked down to be met by a blank stare from the young Hylian.
Maybe he could not take on Marth in a battle of words, but he would never accept that the prince took Zelda right out of his palm and dangled her in front of his eyes. He would prove that he was a force to be reckoned with.
I think that this chapter is of a lot more endurable length than the previous one. Sneaky Marth got things his way. Young Link, you won fair and square, that was all you needed to tell him. Oh, well, nothing to do about it now.
To tell the truth, when I first began talking about a date between Marth and Zelda it was just a random thought of Marth wearing a cravat and riding a white stallion, taking Zelda on a moonlight ride. I will try to think up something a bit more serious (what am I saying? I already know how it will unfold).
Marth and Link really have a way of bringing out the worst in each other, haven't they? Marth really threw away his conscience in this chapter, at least I feel that way. Maybe he will seem nicer when alone with Zelda (although I already know that things won't run that smoothly).
And thank you so much for the reviews (dances around). If it weren't for that I wouldn't want to come across as too pushy or impolite I would hug you all.