Chapter 6

Despite knowing Roy for only a few minutes, Ryu seemed to have noticed Roy's strange behavior. In fact, during the match he watched, the martial artist noticed how Roy did not even try to defend himself when he was ganged up on. As a renowned fighter who sharpened his skills daily, Ryu knew that something was wrong with the redhead.

During dinner, Ryu saw Marth walking into the Smasherteria without Roy. Ryu raised an eyebrow; Marth and Roy were nearly always together. He also saw Roy not eating lunch today, and Roy not coming down for dinner either had him concerned.

Looking down at the meatloaf that sat on his plate, Ryu rose up from his seat and grabbed his food.

"Where are you going, Ryu?"

Ryu turned to face Little Mac, whose eyebrows were raised in curiosity.

"I…have to talk to someone," Ryu replied. "I'll be right back."

Little Mac, satisfied with that answer, went back to eating his burger.

Ryu walked out of the Smasherteria with the plate of food in his hands. After asking for directions, he arrived at Roy's room and knocked.

Inside, he heard a sigh.

"Who is it now?" Roy asked.

"It's me, Ryu," Ryu answered. "I just wanted to check up on you."

"I'm…all right. Just have a lot on my mind," Roy spoke.

Ryu opened the door, and inside Roy was laying in his bed, staring out the window.

"Hey," Ryu greeted.

Roy turned to face the martial artist. "Hey there," he greeted back. "What is it that you want?"

Ryu approached the redhead, and he handed him the meatloaf. "You haven't eaten all day. I figured you might be hungry."

Roy stared down at the food, and he shook his head. "I'm not hungry."

Ryu sighed. "You should eat it. Marth's worried sick about you."

Roy shook his head. "I said I'm not hungry."

Ryu shrugged as he grabbed the plate. "All right, all right…"

Roy stared up at him, thoughts flying in his head. I've...been feeling down now, he thought, I don't think I should bottle my feelings any longer.

When Ryu turned to leave, Roy grabbed his arm. Ryu turned to face him.

"Changed your mind?" the martial artist asked.

Roy shook his head. "N-no, it's just that…I want someone to talk to."

Ryu nodded as he sat down beside Roy on the bed. "Yeah? Is something wrong?"

"Well…" Roy gulped down a lump in his throat. "I've been thinking about my home, and the deaths of two people who were dear to me…"

Ryu raised an eyebrow as he listened intently.

"I've been thinking about them all day, every day, after they died. My friend's death…it was difficult for me. My heart breaks every time I think about him. And my father…he—he died in his sleep. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye—"

"You should get over it."

Roy blinked, taken aback at Ryu's sudden, harsh suggestion. "Excuse me?"

"You should get over it," Ryu repeated. "Look, I understand that losing someone you love hurts you, but you need to let it go."

"But Ryu—"

"No buts," Ryu interrupted. "There's no excuse as to why you're moping around and starving yourself like that. You need to be happy. Think of good thoughts. Think of the good times you, your friend, and your father had."

Roy stared at Ryu in shock, saying nothing. Does he seriously think it's that easy?

Ryu placed a hand on Roy's shoulder. "You need to let the past go. It's weighing you down."

Roy said or did nothing in response. He was too shocked.

Ryu got up, still holding the plate of meatloaf in his hands. "If you need to talk, let me know."

Like I'll come to you again after you said something like that…Roy thought bitterly to himself.

"Have a good night, Roy," Ryu said as he left the room.

Roy laid down on the bed, thinking about what Ryu had said.

He doesn't understand what I'm going through, he thought with gritted teeth. Why would he just dismiss me like that?! If he doesn't understand, then Marth probably doesn't understand either…

"Hello, Roy."

Roy snapped out of his thoughts when he turned to face Marth and Ike entering the room. The two blue-haired swordsmen smiled slightly at Roy.

"Did Ryu talk to you?" Ike asked.

Roy gulped down a lump in his throat and he nodded. "Um…yeah. He talked to me. Just some…idle chat, is all."

Marth and Ike glanced at each other before they nodded slowly.

"Well, it's time for us to hit the hay," Ike said as he placed his sword on the side of his own bed. He laid down in the bed, and he yawned.

"Yes," Marth agreed. "We have another long day tomorrow: another day of matches and spending time together."

Roy nodded, saying nothing.

Marth then walked towards his own bed and laid in it. "Good night, Roy."

"Good night, Marth. Ike. Sweet dreams."

With that, the three fell asleep.

Neither Marth nor Ike heard shuffling from Roy's bed. Roy twisted and turned in his bed, grunting. Tears began to form in his eyes.

"Father…Wolt…" he whispered in his sleep.

"WOLT!" Roy screamed as he watched the assassin stab Wolt in the back. With a roar, Roy lunged forward and stabbed his enemy to death.

Roy panted, and he turned to see Wolt on the ground, blood seeping from the large wound he sustained.

Roy ran towards his dying friend, and he held his body close. "Wolt! Stay with me!"

Wolt looked up at Roy, and with a low growl, he spoke, "Roy…this is your fault…"

Roy's eyes widened. "Wh-what?"

"You let this happen…why Roy? Why…?" Wolt's words were his last as he went limp.

Roy's eyes were filled with tears. "No…NO! This isn't my fault! That damn assassin just—"

"It's your fault…it's your fault…"

Roy turned to see his army standing behind him, all of them staring down at him. The army began to scream at him.

"Why did you let Wolt die?!"

"How could you, Master Roy?!"

"YOU BASTARD!"

Roy felt tears falling down his cheeks as he held Wolt's body tightly.

When he opened his eyes, he looked around to see that he was in Pherae castle. Roy got up, and he saw the blood on his hands.

M…my Gods…he thought.

He then heard yells from outside his castle. Roy turned his head to face the sound, and he walked towards the front door.

When he opened it, his eyes widened when he saw his people in front of him, rioting.

"Wh-what—" Roy cried out, but the people began to demand.

"We don't want you here!"

"You're nothing but a failure!"

"We would rather have Lord Eliwood as our Marquess."

Roy's eyes grew even wider, and he fell on his knees, holding his head.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! I'm trying my hardest! What did I do to deserve this?!"

With a jolt, Roy sat up in his bed, cold sweat beading on his face. Looking at his surroundings, he realized that he was in his room, and Ike and Marth were still asleep.

Roy gulped, trying to wipe away the tears that stained his face. Thoughts of the nightmare he had just woken from appeared in his head.

"You're nothing but a failure!"

"This is all your fault Roy!"

Roy stared down at his hands, the thoughts of his nightmare not leaving him alone. What if...what if the people in his dream were right?

What if this was his fault?

Constructive criticism is welcomed!

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