Chapter 4

Roy sighed as he walked down the hallway of the Smash Mansion, not even bothering to look at the doors that were on each side of him.

Tears sprang in his eyes. Thoughts of Marth and Ike being friends popped up in his mind. Why did Marth replace me?! he thought angrily as he clenched his jaw.

As he was occupied with his thoughts, a fist hit him—hard—on the side of his head. Roy fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

"Hey look, it's the clone!" a voice taunted.

Roy looked up to see two familiar faces, along with two new ones.

Great…Bowser and Ganondorf… he thought.

"I thought you were not coming back," Ganondorf sneered as he grabbed Roy by the neck. Roy gasped as he began to choke.

A smaller turtle standing beside Bowser laughed as he watched Roy being choked. "Look Papa!" he cried. "He's still a weakling!"

Bowser chuckled. "Of course, Junior."

A particularly fat man who wore yellow clothing and a yellow cap laughed. "I've heard stories about this ginger. Glad to meet you!" he mocked.

Ganondorf chuckled as he tightened his grip on Roy's throat. Roy gasped for breath, and his lungs burned at the lack of air.

"Back off."

The four's eyes widened and they turned to face Ike. The blue-haired male glared at the four, his arms crossed.

Ganondorf sighed as he dropped Roy on the ground. Roy gasped for air, and every breath he inhaled burned, causing him to cough. "You always ruin the fun," he commented before all four of them left.

Ike sighed as he walked up to Roy. He extended his hand out for Roy to grab. "You okay?" he asked with sincere concern.

Roy glared up at Ike. He got up himself, swatting Ike's hand aside. "Leave me alone," the redhead growled. Before he could leave, however, Ike grabbed his arm.

"Hey!" Roy cried out. "Let go of me!"

"Look, I understand that you're upset that I was called your 'replacement'," Ike spoke, "but it's not my fault. I personally don't call myself your replacement. I'm here to get myself stronger for my father."

Roy stared at Ike. "Your father? What happened?"

Ike lowered his eyes, and he stared down at the ground. When Roy examined him closer, he saw tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

Despite what he felt about Ike before, Roy felt guilty. "Hey…" he whispered. "I'm sorry for bringing that up."

Ike looked back at him and shook his head. "No no, it's fine."

Roy frowned. "No really, I didn't mean to bring your father up."

Ike sighed. "Don't worry about it, Roy. Don't apologize over something you didn't know."

The blue-haired male then let go of Roy's arm.

"…" Silence filled the air as Roy did not meet Ike's gaze.

"Roy?" Ike asked.

Roy hummed as he looked at Ike.

"…If you want, I can show you Marth's room. We're…roommates now, but I'm sure that Master Hand doesn't mind if we have a third roommate."

Roy looked away when Ike told him this, saying nothing.

Ike sighed. "I know what you're thinking, but you can't hold a grudge against me for something I did not do."

Roy then looked at Ike again. "I know…I'm sorry. It's just that…I went through so much after I left the Smash Mansion."

Ike nodded in understanding as he placed an arm over Roy's shoulders. "Hey, if you need to talk about it, I'm your guy."

Roy, for once, smiled at Ike. "Thanks Ike…"

After a few minutes of walking down the hallway, Ike brought him to his and Marth's room. Roy stared at the surroundings, realizing that the area was the same.

Ike then spoke up. "I'll ask Master Hand if he could spare a third bed in here."

Roy turned and nodded. "Thanks, Ike."

With that, Ike waved goodbye as he walked off.

Roy sat on the bed he once slept in. By the looks of the blue and red shirts that hung above it, and the armor and swords, it was Ike's bed now.

Roy sighed as he put his hand in his pocket. Moving his fingers, he dug around until they brushed up against a corded string, and pulled out an amulet that was attached to it. Staring down at it, thoughts of his father flashed through his mind.

The times where Eliwood was there when Roy's mother passed away…the times where Eliwood played with him and trained him…

Roy felt tears threatening to fall as he sniffled. "Father…"

"Roy?"

Roy jumped and he turned to see Marth standing in the doorway. "Oh, Marth," Roy said with a frown.

Marth walked towards him and sat beside him on Ike's bed. "Are you okay? What happened back there?"

Roy sighed as he looked down at the amulet in his hand. "Just…it was kind of spur of the moment when I pushed Ike. When I was told that he was my replacement, I…kind of snapped."

Marth frowned as he wrapped an arm around Roy's shoulders. "I understand. When I was told that Ike was replacing you, I felt the same way. I attacked Ike, but he said that it wasn't his fault."

Roy nodded. "I know, he told me that…"

Marth raised an eyebrow. "He went to check on you?"

Roy nodded. "Yes…Bowser and Ganondorf attacked me when Ike stepped up to protect me."

Marth's eyes widened. "Bowser and Ganondorf again?" Marth growled, his hands balled up into fists. "If I see those two idiots again, I'll—"

"Marth, don't worry about it," Roy tried to calm his friend down.

"But they hurt you!"

Roy shook his head. "I don't want you to get in trouble because of me, Marth. Please, calm down."

Marth stared at his friend, and he sighed. "All right, but if they hurt you again, I'll go after them with my sword."

Roy shook his head at him.

Then, they heard a bell ringing. Marth looked up and smiled.

"It's lunchtime," he said as he got up from the bed.

Roy nodded as he too got up.

With that, they both left the room.

The Smasherteria was just like Roy remembered it being back in the Melee days: boisterous, large, and the smell of food entered his nostrils. It felt like home to Roy…

Home.

Roy sighed, now realizing that his appetite was gone. He began to wonder about his kingdom, if it was okay right now without him.

"Roy!"

Roy snapped out of his thoughts when he turned to see Mewtwo and Dr. Mario at one table, waving at him and Marth.

"Come on!" Dr. Mario cried out. "Sit with us. Chat with us!"

Roy smiled as he and Marth went to their table and sat across from them.

Mewtwo was sipping his tea as Dr. Mario was eating an apple.

"So, how's life treating you, Roy?" Mewtwo was the first one to speak.

Roy stared down at the ground, not wanting to think about his life. "It's…good," he lied, looking back at them with a fake smile.

Marth frowned, noticing how strange Roy had been acting since he'd arrived. Back during the Melee tournament, he'd gotten to know Roy rather well. Because of that, he liked to think that meant he'd known Roy for quite some time, and Roy's uncharacteristic behavior had him concerned.

That was when one of the chefs, a Mii, came up to them with Marth and Roy's food.

"Here you go sirs," she said cheerfully.

"Thank you, miss," Marth said as he grabbed his sandwich and took a large bite out of it.

Roy stared down at the banana bread that laid on his plate, saying or doing nothing. Thoughts about his home swirled throughout his mind…thoughts about Wolt and his father's deaths…all the demands his people back in Pherae had for him...

"Roy?"

Roy snapped out of his thinking when he turned to face Marth, who raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to eat?" Marth asked.

Roy hesitated before shaking his head. "I…I'm not hungry."

Marth stared at him, his eyebrows drawn together. "But isn't banana bread your favorite?"

Roy nodded. "Yes, but like I said, I'm not hungry."

Dr. Mario and Mewtwo stared at their old friend, both of them wondering what was wrong with Roy.

"Is…everything all right, Roy?" Mewtwo asked.

Roy sighed. "I'm fine, Mewtwo."

Mewtwo raised his hands up slightly. "All right, sorry to bother you," he said as he took another sip of his tea.

Dr. Mario placed his hand on his chin, thinking. "Are you sure? Are you sick? Are you not feeling well?" he asked Roy.

Roy huffed as he got up from his chair. "I'm all right. Just…tired," he lied before he walked out of the Smasherteria, leaving Marth, Mewtwo, and Dr. Mario staring after him.

Roy entered Marth and Ike's room and closed the door. He stood there for a few seconds as he tried to bring his emotions under control, before he turned to face the room. To his surprise, at the back of the room, there was an extra bed.

Over on his left, Ike sat on his bed, staring up at Roy.

"Hey," he greeted. "Master Hand agreed that you can be our roommate, so he got an extra bed for you."

Roy smiled slightly at Ike's kindness. I never expected him to be this nice to me…he thought.

"Thanks…" Roy thanked him.

Ike then got up from his bed and approached Roy. "Well, I gotta go. I've got a match to prepare for."

Roy nodded as he moved out of the way. "Good luck, Ike."

When Ike left, Roy looked at his new bed and walked over to it. He sat down and looked up at the ceiling, thinking about what happened at the Smasherteria. I know that I shouldn't lie to my friends, but...

"Roy?"

Roy looked back down to see Marth standing in the doorway again.

"Oh, hey Marth," Roy greeted with a small smile.

Marth, however, had a frown on his face. "Are you okay? Dr. Mario and Mewtwo were worried about you."

Roy shook his head. "Marth, I said I was fine. Just not hungry."

Marth sighed. "All right…but I'm worried about you, Roy. You're my best friend. I hate to see you like this…"

Roy stared at his friend, thinking about what he said. "Well…to tell you the truth—"

Before Roy could say anything else, a booming voice over the intercom entered their ears.

"NEW MATCH FOR TODAY! MARTH AND ROY VS. IKE AND LUCINA!"

Marth smiled as he grabbed his sheath that contained his sword. "Ready for a team match up like old times?" he asked with a smile.

Roy smiled slightly as he grabbed his sheath and sword. "Yes sir. Just like old times…"

Constructive criticism is welcomed!

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