Chapter 23: Peach the Matchmaker
The sky felt particularly blue today. Perhaps that was why Princess Peach had decided to take Mr. Game & Watch under her wing. There was something about this otherwise not very unusual morning that made her feel very optimistic about curing his cooking disease. The poor thing had spent most of his time walking around the house looking lonely and, this odd day, when Peach suddenly got a vibe of true determination to make a change from him she at once decided to be there for him.
The princess was scurrying around the kitchen in a frilly apron while her student, proudly wearing a chef's cap, admired the cake that had just been taken out of the oven. The pleasant smell was filling up the whole kitchen and Peach would have loved to simply lie down and inhale it for a while if it had not been for how tasty she knew that the finished product would be.
Samus, who felt strangely at ease today, paid no attention to the smell or Peach's one-sided conversation with her. Not even the endless rants in the newspaper could bring about the usual lack of faith in mankind she usually felt.
"Mash these strawberries, please," Peach said and gave Mr. Game and Watch what had to be the tenth encouraging smile for the day. She had found that he became a lot more eager if you were willing to praise him a little, as long as you made sure that he did not get too enthusiastic and began to drop things. "Samus, don't you think mashed strawberries blended with whipped cream will be much tastier than regular jam?"
"Mmm-hmm," Samus replied, not looking up from the newspaper.
Zelda had been observing Mr. Game & Watch through the whole making of the cake. In truth, he had ended up not doing all that much since Peach tended to do more than she needed when correcting him or giving instructions.
Zelda leant her elbows on the kitchen counter and watched Mr. Game & Watch unwillingly abandon the cake to hurry over to Peach. It felt like she could understand why something as simple as the cake in front of her would mean a lot to the paper-thin man. After all, the hard words he had endured, remarks about his cooking included, this improvement had to be good for his self-esteem. No sooner had he left than Peach took his place on the other side of the counter, already in the process of whipping the cream.
"Samus, do you like cream?" Peach asked and tilted her upper body a bit to the side to make herself visible from behind Zelda. Samus nonchalantly flipped to a new page and ignored her. Peach caught Zelda's gaze and then rolled her eyes.
Over at the sink, Mr. Game & Watch was mashing the strawberries with great concentration. Peach made sure to see how he was doing in-between her tries to start a dialogue with Samus and both of the princesses smiled fondly at the hardworking student. If it had not been for his moving hands he would have been almost invisible because of his nonexistent volume and the hat, which had needed a peg to stay on his head, almost looked like it hovered over to ground.
"I am sure that this will be a good cake," Peach said happily. "Won't you feel happy showing off your hard work, Mr. Game & Watch?"
Zelda noticed the black figure slump. He tried to look unaffected but his movements slowed down. The sad mass of poorly mashed strawberries was weakly mauled by his fork, which seemed to weight a ton, over and over without really erasing the lumps of red pulp.
"Don't you want to have a piece, Peach?" Zelda asked. Her good-natured friend did fortunately not consider that there could be a motive behind the question.
"Why, I would love to. Can I really, Mr. Game & Watch? It would make me so happy if I could have some. We could celebrate a job well done."
It warmed Zelda's heart to hear the blissful beeps that came in response. Peach really was the best option to make Mr. Game & Watch happy. Otherwise she would have offered to eat the cake herself.
Peach took a peek at Samus to find her just as absorbed with the newspaper as before so she turned to Zelda. "Zelda, Marth looked a bit down yesterday. You wouldn't happen to know why?" she asked, seeing the opportunity to bring up the topic when Samus was not listening. Zelda propped her chin on her palm and watched Peach move her arm in swift circles.
"No," Zelda said slowly. "It is certainly a shame that he seems troubled," she hastily added as not to appear ignorant. The mood had been very nice today and the fighting kept at a minimum so the mere thought that there could be someone who was unhappy appeared very unlikely. It was of course to expect that at least one person was feeling down. It was just hard to imagine on a day like this.
"Exactly," Peach agreed and nodded vigorously. Zelda was beginning to fear that the cream would end up as butter. "It is a shame that such a handsome gentleman should walk around troubled, too polite to turn to anyone. If only there was someone who could offer to listen."
Zelda's face lit up. "Maybe we could enlighten Roy about Marth's plight?"
Peach finally put down the bowl of perfectly whipped cream and gestured for Mr. Game & Watch to bring over the strawberries before she raised an eyebrow at Zelda.
"Zelda, dear, how should I put this? You seem slightly aloof today," she said and kept an eye on Mr. Game & Watch to make sure that nothing except his feet touched the ground.
Zelda shrugged and her gaze fell to the kitchen counter where trails of flour had powdered the surface. "Ever since I woke up this morning there have been a few things that I have been unable to get off my mind," she admitted.
"Oh, I know what you mean. There is something strange about how refreshed you feel, right? I can't describe it. It is like I have regained hours of lost sleep and taken a bubble bath to top it off."
"I have been feeling unusually good today but there is something different. About yesterday."
"Marth's singing left that deep of an impression?"
"Rather, I feel that there is something wrong with Link's explanation after our song had been interrupted."
Peach looked down and noticed that she had already mixed the strawberries with the cream. Mr. Game & Watch stared up at her, his plain face expressing about as much as a black television screen. She smiled apologetically and quickly removed her hands from the bowl, holding them up like a framed criminal.
"Why don't you cut the cake, dear?"
Mr. Game & Watch was over at the drawers with three leaps and eagerly pulled out a butcher's knife. Peach screamed when her apprentice started running back and put a hand over her heart after she effectively stole it away from him. Zelda waited patiently while Peach showed Mr. Game & Watch the different knives and carried the correct one over to the cake.
"Like I was saying," Zelda began.
"Not like that! Not like that!" Peach cried when she noticed Mr. Game & Watch being about to cut the cake in two halves. Vertically. "Horizontally, okay?"
Peach cut the cake. The knife cut through its soft consistency without ruining the shape or having parts of it come loose. She then put a dough scraper in her student's hand and asked him to put the cream between the two halves.
"Like I was saying," Zelda tried a second time.
"What can there possibly be that confuses you, Zelda?" Peach said with a shake of her head. She found a washcloth and began to clean up the spilt flour.
"His explanation. I know that he sometimes can lose himself in what he is doing but does that mean that he in this case confused me with the heroine of the tale? That does not explain that it is very out of character to come with such a proclamation in the middle of a song. Moreover, if he was thinking about something else, in what context would it be suitable to exclaim 'I do' if I may ask?"
Zelda sighed deeply and tried to gather her thoughts. Peach observed her with pouting lips and her hand mechanically moving in circles.
"Quite many," Peach said in a manner that would suggest that it was not worth wasting your thoughts on. She tossed the washcloth aside and found herself a new bowl to whip some more cream. "Well, we can't have pink cream on top of the cake," she explained when she caught sight of Zelda's bewildered stare. "I think that you're just putting too much into it, Zelda. Link is not like you."
"To me it sounds like you are disappointed," Samus suddenly cut in. Peach disapprovingly whipped the cream faster while frowning at her. The bounty hunter pretended not to notice, put down the newspaper and casually leant an arm on the backrest of her chair. "Maybe you wanted it to be his genuine feelings?"
Such a thought was comparable to breaking the laws of nature to Zelda. She stared off into space, completely detached from reality. It was not the first time Link had grabbed her like that, but had she ever ransacked herself? Had she even once asked herself what her own reaction to it was?
The clearest memory she had of those times was that all sense of control had been ripped away from her and to her that was similar to someone holding a knife against your throat. It was checkmate.
Then, was it the shock that brought that feeling about? She could hug Link and feel like she never wanted him to let go of her. She loved to find herself in his sure embrace because nothing could make her feel safer, but she wanted to turn around and run when he merely held on to her arms?
Was the nausea and fear that overcame her related to romantic feelings? Was Link's change of character due to love? That could not be.
Peach frantically waved a hand in front of Zelda's unblinking eyes while desperately complaining at Samus for opening her big mouth. When the Hylian princess suddenly moved Peach jumped back with a cry of surprise, clasping her wrist like Zelda had just tried to bite it off.
"Zelda?" Peach said, accompanied by a few worried beeps from Mr. Game & Watch who barely managed to heave his nose over the counter to see where Zelda was off to.
Zelda realized that a loving relationship had never been a part of her vision of the future. Her life was the kind that was planned. She had been born to play a role, the one heir to the throne of Hyrule and her only close relative being her father. It craved a lot from her to concern herself with something as overwhelmingly big as a whole country, no matter how much she loved Hyrule, and to be as bound to one person as she was.
It was unfortunate that her father had fallen ill. It tore her apart that he refused to see her but it also complicated things that the corrupt Royal Council used it to expand their influence. She had always known that the councilors were a group of old men serving nothing but their own interests instead of making sure that the king did not confuse his priorities, but with her own limited authority and her father's indifference, their ambitions worried her a lot. The troubling thing was that in order to disband the council, or at least replace its member in case it would be frowned upon as something too radical to bring back autocracy, she would have to become queen and in order to become that she would have to marry.
That was about as far as she had gotten on the subject of love.
The council knew of her intentions, which was the main reason that they took such interest in her choice of husband and had even been the ones to encourage her to get married soon. It was easier that way because they could hardly ignore her existence or get rid of her. Link had appreciated their suggestion about as much as she had. Her precious friend had also taken care of that awful suitor the lovable councilors had presented to her. It had been such a bother to remain composed and she was ashamed to admit that she treasured the memory of that slimeball's face after Link was done with him.
What man tried to get frisky with a woman on their first meeting? That unrefined man would never have been any good for Hyrule.
The Hylian princess wondered if she had been a bit too practical when imagining her ideal husband. If she could choose she would want an educated man who she could turn to with her dilemmas and who preferably could relieve her from some of the burden it meant to rule a country. She wanted someone who respected her opinion and someone who she could hold in high esteem in return. She wanted someone who did not abandon his beliefs but at the same time was not too arrogant to refuse to realize that he could be wrong.
In short, she wanted someone who would be good for her country and preferably a lifelong friend for her own sake.
Zelda plopped down on the couch, in a less ladylike manner than she normally would have.
It was a bit unfair to Link but it would be easier to completely disregard him as an option. He was untrammeled and honest and she was convinced that it would be hard for him to live in the world of nobles that was one big web of conspiracies and lies. The worst thing was that his low social status would be used against him, at least by the council. To them it would probably be like a big birthday present, equal to finding out something like that she had been assassinated. It would not matter in the least that all of Hyrule loved Link or that he was the Hero of Legends when those manipulating grandpas in the council worked their lying tongues till they were tied into knots. She knew that it would hurt his pride. For someone who steadfastly believed in people's equal worth it would be hard to take the constant badgering from those old men.
Of course, this scenario could only be possible if Link was in love with her and she was with him. It was embarrassing to admit but she had no clue on how to recognize love. She could not say that she had experienced the same raging emotions that were described in literature.
For the first time Zelda noticed that Mario was sitting next to her, watching a sitcom with half-closed eyelids.
"Mario, how did you fall in love with Peach?"
Mario blinked at the screen and looked to his right to find Zelda staring intently at him. At first he wondered if he had dozed off and dreamt that she had spoken to him, or mixed her up with the sound of the television, but her gaze bored through him like spears and he guessed that those awkward words really had come from her. He clicked his tongue and made an honest try to think back.
"Peachie's always been around-a… and I guess-a I always-a cared. Just hit-a me one day-a how much."
That was rather vague. Mario could despite his carefree nature tell from the princess's frown that she would never understand something that spontaneous. On an impulse he pulled up one of the yellow flowers from the vase on the small table in front of them.
"See it like-a this. Love doesn't-a have any rules to-a follow. There are about as-a many kinds of-a love that there are-a flowers. You-a can grow a seed and be-a there till it blooms, or you-a can be suddenly-a struck by a flower's beauty-a."
The plumber moved his hand like a cupola over the flower and then gave it to Zelda. Her expression had softened during the course of his explanation and she shyly looked down at the flower in her hand.
"Thank you."
Peach had watched Zelda leave with a very bad feeling in her gut. After shakily instructing Mr. Game & Watch to put on the last layer of cream she made it known to Samus just how awful of a thing she had done.
Peach could not understand how Samus could care as little as she did. The bounty hunter had watched Zelda walk away like a zombie and then after a simple nod she had picked up that god-awful newspaper and resumed her reading. Apparently, she felt no regret over what she had done to Zelda or any possible consequences.
"How could you say that?" Peach exclaimed dramatically, storming over to the table. Samus could sense that it would not do her any good to keep reading the newspaper now, although she was in the middle of a very fascinating article, so she calmly folded it and put it on the table.
"It's about time someone said something about it. Besides, I just hinted at it."
"Don't try to come up with excuses. You saw how it affected Zelda."
Samus resisted sighing. "She just needs to get used to the thought. Leave her alone for a bit and she'll be fine."
"She'll be fine?" Peach repeated shrilly. "She could end up with a noisy pervert if she lets you influence her enough."
"You mean to say that I am the one trying to influence her? Then I see no point in having this conversation."
Peach complained and lectured and cried but Samus was too angry to argue with her. It was impossible to get another word out of her.
"If you think that Link is so great, why don't you marry him?" Peach said in one last attempt to get some kind of response from the bounty hunter. But instead of Samus replying Peach found that an idea was taking shape inside her own head. It was such a wondrous plan that she could not even begin to understand how she had not thought of it sooner.
Samus was meddling too much with Zelda's love life. She obviously needed a man. Then perhaps she would not make such a fuss over it. Peach could understand that Samus meant to help but it could not be denied that matchmaking was not her forte. In order to avoid hurting Samus's feelings by telling her straight out it would be easier to find her a boyfriend and who could be better for her than Link?
Peach did actually not demonize Link that much. He was simply not suitable for Zelda, but for someone like Samus he would be the ideal guy. His violent tendencies were the kind that would appeal to Samus, they were similar like that. Samus herself was strong like a gorilla which could come in handy if Link tried to move their relationship forward at an unreasonable pace. She could just imagine them sitting by the fire, gnawing on some tree roots because they were out of food and talking about slaughtering monsters.
Peach would kill two birds with one stone. If Link was with Samus he could not be with Zelda and Samus would be too busy to play matchmaker. It could probably be arranged if she could set them all up on a date. Herself, she would go with Mario of course, to keep an eye on things, and Samus would go with Link and Zelda with Marth. It was perfect. They could even go today because the only match was the one between Pichu and Kirby and they were all free.
Samus raised an eyebrow when Peach angrily strode towards the exit to then end up skipping out of the room while clapping her hands.
Peach's happiness would turn out to be short-lived. She had no trouble finding Zelda but once she did she had not expected to find her friend accepting a flower from Mario. It was easy to recognize her favorite kind of flower since she had been the one putting the bouquet in the vase the same morning to make their house a bit more homelike.
Samus frowned when a hyperventilating Peach returned to the kitchen not even a minute after she had left. Peach's hand moved like the wing of a hummingbird when she fanned herself, trying to find her breath to speak.
Samus waited patiently, against her will a little bit curious. Peach practically dropped down on the chair next to Samus's and exhaled when her ability to speak finally returned.
"S-Samus," Peach said between breaths. She looked like she was about to explain why she had come back looking like she had just run a marathon but then she shut her mouth with a comical click when her teeth collided and her eyes got a sharp gleam. "You know what, Samus? Zelda and Marth are going on another date."
Peach ignored the bad feeling in her gut. It felt like ants were crawling around inside her body. Things like Zelda's future were not as important anymore. All she knew was that she wanted Zelda to get as far away from Mario as possible. That was why she needed to keep her head cool. She could go through with her plan, make some extra effort with Mario when they went out on that wonderful date and perhaps Zelda spending time with Marth would put an end to this disturbing acquaintance. But then there was that tiny voice that really refused to have Zelda and Mario in the same room. There was a chance that Mario's charms would surpass those of Marth's and that would be the end of Peach's life.
Peach decided to listen to the evil little voice and not invite Mario to the date to make sure that something happened between Marth and Zelda. The problem would be that a lot of things could go wrong when Link and Samus were present, unless she was there to prevent the conflicts. The date would happen and she would be there. With Roy.
"Zelda is going out with Marth? Again?" Samus repeated skeptically. "What did you say to her? That there's some best friend anniversary or something?"
Peach irritably tapped her finger on the table. "No, I haven't said anything. It's a real date. A double date."
Samus took the bait.
"No, you're not going with them?"
"Yes, I am," Peach said gleefully. Samus ability to quickly put two and two together sure came in handy if you wanted to manipulate her. "I do feel a little bit sorry for Link though."
"No, you don't."
"Samus!" Peach gasped and put a hand over her heart. "I am through with interfering. I would even have invited Link, but it is supposed to be a double date so he really can't come. I would have invited you as well but it's the same problem."
"So you would have invited us?" Samus said smugly. "Then we'll be glad to come as a couple. That would be fine, right? Invite Link again."
"I-I will, Samus."
Peach had to turn around to hide her wide grin. Like planned, Samus had misjudged her acting to be because she was up to mischief, which was true but in a different way than Samus thought. Although Peach praised herself to be a rather good actress it would be too hard to fool Samus so she just had to use that to her own advantage.
Peach returned to the living room, where Zelda was still playing with the flower Mario had given her while the plumber was watching television. They were sitting as far away from each other as the couch would allow but Peach still felt her insides twist themselves inside out.
"Zelda," she called out excitedly and skipped over to the two people she (separately) liked the best in the whole mansion. "I have something that I want to discuss with you between four eyes."
She could feel Mario's gaze move to her and her eyes acted on their own in her strong wish to confirm that her voice really had stolen his attention.
"Oh, okay," Zelda said when she rose. Peach looked at the yellow flower that still remained in Zelda's hands and it felt like the evil little speaker inside of her was crawling around.
"Those are my favorite flowers. Can I have that one, please?"
Zelda threw a glance over her shoulder and smiled at Mario who smiled back. Peach felt a bit alarmed because she could not understand why Zelda would so happily give away a flower Mario had given her or why Zelda and Mario would already exchange looks like they had some kind of secret they shared.
"Of course you can," Zelda said. "I think that you were the muse behind this."
Peach did still not understand but she felt a little bit better when she put the flower in her hair and grabbed Zelda's hand. She did not pull Zelda very far, although it was enjoyable to feel the light resistance from Zelda's slow pacing as opposed to her own hurry.
"Zelda, you can never guess what I am about to tell you."
Zelda looked like she could go on living without hearing Peach's wondrous news but Peach decided to tell her anyway.
"Have you noticed that Link and Samus seem to get along really well?"
"Yes," Zelda replied cautiously.
"They have a lot in common. They have seen a lot. Restless hearts," Peach went on, leaning closer to Zelda who looked all the more unwilling to hear the more Peach said. "Would they not make a cute couple?"
Zelda felt a lump form in her throat. She could imagine Samus and Link together. Whenever they were in each other's company the air would seem lighter. They would be at complete ease. Then why did the thought not appeal to her?
"Perhaps they would make a good couple, but are you sure that they would like that?"
"You must have noticed that they are unusually good friends. I can't seem to recall that I have ever seen them fight."
Zelda was reminded of when she had commented on Samus and Link's friendship. She could see Link's troubled face and hear his awkward explanation repeat itself inside her head. She remembered Samus's relaxed words that they got along. Maybe it was that simple.
It would be a good thing to see two of her close friends together. Zelda knew what good people they were and she was certain that they would be able to make each other happy. Despite knowing this she still felt awfully gloomy at the thought.
"True, they get along, but I think that we ought to stay out of this."
"But I have already talked to Samus and she said that she wouldn't mind going out with him. Actually, she expects me to ask him."
"Samus does?"
"Yes," Peach hissed excitedly, barely able to stand still.
"It does not sound like Samus."
"Oh, don't be such a pessimist, Zelda. Love has never had anything to do with logic."
Zelda honestly tried to get used to the thought of Samus together with Link. It did not suit her image of either of them. She could not recall that Link had ever shown any romantic interest in a woman during the long period of time that they had known each other. And for how long had Samus and Link been friends? She had known Link longer, although he was more natural with Samus than he usually was with her and, like Mario had just said, love could be a slow thing just as well as it could strike you out of the blue. She had been feeling refreshed this morning but the constant predicaments she was faced with was beginning to make her weary.
"Anyway, I thought that we could all go out together. Perhaps the mood would be better?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know how I mentioned today that Marth has been looking a little gloomy. Maybe it would cheer him up if you invited him to this date?"
"Peach," Zelda said with clear reluctance. "I do hardly think it is appropriate. Romance is a matter between two people and it would be intrusive of us to join and what if Marth gets the wrong idea?"
"I do not mean it like that! I am going with Roy, so it's nothing that serious, see? We're just having a little bit of fun, all together, and Samus and Link can get a chance to deepen their friendship."
Zelda still looked unwilling.
"Think about Samus, Zelda. When do you think she showed any interest in a boy last? I think she is really looking forward to this. I can go ask Marth and you can ask Link."
Peach had Link in clear view behind Zelda. He had been playing cards with Fox, before Peach had dragged Zelda into view and during their short conversation a lot of Link's tokens had been lost to his opponent. Peach caught the Hylian's gaze when he looked away from his cards, with hopeful eyes wishing for Zelda to turn her attention to him. In a way Peach pitied him for his deep devotion. His great love would be his demise unless it was aimed at a more suitable object and it would save Zelda from torment if he could be convinced to give her up. Link returned her reproachful look with a frown and went back to his card playing.
"Zelda, can't you ask Link to come?"
Zelda pulled back with a scowl. "I have no reason to bring him messages concerning such private matters."
Peach was not dumb. She knew that Link would refuse to come even if she used Marth to threaten him. He was stubborn as a mule and he did definitely not trust her, nor would he be tempted to go with Samus. The only option would be to have Zelda ask him.
Peach lowered her gaze, shyly pulling up her shoulders and pressing her lips together in a pouting manner. She could put on an act of being discouraged that would win an Oscar.
"I know I promised Samus to ask Link for her but I was probably getting ahead of myself." She smiled grimly. "I am aware that he doesn't like me and I guess I do deserve it, but now I find myself between a rock and a hard place."
Zelda sighed. "I would have expected Samus to be the kind to deal with these things herself but I guess it cannot be helped. I will speak to Link and would you please ask Marth in my stead?"
Peach threw of her sad disguise and made a jump, elegantly landing on the high heels of her shoes. "I'll do that. Link's right over there. We'll leave in three hours." Then she made a pirouette and danced up the stairs while humming to herself.
Zelda sighed and looked where Peach had pointed to before her lovely dance show. Link was absentmindedly moving his index finger across his lips, his eyebrows pulled together in deep concentration and she could observe the deep blue color of his eyes even from where she was standing. She was aware of her expression softening. She knew why Samus would like someone like Link. They could joke around, smile sincerely, were not afraid to get angry or tell people what they thought and then, all of a sudden, their calm righteousness would creep out and make their subtle and yet impressive air of dignity visible.
Link's cards fell onto the table, revealing a hand that would have had a poor chance at winning, before Zelda got the opportunity to clear her throat. Fox growled at Link for not taking the game seriously before he followed Link's gaze to the princess standing behind him. With a toothy grin the fox raised an arm in greeting.
"My queen of hearts."
Link got out of his chair and walked over to the Hylian princess, slapping Fox over the head when he walked past him.
"Me you're looking for?" he asked with his eyes closed as he tried to make his annoyed face go away.
"Mhm," Zelda confirmed.
She felt Link's hand touch her elbow. With a secure grip around her, her hero led her away from the fox who tried to tempt her back by waving the king of hearts for her to see. A quick look on the rest of his cards revealed that either Link had very bad luck or he had not been paying attention during the game. Zelda looked away from Fox, thinking how she was always surprised at how big Link was in comparison to her. Maybe it was because Young Link was running around the house, because Link was not that much above the average height or size. It just felt very odd that she could sense the strength of a grown man whenever he touched her. No matter how gentle he was it always lingered behind his grip. It felt strange that the boy she used to play with could easily reach around her entire body.
"What did you want?" he asked when he let go of her.
She really did not have her thoughts in order today. Zelda was relieved at the trusting eyes and big smile that felt so very familiar to her.
"Are you free this afternoon?"
His eyebrows flew up in delighted surprise. She could hint the smallest movements of his lips when his brain tried to put together an answer that would satisfy him. In the end a breathless "y-yes" was all that got out of him.
"You see, Peach has planned a group date…" Zelda trailed off. Link did not interrupt her. He waited patiently for her to go on, with his hands locked behind his back. "And perhaps…" She felt that lump in her throat again. She determinedly swallowed. "You would like to go with Samus?"
She did not know what she had expected, or if she even had expected a certain reaction from him, but the silence that followed disturbed her. Link hardly ever questioned anything she said or asked of him, but now he stared at her like she had magically transformed into a Deku Nut.
"With Samus?" Link said like it would be an impossibility to place the two words next to each other. It made it quite hard for Zelda to go on but she could not disappoint Samus, and what of Marth and Roy that would expect them to go as soon as they were asked?
"Yes, it's nothing too serious. Peach will go with Roy." Zelda used the same way of persuasion that Peach had used on her. She thought that she must add that she was going with Marth. It would be better to avoid making Link angry by keeping it from him a second time, but for some incomprehensible reason she felt that she would rather not. Despite that Link and Marth had tried so hard to get along she did not want to tell him that she was going out with Marth, again. Well, she could not afford to stand here and analyze herself. She owed Link a little bit of honesty.
"Even if it's nothing serious," Link said and crossed his arms. He looked very uncomfortable, shifting his weight and looking at his feet.
"I will be going with Marth," Zelda cut in before he could finish what he was going to say. He stopped, balancing most part of his weight on his left foot. An eerie feeling crept up Zelda's back and she was gripped by a mix of fearsome relief that he was not looking directly at her because it was as though the color of his eyes darkened.
"Again?" Link said and made a toss with his head. His blond bangs fell back in front of his face when he looked down at her.
"Yes," Zelda replied, deciding that she could not be afraid of Link and if he now had begun to warm up to Marth she had to be imagining this dark feeling. "Won't you come?"
He would dig his own grave if he came. Could he stand watching Zelda and Marth for that long without going insane? Could he go with another woman and have Zelda there in a front row seat? When things were this delicate between them, balancing on the edge of friendship and something more, the woman he loved asked him to go with another woman while she gave his biggest rival a golden opportunity. He would not survive it.
Zelda blinked twice. He guessed that she could tell that he would decline. The corners of her small mouth formed the hint of a considerate smile. Her high cheekbones made the shadows strengthen the characteristics of her face. The pallor of her skin deepened the impression of the blue in her eyes.
He caressed her face. His gauntlets covered his palms but his bare fingers made contact with her cheeks. Moving his thumb over her skin, he felt how rough his hands must be in comparison to such untouched softness.
"What if I don't want to go with Samus?"
Link did not say it like he was intending to mock Samus. It was more like he was trying to say that there was a reason why he could not go with her and it felt like there was a plea for Zelda to understand what the reason was.
Zelda felt that awful feeling of losing control of the situation. It felt like the warmth from Link's hands would give her a burning fever (which was completely illogical and confirmed what an awful state she was in).
"You won't come?" she said sadly, imagining Peach, Roy, Marth and Samus drown in disappointment.
"I'll come," Link promised before he realized what he was saying. His hands fell down to his sides and he was about to take it back when Zelda in a rush of happiness placed a brief kiss on his cheek. It could just as well have been the wind. A few strands of her hair brushed against his skin and he was sucked into an invisible cloud of her sweet scent.
Zelda threw a glance at the clock on the opposite wall, squinting to make out the small numbers.
"We will meet up outside in a little less than three hours."
She assumed that she could decide where they should meet. If Peach had told the others something else it would hardly be any trouble finding Link before they went to the real meeting place.
"Today?" Link said and Zelda nodded.
Peach had meanwhile found Roy walking down the hall on the second floor, whistling to himself and watching the ceiling.
"Roy, let me have a word with you, please," she said and was amused at his disoriented look when he fund her in front of him. He grinned with closed eyes, which made him look even more boyish than usual and Peach was reminded of what a strangely perfect day today was.
"What can I do for you?" he said pleasantly. It really was good fortune to find a good friend in a good mood when you felt awfully good yourself.
"Please, go on a date with me," Peach begged. She locked her hands together and nearly leant on Roy. It was lucky she did not because he jumped back like a frightened rabbit.
"I really don't think you should. What about Mario?" Roy reeled off.
"It's not like that," Peach explained cheerfully. "I'm setting Link up with Samus and I need a date to go with them." She lowered her head and gazed up at him. "Are you turning me down?"
"You're trying to get Link and Samus together?" Roy inquired, feeling curiosity taking the best of him. Peach's playful side had its way of luring him over too. But as long as she did not mean it like anything serious it could not be wrong to go with them, could it? "I wouldn't dream of turning down such a pretty lady."
Peach giggled, a pink color tinting her cheeks despite knowing that he was joking around. She was flattered anyway. A gentleman like Roy would not say such things unless it had at least a small amount of truth in it.
"Oh, Roy, could you please ask Marth to come? It's an invitation from Zelda."
Roy took a hold of her hand, giving her an alluring smile before he kissed it. "I am sure that he will be delighted."
"Wonderful. We'll meet outside then in three hours. We'll have the whole afternoon."
"What to wear?"
"Modern clothing," Peach replied with a wink, deciding for it there and then. "Could you get us a ride to town too?"
"Anything for you, milady."
Peach giggled again, it was hard not to when in Roy's company, and then left the same way she came. Roy also turned around and began walking back down the long corridor until he arrived at Marth's room at the end, opposite the stairs to the third floor.
"The view can't be much to brag about," Roy said when he let himself in and found Marth at the window. His own room was on the third floor and since he knew that Marth probably missed the high towers of his castle the different levels of their rooms was a useful tool whenever you wanted to tease him.
Marth looked over his shoulder, not smiling more than usual but there was still a feeling of peace taking up the whole room. It did not seem quite as dark as usual despite nothing even reminding of an extra light source.
"The view does not impress, no," Marth said in a friendly tone that almost had Roy back out of the room. Then he remembered his errand and the thought of brightening his friend's day further was something he was looking forward to.
"I have a date with Princess Peach," Roy said smugly.
"How nice," Marth replied with an unnerving lack of sarcasm.
Roy made his way over to Marth's desk, carefully watching the prince's back when he walked past him. Marth was always flawless in his appearance, but did it not seem like he had taken some extra care in it today? Roy was not too interested in was conditioner Marth was using however so he quickly directed his attention to the many papers on the desk, all sorted in neat piles.
"What are you doing up here all day, writing a novel?"
Marth turned around, raising his eyebrows at Roy who made a goofy grin in response.
"A romantic novel?" Roy suggested. For the first time that day some of Marth's usual mood showed itself. The annoyed look was oddly enough welcomed by Roy, like an old friend.
"No."
"Isn't it strange that I am going out with a beautiful princess, why, this very day, and you're not?" Roy smoothly changed the subject. Marth gave him a dark look and then looked away. The prince's subtle way of expressing his displeasure, very clear in his opinion without saying a word, was very amusing to the young red-headed lord. Roy lifted the top paper on the desk to take a closer look at the one underneath, purposefully giving off the impression of impolitely going through Marth's things, which Marth naturally hated.
"No love letters for a certain long-eared beauty?" Roy said. He turned around and leant on the desk, pretending to skim through the text on paper he was holding when in reality he wanted a good look of Marth's reaction. The prince wrinkled his nose in disgust, which Roy found very funny when he thought back on how Marth had written Zelda letters, or at least one.
"Roy," Marth said, barely moving his lips in his attempt to avoid speaking through his teeth, which would have been more impolite than mumbling.
"I was just thinking, since you love our fair lady."
Marth's eyes widened for half a second, his pupils shrunk like a lightning had lit up the pitch black night and caused his eyes to adjust, before they narrowed on Roy in pure loathing. The emotion in those ocean blue eyes was like a stormy sea and the feeling was transferred to the space around them. Roy felt like the silence would make him deaf, there was a tumult in the air that threatened to throw him overboard and mercilessly drown him.
Marth marched up to Roy and the look on the prince's face made the general think that if he tried to beg or speak up to this man it would do him just as well to address a block of ice. Marth usually kept a far distance between himself and a person he was talking to, but now he crossed his own limit for what he considered invading someone's personal space.
"I do not love her," Marth said slowly, stressing every syllable and his voice trembling ever so slightly. "Have I ever said anything or made an approach that would suggest that Princess Zelda would be loved by me?"
Roy could think of several actions made by Marth that could have given that impression. He was reluctant to admit that he was afraid of his friend but he would have to realize that he was. He was truly angry with him and ashamed for Zelda's sake. He was embarrassed that he had so warmly told Peach about the prince's feelings, which had turned to be nothing but his own interpretation of the situation. Despite this he dared not to speak against Marth.
"I appreciate her refined manners, I enjoy her presence…" Marth trailed off and took a step back, hesitating whether he could trust Roy with the continuation. "I nearly trust her."
"You do love her," Roy insisted. He had never been forced to make an effort with women so he knew very little about how it felt to long desperately for one, but if Marth who saw other people as bacteria wanted Zelda near him it would have to mean that something made her special to him. If he also, after swearing never to trust a living, or dead for the matter, being, it would have to be love.
"A man of our heritance would not invite a lady to a private meeting and certainly not go anywhere near her private areas," Roy went on, his face almost taking on the same color as his hair when he thought back on Marth touching Zelda's leg. "Why would you go out of your way to ruin things between Link and Zelda? You are not the kind to harm other people for something as petty as dislike. You stand above that."
"You will never understand, Roy. This goes beyond what anyone but she and I can understand."
"You cannot lead her on like this. It could ruin her future," Roy said. He would have yelled. He felt that his anger was beginning to take over and that Marth's worst sides were more than a simple bother.
"Oh?" Marth said as if Roy had said something very funny.
"Yes," Roy exclaimed, provoked by Marth. "She has invited you to see her again. Does that not tell you anything?"
"I accept. When does she want to see me?"
"You intend to go?" Roy said in disbelief. In his mind he was throwing his arms up in the air and making a tantrum. Zelda would be hurt, Link would lose the love of his life, he would never be forgiven by Peach for knowing and Marth would go home to Altea and have a cup of Earl Grey tea.
"I will. I have been waiting for a word from her."
I really liked what they said in the Pokémon animated series, that Jigglypuff's singing makes people nicer. Sure, it doesn't really show except for that one time they made the conclusion and in SSB the opponents don't seem any less unwilling to beat her up, but I liked it.
Did I ever mention that Marth does not consider himself in love with Zelda? Perhaps I have. I am not sure that I believe him but that has been the intension since the beginning. Drawn to each other but not attracted to each other.
It was quite easy to come up with the "hey, let's send them out on a triple date! With the wrong partners!" and then it looks like it will take me five chapters to get to that date? I could have indulged in Mr. Game & Watch's crushed expectations for the competition and written about how much it meant to him that Peach was willing to notice him (although she fails to see her own importance). I could have written a lot more about Zelda's background and why she can stay so calm with everything going on in Hyrule. I kind of repeated the things I wrote in chapter 1 but I felt that it needed to be repeated.
When Zelda and Marth went out on their date they discussed the loss of their fathers, despite Zelda's still being alive. Now, Zelda's father died when Ganondorf took over Hyrule but when she sent Link back in time her father was still alive in the past. It would seem that Zelda had no memories of the future but I shamelessly let her have them in this story. I will save the issue with the politics and her depressed father for the final arc (yup, I have an ending planned. I just haven't decided who gets the girl).
I really should explain this in the story instead, in more detail, but… I don't want to.
And, eep, such lovely reviews. Thank you! They are so very nice to read and I love hearing people's opinions. Yay, for you for having things to comment on and being so very, very nice when doing it. It's especially funny when people's opinions differ. Until next time… look forward to seeing Peach put Samus in a dress and Marth and Zelda pondering their relationship.